Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

If you are heading to Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam on April 6th be sure to make it a day, or  a night earlier because on 5th there's the pre-party in Melkweg! Organized by OGAE NL the event features previous Eurovision winners and stars to have a great time mingling with the other fans and enjoying the music. Marga Bult aka Marcha is not only performing her Rechtop in de wind but also being the hostess of the evening. More info here Get your tickets here

The Finnish duo Norma John also continued their promotour and performed in Amsterdam's Eurovision in Concert. Melkweg Amsterdam Say cheese..... ... and eat cheese?!

The Queen of San Marino with her partner in adventure this year, Jimmie Wilson also danced the spirits of the night away on Melkweg stage in Amsterdam's Eurovision in Concert last night. Pre-party action.....  Interviews, interviews....

The king has arrived! Francesco Gabbani delivered on stage in Amsterdam and just keeps becoming bigger and bigger pre-contest favorite. And fans can't get enough of his video either, as it has become the most watched Eurovision Youtube video ever. The live hic up in the cut of the song in London was gone and he delivered a confident, relaxed and very entertaining performance.  With Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson from San Marino (Photos and video lovingly stolen from the www)

The annual promo event Eurovision in Concert was bigger than ever, and what I hear, better than ever, 35 of this year's 43 artist were present to the joy of sold out Melkweg filled with fans.    Check out the exclusive photo gallery after the jump....

Francesco Gabbani took the opportunity to meet the author of The Naked Ape Desmond Morris in his home in Oxford while he was in United Kingdom. From London's Eurovision Party to surreality of the meeting he wrote on his Facebook: Today I had the incredible privilege of meeting Desmond Morris in his home in Oxford. Apart from the surreal circumstances, comparable perhaps to have coffee with Heraclitus, I had proof that the wisdom and greatness of a man are directly proportional to humility and simplicity with the ability to express very profound concepts! Thanks Desmond And while Francesco charmed the pants off everyone in London his Occidentali's Karma has went triple platinum in Italy. And the video is nearing 82 million views. Soon it will become the most watched Eurovision related video beating Il Volo's Grande amore . Alexander Rybak's Fairytale is already beaten. In Spotify we are at over 9 million at the moment..... Next for him is Eurovision in c...

Here it is finally, the 3 minutes Eurovision version of the Italian entry for the Eurovision song contest 2017. Originally the song run more than 3 minutes 30 seconds. Gone is the while second verse and other bits here and there, but it works. Of course the fandom has divided some saying it's a massacre, some taking less dramatic approach. This blogger thinks it works and most of all concentrates on the most catchy part, the refrain.  How it all works live will be judged by the fans in the three promotional events he has already confirmed participation: April 2 - London Eurovision Party April 8 - Eurovision in Concert, Amsterdam April 21 - Moscow Eurovision party

The once again sold out Eurovision in concert takes place tonight in Amsterdam's Melkweg. A record breaking 27 acts will gather together this time, when Armenia's Iveta Mukuchyan cancelled her participation a couple of days ago: "My dear friends from Europe, I have made the decision to cancel my upcoming performance in "Eurovision in Concert" in AMSTERDAM, as I mourn and pray for the peaceful Armenian people, who were horribly tortured and killed in The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. I pray for the bravest soldiers, who died while defending our kids, our parents, our independence. War crimes are a result of hate, indifference, lack of love and understanding. It is our duty to condemn such brutal aggression and preach for love and peace."  How honest that statement is, and if it's coming from herself or is it just fishing for sympathy votes, I let you decide. Just wondering. And saying this, I am not taking sides in this matter and any war action is ...

The biggest ad best Eurovision get together - besides the real event of course - is happening once again this weekend in Amsterdam. It's already the 7th edition and by now an approved and a must happening for many fans and artists alike. For some it's also the first chance to perform live their entry. All eyes are on Australia's Guy Sebastian this time as he hasn't yet performed the song anywhere live! It's a good opportunity for the artists to mingle and get to know each other, or meet again after meeting in other promotional events across Europe. It has moved away from the original idea of giving fans a chance to meet & greet the artists, too, in a more relaxed occasion which is a bit of a shame.  Ever wonderful Edsilia Rombley will host the show with Cornald Maas in Melkweg. Special guests are the Norwegian 1985 winners Bobbysocks who will let it swing on stage once more. 24 out of the 40 acts will be present: Elnur Huseynov (Azerbaijan), Måns Zelmer...

Promotional tours and events & Eurovision. This year the starts have been socializing more than ever before it seems and when in Copenhagen some of them must know each other already quite well. Maybe. It's always nice to see some group photos of the artists like school kids, Class of '14 indeed. Besides several meetings and face-to-face across Europe there are three main events. Most of all already cemented Eurovision in concert in Amsterdam where 25 of this year's entrants got together. Then followed London Eurovision Party with 12 of them. This Sunday once again six of them are together in Moscow - luckily time is running out or next weekend there would be a lonely threesome somewhere in Europe.... The Russian preview party seems something new to the scene, but when it also headlines some of the county's biggest names as guest stars it is apparently broadcasted on various TV stations and getting huge media coverage. Maybe. Sammarinese Valentina Monetta bec...

Sammarinese Valentina Monetta had a busy weekend. First she was again, for the third time in a row, in the Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam performing her entry this year, Maybe . And also meeting a lot of familiar faces, giving interviews and also having some fun. The day after she was a guest star in The Dome in Brighton where the 40th anniversary of ABBA's win with Waterloo was celebrated. She sung of course Maybe , but also Gigliola Cinquetti's runner up in 1974, Si . Dressed in a blue dress just like Gigliola, she gave a lovely Valentinalised version of that fantastic song and the audience loved it. Maybe her next project could be an album full of Italian classics performed in her style? How about Dio come ti amo as bossanova?

Krista Siegfrids and her Team Ding Dong were in last Saturday's Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam and surely wasn't left as wall flowers. She rocked the stage and got the audience wild, and shocked some, but pleased most with a Saphic kiss in the end of her performance with Reetta Korhonen. "It was all planned and yes, it was a statement for equal marriage right!" she says. "Everyone should have the right to marry whether it is two men or two women. If I can help with it great!" In Finland Tahdon2013 campaign has gathered already 148.000 signs this past few weeks and Krista is among the public supporters. "Audience went really wild in Amsterdam and in social medias I have only got positive comments about it. Some have been wondering how I dare as there are also conservative countries in Eurovision who won't understand it, but one needs to do something to make things happen. We plan to shook up Europe a little, and this was only a start!...

  Happy survivors :-) The Eurovision in concert 2013 in Amsteram didn't have an happiest ending for Italian Marco Mengoni and Lithuanian Andrius Pojavis who were abroad a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Milan. Soon after the plane had reached the flying height the smell of smoke filled the plane and the right engine was apparently on fire.  The plane had to turn back and make an emergency landing in back to Schiphol airport. Pojavis reports to Lithuanian press there was some panic aboard with 112 passangers but apparently all ended well and both singers were scared but safe and ok now. UPD. It seems now that both have taken another flight back to Milan. This must have been a rather shaky experience for Mengoni who isn't so fond of flying! UPD2: Mengoni and Pojavis are already in Milan after taking another plane. Otherwise the situation is getting more confusing; some reports claim the plane took fire BEFORE take off, not when on air?! Anyways, Mengoni himself has pos...

All Eurovision fans eyes are on Amsterdam, if they are not there themselves like Blogilkar's collaborators. Here's a little teaser of what's going on, Carola performing for the fans and this edition's artists Captured by a lovestorm/Fångad av en stormvind , her winning entry in Eurovision 1991. Worth noting Krista Siegfrids and her girls doing a great back up all through the song! And there's also a video of Krista interviewing her childhood idol Carola by escstats here . Will she be couching Krista to Eurovision victory? And here's just for the fun of it a photo of Marco Mengoni and Valentina Monetta.....  And if Johnny Logan is Mr Eurovision, Carola has now been officially crowded as Miss Eurovision... And here are Marco,   Krista and Valentina in video, too...

Valentina Monetta has released the English version of Crisalide (Vola) titled Crysalis (You'll be flying). Not bad, but it's a relief it is sung in Italian in Malmö 2013 Eurovision! The lyrics are witten by Jim Leary and Valentina will premier it in London Eurovision Party on April 21, 2013.... Meanwhile Valentina will be in Amsterdam's Eurovision in Concert this weekend.... Read Valentina's exclusive interview here .

Namely the number of artists taking part. A new record! One more and the event would beat the real Eurovision final in number of performing acts. We have to also count in the special guest, Carola Häggkvist and the presenters, ex-Eurovision stars themselves, namely Marlaine and Linda Wagenmakers. Today's addition as all female: Birgit Õigemeel from Estonia (who btw has recently revealed she's pregnant, congratulations!), Moran Mazor from israel, Aliona Moon from Moldova (will Pasha Parfeny travel to Amsterdam?) and finally the Serbian girls of Moje 3. I'm regretting more and more I'm not able to go..... More information here .

Two more acts joins the (nearly) sold out Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam: Italian Marco Mengoni and Slovenian Hannah Mancini . That brings the amount to 22 out of 39, or well over the half of them :-) The concert takes place in Amsterdam's Melkweg on April 13, 2013 and will be presented by two Eurovision veterans Marlayne and Linda Wagenmakers and the line up will also feature as a supermega guest star Carola ! And PeR, Cezar, Valentina Monetta, Nodi & Sophie, Elitsa & Stoyan, Klapa s Mora, Koza Mostra & Agathonas Iakovidis, Dina Garipova, Ryan Dolan, Zlata Ognevich, Natália Kelly, Gianluca Bezzina, Andrius Pojavis, Roberto Bellarosa, Krista Siegfrids, Adraijan & Bledar, Amandine Bourgeois, Takasa, Esma & Vlatk o and Alyona Lanskaya . More info here .

Eurovision in concert is proving to be a huge success also this year. The latest addition to the line up is none other than Carola ! She will be celebrating 30 years of Främling with international fans and the artists of the 2013 Eurovision song contest. Good news for Krista Siegfrids who as a little girl sung Fångad av en stormvind in front of a mirror dreaming she could do Eurovision one day... And now she's there! Dreams do come true at times! The list of artists so far includes Nodi & Sophie (Georgia), Elitsa & Stoyan (Bulgaria), Klapa s Mora (Croatia), Koza Mostra & Agathonas Iakovidis (Greece), Dina Garipova (Russia), Ryan Dolan (Ireland), Zlata Ognevich (Ukraine), Natália Kelly (Austria), Gianluca Bezzina (Malta), Andrius Pojavis (Lithuania), Roberto Bellarosa (Belgium), Krista Siegfrids (Finland), Adraijan & Bledar (Albania), Amandine Bourgeois (France), Takasa (Switzerland), Esma & Vlatko (Macedonia), Alyona Lanskaya (Belarus). ...

Oh yes, it's happening again, Eurovision in Concert will have it's 5th edition on April 13, 2013 in Melkweg, Amsterdam. This has become the annual event for the fans and artists to meet and greet before the main event in less hectic and formal happening. Half or more of the artists are expected to take part once again and the list will be updated in due time. Stay tuned! Meanwhile you can enjoy highlights of the 2012 and 2011 editions. 

This is a first for this blog, I have my man on the spot! Robert, who already did fantastic job with the Amsterdam concert and also interviewed Kurt Calleja , has just landed in Baku and as soon as his luggage will be found will start reporting directly from there for me and for you, folks! Stay tuned for specials, photos and interviews! I will be covering via internet the daily happenings in Baku from home once again. Tomorrow it starts for real once again! How time flies! And just before we get to see the songs on stage maybe it's time to reveal the personal favorites? Generally I think this is a very good and solid year so most songs get good marks: ***** Italy, Spain, Serbia, Sweden, Estonia ****1/2 Latvia, Albania, Denmark, Russia, Macedonia **** Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Norway, Belarus, Malta, Ireland, Hungary, Cyprus, San Marino, Switzerland, Iceland, Montenegro, Germany, United Kingdom, Slovenia ***1/2 France, Romania, Austria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Slovakia,...