Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Manu Laudic of Eva & Manu is one busy French boy. Last year he started Ritarit and they scored a hit with amazing Ritari . Now they're back and he's doing all the singing himself, in Finnish! The song's about longing for the south, sun and warmth, something all Finns can relate to. Well done!

Sweden's Melodifestivaen brings together every year the big names, well known names, a few new names and mixes a show that appeals to most Swedes - and not only. UMK in Finland has been changing from ... well, I don't know what it was ment to be really. In the current form no big names seem to be willing to be part of it, and if we think these years it has been running it has produced only one star: Krista Siegfrids, and Softengine to some level. Mikko Pohjola was ment to become big for example, but nothing happened. From last season's finalist NONE made any impact in the charts or music industry and all are already forgotten. Sad but true.  So, let's play with the idea UMK was actually remodelled with MF style. Big names, four semifinals and all. This is my outtake or who I would have invited for the first new styled UMK that I would also rename as Euroviisut . Simple as that! One can dream, right? Check out after the jump my choices for the first semifinal. An...

As Finland will be using UMK again for the national selection for the Eurovision song contest it will be hard to tell what the outcome will be. Hopefully YLE and UMK team got all weirdness out of their system last time and for 2016 will concentrate again on things that matter: a good song and a singer who can sing. Also, we never know how many songs were submitted nor who were left outside if 2015 is to repeat itself. Unlikely any big current names will be there, nor major has beens looking for a relaunch so let's concentrate on new fresh names, like Ritarit . Ritarit is a duo made of Jooel Jons (of Lake Jons ) and Emmanuel Laudic (aka Manu of Eva & Manu ). Their debut single comes with a great video and Manu even sings in excellent Finnish, he's French actually. Eva Louhivuori (aka Eva in Eva & Manu ) has written the lyrics. So, if Eva & Manu that I would love for Eurovision won't do it as themselves, they could enter in disguise as Ritarit. Pretty please...

Lucy who? Lucy Rose is an indie artist whose music has been played in various tv-shows and ads, and if BBC wants to go for something different and fresh she might be the one. She reminds me of Finnish-French duo Eva & Manu at times and that's only positive in my books. Her second album released this year made it to #9 in the UK charts. She's cute and likable somehow, with good catchy songs. What could possibly go wrong? Below is one of her songs but check more here , there's plenty of good stuff! 

Like last year I decided again look back and see who provided the soundtrack of my year 2014, or the albums I have listened and loved the most. One album stands above everything else for some many reasons, Valentina Monett a's Sensibilitá . I was able to follow its progress and shaping up, and then follow her to Copenhagen and experience such joy and happiness along with the team I will never forget. But also because it's a great album. Very variable in material but Valentina sings her way through the styles and songs with grace and dignity and shows what a talented vocalist and songwriter she is. Ralph Siegel has provided the Eurovision material including her entry Maybe and the other initial possibilities Guardami ancora , Il fiume and the title track , but Valentina explores other styles and rhythms in her own songs Il vento , Hotel , Per te , Molto di più .. An icing in the cake is A kiss , duet with Josh De Cadenex, one of the many guests on the album. This blogge...