Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

I'm so excited. Why? That being one of my favourite songs of all time what an earth had it to do with Eurovision? They just may have destroyed that song for me. I am not going to see or hear that bit ever again, that's for sure.....Borrowing the Finnish commentator the Viennese waltz bit was the best interval act so far... Enough said! The quiz show for example is horrendous waste of time.  Tonight, Bulgaria indeed was boombastic, Armenia worked surprisingly well, too. Romania in the end was a bit meh, Cyprus too. Australia indeed dated and a bit overworked, even by Delta herself vocally and in manners. Sad. Albania was touching, I may have shed almost a tear when the glasses were gone.... Luxemburg had nice visuals but the song is what it is and I think Eva Marija performed a lot better in the national final. Aidan clearly gave it all to Bella but was the national final staging better anyways? And yes, I loved the UK, France wasn't staged as well as I expected but Austria ...

After five years of semi-final Norway is back to one night Melodi Grand prix when nine songs will battle out the ticket to Basel 2025 Eurovision on February 15. The show also returns to Oslo's Spektrum. Originally it was supposed to be ten songs but Lavrans Svedsen withdraw in the last minute. Also Angelina Jordan withdrew a week before due to Los Angeles wildfires as she lives there. It is however not revealed who from the backup list replaced her. Svedsen won't be repalced thus only nine entries. The line up sees two winning comebacks: Bobbysocks or Elisabeth Andreassen and Hanne Krogh return after 4o years of giving Norway it's first win in 1985 with La det swinge. Another returnee is back after 20 years is Wig Wam. Should Elisabeth win again it'd be her fifth and record breaking time in Eurovision song contest leaving San Marino's Valentina Monetta and Switzerland's Peter, Sue & Marc behind. She has also placed well every time: 8th, 1st, 6th and 2nd. Han...

The announcement came in a press conference this morning, held by Moldova1 Director Corneliu Durnescu, and the Moldovan Head of Delegation, Daniela Crudu:  "The decision was not an easy one, but it was necessary in the current context. This year’s national selection highlighted certain challenges, including a decrease in the public interest and the overall quality of artistic plays and performances. This has generated a negative perception among specialists and the public, stressing the need for a substantial reform in the selection process. We consulted music specialists, and most of them expressed serious reservations about Moldova’s participation this year, in agreement with the opinion of the jury that TRM selected for this edition. We respect the opinions of professionals and of the general public, and we understand that we have to make responsible decisions. This decision was not an easy one, but we assure you that it was analysed in detail. We know that we all wanted to org...

I saw the list already a week ago or so, but since yesterday it has really taken wings on social medias and chat rooms and caused even Yle to comment today the matter for Ilta-Sanomat. Yle commented on the matter rather sparingly, and did not take a direct position. "There have been many kinds of lists in circulation this year as well, but Yle will announce the competitors on 10.1. in the live broadcast starting at 8 p.m.",  UMK's chief producer Anssi Autio said.  "Of course it's quite unfortunate, but it's hard to keep them a secret. However, Yle is not doing this alone, there are many other factors, starting with record companies. I can't say where the information came from this year. However, it has been unearthed from somewhere" , Autio commented on the incident last year for the same Ilta-Sanomat after the names leaked.. UMK has a history of leaks but time will tell if this year's this list is a real one: Cyan Kicks would be a comeback, Sexm...

Tonight the second semi-final took place and got to see who joined Norway, Serbia, Portugal, Croatia, Switzerland, Israel, Moldova, Sweden, Czechia and Finland plus the Big 5 Italy, Spain, France, UK and Germany with  Ukraine in the grand final.  Well, a lot of pink to start with. Why was Estonia having those weird movements as she clarly concentrated at one point only to remember where to walk and rush. How much did Cyprus actually sing live? Iceland was even messier than I expected..... And Greece made it even worse. If these two had kids..... Is it only me but I don't understand Victor's English?! If someone had a sparkle i the eye that was San Marino's singer. And I repeat myself but one of the most secured singers this year. As were Lithuania and Australia, very convincing.  Ok, again 8/10 as I dropped Poland even if I should have known better and I risked with San Marino because as someone once said "Once Sammarinese, always Sammarinese", how could I not sup...

The first semi-final is over and we have finalists! I predicted 8/10 and exactly those I toyed around switched places: I had Latvia and Azerbaijan in and Serbia and Czechia out. Oh well... All in all good show. Great stage, beautiful use of colors and lights, not too many pyros for the sake of having pyros. Pretty nice hosting trio, but Hannah Waddingham is right there with Filomena Caurela and Petra Mede becoming a legend! Good opening and intervals, nothing extraoridnary but decent and enjoyable. Nicely Ukraine remembered here and there and a lot of Käärijä as well in both background in green room and in the little dance instructor segment. Can't wait for Saturday! The fever is high and it's real. Loved his It's crazy it's party outro in his performance, and the first bit in the box was pretty amazing! Oh by the way Finland has never made it to the final three years in row since the semis started! In the first half of the gran final will perform Finland (sigh), Switze...

Latvia's Supernova had one semi-final were five entries were dropped from the grand final line up and among qualifiers was Markus Riva, on his 9th attempt. He has declared he will try forever, or until he wins and gets to Eurovision. Another known name, Euroviison veteran Justs didn't make the cut. 24. Avēnija - You said * Ok, that was more like a modern dance performance rather than a proper song. Yawn. Alise Haijima - Tricky* Ok, this is exactly kind of music that I don't care for. Rather annoying realy but that's just me.  Artūrs Hatti - Love vibes *** Now this is a lot my cup of tea! The song is though better than his performance and what an earth is that jacket with that beanie?! Sadly the studio version is a lot better. Some eye contact with the camera would help, too. Avéi - Let me go ** Another confusing performance that doesn't convince me. The song itself isn't maybe that bad but that dress and dancer distract from hearing it. Luize - You to hold me *...

Moldova's national final for Eurovision 2023 named Etapa nationala 2023 this time around will have its final on March 4. Ten songs made it to the grand final out of 33 valid submissions, two of them later found unvalid and disqualified plus one artist not showing up to the auditions, Among the finalists three Euroviison veterans: Aliona Moon (2013), Pasha Parfeni (2012) and Sunstroke Project (2010, 2017) who also held the record of best placing at Eurovision, 3rd in 2017.  In the final there will be televote/expert jury. The audition round ranking is public so below I review the songs in that ranking from first to tenth. I decided consider only the audition videos as not everyone seems to have yet the studio version out. I'm sure some of these will sound and look quite different come final night. Sunstroke Project - Yummy mommy ** After Hey mamma it's Yummy mommy and sadly their third entry is their weakest, all heard before. Lacking energy despite the original The Epic Sax...

France has found it's track on Eurovision success again and was the runner up (and sour loser) last year A jury has chosen the 12 finalist who will be first voted by televoters alone and five songs will make the second round. One more act will be chosen as a wild card by the jury. The six super-finalists will be then re-voted. Listening to these songs after Germany and Denmark restores my faith in Eurovision. Merci! I have quite a few favorites but I have no idea who should go to Eurovision but I do have many songs for my playlist for sure! And this seasons first five stars! Alvan & Ahez - Fulenn *** This seems to be already a fan favorite, maybe the same ones who wanted Tanxueiras for Spain? I'm old enough to have lived through the ethno-Eurovision decade so I don't warm up to these so much anymore. Still better than anything in Germany or Denmark ;-p Cyprien Zeni - Ma famille *** This is exactly what I hear everytime I try to check on what's going on French charts...

Along with the three Baltic states also Ukraine is to have its national final for the Eurovision song contest tonight. No semi-finals but a straight up final in Kyiv eight finalists. Before the announcement of those a short list of 27 acts in consideration was published, and right after Laud had made it he was disqualified as his song Head under water was proved to have been published already in 2018. Barleben got his place in the final line up. There will be a jury/televote 50/50. So what to think about these? Most everyone needs a revamp to stand out. Alina Pash, Kalush orchestra and Roxolana are for me the three possible ones, all needing a major revamp before Turin though.  Barleben - Hear my words ** I listened and this went by without a trace. I like the piano though. Cloudless - All be alright ** Quite standers pop rock. You wait forever to this take off and it never does really. Verses are pretty nice but chorus a yawn.  Michael Soul - Demons * Very uninteresting three...

Sanremo 2022 artists come from three different submissions: First the newcomers (over 700, read more here ) and Area Sanremo choose the 12 finalists for Sanremo Giovani, wherefrom two lucky ones get the ticket to the Big, and only, category in Sanremo 2022 itself, where the artists are chosen from submissions and invites from artistic director Amadeus & co.  Area Sanremo gets four of its chosen artists to the Giovani final instead of two as previous years. The submissions were over 400, and after auditions  56 made it to further auditions on November 19-21, where from only 20 will make it to the next step. Yet another audition in front of Amadeus & co. will pick up the 4 for Sanremo Giovani live on television on December 15. They will join the eight chosen via Sanremo Giovani selections. Area Sanremo (ex-Accademia della canzone di Sanremo, ex-SanremoLab) has produced names like Anna Tatangelo (2001), Arisa (2008), Simona Molinari (2008), Renzo Rubino (2012) and Mahmood...

  Oh well, I didn't get the jackpot by ignoring Moldova. Should have known better but 9/10 (and 19/20 overall I can be happy, no?)  What a moment when AHOY audience was chanting "Finland! Finland! Finland!" before the last announcement. Priceless! Anyways, here are the finalists: Albania will perform in the 1st half in final Serbia will perform in the 1st half in final Bulgaria will perform in the 2nd half in final Moldova will perform in the 2nd half in final Portugal will perform in the 1st half in final Iceland will perform in the 1st half in final San Marino will perform in the 2nd half in final Switzerland will perform in the 1st half in final Greece will perform in the 1st half in final Finland will perform in the 2nd half in final

After all auditions and live eliminations on television here they are: the ten Sanremo Giovani finalists for the December 19, 2019 final on RaiUno. Five of them will get to 70th Sanremo festival in February, joined by two AreaSanremo winners and the winner of SanremoYoung selection, making the final eight. Fasma - Per sentirmi vivo   FINALIST Avincola - Un rider Thomas - NE 80 Eugenio in Via Gioia - Tsunami   FINALIST Fadi - Due noi   FINALIST Jefeo - Un due tre stella Rèclame - Il viaggio di ritorno Leo Gassmann - Vai bene cosi   FINALIST Shari - Stella Marco Sentieri - Billy Blue   FINALIST I can't say I agree a lot with the outcome so far. Simple don't get those autotuned semi-rappers..... They kicked out for example these:

Yle has today announced they have received 426 songs and a jury of ten persons has cut the songs down to six for the March 7 final in Tampere's Mediapolis studios. The artists and songs will be revealed Janaury 21 in a live stream on Yle Areena. "The music industry's response to the return to open competition was really positive. The participating songs featured with some of Finland's best songwriters, composers and producers. The finalist songs were selected by a jury of ten, featuring music experts from inside and outside of YLE. The final level is really high and the songs are versatile in terms of both style and artist. I hope that as many Finns as possible find an artist and song that they think  is perfect for representing Finland in Eurovision", says Tapio Hakanen, Head of Music at YleX and head of UMK's expert jury. Now we can only wait and see if any of those who didn't make it come forward with their entries in Youtube and social medias......

The second semi-final of the 64th Eurovision song contest in Expo Tel Aviv, Israel has just ended and the combined jury and televote has given us the ten qualifiers for the final to join  Cyprus, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Belarus, Serbia, Australia, Iceland, Estonia, Greece and San Marino : Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Malta, Russia, Albania, Norway, The Netherlands, North Macedonia and Azerbaijan . What can I say? I predicted 8/10. I was afraid people would fall for the Croatian cheese fest again and maybe they did and the juries put them down, we will find out come Sunday morning, and I was hoping for Austria that I switched with Denmark with the last minute, and I was also toying with Albania and Armenia, more with Albania. Armenia proved once again an aggressive female artist doesn't work in Eurovision. Sadly we have say goodbye to these eight: Armenia, Ireland, Moldova, Latvia, Romania, Austria, Croatia and Lithuania Performing in the...