Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

So it started. You can follow Eurovision Reddit here that is the only source of real information of the rehearsals so far.  As I have nothing to say as I've seen nothing I spare my comments until I do. If there's some other comments or media worth adding to I will do so right here.  Their new dresses are designed by Teemu Muurimäki as usual btw. And Pete's trousers are not too tight anymore to effect his vocal cords as the headlines screamed earlier.  This is what The Social media Guy wrote about Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen's Liekinheitin and Finland: 16:40 - He's ready to sing and she's ready to string 🎤 🎻 Linda Lampenius stands alone on the deserted stage of what was once an orchestra. Now, it’s been littered with the overturned chairs and sheet-music stands of Linda’s former musician colleagues. But what could possibly have happened here? Shall we head to the confessional box to find out? There, we find Pete Parkkonen, and he’s been in touch with the ...

The Big5 + host had their first rehearsal Thursday night while the world was waiting for the new Pope that appeared from the white smoke between UK and France.  Germany has upped their game from the national final bringing curtains, huge 80's style boombox prop, LED electric cello and four dancers. Fandom hopes Tynna has also brought the voice as it's been missing most pre-contest season.  France premiered their song in a packed stadium hanging meters high in the air in front of tens of thousands of people and the video gave us completely different imaginary. And here they have yet another one: sand covered circle of  hour glass with time running out as the girl grows up to woman and then to mother herself. Sounds very pretty and promising I can say that much without seeing anything. United Kingdom bring along to their chaotic morning after a huge chandelier and a boudoir screen. And their vocal harmonies. And yes, it's the very first staging we have for it, taking a tiny...

The rehearsals started on stage in Liverpool arena for the Eurovision song contest 2023 yesterday and today we continue with the rest of the first semi-final, including Finland, and some first acts from the second semi-final.. As Ebu once again is using TikTok for the short tiny rehearsal clips I'm not going to care much of them. But here is a collection of photos and impressions and observations by your truly of the closed doors happenings. Mind you, I'm all in favor for this closed door policy: the delegations must have a little bit privacy and peace and quiet to polish their acts before they are given to the sharks aka fandom eager to criticize every tiny detail. And also I kinda like the idea we are given as little as possible to watch before the shows so there will be surprises and wow effect - if you have seen it all beforehand where's the fun? The first rehearsal is 30 minutes for each meaning 3-4 run through. After that the delegation gathers to a viewing room and c...

The time has come: Also the Big 5 countries have arrived and have had their first rehearsals on stage in Turin.  France brings the beat with dance and folk, black and gold wardrobe, a podium on stage. Add pyros, flames, floor graphics and flashing lights and even a wink from Alvan in the end. More is more! I still don't the appeal of this song and by no means this is a winner. Italy next with Eurovision 2019 runner up Mahmood wearing something he surely won't be wearing come Saturday I think with sunglasses, too. He flew in from Madrid concert last night and apparently didn't get any sleep in between. so..... Blanco on the other hand is having a concert in Florence tonight and wasn't present but there was a stand in. No pyros as they would really be unnecessary but there's smoke. And very simple backdrop with some great white lightning. Italy is closer than any country for a long time to do a double, but maybe this is still a bit too special for a winder European te...

And here's the first rehearsal of the remaining Big5 . France gives us nothing new or exciting but the Edith Piaf meets Patricia Kaas and becomes Barbara Pravi in this ageless number od darkness, lights and hand gestures that is currently the odds number one. Will she win in the end and do I want her to? I don't know. Being a fan of both Piaf and Kaas I'm not so into something so copycat really I think. I'd love France to win again but with this one? Maybe not..... United Kingdom's best part is James Newman himself, love his voice. The staging seems rather fitting with those fake trumpet player dancers but then again is it something original or captivating? Maybe not. Could be a lot worse, too. All in all this could be the year UK's final placing won't start with number 2.... Spain brings more or less the staging seen already in the national "final" with moon and universe (nice link to his last year's entry) and the song's been re-arranged ...

 Italy - Mahmood - Soldi **** Well, can't say much about this short clip, and apparently he's still not totally recovered from his illness earlier this week. He has his lyrics projected in the backdrop and three dancers interpreting the drama as well. Need to wait and see more but now I'm cautiously hopeful.... Did you check out the new versions of Soldi with Finnish and Spanish twist?   United Kingdom - Michael Rice - Bigger than us ** To be honest not very impressed. But then again I didn't see much, and what I heard sounded a bit like Michael all of sudden had imitated Mahmood.... It looks like ve have another revival of good old Eurovision backing singers swinging to the left and to the right..... Germany - S!sters - Sister * Again inspiring words. Photos. Multiple faces we already have with Russia and North Macedonia, Hungary and who knows who else I don't know yet. The blonde wig is worse than Bilal's... I can't find much nice ...

 Israel - Kobi Marimi - Home **** This is one of my top favorites this year and it's a bit hard to be objective. What little I can see from the video above it's kept rather simple, which is good. Kobi's voice is enough. Now I don't know if they're using the new version of the song or the original. I'd love the original with the wonderful lamenting intro instead of the orchestrated one but I also understand the reasons why they may have changed it. Understand but not agree. I wait for the 2nd rehearsal to see if this gets the 5th star.   France - Bilal Hassani - Roi *** Inspiring words in the background, long long wig and two very different dancers on stage with him - isn't the one on left from some Talent or where did I see her?! Anyways, I'm not a big fan of these preacher ones and even if Bilal isn't Conchita with the message the comparison is too easy to make and that might make this a bit feel like same old, same old. Also this I nee...

Now that we have seen all but the Big5+1 performances it seems it's mainly recycled ideas (Moldova, hello? Snow or sand it still looks the same old...) and props such as wings and huge drums, so early 2000's, and robots (So San Marino)... Even Russia that was expected to bring something revolutionary has only got mirror images (that re-enter the stage a few songs later thanks to North Macedonia) and borrowed boxes - all such dejavús.... Augmented reality and holograms could still change the game - if someone is using them and we haven't yet seem them in proper use....  Wings.  Jungle fever.  No lions.  Multiple Sergey.  Egyptian warrior queen.  Northern lights I presume.....  Winning simplicity? Multiple Tamaras. Robots.