Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The Eurovision song contest 2023 in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine is turning out very Ukraine as promised with a string of Ukrainian artists coming back to belt out their Eurovision successes. Throw in a bit of British by giving a slot also to last year's runner up (and not only), invite some Eurovision favorites to sing Liverpool Songbook. Add Rita Ora and some drag queens (because why not?) and me thinks it looks like a very nice mix! Grand final Opening act: Kalush Orchestra - Stefania Interval act: Sam Ryder - Space man  Flag parade: Go_A - Shum, Jamala - 1944, Tina Karol - Show me your love, Verka Serduchka - Dncing lasha tumbai Liverpool Songbook: Mahmood, Netta, Dadi Freyer, Cornelia Jakobs, Duncan Laurence, Sonia Semifinal One Opening act: Julia Sanina - Mayak Interval acts: Rita Ora - Medley of hits + Praising you,  Alyosha with Rebecca Ferguson - Ordinary world Semifinal Two Interval acts: Maria Yaremchuk, Otoy, Zlata Dziunka - Medley of Ukrainian Music Podilya dan...

The Eurovision song contest 2021 was a great success in every way, there's no doubt about that. It managed to keep the virus out (well, almost....) and gave people all around Europe what they wanted: a live show. That is proven by the viewing figures that are all over Europe the best ones in many years if not record breaking. (Well, almost...) 183 million people turned in to watch the shows on television or online where over 50 million people in 234 countries joined in! But the real success comes afterwards in streaming platforms. I have never witnessed such a rush to download and stream the Eurovision songs. And so many of them! Besides the winners Italian Måneskin who has really taken over the globe with their music, not only the winning song but their music in general, notable success has been evident for Ukrainian Go-A and Finnish Blind Channels, but that's just to name a few.  I have already lost of Måneskin's records including the most streamed Italian song within 24 ...

Today the first semi-final ones (except for Malta) had their second rehearsal, this time 20 minutes that allowed them about three run throughs to see the adjustments made after the first rehearsals and try possible further ones as the next rehearsal will be already the first full semi final show rehearsal next Monday.  Photos and videos as always lovingly from  eurovision.tv   Romania has a clear idea what they want to do, but in context of Eurovision it sadly looks rather boring and unoriginal, like it was taken from any random tv-show and apparently Roxen isn't exactly at her best in the rehearsals either . Has she taken a bite of something too big for her shoes to dance that way and sing, too? I was sure Romania would qualify and do well but now I'm leaning towards a possible NQ... Azerbaijan is another act that brings nothing new and exciting, including recycling the last year' song. I do like the colors on stage and the hint of mystical east in it but the song's no...

  Ukraine has revealed their choice for Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam. Go_A who won the national final last year were internally selected this time for another shot at it. Among the songs they proposed three were in the running until today a jury has chosen Shum (ШУМ) . The song was released already last week with a note it was not meant for Eurovision but due to positive feedback here it is. The song will be shortened to meet the three minutes rule and gets a revamp before Rotterdam. 

Ukraine - Go-A - Solovey I kinda liked this when it was selected but didn't pay much attention to it other than the sharp faced lady and the fact the song sits nicely into Finno-Ugric heritage in style. Fast forward now and I love it more and more. Now it gets a nine but I have a feeling this could have blossomed on stage in Rotterdam into a full 10. But for now 9/10 Lithuania - The Roop - On fire I liked The Roop the first time they tried to get into Eurovision and this time even more. There's nothing I don't like in this one. It may look like a joke entry but it's not; there's melody, there's hook, there are excellent vocals and I love his voice. The choreography adds to the whole package and this might have been heading to Lithuania's best placing ever, if not the first win. And it comes with an important message that I for once can relate.   10/10 Russia - Little Big - Uno Talking about joke entry... well, this is not one eithe...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Ukraine at n.o 4. Ukraine, Ukraine.... so many troubles this decade. Still doing great success - when they managed to take part. Due to the crisis with Russia and financial matter they stayed home in 2015 just to come back and win it in 2016. And just like back in 2005 they did poorly at home compared to their other efforts. 2019 again the trouble with Russia caused withdrawel for Maruv (that I have included here just because it's so awesome and err,.. I needed nine songs) Unlike many I think Jamala was a worthy winner in 2016 and the only Ukrainian entry I never cared for is Be my guest really.... The Ukrainian national finals also provide a lot of drama every...

  Go_A has been around since 2012 and released their debut album in 2016. They are known for their electro-folk style that mixes with traditional elements and way of singing, African drums and explosive dance routines. A live band as there a few! Go_A comes from a combination of the English world "go" and the Greek alphabet alpha, thus meaning "go to the origin, or beginning". They have already toured abroad a lot and spread their joyful message that reminds this blogger of traditional Carelian chants, the same genre that Kuunkuiskaajat did in 2010 but less traditional and more electronic,  in various festivals. Current line up is  Kateryna Pavlenko, Ihor Didenchuk, Taras Shevchenko and Ivan Hryhoriak.

Last night also Ukraine had the final of Vidbir and both the jury and televoters determined the winner in 50-50 manner and for a change they both totally agreed. Solovey (aka Nightingale) by Go_A was the winner with their original song that mixes modern pop with more traditional way of singing. To me it sounds like Carelian weeping women chants.  Go_A was founded by multi-instrumentalist Taras Shevshenko in 2012 and the members have changed many times ever since. Today the lead singer is Kateryna Pavlenko, Ivan Grigoryak the guitarist. The band has participated in many festivals home and abroadand has won awards here and there and released a few records.  Check out all last night's performances here: Go_A - Solovey (jury 6 + televote 6) 12 Krutь - 99 (5 + 4) 9 Khayat - Call for love (4 + 5) 9 Tvorchi - Bonfire (2 + 3) 5 David Axelrod - Horizon (3 + 2) 5 Jerry Heil - Vegan (1 + 1) 2