Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Sonja Lumme turns 56 today. Long live life and night..... Congratulations! Sonja was a regular in the national finals in the 1980's and other contests and music programs in YLE. Her last participation is in 1992. She has released seven albums, last one in 2007. After that she's been on tv hosting a gardening show, and also on radio since 2011. She has also written already four gardening books. She also still gigs around. And as you can hear from the video below she's still got it - how about recording a boombastic pop album for a change?

Mikko Leppilampi, the host of Eurovision song contest 2007  in Helsinki, turns 39 today. Congratulations! Mikko shot to the fame when he landed his first movie role back in 2003 and besides getting the lead role he also won Jussi award aka the Finnish Oscar for it. In the next years he did 9 more films and a musical before he landed the hosting role in the 2007 Eurovision song contest next to Jaana Pelkonen. Since then he has done 17 more films, acted in seven tv-series, released an album as a singer, and hosted a variety of top tv-series from Dancing with stars to various top award and gala evenings, and countless visits to other series either as a host or a guest. In one word: he's been on screen ever since! Even in ads....

Kaija Kärkinen is maybe having one crazy night  tonight as it's her 55th birthday! Congratulations! Kaija was a unknown acting student from Lapland when she entered Euroviisut 1991 and won ahead of several big and famous names. She travelled to Rome and later married the song's composer and they formed a succesful duo. After 11 albums, a couple of kids and several hits they are still together and active. Oh Roma amoR! She's also the chairman of the Finnish organisation of songwriters and composers.

Ami Aspelund turns 64 today. Congratulations! Ami was already a veteran in the Finnish national selection when she finally won in 1983 after being a runner up in 1982 . She also participated several times after ther win scoring a third place again in 1988 . These days she still sings, often with her sister Monica, but the repertoire is more poetic and religious. 

Today's birthday boy is Pave Maijanen who turns 67!  Congratulations! Pave is singer, songwriter, musicians, producer, bassist, keyboardist, drummer and guitarist.  He started in bands and went solo in the 1980's and is already active in six decades! He's got so many songs his 4-cd greatest hits compilation does not even include his unfortunate Eurovision entry, nor it is the first song that comes to mind from him. What was it again?

Today's the day Samer el Nahhal aka OX turns 42. Born in Espoo of an Egyptian father and Finnish mother he found fame as Lordi's bassist as the half man-half bull creature after joining the band in 2005, just before Eurovision.  Congratulations!

Kun kello käy or When clock ticks the years go by and Kristiina turns 69 today! She was born in Stockholm of Finnish parents and only came to Finland in mid 60's. She recorded singles between 1967-70, mainly covers, and represented Finland in 1968 Eurovision and thanks to that managed to release an album. However in 1972 she moved back to Stockholm and studied as psychologist and therapist. In 2003 she made one-off return to singing by releasing an album .  Congratulations!

Even the monsters age. Today's birthday monster is Jussi Sydänmaa aka Amen, he turns 45! Espoo born Lordi's guitarist and one of the founding members. The mask is inspired by a dream he had of Amon-Ra from ancient Egypt so in short: he's a mummy that woke up to play in Lordi.  Congratulations!

Krista Siegfrids and her Team Ding Dong have surely been all over the place in Malmö 2013 and the past days have ended up in all sort of happenings.... Here pictured (from her Twitter) singing Fångad av en stormvind to Carola herself who is filming it - maybe she will get some hints how to do it? And singing Happy birthday to ESDM's David as a surprise. Here's the video . How sweet! Aww...