Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

How times flies? It feels like last week when ten years ago after two weeks of 24/7 Eurovision hassle non stop the grand final was here, I was sitting in the audience waving my Finnish flag and feeling so sleepy.... Amazing two weeks, house full of people, writing for a website, staying in the arena and in the press center from early morning to late night only to contnue to day at the EuroClub.  Amazing production also the final with Lordi's opening video and live performance. Who could forget Krisse, the princess of the republic? Jaana Pelkonen & Mikko Leppilampi the fantastic hosts? Santa Claus! The Apocalyptical interval act with more heavy rock than all other Eurovisions put together.... I'm a proud Finn!  Such wonderful colorful memories! Here's the final recap: And here's the full show:

Eros Ramazzotti is like wine, he just gets better with age. Vocally great, amazing musicians, great backing singers including Lidia Schillaci , who should have won the Operazione Trionfo back in 2002. But Eros, despite looking a bit tired and uninspired at first got the concert going soon and in the end the whole Hartwall Areena was on their feet dancing and singing along to Fuoco nel fuoco. Terra promessa, Dove c'è musica, Se bastasse una canzone and L'aurora got also Finns going. And most didn't mind he did a lot of his old songs, all the way from his two first albums. An old fart like this blogger was in heaven to hear songs like Una storia importante, Adesso tu, Un cuore con le ali, Cuori agitati and Musica é , songs that were made and listened when we both were young, Eros and I. After Infinitamente he sent a kiss to heaven to late Little Tony with "Ciao Tony!". I guess no one in arena got that. But I did. Beautiful stage with its multifunctional boxes,...

YLE has revealed some more details on Uuden musiikin kilpailu, ex-Euroviisut. One can send their entries until September 30 and the organizers are stressing the fact they are looking for new talents with personality and the best song possible, underlining the best song, not the best Eurovision song. They also promise a lot air play on YLE's radio stations. The shows that follow the process from demos to club gigs to recording the radio versions of the songs and finally the grand final will be shown on YLE2 on January 27, February 3, 10, 17 and 24, and the grand final will be live from Helsinki on February 25. The location for the final has not been revealed yet but as YLE promises big things fans are dreaming of Hartwall Areena or the brand new Musiikkitalo in the heart of Helsinki that will be opened on September 1, 2011.