Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

It's already 14 years since Turkey scored its first (and maybe last as they're long gone) win at the Eurovision song contest with Sertab Eerener's Everyway that I can . She's now joined a street & ferry musician Evrencan Gündüz for this stripped down jazzy 'n bluesy version of the winning song.  When not jamming with his idol Sertab,  this up and coming musician can be found singing in the streets of Kadıköy in Istanbul -  since singing in the ferry between Europe and Asia is now forbidden..... PS. Never to be ut down, she's went to sing on the ferry anyways, allowed or not!

Turkish Mahmut Orhan already collaborated with rising star Sena Sener in a cover of Self control , but now they come together again with an original song Feel , that is quite wonderful for the ethnic vibe, her voice and the stunning views of Istanbul. 

Elnur Hüseynov (28) is no stranger to Eurovision having already scored 8th place in 2008 when he provided Azerbaijan's debut entry Day after day in the contest with Samir. Since then this falsetto singingTurkmenistan born artist with the inceredible voice has starred in Notre-Dame de Paris in Ucraine and won O Ses Türkiye or  The Voice of Turkey where he even covered Sertab Erener's  Aşk , her opening act in Istanbul 2004 Eurovision and one of this blogger's favorite songs. Another reason to like Elnur.  Elnur's talent was discovered early and he attanded a school for gifted kids and specialized in piano. But he didn't chose music career first as he graduated from medical school with a degree in dentistry. Yet he wasn't only interested in teeth and took hairdressing classes. At some point he had time to graduate also from Music Collage, work at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, sing in Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Choir and win a...

EBU has announced today that 36 countries are to take part in Eurovision 2014 in Copenhagen next May. The number could still rise to 37 if Slovenian TV finds a sponsor within January 17th. If not, 36 it is, the lowest since Istanbul 2004 (36) or Athens 2006 (37). Portugal and Poland make a welcome comeback while Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia and Serbia from last year decided to stay home this time. Greece debuts with its new broadcaster NERIT. Bosnia & Herzegovina and Turkey continue their absense. EBU also stated that many of these countries have already expressed their intention to return next year when Eurovision song contest celebrates its 60th anniversary. The participants are: Albania (RTSH) , Armenia ( AMPTV), Austria (ORF), Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV), Belarus (BTRC), Belgium (VRT), Denmark (DR), Estonia (ERR), Finland (YLE), France (France 3), Georgia (GPB), Germany (NDR), Greece (NERIT), Hungary (MTV), Iceland (RÚV), Ireland (RTÉ), Israel (IBA), Italy (RA...

Sertab Erener dueted with Mando in Ask/Fos before she won the Eurovision 2003 for Turkey when Mando sung for Greece with less spectacular results. Here's the fantastic track in original http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=t35c7tRQQPg and here the very explosive Istanbul opening with the English version Leave http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=0zYqlT4HsEU . And that is, folks, the most exciting and memorable 5 minutes of my Eurovision history! Yes, it tops Helsinki 2007 - was just too involved and too tired, lol, and Lordi's winning, that took more than 5 minutes to understand and believe! But this opening was my first Eurovision live and Sertab was simply amazing as was the atmosphere in the hall. Still gives me shivers everytime I see it. I'd gladly go back to Istanbul very soon....

During Riikka's interview Jari Sillanpää joins in. Riikka: "Stay away or I will tell details of what happened in Istanbul by night!" Jari: "Riikka has promised to take me in her backing choir this time! " Riikka: "I don't know. Only if you manage to keep your pants on this time, ha ha haa...!" Hmm... Can we have details? And why did Jari change his outfit between final rehearsal and the live show?