Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Funny how James Blunt - who's latest UK Top-10 single as lead artist is from 2013 btw - comes out almost every year after Eurovision telling how he'd like to do it, like this tweet already in 2015: You have had already three years to actually take your words into action. What have you done about it? Another one out there indirectly again, Robbie Williams. Would he like to represent Russia? UK? whatever. As much as I would love to see Robbie do Eurovision  and should he win it, host it the year after, or simply host it should UK ever win it again this kind of free publicity is so cheap. And it is so funny how all websites fall for it every year. Oh yes, I'm here with it, too, but as you can see with another kind of approach.  Honestly I'd rather see Pet Shop Boys rethink and re-enter the game again....

Yet another failure for the UK in Eurovision hasn't been unnoticed by several big names. Simon Cowel l, the music tycoon says he would love to knock the “nul points” habit on the head by choosing the UK song for Europe. Simon says: “One hundred per cent I’d love to take the reins for Eurovision. I have thought about it. The idea of taking it on for one year and trying to get someone to represent the UK, someone new – I’d love that. I don’t think there’d be too much to lose. I think it’d be great fun.” Great fun? Well, what is he waiting for? Some others are not thinking it as great fun though, like Pop Idol‘s first ever winner Will Young who was asked if he would represent the UK at Eurovision. He didn’t mince his words. “No, I don’t think so because it’s going to be a bit of a poisoned chalice. I don’t want to do it. Please don’t make me do it.” For me that sounds more like a wish to make him do it. He wants it, can't just admit it :-)  Former X Factor runner-up Ol...

There's no doubt Laura Pausini is one of the most succesful Italian singers of all time. She broke through by winning the Sanremo 1993 Newcomers with La solitudine . Since then her record sales are counted in millions all over the world. She has recorded for the US market in English, in Spanish and Portuguese for the Latin market, in French for France. Countless collaborations and duets with world class stars have been her thing all the way. Tonight RAI 1 will broadcast (21.15 CET) her special show from the magnificient Greek anfitheater in Taormina, Sicily celebrating these 20 years with her. Of course she has also special guests and most importantly the past two Italian Eurovision acts: Marco Mengoni and Emma Marrone . Mengoni gets to do James Blunt 's bits in Primavera in anticipo (It is my song) while Emma is featured in Con la musica alla radio with other female stars ( Noemi, Paola Turci, Malika Ayane, L'Aura, Syria and La Pina ). Other guests of the night...

The 2012 season just got a bit weirder when BBC announced the nearly 76-year-old Engelbert Humperdinck will be their entrant in Baku 2012. Martin Terefe who has worked with Mary J. Blige has written the song with Sasha Skarbek who has worked with Adele, Lana Del Rey and James Blunt amongst others. Engelbert himself has a career going on for 45 years now, has sold over 150 million records, has received 63 gold and 24 platinum records, has won a Golden Globe and has stars on both Hollywood Walk of Fame and Las Vegas Walk of Fame. Now beat that! Who knows, maybe it's a goodie? And shame Lys Assia isn't going for Switzerland - they would have had a nostalgic small talk together!

Paradise oskar did a TV-programme The Mill sessions long before the Eurovision 2011 but it aired only earlier this month. Acoustic music, some interviews. A very good showcase. You can watch the best bits here . He also started his summer tour recently from Helsinki's DTM receiving very good reviews. Lots of adoring fans from Dusseldorf were present. This Sunday he is again in Helsinki along with James Blunt in Kaisafest .

Eurovision is over, at least for a little bit and it's time to prepare myself for Laura Pausini. She started the Finnish leg of her worrld tour last night in Tampere and is in Turku tonight. Wednesday she will be in Hartwall Areena in Helsinki once again and I'll be there, too! Last night's concert in Tamperetalo was sold out, and Laura's 12 trucks full of stuff the biggest thing on that stage ever... Watch here her latest single featuring James Blunt and other goodies: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCpD88WCT_g http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8s9PcBvisc http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJXT9bv27c0