Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

If someone told me back in 2019 when Achille Lauro arrived to Sanremo with his Rolls Royce that 1,5 years later I'll be expecting and excited about his album I would have laughed that off as a good joke. Yet here I am, listening to 1990 that is filled with covers or rather reworked versions of 1990's hits with guest stars like Alexia, Annalisa and Eiffel 65 liking it a lot. Truth to be said I kinda liked Rolls Royce but didn't quite dare to say it to even to myself aloud. Come Sanremo 2020 and Me ne frego and his fabulous outfits night after night, after the 1990 single, 16 Marzo and this summer's Bam bam twist . I'm a fan. Against all odds.  This album will be for the youngsters a similar discovery box as Janet Jackson's Janet album was with all its countless Motown samples. 

Everyone knows Paula today as the American Idol judge, but she's been judging X Factor, So you think you can dance and many others. Her career however started when she was discovered by The Jacksons when she was cheerleading the Lakers. Soon she was choreographing their video and tour, and later Janet Jackson's Nasty and Control , did choreographies for movies and shows and then someone asked: Can she sing? The rest is history. Three hit albums in late 80's-mid 90's and a string of hits followed with six US #1's in a row with wins MTV Music awards and others. I was a fan. Extra points for taking Ofra Haza along to My love is for real .  Check out also:

  Janet's Control album gave a hint of things to come and Rhythm Nation 1814 was fabulous, even if for me the best one is janet. that followed. I have never been a Michael Jackson fan but Janet, I always had a soft spot for her.  Check out also:

  Sometimes it's good to dust off the CD shelves and listen to something you haven't listened for years and walk down the memory lane. Music makes memories and becomes the soundtrack of your life. Younger readers don't even know Paula Abdul seriously challenged Madonna and Janet Jackson as the dancing pop queen in the late 80's/early 90's. Over 20 million albums sold worldwide in a couple of years and a string of hits between 1988-1991 like Straight Up , Cold hearted , Opposites attract , Forever your girl , Knocked out , Rush rush and My love is for real featuring late Ofra Haza. I was a fan, and this funny Vibelology off her second album was a huge a favorite. Enjoy!

By 1990's Motown was coming to an end as we know it and Shanice and her I love your smile is one of the last big hits it provided, US #2 as well UK #2. The curiosity is the mix included laughter by Janet Jackson - keep it in the Motown family! Shanice has been also acting and doing musicals, and keeps recording even if her latest chart appearance is in 2009.   The song has been covered by R'n'G , Tiffany Evans, Kaori Kobayashi and Ukrainian Julia Voice. It has been sampled or mentioned in Talib Kwell's Eardrum album and Zimbabwean Roki's Zuva neZuva

DeBarge family from Detroit was to become the new Jackson family and released albums for Motown in early 1980's. However, Rhythm of the night in 1985 was their only Top-5 hit, #3, and is more remembered as the song that kickstarted Diane Warren's career and she has became one of the most succesful songwriters ever. The song was  co-produced by Giorgio Moroder.  Soon after song's success El and Bunny signed solo deals with Motown, while the group was dropped after it was evident most of the members were on drugs, except El who had a zero tolerance. A few years alter it was finished altogether when Bobby and Chico were arrested for drug trafficking.... Meanwhile the liaison with Jackson family came reality when Janet married secretly James DeBarge in 1984. The marriage was annulled the year after though. The song charted also well in Europe (UK #4).   Covers include the one by Valeria for Moulin Rouge soundtrack, 911 , and in Spanish by Sophy

Ok, this is old news but worth a mention anyways. I adore Craig David. He's got one of the best voices ever. Period. And a string of very good songs to match, like and Walking away . Seven days , Rise & fall , Rendez vous , You don't miss your water , Insomnia and Rewind . For his Greatest Hits he recorded a new version with the old trick: guest singers from different markets like Nek for Italy and Alex Ubago for Spain. And for the German market he hired Monrose - and this gives me the Eurovision connection :-) - who took part in the German selection 2007 with Even heaven cries .  As I said this is old news as Craig is back already with a new album filled with fantastic Motown samples! And I adore Motown even more than I do Craig so it sounds like heaven. (Well, Janet Jackson did that already with her Janet album in 1993) Like in One more lie and All alone tonight . Why can't BBC just drop these talent shows and ask Craig next year?