Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Swedish Melodifestivalen goes ahead as usual with the same songwriters and even three previous winners in the line up: Arvingarna, Måns Zelmerlöw and John Lundvik, Måns of course being also an Eurovision winner and host and ever present anyways.  Minor changes to the procedure: Five heats with six songs each. two will qualify for the final and the third placed ones will have a second chance in the end of fifth heat two making it to the final that will have 12 songs. A 50/50 televote/international jury will determinate the winner and the Swedish entry in Basel 2025 Eurovision. The heats start on February 1 each Saturday until the grand final on March 8, 2025. Another change is all the songs will be released to the streaming platform the day before their heat.  A total of 2.794 songs were submitted and yet majority of the songs are written by the usual songwriters in various combos. Jimmy Joker Thörnfeldt and Anderz Wrethov both are behind 6 songs, Thomas G:son 5, David Lindgren...

  If Spain has been doing poorly for way too long, Sweden has been an Eurovision power house. Eight times in top-7 since their only non qualification back in 2010. But...  Melodifestivalen has been going down in my book for several years and has been very predictable and therefor rather boring, safe and manufactured for way too long. Somehow they have managed however to produce winners that have made well in the contest, usually helped heavily by the juries. This next edition on paper isn't anything different but same old, same old. In both artists and songwriters. Let's have a look. First of all there are three previous winners taking part: Anna Bergendahl (2010), Robin Bengtsson (2017) and John Lundvik (2019), each of them having other non winning participation in recent years. Then we have Alvaro Estrella, Klara Hammarström, LIAMOO, Lillasyster, Linda Bengtzing, Malou Prytz, Lisa Ajax, Omar Rydberg and Shirley Clamp. Among songwriters the Debs, G:son, Jansson, Boström, Aag...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Number one is of course Sweden. Two wins, two bronzes and four additional top-7 finishes makes Sweden the most succesful Eurovision country in the 2010's, the only odd one out being the home entry in 2013 (14th). But let's see how long this will last; fandom isn't anymore equally mesmerized by Melodifestivalen and the Swedish entries, and certainly not the televoters in the recent years while the juries still back them up no matter what. This blogger has pretty much lost interest in Melodifestivalen the past few years to be honest, and think Sweden's been overrated for way too long. But times are changing, let's see how their 2020's will be. I persona...

  The expectations were high for Tom Leeb and France after declarations by the French television that the song "will make you forget all the others in the final" and that the song moved everyone and they chose the song first, then matched it with a perfect voice, Tom Leeb, a relatively unknown as a singer so far. Then today it was revealed the song is titled The Best in me , written by the usual Swedish ones Thomas G:son, Peters Boström and John Lundvik (it does sound like his song really) with the lyrics written by John Lundvik with Amir, Tom Leeb and Léa Ivanna, apparently for the few French lines. The fandom melted. France became the talk of the bubble. For the negative. And no wonder. Also this blogger can't quite comprehend why such a great musical nation as France couldn't find a song written, produced by the French? And how come even they turn to the desperate move singing in English? Thank heavens we still have Italy and Spain with some pride left....

Mahmood Summertime is the time for the Eurovision stars to enjoy the sun, sea, sand and beach like any common mortals, and showcase their muscles or bikini bodies. Here's a round up of their Instagrams for your viewing pleasure. Laura Rizzotto Max Jason Mai Iveta Amir Zena ByeAlex Edurne Deen Elhaida Dani Elnur Nina Zilli Miki Samra Mikolas Josef Kaliopi Hovig Amaia John Lundvik

 Chingiz at the low point aka Dead Sea, looking forward for the high point  Pensive John.  will she be 22 or 18?  Mahmood's time to visit Jerusalem.  Netta's pyjama party.  KEiiNO met toy Netta.  Waiter, there's a fave in my cappuccino!  So much sadness in one photo. Bromance, Class '19

Miki El Baywatch Srbuk Lady in red Kobi at home  Dry Lake Malawi Newlyweds Chingiz Yacht Mahmood in hot periferia Pink legged Tamta Is it too late for an interview? Anna O in Tel A