Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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). Next up is Russia at n.o 3. Two silvers and two bronzes with two top-10 finishes is Russia's result in the 2010's. With one withdrawel and one NQ, both thanks to Julia Samoylova, the Crimea crisis and dirty political game. A lot of booing for Russia over the years and one man to stop it: Sergey Lazarev. Twice. And then we had the grannies, too..... and way too much Kirkorov! 2011 Alexey Vorobjov - Get you - 16th ** 2012 Buranovskiye Babushki - Party for everybody - 2nd **** 2013 Dina Garipova - What if - 5th *** 2014 Tolmachevy Sisters - Shine - 7th  *** 2015 Poli Gagarina - A million voices - 2nd **** 2016 Sergey Lazarev - You are the only one ...

A full week of rehearsals saw the conclusion of the second rehearsals of the semi-finalists. RUSSIA - JULIA SAMOYLOVA - I WON'T BREAK My castle in the sand Is now made of stone and rock Vocals * Staging * Song ** Overall * Hopefully non qualifier MOLDOVA - DOREDOS - MY LUCKY DAY I walk into temptation Something tells me we can make some music Vocals *** Staging *** Song *** Overall **** Qualifier THE NETHERLANDS - WAYLON - OUTLAW IN 'EM Its a fine, fine line Between whiskey and water into wine Vocals **** Staging ** Song **** Overall *** Hopefully qualifier AUSTRALIA - JESSICA MAUBOY - WE GOT LOVE At the end of the day We’ve only got ourselves to blame Vocals ** Staging * Song *** Overall ** Likely qualifier (sadly)

San Marino - Jessika feat. Jenifer Brening - Who we are "I am not your robot". Got to give it to San Marino for taking the Israel's #1 slogan this year and own it. Last in the betting odds all spring no one expected anything from them - as usual - but here they are again: talk of the town. Jessika and Jenifer, joined by two female dancers (and Basti hidden somewhere for vocals) got their four robots and created a fun performance including robotic marriage proposal that seems to have gotten mostly positive comments and press center in applause. But for the right reasons? Jessika's vocals seem to be all over the place, and Jenifer's rap quite not there but it's entertaining. "Brilliant!", "Daft", "Fun", "Cute", Robot emowerment", "Better than expected", "Charming", "Amateurish" Denmark - Rasmussen - Higher ground The Danish hipster vikings are on stage marching with t...

Latvia - Laura Rizzotto - Funny girl Latvian-Brazilian Laura Rizzotto (23) has lived her life so far between Minnesota, Rio de Janeiro, New York and Latvia. She has studied in Berklee (Boston), California and Columbia Universities so she certainly knows music. And no doubt she's talented singer and songwriter. That doesn't however hide the fact her Funny girl needs some what acquired taste for this kind of music. Generally this could be my cup of tea so to speak, but no. This is dull and uninteresting. Live it works a bit better but about one minute mark my attention drifts elsewhere and I find myself checking the contents of my fridge while she's still singing her song. Very long three minutes. 2/10 Lithuania - Ieva Zasimauskaitè - When we're old I managed to ignore this song all those eternal weeks the Lithuanian selection was going on - maybe because I didn't follow it live and just checked the videos later, if even that. I did watch the fina...

Today's second leak (?) or is it just a strategy to get us all talking, searching and hunting for the video or the audiofile? Anyways, Russia's entry is out. I won't break by Julia Samoylova. This time they keep the wheelchair hidden. Sort of....   Here it is, officially now:

Last year Russia tried to send Julia Samoylova and her wheelchair to Kyiv and long story short: she never got there. Now she's given another chance as Russia has confirmed she will be the one indeed for Lisbon. This blogger must admit I never thought this would happen, but hey, life's full of surprises. Wheelchair or not, I hope she has got a better song and learned to sing better during this year.... Just sayin'... And considering Russia and Ukraine are in the same semi, and apparently the Ukrainian law forbids broadcasting these banned artists even on television....  this isn't over yet, I suppose. And curiously Russia confirmed her as soon as the allocation draw took place.... Hmmm...

Several new agencies are reporting today that Ukraine’s security service has banned Russia’s contestant from this year’s Eurovision song contest because she performed in Crimea. Samoylova has toured in Russia-annexed Crimea without entering it by going through the border with the Ukrainian mainland. Under Ukrainian law, that allows authorities to block her entry into Ukraine. Ukrainian Security Service spokeswoman Olena Gitlanska said that the service has banned Samoylova from the country for three years “on the basis of information received about her violation of Ukrainian law”. Therefor she won't be able to participate in the Eurovision song contest in Kyiv in May. What about Armenian Artsvik? Russia calls the decision "cynical and unhuman". What about their decision to send her in the first place? Pure provocation. They also promise to boycott the future contests if the organizers don't stand up for the singer. Is that a promise? :-) UPDATE: EBU has jus...