Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Yle organized among its other consolation Eurovision 2020 programming also a voting to find out the most loved Finnish entries of each decade ( here ). The 1980s were certainly a real rollercoaster giving us some of the best and some of the worst entries ever. Sata salamaa took a clear win, no doubt helped by Antti Tuisku's recent cover that brought the song to new generations.  1987 Virve Rosti - Sata salamaa  34,8% 1989 Anneli Saaristo - La dolce vita  19,6% 1985 Sonja Lumme - Eläköön elämä 16,9% 1984 Kirka - Hengaillaan  12,1% 1983 Ami Aspelund - Fantasiaa   5,7% 1981 Riki Sorsa - Reggae OK  3,3% 1980 Vesa-Matti Loiri - Huilumies  2,7% 1986 Kari Kuivalainen - Päivä kahden ihmisen 2,3% 1982 Kojo - Nuku pommiin  1,9% 1988 Boulevard - Nauravat silmät muistetaan   0,6%

Kiril Babitzin aka Kirka (22.9.1950-31.1.2007) is an unforgettable chapter of Finnish music history. An unique artist, whose sound is part of the Finnish soundtrack gets now his own musical, based on his life and career, both of them full of drama and ups and downs, ten years after his sudden death. Kirka was a teenage idol who caused a real mass hysteria back in the day, a rock icon who ended up recording also schlager against his will to ay the bills and debts, and that turned a succesful change of heart. He was a well behaving boy next-door from modest surroundings and became an idol and rock star like no one else. His most beloved hits Hetki lyö , Leijat , Eurovision entry Hengaillaan and Surun pyyhit silmistäni are all included in the show.  The musical premieres tomorrow and plays in Helsinki's Peacock Theater until April 22, 2017. Kalle LIndroth and Heikki Ranta alternate as Kirka.  Kirka released over 30 albums and is one of the artists who has taken par...

It has been a very sad year for Eurovision Finland this 2016. After Lasse Mårtensson (ESC 1964) and Riki Sorsa (ESC 1981) also Päivi Paunu (ESC 1972) passed away a couple of days ago. Of cancer like so many others. Considering before this year all but two Finnish stars were alive ( Laila Kinnunen ESC 1961 and Kirka ESC 1984) now we have lost already five.  Päivi Paunu made a name in folk circuit in Helsinki suburbs in the early 1960's, and soon she was in recording studio and her first single and album were released in 1966. Two years later she scored a megahit with Oi, niitä aikoja and she was co-starring two big summer tours in the late 1960's. Slowly her musical styled became more schlager-pop. Her singing career faded away when she started studying but she continued singing in the girlgroup Mirumaru in the early 1980's and doing some occasional small private concerts. She's also related to the famous Von Hertzen Brothers - she was their uncle's wife...

We all remember Pave Maijanen for unfortunate Yamma yamma and his last place in the Eurovision song contest 1992. But he is so much more: He's been in the business for 45 years. He's singer, songwriter, basist, keyboard player, drummer, guitarist, producer. He has done a lot of backing singing, including multiple Eurovisions. Before his solo career he was in several succesful and popular bands (Pepe & Paradise, Royals, WigWam, Pave's Mistakes just to name a few). He's the surprise name in Vain Elämää 4 , and already maybe the most interesting one.

The Finnish hiphoppers were in for a surprise when the new EP by American artist Chamillionaire was released. In his All mine all of sudden late Kirka comes in and sings loud and clear, in Finnish! The song they sampled is Kirka's break through hit from 1967, Hetki lyö . Typical to the time, it's actually a cover version of Beat the clock by The McCoys but for Kirka and Finns it's a real evergreen and karaoke favourite. One can only wonder why Chamillionaire has preferred to sample Kirka's Finnish version instead of the original. Maybe he took liking to the language when visiting here twice? Chamillionaire has one USA Hot-100 #1 hit to his credit so far, Ridin' from 2006.

Tanssii tähtien kanssa , the Finnish version of Strictly come dancing features some Eurovision names this season. Mikko Leppilampi takes over this 5th season as the male host - against protests - while one of the dancers is Laura Voutilainen . Another famous singer and eternal Eurovision hope Antti Tuisku is also in. Tomi Metsäketo won the first season while Mariko of Kwan took part in the second one. Late Kirka was to take part, too, but died just before the show started. Maria Lund took part and won the third season and represanted Finland also in the Eurovision Dance contest. Finally Kim Herold of Humane took part last year so every year there has been also an Eurovision connection. The programme is very popular in Finland reaching 1,5-2,0 million viewers.

This part is rather poppy and Eurovisionary with Katri Helena, two Kirka songs, Mikael Konttinen's fine Ota kiinni and Annika Eklund's follow up to Shanghain valot - almost a part 2 if you ask me! 171. ENKELEITÄ ONKO HEITÄ - ANNE MATTILA 172. YÖ - YÖ 173. TEETÄ JA PAAHTOLEIPÄÄ - NELJÄNSUORA 174. MINÄ TOIVON - KATRI HELENA 175. POKKA - IRINA 176. OLET MUN SÄ VAIN - AGENTS 177. KUN SINUT SIINÄ NÄÄN - KIRKA 178. LUULET SÄ TOSIAAN - KIRKA 179. OTA KIINNI - MIKAEL KONTTINEN 180. OLE HILJAA JA SUUTELE MUA - ANNIKA EKLUND

More poppier than schlager this set with Samuli Edelmann and Kirka from Euroviisut, Kaija Koo and Paula Koivuniemi gain with superpopular Juha Tapio and late Nylon Beat and then the usual Tangomarkkinat artists and dancebands.... 241. JOS MINUT KESYTTÄISIT - CHARLES PLOGMAN 242. ARVAAMATTA TUULI KÄÄNTYY VASTAAN - JUHA TAPIO 243. ET VOI SATUTTAA ENÄÄ - KAIJA KOO 244. PÄÄTÄ JO - MARKO LÄMSÄ 245. NAINEN - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 246. SUN KANSSA - NELJÄNSUORA 247. SYYTÖN - NYLON BEAT 248. TAIKAA - KIRKA 249. LEVOTTOMAT - SAMULI EDELMANN 250. KOVAA JA KORKEALTA - MIKKO MÄKELÄINEN

Several Euroviisut artists in this one: Eija Kantola (again!), Kirka, Kristian Meurman, Laura Voutilainen with her 2002 entry, Jani & The Jetsetters and Samuli Edelmann. Matti & Teppo is in with yet another song of theirs and Antti Raiski from Tangomarkkinat completes the set. Katri Ylander is an Idol runner up. 251. AAMUAURINKOON - KATRI YLANDER 252. HÄNELLE - MATTI JA TEPPO 253. ROSALITA - ANTTI RAISKI 254. KUKA - EIJA KANTOLA 255. KARVAS VIINI - KIRKA 256. NÄIDEN KYYNELIEN JÄLKEEN - KRISTIAN MEURMAN 257. ADDICTED TO YOU - LAURA VOUTILAINEN 258. LENNÄ POIS - JANI & JETSETTERS 259. MUISTATKO KUN - JANI & JETSETTERS 260. KAIKKI TAHTOO - SAMULI EDELMANN

Muska, or Marija Babitzin, is maybe better known as Kirka's sister but she has been going her own way in her musical career since the beginning being a real rock chic even if scoring pop hits like Kirjoita postikorttiin in 1971 or Krokotiilirock two years later. In Euroviisut she has participated already twice times: in 1974 with Senhän sanoo järkikin with her other brother Ykä (Georgij), in 1979 with Aikuiset anteeksi antaa with Kirka and Anna, their other sister. The trio also recorded a Finnish version of Hallelujah. She scored a hit Pidä kii in 1990 after a long break from the business and has released albums regularly but rarely since, latest one being Anna mulle aikaa in 2005. In 2008 she was nominated for Iskelmä-Finlandia award. She's prepairing a new album for 2010 release so would it be time for a Muska solo debut in Euroviisut? She already has scored two radio hits from it, Nuku vaan and Sitä rakkaudeksi sanotaan . You can listen them here .

Alexander Rybak will perform tonight in MTV3's Pitkä kuuma kesä, broadcasted live from Tampere. The other guests tonight are Idols winner Koop Arponen and Eurovision veteran Laura Voutilainen who will cover Kirka. She will release a new album in October...

Jippu's last Jippu Café this spring will be an homage to late Kirka (1950-2007). Jippu and her band with guests will perform Kirka songs, including Hengaillaan , in Bulevardin Kahvisalonki in Helsinki next Friday April 24. Jippu is a big Kirka fan herself.

Kwan has re-recorded their summer hit Tainted love in Greece and places with the Greek lyrics by Dimitris Korgialas. Dimitris has already Finnish affairs in his CV as he represanted Cyprus in Helsinki 2007 with Evridiki - and what a lovely couple they are! Anyways, it's not a first time a Finnish Eurovision related artists hits it big in Greece. 20 years ago Kirka did it with Sadness in your eyes .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muiZrcKRRwo , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbx13cFVH_Q