Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Tonight is the final of the Finnish Tanssii tähtien kanssa, Strickly come dancing. Two singers with their partners made it to the final this time: Antti Tuisku and Laura Voutilainen. Antti has been the superfavourite from early stages and the polls give him the runaway winner, something like 8 to 2. Let's see if Laura can change that tonight like she did last week by qualifying against all odds and getting a full set of 10's for her tango. The show is a very popular one in Finland, reaching over one million viewers regularly. Singers with Eurovision connection have done very well so far: the first season was won by Tomi Metsäketo, second by Mariko Pajamäki of Kwan, third by Maria Lund - who also danced all the way to Eurovision dance contest. Last season winner was Miss Finland Satu Tuomisto who beat yet another Euroviisut artist Pirkko Mannola to the second place in the final. To kill some time here is Laura's Rakkauden soturi and Antti's brand new video Hyökyaalto . ...

Teosto ry has published the songs that have made the most money abroad in 2008 based on radioplay, TV, recordings or other public performances. Truth to be said, the top-10 includes only pieces by Sibelius with  only The Rasmus's In the shadows at #3, so they have published also a Sibelius-free top-10 and it is: 1. The Rasmus - In the shadows 2. Arn - Tempelriddaren ( soundtrack ) 3. Darude - Sandstorm 4. Arn2 - Riket på vägen's slut ( soundtrack ) 5. Einojuhani Rautavaara - Cantus Arcticus 6. Him - Join me in death 7. Bomfunk MC's - Freestyler 8. The Rasmus - Living in a world without you 9. Kwan - Tainted love 10. Mongol ( soundtrack ) Worth noting is the presence of Tuomas Kantelinen who has written the music to three movies in top-10: the Swedish saga Arn 1+2 , and the Russian Mongol . Besides Sibelius another classical music composer gets in, Einojuhani Rautavaara.

Jaana Pelkonen and Peltsi Peltola are presenting live from Tampere Fair and Sports Center the Finnish final for Eurovision song contest 2009 in Moscow. Tonight's propably the coldest night of the year with temperatures around -20C in most parts of Finland but in the sold out hall it's hot with 1.800 people! Before the final there will be a second chance round for the songs that didn't qualify directly. The entry chosen tonight will be Finland's 43rd entry. Finland has had a very rocky past in the contest finishing usually in the last places until the monstreous victory of Lordi in 2006. Finland has now been present in the final ever since. The show has started with Teräsbetoni presenting a new version of their last year's winner Missä miehet ratsastaa .The stage looks pretty fantastic! Jaana looks very glamorous tonight and Peltsi, well... casual as always. THE SECOND CHANCE ROUND : 01. Passionworks fr. Tony Turunen - Surrender Passionworks is the big fan favourite...

Kwan (31,9%) and Tapani Kansa (37,4%) qualified as expected to the final directly from the first semifinal. So we cannot count Tapani Kansa out.... As we remember Kari Tapio almost made it last year.... Double sigh.

It's here finally. Euroviisut 2009 kicks off tonight at 8pm CET when Kwan, Riikka, Tapani Kansa and Tiara battle it out for the two places in the final. If we believe the polls it's a piece of cake for Kwan to qualify, and Riikka should easily follow, but Tapani Kansa might get all the elderly votes when they tune in to televote. Tiara's chances are considered rather slim. 1. Kwan - 10.000 Light years 2. Riikka - Meren 3. Tapani Kansa - Rakkautta on, rauhaa ei 4. Tiara - Manala

The talk about the Finnish Euroviisut entries is hot on many chatrooms and blogs and it seems, as usual, that foreign people think it's a very good selection of songs while Finns tend to think it's worthless, there's nothing good and whoever go to Moscow will put us in shame. Things never change! Passionworks seems to be the favourite but I don't see, or hear, why? It's not bad. But it's nothing special unless they're really really good on stage. But I will judge and comment once we get into the business for real. For now just groups of songs without further comments based on 2-3 listenings. The songs I'd love to see and hear in Moscow: Kwan, Remu, Janita The songs I will be less passionate if they win: Sani, Passionworks, Waldo's People The songs I would hate to see going to Moscow (it doesn't mean they are bad necessarily): Riikka, Tapani Kansa, Tiara, Jari Sillanpää, Vink The outsider: Signmark What do you think? Vote for your favourite in my ...

Kwan is in clear lead with 38% of votes when 20,189 people have voted on Ilta-Sanomat on line poll followed by Remu 16% and Waldo's People 13%. Tiara and Riikka are on the bottom of the list. You can listen to the songs here: http://euroviisut.yle.fi/euroviisut/2008-11-20/karsintakappaleet-2009 Vote here: http://www.iltasanomat.fi/viihde/uutinen.asp?id=1622336 You can also vote on my poll left and leave comments in the box! :-)

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

Kwan has just returned from a gig in Moscow: "It's huge! It's massive and it was horrible: the travel to airport in the morning took forever and we didn't see anything. The traffic is really scary!" But they plan to win and give it another chance because "we are the most international band here. And we can give a very good show and Eurovision, let's say it frankly: it's a show contest these days. And of course our song is a hit!"

The instant favourite to win is a band that is making come back after a break. During the break lead singer Mariko has become a star on her own right, winning Dancing with the stars and releasing a highly succesful solo album. The band started in 2000 and their first single was already a hit. They started with hip hop but have steadily moved towards pop/rock on each new release. List of glory in short: Debut album (2001) sold platinum and won 2 Emma awards. The second album (2002) sold double platinum and won another Emma. Third album (2004) sold gold and won yet another Emma. Fourth album (2006) was released in many countries, including Japan and Greece where they scored a hit with Tainted love . The fifth album will be released in 2009. Some of their vids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuV88CX8hbk , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ6isB1iEyU , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARh_lpqqxdY , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b02WHbM1mrI&feature=related , http://www.youtube.com/wat...

The announcement of the 12 hopefuls to go to Moscow didn't set the Finnish media on fire, maybe because the whole country is still under some kind of shock for the second school massacre within a year. Anyways, all the articles lifted Remu on the front and he's the runner up with 20% in Ilta-Sanomat's on line poll that was won clearly by Kwan . They got 31% of the votes, mainly because of Mariko's current popularity? "Spectacular, glitter and big hair" promises Mariko. "It will be Kwan-like with some new spices added and great lightning show! The song is a fireproof hit" adds Tidjan. Remu says he's not sure why he is there but promises a memorable show. " The song doesn't need to be even good, all that matters is to be remembered and I can guarantee that " he says. "Anything to stand out!" The song titles and writers will be announced in December