Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

There have been countless Muslim artists in Eurovision over the years but it hasn't and it shouldn't matter but this year it gets more attention as the contest takes place in Tel Aviv, Israel, and three artists have been spotlighted as Muslims and represent the new multicultural Europe. France's Bilal Hassani is of Moroccan origin, while Italian Alessandro Mahmoud is half Egyptian which caused a rasistic and political outburst when he won Sanremo festival despite him being born and raised in outskirts of Milan and identifying himself as 100% Italian. Maybe it's also due to the line in Arabic in his song taken out of context? Apparntly the only Arabic h knows. And then we have of course Turkish Serhat, back in business for San Marino. He's a real new European living and working between Germany, France, UK and Turkey. Mahmood's line والدي والدي حبيبي تا’علينا ( Waladi waladi habibi ta’aleena ) isn't though the first time we hear Arabic in Eurovisio...

Mais je suis là, je n’oublie pas Dans mon village balayé par l’histoire Et je vis là, n’oubliez pas Effacé des cartes et des mémoires

One of the most memorable moments in the press conferences so far has been this Israeli-Lebanese moment. Building bridges indeed..... 

Today's rumor is an old one: MIKA for the United Kingdom? This was already around last year, and maybe the year before. Furthermore he has flirted with Eurovision in the past stating that he would represent Lebanon with pleasure, but as it seems Lebanon won't be joining Eurovision family anytime soon he might go for his adopted United Kingdom instead. Time will tell but that would be a serious effort from BBC finally! Meanwhile he is We are golden , Happy ending , Celebrate and We are young .

The annual rumours of Mika's involment in Eurovision are circulating again. When he has been given as the UK singer, when he is quoted of wanting to represant Lebanon if and when they return and this time he is said to be the one to write the UK entry for 2011 following the succesful Andre Lloyd-Webber & Diane Warren and the less succesful Peter Waterman fiasko. Well, it's summer, hot and rumours are flying....

One timers Morocco and San Marino are also missing from Oslo 2010. Morocco appeared once with the wonderful Bitakat hob in 1980. Samira Bensaid is today a megastar in the Arab world but then managed to get only 7 points, all of them from Italy, and came second to last - only Finland got less points! SNRT never looked back and hasn't expressed any will to ever return. The rival broadcaster 2M TV is applying for EBU membership and if granted might be well interested in Eurovision as being the voice of free speech and  a taboo breaking media in Morocco. San Marino surprisingly took part in the 2008 Eurovision. Many saw this as RAI's plot to taste the waters and see how it would go - after all RAI is SMRTV's biggest stock holder. Miodio's Complice however scored the last place in the semifinal and San Marino hasn't been seen since, claiming financial problems. One can only wonder how much RAI is involved in its absense? San Marino would easily attract some big Italian...

Many singers in this year's OGAE song contest got their careers kick started in various reality shows like Pop Idols - just like many in Eurovision these past few years. Croatia's Franka Batelic won the musical reality show Showtime 2008. Dutch duo Nick & Simon got their career started by being a regular guest in Jan Smit's reality-soap while Libanese Elissa debuted in a televised talent show back in 1992. Finland's Jenni Vartiainen competed in Popstars 2002 and was one of the girls chosen to form girlband Gimmel. After three very succesful albums the band split up and Jenni went solo. The represant of the Rest of the world, Canadese Brian Melo is the Canadian Idol 2007.