Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

One of the true Italian music legends Milva has passed away. Besides her immense international career she also holds the record of Sanremo festival presences: 15. No other artist, male or female, has done 15 festivals solo. She also holds the record of consecutive participations: 9 (from 1961 to 1969. Her last participation was in 2007. Born Maria Ilva Biolcati in summer 1939 she won a contest organized by Rai in 1959 for new voices and the rest is history in Italian pop, German schlager and French chanson. Add theater, films, television, Brecht, Morricone, Battiato, Theodorakis, Vangelis.... She has recorded and releases a total of 173 albums, another record for an Italian artist, in various languages when counting studio (35), live and various compilations. She met success especially in Germany but also France, Japan, South Korea and Latin America.  To this blogger personally she's known thanks to her collaborations with Franco Battiato, and obviously Sanremo. of those entries my...

copyright  www.davechoate.com We just celebrated Motown legend Diana Ross's 75th birthday but today and tomorrow marks both the birthday and death of another Motown legend: Marvin Gaye.  He would have been 80 on April 2, 2019. Instead he was shot dead by his own father on eve of his 45th birthday on April 1, 1984. Songs have been dedicated to his memory by Diana Ross and Commodores among others, and likes of Madonna feat. Massive Attack and Cyndi Lauper have covered his songs. Let's remember him with some of his major hits and my personal favorites:

Greece has revealed full versions and videos of their entries. Listen them below. Only five songs but a variety of styles.... Barrice starts with the Eurovision by numbers with some clued on Greek elements. Not the greatest singer nor dancer nor production. This sounds like a demo that should be given to someone better and redone completely. C:Real 's first impression is a Within Temptation imitation but then enters the EDM beat and after that the most boring chorus. Weird stuff. Maybe works with huge screaming audience, in the empty parking lot the impression is confusing. And yes, it's Greek selection so let's add a few ethnic chords for the climax. Oh dear...   Maria Elena offers the obligatory ballad in the line up. If only it was in Greek... I like it, but I guess it will be left last.... We don't have any proper power ballad in Vienna yet. Shaya Hansen brings in the sunshine. With melancholy. A bit like the Greek situation at the moment. I guess this will w...