Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

It seems the big names aren't interested, or at least the major labels, sadly, but still France television has received 280 entries for the Eurovision song contest. Once the Eurovision superpower France has lost it completely the recent years when only megastar Patricia Kaas managed to get them back to top-10 in 2009. Last four years they have collected only miserable 41 points finishing 22nd, 23rd, 26th and 25th. So, this year new people in charge and new approach. First of all this open call for song even if the choice will be internal, they will broadcast both the semifinals, and the song may even be in English or at least partly in English, something rather unheard for the French.  France 2 Entertainment dirctor Nathalie André and the new Head of Delegation Edoardo Grassi (pictured) are looking for something more suitable for this era, fun and uptempo it seems. And they are not taking it with Lisa Angell who was considered outdated and boring by many and I agree with them....

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

France's Lisa Angell seems like a wonderful personality, besides being a great singer with a beautiful song. This blogger was in #TeamAngell already before my Flying Reporter Robert had this little chat moment with her. She's fab! And she was given the doomed #2 slot in the final. Make sure to vote for her and break the curse! Ok? 

Lovely Lisa from France next. I have fallen totally for this funny lady ( check here ) and the song is great, and the staging maybe one of the bests. Or the backdrop. The effect with the four drummers and the rest on screen looks wonderful and  the song just grows and grows and she's fabulous singer. Not much else to add. I hope she does very well on Saturday!

Oh how funny. I have been feeling like being the only one liking France until now. Now, after their rehearsal I read only positive comments about it. Lisa sings wonderfully, it's a good song and she looks at her best inher blue dress. The backdrop is very effective and the gimmick with the four drummers on stage and more in the backdrop may just be the best sight this year. Is it so that bruno Berberes is no longer in charge? As France looks better than for years. I've seid this before but I say it again: France could do much better than any polls or fans predict. And it's onlt right. 

Here we go. Tomorrow the things start in Vienna for real and it's time to have a little round up. The past weeks I have been presenting my favorites from this year's Eurovision song contest and it's a weird year; the favorites stand out easily, so do the bottom ones and then there are awful many entries that are totally forgettable, uninteresting and .... well, forgettable.  Bubbling under on the list below these favorites I have in random order Portugal, Ireland, Georgia, Austria, Romania, Lithuania, Macedonia and United Kingdom. I want to see them live on stage before giving any further judgement. As usual I will post my rankings before each semifinal with the ones I want to qualify and the ones I think will qualify. Only that at this point it feels harder than ever.... Let's see how it goes :-) Here are direct links to my favorites and the joker San Marino, always close to my heart.  Italy - Il Volo - Grande amore Azerbaijan - Elnur Huseynov - Ho...

I don't get those who say the French entry sucks - well, then I don't get those who say Sweden or Spain are so great either for that matter - as it's a fantastic melody sung masterfully by Lisa, who maybe does look more like a suburban housewife than an Eurovision star but then who cares? France television and their delegation should just take example of Finland 1989 shots and direction and the deal is done.... Anyways, Lisa proved once again what a great artist she is in this live acoustic performance of N'oubliez pas on Grand studio RTL, I wish and hope France will be the shocker this year for fans doing so much better than they think..... Just to teach them a lesson :-) 

France has been experimenting with different styles in Eurovision in the recent years but now it's back to the recipe that most often has been succesful: a proper classy French ballad by a strong female voice. Lisa Angell will bring her mature charm to Vienna with a song that has a meaning besides beautiful melody and lyrics. If there is any justice in the world France should do well this time. N'oubliez pas is written by Robert Goldman (brother of my hero Jean Jacques and writer of Je n'ai que mon ame ) and it was first performed last November during the commemoration of The First World War but it does not only refer to this conflict in the world but all of them, including the recent attacks in Paris.

The first Eurovision song contest took place on May 24, 1956 in Lugano. Now 60 years later the 60th edition will be held on May 23, finishing on early hour of May 24 in most of Europe. The oldest participant this year is Finland's Pertti Kurikka, born on Boxing day the very same year 1956. He's 43 years older than the youngest artist this year, San Marino's Anita Simoncini who turns 16 just six weeks before the final in Vienna. The funny thing is the oldest one does punk, the youngest...  well, schlager.

France has announced today 46-year-old Lisa Angell will represant France this year with N'oubliez pas , a classic French ballad written to commemorate the Wold War I by Robert (Jean-Jacues's brother) Goldman) and also all the wars and recent events in Paris. She's half Italian and has released three albums so far, the latst one a cover album of songs from the 1930's-1950's. Last year she met with Conchita Wurst and even recorded the last French winning song L'oiseau et l'enfant with Tony Carreira.