Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

   Andras was filming his new music video and it looks ... err... interesting? Sex is back. If Tim Schou says so....    Litesound follows with sexy farmer look. Ehm....   Maraaya and Nika Zorjan were releasing some tension;  out with the sexy, in with the FUN!  Svala is a true fashion icon;  she even color coordinates the trees and cars!  Vaclad 's 4.30am face before a tv-show Anouk's everyday face. Conchita became a part of art in Vienna's MQ Dana INternational became a doll Edurne met a long lost fan Helena sat on the infamous red chair Frans performed with a jazz and big band. How was your week?

Belarusian finalist have been announced for the December 7, 2012 final. Last year's first winner Alena Lanskaya made the cut as well as other national final veterans Uzari and Nuteki Band. These are the singers and these are the songs. Who wins and who goes to Malmö 2013 and with which song, remains to be seen :-). Last year Alena was left home and Litesound, the runner ups were sent to Baku instead. Not that I minded, it was much better choice! Max Lawrence   - I love your charming eyes Alena Lanskaya – Rhythm in love Alexei Gross – One way love Daria – Catch me again Nuteki  Band – Save me Satsura – Get out of my way Uzari – Secret Яnkey – Letter to mother Vitaly Voronko – I wonder how you Beaver Band – Incredible girl

Belarus sounds and looks good. The gimmick the guys do with microphone stands is rather fancy and hopefully it will be shot nicely for the TV screen. This is a multinational effort including Belarusian, Russian, Italian and Cypriot on stage. Italian Jacopo Massa is also doing a great extra job on FB telling the Italian readers what's going on and commenting on things very often. Then we have Alex Panayi on backing vocals. Apparently they also have a lot of fans in the east so I think they have a good chance to reach the final. More here . Portugal next. She sings very well, the song is pretty, the backdrop fantastic. And more you listen to this song more you like it. This said, an average televoter hears this for the first time, sandwiched between Malta and Ukraine. I doubt he will vote for this unfortunately. This song lacks a bit of drama to make it stand out, something to get hold on to. As it is just floats away without leaving much behind.... As much as I would li...

The Belarusian Litesound have released the music video for their entry We are the heroes . And rather heroic and apocalyptic affair it is.... I have to admit I didn't understand a thing... Oh well..

Belarus starts the second round of today's rehearsals. Italian Jacopo Massa has done a great job generating a buzz in Italy for his participation as a member of the band and has managed to get into various medias and doing so spread the Eurovision in the country. One can only say "Grazie!" for those efforts! As for the song, I like it. I may have preferred the original rockier version like many others but I'm used to this discoed version of it. It's catchy, easy and ... I just like it. it's quite straight forward rock performance with a little gimmick with the microphone stands it seems, and some synchronized choreography at one point. The song keeps going like a train. The backdrop is some machinery or something. Simple and effective. More here . Portugal next and a complete change of mood. The backdrop features a city on hills (Lisbon?) at night and we can imagine us in the narrow streets fado in the air and Filipa fills the stage with some lusitana ...

After the swinging Belarus here comes acoustic Norway! Tooji already did a bit of this acoustic version in a talk show last month but now here's the full version. And the song works even without the beat and dance. Here . 

You didn't expect this, did you? A swing version of We are the heroe s or the Eurovision 2012 entry from Belarus by Litesound. May sound a bit strange but it works! Me likes! And it reminds me a bit of the cover of Hard rock hallelujah by Nat Newborn that was fabulous indeed!

Today seems to be the dy of not so surprising news as they may seem at first glance. First of there is talk Armenia has decided to withdraw after all after a boycott by the singers but we will see how that goes. And in Belarus it seems Alyona Lanskaya's All my life has been changed to Litesound's We are the heroes . How am I not surprised? If they don't change the song they change the singer and this time both. As every year at least one change seem to take place. Maybe the dictator didn't like All my life ? This time I'm afraid I agree with him as I always preferred Litesound....

Litesound may be the most international band in Belarus (as far as I know) and for a change they can even sing without sounding... err... Russian. 2011 marks their 5th attempt to win the Belarusian national final. In 2006 they tried with My faith (6th), 2007 with Summertrip (actually came 2nd in televoting but jury didn't include them in the superfinal), 2008 Do you believe (in top-4) and in 2009 with Carry on with Dakota (3rd). Now they are once again in the final with We are the heroes . Clearly their best effort so far if you ask me. The band is lead by brothers Dmitrij and Vladimir Karyakin and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Last year was the year of twins in Eurovision, is this going to be the brothers year? They have also been present in Jurmala's New Wave 2010 (6th) and their other songs include Solo per te with Italian Jacopo Massa (who now seems to have joined the band), See you in Vegas that won the award for the best video in Belarus 2011...

The semifinal in Belarus took part tonight and five acts qualified to the final on January 28, 2012.  Gunesh and Litesound both made it to the final once again, time will tell if one of them will finally make it? The other qualifiers are Alena Lanskaya , Victoria Aleshko and Uzari . This blogger doesn't bother much about the songs as they can and will change them for the final anyways.... most likely anyways. UPDATED: Now with the videos. The lady ballads are all a bore me thinks. Uzari has some potential but clearly the best choice is Litesound. Not very original but cathy pop song indeed.

Belarus has announced the 15 semifinalists that will battle it out on December 21, 2011 for the place in the mid-January 2012 Eurofest final. Amongst the candidates everpresent Litesound and Gunesh and this year's Anastasiya Vinnikova hunting for a bis but actually for the first time in a selection as she was internally selected. Thriller - Message to the world Gunesh - And morning will come Litesound - We are the heroes The champions - It's your time Uzari - The winner Nuteki - Superheroes Aleksandra Gaiduk & Nataliya Baldina - Loveless German - Keep fight Anastasiya Vinnikova - Shining in twilight Ekivoki - Number one Yan Zhenchak & Outerplain - A point of no return Victoria Aleshko - Dream Alena Lanskaya - All my life Aura - Hands up Anna Blagova – You're the world