Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Käärijä has cha cha chad already almost three years and Finns - and not only - love him as much as ever. Since Eurovision he has released an album, a string of singles with various collaborations at home and abroad, toured Finland and Europe a few times to sold out venues, performed in Eurovision song contest as guest star two years in a row, making him do Eurovision three years in a row,  and this fall he has starred in ever so popular Vain elämää series doing covers of other singers songs on weekly basis. And now.... finally! He has announced an arena concert in Veikkaus Arena, the new names very arena that hosted the Eurovision 2007 in Helsinki.  He has teased many guests, most likely at least everyone he has collaborated (see videos below) and that's not all for sure.  Slovenian Joker Out will be the opening act prior Käärijä stars in their show in Slovenia in June 20,  2026. For this bromance he skips the very generous midsummer gigs in Finland that he could hav...

The beauty of Eurovision is occasionally the artists became friends and/or collaborate in the future. Here comes another fruit of that thing: Germany's last placed Lord of the Lost join forces with Finnish runner up Käärijä in Raveyard.  Somehow I have a feeling this isn't last Käärijä collaboration with fellow Eurovision artists..... It's worth remembereing Lord of the Lost already did a v´cover of Cha cha cha, too :-)

While the acts in  semi-final two are having their dress rehearsals in Liverpool, which I am not really following in any way let's sit back and have a look at the Big 5  performances by France, Germany and Italy in the first semi-final. Or actually in its Monday evening's second dress rehearsal. How come this is so high in odds? I mean I like the song, and she's fabulous but here it's all very dark really, she does look dramatic rather than looking like she's enjoying the staging that much. Is it that her wonderful personality has enchanted the fandom? I don't quite see the European wide audiences voting for this more than barely Top-10 if lucky. I hope I am wrong. From Lordi via AWS to Hatari and Blind Channel and now Lord of the Lost. Songs in this genre (loosely) have had mixed fortunes but I have a feeling this one is going to end up with the happier finishes. I think fandom is pretty much sleeping on this. Friends and people I know, non fans who only watch ...

Today completed the individual rehearsals when The Big5 and Ukraine had their second rehearsal (20 minutes). From Monday we will have the full dress rehearsals.  Germany apparently uses each and every light there's in the arena at some point of their 3 minutes sporting their the most extravagant costumes since Lordi. Quite fitting as the band feels very much at home in Finland where they record and produce their very Finnish sounding music. And they just also covered Käärijä's Cha cha cha, have a listen here.    Keeping up with the theme blood & glitter France provides more glitter than anyone else. And La Zarra some risky business on top of a disco stick.  Italy or Marco mengoni continues the trend with a new glittery sparkly top (indeed he promised he would wear a different one for each time). There's the moon to add, and two guys or due vite. Fandom is sleeping on this, this is Top-5 finish material.  A minor costume change for Ukraine and we are also don...

Oh what a time to be alive: I can't remember a Finnish Eurovision entry would have been covered before Eurovision final or/and in Finnish. Ever. Now the German entrant Lord of the lost have done it in. I repeat: In Finnish. And very well, too, I might add. But this may not become as such a surprise as they have done acoustic covers all spring of their fellow competitors, and they have a lot of links to Finland from recording studios to producers and generally hanging out in Finland a lot. And of course their entry could very well be a Finnish entry, no one would wonder or blink an eye. The second Cha cha cha comes from Käärijä himself with YES YES. A more lounge like version missing the dance part completely but still quite enjoyable late night version when you don't have so much energy left anymore and want just to chill out a bit. 

The rehearsals started on stage in Liverpool arena for the Eurovision song contest 2023 four days ago and today we got to "see" the Big5 and Ukraine's first 30 minutes rehearsal. As Ebu once again is using TikTok for the short tiny rehearsal clips I'm not going to care much of them. But here is a collection of photos and impressions and observations by your truly of the closed doors happenings. Mind you, I'm all in favor for this closed door policy: the delegations must have a little bit privacy and peace and quiet to polish their acts before they are given to the sharks aka fandom eager to criticize every tiny detail. And also I kinda like the idea we are given as little as possible to watch before the shows so there will be surprises and wow effect - if you have seen it all beforehand where's the fun? The first rehearsal is 30 minutes for each meaning 3-4 run through. After that the delegation gathers to a viewing room and changes are discussed and made for ...

Here it is! The incorruptible, infallible and most reliable Blogilkar's Home Jury made of people in their teens, 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's, mainly Finnish and mainly those who turn into Eurovision only on that one Saturday night, enjoy the show and that's it. Most everyone heard the songs for the first time so this was a true first impression judgement. And thus they had no idea about the fan polls, betting odds and trivial information and expectations. And boy did they turn those pools and odds around mostly, sinking some major favorites and enjoying some real underdogs. I will countdown the full ranking day by day until we have our winner out just before Liverpool is in full swing. This year I publish very few comments or opinions. Just the average score (we voted 1 to 10). In short this year is considered a bit poor by the jurors compared to for example last year and it may show in the somewhat low scores. Anyways: Enjoy! 15. GERMANY - Lord of the Lost - Bloo...

Germany has chosen. Lord of the Lost with Blood & glitter has won the German selection. Rarely the international juries and the local public have disagreed this much on the ranking! We'll see how this ends. Maybe the shock value of Lords was fresh 20 years ago, not anymore?  This said, this is maybe the most interesting German entry since... well..... For a long long time! And on a personal note I can say my two favorites won both the televote and the jury vote, so I'm quite pleased.  Results (jury + televote) 1. Lord of the Lost - Blood and glitter (43 + 146) 189 2. Ikke Hüftgold - Lied mit gutem Text (10 + 101) 111 3. Will Church - Hold on (90 + 21) 111 4. Trong - Dare to be different (52 + 19) 71 5. Lonely Spring - Misfit (40 + 30) 70 6. Anica Russo - Once upon a dream (57 + 8) 65 7. René Miller - Concrete heart (54 + 8) 62 8. Patty Gurdy - Melodies of hope (22 + 34) 56 Jury votes: Final result:

Germany, fresh from yet another last place at last year's Eurovision (Germany's placings the last ten years are 25th, 25th, 25th, 4th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 18th, 21st) is trying again to find the song through open submissions (548) and open TikTok wildcard submissions (900+) and this is what they came up.... And considering humor act Ikke won the wildcard I don't have much faith in Germans following the success of the other Big5 this year either.... The winner will be chosen 50/50 international jury/public vote. Anica Russo  Once upon a dream ** Waltz pop that turns into screamy noisy thing. Why am I thinking Kylie Monogue's Wild roses? That was myserious and intrgiung, this is not.  Frida Gold - Alle Frauen in mir sind müde **** Withdrawn due illness :-( This is the female answer to late Roger Cicero's women rule the world, now they are tired.  This would probably be the best choice for Germany to try to succeed. A risk worth taking over humor acts and safe pop tunes....

Germany's success recently years hasn't been really anything to remember and the pressure is on as other Big5 have found the success again. And indeed it does sound a bit better this time around. Unser Lied für Liverpool has eight entries plus one to be chosen among open Tik Tok submissions. They have preselected six entries and people may vote one to join the final line up. The final takes place on March 3. And guess what? It seems a Finn is among the songwriters for Anica Russo, namely Wilma Virintie! And then there's some blood & glitter but all I can say is cha cha cha! Among TikTokkers we then have some questionable/joke entries... Anica Russo - Once upon a dream Frida Gold - Alle Frauen in mir sind müde Lonely Spring - Misfit Lord of the Lost - Blood & Glitter Patty Gurdy - Melodies of hope René Miller - Concrete heart Trong - Dare to be different Will Church - Hold on One one of these Tik Tokkers will join the line up: Betül Akmar - Heaven ** From Fall to Sp...