Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The 2016 has been a very kind year to this blog. Half a million hits makes me feel extremely happy and humble, especially when I have had a more relaxed approach and not taking all this so serious anymore, just doing my own thing without thinking about competing with any other blog. On the contrary. I thank you each and everyone who turn up over and over again and keep following me. Let's hope 2017 will be kind to all of us, fullfill some dreams along the way and give us many memorable and happy moments..... and some great new songs and artists in Kyiv 2017. But let's get back to this blog. No doubt Marco Mengoni is the king. Most every post about him has done very well and the one on September 25 is the most read of the year. Other good names to post what comes to hits have been Amir, Måns Zelmerlöw, Douwe Bob, Sergey Lazarev, Il Volo and Alice & France Battiato . The choice not to follow Saara Aalto 's adventures in X Factor was deliberate. My Malta series ins...

I had a pleasure to visit Qormi wine festival and spend a fabulous night. The food was great, the music was great, the wine was great.... and the people were amazing. In between enjoying the music by a duo Gianni & Papps first, and then by Spiteri Lucas Band with singers Kaya, Neville Refalo, Ivan and Eurovision veterans Ludwig Galea and Chiara taking leads (on again.... off again so to speak) and supporting each other through rock and pop classics to today's hits.  Highly entertaining evening in every sense of the word. I was lucky enough to have a chat with Chiara and greet also Ludwig, who I saw last in Istanbul 2004. Chiara turned out to be the most lovable and wonderful person - check out the video of Grande amore below to see her blowing kisses just for you!    She also sung her very own Angel , but also Euphoria and Waterloo , Dancing queen .... Sadly by dear old Lumia decided not to cooperate at that point anymore :-( But after the jump yo...

Here they are, the season's first semifinalist with their preview snippets. There is asual a little bit of everything from taylor made Eurovision pop to beautiful ballads, opera pop and even the nuns but mostly the middle of the road radio pop that is hard to say what kind of impact they do in 3 minute versions. Most of the acts have previous experience in the national final but there are some newcomers, too: Karen DeBattista, Lyndsay Pace, Iona Dalli and Minik plus of course the nuns. Nine of the acts competed also in the Februay selection for 2014.... Then we have the Eurovision veterans Glen Vella, Ludwig Galea (in Trilogy) and Gianluca Bezzina (in L'Ahwa), And Alexander Rybak has penned Franklin's song. As for the other songwriters it's quite remarkable there is only one Gerard James Borg-Philip Vella collaboration while Philip Vella has written solo two more songs. But then we have SEVEN Elton Zarb songs with varous co-writers. Malta's selection will take pl...

Maltese Eurovision stars Chiara and Ludwig Galea have recorded a Christmas song together, Helu bambin and right after Christmas they're off to tour downunder for almost a month. Australia is very Eurovision friendly as we know and there are there's also a big Maltese community who will be delighted to be able to hear their favourites live.

Malta is the second country after Bulgaria to start its lenghty process to find the winner for Moscow 2009. Ludwig Galea, who already represanted the island with Julie back in 2004 has the honor to open the contest and familiar faces Klinsmann and Rosman Pace are there as well, along with even more familiar song writers Philip Vella, Gerard James Borg and Ralph Siegel. 01. Ludwig Galea ft. Fidela tal-Bambinu - Lament (Philip Vella) 02. Dominic Cini - I'm in heaven (Elton Zarb/Rita Pace) 03. Classic Rebels - Tonight at the opera (Ralph Siegel/Bernd Meinunger as 'John O'Flynn') 04. Klinsmann - Rock & rise (Philip Vella/Gerard J. Borg) 05. Talitha Dimech - Earth & sky (Philip Vella/Gerard J. Borg) 06. Rosman Pace - One million ways (Rosman Pace) 07. Francesca Borg - Falling in love (Jason Paul Cassar/Mario J. Farrugia)

... Malta's previous Eurovision entrants hope to make it again. Chiara obviously wants to make it 3-2-1 for her and if she does that would be historic moment. Usually there is no third time lucky in Eurovision... Miriam Christine and Ludwig are hoping another go as well while Claudia Faniello, Klinsmann and Natasha & Charlene are still trying to make it for the first time. And many other familiar names and faces a s well... Ralph Siegel's song promises night at the opera but as we have both Ludwig and Trilogy returning we might be in for some high notes here! Here is the rest of the songs in Malta: Midas Touch - Claudia Faniello - (Sean Vella, Philip Vella) Blue Sonata - Claudia Faniello - (Ray Agius, Ray Agius) Someday - Eleanor Cassar - (Paul Giordimaina, Fleur Balzan) Rhythm of the night - Justine ft. Siconix - (Renato Briffa, Doris Chetcuti) Love was made of clay - Gloriana Arpa Belli - (Renato Briffa, Doris Chetcuti) Avalon - Georgina & Ruth Casingena - (Paul Abela...