Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Earlier this year Måns Zelmerlöw invested some of his money into web pharmacy MEDS and now he's ready to bare it all for its advertising film, which is.... how to put it? The corniest thing I have seen for a long, long time perhaps? Supposed to be funny the way his Eurovision presenting stunts were I presume, but this falls somewhere between embarassing and uncool. Well, we get to admire some over acrting and a lot of naked Måns riding a horse and sporting a hard on at one point. Maybe that's enough to make MEDS a success.... Where's Edward af Sillen when you need him?

Måns Z continues to release singles that are nice but not extraordinary. Good effort though... Lordi does what Lordi does best: poppy hard rock with questionabe lyrics Marija does what Marija does best: Balkan ballad Jamala continues on her own path delivering some wings this time.  Mind you there are other versions:  Deep House remix , Disco remix , live

Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw's baby news have been widely published where he welcomes his perfect little superhero to the world - and to Eurovision 2038. Hanna Pakarinen simply states the pic includes the men of her life, thanking the Jorvi hospital's staff in Espoo. Congrats to both!

It seems the male stars were at the beach displaying their beach bodies again this week,  while the ladies were more modest. Here's Imri Tamara Hovig Demy Il Volo's Gianluca... ... Piero... ... and Ignazio Elhaida  Slavko Tijana Måns

I don't usually care about the commentators but this year just like San Marino also Sweden has something remarkable going on. While Wiktoria will be the spokesperson, two gentlemen will be taking care of the commentary. Two gentlemen with a lot of experience. First of all Måns Zelmerlöw , the Eurovision 2015 winner and the 2016 co-host with Petra Mede. And more importantly Edward af Sillén . He has screenwriter and director for Melodifestivalen 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2016. He already did commentary in 2009-2012. And in 2014 and 2015. In 2010 he was screenwriter and director the 2010 Eurovision. And again in 2013. And 2016. In 2015 he co-wrote the Eurovision Greatest Hits in London show. He's been also the Swedish commentator for JESC from 2010 to 2014. And that's only his Eurovision curriculum vitae.  Did you know he was born in Brazil and adopted by a Swedish father and American mother?

Fans have spoken. Helsinki born Lill Lindfors was chosen as the best Eurovision host of the 1980's, Swedish Ulrika Johnsson and Irish born Terry Wogan the best ones of the 1990's, Finns Jaana Pelkonen and Mikko Leppilampi were the favorites of the 2000's and finally Swedish Måns Zelmerlöw and Petra Mede the best of the 2010's. Four Swedes (one born in Finland), two Finns and one Terry Wogan. The Nordics know how to host! (And Terry)

Mäns Zelmerlöw keeps busy. His new album is ready and mastered and will be released shortly (Update: December 2, 2016 and it's called Chameleon ), he has dubbed Branch in Swedish in the new Trolls movie, his new lifestyle tv-programme Chevaleresk is running on Viafree (Update: Apparently it's been a bit of a flop but luckily he's going strong on other things...) he just gave outstanding performance aboard Silja Line between Helsinki and Stockholm, he's been to Africa to check out his ZBfoundation that helps kids,  and most importantly he has released Hanging on to nothing in French to keep his French career going. Busy boy. His third single off the album however is called Glorious and will be released along with the album. 

As soon as the Vienna 2015 edition of Eurovision song contest was over the new reigning country Sweden started the preparations for the 2016 contest. The venue, most likely Tele2 Arena in Stockholm (but then, SVT surprised us with Malmö on 2013) will be chosen and announced by August. But the namedropping has started for the possible presenters. Last time it was Petra Mede, who did a marvellous job even if some in Europe didn't apparently like her style. I loved it. At least I remember her, I can't say the same about the three ladies this year.... Errr... who were they? What did they do? All I remember is Conchita! Anyways, Petra Mede was dropped by Christer Björkman the day after, along with Sanna Nielsen and Gina Dirawi , both names from Melodifestivalen where they did a good job.  Another professional host, or the reigning Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw has been put in the list immediately, too. And we can't forget Sarah Dawn Finer , that all of Eurovision Eur...

The votes were taken by a very few countries this year and Italy's Il Volo managed only third even if almost in any other year they would have won just like Russian Polina. Indeed, they scored the same monstruous points as Lordi did when they broke the records back in 2006 and won. Basicly they would have won every year but 2015, 2012 or 2009. Here's the all time top-10 what comes to amount of points gathered: 1. Norway - Alexander Rybak - Fairytale - Winner 2009 (387) 2. Sweden - Loreen - Euphoria - Winner 2012 (372) 3. Sweden - Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes - Winner 2015 (365) 4. Russia - Polina Gagarina - A million voices - 2nd in 2015 (303) 5. Italy - Il Volo - Grande amore - 3rd in 2014 (292 - 9 x 12 points) 6. Finland - Lordi - Hard rock hallelujah - Winner 2006 (292 - 6 x 12 points) 7. Austria - Conchita Wurst - Rise like a Phoenix - Winner 2014 (290) 8. Denmark - Emmelie De Forest- Only teardrops - Winner 2013 (281) 9. Russia - Dima Bilan - Believ...

The final is over, the votes are in and Sweden has won! Beating Russia and Italy who battled it out for the first part of the voting.... Stay tuned for full results and other stuff.... in a moment!

If Italy wins the televoting record breakingly the same hapens in the jury votes but with Sweden. Sweden gains 9,1 votes from every jury in average and 104 points more than the second one, Latvia. Russia managed third but Italy is snobbed and left distant six with average 4,4 points. The Finnish jury is a good example: Italy was third most televoted but the jury placed it only 19th. What happened to voting for vocals and hit potential?  Anyways, I repeat now what I have said and thought already before: The juries are good and there must be juries but they are way too small. There needs to be more people. Five people is way too limited and small. There should be at least ten, or preferably 15 like the good old days when they were 16 for years. One's individual dislikes wouldn't count that much, and one can't over talk the other four to not to like a certain entry so easily and make all vote against it. 

There it is. Very weirdly spread votes as the top-3 is way ahead of the three next than way ahead of the next three and then comes a huge drop for the rest. Once again Italy is the only Big5 doing any success as the other four ended up in bottom 7...... I'm happy for Belgium and Australia, also Latvia but I had Estonia in my top-5 (as I predicted the other four right). Norway, Israel, Serbia... I expected Azerbaijan and Slovenia doing better, and France of course but otherwise it's pretty much as I predicted at large.

The annual Marcel Bezençon awards have been voted once again and here are the winners: The Composer award goes to Norway and Kjetil Mørland . The Press award goes to Italy's Il Volo and The Artistic award , voted by the commentators in Vienna goes to Sweden and Måns Zelmerlöw Here's a video

My Flying reporter Robert caught last year's bronze medalist Sanna Nielsen on camera and she sends wishes to you all and hopes, no she knows Måns Zelmerlöw will make Sweden proud tonight. What do you think? Is Måns the man tonight?

Måns was parying last night in the Nordic Party but here he is giving another perfect performances. Not much to say as it is as it is, no changes. Even his outfit that hasn't been changed since Melodifestivalen 2 months ago. Hopefully it has been washed in between. Oh hang on, have they changed the ending? Hmm... Anyways, somehow it would be sooo boring if this won. It doesn't sound like a classic, nor a winner to me. I don't think it will. 

The Nordic Party took place tonight in Vienna and the entrants from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland were present along with Estonia. My flying reporter Robert was present. Here are a couple of videos: Måns Zelmerlöw doing Heroes and Mørland & Scarlett doing Monster like me . Also Iceland and Denmark performed, Finland didn't and everyone was happy for that. Instead Estonia did. Here are some pics:

All the entries in the second semifinal have now been heard and seen on stage. The first technical rehearsals are over and even if there are still changes to be made for the second round of rehearsals they are minor ones so the act is pretty much what we have seen so far. If we check  Oddchecker  as it was before rehearsals (May 10) and this morning (May 15) there aren't any major changes. The biggest climber is Latvia going up six places to 13th. Lithuania and Cyprus go up 2-3 places in the mdtable but for the rest it's more or less the same. This semi includes both the number one, Sweden, and the bottom one, Portugal. Both keep their standings. Then the droppers. Many talked nicely about Poland, including me, but the betters aren't convinced as it drops four places to 28th. Two highly praised and popular entries Norway (dropping three to 9th place) and Israel (dropping three places to 20th) both are actually going down.... Let's see how things change after toda...

Propably the most awaited rehearsal today is of course Sweden. Everyone was curious to see how the sticky creatures have gotten fat over Easter time and dressed up after all the controversy. And they look fine. Otherwise the performance is pretty much the same, even Måns' outfit. The backdrop eye flashes a lot of red and yellow with pulsating beat. Shame the song's not better....  Sweden's promo is also kinda cute: 

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...