Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Two new superstar duets from Italy. Many fans dream came true when Annalisa announced a duet with Marco Mengoni while Irama's duet with Elodie came pretty much out of nowhere. Annalisa feat. Marco Mengoni - Piazza San Marco **** Annalisa nor Euroviison veteran Marco Mengoni need no presentation. Both have been delivering hits for years and while Mengoni has done Eurovision already twice Annalisa is yet to win Sanremo and do Eurovision. She's on most foreign Euroviison fans wish list for Italy already for years. Piazza San Marco is their join effort off Annalisa's new album yet to be released. Being a long time Mengoni fan, less so of Annalisa I was quite curious for this collaboration. It's a pretty song wonderfully sung by both. Will it be an evergreen or a song I will sing to myself for years to come? Most likely not but it's a good one. The video is stunning. I have the pleasure of experience empty Venice at night  in January and all I can say it's amazing, n...

The hugely successful and polar duo has left Sanremo after five years. Whoever follows them has to face a similar situation as UMK2024 artists had to do post-Käärijä. Nothing is good enough. Artic director and host Amadeus and co-host Fiorello, after celebrating Angelina Mango's victory on stage walked out of Teatro Ariston hand in hand, stepped into their Cinderella carriage with horses and drove to sunset, or as it was Sanremo final night to dawn. All that after scoring a record breaking 90,7% share in the viewing figures as nearly 9 million Italians were still clued to their tv-screens to see them off. Earlier in the evening they reached 18,259 million and 85% share at 01.56 when the Top-5 super finalists were announced. How can you beat that? And it's not only the viewing figures but his five years have also been hugely popular in charts as all those chart toppers, multi platinum selling singles prove. Mahmood winning in 2019 was a shock and a start of something new in the ...

The 74th Festival della canzone italiana kicks off in legendary Teatro Ariston in Sanremo tonight. The artistic director and main host is once again Amadeus for the 5th year, officially his last but there's demand from Rai for him to do it again next year. His festivals have been not only viewing successes but also an endless source for multiplatinum scoring hits. The first night's co-host is none other than last year's winner and Eurovision 2023 4th placed Marco Mengoni who will open the night with his winning entry (and the most streamed Italian song abroad) Due vite. Singer and Sanremo winner Giorgia will co-host second night, comedian/actress Teresa Mannio 3rd, showgirl Lorella Cuccarini 4th and finally legendary funny man Fiorello the final.  Among the artists Eurovision veterans Mahmood, Emma, Il Volo and Ricchi e Poveri with Diodato. Other previous winner is Francesco Renga. 15 out of 30 acts are debutantes, or 16 if you don't count Negramaro's participation ...

The most streamed song in Italy in 2023. The first ever video to be watched over 100 million times in less than a year. Amazing song. Eurovision Top-4 against all fandom odds. I always said this is Top-5 stuff. Love it.

Every year a certain part of Italian fandom is complaining and lamenting and suggesting Italy should have a selection separately from Sanremo, or select internally or something, anything but send the Sanremo winner automatically.  Which in my opinion is like the silliest idea ever - unless they want to do bad or at least not so good. Because why? Italy is the first country in three decades to have a consecutive six  top-6 streak! (Correct me if I am wrong but it's Germany from 1978 to 1983). And on top of that it would surely be a seven year one if 2020 Euroviison wasn't cancelled. Since Italy's return Italy has sent a non Sanremo winner in 2011 (2nd), 2012 (9th), 2014 (21st) and 2016 (16th). In 2013 it was Marco Mengoni with L'essenziale, Sanremo winner and placed 7th. And then only winners... 2017 Francesco Gabbani - Occidentali's Karma (6th) 2018 Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro - Non mi avete fatto niente (5th) 2019 Mahmood - Soldi (2nd) 2021 Måneskin - Zitti e b...

I can't quite believe yet that Saturday night two of my favorite singers are both on Liverpool Eurovision stage: Marco Mengoni in competition and Mahmood performing in the interval act Liverpool songbook with several other Eurovision stars. He has just announced also an European tour for 2024 and is writing songs for his new album and says this time he's taking his time until he's totally satisfied with them. For those who don't know he's also a succesful songwriter for other artists including Mengoni ( Hola ), Elodie, Michele Bravi & Gué Pequeno ( Nero Bali ), Francesca Michielin ( Cheyenne and Chiamami per nome ), Noemi ( Glicine ), Giorgia ( Normale ). Elodie ( Andromeda ) and many many more. And of course we remember him from two Sanremo wins and two Eurovisions:

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 ...

Here comes the photo story from the Eurovision song contest 2023 Turquoise carpet from sunny Liverpool! I must say this was the best carpet event ever in sense of presenting the artists well and each getting their moment to shine. In previous years they have nearly missed some while showing the crowds and already passed artists taking selfies with fans and giving interviews. That was now kept in minimum and the focus was nearly 100% on only those artists entering the carpet. Well done BBC! ITALY AZERBAIJAN CZECHIA DENMARK GERMANY

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...

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 ...