Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

SVT revealed the artists and songs for the Melodifestivalen 2019 and most names were already leaked beforehand so there were only three surprises among the 28: Zeana feat. Anis Dom Demina, Omar and Pagan Fury. And minor surprise that LIAMOO and Hanna Ferm were actually together in a duet. Besides Arja Saijonmaa also High15 has a Finn in it. Göteborg, February 2, 2019: Anna Bergendahl - Ashes to ashes **** AC Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljungren, Erik Bernholm, Anna Bergendahl Nano - Chasing rivers **** AC Lise Cabble, Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Thomas G:son Mohombi - Hello ****  FINAL Alexandru Florin Cotoi, Thomas G:son, Mohombi Moupondo, Linnea Deb Zeana feat. Anis Dom Demina - Mina bränder * 5th Thomas G:son, Jimmy Jansson, Anis Don Demina,  Pa Moudou Badjie Arja Saijonmaa - Mina fyra årstider * 7th Arja Saijonmaa High15 - No drama * 6th Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Kate Tizzard Wiktoria - Not with me *** FINAL Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Wiktoria Joha...

Margaret is no stranger to Eurovision national finals having participated both in her native Poland and in Sweden's Melodifestivalen with In my Cabana . It's about the time she gets to do it and for Poland. She started as a fashion blogger, recorded soundtracks for television commercials and sung in underground bands. After given a chance her debut single Thank you very much was an international hit and she has delivered hit singles in Poland ever since and two of her three albums have sold platinum. She also collaborated with Canadian grooner Matt Dusk and recorded a cover album of standars like Just the two of us and 'deed I do . Check out also her latest Lollipop and What you do , Byle jak and Elephant . And of course Poland's missed opportunity, Cool me down below

We all know Margaret for her auto-tuned pop bangers like Cool me down and In my cabana , but  if you listen to her older songs like the fantastic debut hit Thank you very much there's a voice after all.  And there's a prove in the album Just the two of us recorded with Canadian grooner Matt Dusk. She says she recorded the album to fullfil her dream as she's an admirer of Ella Fidzgerard who has influenced her a lot - how strange that sounds? The album sold platinum in Poland and two singles were released and she went on to underline she's got no plans to give up on her pop career, as we have seen, the album came out in 2015.  All in all a very pleasant album with standards like Something stupid, You are the sunshine of my life, Girl from Ipanema, Our love is here to stay and They can't take that away from me.   If jazz standards are your cup of tea, get this album and be pleasantly surprised!

  Sweden has been selecting its entry for Lisbon 2018 Eurovision song contest the past five weeks around Sweden but tonight the show moves to Stockholm for its grand final. The viewing figures may have been dropping along the way as well as number of voters, and more and more international fans have woken up to the fact Mello isn't all that great it used to be. Haven't been for years now but in the end, like in all the national finals, all that matters is the one song. The one that will go to Eurovision and as Björkman and Swedes hope would continue Sweden's incredible success in the past seven years: two wins, two third places and two 5th places. And of course getting the 7th victory and thus making Ireland tremble. But do we have Eurovision winner among these entries? Most likely not, but a few that could sneak into the top-5 again. Two songs seem above the others in early polls, Jessica and Benjamin, but Jessica seems to have lost some of it's popularity along...

  Four medicore semifinals later Sweden has its Melodifestivalen second chance round. If it was for me I'd send only two songs to the final: Margaret and Mendez. Period. All the rest is useless fillers. Margaret - In my cabana Vs. Moncho - Cuba libre No minimal doubt here. I like Margaret and her song's fun. While I totally dislike this fake Cuba nonsense..... Remaida - All the feels Vs. Olivia Eliasson - Never learn Well, I don't either of these, but Renaida is more interesting.... Felix Sandman - Every single day Vs. Mimi Warner - Songburning I don't care about these two either but I choose Felix, just because... well, it's a bit more original. Sigrid Bernson - Patrick Swayze Vs. Mendez - Everyday No question here either. Mendez all the way. Compared to Moncho he's at least some how authentic and better in every way. Oh and Sigrid is nonsense.

    Swedish Melodifestival 2018 started last week with one of the weeakest semifinal ever. The second one isn't musically much better, but there are something to look forward. I never thought I'd say I kinda like Samir & Viktor but ... I do. They should go to final with Margaret, but what about Stiko Per? Liamoo was the big pre-favorite but he's not convinving at all. Leet's see how it goes.... Update: Well, Samir & Viktor did it, Margaret didn't (yet) and Liamoo went to the final and Stiko Per didn't.... Sigh.  Samir & Viktor — Shuffla - FINAL Ida Redig — Allting Som Vi Ta  5th Jonas Gardell — Det finns en väg  7th Margaret — In My Cabana -> Andra chancen Stiko Per Larsson — Titta Vi Flyger  6th Mimi Werner — Songburning -> Anda chancen Liamoo — Last Breath - FINAL

Fan favorite Margaret asks What you do? with her latest video that goes all videogameish. And is it shot in Malta? That almost looks like late Azur Window but it's just a lookalike that Malta among others have. The song? It's another very catchy one with all the already familiar Margaret incredients. 

There was not a shadow of doubt in this blogger's mind Margaret would walk this with Cool me down . And she does bring Poland its first ever victory. Sweden once again scores well with the fans placing second (which this blogger doesn't understand) but the rest of the top is rather in line what I thought. Finland's Mikael Saari did better than I believed and Switzerland's Vincent Gross way too low for my liking....  Check out the full results after the jump

Some years ago MTV and Eurovision were living in a parallel realities never even getting close. Then slowly some Eurovision entrants or wannabes started popping up in the nominees or even winning awards (maNga, Marco Mengoni, Lena, Dima Bilan...) This year is no exception, as many as six Eurovision stars are nominated in their home countries to be the one and only for the race for the ultimate award: in Italy we have Francesca Michielin and Emma , in France Amir , in Belgium Laura Tesoro , in the Netherlands Douwe Bob and finally in Poland Cleo , who battles it out with wannabe Margaret .  In Romania this year's runner up Vanotek is nominated. Special mention for Spain's Alvaro Soler who would be pefect for Eurovision.... who knows? In Finland it might be in pack for Antti Tuisku this year crowning his newfound megasuccess. The other nominees are Eveliina who has taken the spotlight from her girlfriend Sanni a bit (last week the girls were in the singles top-...

Here are again some new releases from Eurovision stars and wannabes. Bad boy Saade is apparently having success in Russia after dropping his first name and change of musical style. I kinda like it. Better than before for sure! Margaret keeps delivering excellent pop tunes and Elephant is another good example. Maybe not as catchy as Cool me down that has been playing also on Finnish radio waves quite a lot. Anouk goes her own way with Down daddy down and it's interesting at least. And Ukrainian (Svetlana) Loboda is having maybe the biggest hit of her long career on home soil. And Russia!

The 2016 is slowly fading away and as soon as we get the new host city and confirmed dates in less than a month the 2017 season starts slowly taking shape. That doesn't stop the rumors, proposals and denies running wild. Several artists, or fans, have already put names ahead in some countries so let's have an excuse to see who we might but propably won't see in Ukraine 2017.... In Greece there are rumors of internal choice and Demy. Her name has appeared in the speculations and wishlists for a few years now. Will it happen this time around after tis year's failure? Her latest is Tha meineis feugontas . In Montenegro the rumors are about Milena Vučić. She has taken part in the national finals before going solo in 2006 and has festival experience from here and there. Her latest is Gorim . Ukrainian runner ups Hardkiss have already announced they will be seeking for revenge in 2017. Remember their Helpless , that finished tied first with Jamala in the national fin...

Margaret may not have won the Polish Eurovision national selection but I rather listen her song about zillion times in repeat than even once the winner. Enough said. Summer heat can't cool me down!

What a let down for the evening...... with two very different but surely valid options (Edyta was stunning and Margaret, well we have heard worse vocals in Eurovision, and they have even won!) here comes totally annoying and uninteresting Michal Szpak and his Color of your life. Yawn.  MICHAŁ SZPAK – 35,89% MARGARET – 24,72% EDYTA GÓRNIAK – 18,49% DOROTA OSIŃSKA – 8,71% NATALIA SZROEDER – 4,20% KASIA MOŚ – 3,39% TARAKA – 2,26% ALEKSANDRA GINTROWSKA – 1,74% NAPOLI – 0,59%

Poland is back with a national final and already Margaret is among the favorites to win in Stockholm - before she has even won in Poland! Also 1994 runner up Edyta Górniak is back and if you ask fans its between these two. But also Natalia isn't bad. And it seems Margaret isn't exactly great with live vocals. Something Edyta has no problem with. Ths is going to be interesting! Ridiculously also Napoli is here after they failed to win in Belarus. Pathetic. Natalia Szroeder - Lustra Edyta Górniak - Grateful Taraka - In the rain Alexandra Gintrowska - Missing Michal Szpak - Color of your life Margaret - Cool me down Kasia Mos - Addiction Dorota Osinska - Universal Napoli - My universe

Poland has revelaed today the names for the final and yes, all the rumored ones are in from Margaret to Edyta to Michal. The surprise is Napoli that is bordering ridiculous. They already came 2nd in the Belarusian final this year with the same song. Are there no rules? Taraka is an Ukrainian-Polish band that made headlines over the world with Give Ukraine a helping hand . The Polish final will take place on March 5, 2016.  Anyways, I'm all for Margaret!  Natalia Szroeder – Lustra Edyta Górniak – Grateful Taraka – In the Rain Aleksandra Gintrowska – Missing Michal Szpak – Colour of Your Life Margaret – Cool me down Kasia Mos – Addiction Dorota Osinska – Universal Napoli – My Universe

Poland has closed its submission period and has received  almost 70 goodies, it is rumored. And guess what? Among the lat minute submission are the ones by Margaret and Edyta Gorniak with Gratefu l! Other names include Michal Szpak (X Factor runner up) with Color of your life , Kasia Nova with Love is music , Szymon Wydra (Pop Idol finalist), Monika Urlik (from The Voice) and Hubert Centkowski. The Polish final Krajowe Eliminacje 2016 will be in Warzaw on March 5, 2016. The finalists will be announced next week.

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?