Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

EBU has revealed the jurors in all 41 national juries that will provide 50% of the final result, the other 50% being of course the televote in each and every country. As usual many familiar names among the jurors, but maybe slightly less than usual it seems. Among the Eurovision veterans or the artists who have already represented their country and now get the chance to judge others we find Michael Schulte in Germany, Kati Wolf in Hungary, Maria Olofsdottir in Iceland, Geta Burtacu in Moldova, Monica Anghel in Romania, Sanja Ilic in Serbia and the Tolmachevy twins in Russia. Yes, both of them so 2/5 of the Russian jury depends on their taste alone.... Among Eurovision wannabes or those who have participated in their national finals we have names like Dilan Reka in Albania, Julie Berthelsen in Denmark, Stefan Airapetjan in Estonia, Jurgis Bruzga in Lithuania, Matay in Portugal, Ula Lozar in Slovenia and Lina Hedlund in Sweden.  Two more very familiar names...

All is good in Eurovision bubble, Miss Hera Björk is in the building. And in the backing singer's formation under the northern lights. And Selma is there, too, babysitting the whole lot. Otherwise the Icelandic staging and performance is pretty much the same. Maria dances around a bit with little steps in her pink tutu and her vocals are all over the place at times. Not much else to say. This is many people's favorite to qualify but I wouldn't be so sure. It's kinda unwhelming and insignificant addition to the line up to put it frankly. I wouldn't miss this in the final. I wouldn't even remember it existed to be honest. She's pretty little fairy and adorable but it may just not be enough this time. Shame, Iceland has so often had something good to offer.... 

Iceland has a strange mix of pink fairy barefoot with green painted feet and Northern Lights in the backdrop. Both are beautiful separatelt but mixing them together? Hmm... not quite sure, but who knows? I have a trouble with this song. I liked it when it won even though it wasn't my favourite in Iceland. Then I grew tired of it very quickly and the fondness has not emerged again no matter what. Still, this is quite popular with the polls and fans. Anyways, it seems the most interesting thins seems to be Hera Björk's absense. No worries, she's due to be in Vienna tomorrow after a little visit to hospital that delayed her arrival. Can mighty Hera continue her string of 100% qualification? Maybe.... 

Friðrik Dór Jónsson may have lost to Maria Olafs(dóttir) in the Icelandic final but it seems he gets to go to Vienna 2015 Eurovision after all. Namely as a backing singer. Now that wouldn't be anything new for Iceland as several singers have done that in the past, sometimes being backing singers, sometimes lead singers.... the circle goes round and round.... This time the reason is both songs were written and produced by  Pálmi Ragnar Ásgeirsson, Ásgeir Orri Ásgeirsson and Sæþór Kristjánsson so it would all be in the family. And Friðrik would get good practise for future headliner in Eurovision.  Maria Olafs won the Icelandic final last Saturday with Unbroken  while  Friðrik finished second with Once again . 

María Ólafsdóttir has won the Icelandic final with Unbroken , the English version of her  Lítil skref . She beat in the superfinal superfavorite Friðrik Dór Jónsson.

Also Iceland has concluded its two semifinals and has its final this Saturday. Six songs made it to the final and the jury granted one wildcard to Haukur Heiðar Hauksson. In semifinals all song were performed in Icelandic but it seems most of them will be heard in English in the final. Often that has also ment a little remix being done, so let's see what we have in store from Reykjavik.  CADEM seems like Alcazar light from Iceland, light also in catchiness and originality unfortunately. SUNDAY offers something totally different. And I think I love it. Björn and friends offer a song that seems to be in the Icelandic final every year, and I never care much for it but still it wins every now and then. Hopefully not this year again! Maria echoes Yohanna and the song is good, quite catchy and could be even more so once in English. But does it get a bit shouty in the end? Let's rearrange it! Elin is charming in her little guitar lolita look and tiny sweet little voice and s...