Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The national broadcasting network in Bosnia & Herzegovina is close to collapse, states EBU in a statement that you can read here . This network includes BHRT, that has been responsable for the country's Eurovision song contest participations. In this light it's very unlikely we will see Bosnia & Herzegovina in Sweden 2016. Shame.  The country has been last seen on Eurovision stage back in 2012, when Maya Sar placed 18th. They debuted back in 1993 with the legendary voting call from the war zone and we finally heard "This is Sarajevo calling" to a spontaneous applause in the arena. They also survived every semifinal and were always present in the final scoring six top-10 places and 3rd at best, with Hari Mata Hari's Lejla in 2006. After a shaky start they gave us some great entries the lst few years. You can check them all below...

My flying reporter had a great interview with Croatian hopeful Nina Badric. They talked about Dora, how she got selected, what does she do besides singing. And did you know this is not her first time on Eurovision stage against common belief? And that she's one helluva party girl! Here: Yesterday was the opening party. Did you have a good time? Great time! The red carpet was like in Monte Carlo! Lots of beauiful dresses, so many people. For me it was a first time but it was ok. Did the location meet your expectations? The open terrace was nice. The rest... puff.... ha ha ha! Nina, you clearly wanted to participate in Eurovision because you participated already when Yogoslavia existed as a backing singer.. . How do you know that?!? I'm well informed :-) You also tried in 1993 so you wish to be here for a long time. Now that you are finally here, how does it feel? Ok! :-) Back then I was just starting my career and the most famous song festival was Dora. I wa...

Bosnia & Herzegovina has changed the backdrop and that's a clever move. Now all the focus is on the song and Maya's fantastic vocals. This is maybe the most underrated song this year, like Lithuania last year only that this is much better. I would think the juries will go for this, and also the televoters enough to push this to the final. or at least it deserves to be there. Stylish, elegant, beautiful, real... She's wearing a long black dress. More here . Lithuania ends the morning part of rehearsals and there are no changes except Donny is wearing his smart suit today. The presentation is the same, the backdrop is awesome as are his vocals. he is blindfolded, he does the back flip. And I still have no idea how this will go. I like it though. And we have a great interview with Donny here . Is it me or are these last staging in semifinal all very dark?! More here . 

Bosnia & Herzegovina 's MayaSar sits by the piano and there's... hmm... restoration of Colosseum or other ruins behind her? Anyways, maybe there will be a lot of close ups? Later she stands up and walks in front of the stage and that's it. Keep it simple when you have such a beautiful song and voice. Well done. No thrills needed. :-) More here . Today's last one is Lithuania , also ending this first round of technical rehearsals for the semifinalists. Blindfolded Donny is alone in a blue it stage and he sure has some vocal cords! When the beat kicks in he throws away the blindfold and in the backdrops we have... floors of human silhouettes doing something. It looks nice though! Nothing else much happens. But he has amazing vocals.... I'm a big fan of Donny but maybe the song could be a hint better? More here .

The Balcan region is early this year with their Eurovision artists and now Rambo Amadeus (Montenegro), Kaliopi (FYR Macedonia) and Zeljko Joksimovic (Serbia) get company from Maya Sar from Bosnia & Herzegovina. She's no stranger to Eurovision as she has been backing singer already twice, most recently this year with Dino Merlin. She has also toured with Toni Cetinski. She got her first solo hit with Nespretno all over Balcans and is yet to release her debut album.