Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The media keeps wondering why Norma John an Blackbird failed to qualify for the Eurovision song contest 2017 final. Here and there pops up the idea that YLE should just drop UMK2018 (that is already in the planning with the first submission phase long gone), save the money and get Saara Aalto to do a X Factor UK like staging extravacanza for next year. Luckily no one's taking it with Norma John. They receive praise and consolances unlike for example poor Seija Simola back in 1978 when her until then flourishing and succesful career just died that night in Paris and she never recovered. Today, rumours tell, she's a bit bitter old lady living outside the spotlights in southern corners of Helsinki incognito.  But back to UMK. UMK stands for Uuden musiikin kilpailu aka Contest for new music. Sadly everyone has understood it stands for Contest for new artists. Or at least anyone with an ongoing career to speak of is taking part. Unlike in Sweden taking part in UMK or Eurovision...

MTV3 takes on the social media reaction and outtrage after Finland's non qualification. Disappointed fans all over Europe have been voicing their discontent in Twitter and elsewhere, and the first memes pop up. Like someone wrote spring is hard time for Finns when one has to survive spring, Eurovision and Ice hockey disappointments.... It's always an emotional rollercoaster. Lasse tells MTV3 that the moment of non qualification went by so fast one didn't have time to think anything and Leena confirms she don't remember what she thought that exact moment it was clear. The whole experience has been super great for both of them and they shout out to music makers for next year: Don't think what kind of song could work. Just write good songs and send lots of them! And they reveal their favorite..... Portugal. 

YLE was quickly to congratulate Norma John on social medias for the great job on stage and during the whole Eurovision period.  IS interviewed "empty eyed" Leena and Lasse right after the results were out. "We go straight to hotel to sleep. Tomorrow's another day. No party" the disappointed duo says. "You never know what happens. We are not disappointed in our performance but this is Eurovision" They plan to stay in Kyiv till the end, do some sightseeing and enjoy the city and most of all support the other artists they have made friends with this spring.  The speculation on reasons continues in IS : They talk about the neighbouring voting, Greece and Cyprus as an example, and the fact that there were a lot of bad singing and false notes last night, even to Eurovision standards and this blogger agrees, I don't remember such a feast for ears for a long, long time!  They take as an example the disaster that is Blanche. (I would like to add I...

So, Finland flew away from the 10th place in the bedding odds. As 10th it was overal last night and 5th in order to qualify for the final behind Portugal, Sweden, Armenia and Belgium. Same for Georgia, out as 14th overal, Iceland 19th, Czech Republic 20th, Latvia 21st but Montenegro was already 27th and in theory out like in reality.  The support and shokh after non qualification has been overwhelming and even those few who didn't like the song have been surprised to say the least. (Add a few odd "I told you sos" as always though) Finnish media took on the fact it's third year in a row we didn't make it. All are praising Norma John and the peformance and wonder why. Norma John themselves have been composed and calm in their comments: "Of course it would have been nice to be in the final but what can you do? No explanations!" says Lasse in HS . "There are worse things in life than dropping out of Eurovision final" continues Leena with a...