Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Ukraine at n.o 4. Ukraine, Ukraine.... so many troubles this decade. Still doing great success - when they managed to take part. Due to the crisis with Russia and financial matter they stayed home in 2015 just to come back and win it in 2016. And just like back in 2005 they did poorly at home compared to their other efforts. 2019 again the trouble with Russia caused withdrawel for Maruv (that I have included here just because it's so awesome and err,.. I needed nine songs) Unlike many I think Jamala was a worthy winner in 2016 and the only Ukrainian entry I never cared for is Be my guest really.... The Ukrainian national finals also provide a lot of drama every...

Frans Summertime is the time for the Eurovision stars to enjoy the sun, sea, sand and beach like any common mortals, and showcase their muscles or bikini bodies. Here's a round up of their Instagrams for your viewing pleasure. Claudia Faniello Sergey Lazarev & son Tamta Andras Kallay Saunders Eleni Foureira ZalaGasper Emmelie De Forest Dima Bilan Lindita Kobi Marimi Polina Gagarina Gianluca Ginoble Ilinca Melovin Ruth Lorenzo Rui Andrade Mikko Leppilampi

LATVIA - LAURA RIZZOTTO - FUNNY GIRL What was I thinking? I’m just the funny girl to you Vocals **** Staging *** Song ** Overall *** Non qualifier SWEDEN - BENJAMIN INGROSSO - DANCE YOU OFF Just wanna da da dance you off So, don’t you da da dare wait up Vocals *** Staging **** Song *** Overall *** Qualifier MONTENEGRO - VANJA RADOVANOVIC - INJE Me and life - like dog and cat The heart the most treasured pet Vocals *** Staging ** Song ** Overall ** Non qualifier SLOVENIA - LEA SIRK - HVALA, NE! Hvala, ne, ne! Hvala, ne Hvala, ne, ne Hvala, hvala, ne Vocals **** Staging **** Song *** Overall *** Borderline qualifier UKRAINE - MÉLOVIN - UNDER THE LADDER (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, yeah) (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, yeah) Vocals **** Staging **** Song **** Overall **** Qualifier

Montenegro - Vanja Radovanović - Inje Questionable fashion sense for Vanja in his strangely cut blue jacket, while his four backings and one in piano are in white performing a Balcan ballad by the book. Add some choreography that seems out of place. =r very 2004. Maybe a hit at home but has European viewers already moved on if even this blogger, lover of big Balcan ballads, can't connect to this one? It seems this passed rather unnoticed in the press center, except for his trousers? Actually all attention turned into his unfortunate ill fitting outfit rather than the song or staging.... "Dated", "Emotional", "Styling and song don't meet", "Sounds perfct", "Time stood still", "Lacks charisma", "Simplicity and charm" Slovenia - Lea Sirk - Hvala, ne! Slovenia seems to be trying the already old trick by faking a backing track break down and asks where's the music and asking people to sing...

  Last year's host nation Ukraine and this year's Portugal both finally release their music videos for their entries this year today. Cláudia Pascoal & Isaura's O jardim is very green and simple with faces in close ups mainly. Mélovin's Under the ladder is the opposite: dark and dramatic, a bit gothic and a bit disturbing. No wonder he looks so worried most of it! Wednesday we will know how much of this he brings to the staging in Lisbon....

  Ukraine - Mélovin - Under the ladder Mélovin (21), X Factor Ukraine winner (after three unsuccesful auditions!) and last year's televoting winner in the national final for Eurovision (but placing only 3rd) took revenge this year with self composed  Under the ladder . The song is catchy and keeps building towards the burning end, he's got a gimmick in his look that makes him memorable, as is the staging. I don't remember seeing an artist start the perform mid stage ending up by the piano in the end - isn't it always the other way around? He seems also very secure on stage and the end of the performance is on fire. He will be a certain qualifier but how far he will go in the final? Hmmm ... 7/10 Czech Republic - Mikolas Josef - Lie to me Mikolas (22) is the first Czech with a real possibility. He was asked by the local tv already last year but turned down the song not feeling it suitable for him. Smart choice as now he's back with a jackpot. A sur...

  He took revenge this year and won. Melovin will take his Under the ladder to Lisbon 2018 Eurovision.  Melovin - Under the ladder (jury 5 + televote 6) 11 Tayanna - Lelya (6 + 4) 10 Kadnay - Beat of the universe (3 + 5) 8 Laud - Waiting (4 + 2) 6 Vilna - Forest song (1 + 3) 4 The Erised - Heroes (2 + 1) 3

  Ukraine also has its national final for Eurovision song contest 2018 in Lisbon tonight. Vidbir has six entries running after two eliminatory semifinals, among them last year's runner up Tayanna with her hysterical attempt of mixing Wild dances and Fly with me  and televote winner Melovin with his straightforward pop song (I think it's the first time I see an artist start the song standing my the microphone centre stage and moving to the piano for the last part of the song - usually it's the other way round!). Could it be the case here, too, that the moral winner gets the ticket a year after with an inferior song? Or will it be Kadnay with their more of a show than a song act with some crazy dancing? Or will Vilna's wilderness conquer hearts of the televoters? Actually it sounds even a bit Lappish or is it that it simply samples all native folks heritage globally? Might be quite a clever choice?                    ...

Ukraine has its second and last semifinal tonight. Among the acts last year's runner up Tayanna, who decided to go all for it and poses in her underwear in the video turning in the sexy while yelling out her song. Last year's televoting winner Mélovin is in, too, but doesn't maybe make such an impact this year. Last year's 4th Illaria is also here and could beat all the rest this time, maybe? the rest in offer is all sort of sounds from dance to rock. But unforgettable. Dilemma is kinda fun, and Mountain Breeze's song not yet available....  Jury-televote 50-50 will send three acts to the final. Ingret - Save My Planet Mélovin - Under the Ladder (jury 8 + televote 9) 17 Julinoza - Hto ya? Tayanna - Lelya (9 + 7) 16 Kadnay - Beat of the Universe (7 + 8) 15 Yurcash - Stop Killing Love Mountain Breeze - I See You Illaria - Syla Dilemma - Na Party

Ukraine will have two semifinals (February 10 and 17) before the final and the line up features quite a few familiar names looking for a revenge: for example last year's runner up Tayanna and televoting winner and 3rd placed Melovin are in, as is 4th placed Illaria . Kadnay also tried last year but missed the final while Pur:Pur placed 4th two years ago. Constantine Serhii Babkin Laud Kazka The Vyo Kozak System Vil’na Pur: Pur The Erised Ingret Kostenko Melovin Julinoza Tayanna Kadnay Yurcash Mountain Breeze Illaria Dilemma

The hosting nation's national final takes place tonight. After three semifinals six songs have made it this far. Last time Ukraine won and hosted they got the worst result to date (19th) with their rap anthem, will they go with something strange this time again? Salto Nazad would somehow continue that tradition and just like I did like Razom nas bahato I adore O, mamo! as well! It's catchy, groovy, fun and a bit weird. The choreography bit is insane, in a good way. Perfect! Then we have Melovin with his gimmicky eye and a pop tune that isn't bad at all. O.Torvals offers some quite decent poprock, Illaria some strangely titled sugary pop ballad that could have played in some American elevator some 30 years ago and no one would have noticed, Tayanna delivers a song from Lara Fabian songbook and finally Rozhden offers some groovy jazzy pop that is pleasant but who would pick up the phone and vote for it come May? I'm team #SaltoNazad! Watch here from 18.00 CET ...

Ukraine has it's third and last semifinal tonight. Again only two songs wil make the cut after 50-50 televote-juryvote.  This is such a weird group of songs I don't even try to predict who will make the cut..... Watch here from 18.00 CET Payushchie Trusy - Singing pants O.Torvald - Time Anastasia Prudius - Flow Vitaliy Kozlovskiy - Be your light Kadnay - Freedom in my mind Melovin - Wonder Green Grey - Future is now Vivienne Mort - Iniy