Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The Sammarinese ambitious national selection including and welcoming the whole globe finally comes to an end tonight. The selection hasn't been saved from controversies, minor scandals, disqualifications and withdrawals - the latest came yesterday when Big artist Blind had to withdraw as he is ill. His song would have been Non mi perdo più . Shame, as this song is maybe the best I have heard so far, Can't do a review as most of the songs aren't available as yet and the emerging artists showing are just plain bad. Achille Lauro has caused the biggest stir, let's see if it's all laid down for him to win after all? The auditions for the emerging artists started in December in San Marino and out of 585 submissions and 66 showed up for the auditions. Long story short 17 made the Emerging artists final and nine of them pass to the final tonight with nine Big artists. All in all this is what we have wanted all these years, and a fun idea. However the initial selection shou...

OMG San Marino I love you! You just keep surprising us year after year and this time the surprise is you really did what I think you should have done already years ago: Bring into contest some major Italian acts. And boy did you deliver! Starting with Achille Lauro that hardly has time to move from Sanremo to San Marino, Sanremo winner Valerio Scanu and a real Sanremo veteran and global hit maker Ivana Spagna. And that's just a start. Let's start with Ivana Spagna , my Eurovision dream of yesteryears. She scored a worldwide hit with Call me in 1987 and a string of hits followed like Easy lady , I wanna be your wife and so on until she made her Sanremo debut 1995 placing third with Gente come noi . She's been singing in both languages on and off ever since. Five Sanremos in competition, twice more as guest. Countless festivals and awards. 12 albums, six EPs, 15 compilations and over 50 singles later she's finally giving Eurovision a chance. Love it! Valerio Scanu , run...

San Marino may be small and tiny, but it has big dreams. And one big dream of hope is here to enjoy. A song that unites the musical talents of its population including all native Sammarinese Eurovision artists Valentina Monetta, Anita Simoncini and Miodio . Miodio's front man Nico Della Valle is also behind the project and the song. The other ones are  Elu (Luca Partisani, Elisa Mafry Massari), Sara Jane Ghiotti, Monica Hill, Irol Mc, Moghe, Miodio Paolo Macina and Francesco Sancisi of Miodio, Piermatteo Carattoni, Alessandra Busignani, Francesco Zao Zazzi, Paolo Beccari and Fabrizio Pregnolato . Dream a little dream with the ones from the world's oldest republic and enjoy the lovely video below:

In our exclusive interviews in Malmö 2013 Eurovision we asked the artists who they would like to see on Eurovision stage in Denmark 2014 for their country. Valentina Monetta named her friend Sara Jane Ghiotti , but apparently SMRTV has asked Valentina herself to do it for the third time in a row... Maybe there could be a duet with these two talented voices? Sara Jane Ghiotti, a Sammarinese doc isn't new to Eurovision, as she already took part in the internal pre-selection of the tiny country's debut in 2008 (won by Miodio ). Sara may not be a household name, but has a lot of experience performing live, just like Valentina, singing all from latin to chill out, pop to disco and jazz, Italian evergreens and performing as a duo, trio or quartet of her musicians. As Valentina states in the interview she hopes Sara would experience the same possibility she has and indeed, she would be a fine choice with that wonderful voice of hers: Stormy weather , Aquarela do Brasil , Engli...

Alessandro Capicchioni, the Sammarinese Head of Delegation concludes the round of interviews with San Marino team. What kind of ideas San Marino has for hosting the contest should they win? Who he would like to represent them? Why they don't have a big Italian artists representing them? And who was the one who tried? What do Georgian drivers do with promo material? Read it all here: Alessandro, back in Eurovision again. With the same team but a completely different response by the fans. How does it feel? Well, it feels very good indeed. How scared are you that you will do very well this year? It's too early for real worries. I mean, if we win our semifinal and during the final we have 100 points more than the second and only three countries left to vote, well, then I would start to worry. But seriously, we're such a small country and everything is twice harder for us than for a regualar one. This success among fans may, and I say may, help us to get to the fi...

Now as the possible withdrawal and the possibility of Lys Assia singing for San Marino are only a sad memory (I don't know which option would have been sadder...) SMTV has give out some news. They have been very clever with the media game now with this Lys affair, and last year with the Facebook affair and now they hint they have four artists in the list, two would be highly appreciated by the international fans. One can only wonder who they are....  When San Marino joined Eurovision I was overjoyed, especially because Italy was still missing. And I loved their debut entry Complice by Miodio. Since then they have not delivered what I would have expected and desired from the tiny state. Can't they just send Miodio again? Or get a big Italian singer do the honors for them, just like Monaco used French singers in the good old days... The mystery will be revealed on January 30, 2013. 

Today we continue with the Valentina Monetta interview here on Blogilkar. Time to talk about bad mouthed fans, Valentina's favourites and coming performance on the stage of Crystal Hall in Baku and her plans after the Eurovision. Here you go: Most fans didn't really welcome the song with open arms. What do you think about that? Do you want to say something to them? In the end the fan vote counts next to nothing when it's the big night and real voting. As they say variety is the spice of life. You can't please everyone. The critic and polemics also help you to grow and get better. Well, I have also got a lot of positive feedback, especially from the young people. I stand for it, I like to put myself into questioning, to find new forces and to continue loving my work. What can I say? We will see what happens. I believe in this song, so does my staff. My song is carefree and ironic just like me. Sometimes we need someting simple in this complicated world. ...

The Sammarinese entrant Valentina Monetta sat down to talk about this and that with Blogilkar. Here in the exclusive interview she tells us how she ended in Eurovision, Ralph Siegel and the song title controversy. Tomorrow in the second part she speaks about the reactions, the Eurovision fans, plans for Baku and life post-Baku. Stay tuned! Ciao Valentina and thank you for acccepting this interview. How are you? Thank you, Blogilkar.! All is fine, I'm very content. Finally I have an occasion to sing abroad and to take part in such an important event as Eurovision. I can't wait! So, who is Valentina Monetta? I'm a girl who forgets she's a woman very often. I sing since I was 5 years old and music has always been a part of my life. My father plays music and my mothers sings a little. In our household there has always been music. I first started to learn singing by myself listening to pop, black music and soul and later on I discovered jazz. During my last ...

San Marino's TV has managed to keep the secret until the end it seems and the speculations goes wild on internet. The latest "sure" name mentioned is Valentina Monetta - whoever she is as for me she is totally unknown. A few days ago there was the spectacularly managed hint on Nicola Di Bari but what if it is true after all? From this year's Sanremo festival the names of Noemi, Erica Mou and Marco Guazzone have been mentioned. And further more or less unknown names like Antonella Di Coco , Daniela Pedali, Monica Hill, Alessandra Bisignani along with the return of Miodio , with or without Lavika . But also Eurovision veterans Glen Vella and Roberto Meloni have been mentioned. And the always present L'Aura and Paola & Chiara . It's no secret this blogger would love to see the Iezzi sisters in Eurovision but tomorrow we will know... 

Who will follow the footsteps of Miodio and Senit? Sammarinese TV has managed to keep their artist and entry a top secret so far. So secret there have basicly been zero rumours either who it could be! The mystery will be solved next Wednesday when they will announce the name and the reasons why this particular artist was chosen. Then on Friday night there will be a special on TV where the song will be presented. All this makes one suppose there's something very good and big cooking up. Or at least I hope so!

Today the Irish songs were presented on radio ahead of the national final on February 24, 2012. It all starts with Maria McCool's Celtic whisper that is Celtic indeed, wonderful atmosphere and beautiful melody that the good old judges would have loved. The televoters maybe less. Donna McCaul continues with Mercy , modern pop that needs a better arrangement and mix. Very Lady Gaga-ish. Andrew Mann with self-penned Here I am next. Nice vocals but the chorus is a kind of anti-climax unfortunately. Una Gobney and David Shannon offer Language of love . Sounds like an UK entry from the past. Good singers but sadly very uninspiring and uninteresting song. Last but not least Jedward with Waterline .  First reaction is it's totally different from what I thought it would be! Not sure yet if it's a good thing or not. Maybe it's good to not to have Lipstick all over again? This makes me think of Anonymous and Miodio strangely... I guess they will win again and do better than...

The first ever Sammarinese entry to the Eurovision song contest is a good prove that coming last in Eurovision isn't a career killer. They scored only 5 points (2 from Andorra and 3 from Greece) and came last in their semifinal and also the lowest score the whole year. Very unfairly so if you ask me as Complice is a fantastic track. But this said, the guys have never stopped ever since. They have been performing abroad and in Italy participating in various festivals and competitions. Still maybe waiting for the big break that will surely come soon (Sanremo 2012?) while slowly building their fan base all over Europe. They have released their excellent debut album Avantgarde . They have done since the Romanian Cerbul de Aur festival, as well as the Budva festival in Montenegro. In Sanremo 2009 they got into top-10 in the on line section with Evelozione genetica and the year after tried with Perdo contatto . This year they also tried the Swiss selection with I feel. Their other hit...

It seems almost certain that Raffaella Carrà will give out the Italian votes in the Eurovision 2011 final. She is also hosting the show from the RAI studios in Rome for the occasion that is to relaunch the contest in Italy after 14 year's of absence. Rai5 will broadcast the semifinal 2 where Italians can vote while the final will be on Rai2. For San Marino the spokesperson is most likely Miodio's lead singer Nico Della Valle Miodio is the first and only Sammarinese entrant until this year when Senit tries to get to the final. San Marino's TV will broadcast all three shows on both digital and analogical channels that can be seen in some parts of Italy as well.

Nicola Della Valle aka Niko, the lead singer of Sammarinese band Miodio sat down with Blogilkar for an interview talking about the band’s past, present and future, Sanremo and Eurovision . It’s finally here, your debut album! Tell us a bit about it. Avantgarde is a result of six long years of experiences and feelings. It’s an album that includes different faces and changing colours. It’s electro-pop that hides a deep soul, sometimes fragile and delicate, sometimes cutting and aggressive. We have taken care of every little detail and I have to say the result is all that we expected and more. Every detail has been tought carefully and we have worked hard in studio, and Avantgarde became a modern pop album – easy to listen to but not calculated and stupid. The cover sleeve is designed by Andrea Zonzini, a young neo-pop artist who has really captured the essence of our sound. It’s a simple image but a leaves strong impact. It’s exactly what we wanted. I invite all the readers and fans t...

As already posted before the Sammarinese Miodio have finally released their debut album Avantgarde . And folks, it's very good! And besides tell me another band who can put in their debutalbum an Eurovision entry ( Complice ) and another Eurovision wannabe ( I feel ) and two Sanremo related tracks ( Evoluzione genetica , Perdo contatto )? And as a bonus an Eurovision cover ( Oltre le nuvole )! It also includes It's ok , their first single as well as the new single Rock'n roll robot . And five other songs. The band may have come last in their semifinal but has made a name in many places since then and also before: winners of XVII Festival di San Marino, they have also been to festival di Budva in Montenegro, Cerbul de Aur in Romania (wherefrom the cover of Dincolo de nori originates) and of course Sanremo... We will hear from these guys for sure again.... ***You can order your copy by sending an email to  md.cdshop@gmail .com ***

Next Fridat, December 17 sees the release of Miodio's debut album Avantgarde. As Friday the 17th in Italy is like Friday the 13th elsewhere it is a rather unusual choice but let's hope the guys turn it into luck! Eleven tracks from the past few years including their debut single It's ok , Eurovision entry Complice , Sanremo 2009 and 2010 tries Evoluzione genetica and Perdo contatto amingst them. The new single is Rock'n roll robots .

As expected there was a rush to send in the entries for the Swiss selection and in the end there are over 300 songs. Many previous Eurovision stars have entered from DQ (Denmark 2007) to Miodio (San Marino 2008), from local stars Mariella Farré (1983 and 1985) to Piero Esteriore (2004) and Todomondo (Romania 2007). Also names from the various national selections like Rosman Pace (Malta) and Ville Laaksonen (Finland, as composer), and names from Idols here and there like Sarah Burgess (USA) and Vittoria Hyde (Italy). Many (too many if you ask me) foreign artists from all over the world have entered with many from countries like Italy, Malta, Poland, Finland, Ireland, South Africa and so on singing in various languages. And far too many "artists" lacking any self critic and totally without singing voice with totally forgettable songs. But that's what you get when you want to have a totally open internet selection. Swiss TV has apparently learned nothing from Spain ...

OGAE Song contest 2010 comes again this year and the Italian club is ready with its short list for the possible entries. A total of 22 songs from the latest new names, alternative names, Sanremo successes and even two ex-Eurovision stars in it, Paolo Meneguzzi and Miodio, with the come back of lovely Paola & Chiara. Here is the recap of all the songs, and here is the OGAE Italy page with full Youtubes to all songs. Enjoy! Who should do the honors for Italy in 2010?

One timers Morocco and San Marino are also missing from Oslo 2010. Morocco appeared once with the wonderful Bitakat hob in 1980. Samira Bensaid is today a megastar in the Arab world but then managed to get only 7 points, all of them from Italy, and came second to last - only Finland got less points! SNRT never looked back and hasn't expressed any will to ever return. The rival broadcaster 2M TV is applying for EBU membership and if granted might be well interested in Eurovision as being the voice of free speech and  a taboo breaking media in Morocco. San Marino surprisingly took part in the 2008 Eurovision. Many saw this as RAI's plot to taste the waters and see how it would go - after all RAI is SMRTV's biggest stock holder. Miodio's Complice however scored the last place in the semifinal and San Marino hasn't been seen since, claiming financial problems. One can only wonder how much RAI is involved in its absense? San Marino would easily attract some big Italian...

The 60th Sanremo, il Festival della canzone Italiana starts next Tuesday, February 16. Antonella Clerici is conducting the five night event. As usual there are also several foreign guest stars to spice up the nights and in 2010 we will have Susan Boyle, Tokyo Hotel and Robbie Williams for sure, and Jennifer Lopez is "almost certain". As always the songs by the Big are not heard beforehand but the new ones, La nuova generazione has been widely made available on internet beforehand. You can listen to the ten finalists here . None of the names known to us Eurovision people made it: Miodio, Roberto Meloni, Paula Selig, Claudia Faniello.... BlogIlkar will follow the festival closely next week so please come back for daily updates!