Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Spanish Manel Navarro isn't exactly tipped to win this year's Eurovision song contest, on the contrary. Many are seeing him the one to keep Germany out of the last place for the thrid year in a row! This doesn't encourage him as he tells Attitude magazine he will pose nude for the cover if he wins (he already promised this to a Spanish gay magazine).  He also firmy believes he's got a chance, it's difficutl but not impossible.  Now that's kind of a safe bet..... maybe he only does it for his lover after all? Meanwhile he's napping in his dressing room while waiting for tonight's final with his lovely colorful shirts. This blogger loves them! No kidding! They also talk about the Spanish national selection scandal and says he's in good terms with Mirela, they even had drinks together after her concert a few weeks ago.  As we have seen Manel makes friend with everyone. In Kyiv the bromance with Austrian Nathan goes well. Pictued here as th...

Pictured Spain's national flower carntion Spain's national final Objetivo Eurovision didn't lack drama. There was a share of it already in the online Eurocasting phase but the real drama came in the final where Manel and Mirela first finished with the same points (why this always happens in Spain?) and then the three judges decided on Manel, only that one of the judges maybe was a bit too close to Manel to be there in the first place. He re-performed his winning entry amongst booing and people walking out of the studio, and apparently even gave the finger to the audience at some point. The whole drama ended up even in the parliament.... But here he is. Not immensely supported by the heated Spanish fandom. Do it for your lover is written by Manel himself with Antonio Rayo Manel (21) shot to the fame from a local talent show, Catalunya Teen Star, where he earned a recording deal and released his first single in late 2014. Next year he was signed to Sony, released ...

After a dramatic finish Manel Navarro will represent Spain in the Eurovision song contest 2017 in Kyiv with Do it for your lover . In the case of a tie the jury was to determinate the winner and just that happened. Only that later the question rose of the jury was free of ties with the artists, or rather Manel. The outtraged fans in the audience didn't wait for his winning performance but walked out while a member of parliament has stepped out to question the way tax payer funded RTVE was handling the process and it all may end up in court.... Drama.  1. Manel Navarro (jury 34+ televote 24 = 58) 2. Mirela (22+36=58) 3. LeKlein (22+30=52) 4. Maika (20+21=41) 5. Mario Jefferson (25+14=40) 6. Paula Rojo (21+18=39) PS. Outside Spain no one cares really as later that night Italy chose its entry that is already making waves all over Europe... Manel who?

Tonight it's finally also the Spanish final. It feels like this selection has been dragging on for motnhs with various stages alredy but esta noche es la noche! There will be joint televoting and jury voting. LeKlein won the Eurocasting phase of the selection while the others are internally chosen. Watch here at 22.00 CET Manel Navarro - Do it for your lover LeKlein - Outch! Paula Rojo - Lo que nunca fue Mario Jefferson - Spin my head Maika - Momento criticò Mirela - Contigo  UPDATE: Manel wins thanks to jury......

The #EuroCasting final online was a triumph for LeKlein and her Outch as she scored 63,3% of the votes against Javián's 21,7 and Fruela's 15. Therefor she joins the other five Objetivo Eurovisión finalists that were announced also tonight: Mario Jefferson - Spin my head Maika (Barbero) - Momento crítico Mirela - Contigo Manel Navarro - Do it for your lover Paula Rojo - Lo que nunca fue + LeKlein - Outch

Spain opened its selection and 135 songs have been sent already for Objetivo Eurovisión. Some keep quiet, some like Brequette shout to every direction she's there (check her submitted entries below). While Ruth Lorenzo seems to have dropped the idea once she was not selected internally the other regular wannabes are at it: Jorge Gonzalez and Mirela . Azucar Moreno who provided the legendary 1990 performance seems to be game as well, as are Lorena Gomez and Maria Villalon . Same old, same old also among the songwriters from Ovi Jacobsen to Tony Sanchez Olsson and Barei. Yawn. The submission window closes in the end of this month and then 30 songs will be selected for the RTVE webste for people to vote. Three songs will be selected from that top-10 by a jury for another public vote in the final in February.

The 2016 is slowly fading away and as soon as we get the new host city and confirmed dates in less than a month the 2017 season starts slowly taking shape. That doesn't stop the rumors, proposals and denies running wild. Several artists, or fans, have already put names ahead in some countries so let's have an excuse to see who we might but propably won't see in Ukraine 2017.... In Greece there are rumors of internal choice and Demy. Her name has appeared in the speculations and wishlists for a few years now. Will it happen this time around after tis year's failure? Her latest is Tha meineis feugontas . In Montenegro the rumors are about Milena Vučić. She has taken part in the national finals before going solo in 2006 and has festival experience from here and there. Her latest is Gorim . Ukrainian runner ups Hardkiss have already announced they will be seeking for revenge in 2017. Remember their Helpless , that finished tied first with Jamala in the national fin...

The Eurovision Cruise weekend is in full swing in Helsinki for the 5th time and last night special guests from Spain took the stage of the Eurovision Night at Hercules Night club.  Mirela opened the night by singing some Spanish entries like Dime and Vuelve conmigo, Euphoria and of course her own entry from 2009, Nada es comparable a ti (4th). Jorge Gonzales wasn't any less and delivered among others Dile que la quiero and even a Spanish cover of Zeljko Joksimovic's Nije ljubav stvar (2012). The house was packed with international Eurovision fans before the sold out cruise with guests from at least 23 different countries. In short year's Eurovision Cruise has grown to the biggest annual Eurovision event after the contest itself what comes to the number of attending people.  Tonight the party continues aborad Baltic Queen with Charlotte Perrelli, Nicky French, Softengine and CatCat . Well done, OGAE Finland!

The Spanish fans launched a poll to see who they would prefer to represant their country in the 2011 Eurovision song contest and Chenoa is narrowly their favourite, almost head to head with Mirela, 2.243 votes against 2.232. Soraya despite her flop in Eurovision came third with 1.995 votes. The top trio is followed by Natalia Jiménez (1.974), ex-vocalist of La 5. Estacion, Marta Sánchez (1.923), Malú (1.917), La Oreja de Van Gogh (1.888), Mónica Naranjo (1.865), Edurne (1.847) and another ex-Eurovision star Rosa (1.836). Other familiar names include Enrique Iglesias (12th), Coral (14th), Hevia (15th), Anabel Conde (17th), Venus (19th), Maria Isabel (20th), David Bisbal (28th), Ana Torroja (33rd), Ainhoa (34th) and Amaia Montero (44th). The Spanish TV has launched an open call for both singers and songs this time around. Let's wait and see if any of these artists will apply.... Mirela has said she'll be there and will finally release her debut album in spring 2011 while ...

... Superstar Monica Naranjo would be the fans choice in Spain according a poll conducted by www.eurovision-spain.com . Monica is followed by Chenoa and Mirela (who should have won last year with Nada es comparable a ti , btw). La 5. Estación , La Oreja de Van Gogh , Marta Sanchez , Diana Navarro , Merche , Rosa and Amaral complete the top-10 wish list by fans. Other interesting names include my favourite Malú (11th), Coral (13th), Soraya (14th), David Bisbal (20th), Amaia Montero (25th), Beth (29th), Enrique Iglesias (40th), David Civera (43rd), Sergio Dalma (46th) and brilliant  Bebe (47th). But as there is an open internet selection for the songs that will start January 13 we can only wish at least some of these artists have applied....

Here it comes again. The contest Sweden has rules since its beginning. With 12 victories since 1987 Sweden is by far the most successful country in this contest where national clubs give a second chance to the songs that came second or were the fan favorite and failed to win. Or what do you say bout their record in the 2000's only: 5 victories, 2 second places and 1 third place? Spain has been very successful in the 2000's as well with 2 victories, 2 second places and 2 third places. And this year it might be another Sweden vs Spain in the end: Sweden sends Alcazar who are chasing already their third victory here, and Spain Mirela who has one of the best songs of all season 2009 in my opinion: Nada es comparable a ti . Here's the full list and all the information: http:// www.sechuk.com/Sech09-1.htm Here's Mirela: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0lEvA-PrYc and the remix of the same: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vVkGLLAEI4 and here's Alcazar: http:// www.y...

Yet another song from the Spanish MySpace selection, and one of the early favourites. I agree. This sounds like a song that deserves to be sung in the end of the show, titles running on top of it, confettis falling and flags flying. This might a very good card to play for Spain. Mirela is no stranger to Eurovision: 2007 she was in Misión Eurovision and became a huge fan favourite, and last year she tried her luck with Stronger . I hope she'll be third time lucky.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5riI575ga84