Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Super fan favourite Heli Kajo charmed also the TV-viewers and made it to the final - even if some press has also written its the worst song of them all - and so did Sister Twister , no doubt with the votes of the Swedish speaking population as expected. How far it will take them in the final is another matter.... The male duel Antti vs Veeti won by Antti Kleemola who really delivered when it matters while Veeti remained a bit cold.... So, Monday and Veeti are out at the moment waiting for YLE's possible wildcard.

Monday is another act in tomorrow's second Finnish semifinal. The band is still rather unknown despite the fact they have been playing together already five years and they released their debut album last year. "We play melancholy poprock so we are rather Finnish. I compose the songs and write the lyrics with our singer Salla Lehtinen" tells Tuomas "Gary" Keskinen, who has been playing also in Technicolor and Negative. "We use a lot of screens on stage and therefor have a different stage act from regular rockbands. It is also very difficult to get a recording deal these days so I started my own company, and that also opened the doors to Eurovision. Just be sure I had songs ready for the open call, too, but luckily YLE picked us up !" he continues." Our song Play is not very Eurovisionary, even if I was listening to the previous winners when I wrote it. It sounds very much like Monday. Eurovision is very interesting format, especially after Lordi...

And here are my thoughts about the songs in the second semifinal. HELI KAJO - Annankadun kulmassa (In the corner of Anna Street) First of all Annankatu is a street in the center of Helsinki. YLE liked this song so much they lifted it from the open internet call to the invited artists category and it is easy to understand why. It is fresh, light, memorable and one of a kind. The question was will the great public like it? Judging the comments on internet they will and this is a sure qualifier and a possible surprise winner and if it was, well, I can live with that! VEETI KALLIO - Kerro mulle rakkaudesta (Tell me about love) Veeti has charisma to come across the TV screen very well and the song is pleasant enough but suffers once again of being just a bit lame. The arrangement could be stronger as now it just falls to "nice" category despite being a good song. He should qualify to the final as being Veeti dropping Kleemola out. ANTTI KLEEMOLA - Sun puolella (On your si...

And here comes this year's rock band: Monday. Founded by Tuomas "Gary" Keskinen, ex- Technicolor and Negative with Salla Lehtinen (vocals), Henkka Mannio (drums), Jussi Savola (bass) and Pete Eskola (keyboards, backing vocals). They have released their debut album earlier this year that rock critics liked in Finland and abraod and they have been all the way to Japan to promote it. The first single Monday was a hit in Sisuradio in Sweden.