Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The ever so popular Mamma mia! musical by ABBA is having its Finnish version coming up next May in Helsinki. Laura Voutilainen has landed the role as Donna (played by Meryl Streep in the movie) and she describes it as her dream role and as written for her. She's done musicals before but says this is her first experience in such an acting role. She auditioned for the role by the request by the producers and there was no doubt she'll be perfect.  But the Eurovision connections don't end here: Nina Tapio and Tomi Metsäketo are also in the cast. Nina Tapio has been several times in Eurovision as a backing singer, as well as in the national final and even performed in the opening numbers in Helsinki 2007 Eurovision. Tomi Metsäketo nearly beat Lordi in Euroviisut 2006 but let's see how it goes for him now. He's in the middle of #metoo scandal now and was kicked out last week from a tv production he was supposed to be in several future episodes still in coming we...

80 years ago German Hindenburg airship went on fire while trying to dock in New Jersey and 36 people died. Ralph Siegel has written a musical with Hans Peter Schreeb of that last trip and airship's developer Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838-1917). This is already his sixth musical, and unlike the previous Johnny Blue , all music is new and composed for this project.  Premiered in Berlin's Wintergarden as a read through aka so called Reading only with the orchestra and 18 singers and opera choir behind them singing their parts from the script and only narrator Gedeon Burkhard in the spotlight in the edge of the stage. Maybe not the merriest of topics for a musical but as Siegel explains it "Zeppelin was not a simple man and his life either. It's sadly sad story. As life often is." Despite not having a staging the musical takes the viewers to a journey through time where historical context of 1937's national socialism is omnipresent. Siegel succee...

Kiril Babitzin aka Kirka (22.9.1950-31.1.2007) is an unforgettable chapter of Finnish music history. An unique artist, whose sound is part of the Finnish soundtrack gets now his own musical, based on his life and career, both of them full of drama and ups and downs, ten years after his sudden death. Kirka was a teenage idol who caused a real mass hysteria back in the day, a rock icon who ended up recording also schlager against his will to ay the bills and debts, and that turned a succesful change of heart. He was a well behaving boy next-door from modest surroundings and became an idol and rock star like no one else. His most beloved hits Hetki lyö , Leijat , Eurovision entry Hengaillaan and Surun pyyhit silmistäni are all included in the show.  The musical premieres tomorrow and plays in Helsinki's Peacock Theater until April 22, 2017. Kalle LIndroth and Heikki Ranta alternate as Kirka.  Kirka released over 30 albums and is one of the artists who has taken par...

The Lord's prayer aka Pater noster aka Our Father, the most well known Christian prayer has been recorded by Italy's Eurovision veteran Iva Zanicchi with sampled Pope Francis. Now this is a bit confusing..... Actually it's from a musical Il primo Papa (The first Pope) and a whole album has been released....  And Iva hasn't always been such a saint.... Happy Sunday people!