Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Olavi Uusivirta's Sydänmaa won the Oulu Music video festival last weekend in Oulu. The video is directed by Henna Riikonen. This is her debut as a director and the video features Elias Keränen and Wannabe ballerinas. So, for a change Jenni Vartiainen did not win!

And this post concludes my favourites in the Oulu music video festival 2011. You can vote for your favourite here .  Kim Herold - Before I marry you Happoradio - Pelastaja Irina & Maija Vilkkumaa - Kunnon syy Jenni Vartiainen - Missä muruseni on Kim Herold , ex-model continues scoring smaller hits and using them in advertising, like this one. Happoradio also scores hit after hit while the rock ladies Irina and Maija Vilkkumaa re-recorded Irina's hit for her greatest hits compilation and made this fab video for it. And Jenni Vartiainen - yes she's here, too, and propably will this one, too!

And still some more videos. Remember you can vote for your favourite here . Erin - Vanha nainen hunningolla Neljän Suora - Valtava maailma Bajo Cero - Hierro Risto - Lyö Erin seems to have made it much better than her fellow-ex-Nylon Beat Jonna when she scored a big summer hit with her debut solo single. Neljän Suora is up and coming young band that is making it bigger with each album (three so far) and a sort of pop-dance band. Bajo Cero is a multicultural group and that's all I know about them. And about Risto I know even less but the video is ... ehm... interesting?

And still some more: Hanna Pakarinen - Miehet Samuli Putro - Huono sängyssä Cristal Snow - Surrender Aste - Normipäivä Hanna Pakarinen made a big chance with her latest album by switching singing in Finnish and this one's one of the albums radiohits. Samuli Putro used to be in Zen Cafe but went solo when the band took a break and has released two succesful albums since. Cristal Snow has released two albums since his Euroviisut debut and scored several hits from the second one, including this one. Aste is one of the leading rap-hip hop artists in Finland and has released already five albums.

And yet some more favourites of mine: Antti Tuisku - Hyökyaalto Lassi Heiskanen - Sut tahdon kokonaan Haloo Helsinki - Maailman toisella puolella Manna - She moves Antti Tuisku needs no presentations but Lassi Heiskanen is a total newcomer. Haloo Helsinki has provided one of the biggest summer hits with this song off their third success album. Manna is a Finnish-Algerian singer, songwriter, model and actress and has already released three albums as well and could be the closest thing to Kate Bush we have here - at least in this video.

And some more of my favourites: Arttu Wiskari - Tuntematon potilas Ukkosmaine - Salamaponi Laura Voutilainen - Rakkauden soturi Anna Järvinen & Olavi Uusivirta - Nuori ja kaunis Arttu Wiskari has been a bit of the phenomenon of the year; out of nothing to having a megahit. Ukkosmaine I have no idea who they are but they seem to have been around a long time. Humour, I guess. Laura Voutilainen needs no presentation. Olavi Uusivirta has been around a few years and is rather popular while Anna Järvinen is a Swede of Finnish origin and together they have scored the duet hit of the year.

And here are some more favourites of mine: Sunrise Avenue - Hollywood hills Mikko Pohjola - Se joka pelkää Felix Zenger ft. Kari Tapio & Asa - Pitkät päivät täällä Manboy - How it hurts Sunrise Avenue needs no presentation, once again they are responsable for the biggest Finnish hit worldwide. Mikko Pohjola is a newcomer to the scene and is slowly making himself known. Felix Zenger is a beatboxer and the sound syou hear are coming from his mouth, except the bits sung by late Kari Tapio. This is his last recorded performance and caused a delay in the release of the album due respect. Feliz also performed in the opening act of Eurovision 2007 in Helsinki. Manboy has been around since late 1990's and recently admitted regretting the choice of the band name.

Here are some of my favourites in the Oulu Music Video Festival: Teleks - Tyttö joka katsoo merelle Laura Närhi - Tämä on totta Fireal - Halo (Hello beautiful) Edorf - Painajainen tulesta Teleks is a duo that's been around since early 2000's and released their 4th album this year after a few year's break. Laura Närhi used to be the lead singer of Kemopetrol before going solo and released her highly succesful debut album last year including this #2 hit. Fireal has transformed from Belak to Flamer to Fireal. The band is lead by multitalented Caleb Hydra from Rovaniemi but is now based in Helsinki. Edorf comes from Lapland and won the Finnish championship in rapping back in 2003. He reöeased his debut album this year after being part in many project including Guerra Norte over the years.

Oulun juhlaviikot hosts also a competition for the best music video and you can watch dozens of Finnish music videos right here . You can also vote for your favourite (one vote x pc) and the winner will be revealed on August 27, 2011. Many familiar names amongst the nominees from Hanna Pakarinen to Antti Tuisku, from Cristal Snow to Jenni Vartiainen, Paradise Oskar and dozens and dozens of independent more or less unknown names for the big public. A real treat for video lovers...