Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  A little series of those entries I liked i the national finals this season who didn't make it to Torino 2022 Eurovision song contest. In no particular order! Aidan - Ritmu (Malta - 2nd) Ott Lepland - Aovalguses (Estonia - 7th) Xeinn - Echo (Spain - 7th) Irama - Ovunque sarai (Italy - 4th)

Stefan finally did it with Hope . He was a third time lucky, or really fourth time lucky to win Eesti laul and get a ticket to Eurovision. His Hope was my favorite to win, and enters my Top-3 so far with Italy and Spain when thinking of the chosen songs so far.  Stefan Airapetjan (24) is of Armenian descent as his surname clearly tells. He's been doing music from young age and first came to spotlight with Vajè and Laura (Walk with me) that placed third in Eesti laul 2018. The year after he was back as solo with Without you and placed third again. Third year in a row in 2020 he took By my side to 7th place. At the same time he won Masked Singer Estonia. Further singles followed like collaborations with Liis Lemsalu ( Doomino ) and Wateva ( Headlights ) and now finally he won Eesti laul and will make Estonians proud in Italy! In Eesti laul 2022 final he went to the super final as jury's second favorite behind Minimal Wind feat Elisabeth Tiffany but won the super final's te...

After last year's cancellation and many countries just sending the previously chosen artist to Rotterdam 2021 the edition 2022 sees an increase of national selections which is very nice. It also seems already that many previous entrants are after another go, so far Estonia taking the prize with six previous winners trying again compared to one in Spain (Azúcar Moreno), three in Sweden (Anna Bergendahl, John Lundvik, Robin Bengtsson) and four in Lithuania (Erika Jennings, Ieva Zasimauskaité, Monika Linkyté, Vilija Mataciunauté). So far. They are Evelin Samuel (1999), Anna Sahlene (2002), Elina Nechayeva (2018), Lauri Pihlap (2001), Stig Rästa (2015) and Ott Lepland (2012). Estonia's Eesti laul 2022 is already in full swing and after the last quarter final all but Lauri Pihlap (Eurovision 2001 winner as a member of 2XL) made the cut for semi-finals coming up next in February. So many songs in Estonian in the mix! Jaagup Tuisk - Kui vaid Stig Rästa - Interstellar Maian - Meeletu B...

Freddie got restyled Gabbamania continues with the new single and video coming up Barei celebrates September ... as does Edurne Anouk not so much Musiqq makes most of it as does Poli (Cheers!) The Swedish stars are onto something as is Edsilia - one jazzy lady! Tereza... well, do we wanna know? Vaclav's got a brother Can they challenge togerher Iron man Amir? Or Guy? Kristina looks pretty and ready to sing while Lena is doing some product placement Lucie got married.... .. as did Hanna but Ott's cat is having done of it. You're not going anywhere!

Kristian had midnight pasta Ilinca had a drink Levina had candy Freddie's got mugs Conchita met Celine Sergey, Dima and other Sovjet stars met in Baku Ott met Liis in Jurmala Francesca met V aka Vettel (she 's turning into Formula One groupie...) Lucie met a... err... fan?  Demy screams for revenge.... ,,, as Helena is this week's covergirl

Hungarian  Joci Papai  follows Origo with  Özönviz . If you loved Origo you will love this one, too. It's made with the same recipe: modern beat, gypsy violin, female dancer, catchy frase repeated so often that you go yodeling long before the song's over..... Love it Slovenian runner ups and elevote winners  BQL  have got around releasing a video for their  Heart of gold  only now. One can only wonder how they would have done in Kyiv.... Finland's runner up  Zühlke  with  Perfect villain  released  Closer  already in April but it's a great track and deserves another change.  Estonia's finest  Ott Lepland  has released  Siin me kokku saime  and here we get it all togerher: his great voice, nice summery rhythm and catchy feel good song. Perfect for lazy summer late afternoons or early evenings.....

  Estonia is thinking big this time. First of all the national final has been moved to Saku Suurhall, the very venue of the Eurovision song contest 2002 and if we believe the rumours most every artist in Estonia is trying to be part of it - among them several previous participant and those who made it to runner up before. Time for a revenge!  There are so many top girls that if they all make it we can expect some serious cat fights: Getter Jaani, Grete Paia, Laura, Ines and Liis Lemsalu just to name a few. But the guys aren't any less: Daniel Levi, Ott Lepland, Robin Juhkental, Rolf Roosalu and Mikk Mäe, Rasmus Rändvee, Rauno Pella and Silver Sepp . Throw in accapella group Estonian Voices and some Estonia-Finnish EMD with Popidiot . And what would Eesti Laul be without somethng weird and odd like a song titled Can you tell the difference between a cock and a hen? by Odd Hugo . Well, Tuesday we will know who has made the cut of 20 semifinalists and if indeed all...

I have been following the Maltese selection closely for years now and generally liked it quite a lot but this year seems to be the weakest effort so far. I mean, the songs aren't bad but they are very even, bland. No particular highlights - except a couple that stood out with the first snippet hearing -  nor lows. It feels like these are mostly songs that didn't make the selection this spring considering these exceptional circumstances this time. I may be wrong but that's my impression. At this point every song could make the final and any song can drop out. Propably it all comes to the staging, live performance and shining on stage when it matters come semifinal time. And talking about nuns. Sister Cristina in Italy is from another planet compared to these Maltese sisters. The whole affair is lacking the heavenly inspiration of any kind. If the song was sung by anyone else it would have never made the cut, I think. I wasn't a fan of Bezzina's last effort and ...

In our exclusive interviews in Malmö 2013 Eurovision we asked the artists who would they like to see represent their country in Denmark 2014. Birgit was torn between Ott Lepland and Lenna Kuurmaa . She went for Lenna in the end. Maybe she will be back in Eestilaul and third time lucky? But maybe it's a bit too soon for the new mother (as you can judge from her Sinule video from this Februry) Lenna Kuurmaa is no stranger to Eurovision. She was part of Vanilla Ninja who took Switzerland to 8th place in Eurovision 2005 with Cool vibes . In 2003 they tried to win in Estonia with Club Kung-fu but the international jury put end to those hopes. In 2007 they tried again with Birds of peace but Vanilla Ninja's story had come to and end. In 2010 she was back as solo and Rapunzel and in 2012 with Mina jään , finishing second both times. She has released one album so far (2010) but numerous singles and songs, like a Finnish classic, cover of Juice Leskinen 's Eesti, Eesti ,...

Next one to have a chat with Bicycling reporter Robert is Estonian Birgit Õigemeel. When is the baby due? How she got started? Who her idols are? This very talkative young lady talks about music therapy and the sound of music among other things. And what's she got to do with Silvi Vrait and who does she want to represent Estonia in 2014? Thank you Birgit for this interview. First of all I will mention some words, that you can react and then I will ask something more, ok? Ok! Family life!? Ha ha, family life this year is very special for me as I am pregnant! But I have a big family, I have three sisters. My mother is a music teacher and my sister is singing also, but they are not professional singers but music is their hobby as well. They sing in a choir and ensambles and other music stuff. So I have already a big family! We all love music so it has influenced also me. When did you know that you wanted to make it professionally? I think since I was a child. I sta...

Birgit Õigemeel has released a Spanish version of her Eurovision 2013 entry for Estonia.  Et uus saaks alguse turns into Volver a empezar and it sounds very nice indeed! Dare I say it sounds even better than the original? But what's it with these Estonians and Spanish? Last year also Ott Lepland released Escucha ..... Wait, there's more! Birgit has delivered also a Swedish version, Allting börjar om .And the English one, New way to go . And finally also the Russian one, Светлое начало .

Ott Lepland's Christmas concert last week in Espoo Cathedral was such a success that people wanting to attend the concert didn't manage to squeeze into the church and had to go home instead. He apologizes in his Facebook for the incident stating that he or the organizers just couldn't imagine he would attract such a crowd there. But as we know the man has qualities that surprise us time and time again. Some of them he's nicely covering in the sleeve of his new, third album  Öö mu kannul käib released today. It also includes Eurovision version of Kuula . You can order it from here . Just for the fun of it, here's the video that made him famous overnight. If you think his Kuula is one of the best Eurovision entries ever even without that little extra like I do, vote for him in ESC TOP 250 here . You still have time until Sunday 16, 2012!

The man with the full package, Ott Lepland from Estonia will perform in a Christmas concert in Espoo cathedral on December 11, 2012 in Finland. It's a part of his Christmas tour that takes him also to Brussels, Luxembourg and the a little tour in Estonia with Ivo Linna and Noorkuu. After placing sixth in Baku 2012 with fantastic Kuula , he has released Kodu  and apparently kept very busy with his career. 

Stockholm Pride is happening and the line is pretty amazing as usual. We have Lena Philipsson, Loreen, Eric Saade, Ott Lepland.... see the full list below....

One week after, what do we have left from Baku 2012? Are you going zaleilah la la la or la la love? Got over Rona's agony? Kaliopi's scream? Pastora's long note? Loreen's euphoria? Boom booms of Russia and Italy? Gaitana's shouts? Are you euro sceptic, an alphabetic? Or are you still going oh oh, uh oh oh? Still counting love yous in various languages à la Sofi? Getting over Franka's head piece? Is this the night? Is love blind? Will it set you free? Are you woking mit deim Popo? Standing still in waterline?  Many questions unanswered until the summer is over. What will stay in your ears? And what sights you can't get over... Was it Ott's trousers that set the chat rooms and Twitter on fire or the French dancers... or something else? Feel free to comment!

Estonian Ott Lepland has used his Baku stay also for creating a new music video for his song Imede öö , or Night of wonders . Hopefully the wonders are not finished for him and he will qualify tonight for the final as his Kuula is one of the best songs in the running....

The last day of technical rehearsals kicks of in post-opening party morning. Let's see if last night's partying has effected any of the acts :-) Estonia on stage first, one of my favorites this year. Ott makes his most to keep his eyes open this time which is good, after all this is a TV-show. It doesn't bother me if he closes his eyes, for me it just gives some extra emotion but for some it does judging the comments here and there. Strangely he engages to some vocal acrobatics this time instead of sticking strictly to the version we know. On purpose or was he out of control? Hmm... Or just too much partying? He better get back to control come Thursday or I'm very worried.... And what happened to the backing singer? She's changed! Update: His backing singer is ill so his vocal coach replaced her today. More here . Slovakia follows and if Max has some problems with voice, no one would notice anyways! He's got his rock'n roll hair, very low cut leat...