Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Jaana Pelkonen and Peltsi Peltola are presenting live from Tampere Fair and Sports Center the Finnish final for Eurovision song contest 2009 in Moscow. Tonight's propably the coldest night of the year with temperatures around -20C in most parts of Finland but in the sold out hall it's hot with 1.800 people! Before the final there will be a second chance round for the songs that didn't qualify directly. The entry chosen tonight will be Finland's 43rd entry. Finland has had a very rocky past in the contest finishing usually in the last places until the monstreous victory of Lordi in 2006. Finland has now been present in the final ever since. The show has started with Teräsbetoni presenting a new version of their last year's winner Missä miehet ratsastaa .The stage looks pretty fantastic! Jaana looks very glamorous tonight and Peltsi, well... casual as always. THE SECOND CHANCE ROUND : 01. Passionworks fr. Tony Turunen - Surrender Passionworks is the big fan favourite...

The show has just started and Jaana & Peltsi are on stage for the usual greetings. The Tohloppi studio in Tampere is filled with Eurovision fans as usual. Now to green room with Peltsi... First one on stage is Sani who has adapted a full 60's look. The staging is also a full display of Finnish design with Marimekko dresses and Eero Aarnio's Pallotuoli (Ball chair). 01. Sani - Doctor doctor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_k0-P7sR00 Sani has on stage, besides the before mentioned ball chair, three female dancers and two backing vocalists performing an act that owes to 60's girlgroups, Pernilla Wahlgren's Lena Philipsson penned Tvillingsjä l and a bit of Paul Oscar. Good vocals, fun presentation.... Back to green room with Passionworks. Tony Turunen is ex-Nightwish Tarja Turunen's little brother. The song has been completely reworked with Eurovision in mind since its very first version. 02. Passionworks ft Tony Turunen - Surrender http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Tonight Finland goes on with its semifinals and it might be the most interesting heat of them all. Superfvourites Passionworks ft Tony Turunen and Waldo's People are both in, as well as Remu who has a lot of fans and you can't count Sani out either! This could be the heat where everyone qualifies or tonight or in 2nd chance later. Listen to the songs here: http://euroviisut.yle.fi/euroviisut/2009-01-05/karsintakappaleet-2009 Sani - Doctor doctor Passionworks ft Tony Turunen - Surrender Remu - Planeetta Waldo's People - Lose control

The talk about the Finnish Euroviisut entries is hot on many chatrooms and blogs and it seems, as usual, that foreign people think it's a very good selection of songs while Finns tend to think it's worthless, there's nothing good and whoever go to Moscow will put us in shame. Things never change! Passionworks seems to be the favourite but I don't see, or hear, why? It's not bad. But it's nothing special unless they're really really good on stage. But I will judge and comment once we get into the business for real. For now just groups of songs without further comments based on 2-3 listenings. The songs I'd love to see and hear in Moscow: Kwan, Remu, Janita The songs I will be less passionate if they win: Sani, Passionworks, Waldo's People The songs I would hate to see going to Moscow (it doesn't mean they are bad necessarily): Riikka, Tapani Kansa, Tiara, Jari Sillanpää, Vink The outsider: Signmark What do you think? Vote for your favourite in my ...

Passionworks revealed their song is going to be a duet! With Tarja Turunen's little brother Toni! "We are searching something special for Eurovision, therefor this gimmick here. We are taking it step by step: first the semifinal and then final, and then... Eurovision is all about music and sometimes the music seems to be forgotten under the show but ... Our song is simply the best !" Is it ready? "No!!!"

Passionworks turns 10 this year and has released 2 albums, an Ep and several singles of melancholy melodic rock so far to good critic and minor hits, including Falling , also known for its video. The band has been through several changes in members and only 2 remain from the original: singer Harry or Harriet Hägglund who mainly writes the songs, and basist Kristian Pihlajaharju. Looks like they have had some success in Germany... I must admit I never heard of them before but Youtube comes to help and they're pretty good and if they come up with anything like Falling they might surprise us all come January. There's rock after all! Vids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcvAhnIi27w , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3h8xo-XV2Q