Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

It's already a tradition YLE dusts off some old Euroviisut broadcasts for the May Day and today is no exception. On Yle Teema channel at noon we have again Eurovision Brunch with the Finnish selections of 1993 and 1994. HAPPY WAPPU EVERYONE! The 1993 was a bit special one as that year YLE invited four super ladies for the competition: Katri Helena, Paula Koivuniemi, Marjorie and Arja Koriseva . Each had two songs selected from the submitted ones and the whole show was very low key in YLE's studios. Katri Helena's Tule luo was a clear winner. In 1994 it was back to normal, big show in Tampere talo. But it was a flop, they didn't manage to fill the concert hall even half way, maybe due to the very unknown line up, but in television it was a success when almost 1,2 million watched CatCat march to the victory with Bye bye baby . There was the telvoting for the first time and the votes were given out by regions plus the ones from the audience in the hall. CatCa...

And the last group of artists following the semifinal one , two and three . I have picked up 32 big names in Finland, mainly from the pop genre. I have on purpose forgotten harder rock, punk and complete schlager singers. What do you think? Would this kind of approach give us any fruits, domestic hits and success in Eurovision like Melodifestivalen does in Sweden? Please comment in the box. Dreaming is free..... and We have a dream .

Two Israeli Eurovision stars have joined forces for this song that translates to When men dance . The song has already taken over the Israeli airplay charts. Is this the Israeli take on Paula Koivuniemi's  Sata miesta tanssii (100 men dancing)?

Ville Eetvartti came second in UMK 2012 with Lasikaupunki and will also represent Finland in OGAE's Second Chance contest later this year. He's also the first (and maybe only?) artist from UMK that has managed to release an album afterwards.  With the first hearing his album Kirkasta didn't have a great impact but further listening gave a better idea. Ville has written or co-written all the songs and also co-arranged all of them except Lasikaupunki . And indeed it sticks out for the production. Maybe a bit more variety would have been nice but it's a solid album that could easily also be a band's album. I'm not so keen on his way of singing in Mierontie and Prinsessa but maybe some others may think it's the best. Paula Koivuniemi sung about Tom Jones but Ville sings about Johnny Cash and the song is among the best on the album. I also like Tie and Hyvästit . More songs like that and it would have been great! I think his voice suits best these slower...

The voice of Finland started tonight and the four couches Lauri Tähkä, Paula Koivuniemi, Elastinen and Michael Monroe (of Hanoi Rocks fame) started picking up their artists. Tähkä and Elastinen got already two, Michael 3 and Paula still no one as the ones she wanted chose another coach instead. Some very good voices indeed and amongst them all of sudden Karoliina Kallio! Yes, the voice of Waldo's People and she's been to Euroviisut a couple of times solo as well. She already participated in Idols 2005 but didn't go further than semifinals.  No doubt a great voice that has not taken her solo efferts to stars yet. Maybe Elastinen can change all that? And what is Waldo doing? He has his cloathes store in my nearest mall where you can see him quite often behind the cashier :-) Here are the singers who were picked up tonight: Lauri Mikkola, Karoliina Kallio, Selja Felin, Toni Eurasto, Krista Sigfrieds, Mikko Herranen

The highly succesful reality format Voice of (insert country here) will start also in Finland this fall. It looks very promising as the couches will be Paula Koivuniemi, Michale Monroe, Lauri Tähkä and Elastinen. Axl Smith will be the host. The show is very simple; first the coaches only hear the singer, thus The Voice, and can decide if they want that voice in their team. They each pick up eight singers and coach them to reach their best. Duels drop artists and in the end there is only one voice left.... Sounds quite promising!

One of my ultimate favourites and finest singers in Finland, fabulously fantastic Marjorie is coming back! I don't know about you but I have surely missed her since she disappeared ten years ago. Her new single is Mun elämää (My life) and it's a nice follow up to Täyttä elämää , a song that showcases her vocal skills. Or what about Warum?   or one of the best Winner takes it all covers there is? She has released three albums in the 1990's and Rakkauden kiertokulku together with Anneli Saaristo and Eija Kantola in 2001. Good to have her back and can't wait for the album! She has participated in Euroviisut 1988 with Tie , 1989 with Kahden juhla , 1990 with Tuuli and 1993 with Legenda and Aika eteenpäin vain kulkee as one of the four invited artists, the others being Katri Helena, Paula Koivuniemi and Arja Koriseva - however these are not amongst her best songs. Maybe it's time to set her Euroviisut record straight in 2012?

Finnish artists have been doing cover versions of Italian songs since the 1950's and many of them have become real evergreens and most people don't even know they're covers. This summer I plan occasionally present some of them and today's offer is maybe the biggest of them all.  Loretta Goggi did Maledetta primavera in Sanremo 1981 and came second to Alice . Paula Koivuniemi covered the song in 1982 and today it's a real anthem for independent women. And gay people. My bet is every Finn knows more or less the lyrics by heart. In summer 2008 she performed it in rock festivals with thousends of heavy rockers singing along! Aikuinen nainen means Grown or Adult woman (who knows what she wants). But this is by no means Paula's only Italian hit!

Katri Helena has been the most beloved Finnish female singer for decades, the voice of "blue and white". Polished image, ladylike manner, mother and sweet, the opposite of Paula Koivuniemi , dark lady with husky voice, sexy look and adventurous lovelife. But now something's changed: in 2010 she changed her record label for the first time since 1960's joining Hype Records , a label full of young rock artists run by Tommi Liimatainen, big brother of Negative 's lead singer Jonne. By the end of the year the rumours started they're having an affair, he's 32 years her junior!  Now this week she gave out a press release Liimatainen is also her new manager, a fact she apparently forgot to tell Lilja Kainulainen, her manager and friend for over 20 years.Scandal! A few facts about Katri Helena: She has been singing for 48 years professionally, sold over 1,5 million albums in Finland; awarded 14 gold discs, 3 platinum and one multiplatinum. In 2007 she was granted P...

Here they are, my dream artists for Eurovision who we will not see for a reason or another. Paula Koivuniemi and Anna Eriksson have said they won't take part again. Hanna Pakarinen is very unlikely and who knows what keeps Johanna Kurkela away? Maybe she's just too popular at the moment just like Jenni Vartiainen. Maybe we will see them in a few years? Tarja Turunen, The Rasmus and Sunrise Avenue are just too big to risk it not winning.... I guess. Meanwhile while waiting for the twelve names to be revealed on 30th lets enjoy some of their biggest hits: Ihmisten edessä , Nettiin , En haluu kuolla tätä yönä , Rakkautta ja piikkilankaa , Anna mulle piiskaa , Moskova , Kaikista kasvoista , Mad girl's love song , Oot voimani mun , Leave me alone , Black Ice , Paperimiehen tytär , Rakkauslaulu , Tuo se mulle , Olet uneni kaunein , Fairytale gone bad , Welcome to my life , Forever yours , In the shadows , Living in a world without you , October & April , I walk alone , Kuolem...

Chisu makes only her second entrance here proving Radio Suomi does favour another kind of music. Still, her breakthrough single makes it to #44. The usual Agents, Juha, Paula, Lauri, Jani, Pate and Jari fill in the rest with one hit wonder Vesterinen. 41. MÄ ELÄN VIELÄKIN - AGENTS 42. MITÄ SILMÄT EI NÄÄ - JUHA TAPIO 43. YÖPERHONEN - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 44. MUN KOTI EI OO TÄÄLLÄ - CHISU 45. SUUDELLAAN - LAURI TÄHKÄ 46. KUKAAN EI KOSKAAN - VESTERINEN YHTYEINEEN 47. EN ANTAA MUUTA VOI - AGENTS 48. KUU - JANI WICKHOLM 49. AJAN PÄIVIN, AJAN ÖIN - PATE MUSTAJÄRVI 50. KAUNIS IKÄVÄ - JARI SILLANPÄÄ

Dancebands hit back here just before the top-50 but we have Paula, PMMP, Juha, Taikakuu (with vocalist Janne Raappana), Valvomo and Juha Tapio to make it bearable.... 51 . JOS LUOJA SUO - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 52. PIIKKILANKAA - TAIKAKUU 53. OLEN LÄHELLÄSI - JUHA METSÄPERÄ 54. LAUTTURI - PMMP 55. MIKÄ KESÄ? - VALVOMO 56. UKKOSTA JA ULLAKOLLA - JUHA TAPIO 57. PIMEÄSTÄ VALOON - YÖLINTU 58. IT HURTS TO SAY GOODBYE - AGENTS 59. UKKOMETSO - PATE MUSTAJÄRVI 60. PIENTÄ UNELMAA - CHARLES PLOGMAN

We have reached the top-100 and this one features the ever present Yö, Yölintu, Paula Koivuniemi, Anne Mattila and Lauri Tähkä with Jani Wickholm. Even Annika Eklund is featured providing the female vocals for Pettävällä jäällä .... Anne Mattila scored a megahit with Perutaan häät after Anna Eriksson turned the song down and didn't want to record it! 91. SATUKIRJAN SANKARI - YÖ 92. SITÄ SAA MITÄ TILAA - YÖLINTU 93 . KUKA PELKÄÄ PAULAA - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 94. PERUTAAN HÄÄT - ANNE MATTILA 95. ONNENLANTTI - JORMA KÄÄRIÄINEN 96. MIES JONKA YMPÄRILTÄ TUOLIT VIEDÄÄN - ZEN CAFÉ 97. SUOMEN NEITO - JANI WICKHOLM 98 . SUOLAISTA SADETTA - EPPU NORMAALI 99. PETTÄVÄLLÄ JÄÄLLÄ - YÖ 100. REIKÄINEN TAIVAS - LAURI TÄHKÄ

A very good selection here mostly today with Zen Cafe's, Irina's and Disco's classics with more tracks from Paula Koivuniemi and Lauri Tähkä added with the ever present Kari Tapio, Yölintu and Finlanders Mamba completes the set. 131 . PIHA ILMAN SADETTAJAA - ZEN CAFÉ 132. ENEMMÄN KUIN MILLOINKAAN - FINLANDERS 133. ÄITI VALVOO - KARI TAPIO 134. BELLA CAPRI - KARI TAPIO 135. SÄ ONNENI OOT - MAMBA 136. TIMANTTI - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 137. KYMMENEN KIROSANAA - IRINA 138. RAKASTA RINTANI RUHJEILLE - LAURI TÄHKÄ 139. LIIAN SUURI CITY - YÖLINTU 140. L EVOTTOMAT TUULET - DISCO

Euroviisut favourite by Johanna Kurkela is just outside the top-200 with  Petri Munck's megahit, yet another Kari Tapio and Paula Koivuniemi song. Koop Arponen and Kristian Meurman from Idols or/and Euroviisut are in as well. Girlbands Nylon Beat and Tik Tak are featured, too. 201. OLET UNENI KAUNEIN - JOHANNA KURKELA 202. YHDEN TÄHDEN HOTELLI - JORMA KÄÄRIÄINEN 203. LEVOTON PRINSSI - PETRI MUNCK 204. MILLOINKAAN EN LÖYDÄ SAMANLAISTA - KARI TAPIO 205. ROCK HALLELUJA - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 206. EVERY SONG I HEAR - KOOP ARPONEN 207. SANOJA - NYLON BEAT 208. SISÄLTÄ KULTAA - JANNE TULKKI 209. SAMANTEKEVÄÄ - TIKTAK 210. TUMMAT, SYVÄT VEET - KRISTIAN MEURMAN

More poppier than schlager this set with Samuli Edelmann and Kirka from Euroviisut, Kaija Koo and Paula Koivuniemi gain with superpopular Juha Tapio and late Nylon Beat and then the usual Tangomarkkinat artists and dancebands.... 241. JOS MINUT KESYTTÄISIT - CHARLES PLOGMAN 242. ARVAAMATTA TUULI KÄÄNTYY VASTAAN - JUHA TAPIO 243. ET VOI SATUTTAA ENÄÄ - KAIJA KOO 244. PÄÄTÄ JO - MARKO LÄMSÄ 245. NAINEN - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 246. SUN KANSSA - NELJÄNSUORA 247. SYYTÖN - NYLON BEAT 248. TAIKAA - KIRKA 249. LEVOTTOMAT - SAMULI EDELMANN 250. KOVAA JA KORKEALTA - MIKKO MÄKELÄINEN

More varied offering in this part, all from Kaija Koo to Mari Rantasila's fantastic song. One of many Paula Koivuniemi hits is here, too, so is Neljä Ruusua that is way more rock than schlager. And the rest is very Tangomarkkinat! 261. TUULET PUHALTAA - IDOLS 2004 262. KUN TAAS SINUT NÄHDÄ SAAN - MARI RANTASILA 263. RAKKAUSKIRJEITÄ - A AALLON RYTMIORKESTERI 264. KOTKAN SIIVET - TOMMI SOIDINMÄKI 265. SATA MIESTÄ - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 266. ELÄN VAIN KERRAN - NELJÄ RUUSUA 267. MÄ SADETTA OOTAN - SAIJA TUUPANEN 268. OUTOA VOIMAA - YÖLINTU 269. PUOLET MINUA - EIJA KANTOLA 270. MIKÄÄN EI RIITÄ - KAIJA KOO

Katri Helena, often named the most positive person in Finland gets Negative. The band that is. Glam rockers have joined forces with her last night in concert in Tampere. " This is my first time on stage in a rock concert" she commented. Their duet, a Tehosekoitin cover Hetken tie on kevyt. In reality it's all about promo campaign for Aino and Reino shoes. Here is the video from the press meeting of Reinos/Ainos . It might be Katri's first time but another grand old lady Paula Koivuniemi is already a regular on rock concerts and has even recorded recently an album of Finnish rock classics. Will Katri follow her footsteps...?

Johanna Kurkela's fourth album Hyvästi, Dolores Haze went straight to number one in the official Finnish album chart! It includes the first single Rakkauslaulu and the new Tuo se mulle . There's also a Vuokko Hovatta cover, Kosketusta vailla vapiseva mies . Vuokko herself climbs from #34 to #19 herself. Here is her original.  Another new entry at number 3: Paula Koivuniemi. The album Rakkaudesta includes several covers from Finnish pop-rock classics tastefully done like Rakkautta ja piikkilankaa and Rakkauden haudalla , Anna Eriksson drops to #28 and Meiju Suvas to #30.  Meiju's double 30th anniversary celebration greatest hits includes her covers of songs like Volare, Dag efter dag , Främling and Diggi-loo diggi-ley amongst others.  In the singles also a new entry at number one. Raptori's remake of their 80's hit Oi beibi makes it to number one again!

Hanna Pakarinen, who represented Finland in Eurovision 2007 at home in Helsinki, the mascot of this blog has given an interview recently where she talked about Idols, Eurovision, her future plans and life in general. "Idols and Eurovision are very different. But without Idols I wouldn't be here today and there wouldn't have been Eurovision either. Idols kickstarted it all for me. Eurovision was huge, very confusing. I didn't quite know where I was going. Unique opportunity, Eurovision in Finland! When will that happen again? Represanting Finland in Finland, those three minutes on stage in Hartwall Areena were maybe the finest three minutes of my life!" she tells. For her future plans she tells: "Well, of course I hope I can fo this work for the next 20-30 years. Paula Koivuniemi is my idol and rolemodel, if I can stay in business as long she has it would be really cool. That would be a huge accomplishment. This music is so unpredictable you never know! Sin...