Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Finland's Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen and Liekinheitin stormed to the top of odds as soon as the song was released and has stayed there unbothered with a huge margin ever since. The runner ups have stayed at large in odds; France, Denmark and Greece mostly, only Greece having a tiny spurt just before rehearsals and then Australia climbing to second place after semi-final 2.. The news of Linda playing  her precious Gagliano violin from 1781 live only boosted the chances odds going from 30 to 36, and later the day before final up to 43.  Also the fan clubs back Finland, apparently with the second biggest margin ever. This poll has had its hits and misses but usually gets it somewhat right. Mostly, Not necessary the winner. EuroJury pretending to be the indicator for the jury vote has had it apparently pretty much right mostly, the winner placing in Top-2 in most occasions. Also INFE poll was won by Finland with a huge margin. The biggest fan site, more or less, also backs F...

  The news we waited is here: Ebu has allowed Linda to play parts of her violin bits live on stage in Vienna 2026 Eurovision song contest. No instruments have been allowed live on stage since 1999. The first exception was last year's Lucio Corsi from Italy but he played his harmonica to his singing mic and there was no need for anything extra to do.  It's worth mentioning again that this Liekinheitin, Finland's entry, IS a Linda Lampenius song, not Pete Parkkonen's. Pete is just the vocalist on HER song. I want to underline that and press it as some fans tend to think she does nothing. Her violin IS the lead vocals just as Pete's. And now it goes live!

So it started. You can follow Eurovision Reddit here that is the only source of real information of the rehearsals so far.  As I have nothing to say as I've seen nothing I spare my comments until I do. If there's some other comments or media worth adding to I will do so right here.  Their new dresses are designed by Teemu Muurimäki as usual btw. And Pete's trousers are not too tight anymore to effect his vocal cords as the headlines screamed earlier.  This is what The Social media Guy wrote about Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen's Liekinheitin and Finland: 16:40 - He's ready to sing and she's ready to string 🎤 🎻 Linda Lampenius stands alone on the deserted stage of what was once an orchestra. Now, it’s been littered with the overturned chairs and sheet-music stands of Linda’s former musician colleagues. But what could possibly have happened here? Shall we head to the confessional box to find out? There, we find Pete Parkkonen, and he’s been in touch with the ...

  Here it is, already traditional Blogilkar's Eurovision Home Jury results. This year we had a total of nine people in the jury from teenagers to 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, most every one just people who do watch Eurovision but aren't any fanatic fans, just tv viewers who don't remember who won two years ago or sometimes even last year, don't have a clue about the polls and odds but just score the songs to their liking. We used 1 to 10 scores. Tie breaks were settled by highest marks and if still a tie by my preference. Here we go! 1. FINLAND - LINDA LAMPENIUS X PETE PARKKONEN - LIEKINHEITIN    87 2. ITALY - SAL DA VINCI - PER SEMPRE SI   69 3. SWITZERLAND - VERONICA FISARO - ALICE    68

  I have no idea what these (AI things) are but oh Lord do these versions work?  (This said I am still against Ai use) What a great song this is in the end and works in every way! Just like Hard rock hallelujah from swing to acoustic to choir and everything in between back in the day. 

    I wasn't planning on doing personal reviews this year either but here we go after all. Truth to be said I have listened the entries 0-2 times before sitting down now to comment them. Let's go! The usual Blogilkar's home jury will reunite later and the results revealed in due time. meanwhile, my thoughts and comments on the entries of Eurovision song contest series is right here.  Croatia - Lelek - Andromeda ** We have had similar entries in Eurovision before from Latvia and Poland with variable results. Great vocals and harmonies, good melody... but I am a bit tired of these. I would like to like this a lot more than I actually do. Right now I have it in final at the bottom five but we'll see.  Finland - Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen - Liekinheitin ***** I guess I have said all already in previous posts about them and UMK. Seeing them #1 in the odds with a huge margin week after week is quite incredible. I guess I just sit back and enjoy the ride. Itäs going t...

Finland's national selection for Eurovision song contest 2026  or UMK (Uuden musiikin kilpailu) took place in Tampere tonight and was won by pre-contest favorites Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen and their Liekinheitin. Or rather they swept the floor with the other ones by winning both jury and televotes with a huge margin.  Special guests were last year's UMK winner Erika Vikman (11th in ESC) with last year's Eurovision winner JJ, Finland's Eurovision 1985 represent Sonja Lumme and quartet of leading Finnish rappers Elastinen, Ares, Turisti and Averagekidluke .  Out of 491 submitted entries a panel of 9 members along with five audience groups selected the seven entries for the final. Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen emerged instantly the runaway favorites to win the selection gaining more Youtube views in 24 hrs than any other UMK entry ever and also reaached one million streams in record time. They also became international favorites pushing Finland to #1 in od...

Finland's national selection for Eurovision song contest 2026  or UMK (Uuden musiikin kilpailu) takes place in Tampere tonight in Tampere arena to sold out crowds.  Special guests are last year's UMK winner Erika Vikman (11th in ESC) with last year's Eurovision winner Austrian  JJ, Finland's Eurovision 1985 represent Sonja Lumme and quartet of leading Finnish rappers Elastinen, Ares, Turisti and Averagekidluke. It's worth remembering JJ's staging and even outfit was made in Finland last year with UMK team.  The show is hosted by Jorma Uotinen, Sami Sykkö and Jasmin Beloued. Read more about them here . Out of 491 submitted entries a panel of nine members along with five audience groups selected the seven entries for the final. Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen emerged instantly the runaway favorites to win the selection gaining more Youtube views in 24 hrs than any other UMK entry ever and also reached one million streams in record time. They also became inter...

Can you die of horniness or voiko kiimaan kuolla? That's the punch line of Liekinheitin, the big favorite to win UMK 2026 by two artists that this blogger among many others have waited for years to take part and here they are, together. The story goes Linda was preparing her new pop album (that was rumored already a year ago but was postponed)  and when asked who she would like to have on vocals she didn't hesitate: Pete! When calling him asking is he interested and when could they meet his quick answer was : is tomorrow soon enough? Liekinheitin was born during that first meeting along with writers Vilma Alina, Lauri Halavaara and Antti Riihimäki. Linda Lampenius (55) is most likely the artist with the longest Wikipedia page ever. She toured the globe already as teenager as classical violinist favored even by Andrew Lloyd Webber. She's signed to both EMI Classics and pop oriented labels under alias  Linda Brava.  She's been mannequin and model (and refused to do Miss F...

Tonight was the official date but as usual the list leaked already last night as Etta published the group photo and details of her entry in her IG by mistake and obviously someone got a screenshot. Or was it a PR stunt from Yle to boost attention and hype? We will probably never know. And yes, all names were circulating more or less during the past months with the exception of Antti Paalanen. Apparently very well known and famous in his music genre circuit but I have never ever even heard of him I admit.  As for the artists I will go deep with them later after their songs are out (and my holidays over) but I am very, very happy to see Linda and Pete in the list as I have been wishing and hoping both of them for years by now. Not sure about Antti and Komiat but let's hear the songs first. Kiki and Sinikka I'm also happy for, Etta ... not so sure and Chachi is a mystery as she's so far only been as the wife of Jukka Hilden of Duudsomit/The Dudesons fame. But then again she...

Well, most probably not but this list of artists seems to fit the hints Yle gave and it did spread around fast like a forest fire in August . It does include names that this blogger has been toying with as well, and names that could fit the concept well and most of all feature several strong names so it wouldn't be one or two horse run but a real battle and more battle between the songs rather than artists. In theory. Here they are for your enjoyment and speculation: Portion Boys feat Meiju Suvas Portion Boys, the biggest party band (maybe) with three Top-5 hits in the past year, one of them with Teflon Brothers from Umk fame, with Meiju Suvas who's been around 40 years and living a new fame peak thanks to Vain elämää season 13 this fall. She's tried to get the ticket to ESC several times already. Pete Parkkonen he shot to fame in Idols 2008/09 and has had ups and downs in his career, the ultimate sex symbol who finally proved to most everyone he's a real international ...

Some more Vain elämää season 13 goodies, including Pete Parkkonen, another hotly tipped for UMk 2023 covering both Meiju Suvas and Erika Vikman, and another one from Erika Vikman. Enjoy! Pete Parkkonen - Pure mua (orig. by Meiju Suvas. a cover of Azucar Moreno ) Jyrki 69 feat. Erika Vikman - Sä teit tän laulun (orig. Yona ) Yona - Valo (orig. Light by Redrama) Pete Parkkonen - Syntisten pöytä (orig. by Erika Vikman )

Another name from the latest season os Vain elämää is Meiju Suvas, who is also heavily hinted as possible UMK artist next year. She's not a stranger to that affair having already participated in Euroviisut, the original selection show already in the 1980's and has also tried to get to UMK with Playing with fire two years ago. The funny cougar (63) with a lot of self irony and dirty mind did leave her mark also in these covers: Aina (Orig. Let go by Redrama) Irti (Orig. by Yona ) Hetken ikuinen (Orig. In your dreams by The 69 Eyes) Ei nyt (Orig. by Pete Parkkonen ) BONUS: Cicciolina

Vain elämää, that show were artists gather together for a week, each day singing covers of each others songs dedicating one day for everyone has just ended and this season, number 13,  one of the artists was Eurovision fan favorite Erika Vikman. I have chosen four of my favorites of her covers. Enjoy! Loimaa (Orig. Kickstart by Redrama) Kasipäkki (Orig. by Pete Parkkonen ) Kova duuni on rahaa (Orig. by  Meiju Suvas ) cover of She works hard for the money by Donna Summer) Maailmanlopun reunalla (Orig. Dance d'amour by The 69 Eyes)

Yle is going internal again in 2019 and it will be very curious to see who they choose (or get) after Saara Aalto - will they go for big international name or something big in Finland.  Or someone new and emerging? Pete Parkkonen came to spotlight in Idols coming 3rd (losing to forgotten Koop Arponen and Anna Puu - see previous post). He started his recording career in English and debut album went to #1. He has participated in several music variety programmes in tv winning both Dancing with stars and Tähdet, tähdet proving what an excellent and chameleontic performer on stage he is. After that he changed into Finnish and after being the eternal "next big thing" is maybe finally getting closer to the recognisation he deserves. A succesful trip to Israel 2019 might just cement him as a major star. So far he's not quite there yet and hasn't maybe quite found his full potential and popularity. 

Another set of artist having success on Finnish radio waves this summer, that could be or not be suitable for #UMK2019 and Eurovision song contest 2019.... Pete Parkkonen has been around for years ever since Idols 4. He has sung in English and Finnish and even various genres but even if most everyone agrees he's one of the most talented performers  he hasn't quite make it as Big as he should be. Like previously presented Elias Koskinen also Pete won Tähdet tähdet variety show showing he's confortable with any genre and shines on stage. His most notable hit is Kohta sataa , with its video that made him a sex symbol overnight.... He's definately one card to consider... Kävi niin, kävi näin has been just released with its summer vibe.  Sanni has been scoring hit after hit the past few years, and caused quite a few scandals along the way with her frank lyrics. Että mitähän vittua translates literally to What the fuck while her latest is Pornoo . Yes, Porn ...

It's September and the Eurovision 2018 season is officially on. I will feature in coming days names that could be in UMK18, if only...... I say if only, as most likely we won't see any of them in there for UMK is profilied as a newcomers contest instead of being our own Sanremo or Melodifestivalen. In short: a major contest all the big names want to take part not only to win but to boost their record sales and score hits. But one can dream, right? I have thrown in some not so known names for variety. Let's go.... Vol.2 (Check out Vol.1 here ) Pete Parkkonen made himself known in Idols finishing 3rd. After two albums in English and one in Finnish - and not really going anywhere - he went on to do some television and won both Dancing with stars in 2014 and Tähdet, tähdet in 2016 and a new sex symbol was born. His latest releases have been in Finnish and Kohta sataa (below) video caused quite a stir. No doubt he's also a talented singer. Could this be a winn...

Oh dear. If you thought Paradise had some questionable lyrics be lucky if you don't underdtand Finnish :-) My First Band has done the Finnish version with the help of the hottest sex God of the moment Pete Parkkonen, and ex-UMK artist Stig. Have a listen and ... enjoy! :-)

Eurovision 2014 winner Conchita Wurst is headlining Serena Pop & Rock festival in Espoo on August 29-30, 2014. She will be performing the first day. The other stars are (so far) Jenni Vartiainen , Juha Tapio , Kaija Koo , Jukka Poika , JVG , Sanni , Anna Abreu , Roope Salminen & Koirat and Pete Parkkonen . Also Kasmir , Sini Sabotage and Tuomas Kauhanen will be present. More info here .

Ilari Hämäläinen (34) has a long CV in various bands including Siberian Jay, Naked, Kengurumeininki and Rock'n roll Sensation. He has also been in the bands of Idols Pete Parkkonen and Katri Ylander, composed a few musicals and starred in another ones like Hair, Grease and Rent. No wonder as he likes to sing, dance and act.  He was a big Europe fan as kid (and you can still see it). He says he was a nice guy and that was nice enough poodle rock and not bad like Kiss and others. He wants to be part of the second wave of Finnosh rock and wants to bring some glitter and freshness into it. He has written his song Sytytä mut vaan (Just fire me up) himself and it's his very first song in Finnish!  What did the jurors say? Toni Wirtanen: Really cheeky! I have never heard such corny lyrics. On the other hand if he has the courage to sing stuff like this it can't be wrong. At least he's got confidence!  Redrama: He must be a man with sense of humor.... Tomi Saa...