Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Elastinen is the artist I know less about these ones taking part in this Vain elämää 10 camp, and therefor it's harder to get excited about the covers, especially as I have never even heard the originals.... I admit. But here are the more fortunate ones.... Studio Elastinen's original Studio Elastinen's original Studio Elastinen's original Studio Elastinen's original

Day 2 of season 10 was dedicated to Paula Vesala and her solo songs and the songs of her ex-band PMMP.  Being a female writer with some very rough, meaningful and strong lyrics the male artists took the best out of them this time, even if Maija Vilkkumaa and Erin did a good h´job. My favorites were however again Lauri Tähkä and Samu Haber, with Antti Tuisku making his debut, a very strong one and Elastinen did a good job after last week's flop. Check out the episode one, Antti Tuisku's Day here Studio Paula's original Studio PMMP's original Studio Paula's original Studio Paula's original

Vain elämää series, where top artists gather together in a villa for a week to perform each other's songs and talk over everything over lunch and dinner has reached its 10th season already and it's a All Stars one featuring JVG's VilleGalle, Elastinen, Lauri Tähkä, Paula Vesala, Maija Vilkkumaa, Erin, Antti Tuisku and Sunrise Avenue's Samu Haber . The series kicked off with Antti Tuisku's Day and below are my favorites out of the performances (and Antti's originals) that all outdid the original for a reason or another.... Lauri and Erin turned the songs something else and were for me the outstanding ones by far.  Antti Tuisku Antti Tuisku Antti Tuisku Antti Tuisku

The ever so popular Mamma mia! musical by ABBA is having its Finnish version coming up next May in Helsinki. Laura Voutilainen has landed the role as Donna (played by Meryl Streep in the movie) and she describes it as her dream role and as written for her. She's done musicals before but says this is her first experience in such an acting role. She auditioned for the role by the request by the producers and there was no doubt she'll be perfect.  But the Eurovision connections don't end here: Nina Tapio and Tomi Metsäketo are also in the cast. Nina Tapio has been several times in Eurovision as a backing singer, as well as in the national final and even performed in the opening numbers in Helsinki 2007 Eurovision. Tomi Metsäketo nearly beat Lordi in Euroviisut 2006 but let's see how it goes for him now. He's in the middle of #metoo scandal now and was kicked out last week from a tv production he was supposed to be in several future episodes still in coming we...

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.10 Check out the previous posts by scrolling down. Vesala is singer-songwriter, actress and playwriter, started in hugely popular PMMP before going solo, writes hit songs to other artists as well and Lauri's ex-wife and mother of his kid. Past few years it seems everything she touches turns into a success and she's got her shelves full of awards to prove it. This week it was revealed she has written the Finnish version of  hit musical Mamma M...

Last but not least, here are the nominees for the Female Artist of the Year. One real veteran, one recordbreaking looking for a trple, two who have gone solo from succesful duos and one that whose talent has blossomed in Vain elämää and will do amazing things in the future... I guess it's predictable this goes to Vesala, as Sanni winning it again would be a bit boooring. Kaija Koo might surprise but most likely not. I'd give this to Suvi Teräsniska, she has proven to be not only loved by public but also being a Talent in Vain elämää. Amazing singer and voice. Go Suvi! Erin (ex-Nylon Beat) returned to her successful solo career after three years of silence and two kids. Her solo debut back in 2011 sold triple platinum and had several hits, the second one sold platinum and gave her more hits and this one released last month has already Sydäntä särkee and Kohta hänen . Maija Vilkkumaa has been involved in writing this album. Kaija Koo 's success continues with so...

The second season of Tähdet, tähdet has been again a success, and no doubt thanks to some Eurovision singers: Krista Siegfrids, Laura Voutilainen, Jarkko Ahola (Teräsbetoni) have done it all the way to the almost end, while Markku Aro was voted out after his country performance. More Eurovision is added when Mira Luoti (PMMP) was eliminated to the sounds of Lapponia , and multiple national finalist Arja Koriseva made it to sixth episode. On top of that UMK host Roope Salminen is in top-4.... As is Laura Voutilainen. But as said, surprisingly and unfairly Krista Siegfrids dropped out last Sunday. She has been a real transformer and managed all genres wonderfully showing she can also sing and is a real performer and it's time to forget ding dong and see what she is all about: a true artist. Now that's she's out I'm all for Laura Voutilainen.... She's in top-4 with Jarkko Ahola, Roope Salminen and opera hunk Waltteri Torikka.

The Voice Kids will start in Finland this fall and the coaches have been selected: Krista Siegfrids, PMMP's Mira LUoti and Elastinen, already the coach in The Voice of Finland season 1&2. Some 1500 kids aged 8-14 applied to take part and 280 were admitted to selections. So, Krista will be busy after Eurovision as well with the album, gigs, touring and now this new adventure....

Loreen's Euphoria single has gone platinum in Finland and she will be performing not only in Turku later this month (August 19) but also in September in Helsinki. The annual charity concert Elämä lapselle in Hartwall Areena, the Eurovision 2007 venue, on September 12, 2012 will feature besides Loreen a line up of local stars (Cheek, PMMP, Robin, The 69 Eyes, Anna Puu, Diandra, Elonkerjuu, Sturm und Drang, Jippu, Tuuli, JVG...). And the good news to her fans is she will perform also her new single, due to be released in October! Loreen's Euphoria is still in the official Finnish single's chart in top-10 after 21 weeks!

Loreen is one of the artists in Nordic Cavalcade concert on August 19, 2012 in Turku Castle. The concert is part of the Linnan juhlat aka Turku Castle Park Festival events August 17-25, 2012 and features also artists like Diandra Flores, Melissa Horn, Saara Aalto and PMMP.  More info here .  It's not her only appearance in Finland this summer as on July 22 she will be in Mariehamn (Åland Islands)

If some of you follow daily politics you may know we are in the middle of presidential elections here in Finland. The first round was won by Sauli Niinistö, but Pekka Haavisto, an openly gay represant of the Green Party made the impossible and made his way to the second round as well. Political views aside, as the seat of a republic's president is non-political but the country's cultural life has divided. In short, the artists are on Haavisto's side, the sportsmen and business on Niinistö's side. And even if the artistic support for Haavisto has been widely public since day one tonight an incredible line up will take the stage in Helsinki's Ice hall to support Haavisto. Ultra Bra reunites just for him for this one off, Jenni Vartiainen breaks her holiday to be there, both PMMP girls will be there, so will Lauri  of The Rasmus, Paradise Oskar, Anna Puu, Eicca Toppinen of Apocalyptica, Freeman, Jonna Tervomaa, Kaija Kärkinen, Maarit, Maija Vilkkumaa, Värttinä an...

Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus fame is one of the songwriters in Katri Helena's new album Valon maa out on November 9, 2011. He has written the beautiful Vieras sisar with his companion Paula Vesala, of PMMP. They also wrote Johanna Kurkela's megahit Rakkauslaulu . Other songwriters of rock generation for Katri Helena include Tuure Kilpeläinen and Jussi Hakulinen.  Listen songs from her new album: Vieras sisar , Sinun sydämesi kanssa and Kerro, kerro kuiskaten .

Jonna (28) came to the spotlight in 2002 when she was one of the girls selected to a girlband created by a reality show. Gimmel was born but Jonna left the band after a month and went solo. ( Jenni Vartiainen was one of the other Gimmel girls, btw and PMMP girls met during the show, too). Her career took off quite nicely and her debut album went to #7 but then the progress has been downhill: the follow up went to #27 and the third one #32. After that she went to the States for awhile, got married and divorced and is now ready for a comeback, in English. Jonna has released three albums and 11 singles so far. Her website says she will release her first single in English in January 2011 so one can quite safely suspect her Euroviisut entry will be in English instead Finnish she has been singing so far. Her hits include Jäässä , Sateen jälkeen   and Tyytyväinen . She has also dueted with Darin in Explain and she has also collaborated with Cheek . Jonna is one of the artists/songs YL...

Some great tracks in this part once again and songs by already very familiar names. Worth mentioning PMMP's fantastic Pikkuveli , a story about a (gay?) little brother. Yö's Särkyvää also recorded by Annika Eklund and Pasi won Iskelmä radio's talent hunt last year.  31. HILJAINEN ON LAULU RAKKAUDEN - TAIKAKUU 32. RAKKAUDESSA SUURIA - PASI VAINIONPERÄ 33. MONTA MONTA - LAURA VOUTILAINEN 34. SUOJAAN KAIKELTA - LAURI TÄHKÄ 35. KUUNNELLAAN VAAN TAIVASTA - HECTOR 36. ELÄN ITSELLENI - POPEDA 37. SÄRKYVÄÄ - YÖ 38. PIKKUVELI - PMMP 39. KELPAAT KELLE VAAN - JUHA TAPIO 40. ELÄ VIELÄ - SIMO SILMU

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

This part is filled with dancebands and three excellent songs to spice it up: Puhu äänellä jonka kuulen, Oo siellä jossain mun and Kaunis päivä . Three acts very popular at the moment and with young and not so young. 141. PUHU ÄÄNELLÄ JONKA KUULEN - HAPPORADIO 142 . ANNA JATKUA YÖN - FINLANDERS 143. ETKÖ UNTA SAA - YÖ 144. MENNYTTÄ MIESTÄ - YÖLINTU 145. KELLOT SOI - TOPI SORSAKOSKI 146. OO SIELLÄ JOSSAIN MUN - PMMP 147. SYDÄNPUOLI SÄÄTÄ VASTEN - KARI TAPIO 148. MEIDÄN LAULU - MATTI JA TEPPO 149. UNOHTUMATON ILTA - AGENTS 150. KAUNIS PÄIVÄ - ANNA PUU

Euroviisut fan favourite Johanna Kurkela (Euroviisut 2007 Olet uneni kaunein ) will release her fourth album Hyvästi, Dolores Haze on April 7. It's first promo single Rakkauslaulu is already #1 in RadioSuomi's most played songs chart. It is written by Lauri Ylönen (of The Rasmus ) and Paula Vesala ( PMMP ) and Eicca Toppinen ( Apocalyptica ) plays cello in it.