Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

2016 has been a sad year in entertainment industry and also in the Eurovision world. So many familir names have left us. Here are some of them.... Sir Terry Wogan , the face of the British Eurovision at the age of 77. He commented the Eurovision for the BBC from 1971 to 2008, and hosted the show in 1998. He died of cancer. Kevin aka Danny Finn of Prima Donna (UK 1980). He was married to Eve Graham and they both were also part of The New Seekers. He was 70. Jānis Vaišļa of Pirates of the Sea (Latvia 2008) died at the age of 46 of heart complications. He had also competed in The Amazing Race with fellow pirate Alexandra Kurusova. Lola Novaković (Yogoslavia 1962) died at the age of 80. Roger Cicero (Germany 2007) died at the age of 45 of a stroke. He was to start a new tour and projects after releasing two albums in 2015. The Eurovision 1957 winner Corry Brokken (The Netherlands) dies at the age of 83. She represented the Netherlands also in 1956 and 1958. In...

Strange things we hear from Russia. Apparently the Red Army Choir is aiming for the Eurovision 2014 stage in Copenhagen. With necessary compromises as the choir has nearly 200 members. It seems they have a song, a lead singer - Boris Dyakov - and plans that include also ballet dancers on stage. So far so good. After grannies eveything is possible and no one can't deny they can sing, and the gimmick factor is high, so... Besides they are well known all over the world. But then when we hear that the motorcycle club Nochniye Volki or Night Wolves , the very same president Putin is messing up with, is supporting them and has promised to drive in a caravan all the way to Copenhagen things turn sour. Be afraid, be very afraid...... Here the choir joins the Finnish Leningrad Cowboys for a legendary concert. They are no strangers to Eurovision either having performed in Moscow 2009 Eurovision , along with t.A.T.u.

The 63rd Festivale della canzone Italiana is about to begin. I will blog the main things if only RAI shows it online :-) Seven of the Big category will present their songs and one will be voted for the Saturday's final. The eight Newcomers will be also presented but not voted, Toto Cutugno will be the guest star of the Golden age and much more to come. Also Verdi will be remembered... Stay tuned! 20.55 enter Teatro Artiston co-host Luciana Littizzetto, in a grand way! Like Fazio said, a mix between Sleeping Beauty and Crudelia De Monn! And she's fabulous! Only that non-Italian speakers surely found her totally annoying but then this show is made for Italians, not foreign Eurovision fans.... and Italy she's HUGE. A real comedian who says all sort of things...   She's having a long monologue about most everything, Vatican and Italian politics and elections obviosuly highlighted and making fun of Berlusconi (no wonder he wanted to move Sanremo after the electi...

So, today we have had the two first dress rehearsals. Many bloggers have said their say but I won't. I won't watch any Youtubes from them to save me some surprises tomorrow evening. But I have been reading and the reviews are rather mixed. Opening act will feature the Tolmachevy Twins landing on stage with the firebird. They won the Junior Eurovision song contest 2006. The interval act features the ex-Red Army choir doing Russian classics like Kalinka and are later joined by t.A.T.u. Have a look at some great photos at AKOE's Photostream here: http:// www.flickr.com/photos/33508965@N00/