Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Anna Eriksson's risky business of releasing an album in English seems to be paying off as she enters the Top-50 at number 3 with Garden of love . It's also a historic milestone as before her only Marion Rung of female artists has managed to get a top-10 album both in Finnish and English (Tarja Turunen's Christmas album was only partly Finnish). Also only two male artists have managed this: Riki Sorsa and Remu so Eurovision artists rule this record. Vuokko Hovatta's new album Liaani also enters the Top-10 at #10. Janne Raappana who tried to get to Euroviisut 2010 through the internet voting also enter the charts at #20 with Rakkaus on hulluus , and Amadeus 's debut album falls to #21 from last weeks #14. It debuted at #6 five weeks ago and has been dropping ever since. Meanwhile Vesa-Matti Loiri's Hyvää puuta climbs again to #27 and also Mikael Konttinen clibs to #34 with Ota kiinni . And Alexander Rybak drops to #44. In singles chart Jippu & Samuli Edelmann...

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...

Waldo's People (44,3%) and Remu (28,6%) qualified directly to the final and will join Tapani Kansa and Kwan there in January 31. Sani and fan favourite Passionworks ft Tony Turunen must try to get there by Second chance.... In the end not so surprising.... or was it? What do you think?

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

Remu has settled the matters with YLE and Planeetta.net and will participate in next week's Euroviisut semifinal. The advertising campaign has been suspended for the time being and the song Planeetta will not be used in Planeetta.net's website or ads until later.... This part of the Euroviisut rules will be made clearer in the next year's edition, comments YLE.

Remu has released a video for his Euroviisut 2009 song Planeetta. The song has also sold 10.000 copies in preorder, thus getting a platinum status before its release. But here comes the trouble: the song is also used for the advertising of a new internet provider called Planeetta.net (did they buy the copies for the PR perhaps?) And that my folks, apparently is against the Euroviisut rules! Will Remu be disqualified? Stay tuned and check the video here http://www.planeetta.net/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r8j1dhYZvU and the ad here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-87YgbSJPU

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 ...

Kwan is in clear lead with 38% of votes when 20,189 people have voted on Ilta-Sanomat on line poll followed by Remu 16% and Waldo's People 13%. Tiara and Riikka are on the bottom of the list. You can listen to the songs here: http://euroviisut.yle.fi/euroviisut/2008-11-20/karsintakappaleet-2009 Vote here: http://www.iltasanomat.fi/viihde/uutinen.asp?id=1622336 You can also vote on my poll left and leave comments in the box! :-)

"Every challange is good and one must play every card so here I am" says Remu. "We don't have the song yet and are still playing with ideas and I won't talk before it's ready!"

Remu Aaltonen (60) is a rock legend in Finland. The spirit of 1970's rock band the Hurriganes and his life style has kept him in the spotlight as the leader of the Hurriganes from 1971 until 1984 when the band split (they reunited in 1988 but it didn't last long and by 1991 the other 2 members were dead) and Remu went solo. Lately he has been in the news for various reasons: his brother's unsolved murder a long time ago, his house burning down, him entering the politics, being an Idols judge, drunk driving, possession of drugs... In 2008 also a Remu Dictionary has been released with 500 words and impressions he uses as his talking is legendary and at times hard to understand... At the moment he's recording a new album with rock'n tango team with new material and tango classics Remy style. I guess we can expect anything from him and honestly I don't know what to make of him until I hear what he brings in... Here he is in Tea's video: http://www.youtube.com/...

The announcement of the 12 hopefuls to go to Moscow didn't set the Finnish media on fire, maybe because the whole country is still under some kind of shock for the second school massacre within a year. Anyways, all the articles lifted Remu on the front and he's the runner up with 20% in Ilta-Sanomat's on line poll that was won clearly by Kwan . They got 31% of the votes, mainly because of Mariko's current popularity? "Spectacular, glitter and big hair" promises Mariko. "It will be Kwan-like with some new spices added and great lightning show! The song is a fireproof hit" adds Tidjan. Remu says he's not sure why he is there but promises a memorable show. " The song doesn't need to be even good, all that matters is to be remembered and I can guarantee that " he says. "Anything to stand out!" The song titles and writers will be announced in December