Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The new Artistic director for Sanremo Stefano De Martino * has really changed some things in the annual festival with his co-director Fabrizio Ferraguzzo, some same old like dropping the Newcomers category in the festival, some new like replacing the Cover night with Eurovision night. But let's go on order. No news about his co-hosts yet but the names Giulia Vecchio, Herbert Ballerina and Carlo Amleto , his current collaborators are considered very possible be in. Maria De Filippi might return as well.  The 77th Sanremo festival will take place in Teatro Ariston in Sanremo between February 16 and 20, 2027. Apparently there will be fewer songs this time around, 24 (instead of the 30 the past years). The Newcomers winner aka Sanremo Giovani winner will be added to the line up to compete among the Big  and thus will have a chance to win it all and/or the Eurovision night and go to Eurovision as well. Just like Mahmood in 2018-19. The Sanremo Giovani final will take place on De...

While Sweden's Melodifestivalen 2026 has received 3.888 entries only to have then some 20 out of 28 written by same 5-6 names in various combos Finland's UMK is way more unpredictable and you never know what we have in store for the next edition. We have already noticed the selection team tends to have a sort of trend for the season. If 2025 was very pop oriented and 2024 quite rap influenced it's curious to see where they put the focus on in 2026.  This said the fandom is already speculating and so far Yle has kept quiet and there hasn't been any leaks or bitter comments by artists that they applied and were not taken ( Vilma Jää this year for example). Anyways, here's my first prediction/wish list for possible names added with the first rumored names! If I get 2-3 out of 7 right I'm happy, LOL.      Ladies Vesta - She's in Van elämää this fall and already making it big, could it be that she's doing both back to back? Her career has taken an upright di...

It might be only September but the Sanremo 2026 cast speculation is on already now that the deal with the town of Sanremo and Rai is settled finally for the next three years at least and the festival stays in Sanremo and bears the same name as usual.  All Music Italia that is to Sanremo what Aftonbladet is to Melodifestivalen in means of spoiling the artists way before the official announcement - due in December by Carlo Conti - has released their first list of possible names taking part next February. Curiously there's only one band in the list..... The Comebacks: Angelina Mango - winner of 2024 who retired to rest and take care of her mental health over a year ago recently reappeared in Olly's concert on stage and could be coming back. Alfa - after his debut in 2024 as well he's gained a lot since and scored The #1 summer hit of 2025  Blanco - winner of 2022 with Mahmood has been returning to charts in 2025 also as a co-author for three songs in Sanremo 2025 (Giorgia,...

Day 6 in Eurovision bubble had the second 20 minutes rehearsals of the first nine entries in the semi-final two followed by the first rehearsals of the Big 5 + host country Sweden. Things seem to go smoothly as no major hick ups have been reported. Yesterday Finland's Windows96man burned his sock as the fireworks played a bit too long and the denim egg also tried to eat him up as the Malmö arena team accidentally started to close it too early. Another thing has been Italy's Angelina Mango's stand-in rehearsal video leaking on internet. Team Italy with Ebu is doing their best to make it disappear from the world wide web. And Croatia has re-taken the number one place in the odds as Switzerland drops to second place. As for today's rehearsals both Albania and Austria had changed their outfit. Better or worse no comment. MALTA ALBANIA GREECE SWITZERLAND CZECHIA AUSTRIA DENMARK ARMENIA LATVIA

I saw the list already a week ago or so, but since yesterday it has really taken wings on social medias and chat rooms and caused even Yle to comment today the matter for Ilta-Sanomat. Yle commented on the matter rather sparingly, and did not take a direct position. "There have been many kinds of lists in circulation this year as well, but Yle will announce the competitors on 10.1. in the live broadcast starting at 8 p.m.",  UMK's chief producer Anssi Autio said.  "Of course it's quite unfortunate, but it's hard to keep them a secret. However, Yle is not doing this alone, there are many other factors, starting with record companies. I can't say where the information came from this year. However, it has been unearthed from somewhere" , Autio commented on the incident last year for the same Ilta-Sanomat after the names leaked.. UMK has a history of leaks but time will tell if this year's this list is a real one: Cyan Kicks would be a comeback, Sexm...

  Here are some more. Ibe actually said somewhere he wrote Blondina UMK 2024 in mind but liked the song so much he couldn't wait to release it and therefor never submitted it in the end. Well, not bad that decision either as it's already a top-5 hit in Finland. Kiki and ABREU have been both heavily rumored and might still be in with different songs while Pariisin Kevät has a comeback after a few years and just might have tried to do it via UMK. Or then not. Probably we will never know. Ibe - Blondina Kiki - Kuka itkee nyt ABREU - Sulle tehty Pariisin Kevät - Haaveet haaveet

  Here are some more possible, rumored UMK submission that didn't make the cut. At least one seem to one for sure as they have said so themselves it seems: Nush Unbrushed. Then again, they could still be in with different entries, especially Nelly and Sexmane. Reino Nordin - Sydämet palamaan Nush Unbrushed - Army of lovers Nelli Matula - Skorpioni Sexmane - Hallille

After the list of those who made it to the festival the media is announcing the ones who didn't make it this time around, among them Eurovision veterans Jalisse who were not taken for the 26th year in a row! Now that's a record to beat. But they are not alone. The list of excluded ones includes names like Mietta, Paola Turci, Syria, Dolcenera and Marcella Bella, for the zillionth time. But also names like Elettra Lamborghini, Francesca Michielin, Michele Bravi, Annalisa and Eurovision veterans Francesco Gabbani, Raf, Fausto Leali, Ricchi e Poveri, Alan Sorrenti and Albano. Add names like Eiffel 65, that would have filled the nostalgy slot nicely. Without further notes here's the list combined from various sources of names that didn't make it this year: Alan Sorrenti, Albano, Alex Wyse, Andrea Sannino, Annalisa, Antonino, Auroro Boreolo, Baby K, Beba, Bresh, Bugo, Chadia Rodriguez, Clementino, Daniele Silvestri,  Ditonellapiaga, Dolcenera, Drusilla Foer, Eiffel 65, Elett...

  Amadeus seems to be aiming even higher with his third consecutive year as the Mr Sanremo. First he has changed the Newcomers and Big system by opening the door to a newcomer to win it all, something that Claudio Baglioni already did once resulting in the win of Mahmood against all odds. He is also maybe managing to bring some big guns back to Sanremo, like Elisa whose one and only participation resulted in a win (with fantastic Luce, what an Eurovision entry that would have been!) and launch of her career in Italian. Also Jovanotti could be making a comeback. Add Carmen Consoli and quite a few big names. On the other hand he's willing to bring even more young and fresh rappers etc to Teatro Ariston that will surely not please so much the purists. And that may be one of the reasons for the Newcomers/Big change as well. An artist who has streamed millions but is pretty much unknown to typical Sanremo audience is Big or not? Or even to this blogger, to be honest. Anyways, this is ju...

Covid or no covid, some things never change. Like guessing the Sanremo Big artists beforehand and the rumor mill has really heated up these days before the announcement on next Thursday, December 17 during the Sanremo Giovani final. Just having a quick look at the media in recent days over 50 names have been mentioned as probably or even sure, while there are only 20 places, unless once again the number will be increased to a few more "due demand". Amadeus has declared he got around 300 submissions and most likely he has contacted some personally asking them to join the party. This said, for the first time maybe ever there are several names mentioned I have never heard before! Does it mean I have fallen out of the Italian music scene? Or that he's aiming for the more alternative, less known names throwing in a good number of random rappers I don't care to follow? We'll see. As usual the male names are dominating the scene and the ladies are outnumbered. And then t...

As much as I would like the countries hosting Eurovision song contest showcase their own musical heritage and culture - best done in recent years by the underdogs Finland in 2007 and Portugal last year - the rumor of Madonna being in negotiations for performing in the Eurovision 2019 final is just too juicy to let go by. And wasn't she rumored also for Lisbon at some point, after all she lives there now and seems to be somewhat familiar with the event. If that becomes reality I hope it's done better than Justin Timberlake's somewhat out of the place performance in 2016 of Can't stop the feeling , did he even know where he was? After all the Kabbalah loving queen of pop already has done a very fitting performance on her Confessions Tour, including Im nin'alu and all.... Let's get unconscious honey, get into the groove and I'm gonna party (It's a celebration) etc. You know. And there's still plenty of room for Netta, Dana International and Idan ...

Still a month to go to find out the Big category artists in Sanremo 2018 and while the rumor mill has been maybe less frantic than usual some names keep popping up, and this week the main television oriented magazine that usually knows a thing or two give some names as certain. La Rua band was eliminated last year from the Newcomers causing quite a stir. They might get their chance this year, and it's rumored to be a duet with Federica Carta , from Amici fame and if I remember right also she tried to get to Sanremo Newcomers last year.... The Kolors are rumored once again. Let's see if their vanishing fame and popularity makes them try Sanremo card to gain something more, and switch to Italian for the occasion.  Marco Carta , previous Amici and Sanremo winner, been a bit forgotten but made an impact winning the latest season of Tale e Quale Show (Your face sounds familiar) and could finally make it back to Sanremo, and deserves it.  Last year's Newcomers ...