Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Frans Summertime is the time for the Eurovision stars to enjoy the sun, sea, sand and beach like any common mortals, and showcase their muscles or bikini bodies. Here's a round up of their Instagrams for your viewing pleasure. Claudia Faniello Sergey Lazarev & son Tamta Andras Kallay Saunders Eleni Foureira ZalaGasper Emmelie De Forest Dima Bilan Lindita Kobi Marimi Polina Gagarina Gianluca Ginoble Ilinca Melovin Ruth Lorenzo Rui Andrade Mikko Leppilampi

Francesco Gabbani will join a long list of other Eurovision artists in Madrid's Wold Pride celebrations starting this weekend until July 2.  Eurovision winners Loreen and Conchita are present, so are Slavko from this year's contest, Spanish entrants Ruth Lorenzo, Barei, Soraya, Rosa, Azucar Moreno, Mirela, LeKlein and Baccara, Kate Ryan, Suzy with Ivri Lider, Carlinhos Brown, Aliice, Norwood, Toby Corton, Roser, Ama Torroja, Nito, Jorge Gonzales, Rebeca, Nuria Fergò and Toby Corton. How come they forgot about Saara Aalto? ;-p

Spain opened its selection and 135 songs have been sent already for Objetivo Eurovisión. Some keep quiet, some like Brequette shout to every direction she's there (check her submitted entries below). While Ruth Lorenzo seems to have dropped the idea once she was not selected internally the other regular wannabes are at it: Jorge Gonzalez and Mirela . Azucar Moreno who provided the legendary 1990 performance seems to be game as well, as are Lorena Gomez and Maria Villalon . Same old, same old also among the songwriters from Ovi Jacobsen to Tony Sanchez Olsson and Barei. Yawn. The submission window closes in the end of this month and then 30 songs will be selected for the RTVE webste for people to vote. Three songs will be selected from that top-10 by a jury for another public vote in the final in February.

The Eurovision 2017 season has been officially open for two weeks now and some countries have already closed their submissions and started working on the material, like Finland where YLE is once again keeping quiet about the number of entries and all the rest. The artists will be notified their fate by the end of October and most probably the rest of us will know the selected ones only in January.  In Denmark the Eurovision fever is high despite failing to make the final this year and even their entrant Lighthouse X is also history as they broke up earlier this summer. A total of 1.115 entries were submitted, a new record. France is looking for a new Amir , aka following this year's successful format of finding an artist and a song that could be a hit already before we know it's the one for the Eurovision.  Submissions are open in Estonia and sadly they are opening up for non-native authors so that's where all the Melodifestivalen rejects will end up. Luckily ...

The 2016 is slowly fading away and as soon as we get the new host city and confirmed dates in less than a month the 2017 season starts slowly taking shape. That doesn't stop the rumors, proposals and denies running wild. Several artists, or fans, have already put names ahead in some countries so let's have an excuse to see who we might but propably won't see in Ukraine 2017.... In Greece there are rumors of internal choice and Demy. Her name has appeared in the speculations and wishlists for a few years now. Will it happen this time around after tis year's failure? Her latest is Tha meineis feugontas . In Montenegro the rumors are about Milena Vučić. She has taken part in the national finals before going solo in 2006 and has festival experience from here and there. Her latest is Gorim . Ukrainian runner ups Hardkiss have already announced they will be seeking for revenge in 2017. Remember their Helpless , that finished tied first with Jamala in the national fin...

Ruth Lorenzo was doing promotion in Gran Canaria performing at Maspalomas Winter Pride when she was the headliner of Saturday night's show at Yumbo center's main stage. Clearly she was the most anticipated guest as there were some screaming teenagers and a lot of Eurovision fans who knew her from all over Europe present.  The day after she did a meet & greet signing copies of her new album.  She opened her act with her latest single 99 (she told it has just this week entered the Spanish charts at #3), Proud Mary , Gigantes and finally Dancing in the rain that you can see below in my somewhat crappy video shot with a cellphone and 7% battery left.... ;-p

Eurovision collaborations are always happening - sometimes after years as you can see from the previous post, sometimes right away and among the artists that met during the Eurovision weeks. Already back in may it was revealed Austria's Conchita Wurst and Spain's Ruth Lorenzo hit it off and were planning a duet but here comes maybe a little bit more surprising one: Finland's Softengine and Greece's Freaky Fortune. First of all the Greek guys have remixes Softengine's Yellow House that is yet to be released but the ead singer Topi Latukka is also working with Nick Raptakis and Teofilos Pouzbouris on another track, maybe to be included on Freaky Fortune's next album. Long live Eurovison and its collaborations!

Eurovision 2014 winner for Austria Conchita Wurst is headlining various European Pride festivals this summer. And she already did Zurich Pride . Among others.  Next week (June 27) she will be taking part in the Pride festivites in Dublin before headlining the London Pride the day after (June 28).  In July she will be present in Shangay Pride in Madrid (July 7) reuniting with her Eurovision collegue Ruth Lorenzo. They have confirmed a collaboration on Ruth's worthcoming album - will we get a preview already? In August it's time for Amsterdam Pride (August 2-3) and a week later Antwerp Pride (August 10).  She was present last year in Stockholm Pride and who knows she will be back there, too? Update June 22: Indeed she will be there for the opening day concert (July 30)!) And there's time to add more events to her calendar .

Rise and dance like a phoenix in the rain. It was no secret in Copenhagen Eurovision some ladies really hit it off, namely Austrian Conchita Wurst (who ended up winning the contest), Ruth Lorenzo (respectable 10th place) and Suzy from Portugal (just missing out by one point the final). There were rumors of an eventual trio forming for some work together, but now it seems Ruth and Conchita have kicked Suzy out and plan a duet only for Ruth's worthcoming album. In these photos by yours truly the moment they told her is captured below.... (Maybe, lol)

Spain staged a national final with invited artists and it was a pretty good selection indeed. Two favorites stood above others, Brequette and Ruth. They even tied in the final but in the end Ruth was declared the winner. She's 31 and comes to Copenhagen via Spain, USA and UK, where she came 5th in the X Factor a few years ago. She has been touring and doing this and that, but this seems to be her real debut.  Her previous singles are Burn and The Night . Robert : It took me a while to enjoy Dancing in the rain . This was mainly because I was so upset that Brequette with Mas did not win. Her “live “performance was so overwhelming that I could not understand that she did not get the trophy. I saw a winning song for Spain. However Ruth's Dancing in the rain is certainly not a bad song that could do very well if she sings it right and if she manages to deliver. The videoclip is beautiful and the final version of the song sounds great.  But as soon as she is a bit off tun...

Exciting end for the Spanish final when Ruth Lorenzo and Brequette tied after the jury votes and televotes with 66 points. However Ruth won the televote so she will go to Copenhagen for Spain with her Dancing in the rain . Here are the televotes, the top-3 was within 5,6%! Ruth Lorenzo  30,97% Brequette  27,40% Jorge Gonzalez  25,34% Raul  9,36% La Dama  6,93%

Spain joins Latvia and Hungary selecting their song tomorrow night. Five pretty strong candidates and fans already gearing up for their favorites.  Brequette with Mas (Run) . Apparently the biggest favorite by eurofans. I kinda like this but can't help thinking drip drop drip drop when listening to it, that might be more for the heavy arrangement instead of the melody itself. Powerful, yes, but kind of that triumphs with the live performance or slowly fades away and becomes a little bit akward. And yes, this comes from the Swedish factory of G:son. Jorge Gonzales with Aunque se acabe el mundo . More Spanish, or very Spanish infact. Something that would be great to have back in Eurovision. Just maybe not strong enough? Anyways, full of sunshine, holidays and good feelings musically. There's always the chance it will be ruined with a too busy choreograhy and nonsense on stage. La Dama with Estrella fugáz . Also somehow very Spanish but with Eurodance twist. This could ...

Spain has revealed its five entries today and it's quite a solid group of songs, but none jumps out and screams winner. Brequette gives us another Thomas G.son-Tony Sänchez Ohlsson collaboration. Some say it's a bit too similar to a song I have never heard of and already forgot the name of, but all I can think of is drip drop, drip drop ... Jorge González goes for a more Spanish sound and this blogger thinks it's time to have that sound back in Eurovision! La Dama brings in some drama, a bit of Spanish and old school Eurodance. Nice mix. Rául Fuentes went for the Spanish rhythms in 2000 but goes the romantic ballad style this time, a bit like Sergio Dalma and Paloma San Basilio back in their days. Last but not least, Ruth Lorenzo with her massive rainstorm that really goes nowhere.... I guess my faves are Jorge and La Dama, but what do I know? Listen here .

It seems true, Ruth Lorenzo is taking part in the Spanish Eurovision selection along with four other names: Raúl, Jorge González, La Dama and Brequette . Apparently Ruth was asked also by BBC after her X factor adventures in Britain but opted for her native Spain. Raúl and Jorge both have already national final experience while La Dama and Brequette are newcomers in this. Stay tuned for song titles and more.... Raúl - Seguir sin ti Ruth Lorenzo - Dancing in the rain La Dama - La estrella Fugaz Brequette - Mas/Run Jorge González - Auque se acabe el mundo

After several internally selected artists it seems Spain is going to let the people choose their entrant. Some names have been confirmed and then unconfirmed, withdrawn and thrown in again. Roser is out, Ruth Lorenzo still a mystery but it seems that two previous Eurovision wannabes are giving it another go. First is Raúl Fuentes . His career started with the Spanish national selection 2000 and was the runner up with fan favorite Sueño su boca . Since then he has released six studio albums and a couple of compilations. His latest video from last year is Sálvame . He has sold nearly 1,5 million albums so far.   The other one is Jorge González . He has tried his luck with Eurovision already three times between 2008 and 2010, but only in 2009 he got into the live final on TV with Si yo vengo a enamorarte , while Celos and Amada mia didn't make the cut. With both singers we could get some real Spanish flavored music and rhythms that have been missing from Eurovision way too long.....

... it would be Roko flying the Spanish flag in Copenhagen 2014. She's a singer, composer, guitarist and musica theater artist who has been also present in some variety shows, including Tu cara me suena and El numero uno . Here's her take on Nancy Sinatra , Shakira and Adele . And yes, she did even Loreen . No wonder she won that imitation show!  Ruth Lorenzo is the second choice by the Spanish fans, of X Factor UK fame. She got 2693 votes against Roko's 2900. Ever present Pablo Alboran (2595), Malú (2510) and Monica Naranjo (2450) complete the Top-5 of the wish list. Monica Naranjo was the fan's choice in 2010, Chenoa in 2011 and 2012 and Malú in 2013, but none of them got internally selected by the Spanish broadcaster, will 2014 chance the trend?  Check out the full list here .