Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

So, after the third semifinal and YLE's surprising wildcard we have the ten finalists for the Finnish final on February 12, 2011 in Turku, the European capital of culture in 2011. And there's a little bit everything from gospel to glamrock, metal to acoustic pop, radiopop and powerballads. All three qualifiers from the internet selection got to the final making way to the big changes next year in Euroviisut. Six songs are in English now and Iivanainen, Hintsanen and Misic have said they will sing in English should they win so only Maunuksela is left in Finnish, and he has said it stays in Finnish no matter what. Two big fan favourites didn't make it, Jimi Constantine and Tommi Soidinmäki and YLE's wildcard went to Eveliina Määttä instead of them. Weird. I guess I'm now for Paradise Oskar and Stala & So. With Johanna Iivanainen (in English) as the black horse... Saara Aalto - Blessed with love Cardiant - Rapture in time Father McKenzie - Good enough Sami Hi...

Live from Tohloppi studios in Tampere the third and last Euroviisut 2011 semifinal. Get ready for a black and white evening with a hint of red! Also YLE's wildcard to the final in two weeks time will be revealed along with the three qualifiers. Come back for live blogging at 20 CET and watch the webcast here . The show has just stared again and Tom and Jaana are on stage welcoming the audience and explaining the prodecure. Tom has a wild hair tonight and Jaana a wild dress: turquoise leopard! Hmm.... Hanna Pakarinen presents the first act tonight. EVELIINA MÄÄTTÄ - DANCING IN THE DARK First of the black acts tonight, lighten up with some neoncolors designed by Teuvo Loman. Very 1980's act in everyway, she sings ok, the choreography's nice enough but most likely the neon vampire act won't get people voting her and she will follow the fate of other dance acts this year and won't qualify. We will see. Anneli Saaristo presents the next act. SAMI HINTSANEN - T...

I will be blogging live as usual from the Euroviisut 2011 third semifinal. It's the last one and features a couple of fan favourites and in the end also YLE's wildcard will be revealed. If the fans are right Stala & So featuring ex-Lordi member will win hands down tonight followed by Tommi Soidinmäki whose song is written by Eurovision veteran Petri Laaksonen (1985, 1987) and Saara Aalto (check her music video here ) would be the third qualifier. She qualified from the open internet selection. Sami Hintsanen doesn't convince the fans but he has a lot of fans himself because of his TV-show so who knows?. And Eveliina Määttä is unknown and may well remain such after tonight as well. I'm all for Stala & So tonight, my only favourite.But as we learned last week everything can change live. But I think the wildcard is Jimi Constantine's. Join me tonight at 20.00 CET

Sami Hintsanen (38) is most known as the host of a very popular music quiz show Tartu mikkiin . But he is also the Finnish champion in schlager singing and karaoke who wanted to become the new Bon Jovi. His past include one participation in Euroviisut in 1996 with Auringonkukka (8th) and one CD under name Hintsanen party Project, eurodance covers of Finnish classics. "I deeply regret that album. Record label believed it would score big in ski resorts and cruise boats and the idea was good but it just didn't work out and I wasn't right for it. I was just too shamed to get on stage and perform those songs, like this one " .  He has also experience from musicals and other bands but maybe Euroviisut 2011 will finally make him known also as a serious singer. The rumour is his song is written by Antti Kleemola and he has said it's "more Johnny Logan style Eurovision". Sami will paeticipate in the third semifinal on January 28, 2011 and his song will be made pu...