Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

As soon as the Vienna 2015 edition of Eurovision song contest was over the new reigning country Sweden started the preparations for the 2016 contest. The venue, most likely Tele2 Arena in Stockholm (but then, SVT surprised us with Malmö on 2013) will be chosen and announced by August. But the namedropping has started for the possible presenters. Last time it was Petra Mede, who did a marvellous job even if some in Europe didn't apparently like her style. I loved it. At least I remember her, I can't say the same about the three ladies this year.... Errr... who were they? What did they do? All I remember is Conchita! Anyways, Petra Mede was dropped by Christer Björkman the day after, along with Sanna Nielsen and Gina Dirawi , both names from Melodifestivalen where they did a good job.  Another professional host, or the reigning Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw has been put in the list immediately, too. And we can't forget Sarah Dawn Finer , that all of Eurovision Eur...

The rumour mill is running wild for Melodifestivalen 2014 participants and it seems Martin Stenmarc k (ESC 2005) is back while the ladies Sanna Nielsen and Linda Bengtzing are giving it yet another go. Dr Alban might finally make his debut? Aftonbladet also reveals the other possible names: Oscar Zia, Panetoz, J.E.M., Outrigger, Judit & Judit, Eko, Cajsa Stina Äkerström, Josef Johanson that are more or less unknown to this blogger. Christer Björkman is quoted of saying there are still five open slots but negotiations on going with more big names and "the big names are usually the last ones to be confirmed and the talking-them-over period is at full swing right now". It is rumored Avicii, Ola Salo and Lisa Nilsson are some of those Björkman is sweet talking. I hope he has a chat with Sarah Dawn Finer and Darin as well! SVT will reveal all the names by the end of November 2013.

Surreal , said Sarah Dawn Finer in the after party around 4am when asked how she feels. She wasn't only Lynda Woodruff, but also did ABBA's The winner takes it al l live in Arena before the voting started. So nice of SVT to let her shine there, too. Hopefully she participates in Melodifestivalen again and actually goes to do it for Sweden next year! #MILF. That's all we remember from Eric Saade's useless appearance in the Green room. Petra Mede might be a milf indeed, but ... tasteless! YIkes! Disappointed . That's what Sweden's own Robin Stjernberg was visibly for the 14th place even if his mouth said something else. Top-10 was what he wanted. Swedish smörgåsbord . Petra Mede offered us a lot of goodies from meatballs to the wind machine finally blowing Carola way. Enjoy !

Army of Lovers is out. And I'm not surprised. As much I like them the song just was 3 minutes of nonsense, lacking all the melody and the rest, too. Having la Camilla looking royal (wink wink) and sporting a cross in her crotch and Jean-Pierre in underwear just wasn't enough, especially when Robin Stjernberg had much more crotch action going on stage. In all the quality was once again rather low, or maybe the right word would be repetitive. Too many repetitive songs without much of an idea to last for 3 minutes. One of them being Ulrik's song that went to the final. I was pretty sure Ralf would make it to the final already today and well deserved so, despite blowing out more pyros that Lordi in a full concert. behrang came across trés sympa, as the French would say, Therese was pretty and boring, Sylvia managed to me classy and cheap at the same time and Lucia was very Adele-like somehow.  Ulrik Munther - Tell the world I'm here -> final Ralf Gyllenhammer - Be...

Great to come to home to these wonderful news: Petra Mede! Did anyone ever mention her name? No. Somehow I knew SVT had something in their sleeve so I was pretty sure it wouldn't be Sarah Dawn Finer nor Måns Zelmerlöf or any of the other mentioned. I remember Petra from Melodifestivalen 2009 and I just adored her! She's the lovechild one Lena Philipsson and Christer Lindarw and surely will be having some surprises a la Lill Lindfors! I can't wait to see her in action! :-)

Next Monday, January 28, 2013 SVT will announce the host for Eurovision 2013. A direct stream will come from Stockholm's Operakällaren at 11.10 CET. Christer Björkman will be at the spot to reveal the mystery (wo)man. Who do you think it is? Sarah Dawn FIner and Måns Zelmerlöf have been rumored by the fans, but SVT may have other plans....

Martin Stenmarck of Las Vegas fame is taking a new step in his career as he's to play one of the main roles in a new Swedish romantic comedy, described as a "Swedish Notting Hill" that includes also Sarah Dawn Finer in one of the roles. "I'm 40 and this is like a dream" the feature film debutante confesses. His music career he released his 7th album Kaffe på Everest in 2011 and his latest single is  Tonight's the night , also from 2011.  

The stage in Baku's Crystal Hall hasn't probably yet been completely taken down when in Sweden the guessing for the future Eurovision 2013 hosts are being discussed in a serious matter. At the moment there are two front runners, namely Måns Zelmerlöf and sarah Dawn Finer. Both singers with Melodifestivalen experience. Måns also has gone a long way from Cara mia to become Sweden's hottest male host in TV, and Sarah of course charmed the nation and not only as one of the hostesses for Melodifestivalen this year. And what to say about her alter ego Lynda Woodruff who gave out the Swedish votes in Baku? Could she take it over? But there are about two dozen other names in the talks from Gina Dirawi to Jovan Radomir, from Charlotte Perrelli to lena Philipsson, Carola, Mark Levengood and Petra Mede. Just to name a few. 

But not as a singer. :-( She will be one of the hostesses that seem to be several this year. She should be the funny one if you believe the rumours in Swedish tabloids. I'm sure she will be fabulous but I'd also love to see her back as a singer and make better her score of 4th ( I remember love , 2007) and 6th ( Moving on , 2009).

Aftonbladet once again thinks they have got the "secret" list of Christer Björkman of the possible names for the next Melodifestivalen. The selection process has slightly changed from the previous years and Björkman might be moving from Sweden to take charge of Eurovision itself after dear Svante, but this is what they have come up with: Danny Saucedo will go solo again after E.M.D years, Nanne Grönvall's One More Time will reunite, Lili & Susie will be back, Lasse Stefanz is sure, strong ladies Sanna Nielsen and Shirley Clamp will return. Anders Fernette previously Johansson, the winner of Fame Factory 2003 should be there, Sara Varga, Marie Picasso, Rebound, Marie Serneholt, Magnus Carlsson, Le Kid, Timoteij, Sarah Dawn Finer, Elisabeth Andreasson and Linda Bengtzing should be pretty sure amd he is still working on Timo Räisänen, Ace of Base, Laleh, Sahara Hotnights, Maia Hirasawa, Elena Paparizou, Lisa Nilsson, Sofia Jannok and Annika Nordin. He's also trying t...

Sweden is slowly recovering from the royal wedding but today finally Peter Jöback married his Oscar Nilsson, nicely on midsummer! They must have been thinking of this day in the royal wedding where they were also invited. See the newlyweds right after the wedding here . Pernilla Wahlgren was there, so was Andreas Lundstedt and Sarah Dawn Finer, another royal wedding performer. Congrats Peter & Oscar!

You can follow it live here . Malena Ernman ( Jeg elsker dig) and Salem Al Fakir (world premiere for Princess) have already performed amongst many others in front of Victoria and Daniel, the Swedish royal family and some 70 other royalties from all over the world and 1300 other guests in Konserthuset in Stockholm the night before the wedding. Peter Jöback now on stage with She . And now ever so fabulous Sarah Dawn Finer with Kärleksvisan . Lisa Nilsson with Utan din andetag . We have had accapella and male choirs but now again Lisa Nilsson and Sarah Dawn Finer together in At last. Followed by Malena Ernman & co in hilarious Flight of a bee.  After that absolutely stunning Swanlake by some Chinese dancers and then Peter Jöback and Helen Sjöholm in Come what may. And then the icing on the cake: Roxette! And by special request by Victoria herself they did The Look! Standing ovation from all the royals, even the queen mummies! Grand finale with all the singers doing Can't he...

Carola performed songs like Jag ger allt and Så länge jag lever in the Haiti charity concert last night in Stockholm. She also dueted with sarah Dawn Finer in Tro, and all the cast sung together We are the world, Man in the mirror and Pride (In the name of love). She also sung a new specially written song Wings of compassion . (Photo & video by Alexander Busk)

As mentioned before Didrik Solli-Tangen is taking part in the Norwegian semifinals hoping to represant his home country at home ground in Eurovision 2010. He is also a friend of Alexander Rybak who brought the contest to Oslo and here they are together performing an Italian classic Torna a Surriento ! Didrik's MGP song My heart is yours is composed by Fredrik Kempe who has already penned and/or performed in Melodifestivalen and Eurovision songs like Finally , Cara mia , Hero , Hope & glory , Moving on and La Voix . Sounds like a winning combination!