Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Here it is, already traditional Blogilkar's Eurovision Home Jury results. This year we had a total of nine people in the jury from teenagers to 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, most every one just people who do watch Eurovision but aren't any fanatic fans, just tv viewers who don't remember who won two years ago or sometimes even last year, don't have a clue about the polls and odds but just score the songs to their liking. We used 1 to 10 scores. Tie breaks were settled by highest marks and if still a tie by my preference. Here we go! 28. MONTENEGRO - TAMARA ZIVKOVIC - NOVA ZORA    38 29. PORTUGAL - BANDIDOS DO CANTE - ROSA  36 30. SAN MARINO - SENHIT FEAT. BOY GEORGE - SUPERSTAR   35 31. CROATIA -  LELEK - ANDROMEDA    34

  I wasn't planning on doing personal reviews this year either but here we go after all. Truth to be said I have listened the entries 0-2 times before sitting down now to comment them. Let's go! The usual Blogilkar's home jury will reunite later and the results revealed in due time. meanwhile, my thoughts and comments on the entries of Eurovision song contest series is right here.  Poland - Alicja - Pray * Poland's Alicia has the voice but sadly the song is a mess. Not my cup of tea at all. For me she's a borderline qualifier probably thanks to juries and Polish diaspora. And it's nice she finally gets her chance even if the first time around she had a lot better song.  San Marino - Senhit feat. Boy George - Superstar * Oh dear lord not her again. Does she have a life outside the Eurovision bubble participating, hosting, attending every possible Eurovision event ever organized anywhere. If I had one would she come? Aren't we a bit tired already? Valentina at...

San Marino. The tiny little thing that makes things big and never ever stops surprising us. This year after the usual very long selecting process that included several previous Eurovision entrants and wannabes from various countries, even with songs they competed in another country's selection, as the last twist of turns announced the qualified semi-finalists before they aired the shows..... Ok. Because why Not?  Read more about all the zillion entrants here After all the submissions, castings through Dreaming San Marino song contest 20 semi-finalists were selected, among them previous Eurovision entrants Magdalena from Poland, Marayya from Slovenia and Star Guy (Norway),  and from this years national final selections Elysa (Estonia), Sheila (Albania) and Xannova Xan (Greece) and even Edward Maya also running in Romania at the same time, with other singers from Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Czechia, Netherlands and United States.  Ten out of those 20 semi-finalist qualified ...

Today the second rehearsals (20 minutes)  continued with the first part of semi-final two plus Malta from the first one. And then the Big5 plus the host country had their first (30 mins) rehearsal and showed what they had in store for us.  In the odds today has been quite some moments when apparently three countries have been on top, including Italy after their rehearsal. When writing this it is second while Malta drops 3rd and Switzerland 4th. Iceland and Bulgaria switch places again, this time Iceland 5th. Sweden (-2), Lithuania (-1), Romania (-2), Greece (+2), Ukraine (+1), Israel (-2), Moldova (-2), Croatia (+2), Portugal (+2), Ireland (+1), Denmark (-1), Germany (+1), North Macedonia (-7) , Czech Republic (+2), Estonia (+2), Spain (+3) and Georgia (-1) complete all today's ups and downs.  Photos and videos lovingly taken from eurovision.tv as always.  Malta's Destiny has listened the world and changed her outfit to a glittery silver dress (thus joining Elena, N...

While riding high on polls and betting odds, higher than any Sammarinese entry before, Senhit's video extravaganza #FreakytriptoRotterdam continues with a homage to legendary Queens like Marie Antoinette and Elizabeth I. Here is Roi . Enjoy! While at it check out the previous videos here

Oh my, after exhausting last night with the Danish, Estonian, Portuguese and Sanremo finals until dawn with added Swedish Andra chansen in between this morning San Marino makes it again. First the rumour spred it's Adrenalina for Senhit, then than it features rapper Flo Rida and now it all seems becoming real... Flo or no Flo, this season's first winning vibes. But then again, this is kind of music I like even outside Eurovision so no wonder, but somehow this feels more real and less calculated than many others, and easy to like for what it is. Well done San Marino again, always something in your sleeve, my adopted second home country away from home!

Senhit will finally release her entry for this year's Eurovision song contest next Monday but meanwhile she's been busy on the next episode on her #freakytriptorotterdam saga and this time she invited her Golden Boy toy along. Enjoy! Check out the previous stops here: Alcohol is free Waterloo Amar pelois dos Rise like a phoenix Congratulations Ding-a-dong Everyway that I can Cheesecake

Yet another month, yet another new Eurovision cover by San Marino's own Senhit in her #freakytriptoRotterdam with Luca Tommassini. This time it's Alcohol is free by Koza Mostra featuring late Agathon Iakovidis, the Greek entry in 2013. And guess what? The video is down by copyright claim by Ilias Kozas! So, instead let's have a look at Guesch Patti's Etienne , an inspiration and hommage to this video that Senhit's is, or was if we never see it again. Senhit's entry for the Eurovision song contest 2021 for San Marino will be released on February 23 Update 9.2.21. All is settled and the video is back online:

Sure as a change of a month, and this time even a year, Senhit comes out with a new cover on her #freakytriptoRotterdam. This time she has covered ABBA's Waterloo , Eurovision 1974 winner and turned it into a disco banger.... and many other musical styles! Previous entries: Amar pelois dos Rise like a Phoenix Congratulations Ding a dong Everyway that I can Cheesecake

Senhit's #freakytriptoRotterdam reaches already its sixth stop, this time with Salvador Sobral's Amar pelos dois featuring words of wisdom from Michael Jackson, black Madonna handing over black baby Jesus to gay couple, tenor Jordi Galán and Luca Tommassini's visual magic and choreography and of course merry Christmas wishes. Enjoy! Check out the previous ones below: Rise like a phoenix Congratulations Ding-A-Dong Everyway that I can Cheesecake

Next on Senhit's #FreakytriptoRotterdam is the Dutch winning song from 1975, Ding A Dong that comes with a Oscar Wilde quote, Wonder sista and Teach-In's Getty Kaspers herself.. Enjoy! Check out also CHEESECAKE EVERYWAY THAT I CAN

Here comes Senhit's second offering on her #FreakyTripToRotterdam and this time with a video filled with Hollywood "glamour", quote from Marilyn Monroe and reference to Hitler she has covered Everyway that I can , that gave Turkey its first and so far only victory in the Eurovision song contest in form of Sertab Erener and one of the most exciting votings ever in 2003.  Check out also CHEESECAKE

Senhit was due to represent San Marino in 2020 Eurovision song contest for the second time but for reasons we all know very well it's going to happen only in 2021. But she's not lazily waiting for next spring but will keep herself busy with a series of Eurovision covers until May 2021. Each month a new video, worked together with Italian art director and choreographer Luca Tommassini that will be a real work of art with transformation of her style and look with a real artistic video clip. The first one's out and it's the Belarusian entry 2014 Cheesecake by TEO, that finished 15th in the final. The song gets a whole new meaning with the video imaginary that throws in role and gender play and recent #Blacklifesmatter movement with references to Grace Jones, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring among others. 

San Marino - Senhit - Freaky! Not exactly a song I play in repeat but everytime I hear it it makes me happy and jamming along. Senhit is so full of positive energy and sells this so well. All was looking good for San Marino to reach the final for the third time most likely. I'm between 7 and 8 but as it is my second adopted home country I give 8/10 Italy - Diodato - Fai rumore I fell in love with this song during Sanremo, and in the end after hearing all the Eurovision entries in a long run it has climbed back to the top. Excellent song with a proper melody, sung in a good old fashioned way belting it out from the heart in a proper manner when due. No gimmicks, no today's trendy arrangements or production but a timeless classic. The pandemic has given this song another dimension. I want to think Italy would have won in Rotterdam if only.... 10/10 Albania - Arlena Ara - Fall from the sky As usual Albania revambed their song and translated it into Engli...

Senhit Zadik Zadik (40) is one of this year's returning artists, as she represented San Marino already back in 2011 as Senit with Stand by . Born and raised in Bologna by Eritrean parents she started her career abroad starring in musicals in Switzerland and in Germany. Then she started her career as a recording artist  in Italy releasing two albums in Italian and one in English before Eurovision 2011. She also collaborated with Sanremo winners Stadio. After Eurovision she's been releasing singles and got to become an Italian television regular in shows like Domenica live and All together now . Freaky is her 20th single and continues her collaboration with Luca Tommassini as video director and choreographer. San Marino wouldn't be San Marino if they didn't invent something new every year. This year Senhit's song was chosen by a flash internet voting out of two songs and less than 48 hours to vote for your favorite. Freaky took a slight lead on Obsessed .  ...

San Marino, the tiniest is again recycling its singers as this time it's Senhit (40) again making a comeback after she did Stand by in 2011, this time with the added "h# in her name though. But San Marino wouldn't be San Marino if they didn't invent something new. They have had Valentina Monetta three years in a row, the youngest duet etc. This year's novelty is the fans will be able to vote for the song in a digital online battle. She has prepaired two songs: Obsession and Freaky . The voting starts tomorrow morning 9am and closes Sunday 23.59. Here . The voting result: Freaky!  51,6% Obesession 48,4%

Here are again some more or less new sounds from Eurovision stars Senhit sings in Italian for a change despite the song's title Dark room . For her love is a dark room, give her everything and right now! Westlife is returning after almost ten years with a new album and Hello my love is their comeback single.  Alekseev keeps dropping songs and videos and  Как ты там (How are you there) is his latest and sounds prtty much like any other song by him.... Zibbz is lost in Citylights this time in their pop-rock. It's another solid song with heavy beat yet missing it something to make it a real smash hit....

South of Europe is under the most intense heatwave in decades while the North is asking Waar is de zon? and searching for jumpers and wool socks. And the Eurovision artists just travel all around, for gigs and tours, or just holidays. Maja Keuc did Iceland, just proving the point it's cold up here! Francesco Gabbani gigged in Sicily and enjoyed some lava from Etna.  Talk about heat! Krista Siegfrids did Portugal, the hottest spot to be this summer..... ... as did Ryan Dolan..... ... and Dima Bilan and Sergey Lazarev. For video shooting. Ann Sophie chose Spain instead. Barei did Shanghai Cleo did New York and New Jersey Lena did NYC, too Kati Wolf did Uffizi in Florence... ... and Tamara G did ... err...Disney World, Paris.  Claudia did Amsterdam Pride....  ... while Polina and Slavko did Stockholm Pride Sebalter holidayed in Sardegna before summer gigs ... and Senhit did Greece after summer gigs Jamala ke...