Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Another look & listen of what Eurovision (related) artists have been releasing lately... The Balcan Queen Kaliopi released late last year  Hajde da pjevamo   asking us all to sing along in her pop rock song looking 50+ fabulous topped with her one of a kind voice.  Shiri Maimon is back with   נ שימה (Breathing) off her new album, first in seven years. It comes with a simple yet effective video. She has been busy with musicals and tv-projects the past few years, including the Next Star for Eurovision.... Latvian  Brainstorm aka  Prāta Vētra perform the main theme  Мотив (The motive) of a Russian romantic comedy Семь ужинов (Seven dinners) and even star in the film's final scene. Very nice song indeed! Vincent Gross has gone a long way since his attempt to represent Switzerland in Eurovision. Now he has teamed with German Stereoact for Nicht allein sein , a catchy fun pop song that flirts with tradition an...

The rumor that Mei Feingold has been internally selected for Israel has spread all over the internet the past 24 hours. She comes from the same reality talent show Kokhav Nolad aka Israeli Idol season 7 in 2009,  that already brought us Shiri Maimon , Boaz Mauda and Harel Skaat to the Eurovision stage.  Mei is 21 and about to release her second album this year. Her previous songs include Pictures , Break a leg , Come back ... Somehow she reminds me of certain Italian singers. With a good song could be an excellent choice me thinks... However, it seems she hasn't served her military service, a fact that might stop her from representing her country internationally.... I guess we just have to wait for IBA's official news. Apparently Maya Bushkila is waiting in the shadows to take the job finally, but it seems she has the same military problem.... UPDATE: It's official by IBA tonight. 

Blogilkar's Bicycling recorter Robert had a quickie with Israeli Moran Mazor yesterday. Find out who she is and who she thinks should go for Israel next year and what are her favorite Israeli Eurovision songs. And if she wasn't a singer, what would she be and why? And why the song is in Hebrew only? And who is her backing singer?! Thank you for your time. What made you take part in Kdam, the Israeli selection? And did you think you had a chance to win it? Actually Eurovision is a childhood dream of mine, and I wanted to show the whole of Europe what I'm made of. And Kdam is the first step so when I was asked to take part I immediately said Yes! But not in my wildest dreams was I thinking to win it, so it was a pleasent surprise! Who do you think was your biggest competitor in Kdam? Ron Weinreich, he's so talented and had a great song. If he had won I would have been very happy, too. You sing the whole song in Hebrew, why did you decide to do so? Because...

Shiri Maimon, Israel's finest has released this summer a fantastic little ballad called  שלג בשרב (Snow in heat). Sometimes less is more and Shiri sings like an angel. Really nice. She's one artist that could give Eurovision another shot and better her already good 4th place in 2005 with  השקט שנשאר  As a proud owner of her first two albums I definitely want this third one as well released in 2012. 

Israel returns to national final Kdam and there are ten acts battling it out including the 1998 Eurovision winner Dana International. Unfortunately Vladi Blayberg withdraw with his Lirkod and was then replaced by Adi Casare. Several artists from the local Idols are taking part but then we have already had three excellent ones in Eurovision: Shiri Maimon , Boaz Mauda and Harel Skaat so one can expect the Israeli Idols are a bit better than most! KNOB - Ohev et ze Dana International - Ding dong Hatikva 6 - Hakol sabata Adi Casare - Suicide for love Chen Aharoni - Or Michael Greylsummer - Tu du du Niki Goldstein - Amri itach Sivan Bahnem - Kach oti Adi Cohen - Al alhava Idit Halevi - It's my time

Shiri Maimon and Dima Bilan, Israel's and Russia's favourite acts made it to the Top-5 of European favourite acts and in the end Shiri was voted third before Dima and Leona Lewis (UK and Ireland's fave act)! Watch her fantastic performance of Now that you're gone last night here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuY0MsHwdD8 . (Oh, who won? Turkey's Emre Aydin. No, I don't know him either but check him out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTP1tp1UdVU . )

...several Eurovision acts are running for the Europe's favourite Act in the MTV Europe Music Awards: Dima Bilan as Russia's favourite act, Shiri Maimon Israel's, Laka for the Adriatic as well as Nightwish for Finland and Morandi for Romania. Good luck to all of them, may the best one beat UK-Ireland's Leona Lewis! (And let's hope each of them is wearing a bit more!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOKTGQ0vZGg , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOwOEUoNJxE&feature=related , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqsGycw2Ams

In five days it's the annual OGAE Song contest again happening in Spain, last year's winner. As usual there are many Eurovision stars involved: Russia sends Serebro , Israel Shiri Maymon , Greece Sakis Rouvas , Malta Miriam Christine and Austria Petra Frey . Geir Rönning represants his native Norway for a change and Poland Blue Cafe but with a new leading singer. Macedonia was ment to be represanted by late Tose Proieski, but was later disqualified as the song was released before the deadline . More information and videos of the songs here: http://www.ogaesongcontestspain2008.com/banderas.html