Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  The Rasmus are gonna hunt you if you don't vote for them! So far there's been a huge lack of this kind of photos!  Here are some good old flag photos! I hope Stefan isn't afraid to fly..... Someone spotted Jeremie at the airport! Oh wow, a good old promo pen!!!

  Here we go again! Once again Blogilkar's home jury has sat through the songs and videos and voted from 1 to 10. This year the jury consisted of pre-teens, 20somethings, 30somethngs, 40somethings and 50somethings. Even a dog participated and went nuts for Romania but was not allowed to vote. Most of the jury members had not heard any of the songs beforehand, some not even the Finnish one.And yes, this jury didn't care for betting odds, fan favorites or wanks but only their own taste and first impression! I will be counting down from bottom to the top and  here are places 29-32.  Check out also places 33-36 here .  29. SERBIA - KONSTRAKTA - IN CORPORE SANO  (Average score 4,71) Original, haunting in a positive way, interesting, deep dark voice. Strange song. Those who saw the video/performance liked it, the one who only heard it didn't like it at all. Weird. One of the most divisive entries. 30. GEORGIA - CIRCUS MIRCUS - LOCK ME IN (Average score 4,57) Psychedel...

Stefan finally did it with Hope . He was a third time lucky, or really fourth time lucky to win Eesti laul and get a ticket to Eurovision. His Hope was my favorite to win, and enters my Top-3 so far with Italy and Spain when thinking of the chosen songs so far.  Stefan Airapetjan (24) is of Armenian descent as his surname clearly tells. He's been doing music from young age and first came to spotlight with Vajè and Laura (Walk with me) that placed third in Eesti laul 2018. The year after he was back as solo with Without you and placed third again. Third year in a row in 2020 he took By my side to 7th place. At the same time he won Masked Singer Estonia. Further singles followed like collaborations with Liis Lemsalu ( Doomino ) and Wateva ( Headlights ) and now finally he won Eesti laul and will make Estonians proud in Italy! In Eesti laul 2022 final he went to the super final as jury's second favorite behind Minimal Wind feat Elisabeth Tiffany but won the super final's te...

Estonia's Eesti laul 2020 seems to be suffering the Melodifestivalen syndrome: bigger you get less interesting and original you become. Eesti laul used to be wild and exciting, now it's just kinda meh collection of radio friendly middle of the road pop songs and many of them wannabe sad boys with acoustic feel. Who should I go for? Stefan maybe, or Uku whose song is almost there but doesn't really fly after all? Egert who maybe is the most original of these boys.... I have a soft spot for Synne and can't forget my ever favorite Laura but like Uku her song doesn't really get going ever. And only makes me think of another Janne Hyöty's song, the Finnish runner up in 2004 A little crazy by Anna Stenlund... There will be two rounds of voting, first with 50-50 televote-jury, and Top-3 gets to the second round with televoting only.  Below are their semi-final performances and the music videos are a click away under the title. Inger - Only dream ** R...

  Estonia has revealed today half of the Eesti laul 2020 participants and among them we find this blogger's soft spot Laura with STEFAN, Uku Suviste, Traffic and Rasmus among others and also the writers include several very familiar names from Uku and Sarag Vaugh, Tanja Mihhailova-Saar, Victor Crone with Stig Rästa. Not forgetting Finnish Janne Hyöty who has co-written Laura's song. He holds the record number of Euroviisut entries written - shared  with Lasse Mårtensson - (14) in the Finnish national final between 2004-2012. These days he writes songs mainly for the Asian market through his Sugar House Publishing having several Japan #1s under his belt with various groups.  Beautiful Lie - Jaagup Tuisk  (Jaagup Tuisk) Break Me - Laura  (Janne Hyöty, Jessica Hyöty, Laura Põldvere) By My Side - STEFAN  (Karl-Ander Reismann, Stefan Airapetjan) Lean On Me - Ziggy Wild  (Laura Prits, Valdur Viiklepp, Sander Nõmmistu, Henri-Hann...

Estonia had its two semi-finals ( here and here ) in Tarto and now the show moves to Tallinn and Saku Suurhall with the 12 songs that made the cut. Two round for the voting: first 50-50 jury-televote to get the top-3 that will face another round of voting, this time only televote.  Among the finalists Eurovision veterans Sandra Nurmsalu, Tanja Mihhailova-Saar and Birgit (Õigemeel) Sarrap, Swedish Victor Crone with a song co-written by Stig Rästa, Eurovision winner Dave Benton's daughter Sissi and last year's runner up Vajé's Stefan, this time solo.  I have difficulty getting excited by any of these songs. Sandra would be classy but nothing we haven't heard yet, Crone is a bit disappointing, as is Stefan even though both are decent. Maybe it's Uku's year and we get some more testosteroni in Tel Aviv? His staging reminds of Conchita Wurst how it's aimed "let's let them listen first before they see you to avoid prejudgement" . I have a sof...

Estonia semifinal one offers as usual a variety of styles but sadly rather middle of the road radio pop without a real banger. The Swingers swing it away lead by previous Eurovision entrants Tanja and Birgit, and another previous one Sandra Nurmsalu of Urban Symphony fame is back as well. Swedish Victor Crone in an eearly fan favorite with another Stig Rästa penned song. Last year's runner up Vajé's Stefan is back as well. Below is my first hearing ranking The Swingers – High Heels In The Neighbourhood   * FINALIST Ranele – Supernova   *  Sofia Rubina-Hunter – Deep Water   *  xtra basic & Emily J – Hold Me Close  ** FINALIST (televoters) Johanna Eendra – Miks sa teed nii?   ***  Victor Crone – Storm   *** FINALIST Stefan – Without You  *** FINALIST Jennifer Cohen – Little Baby El  ***  Sandra Nurmsalu – Soovide puu   **** FINALIST (televoters) Öed – Öhuloss   *  Marko Kaar – Smile ...