Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Tonight's the night when the 73rd Sanremo festival comes to an end. Eurovision veteran Marco Mengoni is the one to beat, mostly by Ultimo or Lazza most likely and even if his victory on paper seems already clear it is not. The rules are different this year: the top-5 of all these five night's votings (tonight 100% televote) will reach the super final, be re-performed, all votes zeroed and re-voted (by the threesome televote, media and demoscopic). That last round could be crucial. Tonight's co-hostess with Amadeus and Gianni Morandi is Chiara Ferragni. The musical guests are Depeche Mode, Gino Paol (88) and Ornella Vanoni (88), this year Amadeus has really honored the old legends, and yes, they all are still active more or less! Salmo and Achille Lauro will join in from the outdoor stage and the cruise ship. President of Ukraine, Volodymor Zelenskiy has sent a message that will be read by Amadeus. A long stream of awards will be handed out and announced tonight, not only th...

Smokey Robinson was one of the most important Motown songwriters and producers and his career continues even today. In 1962 he scored with his The Miracles and self penned song a #8 US hit, that has become a real movie favorite, it has been on a dozen movie soundtracks!  The song has been covered dozens of times by various singers: The Beatles , The Supremes , The Temptations , The Zombies , The Jackson 5, Mickey Gilley , Mike and the Mechanics, Cyndi Lauper, Phil Collins and even Smokey himself in Sesame Street

Throw in some gaspel, jazz, doo-wop, soul et voilá: the Motown sound was created. One of the first Motown songs with its then legendary sound, penned by Holland-Dozier-Holland and played by The Funk Brothers. Released in July 1963 the song went to R'n'B #1 and #4 in Billboard charts.  Martha Reeves and The Vandellas scored their first of six Top-10 hits. The trio would go on until 1973 before they went to their separete ways. Several charting cover versions have been released over the years: Linda Ronstadt took the song back to US Top-5 in 1975. Phil Collins charted with it in 2010.  Aliah Moulden , The Supremes , Joan Osborne & The Funk Brothers , The Jam , Cilla Black  and quite a different one by The Floe .  And if we have had previous days covers by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, this one was covered by The Who  and Bruce Springsteen

The Marvelettes scored Motown's first of its 57 US #1 hits in December 1961. It was also The Marvelette's only #1 hit. Lead vocalist Georgie Dobbins co-wrote the song and Marvin Gaye played the drums. Sadly Georgie's father forbid her performing in nightclubs and she left the group before they got the signed to Motown and Gladys Horton replaced her as main vocalist. Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tilman and Juanita Cowart were the other members. This is one of my all time favorite Motown hits :-) Cover versions: The Beatles , The Carpenters , Nikki , Amanda Fondell , The Saturdays  late Gladys Horton

Mr Lordi talked in a recent interview the problems they have with credibility and respect because of their masks and Eurovision win. "I can only wonder how some people declare themselves idiots by saying a mask band's album can't be good music. If we didn't wear these masks I'm sure the critic would be better. And this is mainly a Finnish phenomenom. " He continues saying for female artists  - and not only - make up and hairdos are a kind of mask, too. Don't you think even schlager artists think about their image carefully? "What if The Beatles wore masks back in the 1960's? Would their music be concidered so good now? Absolutely not!" he concludes. Lordi has just released their sixth stuido album To beast or not to beast (the title reflecting these thoughts above) with the new single The Riff . In April the band will go on European tour again...