Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

An interesting move from the Maltese TV as they ban the winning artists from the past five years from their national selection 2012. Wouldn't it have been better to ban the writers of the winning entries instead?? On the other hand then they would have a drastic drop of songs sent in as they provide some 3/4 of the songs anyway as usual I guess.... Well, joking a bit perhaps but aren't they awfully many every year by certain writers?  Anyways, Malta is waiting for songs until late October and then  a jury will pick up 24 songs for the semifinal on January 27 and there will be 16 left for the final the day after where a jury will mainly decide on the winning song like this year. Will it finally be a year of Micallef/Edwards?

The Finnish commentator Tarja Närhi was joking about Austria's Nadine Beiler last night as the Finnish bride and daughter-in-law but today the papers are reporting also the Austrian commentator was talking about the romance between the two artists who were seen spending time together already in Amsterdam's Eurovision in concert earlier this year... Do we have this year's Eurovision romance? Axel aka Paradise Oskar comments in Ilta-Sanomat: "Oh so they say? Of course I know Nadine, we met already in Amsterdam. She's nice. We have talked even here." You make the math.... Is the answer love or da da dam? (Remember last year Malta's Thea Garrett and Poland's Marcin Mrozinski?)

Apparently Maltese didn't take their missed qualification as gracefully Finns. She first complained the neighbouring voting with tears in her eyes but all was soon forgotten and later that night she was dancing the night away with Polish Marcin who also didn't pass to the final, as you can see in the pic (source: Times of Malta) Well, the media in Finland did their "told you so" and so did 70% of the nation. It seems that Finns have forgotten the years we never did make the final or had to skip every other year. We have been in the final 2006-2009, it's just a skip year no so what's the big deal. (Sad it is though). I wonder what the reaction in Slovakia has been? Anyone know? Slovakian reading, let us know! Also, the organisation has been only praised until now. First we got the harsh critic from fans and delegations for the empty arena for the dress rehearsals. Then I started hearing complaints for the Euroclub being too small. And of course things being too...

Italy is not participating, we all know that but like most every year some Italians have sneaked in anyways. Or artists with Italian connections at least. Thea Garrett from Malta basicly started her career in Italy two years ago with Gigi D'Alessio. The Albanian violinist Olen Cesari also got his big breakthrough in Italy back in 1993 by winning Partita doppia TV-show. Since then he has worked with most Italian big stars and lives and works in Italy. He has even arranged the strings for one Sanremo winner, Ti regaleró una rosa in 2007. Georgia has a lot of Italy in it. One of the writers, Christian Leuzzi, one of the dancers Francesca Lavecchia and the dress, by Dolce & Gabbana. Croatia's Feminnem recorded an Italian version of their song. And on top of that there are two (2) Italian accredited journalists! Two! (Eddy, is that you?)

I feel sorry for the bird. He has to stay there on the ground for two good minutes inhaling that dry ice! Is that safe? Other than that it is a charming performance, the song is beautiful. Thea is vocally fantastic and managed to keep the intensivity through the song and I still firmly believe this will do way better than most fans and alike think. Video .

Malta has its third semifinal some days ago featuring previous winner Miriam Christine with uptempo and repetitive Beautiful contradiction , The Garrett with classic Eurovision americanized ballad My dream , Tiziana Calleja with latin inspired Words are not enough that promises a lot but the mix and the singer just aren't tight enough, Eleanor Spiter with rather forgettable pop song Velvet ocean , Francesca Borg with I surrender that is unfortunately lost in anonymous arrangement. It might need a much stronger and heavier orchestration to make it stand out. Last but not least selection veteram Eleanor Cassar with rather over performed Choices . And no, I still don't think we have heard the winner yet. Out of these I would pick up My dream , it felt genuine and pleasant to listen to.