Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Last night in the second semi-final we saw finally the tv-screen performances of the remaining Big5 and Ukraine. Or rather a little preview as they were recorded in Wednesday night's dress rehearsal. Spain. I still continue to believe this could be shock flop for the fandom. I find it so hard to think television viewers in Eastern and Northern Europe or anywhere outside Iberian peninsula would like this enough to take the phone or app and show some love instead of something else. Quien maneja mi barca flopped totally. She's great and it all looks stunning but it seems most people like the performance but don't want to listen to this song alone. Including myself. I love the fact Spain went for a song like this, but this might be just a bit too much to bite. Next year go rather Bandido than Quien maneja mi barca, ok? Ukraine, when first seen in national final I didn't care so much but noticed the fantastic staging and those video screen effects etc. Now with remix and ext...

Today completed the individual rehearsals when The Big5 and Ukraine had their second rehearsal (20 minutes). From Monday we will have the full dress rehearsals.  Germany apparently uses each and every light there's in the arena at some point of their 3 minutes sporting their the most extravagant costumes since Lordi. Quite fitting as the band feels very much at home in Finland where they record and produce their very Finnish sounding music. And they just also covered Käärijä's Cha cha cha, have a listen here.    Keeping up with the theme blood & glitter France provides more glitter than anyone else. And La Zarra some risky business on top of a disco stick.  Italy or Marco mengoni continues the trend with a new glittery sparkly top (indeed he promised he would wear a different one for each time). There's the moon to add, and two guys or due vite. Fandom is sleeping on this, this is Top-5 finish material.  A minor costume change for Ukraine and we are also don...

The rehearsals started on stage in Liverpool arena for the Eurovision song contest 2023 four days ago and today we got to "see" the Big5 and Ukraine's first 30 minutes rehearsal. As Ebu once again is using TikTok for the short tiny rehearsal clips I'm not going to care much of them. But here is a collection of photos and impressions and observations by your truly of the closed doors happenings. Mind you, I'm all in favor for this closed door policy: the delegations must have a little bit privacy and peace and quiet to polish their acts before they are given to the sharks aka fandom eager to criticize every tiny detail. And also I kinda like the idea we are given as little as possible to watch before the shows so there will be surprises and wow effect - if you have seen it all beforehand where's the fun? The first rehearsal is 30 minutes for each meaning 3-4 run through. After that the delegation gathers to a viewing room and changes are discussed and made for ...

Here it is! The incorruptible, infallible and most reliable Blogilkar's Home Jury made of people in their teens, 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's, mainly Finnish and mainly those who turn into Eurovision only on that one Saturday night, enjoy the show and that's it. Most everyone heard the songs for the first time so this was a true first impression judgement. And thus they had no idea about the fan polls, betting odds and trivial information and expectations. And boy did they turn those pools and odds around mostly, sinking some major favorites and enjoying some real underdogs. I will countdown the full ranking day by day until we have our winner out just before Liverpool is in full swing. This year I publish very few comments or opinions. Just the average score (we voted 1 to 10). In short this year is considered a bit poor by the jurors compared to for example last year and it may show in the somewhat low scores. Anyways: Enjoy! 16. UKRAINE - Tvorchi - Heart of stee...

The Ukraininan national final Vidbir for Eurovision song contest 2023 took place in Kiev this afternoon, in the Miadan Nezalezhnosti metro station. The Russian missiles have been flying all over Ukraine even today, and apparently Kiev has been without electricity and light but the show  went apparently without hic ups. Both the jury (chosen by people) and the public vote chose the winner, that is Tvorchi and Heart of steel over fan favorite (once again) Jerry Heil. Here are the results: 1. Tvorchi - Heart of steel (jury 9 + public 10) 19 2. Krutь - Kolyskova (10 + 8) 18 3. Jerry Heil - When God shut the door (8 + 9) 17 4. Fiinka - Dovbush (6 + 7) 13 5. Demchuk - Alive (7 + 4) 11 6. 2Tone - Kvitka (4 + 5) 9 7. Moisei - I'm not alone (1 + 6) 7 8. OY Sound System - Oy, tuzhu (5 + 2) 7 9. Tember Blanche - Ya vdoma (2 + 3) 5 10. Angelina - Stronger (3 + 1) 4

Ukraine has had its two semi-finals and this Saturday is the grand final of Vidbir 2020 with six qualified songs. So far the selecting process has been without major scandals and hick ups - let's hope it continues that way! I don't know if the new rules exclusing anyone with anything to do with Russia but this is the poorest Ukrainian national selection for years. Krutь and Jerry Heil are nonsense, Go-A reaches out for my Slavic Carelian heritage deep in my soul but not really moving me enough. Axel offers a standard cliché. Khayat falls flat down on his face live (should he win he will lose it against The Roop 10-0) and Tvorchi is just useless. Whoever wins in Ukraine won't be anywhere near my top favorites, that's for sure already now. I hope it's Go-A though.  Krutь - 99  ** Jerry Heil - Vegan * Go-A - Solovey *** David Axelrod - Horizon ** Khayat - Call For Love ** Tvorchi - Bonfire * Had Cloudless qualified for the final...