Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  First impressions and comments based on these short clips: Bulgaria ... what can I say? I can't stand the song and the staging, the bit we got to see, isn't anything special either. If I can choose this is a NQ. Azerbaijan has more Azeri in it? Not sure as I haven't listened it so much even if I think it's an ok song. I get more irritated by many others than this one, I kinda enjoy it. And more Azeri the better. Most likely NQ but I'd love to see it Q over Bulgaria or Cyprus or something just to see the chaos. :-) Romania has an idea, energy and potential to do well unless the angry aggressive woman syndrome hits again. Then this could even NQ. Or do nothing in the final. Or do Top-10. Hard to say. Luxemburg is just what it is. Not one of my favorites. NQ for me but most likely this will Q anyways.  Czechia uses long, loooong notes and mirrors. But is it still a bit dull? I certainly lose my attention somewhere half way of those long lines.... He's good tho...

What can I say? Not much judging these short videos. But I say a few words anyways by the first impression that can be very misleading anyways. Moldova is a bit let down, not at all so powerful and energetic as I expected. Vocals seem to be off, too. Sweden . Same as Moldova. Which makes me think these vids are on purpose a mess. Croatia seems very busy and a bit too serious and angry. I have said before and I repeat myself: angry women don't do well in Eurovision . Greece .... Oh well, looks rather chaotic and his voice a bit weak. But then again it's a rehearsal. Need to see the whole package but doesn't look like a winner despite all. This said my favorite performance of them all is the Greek national final preview with only one hanging mic. That was fab and let Akylas show all his charm. Now he disappears into his visuals.  Portugal stands out with the pretty staging, calm song and good voices. They're so sailing to the final! Georgia was on my list to qualify b...

Etta (or Emmalotta Kanth, 28) is the most successful and the first female rap artist to have a #1 album. But besides being a rapper she is also an excellent singer. She has released three  top-10 albums and has eight Top-10 singles (and four more as featuring, including one #1 hit). She first came to spotlight at the age of 10 when she reached the semifinal stage in Talent Suomi. Coming from a musical family her brother Vilikasper Kanth also has UMK 2015 experience. Another funny fact is her ex-boyfriend Lukas Leon is Kiki's brother. She has also done featuring with Pete Parkkonen and Isaac Sene among others.  Her song Million dollar smile is an ode to her single mother and gets inspiration from her difficult youth and dealing with alopecia that made her lose her hair as a teenager. As said music was always present in her family and she says she didn't choose music, music chose her. They have tried to label her as pop singer or a female rapper but she says she's and Artist....

The second semifinal is over and we have the full line up for Saturday's final. If the results of the first semifinal were somewhat surprising this second was a total chaotic surprise for most everyone. Had I done my list after the performances I would have dropped Czechia, Serbia and Australia from my list and had added Armenia and Lithuania and scored a lot better than my prediction list 6/10. From my wish list I got only 5/10 while the Home jury also got 6/10 right. The worst results probably ever! The show was somewhat more boring than the first semifinal except for Hazel who was letting it loose and can't wait what they combine with Michelle in the final at this point. The idea of the 2020 artists getting chance to perform their 2020 entries was nice and should have been done already in 2021. Or 2022. Or 2023. Or 2024... But why, oh why they chose those four who actually did return in 2021??!! WHY?? Why not giving a chance to Arilena Ara, Athena Manoukian, Damir Kedzo, San...

In this page you can find all chosen artists and songs in respective posts and all the information on selection process and national finals.  Internal selections: September 2:   Cyprus: Theo Evan  March 11: Shhh December 11: Czech Republic: Adonxs   March 7: Kiss kiss goodbye December 19: the Netherlands - Claude February 27: C'est la vie January 30: Austria - JJ March 6: Wasted love January 30: France - Louane March 15: Maman February 4: Azerbaijan - Mamagama February 19: Run with U February 25: Australia - Go-Jo February 25: Milkshake man March 5:  Zoë Më March 10: Voyage March 7: Remember Monday What the hell just happened? March 14: Georgia Mariam Shengelia Freedom National finals: November 27: Montenegro   Montenegro2 Dobrodosli   New version December 22: Albania , Shkodra Elektronika  Zjerm January 22: Israel    Yuval Raphael March 9: New day will rise January 25:  Luxemburg   Laura Thorn La poupée monte la son Janu...

Malta was one of the four countries selecting their entry for Basel 2025 Eurovision song contest on Saturday February 8, 2025. And as everywhere tonight the fan favorite won, Miriana Conte serving some Kant in Basel come May. It was her 5th time truing. My favorites remained Adria Twins, Dario Bezzina and Nathan. (Based on studio versions in two if these....) Miriana Conte (24) has participated in Malta's national selection in 2017 with Don't look down  (16th), 2018 Rocket  (12th), 2022 Look what you have done now  (6th) and 2024 with Venom  (9th) previously. And that's all songs she's got on Spotify or released it seems.  Update March 4: Apparently Ebu has prohibit using the word Kunt by request of BBC and the song needs to be reworked - one week before deadline :-o Update: Mrach 14: Retitled Serving video was published: Read more here Final results (jury + televote): Miriana Conte - Kant (88 + 94) 182 Kristy Spiteri - Heaven sent (102 + 72) 174 Kantera - Lala...

Benidorm fest returns for the fourth year as the relaunched Spanish national selection for the Eurovision song contest 2025. As usual it is three nights affair with two semi-finals and the grand final on January 28 and 30 and February 1, 2025. A threesome jury will send four out of eight semi-finalist to the grand final with 50% professional jury, demoscopic panel 25% and televote 25%. The 16 semi-finalist have been chosen among the almost 1000 submissions.  Below are my first time hearing ratings as usual. Sadly there isn't much to get very excited by. Spanish pop by numbers and their own style added with some Latin flavor but very little imagination or originality. Shame. Most fall into *** meaning harmless and listenable but nothing special I'd listen outside Eurovision national finals. This said I know further listening will surely change ratings for some but in the end it's the first impact that matters in Eurovision. The staging and live performance will be crucial to...