Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Whitney, do I need to say more? I was lucky enough to see her live on her last tour in 2010 but sadly she was only a shadow of what she was at her prime, I sippose. Yet, the magic was there and I'm still angry at those people who booed and left mid concert. So sad. As is the path she took in life.... but her voice stays and lives forever. This said I think her best albums are the 90's one while her early 80's repertoire is continuation right where Diana Ross left it when moving on to other things and Whitney got her backing team to work with. Check out also:

Whitney Houston , Eurythmics or Annie Lennox, Donna Summer , Madonna , Rihanna . All these female artists must have influenced the Italian superstar Giorgia, often said to have the best Italian voice. But not only, she has released an album full of covers from artists she admires herself, including Italian Eros Ramazzotti, late Mango , Jovanotti, Elisa , Zucchero , Tiziano Ferro , hauntingly beautiful Ultimo bacio by Carmen Consoli, late Pino Daniele , Vasco Rossi and Sanremo winner, Eurovision entrant Marco Mengoni's L'essenziale . But that's not all: Tiziano Ferro duets, Elisa and Aliné are featured and even Eros Ramazzotti makes a cameo. What could you ask for more? Already #2 in the Italian charts this one's c´going to yet another multiplatinum selling album for her.  This album follows multiplatinum selling  Oronero , released in 2016 with hit singles Oronero , Vanità , Credo , Scelgo ancora te , and Come neve , the duet with Marco Mengoni off the re-releas...

Giorgia again. The winner of OGAE Video 2012 contest with È l'amore che conta (but she did represent Italy in Video contest the year before, too, and in OGAE Song contest already in 2003 as well) returns to OGAE contests with Quando una stella muore the first single off her latest album Senza paura (followed by I will pray (Pregherò) in duet with Alicia Keys, Non mi ami and Io fra tanti so far). She has collected also a triplet of Sanremo trophies: winner in 1995 with Come saprei , third in 1996 with Strano il mio destino and second in 2001 with Di sole e d'azzurro . This blogger is only waiting, whishing and hoping she would do Eurovision some time soon! Some other favorite songs by this Roman singer include E poi , Marzo , Gocce di memoria and Il mio giorno migliore .She may be tiny as a person but her voice is huge. If she was American she would give a run of their vocal cords to likes of certain Célines, Cristinas and Beyonces, not to mention late Whitney. S...

Nothing to do with Eurovision or anything but ... this song, or rather version is rather awesome. This Australian, now New York based singer with passion for ballads has made (among many other covers) a haunting version of I wanna dance with somebody (who loves me) , from his album Unlearned (2013). For Scott Matthew the definition of the title Unlearned is to put something learned out of your mind. "you have to make an effort to forget your usual way of doing and considering something, so that you can learn a new way. The challenge is to gently remove preconception of what you have learned these songs to originally be." And indeed, he has stripped the original so bare it's almost unrecognizable until the chorus kicks in. More about him here and here .

The ultimate tango king Jari Sillanpää is set to conquer the pop market when he releases his new album Rakkaudella merkitty mies - his first studio one in three years - on September 26, 2014. The first single Malagaan is already out. The album features some young and popular song writers being more pop oriented than any of his previous albums after the recent success with playing with various music styles from opera to reggae, heavy and pop. About this new single he says he first thought it was just too corny and he coudn't possibly record it. After listening to it a couple of days he thought it was amusing and he just had to do it. Indeed it's kinda silly.... yet, it somehow works. Jari Sillanpää has managed to stay on top since his victory in Tangomarkkinat 1995 and his defeat in Eurovision 2004 or coming out in 2006 hasn't changed his status one bit. He has always been adored by elderly women in particular and now he may be crossing over to younger generations - ha...

Ukraine wins with Anastasiya Petryk (10) followed by Georgia, Russia and Armenia. And even if with 12 countries only one country was left without points by each, Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to give each other points. I would like to borrow dear late Whitney Houston here.... "I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way..." Yep, it's a long road.... 1. Ukraine - Anastasiya Petryk - Nebo  138 2. Georgia - Funkids - Funky lemonade  103 3. Armenia - Compass band - Sweetie baby  98 4. Russia - Lerika - Sensatsiya  88 5. Belgium - Fabian - Abracadabra  72 6. Sweden - Lova Sönnarbo - Mitt mod  70 7. Netherlands - Femke Meines - Tik tak tik  69 8. Israel - Kids.il - Let the music win 68 9. Belarus - Egor Zheshko - A more-more  56 10. Moldova - Denis Midone - Toate vor fi  52 11. Azerbaijan - Omar & Suada - Girls and boys  49 12. Albania - Igzidora Gjeta - Kam një këngë vetëm për ju ...

Diandra Flores, 17, has been ruling the Finnish Idols since the beginning this season. Often described as the best vocalist ever to participate in the Finnish Idols by the judges and equally loved by the public only a miracle would have made the other finalist Susanna Erkinheimo, 27, the winner. That's a shame as Susanna has been getting better all the time, she has her own thing and recognizable voice and has done some wonderful performances over the weeks. In the end I was actually hoping she would win...I think her interpretation of the idol's new single Onko marsissa lunta was better. On the other hand Diandra did I will always love you and she did it well... Anyways, Diandra won with 62% of the votes.  Idols and The Voice of Finland have been gathering nearly one million every week to watch the show, the newspapers and media in general has been following closely the events, people have been talking. The winning news were told in TV-news. If you compere them to Uuden...

What a sad start for the day. All papers are screaming about Whitney Houston's death. Sad but not surprised. I saw her live in Helsinki in June 2010. She wasn't fit enought to tour I thought then and apparently the drugs killed her in the end. Such a shame. One of the finest voices ever is gone but luckily records remain. Like I lerned from the best , I will always love you and It's not right but it's ok . So emotional , Greatest love of all and All the man that I need . And countless more.

Kaija Koo's latest album made the top-10 and it is her 10th top-10 album since 1993. Her each and every album has made it and she's about to break Katri Helena's and Marion's record in the number of top-10 albums with her next one it seems, making her the most succesful Finnish female artist ever. The queen of the charts is however Madonna who can claim 18 top-10 album since 1985. Katri Helena has ten as mentioned before between 1968 and 2006, while Marion scored them in a very short time in the 1970's, or between 1972 and 1980. Celine Dion and Swedish Eva Dahlgren have 8 albums both while Björk, Anna Eriksson and Maija Vilkkumaa have so far seven each. All have very good possibilities to add new albums to their list in the future. At six top-10 albums we have Laura Voutilainen who will surely score other ones in the future while it might be very unlikely for Whitney Houston, Donna Summer and Tina Turner who also have six along with Anne Mattila. Hanna Pakarinen is ...

First of all I have to say Finns are wonderful. Whereas Danish and Norwegians were booing at her, walked away and deserted her on her misery on stage, the Finns cheered and couraged her to go and awarded her with big applause when she hit those high notes (rarely) and generally supported her through the painful sounding concert. All the way to the encore, even if the arena was half empty by then but the other half was even noisier than the full house when we wanted more. Despite all.  It would have been a fantastic show; the right songs from her 25 years old repertoire, nice stage, good band and backing singers,  full house and a Diva. One thing was though missing and that's the voice. Mostly she sounded like a drunk guy going through puperty but one must give her credit: she tried. She really did. But that makes me think only one thing: Who let her on the road? I blame her manager, her hangers on, and her mixer (her voice was way too loud in the arena, and made the experienc...

Tonight's the night and Whitney's here (I hope). Here are some less known Whitney songs I like: Tell me no , I got you, For the lovers , Worth it , and finally One moment in time . Coming up comments and hopefully photos....

Tomorrow's the night and let's have some Bodyguard singles tonight: I will always love you , I'm every woman , I have nothing and Run to you .

Two more days and she'll be in Helsinki. Tonight she's in Stockholm. And here are some more Whitney hits: Greatest love of all , I wanna dance with somebody , I'm your baby tonight and Whatchulookinat

Three days to go and here's some more Whitney stuff: I look to you , My love is your love , When you believe and My name is not Susan

And here's some more Whitney. Tonight she's in Stavanger, Norway. While waiting enjoy these goodies: Saving all my love for you , So emotional , It's not right but it's ok and I learned from the best .

Next Thursday I'm supposed to see Whitney Houston live in Hartwall Arena. I say I'm supposed to as I am not very certain she will make it judging the reports and troubles she's had on this tour. Anyways, she has scored 11 US #1's in her career - seven of then in a row - and countless other ones. Here are some over the years that I like: Hearbreak hotel, Could I have this kiss forever , All the man that I need and How will I know