Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Ukraine at n.o 4. Ukraine, Ukraine.... so many troubles this decade. Still doing great success - when they managed to take part. Due to the crisis with Russia and financial matter they stayed home in 2015 just to come back and win it in 2016. And just like back in 2005 they did poorly at home compared to their other efforts. 2019 again the trouble with Russia caused withdrawel for Maruv (that I have included here just because it's so awesome and err,.. I needed nine songs) Unlike many I think Jamala was a worthy winner in 2016 and the only Ukrainian entry I never cared for is Be my guest really.... The Ukrainian national finals also provide a lot of drama every...

 Besides travelling for gigs and stuff, Eurovision artists have also been to the beach. Like Douwe Bob in Dead Sea in Israel And Amir, having some relax before releasing his second album And Krista Siegfrids. In oh so popular Portugal this year Imri is back in shape and back to beach Donny went kite surfing Polina preferred a calmer situation As did Zlata in Jurmala.  Sebalter on the other hand.... And what about "calm" around Gabbani.....? But Hovig enjoyed the summer on a solitary beach

How times flies. Two weeks of rehearsal madness is gone and dramatic semifinal, too. Here we are. The final night. Besides the 26 entries we can expect  performances from all of the Ukrainian Eurovision royals (except Ani Lorak (2nd in 2008 but she's apparently on the Russian side of things, you know). The winners Jamala (2016) and Ruslana (2004) both are performing, and Verka Serduchka (2nd in 2007) reappears with her mom and Zlata Ognevich (3rd in 2013). Instead of self eliminated pro-Russia Ms Lorak we have ONUKA, an Ukrainian electro-folk band.  The hosts have showered and are ready, are you? ISRAEL POLAND BELARUS AUSTRIA ARMENIA NETHERLANDS MOLDOVA HUNGARY ITALY DENMARK PORTUGAL AZERBAIJAN CROATIA AUSTRALIA GREECE SPAIN NORWAY UNITED KINGDOM CYPRUS ROMANIA GERMANY UKRAINE BELGIUM SWEDEN BULGARIA FRANCE I will publish my prediction table later tonight.....

The show's over for another year and ... well, what can I say? The best bits were Zlata Ognevich . It's no secret I'm not a big fan of this contest but I try to listen and watch it in a way "would I enjoy listening this song once the TV cameras are off" and in this category I would still only put Russia and San Marino . Ukraine and Belarus would come close and no doubt Gaia from Malta has a big voice but the song gives me nothing. This said, it was kind of refreshing the victory went to somewhere else than the ex-Soviets for awhile, for the second time in the past 9 years.... And just for the fun of it, here are some images of ever beautiful Zlata.... and Emmelie was there, too. PS. If you wann see 8-year-old Gaia belt out Tina Turner's Proud Mary, click here .

It's coming again after all, the troubled Junior Eurovision song contest. The 2013 edition is the 11th and EBU has managed to lure in 12 countries, same as last year's 12 but yet far cry for the record of 18 in its second editon back in 2004. San Marino joins in while Albania, Belgium and Israel stay home this time. Macedonia and Malta on the other hand return so one could say there's a real revolving door.... Kiyv is the host city this year and the final's on November 30, 2013 . The host will be again Timur Miroshnychenko who did the job already in 2009 when he was joined by Ani Lorak. Now he gets Zlata Ognevich to his side. For the first time it's not happening at 9pm CET but more sensible time slot for the kiddos. Also, for the first time there will be awards for the top-3 and not the winner only. As an added bonus apparently the winner will also be involved in the real Eurovision song contest in May 2014 in Copenhagen somehow... Will that breath life to thi...

In our exclusive interviews in Malmö 2013 interviews we asked the artists who would they like to see representing their country in Denmark 2014. Ukrainian Zlata Ognevich suggests Jamala. Yet this seems a bit unlikely as Jamala said in the interview she's not interested. Maybe due to her bitter ending attempt in 2011 when her Smile and Zlata's The Kukusha were beated by Mika Newton in rather dubious voting. Or did she actually withdraw stating the contest is rigged besides recount and new final? Anyways, Jamala is a talent with personality on the weird side that is always a plus and already a fan favorite at some level. Maybe if they sent her off to Denmark internally with a song like before mentioned Smile and we might me heading back to Kyiv in 2015? Her exotic looks come from the Tatar part of the family and her style is a mix of jazz, soul and r'n'b with some etno and gospel thrown in. Her career kickstarted big time in 2009 when she won the New Wave festiva...

.. in form of the interviews that is. Have you read what they had to say in the Bicyckling reporter Robert's interviews that went a bit deeper than the usual ones? Among things - sometimeS under pressure - they also revealed who they would like to see representing their countries in Eurovision 2014. Read them here from A to Z:  Amandine Bourgeois (France) Birgit (Estonia) ByeAlex (Hungary) ESDM (Spain) Eythor Ingi (Iceland) Gor Sujyan (Armenia) Krista Siegfrids (Finland) Marco Mengoni (Italy) Nodi & Sophie (Georgia) Roberto Bellarosa (Belgium) Zlata Ognevich (Ukraine) And there's more. Check the right hand side panel for links!

Zlata's interview is here