Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The new selection process is apparently going on in Ukraine. On Thursday anyone interested can go for a live hearing with a CD, photos and passport and 30 will be selected and their names and songs will be made public Thursday night. All Friday the selection process will go on several channels in Ukraine with a SMS voting to go with it, and then on Saturday the grand final ... Isn't it all a bit insane? Vasyl Lazarovich is not taking any of it claiming he has a video and promotour ready. He will also not take part in the new selection and intends to go to Eurovision 2010 in Oslo at any price. I'm with Vasyl in this! Let's see how all this ends...

Israel has chosen the song Milim for Harel Skaat to bring to Oslo 2010. Yep, another ballad for you folks! (Funny how a ballad is ok for some people if they like the singer....) Beautiful three minutes. The jury groups were: Members of the Israeli parliament, OGAE Israel, Members of the Harel Skaat fan club, Mira Awad, Tzvika Pik and Moshe Datz IBA jury, televote. They all gave Milim full marks.                                                   1 Milim 12 12 12 24 60 120 - 240 2 Le'an 10 8 0 20 50 100 - 188 3 Elayich 8 0 8 16 40 80 - 152 4 Le'hitkarev       0 10 10 0 0 0 - 20   

Something strange is happening in Ukraine. The head of Ukrainian broadcaster NTU has resigned and along with him many other bosses. And for some weird reason that should put end to Vasyl Lazarovich trip to Oslo 2010 as well. Maybe because they are friends? So, now they are apparently organising in a hurry a new national final for the weekend, where Lazarovich is also invited to take part. But the EBU rule says the broadcaster must publish the rules for its national selection by January 31... Well, nobody seems to like I love you but I do. And there's more: actually the French TV has never officially said Jessy Matador will be the one so are we in for a surprise on Saturday after all? :-) Update : Looks like this is the usual Ukrainian drama again, remember last year? Go Vasyl!

Harel Skaat was chosen internally - finally - to represant Israel in Oslo 2010. he will sing tonight four songs and one will go to Eurovision. The hopes are high and the songs are indeed pretty good. I mean I like them but not sure how they will work in Eurovision? I would pick up Le'an or Ela'yich. When? 20.00 CET. Where? Here . 1. Le'an (Away) 2. Millim (Words) 3. Ela'yich (Towards you) 4. Le'hitkarev (Closer)

Munja i krom , or Thunder and lightning by Vukasin Brajic was finally heard tonight. Midtempo pop rock. Hmm... I think it's a grower. Maybe I was waiting more thunder? In the same show Alexander Rybak and the artists from Poland, Ireland, Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia performed their entries. He also performed the English version, Thunder and lightning , and apparently that's the version we will here in Oslo 2010.

We all know Monica Aspelund and Lapponia . But not much of her is heard since early 1980's when she moved to Florida with her son after divorce. She did return for the musical Cats in Helsinki in 1986, and 1997 she performed with her sister Ami. She's been singing on Caribian cruise ships and doing jazz and evergreen gigs in Florida. But guess what? She has moved back to Finland and is slowly starting her career here again. She has already some projects - again with Ami - and is looking at her options. She also rethinks about her past: "If I had stayed in Finland after Cats I may have gotten other musical roles. Also I should have maybe invest more on the Swedish market when I was younger. But my music is more jazz-oriented than pop. But it's in the past, can't think about it now. In a way I feel like I'm in the starting point again, it's very exciting! Luckily my voice is still good, actually better than ever " And you may not know that we have had on...

Well, the Swedish people voted Anna Bergendahl to Eurovision and now the same Swedish people say in Aftonbladet's poll it's not going to work in Oslo 2010. So why did they vote for it? Ok, happens in every country every year anyways so.... But the international juries didn't vote for her - truth to be said, they didn't agree really on any songs; Darin, Ola and Salem each got 2 x 12 points but each also got zeros - and the head of the French one, Bruno Berberes is particularly critical: "Anna who? Wait a minute... Oh the girl with the guitar. Sad. Anything can happen in Eurovision but I don't think her chances are big." The Norwegian commentator Jostein Pedersen thinks more or less the same: "There's a big risk she will just disappear amongst all the ballads. Nothing special." . Christer Björkman says next year the international juries might get even more influence, this time they didn't change the result jus like last year. Both Malena...

When Tom Dice was chosen for Belgium we thought he was young at 20 but since then seven (!!!) artists younger than he have been chosen and will go to Oslo 2010! That means seven artists born in the 1990's. How time flies! Safura Alizadet of Azerbaijan is the youngest (20.9.1992) before Sieneke Peeters for the Netherlands (1.4.1992) and Thea Garrett (also born in 1992 but date unknown). Three artists are born in 1991: Germany's Lena Meyer-Landrut (23.5.), Portugal's Filipa Azevedo (31.7.) and Sweden's Anna Bergendahl (11.12.). And we still have UK's Josh Dubovie (27.11.1990) younger than good old Tom (25.11.1989). And for me it's a bit scary to look at the oldest artists as well as they are all younger than me! Only two of them are born in the 1960's! The oldest is.... surprise surprise, Ireland's Niamh Kavanagh (13.2.1968) followed by Danish Thomas N'evergreen (11.11.1969), Swiss Michael von der Heide (16.10.1971), Icelandic Hera Björk (29.3.1972), G...

I wrote on January 9 when this song was first heard that it doesn't impress me much but I like it, and propably in a few years time will consider it as one of the finest from Switzerland. But hey, since then over 30 songs have been selected and in this apparently rather mediocre year Switzerland has stayed up on my list and indeed, it didn't take years and time to appreciate it. It is one of my favourites this year! Here's the video.

Tonight we get to hear finally the second last song for Oslo 2010 and it comes from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Azerbaijan will announce the song on the 19th but we have heard the songs already and my hopes are on Drip drop , as well as Israel who will select tomorrow night but the songs are online already. France will be the last to let us hear their Allez! Ola! Olé ! by Jessy Matador on 20th. Tonight Vukasin Brajic will sing his Munja i krom. The season 2010 is pretty much wrapped up! And as they have only one song to present - both in Bosnian and English - they have to fill some primetime air with this year's other entrants: Niamh Kavanagh, Feminnem , Marcin Mrazinski, Milan Stankovic , Gjoko Tanevski along with last year's Regina and Alexander Rybak and still Karolina Goceva and Ana Bebic. And if that isn't enough, Alma & Dejan will be there as well, performing for the first time since 1994 Ostani kraj mene , A lot has changed since then, including the country's fla...

Looks like for the first time Serbia has chosen a song I don't like a bit. Ovo je Balkan or This is the Balcans. Huge let down, but then I was never Bregovic fan. Circus music. And Milan needs desperately a new haircut and image make over. And that's it folks. We have all the singers for Oslo 2010 and only two songs yet to be heard, France and Bosnia-Herzegovina. (And maybe Azerbaijan - the rumours is they are looking for a new song for Safura). Anyways here's Emina's effort, and here Olver's. Not my cup of tea really, any of them. Milan Stanković: 45.26% (58,428 votes) Emina Jahović: 38.50% (49,706 votes) Oliver Katić: 16.24% (20,971 votes)

We have heard the winner of Eurovision song contest 2010 tonight. Despite the points of the international juries that almost ruined it for her I think she will still do it. We will see. In general I must say this was maybe the best Melodifestivalen final ever. If I didn't have Anna as my favourite any of the songs could have been sent to Oslo really without much trouble. How they would have done there is another matter but they would have been good entries. The show was good and the interval act great. Lovely to see Kikki, Bettan, Lotta, Hanne and all the others again in those "duels".  Well, a few words about the songs and performances tonight though. Jöback did maybe the worst job. Despite a professional he was way over dramatic and ruined it all. And goes home with a bitter second to last place. Again. I don't think we will see him in Melodi again! Besides, am I the only one who thinks he is starting to look a bit like Christer Björkman? Timoteij's shampoo girl...

Darin has had to change his staging and it's not working in the rehearsals. Let's see if they can work it for tonight.... Salem Al Fakir has changed his act willingly and brought in comic Björn Gustafsson. Rumours tell it can change it all and make him win the whole thing. But do the rules allow such a big change at this point? Andreas Johnson is not happy about the international juries. He thinks Swedish people alone should decide, and to think about it I agree! Why an earth should foreigners put their finger in the game at this point? They do have their chance in 2 month's time! Also Pernilla Wahlgren and Jessica Anderson have voiced their doubts. And as the juries include the heads of delegations don't they just a little bit want to vote for something that isn't too good just to make their own entry sound better? Right? The ones are Julian Vignoles (Ireland), Leif-Åke Reme (Norway), Bruno Berberes (France), Mariza Fakli (Greece) and Dragoljub Ilic who has his own...

It's finally here. The Melodifestivalen 2010 final. Newcomers Timotej with simil-ethno that opens as Tarkan track and Anna Bergendahl with heartfelt ballad that is believable are considered as possible winners ahead of league of pretty boys Darin, Ola, Erik, Peter and Andreas. Darin and Peter were pre-contest favourites but have been losing ground since while Ola and Erik convinced on stage and made them possible candidates. So, in short anything can happen, especially as Salem is very popular with his 70's Elton-ish song, too. That basicly leaves out of the race for the top only Pernilla and Jessica who qualified from the second chance round. Exciting.... My vote goes definately to Anna. If she wins tonight I think she can win also in Oslo 2010, unlike any other of these artists. When? 20.00 CET. Where? Here . Darin - You're out of my life Pernilla Wahlgren - Jag vill om du vågar   Andreas Johnson - We can work it out   Timoteij - Kom   Peter Jöback - Hollow...

Serbia has dropped the usual national selection system and tries the same formula that brought success to the UK last year; famous composer, several artists. In this case it's Goran Bregovic writing the song and three artists trying their luck with it: Emina Jahovic, Milan Stankovic and Oliver Katic. Bregovic has written them each a song and they will perform it twice during the show. He will perform himself as well along with many previous Eurovision stars as guests: Marija Serifovic, the Eurovision winner from Helsinki 2007, Jelena Tomasevic, Regina, Severina and Zdavko Kolic. When? 21.05 CET. Where? Here .  Emina Jahović - Ti kvari igrom Milan Stanković - Ovo je Balkan Oliver Katić - Halo, predsedniče

Opa ! The fan favourite has won. So far I fail to see the greatness of it. And he won only thanks to televote as three songs tied for the firtst place!! Now that must be a first, is it? TELEVOTING Giorgos Alkaios = 12 points Manos Pyrovolakis = 10 points Giorgos Karademos = 08 points JURY VOTING Giorgos Karademos = 12 points Manos Pyrovolakis = 10 points Giorgos Alkaios = 08 points

Josh Dubovie (19) will sing the Peter Waterman-Mike Stock penned That sounds good to me for UK in Oslo 2010. No comment. Sadly disappointing song I must say but maybe with reworking it out they manage to make it somewhat decent? Esma won the first round (jury) followed by Alexis and Josh. Josh then triumphed at the televote leaving Alexis second and Esma third....

Lena Meyer-Landrut's Satellite and Jennifer Braun's I care for you made it to the final in Germany. I have to say I'm not very impressed. Especially when the weaker song won in the end.

The Estonian final is nearing its end and Lenna Kuurmaa and Malcolm Lincoln went to the superfinal and are now again televoted. I guess I have to be for Lenna then. I preferred Iiris or Violina ft Rolf. The first round came following result by jury and televoters: 3. Violina ft Rolf Junior   17 4. Iiris Vesik   13 5. Marten Kuningas   12 6. Groundhog Day    11 7. Disco 4000   7 8. Mimicry    5 8. Tiiu Kiik   5 10. 3pead   3 Malcolm beat Lenna by 54% vs 46% in the superfinal and goes to Oslo 2010 with Siren . Oh well.... I really didn't see that coming or Estonia going anywhere the heights they did last year on ESC stage... Shame. Worth mentioning is that Malcolm or Robin Juhkental was a replacement entry when Nikita Bogdanov was disqualified due to October 1 rule.

Estonia is one of the four countries having its final tonight. Last year they did well and tonight's line up is very interesting once again. When? 20.30 CET. Where? Here . 3 Pead - Poolel teel Marten Kuningas & Mahavok - Oota mind veel Mimicry - New Tiiu Kiik - The one and only love  Violina ft Rolf Junior - Maagiline päev Disko 4000 - Ei usu Iiris Vesik - Astronaut Lenna Kuurmaa - Rapunzel Groundhog Day - Tesite seest kõigile Robin Juhkental - Siren

Only seven songs remain in the Greek final after two disqualifications and one withdrawel. The fan favourite seems to be Opa but my favourite would have been Eleftheria had she been here. Read more here . Final tonight unless they strike again over there.... When? 21.00 CET. Where? Here . Christos Hatzinasios - Illusion Second Skin - Game of life Manos Pyrovolakis ft Eleni Furreira & Don't Ask - I kivatos tou Noe Giorgos Alkaios & Friends - Opa Yiorgos Karadimos - Polamao Melisses - Kinezos Emigre - Touch me deep inside

Your country need you! pr the UK national election for Oslo 2010 will take place tonight. The concept os the same as last year: a famous composer, one song and several artists belting it out and televoters deciding who did it the best. This time the song is written by Peter Waterman with Mike Stock of PWL fame, the late 80's-early 90's British hitfacotry modelled by the 60's original Motown in the States. Alexis, Miss Fitz, Josh, Karen, Uni5 and Esma made it to this stahe from the internal selections. Graham Norton presents again. When? 21.30 CET. Where. Nowhewre outside UK.

Tonight the final in Germany. Two girls made it to the final in the casting shows by Stefan Raab & co. Lena Meyer-landrut or Jennifer Braun for Oslo 2010? And the song for Germany 2010? It will be all out tonight starting at 20.15 CET. Where? Here.

Just when I was recovering from wondering who visited be from Uganda here comes another one: British Virgin islands! The number 181! Welcome!

Every now and then previous Eurovision winners want to try it again and this year we have Ireland's Niamh Kavanagh. She won back in 1993 with wonderful In your eyes and tries again this year with It's for you. Let's see how it has been for the previous returning winners in the past.... So far only Johnny Logan, also for Ireland, has managed to win Eurovision twice; in 1980 with What's another year and in 1987 with Hold me now . Italy's Gigliola Cinquetti came close in 1974 with Si as she was only beaten by ABBA. She won ten years earlier with Non ho l'etá . Also Lys Assia for Switzerland and Elisabeth Andreasson for Norway have scored a second place after their win. Lys took part three years in a row and came 1-8-2 in 1956, 1957 and 1958. Elisabeth on the other hand won with Hanne Krogh in 1985, came 6th with Jan Wener in 1994 and finally went solo in 1996 and scored a 2nd place.  Isabelle Aubret won in 1962 for France with Un premier amour and went on to ...