Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

It's been almost two months without new Flagcounter entry, I must be running out of countries soon, but here comes Mauritania, flag number 183! Welcome!

Marko Maunuksela (36) was crowned the new Tango King last weekend in Seinäjoki's Tangomarkkinat and got also a free ticket to the Euroviisut 2011. He was my favourite from the beginning and has proved already he is confortable with poppier material as well than only tangos, like Anssi Kela's 1972 and Lauri Tähkä's Rakkaus ei oo pysyvää . And of course Hulluna tangoon (Takes two 2 tango) He has released three promosingles so far: Tämä yö / Se sattuu in 2008, Olet mulle kaikki in 2009 and Lintu ja pesäpuu in 2010. He was also present in last year's tango compilation where he did Hernandon salaisuus . You can listen more of him on his MySpace . He has been singing since 2001 in Marit ja Mikot choir and ever since as a solist in various occasions. In 2007 he won Somero soikoon singing contest, and came 3rd in last year's Tangomarkkinat where he was also public's favourite in a big gala concert.. "I was left with a bit bitter taste in my mouth from last year...

Nina Zilli with her Sanremo 2010 effort L'uomo che amava le donne (Man who loved women) has won the fan voting to represant Italy in this year's OGAE song contest. Nina Zilli, or Maria Chiara Fraschetta (27) started singing at the age of 13 and studies singing and piano. She also spent years in Ireland as a kid so she's fluent in English, too. She has also worked as VJ in TV and released her first self titled EP in 2009 and scores a hit with 50mila . The EP also includes a cover of The Supremes' You can't hurry love as L'Amore verrá . After Sanremo 2010 where she was the favourite to win the newcomers category with her entry she wins the critic's Mia Martini award instead and releases her debut album Sempre lontano that becomes a top-5 hit and sells gold.

Some Eurovision in this one, Yölintu's song is a cover of L'Amour est bleu and then we have both Jari Sillanpää and Johanna Pakonen here. Juha Tapio has one of his many songs in this list here and Aki Sirkesalo one of his very few. He was killed by the tsunami in Thailand. Jani from the first Idols and then, of course the usual dancebands Agents and Plogman and Mattila to complete this set.  181. SAI KAIKEN MUUTTUMAAN - AGENTS 182. OHITSE KIITÄVÄÄ - JARI SILLANPÄÄ 183. RAKKAUS ON SININEN - YÖLINTU 184. PAREMPAA AIKAA - AKI SIRKESALO 185. MUSTAA KAHVIA - JENNI VARTIAINEN 186. MINÄ OLEN, SINÄ OLET - JUHA TAPIO 187. JÄLKEEN KAIKEN SUUREN - JOHANNA PAKONEN 188. KUN SYNTYY SIELUUN SILTA - ANNE MATTILA 189. SIIVET - JANI WICKHOLM 190. AAMUUN ON HETKI AIKAA - CHARLES PLOGMAN

Many familiar names in this part from Idols Katri to 2000's megaduo NYlon Beat, always lovely Johanna and the solid Plogman, Finlanders, Hector and Mamba with not so familiar Mikko Siltala and Jukka Hallikainen whose song sounds very very familiar.... Eurovision connection somehow? Who knows? 191. ONKO VIELÄ AIKAA? - KATRI YLANDER 192. ANNA MULLE - NYLON BEAT 193. POPMUSEO - NELJÄ RUUSUA 194. VANHA SUOLA JANOTTAA - CHARLES PLOGMAN 195. VALON TOIT - FINLANDERS 196. LÄHES ONNELLINEN MIES - HECTOR 197. MEILLE VAI TEILLE - MAMBA 198. JOS MEILLÄ HUOMISTA EI OIS  - MIKKO SILTALA 199. OLLAAN HETKI HILJAA - JOHANNA KURKELA 200. EN TEKISI TOISIN - JUKKA HALLIKAINEN

Hanna Pakarinen will join the other artists already confirmed - Hera Björk, Michale von der Heide, Mihai Traistariu, Anabel Conde, Filipa Azevedo, Fridrik Omar, Coral, Nucha and several other Portuguese artists - in September in Portugal's Eurovision party. Way to go, girl!

My favourite and semifinal's winner Marko Maunuksela held it til the end and took over the crown as the new Tango King from Amadeus tonight. Marko (36) managed to win over the voters this year and the past 24 hours has been a real emotional roller coaster for him as he lost his beloved grandmother last night. He was in top-4 already last year but was second to Amadeus Lundberg.

Euroviisut favourite by Johanna Kurkela is just outside the top-200 with  Petri Munck's megahit, yet another Kari Tapio and Paula Koivuniemi song. Koop Arponen and Kristian Meurman from Idols or/and Euroviisut are in as well. Girlbands Nylon Beat and Tik Tak are featured, too. 201. OLET UNENI KAUNEIN - JOHANNA KURKELA 202. YHDEN TÄHDEN HOTELLI - JORMA KÄÄRIÄINEN 203. LEVOTON PRINSSI - PETRI MUNCK 204. MILLOINKAAN EN LÖYDÄ SAMANLAISTA - KARI TAPIO 205. ROCK HALLELUJA - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 206. EVERY SONG I HEAR - KOOP ARPONEN 207. SANOJA - NYLON BEAT 208. SISÄLTÄ KULTAA - JANNE TULKKI 209. SAMANTEKEVÄÄ - TIKTAK 210. TUMMAT, SYVÄT VEET - KRISTIAN MEURMAN

Almost 100 songs behind us we have once again some familiar artists: Kaija Koo, Anna Eriksson and most of all Yö and Yölintu. You will hear a lot of them in the coming days. Kristiina Brask is from Idols and the rest is quite Tangomarrkinat oriented stuff... 211. MAJAKKA JA MERI - A AALLON RYTMIORKESTERI 212. SILMÄT SYDÄMEENI - KRISTIINA BRASK 213. ON TULLUT MONI, ON MENNYT MONI - MIKKO MÄKELÄINEN 214. MILTÄ SE TUNTUU? - KAIJA KOO 215. SEURATAAN JOHTAJAA - ANNA ERIKSSON 216. VALUVA TAIVAS - NELJÄ RUUSUA 217. TUULTA RIITTÄÄ - SAIJA TUUPANEN 218. VÄLITUNNILLA - KATRI YLANDER 219. RAKKAUTTA VAIN? - YÖ 220. ANTEEKSI - YÖLINTU

The six finalists for the Tangomarkkinat final have been televoted moments ago and my favourite Marko Maunuksela has emerged as the main contender for the title this year. He reached the final also last year. He scored 15,1% of the votes followed by Mia Leivo 13,3%, Juha Hautaluoma 12,3%, Maria Tyyster 12,3%, Tapani Kangas 10,3% and Suvi Karjula 8,3%. The final will be on Saturday night.

Varied artists today. The list regulars Anne Mattila and Agents are here but also many artists with only one entry: Dingo, Jonna Tervomaa and Eurovision veteran Markku Aro plus rockbands Mamba, Eppu Normaali and again Tik Tak. Jonna's song is a fantastic cover, so is Agent's (one of my all time favourite songs, btw) and I also like a lot Tik Tak's song! 221. SIELU SALAMOI - ANNE MATTILA 222. SAN FRANSISCO - AGENTS 223. TUULEKSI TAIVAANRANTAAN - TIKTAK 224. OLISHAN SE HIENOO - HECTOR 225. LAIVAUUTISIA - DINGO 226. RAKKAUDEN HAUDALLA - JONNA TERVOMAA 227. SÄ OOT HISTORIAA - MAMBA 228. MÄ LÄHDEN MAALLE - JUICE LESKINEN 229. KESTÄN MITÄ VAAN - MARKKU ARO 230. EI SANKARIAINESTA - EPPU NORMAALI

In this 7th set we have the usual Matti ja Teppo, Anne Mattila, Kari Tapio, one of the very few Katri Helena songs but also Johanna Pakonen and Jore Marjaranta with his superhit. And on top of all that Maija Vilkkumaa's only song on this schlager list! 231. POHJAN POIKA - MATTI JA TEPPO 232. EI - MAIJA VILKKUMAA 233. ELÄMÄN VIRTA - KARI TAPIO 234. KAIKEN PITÄS MUUTTUU - KOLMAS NAINEN 235. UNIHIEKKAA - ANNE MATTILA 236. ONNEN ONKIJA - KATRI HELENA 237. KUN RAKKAUS SAAPUU KAUPUNKIIN - HECTOR 238. ÄLÄ PUHU RAKKAUDESTA - JOHANNA PAKONEN 239. SÄ LÄHDIT LUOTANI TÄNÄÄN - JORMA KÄÄRIÄINEN 240. HAAVEET KAATUU - JORE MARJARANTA

Well, one at least. In Afrikaans this time by MoniQue and Snotkop, titled Ek val vir jou . More true to the original.... I guess South Africa should take part in Eurovision as they produced more covers than the European countries put together every year!

The biggest music festival in Finland with Euroviisut kicks off its final stage today. The various semifinal stages are over and the finalist will start their fight for the crown of Tango King or Tango Queen, still firmly in Amadeus's head until Saturday evening. Last year the winner got a free ticket to the Euroviisut final and even if Amadeus was a strong contender for the victory with Anastacia he failed to make the superfinal. In 2010 the finalist are: Maria Tyyster from Lappeenranta, Mia Leivo and Suvi Karjula from Tampere, Sanna Arell from Uusikaupunki, Sanna-Marika Jääskeläinen from Helsinki, Juha Hautaluoma and Tapani Kangas from Seinäjoki, Marko Maunuksela from Ilmajoki, Tino Ahlgren from Turku and Tuomas Kaikkonen from Oulu. The semifinal will take place July 8 and six artists will make the final on July 10.  I guess the winner has an option for Euroviisut 2011 again. YLE broadcasts both finals live on TV, radio and internet. My fafourite might be Marko Maunuksela w...

It's been three years since Paola & Chiara released some music together but the new album is on the way, the summer tour is a success and their first single Pioggia d'estate (Summer rain) went to #1 in iTunes in ten hours today when it was released! The song is so far available also in Spain. And it's very fitting as in Finland we have today a real summer rain: very hot, very heavy clouds and very warm rain coming down drop by drop.... come una pioggia d'estate ....

More poppier than schlager this set with Samuli Edelmann and Kirka from Euroviisut, Kaija Koo and Paula Koivuniemi gain with superpopular Juha Tapio and late Nylon Beat and then the usual Tangomarkkinat artists and dancebands.... 241. JOS MINUT KESYTTÄISIT - CHARLES PLOGMAN 242. ARVAAMATTA TUULI KÄÄNTYY VASTAAN - JUHA TAPIO 243. ET VOI SATUTTAA ENÄÄ - KAIJA KOO 244. PÄÄTÄ JO - MARKO LÄMSÄ 245. NAINEN - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 246. SUN KANSSA - NELJÄNSUORA 247. SYYTÖN - NYLON BEAT 248. TAIKAA - KIRKA 249. LEVOTTOMAT - SAMULI EDELMANN 250. KOVAA JA KORKEALTA - MIKKO MÄKELÄINEN

The Finnish entry 2009 Lose control gets an African treatment. Stefan Ludik, a Namibian actor, musician, cricket player, the Bachelor of the year and Big Brother Africa contestant just to name a few of his activities has coverd Lose control on his album Burn this town . You can listen to it here .(with the help of a search)

Several Euroviisut artists in this one: Eija Kantola (again!), Kirka, Kristian Meurman, Laura Voutilainen with her 2002 entry, Jani & The Jetsetters and Samuli Edelmann. Matti & Teppo is in with yet another song of theirs and Antti Raiski from Tangomarkkinat completes the set. Katri Ylander is an Idol runner up. 251. AAMUAURINKOON - KATRI YLANDER 252. HÄNELLE - MATTI JA TEPPO 253. ROSALITA - ANTTI RAISKI 254. KUKA - EIJA KANTOLA 255. KARVAS VIINI - KIRKA 256. NÄIDEN KYYNELIEN JÄLKEEN - KRISTIAN MEURMAN 257. ADDICTED TO YOU - LAURA VOUTILAINEN 258. LENNÄ POIS - JANI & JETSETTERS 259. MUISTATKO KUN - JANI & JETSETTERS 260. KAIKKI TAHTOO - SAMULI EDELMANN

The European capital of culture 2011 Turku will host the Finnish final next year. " Eurovision is European culture at its best" says YLE's Merete Manninen. "It's great to be part of the year's celebrations". The place is the Holiday Club Caribia just like in 2006 when Lordi won, and the year after when Hanna Pakarinen was chosen to represant Finland on homesoil. The semifinals will start on January 14 and in Tohloppi studios in Tampere as usual. Each semifinal will feature 5 songs and people will televote 3 to the final. To make it ten in the final YLE will pick up a wild card amongst those who didn't make it.The final will be February 12, 2011.

Carola had her Barbra Streisand-Elvis Presley show in Dalhalla and it was a great success. It was the summer's hottest night with temperatures near +30 degrees but the people got their money's worth. Aftonbladet reports TV4 got one of the best shows recorded over the past few years. Carola shined and it was an emotion journey for her, too. Her late mother was a huge Streisand fan and her late father a Presley fan and she grew up with their music dedicating this concert to their memory. Between the songs she told her memories and got visibly emotional at times. The show started with Elvis's songs and after a break she entered with a rowing boat with Barbra's Somewhere and continued with other Barbra songs before the encores that were again from Elvis. The rowing boat moment was magical and you could have heard a needle drop when the audience held their breath. Carola is planning to reproduce the show as a stage show with more glamour somewhere in Stockholm.  Here's ...

More varied offering in this part, all from Kaija Koo to Mari Rantasila's fantastic song. One of many Paula Koivuniemi hits is here, too, so is Neljä Ruusua that is way more rock than schlager. And the rest is very Tangomarkkinat! 261. TUULET PUHALTAA - IDOLS 2004 262. KUN TAAS SINUT NÄHDÄ SAAN - MARI RANTASILA 263. RAKKAUSKIRJEITÄ - A AALLON RYTMIORKESTERI 264. KOTKAN SIIVET - TOMMI SOIDINMÄKI 265. SATA MIESTÄ - PAULA KOIVUNIEMI 266. ELÄN VAIN KERRAN - NELJÄ RUUSUA 267. MÄ SADETTA OOTAN - SAIJA TUUPANEN 268. OUTOA VOIMAA - YÖLINTU 269. PUOLET MINUA - EIJA KANTOLA 270. MIKÄÄN EI RIITÄ - KAIJA KOO

Kuunkuiskaajat are performing tomorrow in Russia in Sosnogorsk Rock Festival 2010. Apparently the festival has something to do with Finno-Ugric culture and Komi.... I have to investigate that a bit more. Anyways, way to go girls! Meanwhile here they are a couple of weeks ago in Helsinki's Korjaamo .

Antti Kleemola is back here. The rest is filled with schlager dance bands and Tangomarkkinat artists with the exception of girlband Tik Tak that no longer exists. 271. UNETON - YÖLINTU 272. MUTTA MÄ RAKASTAN SUA - TIKTAK 273. JALAT TUKEVASTI ILMASSA - MIKKO MÄKELÄINEN 274. TUHLAAJATYTTÖ PALAA (LA GOTA FRIA) - ANNE MATTILA 275. SYDÄMENPUOLIKAS - SAIJA TUUPANEN 276. ENSIMMÄINEN - MATTI JA TEPPO 277. SUOJAAN - ANNELI MATTILA 278. JOENSUU NEW YORK - ANTTI KLEEMOLA 279. SEIKKAILIJA - FINLANDERS 280. VAIN VÄHÄN AIKAA - CHARLIES

The girls of Kuunkuiskaajat got an indecent proposal while in Oslo 2010. No, not that kind! An artist from another country approached them asking them to influence the jury in Finland to vote for him/her and in return (s)he would do the same. "We were totally clueless what this person was talking about first and of course refused when we got it. Besides we still have no clue who were the Finnish judges !" they tell now. The girls are keeping very busy after the holabaloo in Oslo. "We were surprised about the madness and fans in there, we have nothing like that in Finland. But Eurovision is like a huge bubble of soap that burst after the final. Of course we were disappointed we didn't reach the final but we cried for 2 minutes that's it! " They found out only a few days later they narrowly missed the final, with only 3 points and thanks to the juries. "Better this way. We do this for the people and the people voted us 6th in the semifinal and with thei...

Sirusho has released her fourth album since her debut in 2000. Havatum em (I believe) is the title track and the first new single off the album but it also includes Erotas , her Greek single last year, her Eurovision 2008 song Qele qele (Yerevan remix) and Time to pray , the song she recorded together with fellow Eurovision stars Boaz Mauda and Jelena Tomasevic. The album moves from title track's ballad mood to Erotas's greek dance beat to Qele qele's etnopop and everything in between. She's at her strongest when not singing in English I must say. The album maybe lacks a bit of hit potential Qele qele being clearly the best offering but she's vocally fine and it's very fresh if compared to Safura's somewhat overproduced debut presented here a couple of days ago.