Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

As usual the Finnish commentators and Eurovision project people working for YLE have listened and judged the songs. This year Eva Frantz and Tobias Larsson from Radio Vega, Jorma Hietamäki and Sanna Kojo from Radio Suomi, Johan Lindroos from Radio X3M, Asko Murtomäki, YLE's Tv commentator and Tarja Närhi who presents the preview shows (seond part this Thursday at 9PM local time on YLE2) sat down and listened, commented and judged the songs and here's the outcome in short. for the first semifinal They all gave each song 0-5 points. Hungary got the most 5s, four and Portugal and Croatia the most zeros, two. (For full results go here .) 1. Hungary   30 2. Finland   30 3. Norway   25 4. Serbia   24 5. Turkey   22 6. Georgia   20 7. Switzerland   20 8. Azerbaijan   18 9. Iceland   18 10. Albania    18 11. Greece   16 12. San Marino   15 12. Poland   15 14. L...

Last weekend the 21 Eurovision stars joined forces in Amsterdam to meet and greet the fans and had a chance to meet each other before the real holabaloo starts in Dusseldorf in two weeks or so. You can see some photos by YLE's Asko Murtomäki here and see a medley of the artists here . Apparently Axel aka Paradise Oskar charmed the press and fans being one of the positive surprises of the event. I'd like to say "Told you so!" here. I want to firmly believe in a place in the final for Finland this year.Also UK's Blue seems to have been a success convincing also those you thought they were merely has-beens... This was the third time the event was organized and it seems like it's here to stay! And hooray to that!

The eternal Eurovision enemies Armenia and Azerbaijan have both released a video for their entries these past few days. Armenia's Emmy is rather noisy and confusing in her Boom boom . The song's not amongst my favourites but unfortunately I must admit it is rather catchy after all and sticks to your head.... Sigh.  Azerbaijan sends Eldar and Nigar - who took back their names after being renamed Ell & Nikki at some point - with Running scared and the videoclip is a traditional Eurovision videoclip propably sponsored by the local tourist board but it's pretty to see and the song is lovely.

It's 34 days to go for the Eurovision 2011 final and fans are doing their lists, the betting odds are flying but all this will turn around once the rehearsals kick in - who will shine and who will ruin it all with some insane staging? Anyways, my current top-10 is as follows. Meaning the songs I like the most and listen the most, not the songs I predict to make it to the top-10.... Some of them will stay in my list for sure but some will propably drop out and be replaced by something else in the next four weeks... 1. Hungary - Kati Wolf - What about my dreams? 2. United KIngdom - Blue - I can 3. Bosnia-Herzegovina - Dino Merlin - Love in rewind 4. Israel - Dana International - Ding dong 5. Finland - Paradise Oskar - Da da dam 6. Latvia - Musiqq - Angel in disguise 7. Italy - Raphael Gualazzi - Madness of love 8. Sweden - Eric Saade - Popular 9. Azerbaijan -Eldar & Nigar - Running scared 10. San Marino - Senit - Stand by

Musiqq will represant Latvia in the coming Eurovision song contest 2011 with Angel in disguise and this song is one of my favourites, you know that by now don't you? They have now made a simple and colorful video to go with it and fits the song nicely. Great vocals and nice rhythm and catchy melody - what else do you need?

Living legend Raffaella Carrà (67) has agreed to host the final night in RaiDue for the Italians. Agreed but not yet signed, we should know for sure by April 19. She has been absent from Rai's channels since 2008 when she hosted her Carrambre che sorpresa when she hosted also several of that year's Eurovision stars in her show making the fans believe in Italy Rai is flirting with Eurovision and would announce a come back. Nothing came out if it, after a few guests the show went on without them and fans were speculating had Rai's big bosses put a stop to it? Before all that she hosted the Spanish selection that year - something that propably made her realize what Italy is missing. But now, finally anno domini 2011 she gets her Eurovision, Italy is back (and not only, so is San Marino!) and for good if you believe the Head of delegation. Raffaella herself is ready to conquer the clubs and score a summer hit with Bob Sinclair with a remix of her old hit A far l'amore . An...

Slovenia has released a video for its entry No one. And it's rather scary affair. Somehow. Maja seems to be playing a sort of Snow White character and she has seven dwarf wannabes dancing around her in a fairytale like Slovenia forest in the harsh morning light....  Watch it yourself here .

My friend Robert will set his exhibition again in the Eurovision town after last year's success in Oslo. Be sure to have a visit and enjoy some colorful Eurovision history in  Douze points lounge when in town! The Douze Points Lounge at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf In the 1950s, when television was still a novelty and European awareness was still in its infancy, a truly great European idea was born: the Eurovision Song Contest, known to many in Europe by its French name, le Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson. What initially looked like a European version of the already successful Sanremo Music Festival, quickly evolved into a large-scale TV event. It was a kind of showcase for the seven major countries that took part in the first contest; a technical and aesthetic spectacle. When the lights went up on the very first Eurovision Song Contest in Lugano on 24 May 1956, Germany was in the middle of its post-war economic miracle. No-one at the time could have foreseen that the number of c...

The construction in Düsseldorf's Esprit Arena, the venue for the Eurovision song contest 2011 has started this week when the host broadcasted NRD took over. The works started with removing the football lawn and installing the temporary roof over the stadium.  The stage itself has been built in Hamburg and will be taken to Düsseldorf by 37 trucks. It includes a 13 meters diameters part but the actual stage is kept secret until the rehearsals start in three weeks. There will also be a LED wall of 18x60 meters.  As for the rehearsals they will start on May 1, 2011 with Poland. Finns are not very lucky with their rehearsal schedule as Paradise Oskar will close the first day's technical rehearsals (17.20-18.00) followed by screening and press conference at 18.45-19.25.  The second technical rehearsal is on May 5 at 16.30-17.00 right after an afternoon coffee break, followed by a press conference at 17.45-18.15.  Next are then the dress rehearsals 1+2 on May 9 and the thir...

Alice is finishing her tour Lungo la strada and after that will start recording her new album due to be released in October 2011. We know already Franco Battiato has written her a new song but now it is revealed also Tiziano Ferro is included, as well has her long time collaborator Mino Di Martino who has composed a poem by Rimbaund. And of course her self written song again after a long time. She will go on (international?) tour with the album in February-March 2012 While waiting for that you can enjoy this very rare footage from 1997 of Alice with her long time companion Francesco Messina and his project DeVogue , Alice in vocals. Here .

The boys of Blue have posed nude again. This time for the Attitude magazine's annual Naked issue and they are also in the cover. Watch the video of the shooting here . Band member Duncan, who is bi-sexual, recently told The Daily Star : “We are getting our kit off for Attitude magazine like the McFly boys did. I’m up for showing everything off. I’m happy enough about the size of my manhood. ” Extra media attention won't hurt their changes in Germany to win it for the UK for the first time since 1997... They will and they can!

Paradise Oskar has been busy recording his debut album to be released in 3 weeks. But he has also had some time to check out his competitors before his visit to Amsterdam's Eurovision in concert next week. And perform his entry Da da dam in TV again. Acoustic, live. Who says this guy has no charisma must be deaf and blind! Fantastic job! He will repeat the simple performance in Amsterdam and is getting ready for the press conference, too. But back to his favourites: " The Netherlands is my favourite! He's got a good voice and I like that song with rock feeling. I prefer the original Dutch version even if I have no idea what he sings about. It just feels more right. Haba haba from Norway just puts you into good mood, can't help it! That really stuck in my head, just like Hungary. What about my dreams is really catchy and makes you wanna dance!" says Axel and starts humming the song so indeed he remembers it my heart.  Even if the preparations are in full swin...

The 3 minute Eurovision edit of Madness of Love/Follia d'amore by Raphael Gualazzi is out and it's a perfect song for a Sunday! Enjoy here .

If Kuunkuiskaajat made Noolan famous last year (at least in Finland) Paradise Oskar will do the same with Globe Hope. He will be wearing their cloathes on and off stage in Germany. Globe Hope is a Finnish company that has made all sort of things from recycled materials since 2001. Maybe most famous for its bags and purses today the 13 employees manufacure and design also cloathes, home stuff and everything in between. CDs, vinyl records, seatbelts and army things get a new life, check them out here . Last spring they opened their very first shop in Helsinki, in the same place where the Eurovision fan's info office was in Helsinki 2007! Destiny! And what brand would fit better to Paradise Oskar's song? None!

The third annual Eurovision concert 2011 will take place in Amsterdam on April 9, 2011. This year there are 21 artists and countries taking part in this real kick off for the PR season, and the chance for the fans to meet and greet the artists before the Real Thing gets too time consuming and stressful for some. Get your tickets priced 25 euros here . More information on here . These are the artists you can see live there: Croatia: Daria Kinzer - Celebrate Greece: Loukas Giorkas Feat. Stereo Mike - Watch my dance UK: Blue - I Can Russia: Alexey Vorobyov - Get you Ukraine: Mika Newton - Angel Malta: Glen Vella - One life Austria: Nadine Beiler - The Secret Is Love Poland: Magdalena Tul - Jestem Serbia: Nina - Čaroban Latvia: Musiqq - Angel In Disguise Fyrom: Vlatko Ilievski – Rusinka Bulgaria:  Poli Genova - Na Inat Slovenia: Maja Keuc - No One Turkey: Yüksek Sadakat - Live It Up Belarus: Anastasia Vinnikova -   I love Belarus Cyprus - Christos My...

Here is the video for Alexey's previous hit Бам Бам! and here is the video for his Eurovision 2011 entry Get you as Alex Sparrow as he likes to be called now abraod. Looks like he potreys the new rich Russia well....  The only problem is that he can't play the bad part convincingly not even a second. And did I say the song is crap? And of course as he is a Russian star he must have nude fotos of him flotaing around internet trying to be sexy and he fails there, too, big time. If you are not bad nor sexy you shouldn't push it. Maybe he should stick to singing jolly little numbers like the Kalinka rip off instead....

The city of Helsinki had 558.941 inhabitants on January 31, 2011, the latest official record. Today as many visitors have visited the Eurovision world of BlogIlkar in Life after Helsinki 2007 since the counter was added on May 19, 2008. Cool, ha?

Katri Helena is one of the most loved Finnish artists since the 1960's and has sold around 1,5 million albums so far. The media has followed her career, her romances, family life and tragedies closely over the years and now the legend with "blue and white voice" gets a musical based on her life. The musical will premiere in Helsinki City theatre in fall 2011. The storyline is based on her life and her songs that we will hear about 20 over the show. The musical is written by Ilpo Tuomarila, it will be directed by Tiina Brännare and Katri herself will be played by Sanna Majuri. The premiere is on August 25 on the big stage with dancer-backing singer group of 14, and a band of 12 people. More info here . Both her Eurovision entries will be heard in the musical of course: Katson sineen taivaan and Tule luo .

Paradise Oskar is getting ready for the Eurovision in concert in Amsterdam next week. The plan has been he will be on stage alone with his guitar like in Euroviisut 2011 final. The Finnish delegation has been a bit worried about the increasing comparation with last year's Tom Dice from Belgium. "We hear more and more about that and therefor have decided to take the necessary step to change the presentation. Therefor the famous StepUp dancers will join him on stage in Germany " tells YLE's HoP. "I was first against the idea, but maybe it's for the good in the end" comments Axel aka Paradise Oskar himself " after all I'm a newbie, very unexperienced and Eurovision is huge, a tough place even for veteran artists. It's nice to have some company both on stage and backstage! " The new strategy will be tested already in Amsterdam so the fans in present will have the first change to see the new show. The dance crew will be full male and the...

Sweden - Eric Saade - Popular **** Swedes know how to do a great show for sure. Eric is a great performer and has Carola-like will to succeed that comes across and will make people vote for him as they're going to be afraid not to. But what is left of this puzzle kind of song (a bit of this , a bit of this ....) when Eric needs to sing live for real? Drop the extra dancers? Do they have to change the backing dancers to ones who can also sing (like Malena)? Time will tell. Not as big a pre-contest favourite by fans as expected but hey, maybe that's a good sign!? Qualifier: Yes. Ok folks. This concludes the 2011 songs. I am most propably wrong with everything. After predicting great things to Sweden last year I'm not feeling to most confident predictor this year (even if I got it right in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2003, almost in 2006, 2005, 2004 and was totally lost in 2002, 2001, 2000.... Maybe these early years of a decade don't work for me?) So, re-reading what I have pr...

The new mix of the Israeli entry Ding dong has been released. As expected Dana International has turned the beat up and there are some new effects. I did also like the understated simplier original demo version .... Now let's see if they skip the lovely ladies, too and add some useless dancers?

Bulgaria - Poli Genova - Na inat **** I'm not crazu for this song but I must admit it has been one of the most played ones in my head. The chorus just kicks in when you least expect it. Is that a sign of a hidden catchiness? Will the televoters go for this? She's got the look and Pink-esque stage presense and I love the piano playing here and there. We might be in for a Bulgarian surprise? Qualifier: Yes. Austria - Nadine Beiler - The secret is love **** Ok, it's Disney but I don't think it's sugary. It's beautiful. She sings it nicely and when the gospel choir kicks in at 2 minutes I'm in love. Not a fan favourite I know but I like it. And this might just have a wider audience than we think now and make Austria reach the final since forever. But she needs a new look and haircut. Badly. Qualifier: I think so.  Armenia - Emmy - Boom boom * Such a shame they chose this crap when they had something good in the selection as well. This is boring and annoying bu...

Lithuania - Evelina Sašenko - C'est ma vie * For me this is a total yawn. Nothing wrong with it I guess. Just a song heard about a zillion times, sung by a voice heard a million times with corny lyrics with some French thrown in. And Céline Dion or Lara Fabian she is not. No merci! Qualifier: No way.   Israel - Dana International - Ding dong ***** Ok, I admit. This song's nothing special really, nor is she a good singer. But it works as a harmless pop song. It has quiet melancholy in it Dana potreys very well. It is catchy. A bit annoying, too, which is good in a competition like this. Yet I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't even make the final as the news she's a trans have worn out about 12 years ago. And those who are too young to remember 1998 just don't care anymore. Some have criticized the backing ladies, I think they are fabulous in their choreography - why should they all move in unison? Qualifier: I hope so.  Denmark - A friend in London - New tom...

YLE2 will have three preview shows this year starting from April 7 (from Poland to Iceland), April 14 (from Hungary to Bulgaria) and finally April 21 (from FYR Macedonia to Spain). Each show lasts 50 minutes and Tarja Närhi and Asko Murtomäki will be the hosts. FST5 or the Swedish speaking TV will have its own ones on April 29 and 30.

Bosnia-Herzegovina - Dino Merlin - Love in rewind ***** When I heard this for the first time I thought this is it, a possible winner. But Bosnia hasn't managed to win yet even if they have had some great songs. Could it be this time they have got it right: not too weird, not too ethnic but the right ingredients to be liked by everybody even if not the one that takes a lot of 12s but many 10s and 8s, enough to take it home in the end? Dino is a charismatic performer and there's enough of sing-a-long and a touch of weirdness to make this memorable. And he is wellknown in the Balcans to secure votes from all the neighbours - and don't talk about voting blocks this time when it is well deserved (just like Serbia 2007). It could just be so in the end. Qualifier: Sure . Russia - Alexej Vorobjov - Get you ** Such a let down from Russia. This is propably the worst Russian entry since... well, last year excluding, 1995. The song's like a Melodifestivalen reject and Alexej is n...