Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Sanremo festival doesn't only have the competing artists and the superguests , but also those who come for the fourth night's duets, when the competing artists perform their song in an alternative version with invited guest artists. Complicated? Not at all. That only just about doubles the number of stars on that stage during the festival! Like last year's winners and Eurovision top-5 finished Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro. Some names rumored to have applied for the festival like Irene Grandi, Syria and Rocco Hunt have a consolation prize when dueting with chosen ones. Some add spice to their entries with actors like Bebbe Fiorello and Neri Marcore, and there's even a dancer involved, Eleanora Abbagnati. The rest of the cast will be revealed in coming days. Simone Cristicchi & Ermal Meta Ultimo & Fabrizio Moro Daniele Silvestri & Manuel Agnelli Loredana Berté & Irene Grandi Mahmood & Gué Pequeno Boombadash & Rocco Hunt Anna Tat...

Eva + Manu, the Finnish-French indie duo that were thrown into UMK2019 speculations late last year has released today their In the Woods EP with six new songs: Sins , Grow old , Mamie , Woods , Weightless and I won't let you down . How would have they fit in Tel Aviv?  Spotify

Australia's Gold Coast will host the first ever Australian national final for the Eurovision song contest, as all their previous four entries have been internally selected. SBS has been dropping names since December and now we have all ten of them finally, from RuPaul's drag race finalist Courtney Act to the Voice winner Alfie Arcuri, classically trained Kate Miller-Heidke, Australia's Got Talent winner, tenor Mark Vincent, indie band Sheppard, electronica band Electric Fields among others. Aydan Calafiore is from the most recent the Voice and Leea Nanos from X Factor.... Electric Fields - 2000 and whatever  * Kate Miller-Heidke - Zero gravity  ** Mark Vincent - This is not the end  ** Sheppard - On my way  *** Courtney Act - Fight for love  * Aydan Calafiore - Dust  *** Leea Nanos - Set me free  ** Ella Hooper - Data dust  * Alfie Arcuri - To myself  **** Tania Doko - Piece of me  **

Croatia has chosen the 16 finalists out of 150 submissions. Some Eurovision veterans in the line up: Klapa s Mora's Marko Skugor is now fronting 4 Tenora, and Feminnem's Nena Parmac is now with Gelato Sisters. Then there's Luka Nižetić, a familiar face from the national finals. Among songwriters Tonji Huljić, Branimir Mihaljevic, Jacues Houdek and Charlie Mason, all previous entrants. The final takes place on February 16 and there will be 50/50 televote/jury Elis Lovrić - All I Really Want  (jury 8+ telvote 0) 8 Luka Nižetić - Amorero Brutalero (3+10) 13 Gelato Sisters - Back To The Swing  (1+0) 1 4 Tenora - Brod Bez Imena withdrawn* Beta Sudar - Don’t Give Up  (4+2) 6 Bernarda Bruno - I Believe In True Love  (6+3) 9 Domenica - Indigo  (0+0) 0 Manntra - In The Shadows  (5+7) 12 Jure Brkljača - Ne Postojim Kad Nisi Tu  (2+5) 7 Ema Gagro - Redemption  (7+4) 11 Lea Mijatović - Tebi Pripadam  (0+0) 0 Lidij...

Claudia Baglioni has announced there will be only Italian superguests in Sanremo 2019 so forget likes of Lady Gaga, Madonna, Sting, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran... whoever could have been on that stage. Instead he will invite only Italian superstars from Eros Ramazzotti to Giorgia and Marco Mengoni, from Elisa to Ligabue and Andrea Bocelli with his son. Add Fedez and already Sanremo regular Laura Pausini with Biagio Antonacci (they will be touring Italy later this year together) and a couple of more like Fiorella Mannoia perhaps as there's supposed to be two of them each night. All names will be confirmed later once the contracts have been signed. There's one exception to the cast though: Luis Despacito Fonsi, but only because he duets in Ramazzotti's new single Per le strade una canzone ... It's great he favours Italian over international stars but then again, the gap of getting these real big stars to participate in the contest is getting slimmer every year.  ...

The betting odds are hinting last year's Newcomrs winner Ultimo could do the trick managed only by Francesco Gabbani so far: to win the Big category only a year later. His name has been mentioned as the most possible winner since the artists were revealed - and even before that - and is now topping most every betting odds.  Almost as clear is Il Volo 's second place while the next ones are different depending on betting agencis including names like Federica Carta & Shade , Nek , Irama , Arisa and Francesco Renga in different order. All this may however change once the media is let to hear the songs and comment on them in their reviews and articles. We common mortals will hear them of course only when they will be performed on stage in Teatro Ariston for the first time come February 5.... Will Ultimo (translats to The Last) be first again? Will he be going to Tel Aviv 2019 Eurovision as well? Just in case let's get to know him a bit better: Born in Rome a...

As much as I would like the countries hosting Eurovision song contest showcase their own musical heritage and culture - best done in recent years by the underdogs Finland in 2007 and Portugal last year - the rumor of Madonna being in negotiations for performing in the Eurovision 2019 final is just too juicy to let go by. And wasn't she rumored also for Lisbon at some point, after all she lives there now and seems to be somewhat familiar with the event. If that becomes reality I hope it's done better than Justin Timberlake's somewhat out of the place performance in 2016 of Can't stop the feeling , did he even know where he was? After all the Kabbalah loving queen of pop already has done a very fitting performance on her Confessions Tour, including Im nin'alu and all.... Let's get unconscious honey, get into the groove and I'm gonna party (It's a celebration) etc. You know. And there's still plenty of room for Netta, Dana International and Idan ...

Belgium delivered a surprise last night when they announced Eliot Vassamillet (18) will be going to Tel Aviv 2019 Eurovision song contest. He's the latest addition to the string of young succsful singers from The Voice  following Roberto Bellarosa, Loïc Nottet, Blanche, Laura Tesoro and Axel Hirsoux (and Olivier Kay, Season 5 3rd is compting in Romania this year).  His song Wake up will be written by Pierre Dumoulin who was behind Blanche's 4th placed Citylights .

Ukraine returns with Vibdir to choose their entrant for Tel Aviv 2019 Eurovision. The line up features several familiar names from twice runner up Tayanna to Kazka, Laud, Letay and Brunettes Shoot Blondes. Two semifinals will send half the entries the final. Semi-final one: The Hypnotunez - Hey!  (jury 1+televote 1) 2 LIVE Letay - Myla moya  (2+3) 5 LIVE Vera Kekelia - Wow  (4+2) 6 LIVE ЦеШо (Tsesho) -  Hate  (5+6) 11 LIVE Yuko - Galyna Galiana  (8+5) 13  FINAL Maruv - Siren song  (6+8) 14  FINAL Brunettes Shoot Blondes - Houston  (7+7) 14  FINAL Bahroma -  Назавжди-Навсегда (Forever-Forever) (3+4) 7 LIVE Semi-final two: Ivan Navi -  All for the love  (4+4) 8 LIVE Anna Maria -  My road   (5+7) 12   FINAL Kazka - Apart   (7+5) 12   FINAL Кira Mazur -  Dykhaty  (1+1) 2 LIVE Laud - Dva dni (6+3) 9 LIVE Khayat - Ever  (2+6) 8 LIVE ...

Czech Republic is using last year's method for choosing their Eurovision 2019 entry. They have hard time to follow up with last year's success when Mikolas Josef's Lie to me became a sort of an phenomenom. It's not easy. The chosen artists seem all good singers, but the songs are a bit anonymous lacking identity that would make them memorable in any way. Most of them sound like non finalists come May. Jakub Ondra's Space Sushi sounds like a perfect follow up to Mikolas, but then again... is it trying a bit too much? And does he have the stage presence and star quality Mikolas had? The voting is on eurovision.tv and also international jury will have its say before we know who gets selected.  Hana Barbara -  Poslední slova tobě  *** Tomáš Boček - Don't know why  *** Andrea Holá - Give me a hint  ** Pam Rabbit - Easy to believe  ** Lake Malawi feat. Albert Černý - Friend of a friend  ** Barbora Mochowa - True colors  ** Jakub On...

The Israeli selection for the artist in home soil next May started back in November and after 20 episodes 65 artists made it out of over 100 for the next step. We have now the 20 finalists chosen among them by the judges in further auditions. After watching through their videos I was most impressed (in no particular order) by Naama, Ofri, Nitay, Tay and Kobi, but we can't forget Avraham who would have a great backstory turning from Orthodox Jew to a married gay man and coming from Brazil, or Maya Buskila who has been tipped many times for Eurovision since 2004 but if her voice is your cup of tea, is another matter. Then we have Netta's backing singer Danielle and Rotem Shefi's character act Shefita, and a non-profit organization's band with disabled people... Let's see how this develops, ingredients are there, they only need the right song and perfermer mixed up well and who knows... Avraham De Carvalho  (27)    Danielle Mazuz  (27) Kobi Marimi (27) ...

Lithuania is again milking it seriously with Eurovizijos atranka 2019. A total of 49 participants with shows starting on January 5 including four heats, two semifinals and the grand final on February 23. Some familiar names among the participants from previous years and one Eurovision veteran: Jurgis Didžiulis fronted InCulto that funked in glittery shorts Lithuania to th 12th place in 2010. Update: Mis January three more songs were added to the line up and that adds two Eurovision veterans to the list. Erica Jennings will join her husband Jurgis and Sasha Song is back, too... I won't pronounce myself before the final as like last year Lithuania can be very misleading. A lot of useless songs that can hide among them even a jewel, like last year that I didn't notice until the final.... As usual, this post will be updated afteer each event. Semi-final one - January 5, 2019 Matas Ligeika – You came here to fly (jury 5 + televote 4) 9 Simona Klušienė – This day begin ...

Romanian national selection for Eurovision Selecția Națională 2019 originally featured three Eurovision veterans: the Romanian debut artist Dan Bittman back in 1994 (with fabulous Dincolo de nori ), Nicola from 2003 (with  Don't break my heart ) and unmissable MIHAI. Then all of sudden Dan Bittman withdraw and we were left with 23 entries only.... Another regular Xandra is back once again and the cast includes also Australian born Xonia and Belgian Olivier Kaye (song written by Ovidiu) as well as American Laura Bretan. Sadly the overal standard of songs is so low MIHAI shines bright as one of the bests with his oh so fashionable latin beats. There will be two semifinals and grand final. Below is my first hearing, first impression ranking. 2 Gents – Ielele   * Aldo Blaga – Your journey   ** Berniceya – The call   * Claudiu Mirea – We are the ones   ** Dan Bittman – Pierd withdrawn Dya & Lucian Colareza – Without you (Sin ti)  ...

Azerbaijan is once again selecting internally their artist. These 15 have participated in an audition in November apparently. One of them may be the one for Tel Aviv. Most names seem to be from The Voice of Azerbaijan 2015... The chosen one and the song will be published later. With these videos below giving a hint of their voice, style and personality I might pick up Leman.... Update Deb 8 : Confirmed final 4 are: Chingiz Mustafayev (above), Tofiq Haciyev, Leman and Samira Efendi Emiliya Yaqubova Samira Əfəndiyeva Məryəm Şabanov a Vlada Ahundova Tofiq Hacıyev Hüseyn Abdullayev Altun Zeynalov Ruslan Alişan Sərxan Jəfərov Nərmin Karimbəyova Elvin Novruzov Rilaya Hüseynzadə Leman Dadaşeva Nərmin Behbudova Nərminə Seyidova later these two names have been added to the rumor mill: Samira Efendi ArazOzarA

Estonia's Eesti laul's second semifinal offers everything from Synne's old school Swedish shlager to second generation Eurovision royalty in form of Sissi, daughter of Eurovision winner Dave Benton to insanity of Wo sind die Katzen? and indie poprock. All in all this second semi sounds more like the Eesti laul we used to know before it went a lot more mainstream a couple of years ago. With songs like Parmumäng . Once again it will be interesting to see which entries make it to the final and get a better idea what Estonians are into this year.... Grete Paia is back again as is Uku Suviste.  Synne Valtri – I’ll Do It My Way   *** FINALIST (televoters) Sissi – Strong   * FINALIST Kaia Tamm – Wo sind die Katzen?   ** Iseloomad – Kaks miinust   * Cätlin Mägi & Jaan Pehk – Parmumäng   * Lumevärv ft. INGA – Milline päev   ** FINALIST (televoters) Uku Suviste – Pretty Little Liar  ** FINALIST Kerli Kivilaan – Cold...