Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The rumours have been confirmed today apparently and Madonna will indeed be the interval act during the Eurovision song contest final in Tel Aviv. She will perform two songs - one new maybe called Indian summer and one classic - and arrive in town four days before the final with a team of 60 persons. Apparently her act will include also two other surprise artists. Possible names ar Brazilian Anitta and Colombian Maluma, both have been spotted in studio with Madonna while she's been working on her new album. Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams is behind the whole affair funding the costs that are 1,3 million dollars to Madonna alone.... She's releasing a new album shortly and was rumored to be involved already last year when the contest took place in her present home town Lisbon. Only she didn't have anything to promote back then.

There have been countless Muslim artists in Eurovision over the years but it hasn't and it shouldn't matter but this year it gets more attention as the contest takes place in Tel Aviv, Israel, and three artists have been spotlighted as Muslims and represent the new multicultural Europe. France's Bilal Hassani is of Moroccan origin, while Italian Alessandro Mahmoud is half Egyptian which caused a rasistic and political outburst when he won Sanremo festival despite him being born and raised in outskirts of Milan and identifying himself as 100% Italian. Maybe it's also due to the line in Arabic in his song taken out of context? Apparntly the only Arabic h knows. And then we have of course Turkish Serhat, back in business for San Marino. He's a real new European living and working between Germany, France, UK and Turkey. Mahmood's line والدي والدي حبيبي تا’علينا ( Waladi waladi habibi ta’aleena ) isn't though the first time we hear Arabic in Eurovisio...

Here are again some more or less new sounds from Eurovision stars Senhit sings in Italian for a change despite the song's title Dark room . For her love is a dark room, give her everything and right now! Westlife is returning after almost ten years with a new album and Hello my love is their comeback single.  Alekseev keeps dropping songs and videos and  Как ты там (How are you there) is his latest and sounds prtty much like any other song by him.... Zibbz is lost in Citylights this time in their pop-rock. It's another solid song with heavy beat yet missing it something to make it a real smash hit....

Marco Mengoni has released Muhammad Ali , the fourth single off his platinum selling #1 album Atlantico . The video is filmed in his hometown Ronciglione, north of Rome.  "We are all Muhammad Ali Here you win or lose in a moment"

While the Eurovision 2019 season is heating up with the pre-parties let's have a look and listen of previous Eurovision stars or wannabes efforts. Enjoy! Twin Twin is dubbing it away with Dub life featuring Hindi Zahra. There's something hypnotic in this video and reggae rhythms... Enrico Ruggeri rocks it away in his latest Come lacrime nella pioggia , off his latest album Alma , released last month. It's already his 28th studio album.... Janice Mangion may have not won the Maltese ticket to Eurovision (yet) but it's always nice to hear someone sing in Maltese like this her new song  Xewqti (My wish).  David Civera is still active and having the Spanish beats and sounds alive. Mundo diverso adds some fashionable reggaeton and Latin sounds to the mix. 

Christer Björkman and co. have finally given birth to the running orders in the two semi-finals, based on the draws that determinated which one, and which part for each country: first or second. It may have been a bit trickier this year than usually as the draw throw was kind what comes to gender and genre.... and it has taken awhile! It's worth remembering Christer & co. know so much more than we do, as also the staging, props etc have an effect on staging so if something sounds off at this point may have an explanation once the rehearsals on stage start! Cyprus gets the honor to open the contest in 2019 with up tempo Replay , followed by Montenegro, Finland third, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Belarus, Serbia, Belgium, Georgia, Australia, Iceland, Estonia, Portugal, Greece and San Marino will get everybody go na, na, na when closing the show. I'm not so sure about the pairing of Slovenia and Czech Republic and Australia with Iceland and even Portu...

copyright  www.davechoate.com We just celebrated Motown legend Diana Ross's 75th birthday but today and tomorrow marks both the birthday and death of another Motown legend: Marvin Gaye.  He would have been 80 on April 2, 2019. Instead he was shot dead by his own father on eve of his 45th birthday on April 1, 1984. Songs have been dedicated to his memory by Diana Ross and Commodores among others, and likes of Madonna feat. Massive Attack and Cyndi Lauper have covered his songs. Let's remember him with some of his major hits and my personal favorites:

As we know Finland's entry Look away in the Eurovision song contest 2019 deals with climate change and worries it brings to our future like climate change. The national final staging already featured melting polar ice and rising waters. But that is nothing that is in store for Tel Aviv experience when yet secret 4D effects will rock the arena and its stage that is perfect for this kind of invasion. It has leaked YLEs team is working on dramatic special effects on screen as well: besides the familiar water tank the water will also start to rise and slowly fill the tv screen until it speeds up so that at the 3 minute mark it takes Sebastian and Darude under water underlining it's the future of most coastal metropoles if nothing is done and soon. 

New music from old familiar Eurovision voices again. Rasmussen continues with the Viking pop as his Go beyond is pretty much the same sound as his Eurovision entry. Why change it if it works and no one else dos it?  Benjamin Ingrosso goes from success to another, like her mom in the 1980's. Behave . Why am I thinking of some early Madonna? Musically and as a person: not the best of singers nor dancers he somehow makes it work... Sevak Khanagyan keeps building his Russian career.  Океан Внутри Тебя (Ocan within you) is another typical Russian pop song he wrote himself but it could be Dima Bilan's latest.  Spanish sweethearts broke up after Eurovision and their solo efforts haven't been that convincing, but here's Alfred and his De la tierra hasta Marte .

Four more songs from Eurovision stars of the past Hovi Star released earlier this month self-written Silver spoon , The somewhat angry mid-tempo pop tune showcases a rougher side of his voice. Also Alma offers us anger in T'es pas un homme , a song born out of frustration of men molesting her and other women in metro.  Luisa Sobral has written her Dois namorados herself. Of course. Simple and acoustic love story that lasts for decades.... Polina Gagarina goes up-tempo bubble gum pop in  Меланхолия (Melancholy).  Apparently she tries to beat it with hysteria and anger judging the video....

Once again some more or less new releases from Eurovision artists A top-10 hit for Emma Marrone with Mondiale , a single off re-release of her latest  platinum selling #2 album  Essere qui . Patrick Fiori has released another single of his 2017 album Promesse , and re-unites with Jean-Jacques Goldman as songwriter for this  Les gens qu'on aime . His career continues strong already for 26 years.  Soraya Arnelas released late last summer  Yo brindo and as summer is approaching it's a nice tune to get into the right mood!  Lior Narkis has released with Itai Levi and Vivo  מסיבת רווקים /Mesibat Ravakim (Bachelor party) which is as title suggests a party song with propably not so many words of love....

My very first musical crush was Diana Ross. My very first LP I owned was also a Diana Ross album. Once I discovered her I have followed, listened and bought her music ever since going also back to her The Supremes songs - my favorite group ever - and found also Motown, a company I have felt so passionate for and the Motown sound never bores me, I could listen to it anyday, anywhere. If I hear their music in shops or bars it always lifts me. And Diana Ross was and is the Queen of Motown and a living legend. And she's 75 today. Happy birthday my one and only, true Diva! Too many songs to choose from but below are some of my favorites from the past six decades...

Mahmood's Sanremo 2019 winner and Italy's Eurovision entry Soldi has got its already third remix, this time from Vigiland . Enjoy! (The previous ones are from Benny Benassi and Denis First . 

Once again some more or less recent releases from Eurovision stars. Enjoy! Anna Rossinelli has kept her career going nicely and this Hold your head up comes from her Swiss #1 album released this January. The video has an interesting floating in the milk kind of imaginary, that Italian Dolcenera took a step further in her Piú forte .... Also Laura Rizzotto has been very active post-Eurovision and her latest is Tightrope . As usual she has written the song herself. There's also a remix Severina has been dropping hits the past two years including Halo , and finally released a new album this year. She keeps on breaking regional records on Youtube, like having 1,3M views in a day of a new video. Not bad. And no wonder. At 46 she still shows the girls who's the hottest.... Michael Schulte is another example that Eurovision won't hurt your career. He has been going strong ever sinc his top-5 finish. Back to the start is excellent catchy pop song, a bit th...

More more or less recent releases from Eurovision winners and stars. Enjoy! Fan favorite and Next Star Eurovision judge Harel Skaat has released late last year this  בחיי (Honestly), a happy little pop tune, that honestly doesn't change the world or become an evergreen but it's fun 3+ minutes, catchy and earworm so be aware! Match Portugal's biggest star (who sadly missed Eurovision at home) Diogo Piçarra and Spanish ex-Jesc runner up and The Voice winner Antonio José and a dramatic ballad A dónde vas with mixed lyrics and this is where it leads you to.  Staying in Portugal we have Salvador Sobral coming to ruin the plans in Anda Estragar-me Os planos . It's off his new album Lisboa, Paris, out March 29. Simple and kinda funny. No fast food! Jamala has been in the medias lately for all the wrong reasons but she keeps also releasing music.  Самға (Samğa) is in Kasakh language if I have understood right, which makes it even more interesting. S...

Marry me , she sung to the whole of Europe back in 2013, when she and Janne Grönroos had been together already almost ten years. The year after Janne finally took the hint and proposed to her in Maledives but it would take another three years when they finally got married late 2017. Less than two years later the marriage is sadly over. Krista comments on her social medias: We got to grow up together with Janne. He has taught me a lot and made me a better person. We have experienced a lot together, downhill and uphill. Life changes people, as well as their needs and dreams.  We have decided together to continue the journey as friends. I am really grateful that we have shared all these years together. I will appreciate and love you forever Janne.❤ We hope that we will get the peace we need to recover from our divorce. We do not comment on this further. Janne shared pretty much the same text in his social media while both shared the same aphorism: Janne has been workin...

If you are heading to Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam on April 6th be sure to make it a day, or  a night earlier because on 5th there's the pre-party in Melkweg! Organized by OGAE NL the event features previous Eurovision winners and stars to have a great time mingling with the other fans and enjoying the music. Marga Bult aka Marcha is not only performing her Rechtop in de wind but also being the hostess of the evening. More info here Get your tickets here

Another look & listen of what Eurovision (related) artists have been releasing lately... The Balcan Queen Kaliopi released late last year  Hajde da pjevamo   asking us all to sing along in her pop rock song looking 50+ fabulous topped with her one of a kind voice.  Shiri Maimon is back with   נ שימה (Breathing) off her new album, first in seven years. It comes with a simple yet effective video. She has been busy with musicals and tv-projects the past few years, including the Next Star for Eurovision.... Latvian  Brainstorm aka  Prāta Vētra perform the main theme  Мотив (The motive) of a Russian romantic comedy Семь ужинов (Seven dinners) and even star in the film's final scene. Very nice song indeed! Vincent Gross has gone a long way since his attempt to represent Switzerland in Eurovision. Now he has teamed with German Stereoact for Nicht allein sein , a catchy fun pop song that flirts with tradition an...

After the Benny Benassi remix here comes another one by Denis First. Enjoy!

Another look & listen of what the Eurovision stars have been up to lately.... Ever lovely  ZOË has released already late last year this wonderful feelgood tune C'est la vie . Catchy and 100% ZOË, what could you ask for more? Only more of this same.... Imri has been bitten by the Latin fever it seems and has released earlier this month this summer song with mixed Hebrew and Spanish lyrics. Imrico , Ay que rico! Also released already late last year Guy Sebastian 's Before I go  that sounds like works of Symphonix with its beat and gospel choirs. The same pool Sweden is fishing this year. Great song anyways. Eurovision 2010 winner Lena is also having a minor Latin vibe in Don't lie to me , second single off from her new album out in April. Her previous single Thank you already gave glues of this new sound. 

From 16 to 54, that's the (known*) age range of this year's Eurovision song contest in Tel Aviv.  Zena from Belarus is the youngest turning 17 in September while San Marino's very own Turk Serhat will celebrate his 55th birthday in October. Malta's Michela, Belgium's Eliot and Croatia's Roko are also born in the 2000's. The oldest artists besides Serhat come from the north: Finland's Darude (43) and Sebastian Rejman (41) with Tom Hugo (39) of Norway's KEiiNO. They're also the only artists born in the 1970's (and  Serhat the only one in the 1960s). Nineteen artists were born in the 1990s - 1994 being the most common year (Ester, Luca, Nevena, Duncan, Srbuk and Sarah). Thirteen were born in the 1980's with 1989 having the most (Katerine, Oto, Lake Malawi's Albert, Paenda, Conan and Fred of KEiiNO).  One could say it's a very youthful edition. And a very masculine one, too. It's also a year of masks, crowns and und...

Last few weeks have had some Eurovision related releases outside the national final bubble from previous winners and other well placed acts. Enjoy! Dima Bilan released last year his yet another addition to his endless string of hits at home soil.  Океан (Ocean) is an atmospheric ballad and comes with a nature filled beautiful video.... Fabrizio Moro has released today video for Ho bisogno di credere (I need to believe), first offering from his new and 10th studio album Figli di nessuno , out April 12. It's a melancholic ballad with some pseudo rapping (and no trademark screaming) and video that fits nicely with the overal mood. Very good! Last year's Eurovision 3rd placed César Sampson has finally released a follow up to his Nobody but you called Stone cold . Maybe not as catchy as his entry was but this has all the same ingredients from beats to gospely choirs and César's beautiful vocals.  Eurovision winner and all around man Måns Zelmerlöw is pr...

Thomas Neuwirth, Eurovision song contest 2014 winner has been flirting with the idea of getting rid of his alter ego Conchita Wurst already for years and it seems the time has come.  A week ago he released a video Trash all the glam where he was potrayed in a latex jumpsuit like a crisalide to be born and heading to the new direction, Wurst.  And here he is now, without glamour, wigs and evening gowns as a bearded man and and not a lady, in Hit me . Wurst is reborn.

  Eurovision winner 2006 Lordi is losing another member of its winning formation. After Kita (2000-2010) and Awa (2005-2012) also Ox (2005-2019) is leaving the band after this summer's festivals. In the band's website he says there's no drama or major issues. He only has a strong urge to do something else in music and be available for new adventures. He thanks the band and the world's best fans for this 13 years long journey. Ox aka Samer El Nahhal is half Egyptian and he has studied in Los Angeles Musicians Institute. He spent part of his childhood in Libya and Irak wherefrom they fled when the war started. Kita or Sampsa Astala has been active after Lordi with his band Stala & So and they even participated in the Finnish national final back in 2010 - that got him fired from Lordi actually. He also plays in several other bands, plays drums and does backing vocals besides writing and producing songs for others. Awa aka Leena Paisa left Finland and moved to ...

The Head of delegations from the 41 participating countries are all gathered in Tel Aviv to hand over their entries for Eurovision song contest 2019 among other things, like electing members for the Reference group for the next two years - among them Italian Nicola Caligiore again - and getting information on the final plans for the stage and performances and the state of preparations and what is in store for May in general. One of the jobs to do at this point is to draw where thee host country will perform in the final and Israel got the perfect number in the midway: 14th. Thirteen entries will come before them, thirteen will follow them.  Meanwhile we will have a rather masculine contest this time. Or maybe it is the most masculine ever? Statistic nerds out there will surely look into that.  A total of 18 male soloist vs. 14 female ones. In addition in duos/trios/groups we have 3 male voices and 4 females plus two with both vocalists. So it's 21-18 (+2). But not even ...