Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  The pop royalty Antti Tuisku and Erika Vikman are back with new tracks, Pihlaja delivers another goodie as does this year's revelation Pehmoaino. Enjoy! Antti Tuisku - Elämä tuulee beibi Pihlaja - Baby baby Pehmoaino - Ikuinen virta Erika Vikman - Kateus

The race for hosting the Eurovision song contest 2023 in the United Kingdom in behalf of Ukraine is reaching its climax soon. Today EBU and BBC have cut the cities bidding to final two: Glasgow and Liverpool. Glasgow bid with OVO Hydro with 12.000-14.500 capacity and next door to Scottish Exhibition and Conference center and SEC Armadillo and also BBC Scotland. Two airports and plenty of hotel rooms and a lot of experience of big events in this one of world's busiest arenas makes Glasgow certainly the favorite.  Glasgow is Scotland's biggest city (and UK's 4th) with 632.000 inhabitants in its region.  Liverpool bids with M&S Bank Arena with 11.000 capacity and Liverpool Exhibition Center nearby. Liverpool has the population of just under 500.000 and an airport named after John Lennon.  The bidding process has had three stages. The first cut left us with seven cities (Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield) when the following wannabe...

Another week, another month gone by, another dose of #Finpop for you! Alma offers a very poppy tune, Maija rocks away, a newcomer Augusti offers a kind of country pop song that has been a hit for others lately hoping to repeat the success and Saint Shadow gets all Brooklyn moody with this song that was actually his debut.Enjoy! ALMA - I forgive me Aukusti Koivisto - Ensimmäinen päivä Maija Vilkkumaa - Äidinmaa Saint Shadow - Brooklyn's burning

  Another dose of #Finpop by SanSa who did Lover view at UMK2020 with something totally different, two new talents named Vilma with folksy etno songs that remind me of Värttinä, Kuunkuiskaajat and all that wonderful musical heritage,  and Aural who sings about September and nods to The Beatles.  Sansa - Se et oo sä Vilma Talvitie - Helppoo ja ihanaa Vilma Jää - Jäinen neiti AURAL / Laura Sippola - Syyskuu 

  Another week, another dose of #Finpop with very fabulous Finno-Ugric folk etno Vilma Jää, Pehmoaino's surprise #1 hit of this summer, newcomer Safira and yet another one from Pihlaja. Enjoy! Pihlaja / TIPPA - Menee yli Vilma Jää - Syntymistään sureva Pehmoaino - Haluun takas mun perhoset Safira - Jalat alta

  Yet another dose of #Finpop by Robin Packalen's latest with a strong 80's vibe, Kaija Koo teaming up with Vesala, new offering from Thelise and finally a cacthy tune by Yksi totuus featuring Tamu. Robin Packalen / Maesjor - Magic Yksi Totuus / Tamu - Vanhat valokuvat Kaija Koo / Vesala - Nopee hopee Thelise - Olisiksä mun

  Another week, another dose of #Finpop for your enjoyment! New comers Bee and Pyy showcase their music, Ollie goes Latinesque and Ellinoora joins forces with Ed Sheeran!  Bee - Tequilakahvi Ed Sheeran feat. Ellinoora - 2step Pyy - Jään yli Ollie - Kapinallinen

Topi Latukka was the lead singer of Softengine that brought Finland its third best placing at the Eurovision song contest ever in Copenhagen 2011. The band is no more and  28-year-old Topi has been busy launching his solo career a few years ago and then silence. The silence was not due pandemic like for many but a rare bone cancer, adamantinoma. He has been operated this week, his leg basically rebuilt and now he has expect a full recovery in 6-12 weeks, including learning to walk again as he tells in his Instagram . This blogger wishes Topi a speedy recovery. #Cancersucks .

  The summer is almost over so it's time to wrap up some summer tunes before it's too late. Here are some different beats and also Erin's latest with a hint of different beats. Enjoy! El Migu - Holleil Karim B / Joe L - Panamera El Migu - Erilainen Erin - VGN

Ram pam pam, performed by BESS in UMK 2022, the Finnish national selection for Eurovision - placing third - has made history becoming the longest running #1 in the official Finnish radio charts, or being the most played song in the Finnish radios for 19 consecutive weeks already! It has reached according statistic 110 million listeners from April to August in a country of 5,5 million.  In the official singles chart Ram pam pam topped the charts for 10 consecutive weeks being the biggest hit along with Italy's Brividi of all national final songs this season in any country. It dropped out of Top-20 only last week after 34 weeks.  The previous record holder was Epäröimättä hetkeekään by Elastinen and Jenni Vartiainen. 

  Another week, another dose of #Finpop. This time Saint Shadow aka Sampo Marjomaa of Funnu home videos fame steps out as a lead singer, Sebastian Noto delivers yet another goodie as does Vahtera and finally a totally unknown Janji with his composition that has sneakily become the second biggest Finnish song ever with over 151 million streams and 7,2 billion views on Youtube with videos using this song as its music! That means his second only to Darude's Sandstorm of Finnish artists! Saint Shadow - Stupid games Sebastian Noto / Tactic L - Sanat hajoo Vahtera - Burana Janji ft. Johnning - Heroes tonight

Another week, another dose of more or less new #finpop from charts, streaming platforms and radio waves. Olavi Uusivirta is hot topic at the moment for all but musical merits at the moment (Hint: PM Sanna Marin, Night clubbing. Kissing) and disco queen Eini is back with a female anthem while Maija Vilkkumaa rocks some nostalgia and ex-Leningrad Cowboys Jore delivers an insane ear worm. Enjoy! Olavi Uusivirta - Älä päästä mua menemään  Eini - En itke sun perään  Maija Vilkkumaa - 1973 Jore Marjoranta - Mikset sä jäänyt

Yle has announced the rules for Umk 2023 aka the Finnish national selection for the Eurovision song contest 2023 to be held somewhere in the United Kingdom on behalf of Ukraine. While doing so they also promise that Umk 2023 will be bigger than ever! The submission period is from September 1 to 5 . One artist is allowed up to three submissions (but only one of them can qualify). If chosen the final versions must be ready by November 3. The final will take place in February 2023.  The songs can't be sent to any other country's selections and at least one writer must be a Finn, as well as the main soloist, or at least have a permanent residence in Finland. Rest of the rules are the common Eurovision rules set by Ebu. They also launched a sort of Who do you want to take part? commenting on their Instagram and here is the short list of those names mentioned most often (or just mentioned and who this blogger agrees with ;-) As we've had two rock acts in a row I hope for a more p...

Sanremo 2021 was a record breaking success, but Sanremo 2022 has by far outdone that already as the competing songs have sold over 2,200.000 million copies already and gained 24 platinum discs and seven gold discs. So far.  One can only wonder - and then look with amazed - how Amadeus is going to make it ever bigger and better in 2023. The first rumours are already running wild of the possible "certain" guests (Britney Spears and/or Lady Gaga, Fedez) and competitors (Al Bano, Tananai, Rocco Hunt) as well as guest hosts (Chiara Ferragni, Gianni Morandi) and most of all, whho knows the comeback of Paola & Chiara? Meanwhile let's enjoy again these hit songs! Sold over 500.000 (5xplatinum) Mahmood & Blanco - Brividi (Winner) Sold over 300.000 (3xplatinum) Sangiovanni - Farfalle  (5th) Dargen D'Amico - Dove si balla  (9th) La rappresentante di lista - Ciao ciao  (7th) Sold over 200.000 (2xplatinum) Irama - Ovunque sarai  (4th) Rkomi - Insuperabile  (17t...

  Another dose of  #Finpop for these hot summer nights including Eurovision almost veteran Akse Kankaanranta's latest offering in Finnish. Enjoy! Aksel Kankaanranta - Vielä sä löydät mun luo Kiki - Rodeo Nelli Matula - Diva Pikku G feat. Ani - Kaukana

 Ferragosto is gone but summer's here with these tormentoni sounds and as a nostalgia an evergreen by Luca Carboni. Enjoy! La Rappresentate di Lista - Diva Lorenzo Fragola - Luna fortuna Lazza - Panico (feat. Takagi & Ketra) Luca Carboni - Mare mare

  Another dose of #Finhits from radio waves, streaming platforms and charts from the usual hit makers Olavi Uusivirta and Evelina with lesser known but by no means less worthy Aurora and Raappana Aurora - Viaton Olavi Uusivirta - Kielletty leikki Raappana - Iäisyys Evelina / TheoFuego - Miau

EBU and BBC have announced this morning the short list of the cities that are still running to host the Eurovision song contest 2023 on behalf of Ukraine under Russian aggression and full blown war. Short list might sound all but short when we still have seven (7) possible host candidates. On the other hand if they were almost 20 to start with it is sort of a short list, isn't it? Out with London and Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Darlington, Edinburgh . Brighton, Cardiff, Derry, Nottingham and Sunderland withdraw their bid already before the deadline and the odd Prudhoe and Wolverhampton just made some fun to gain of publicity as in these cases always. I admit I never heard of those towns before, and probably never will again.  So, who's left? In alphabetical order: the 1998 host Birmingham and debutantes Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield . EBU and BBC are expected to announce the winnning bid later this fall once they have fine tuned their o...

  Another set of of tormentoni wannabes like Eurovision veteran Raf's latest, those that made it and a nostalgia trip with Righeira, a real classic! Vamos a la playa, it's almost Ferragosto! Raf - Cherie Jovanotti / Sixpm - I love you baby Gionnyscandal - Boom Righeira - Vamos a la playa

  Some more tunes for summer aiming to become tormentoni 2022. The queen of tormentoni joins forces with Eurovision 2022 host Mika while Malika and Tommaso do their best as well to win some hearts. The nostalgia one is from a couple of summers ago but still a real banger: Mahmood going calipso joined by a string of top rank rappers and hip hoppers . Enjoy! Baby K feat. MIKA - Bolero Tommaso Paradiso - Piove in discoteca Malika Ayane - Una ragazza Charlie Charles, Dardust, Mahmood, Sfera Ebbasta, Fabri Fibra - Calipso

  It's August which means the Italian summer holiday season is reaching its peak and the fight for the tormentone of the year is fierce. Here are some and with a nostalgia trip to summer of yeasteryear with Sabrina and the iconic boobstastic video! Rocco Hunt, Eletters Lamborghini & Lola Indigo - Caramello Carl Brave, Noemi - Hula hoop Emanuele Aloia - Cartagine Sabrina - Boys 

This year's UMK has been a success for most of its artists. BESS scored the biggest hit this year so far with Ram pam pam and her follow up Rakastan ei rakasta is making it big as we speak. Besides that she's featured in Antti Tuisku's hit Grindr mayhem . Isaac Sene released already the follow up Jukka and is now featured in Etta's Rakastellaan. Cyan Kicks and Younghearted have released their follow up singles, too. As has The Rasmus . Meanwhile last year's success Ilta is here again with her latest continuing her success. Etta feat Isaac Sene - Rakastellaan Ilta - Ei kukaan muu Cyan Kicks - See the light Younghearted - Silloin

 After a tiny holiday break some more new #Finpop tunes from the radio waves and charts. Enjoy! ABREU - Paholainen (querido) feat Averagekidluke KUUMAA - Tulipalo Elias Kaskinen - Elos ALMA - Everything beautiful

Ebu made the painful but sensible decision not to let the 2023 Eurovision song contest be held in Ukraine, the 2022 winning country due to ongoing Russian aggression and full blast war that seems to not be ending anytime soon sadly.  When the speculation started immediately, or even before their win, many broadcasters and countries stepped in line more or less seriously to have it from Italy to Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Spain but the Ebu decision fell on BBC and United Kingdom, the historical back up country and this time also the runner up with the official announcement on July 25. By then most every UK city has expressed its willingness to host Eurovision 2023: Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle, Sheffield, Sunderland and Wolverhampton.  This will be 9th time United Kingdom hosts the contest: 1968 London, 1977 Wembley/London, 1982 Harrogate, 1998 Birmingham after...

  Another week, another dose of #Finpop. This year's revelation BESS teams up with Antti Tuisku for some Grindr reality, Evelina is back and newcomers Sebastian Noto and Thelise release another goodies. Thelise - Timanttii Antti Tuisku feat. BESS - Grindr Mayhem Sebastian Noto - Aina Evelina - Sydän sulaa