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ESC top-250 2011

Listen in escradio the countdown to the number one. The poll is voted in collaboration with 12.points.tv, BlogIlkar, escradio, Belgovision.com, OGAE.nl, Infe Network, Eurovisionfanclub.gr, and Songfestivalweblog. This post will be updated until the countdown is done and the new year has come! Congratulations Zeljko and good luck in Baku 2012! 1. Serbia & Montenegro 2004: Željko Joksimović & Ad Hoc Orchestra - Lane moje 2. Norway 2009: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale 3. Greece 2005: Elena Paparizou - My Number One 4. Germany 2010: Lena - Satellite 5. Sweden 2011: Eric Saade - Popular 6. Poland 1994: Edyta Górniak - To nie ja! 7. Iceland 2009: Yohanna - Is It True? 8. Serbia 2010: Milan Stanković - Ovo je Balkan 9. Croatia 1998: Danijela - Neka mi ne svane 10. Turkey 2003: Sertab Erener - Everyway That I Can 11. Spain 1995: Anabel Conde - Vuelve conmigo 12. Serbia 2007: Marija Šerifović - Molitva 13. Sweden 1974: Abba - Waterloo 14. Sweden 2008: Charlotte Perrelli - H

Ask how many angels of luck have a choice every now and then

Four Turkish Eurovision stars in today's special videopost. Sertab Erener is back with new material and Bir Çaresi Bulunur Elbet is the lead single. Kenan Doğulu's summer hit was Şans Meleğim while Ajda Pekkan's another single of her latest success album is Arada Sırada  and there are various remixes as well, like this .  Hadise released Aşk Kaç Beden Giyer earlier this year.

Voice of Finland started tonight - with a familiar voice!

The voice of Finland started tonight and the four couches Lauri Tähkä, Paula Koivuniemi, Elastinen and Michael Monroe (of Hanoi Rocks fame) started picking up their artists. Tähkä and Elastinen got already two, Michael 3 and Paula still no one as the ones she wanted chose another coach instead. Some very good voices indeed and amongst them all of sudden Karoliina Kallio! Yes, the voice of Waldo's People and she's been to Euroviisut a couple of times solo as well. She already participated in Idols 2005 but didn't go further than semifinals.  No doubt a great voice that has not taken her solo efferts to stars yet. Maybe Elastinen can change all that? And what is Waldo doing? He has his cloathes store in my nearest mall where you can see him quite often behind the cashier :-) Here are the singers who were picked up tonight: Lauri Mikkola, Karoliina Kallio, Selja Felin, Toni Eurasto, Krista Sigfrieds, Mikko Herranen

Lena Philipsson lives tomorrow

Lena Philipsson has been one of the artists in this season's Så mycket bättre where artists cover each other's songs in a reality show. And Lena has delivered a real gem with Laleh's Live tomorrow . Other songs she did were Tomas Ledin's Sensuella Isabella and Eva Dahlgren's Jag klär mig naken , just to name a few. How about Lena's songs? Tomas Ledin did Dansa i neon , Laleh did På gatan där jag bor , Mikael Wiehe Om igen , Eva Dahlgren Standing in my rain , E-Type Kärleken är evig and Timbuktu Det gör ont . Here's Laleh's original . Which is equally great!

Misija Evrovizija - the Slovenian mission

The lenghty Slovenian mission to find their entrant for Baku 2012 has come to a point that only 3 acts remain in the race. There will be one more elimination (January 8, 2012) before the two finalists will battle it out in February 12,  2012. It all started back in October 2, 2011 whith the first elimination round when Janja Kobale, Sylvo, Tamara Goricanec and Biba & Bibitas were out. A week later Z-Lajf, Leaparfume, Sara Spelec and Dominik Vodopivec were out. And then Alex Volasko, Adrijana Lorber, Nina Bauman and Klemen Mramor. Alino Juhart, Tanja Srednik, Me 4 and Maks Verderber followed the following week. Aljosa Kreber, Maja Zaloznik, Sarah Senica, Barbara Vauda, Klemen Orter, Sara Jagric, Nastka Gabor and David Matici were out in the last two rounds of this preselection. The qualified singers continued and in every heat and one was voted out every week and Gasper Rifelj was the first to go followed by Nadja Irgolic , Brina Vidie , Flora Ema Lotric and Manuela Brecko leavin

First newcomers for Sanremo 2012 chosen

Two acts have made their way to the Sanremo 2012 newcomers selection already through AreaSanremo. This year it's two bands, Bidiel and Io ho sempre voglia . They will be joined by six other acts that will be selected thourgh Facebook's SanremoSocial page and auditions. You can listen the hopefuls here and the voting starts next weeks. The voting requires a registration and you can vote once a day for your favourite. The most voted will get the chance to go for the live auditions in Rome in January. It's good to keep in mind Raphael Gualazzi won the newcomers selection in 2011 and went to Eurovision for Italy with known results.

Marco Mengoni back in Sanremo's list. And Eurovision?

The guessing and wishing and rumours for Sanremo 2012 artists continues but we still have to wait some ten days to know for sure who's in, who's out. Eugenio Finardi has confirmed himself he's there and several others have publicly said they have sent in a song for the selection committee. One of them seems to be Paola & Chiara. But the big last minute news in Marco Mengoni is back in the list. And there are voices he is already set to go for Baku 2012 for Italy. The same rumour was strong last year but as the one was selected from Sanremo... Let's see if it will happen this time? Anyways the "sure names" list includes Marco Mengoni, Samuele Bersani, Emma, Annalisa, Noemi, Eugenio Finardi, Nek, Francesco Renga and Nina Zilli who was out like Mengoni at some point but is now back in? Then the talk about L'Aura, Paola Turci, Simona Molinari, Dolcenera, Paola & Chiara, Syria, Raf , Mariella Nava and Morgan gives them quite certain as well. The o

New Year with Franco Battiato in Rimini

If you are in Rimini in Italy you are in for a real treat: Franco Battiato will give a free concert in Piazzale Fellini! He's been touring Italy this fall with his Patriots tour and the set is to include some real classics like Up patriots to arms , La cura , Centro di gravità permanente , L'era del cinghiale bianco , E ti vengo a cercare , La stagione dell'amore , Cuccurucuccu , No time no space , Voglio vederti danzare , L'oceano di silenzio  and I treni Tozeur . Besides that he has just released his fourth opera Telesio .

Rona Nishliu for Albania!

Rona Nishliu from Kosovo didn't let down and performed very well again her song Suus and won hands down the Albanian ticket to Baku 2012. She was also my main favourite and my other favourites finished 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th and shared last so... I got the top-3 at least right. Rona won also the award for the best interpretation - was there ever any doubt about that? The show was nicely old fashioned in Sanremo style and if yesterday night they performed again winning songs from the past tonight we had the winner from 2003 to 2010 on stage (except Luis Eljji) singing a medley of their winning entries they brought to Eurovision. Rona Nishliu - Suus 77 Elton Deda - Kristal 55 Saimir Braho - Ajër 50 Samanta Karavello - Zgjomë një tjetër ëndërr 47 Altin Goci - Kthehem prapë 38 Kamela - Mbi Yje 25 Endri&Stefi - Prifti Iluzion 25 Dr. Flori - Personale 21 Iris Hoxha - Pa Ty 19 Bojken Lako & Breza - Të Zakonshëm 18 Mariza Ikonomi - Më Lër të të dua

Dima Bilan Vs Ian Somerhalder

Ian Somerhalder of Lost and Vampire Diaries fame stars in the new Dima Bilan and Yulia Krulova video for Blind love . Who gets Yulia in the end? Does Ian beat the hell out of Dima? Watch yourself....

Tonight: Albanian final

The four day Festivali i Këngës comes to an end tonight when the 20 songs that made it through the semifinals will battle out to take the 5oth trophy and as a bonus a trip to Baku 2012. Very interesting line up I must say from rap to rock, pop and of course many ballads with ethnic flavour. It is hard to predict what the Albanians will go for and it is good to keep in mind usually the winning song will be completely reworked for Eurovision: cut to 3 minutes, changed into English and re-arranged so much sometimes it's hard to recognize the song anymore. But all this works to make it easier on the ear to most Europeans as Albanian language may not be amongst the easiest to digest (mind you, I like the sound of it even if the melody often gets lost with it...) This blogger's favourites in general include Rona Nishliu who gave the most outstanding performance with some vocal acrobatics in the semifinal. The song isn't easy and may turn into a disaster if the performance isn

RAI: Eurovision is public service

The Eurovision song contest is concidered a public service in Italy and in RAI all of sudden, just like the Sanremo festival, cultural programmes (art, opera and such) and sporting events. In other words broadcasting this event is funded by the TV licence and the viewing figures shouldn't pay such a big role at all. What has caused this change of heart in the offices of RAI is anyone's guess. This is at least in the contract of the broadcaster for the season 2010-2012, after that who knows? One might add that the price of the TV licence in Italy for 2012 goes up 1,50 euros to 112 euros (while in Finland in 2013 it will be changed to a tax to be paid by everyone depending on earnings - whether you have a TV or not. Just to compare, for 2012 in Finland you pay 252,25 euros)

Festivali i Këngës celebrates 50 tonight in Albania

Festivali i Këngës has its 50th edition running these days in Albania and after two semifinals where we picked up the 20 finalists for tomorrow night's final, tonight it's all about the past glory and previous winners taking the stage again to perform their winning entries (if possible). As it is about the past the most recent entries are cut out to make room for those older ones. Namely these: 1. Femija i pare (1962) 2. Flake e bore (1963) 3. Te dua o det (1965) 4. Valsi i lumturise (1966) 5. Keputa nje gjethe dafine (1968) 6. Dhutate per ditelindjen (1969) 7. Mesnate (1970) 8. Kenga e nenes (1971) 9. Kur vjen pranvera (1972) 10. Vec nje here troket (1973) 11. Vajzat e fshatit tim (1974) 12. Rrjedhe ne kenge e ligjerime (1981) 13. Vajze moj, lule moj (1983) 14. Ne moshen e rinise (1984) 15. Dy gezime ne nje dite (1986) 16. Nuk e harroj (1987) 17. E duam lumturine (1988) 18. Toka e diellit (1989) 19. Askush s`do ta besoje (1990) 20. Jon (1991) 21. Pesha e f

I miss St. Tropez. Tharos and Alitheia, broken.

Time to check out once again some more or less new songs and videos by Eurovision artists that you can also listen on EFR12 here. First of all return of Kate Ryan with Broken off her worthcoming album. She was once again rumoured to be the one for Belgium in Baku 2012 but no, she isn't it. Maybe one day? Igor Cukrov has released Fali mi , yet another great track from one of this blogger's favourite voices. Bulgarian creature Aziz has released St. Tropez in his true style. Last but not least Mixalis Hatzigiannis has released a video for his latest Tharos i alitheia and continues his success stroy with great songs.

Noa sings Naples and Israel

Noa has released this year two cover albums. First Israeli Songbook , a collection of most loved Hebrew songs performed with Gil Dor and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. She pays tribute to the songs that have inspired her and Israeli people the past 50 years, and critics claim this album is one of the finest she has ever recorded and this blogger agrees. But she has also turned back to Italy - remember fantastic La vita é bella? - with a collection of Napoletan songs, Noapoles - Noa sings Napoli performed with Gil Dor and The Solis String Quartet. Already back in 2005 she released with Gil an album Napoli-Tel Aviv performing the songs in Hebrew but this time she goes with the original versions and the result is fantastic. And she has had success in Italy the past 20 years already. Highly recommended if you like that kind of music. She's currently touring Israel with the Israeli Songbook concerts. Listen here , here , and here .

Tonight: Festivali i Këngës - Second semifinal in Albania

Tonight the search for the 50th Festivali i Këngës winner and Albania's next Eurovision entry continues. Again 14 songs and artists trying to reach the top-10 to proceed to the final on Thursday night, amongst them previous winner Frederik Ndoçi and other familiar names like Mariza Ikonomi. The unlucky ones to be kicked out last night were Claudio La Regina, Evans Rama, Entela Zhula and Orinda Huta and this blogger agrees. In general the standard of the songs is pretty high this year, well done Albania! Toni Mehmetaj - Ëndrra e parë Dr. Flori - Personale Kamela Islamaj - Mbi yje F rederik Ndoçi - Oh..jeta ime Marsida Sarai - Eja më merr Bojken Lako - Të zakonshëm Sindi Berisha - Braktisur Mariza Ikonomi - Më ler të të dua Kujtim Prodani - Digjem Iris Hoxha - Pa ty Saimir Braho - Përjetësi Goldi Halili - Rroj për dashurinë Xhensila Myrtzaj - Lulet mbledh për hënën Elhaida Dani - Mijra vjet

#1 in Finland this week: Chisu - Kohtalon oma

Chisu's second single Kohtalon oma of tripleplatinum selling album Kun valaistun finally makes it to #1 after 9 weeks in top-20, 6 of them in top-3.  Previous #1 of hers, Sabotage is still at #8, after 17 weeks! Her album sits firmly at #2 beaten only by Nightwish.

Tonight: Festivali i Këngës - First semifinal in Albania

Albania starts its search for the Eurovision song contest 2012 in Baku with historic Festivali i Këngës, that has reached the number 50. Therefor the festival will last one extra night, where the previous winners will join in and sing their entries one more time. But more about that later. Tonight on stage we have the first 14 names, including pre-contest favourites Samanta, Eldon Deda  and Italian Claudio La Regina. There will be a jury as well. The fun starts 20.30 CET here . Gerta Mahmutaj - Pyete zemrën Entela Zhula - Ndjehem Bosh Bashkim Alibali - Këngën time merr vehtë Samanta Karavello - Zgjomë një tjetër ëndërr Endri dhe Stefi Prifti - Iluzion Rona Nishliu - Suus Rudina Delia - Më kërko Marjeta Billo - Vlen sa një jetë Claudio La Regina - Kur të pasha Hercina Matmuja - Aty ku më le Orinda Huta - Dorëzohem Altin Goci - Kthehem prap Elton Deda - Kristal Evans Rama - Ti nuk mundesh 

Sanremo 2012: Eugenio Finardi is in!

The artists and songs are officially announced only on January 10, 2012 but Eugenio Finardi has revealed he will be in Sanremo 2012 with song E tu lo chiami Dio . Finardi has been around since 1973 when his first single Spacey Stacey was released. His half American as his mother is an American opera singer. He has released 26 albums so far and written also to other singers. His songs include Dol ce Italia ,  Le ragazze di Osaka (cover by Alice ), Amore diverso and Musica ribelle (cover by Luca Carboni ) and he has recorded also many duets. This blogger found this great songwriter by Alice's cover. Nice to have him in Sanremo for the third time. He was there in 1985 with Vorrei svegliarti and in 1999 with Amami Lara .

Two more qualifies in Azerbaijan

The lenghty selection process in Eurovision 2012 host country goes on and the past two weeks we have to more qualifiers. The third qualifier was Hayyam Mustafazadeh who did Molitva , Ti moya melodiya and Azerbaycan . This blogger might add he is not amongst my favourites. Neither the next one seems very convincing at this stage, namely the fourth qualifier Fagan Safarov who belten out Fairytale , Ya sxoju s uma  and Nebo na ladoni . 

Merry Christmas!!!

Een Plesierige Kerfeest, عيد ميلاد مجيد , Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah, Շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand, Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun, Zorionak eta Urte Berri On, Vesele Vanoce, Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat, Tchestita Koleda, Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo, Bon Nadal, Feliz Navidad, 聖誕快樂 , 圣诞快乐 , Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth, Mitho Makosi Kesikansi, Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce, Glædelig Jul, Zalig Kerstfeast, Merry Christmas, З Калядамі , Gajan Kristnaskon, Ruumsaid juulup, Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad, Hyvää joulua, Zalig Kerstfeest, Joyeux Noël, Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!, Froehliche Weihnachten, En frehlicher Grischtdaag, Καλά Χριστούγεννα , חג מולד שמח , Shub Naya Baras, Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket, Gledileg Jol, Selamat Hari Natal, Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah, Nodlaig mhaith chugnat, Buon Natale, メリークリスマス , Sung Tan Chuk Ha, Natale hilare, Prieci’gus Ziemsve’tkus, Linksmu Kaledu, Sreken Bozhik, LL Milied Lt-tajje, Noll

Finnish Christmas songs: Sylvian joululaulu - Karita Mattila

We started this series with a metal version of this song and here's the classic one by Karita Mattila. To add information on song it actually was written in Sicily, talking about an emigration bird and it's longing in a cage - a metaphora for Finland under the Russian rule those times. A song that makes me cry everytime. Period. But you folks, have a very merry Christmas! Karita Mattila - Sylvian joululaulu .

Finnish Christmas songs: Joulumaa - Katri Helena

This is Katri Helena's self penned song from 1978 with lyrics by Junnu Vainio. This has also become a real classic over the years and has been covered by several artists. Translates to Land of Christmas (that we all will find inside of us, of course) Katri Helena - Joulumaa .

Finnish Christmas songs: Varpunen jouluaamuna - Suvi Teräsniska

This is a rel classic written by Zacharias Topelius as a poem in 1859. Otto Kotilainen composed this Christmas song versio of it in 1913. The song has been recorded by dozens of artists. This one's quite a recent version by Suvi Teräsniska. Translates to A sparrow in Christmas morning . Suvi Teräsniska - Varpunen jouluaamuna

Eurofest in Belarus cuts down to five

The semifinal in Belarus took part tonight and five acts qualified to the final on January 28, 2012.  Gunesh and Litesound both made it to the final once again, time will tell if one of them will finally make it? The other qualifiers are Alena Lanskaya , Victoria Aleshko and Uzari . This blogger doesn't bother much about the songs as they can and will change them for the final anyways.... most likely anyways. UPDATED: Now with the videos. The lady ballads are all a bore me thinks. Uzari has some potential but clearly the best choice is Litesound. Not very original but cathy pop song indeed.

Diana Ross gets the Lifetime Achievement Grammy

Nothing to do with Eurovision or whatsoever but as Miss Ross is my ultimate Diva I take this spot to announce she will get the The Lifetime Achievement Award that honors performers who have made contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording. The award is determined by vote of The Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees. She celebrates 50 years in music business in 2012 and has sold over 100 million albums worldwide scoring 18 US number ones (12 as the Supremes and six solo) In the 1960s Diana Ross led Motown act The Supremes, one of America's most successful vocal groups. In the 1970s, Ross began her solo career and had continued success with hits such as Love Hangover , Upside Down , I'm coming out  and Missing You . She has received a number of accolades for her work, including a Golden Globe and Tony Award and has been a Kennedy Center Honors recipient. Ross recently toured the USA with her More Today Than Yesterday tour a

Finnish Christmas songs: Sydämeeni joulun teen - Vesa-Matti Loiri

This song was written by Kassu Halonen and Vexi Salmi for Vesa-Matti Loiri's Christmas album in 1988. It has become a real classic and has been recorded by many artists since. Traslates to I create Christmas inside my heart . Vesa-Matti Loiri - Sydämeeni joulun teen

Pastora Soler for Spain!

Pastora who? That was my first reaction as I must admit I had never even heard of her. But this 33-year-old singer turns out to be a very interesting choice indeed. Very Spanish and hints of both Paloma San basilio and Azucar Moreno so it can't be but great. I hope she will have a huge ballad filled with passion for Baku and whatever the final result Spain can be proud of their entry. Here are some of her songs: Demasiado amor , Esta vez quiero ser yo , and Fiordaliso cover Yo no te pido la luna

Sanremo goes Facebook - and we have the first scandal!

This year the Sanremo's newcomers selection will be done mostly by Facebook it seems as six artists will come that way (adding to two from SanremoLab or AreaSanremo or whatever it is called this year). SanremoSocial it is called and anyone under 28 can submit a song and then there will we live audition in Rome on 12.1.12. And that age has caused the scandal as many artists over 28 are complainging they cannot participate. Anyways, there will be 14 Big and 8 newcomers and this year the festival will celebrate the Italian songs that have become evergreens all over the world and they will be performed by the Big in competition and foreign artists in duets so that promises to be great fun. We will know the names of the Big on January 10 and four days later the newcomers. Gianni Morandi will also announce his co-hosts on January 10. Adriano Celentano has been confirmed as the first super guest. Watch the spot here .

Finnish Christmas songs: On hanget korkeat nietokset - Tikkurilan laulajat

Another classic from 1901 composed by Jean Sibelius to a poem by Vilkku Jouhalainen. This is also a kind of kick off song to Christmas. A bit hard to translate, something There are piles of snow but the repeating lines go when we have a Christmas and tell all sort of things what happens... On hanget korkeat nietokset - Tikkurilan laulajat

Big in Japan: Janne Hyöty and co.

Janne who I hear you ask? If I say he has written more Euroviisut entries than anyone else (except Lasse Mårtensson or did Janne pass him already this time with Jessica Wolff's Better ? Someone correct me?). He has tried since 2004 with songs like A little crazy and Cider hill , just to name a couple. His song Birth by KAT-TUN, a Japanese boyband topped the Japanese charts last week. But hey, he wasn't the first Finn to achieve that: just two weeks earlier Samuli Laiho wrote the Sexy Zone's number one single, With you . Both songs have been co-written by Japanese Daichi. But there are still more Finnish songwriters with success in Asia right now. In Taiwan Rainie Yang had a number one album this fall in South Korea and one of the songs is written by Jussi Nikula, Jaakko JS16 Salovaara and Popparazzis. In Taiwan Super Junior boyband scored also a number one album recently and Be my girl from it was a #3 hit, written by Aku Rannila, Henry MGI Lanzi & co. And we aware,

Finnish Christmas songs: Kun joulu on - Tarja Turunen

This is composed by Otto Kotilainen and lyrics by Alpo Noponen and belongs to most every Christmas concert and has been recorded many times. Translates to When Christmas is here . Kun joulu on - Tarja Turunen

ESC Top-250 2011 - have you voted?

The biggest and best online voting for the best Eurovision songs in history is running here . You can vote until noon tomorrow so hurry up! Vote vote vote! I just did....

Finnish Christmas songs: Joulupuu on rakennettu

Another classic Christmas song from school times. Translates to Christmas three has been decorated . Also this one composed by Mr Trad. and lyrics are apparently by T. Ilmari Haapalainen. Joulupuu on rakennettu

Eurovision is coming, move out!

BBC reports in May Azerbaijan will host the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time. But for hundreds of people who are being forced out of their homes to make way for a new concert hall being built in the capital Baku for the event, Eurovision is more about pain than pop. Read the whole story here .  Pensioner Natalya Alibekov tells: Last week a group of people turned up at her door. They did not show any identification or official documents, but told her she had to be out by New Year's Eve. Otherwise, they said, she will be physically thrown out of her home. "They said you can't stand up against the government, you have no rights and no house," she said. "It's horrible. We are all sick with worry and none of us can sleep. The building work means the house is shaking. It's like an earthquake. And the cranes and trucks are operating right through the night so it's impossible to sleep at all." Despite freezing winter t

Sunlight, it makes us ! Life goes on, let me in....

Time to check some new and old videos from Eurovision artists, most of these on rotation in EFR12 as well - just click the player on right hand side! Tom Dice has been dueting with two very different kind of artists this year. First providing vocals to DJ Antoine's Sunlight , then singing with Elisa Tovati in Il nous fait  which is pretty fabulous and would have done wonders in Eurovision as well I'm sure. Peter Jöback has released a new single off his latest "French album" and it's Släpp in mig while Kati Wolf comes with the English version of  Vár a holnap , already presented here, titled Life goes on . She has also released a new album that includes both these versions as well as her Eurovision 2011 entry What about my dreams in both versions.

Finnish Christmas songs: Joulukirkkoon - Sari & Mari Kaasinen

It's 5 o'clock, kids wake up! starts the song and tells how the preparations go before the folks are ready to go to the Christmas morning church. This one is also sung in most every concert and brings back a lot of preparations. This version I post here is not one of the most traditional ones though... Joulukirkkoon - Sari & Mari Kaasinen

Poland withdraws

It seems Poland is withdrawing from Eurovision 2012 in Baku. They debuted with a bang back in 1994 when Edyta Gòrniak's To nie ja came second. Since then Poland has failed to make the top-10 with the exception of 2003 when Ich Troje's Keine Grenzen scored 7th place. The last seven editions Poland has made the final only once but even then Isis Gee's For life was only 23rd in the final. This blogger thinks Poland should have done a bit better most of the times as their songs have been better than their placements generally... like in 2004 , 2010 and 2011 for example. Well, hopefully they will be back in 2013 again when they don't have to host some footballing event....

Chisu - Kohtalon oma

Chisu's second single Kohtalon oma off the album Kun valaistun - that has sold triple platinum by the way - charted already at #2 and now she has released a very funny video for it. And after the glamourous pics of her in Cosmopolitan we now see a totally different kind of Chisu.... The title translates to "taken by the destiny/faith" but the characters in the video seem to be taken by Chisu instead...

Finnish Christmas songs: No onkos tullut kesä - Jukka Kuoppamäki

This is written by infamous Mr Trad. Translates to Is it summer all of sudden as the lyrics tell how the candles shine and even the old feel young again and it's all jolly and nice.I remember this was a must at school's Christmas party every year. No onkos tullut kesä - Jukka Kuoppamäki

725.000 hits! Thank you!

Another milestone, 725.000 hits since I added the counter. Thank you all for your continuing support! In other words, it's like if all the people of Winnipeg visited me at once! :-) One million gets closer and closer.....

Carola Gospel concert

Carola did a gospel tour in 1994 folloe´wing the release of her award winning gospel album My tribute in 1993. Now the concert is finally available in CD and DVD.  Twelve songs including classics like Oh, happy day and songs from her album like Save the children but also Främling, Mitt i ett äventyr and Fångad av en stormvind are included in a medley . Obviously all three get a nice gospel frosting. Here's Anybody here . There's no doubt gospel where this girl puts her heart to and belts the songs out like there's no tomorrow.

Maya Sar for Bosnia & Herzegovina

The Balcan region is early this year with their Eurovision artists and now Rambo Amadeus (Montenegro), Kaliopi (FYR Macedonia) and Zeljko Joksimovic (Serbia) get company from Maya Sar from Bosnia & Herzegovina. She's no stranger to Eurovision as she has been backing singer already twice, most recently this year with Dino Merlin. She has also toured with Toni Cetinski. She got her first solo hit with Nespretno all over Balcans and is yet to release her debut album.

Estonia reveals the goods - and it's very familiar stuff!

Estonian Tv has revealed the 20 semifinalists and the list includes a previous Eurovision winner, previous Eurovision represant, several names from the national finals the past few years and also several names for Estonian Idol. Even Rolf Roosalu is there, but this time as the author of POP Maniacs song who are rumoured to be some of Estonia's leading female singers so maybe we will have more familiar names in store? These songs were picked out of 159 entries by a professional jury. Malcolm Lincoln - Bye Teele Viira - City Nights Janne Saar - Fight For Love POP Maniacs - I Don't Know Erasmus Rotterdamist - Kuu Pääle Ott Lepland - Kuula Liis Lemsalu - Made Up My Mind Lenna - Mina Jään Milky Whip - My Love Traffic - NASA Tenfold Rabbit - Oblivation Cat Eye - Ride Orelipoiss - Zombi August Hunt - Tantsulõvi Mimicry - The Destination Soul Militia - The Future Is Now Loss Paranoias - Valedetektor Birgit Õigemeel - You're Not Alone Soundclear - A Little

Finnish Christmas songs: Musta joulu - Nylon Beat

This is from 1999 when the Nylon Beat girls were hot, hot, hot. Later at least Antti Tuisku has covered the song that translates to Black Christmas, referring this time not to no-snow Christmas but the mood... Nylon Beat - Musta joulu

Kostas and Sergei heading for Eurovision 2012?

Totally unfounded rumours from Russia and Greece. While we wait that the rumour that Dima Bilan will try again we have the latest local X factor winner Sergey Savin listen as a possibility, especially as he is guided by primadonna herself, Alla Pugatcheva. Check him out here and here . And here's one more, a real video. Why he makes me think Italian X Factor winner Marco Mengoni? Is it the good madness both seem to posses? On the other hand there's a rumour Russia might be having a national final after all... Greece is a mess as well, as usual, it seems. Names come and go and a very welcome addition to the list right now is Kostas Martakis who already tried with Always and forever and should definately try again. His other goodies include Agapi mou , Anatropi , Fila me , Sex indigo and Η ΑΓΚΑΛΙΑ ΜΟΥ .

Finnish Christmas songs: En etsi valtaa, loistoa - Rajaton

This is a real classic. Zacharias Topelius wrote the poem (1887) and Jean Sibelius the music. This is the song that usually opens any Christmas concert in a church and the song's been recorded by dozens of artists. Translates to I don't seek power nor riches (just peace on earth) En etsi valtaa, loistoa - Rajaton