SUM UP OF THE WEEKEND

What a weekend, ragazzi! I just realized I have spent over 21 hours in front of the screen blogging and watching Sanremo.... no wonder my shoulders, neck and head are aching like there's no tomorrow. But all is fine when things end well. My favorite won the Newcomers Friday night, namely Antonio Maggio with Mi servirebbe sapere. Then I was having cold sweat for the Big category's superfinal when Elio & Co and Modá made it but Marco Mengoni made it all up by winning it and even going to Eurovision. For the first time since Jalisse Italy will be represented by the latest Sanremo winner, even if he will most likely pick up a song from his coming album. L'essenziale wouldn't be bad either; a classic Italian song but how would it fit into 3 minute formula?

Latvia also selected their winner and I must say I'm not pleased at all.... PeR and Here we go didn't impress me before nor after their win..... Shame.

In Hungary they also selected the last semifinalists. I have been so occupied with Sanremo I had to totally skip listening these but I can repeat that jury chose Lilla Polyák, Laura Cserpes and Gigi Radics. Televoters added United, Fatima Mohamed and Peter Puskás. I will get back to them in the next stage; the semifinals.

In Estonia also five acts made it to the final and among them Winny Puhh, the one I wondered and feared about... The others were Grete Paia and Elina Born that I predicted and Körsikud that I suspected as well plus Teele & Tuuli & Ula that could have stayed in semi instead. I would have changed them to Marilyn Jurman... (This said whoever her stylist is he should be fired...)

And finally Sweden, Melodifestivalen semifinal 3. All I want to say that was the worst Melodifestivalen semifinal ever. I wouldn't have minded if none of the songs made the final, and a couple of them could have been sent to second chance only instead.... But what do I know?

Comments

Anonymous said…

This year's MF is the worst ever. The only song i liked so far is Swedish House Wives which are out. From last week Sean made it to final. Please that is not a serious musical act. He could be in the final of a circus competiton or porno one, but please. A little respect for the other people's work, please? And I like the lady with the dead fish....And from first semifinal, those two acts David and YOHIO are club crap. I mean i like YOHIO's song but is that strong enough? Or especially after you remove the prerecorded vocals how it will sound? Anyway it is not strong enough. What do you think?

22:54

Ilkar Blogilkar said…

I liked Anna Järvinen.... obviously kicked out right away. I haven't followed MF so closely this year but will concentrate on it for the second chance and final, of course. Until then no further comment except it's not very good this year. And I haven't been such MF fan even when it's been good....

23:49

ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

Blogilkar exclusive: PASHA PARFENI INTERVIEW

My flying reporter Robert managed to get hold on Pasha Parfeni from Moldova today who has become during this week pretty big favorite to do well. How did he end up in Eurovision, what his goals are and is his granny better than the ones from Buranovo? And will we get a cover album full of Eurovision later on? Find it out here: Why do you want to participate in Eurovision? That's a very difficult question... I want to be a star! A worldstar, ha ha! But I know it's not easy even in Eurovision, only Celine Dion and ABBA have made it. But I can make myself a bit more known, it's good for promotion. After Eurovision I will finish my album and my promo-CD already has nine songs. We will recod maybe 4-5 more and it will make a good album. With what result will you be happy here? Happy? … Top-10! Then I'll be absolutely happy! So if you don't get to the final you will be totally depressed? Yes, maybe... Yes, it would be hard. For me and my team. What are y

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further? No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

GOODBYE, FAREWELL...

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o

FINLAND: CONGRATS HANNA PAKARINEN - BABY IS COMING!

No more leave me alones as Eurovision 2007 veteran Hanna Pakarinen has published in her Youtube channel a video unboxing the Finnish state's maternity box aka layette set thus announcing she's due to have a baby later this spring. Congratulations!

Summer songs: Samantha Fox & Sabrina - Call me

Summertime is the time for cover versions and remixes. The late 1980's war of the boombs is over when Samantha and Sabrina put their bras together and cover Blondie's Call me in peace and harmony. Amore, chiamami!

Summer songs: Kylie Minogue - On a night like this

This is one of the songs that make me think of sweaty summer nights, humid air and being slightly drunk... I wonder where that all comes from? Anyways. Kylie Minogue recorded On a night like this, maybe not first but better than Pandora or Anna Vissi . And Lord which is actually great!

GREECE: HELENA PAPARIZOU HITS AGAIN WITH HAIDE

Eurovision song contest 2005 winner Helena Paparizou has been enjoying Top-5 hits every year since 2003 with the exception of 2010 and 2014, this latest one being already her 27th! And Haide is charting also in Bulgaria and Finland, of all places. The catchiness of her hits has changed less over the years than her face.... Here's the English version , below the Greek version.

CAROLA'S BOOBS STEAL THE SHOW, SVT APOLOGIES

Update! Another thing got Swedes talking last night: Carola's boobs when she was giving away an award. This is not the first time her boombs cause headlines; her misfortunate adventures in the 80's in Japan wer explained with her boobs being too big for Japanese market. Ok.... Or was it the song ? Anyways, Carola apologies and says she thinks the dress is stylish and elegant (even her friends said so) and she's a mature woman in her 40s, not a 16-year-old girl and looks like one. The Swedish Oscars, Guldbagge awards were given out last night. Carola was there as a guest star to sing Barbra Streisand's The way we were when honoring the movie stars who passed away during 2012. However, the cameras were too much on Carola, not on the stars showed in photos in the background and that upset many viewers as that part of the show was to celebrate them, not Carola. Oh well... The producer of the show tells in Aftonbladet the part of the show was made the sam

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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