ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2014: ALICE, EVA & MANU, VALENTINA MONETTA

Like last year I decided again look back and see who provided the soundtrack of my year 2014, or the albums I have listened and loved the most.

One album stands above everything else for some many reasons, Valentina Monetta's Sensibilitá. I was able to follow its progress and shaping up, and then follow her to Copenhagen and experience such joy and happiness along with the team I will never forget. But also because it's a great album. Very variable in material but Valentina sings her way through the styles and songs with grace and dignity and shows what a talented vocalist and songwriter she is. Ralph Siegel has provided the Eurovision material including her entry Maybe and the other initial possibilities Guardami ancora, Il fiume and the title track, but Valentina explores other styles and rhythms in her own songs Il vento, Hotel, Per te, Molto di più.. An icing in the cake is A kiss, duet with Josh De Cadenex, one of the many guests on the album. This bloggers favourite is Viaggio samba, written by and performed with her brother Vincenzo. This is a timeless album that will be played in this household for years to come....

Alice released Weekend just two years after Samsara, a surprising move considering she took 14 years before Samsara to come up with an album with original pop songs. Weekend is very much sounding like you think Alice album sounds this decade. Ten well performed and arranged songs including her Sanremo 2014 entry Veleni that wasn't accepted for the festival. Their loss as it's fantastic and one of the best Battiato songs for some time. Battiato is also duetting with her in La realtà non esiste, a tribute to late Claudio Rocchi. Just like her solo L'umana nostalgia, previously sung in duet with Rocchi himself. Tante belle cose is a Francoise Hardy cover while she covers herself in Viali di solitudine. Luca Carboni duets with her in Da lontano, following their previous duet in his album, La farfallina. Un po' d'aria, Christmas, self penned Aspettando mezzanotte and Qualcuno pronuncia il mio nome complete this album that will find a place among the best Alice albums when time goes by.

Eva & Manu, a Finnish-French duo released their second album Cinnamon hearts this year. I loved their self titled debut to bits and this new one has been on constant play ever since it came out, too. They have moved on, the sound is more electronic, bigger but their vocals and the feelings are there. With this two albums they have an owesome set for live concerts. Besides Cinnamon hearts Empty and There is nobody like you have been released as promo singles so far and gained a major airplay. Papi, Between us, The world is too busy, Save me, I've learned, Guardian and Kathey complete this very enjoyable album.

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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!

ESC 2013: SERBIA'S BIG GUNS

Serbia is one of the most succesful Eurovision countries in the recent years and this blogger 's favorites. This year I am again very curiously waiting for their entry and what they will offer us when they have a national final once again after last year's internal selection. Many bigger and smaller names have been rumored to have sent a song, or have confirmed so themselves. Among then a 63-year-old disco diva Neda Ukraden , Eurovision veteran Vukašin Brajić 's OT Band, Danijel Pavlovic who is Marija Serifovic's step-brother, national final veteran Ana Nikolic and other names like Nenad Cvijetic , Dejan Petrovic, Zejna , Ivana Pavkovic , Vanja Mijatovic .... Let's see who really are in when the final 15 out of 80 will be announced for the March 2, 2013 final. These 15 will be cut to five for the superfinal by televoting. Then we have Bojan Bjelic , who apparently was sending his song Mora before he decided not to blaming the contest is fixed and Serbian

Et voilà! Anggun presents Echo (You and I)

So today we finally heard the French entry in Eurovision 2012 in Baku by Anggun. Echo (You and I ) is rather bizarre mix of many things and just when you think you get it the songs takes a turn to another direction. Whistling all along. Very catchy it is. Call it an earworm if you want. Still I wouldn't scream a winning entry but... we will see. In Patricia Kaas like ending me thinks.

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

REMEMBERING MARILYN MONROE

It's 50 years since Marilyn Monroe passed away on August 5, 1962. Her legend still lives on and there's no doubt she got "it". Probably very much misunderstood and surely underrated she remains one of the biggest stars on this planet ever. How many fans have really seen her movies, I mean all of them? Not only the 2-3 most successful ones where she played pretty much the same dumb blond? Thee's so much more to her if you watch all her work.... And had she lived. She would be 86 now. Like this .

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: Geri Halliwell - Mi chico latino

An ultimate summer latin pop song to end this month long series of my favourite summer songs. Geri Halliwell was scoring solo hits one after another this Mi chico latino being one of the biggest of them. There's the laid back original one for the beach and lazy afternoon, and the remix for the night and to be enjoyed with drinks.

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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