Tampere Part 2.

Eurovision 2017 favourites part I

42 countries take part this year’s competition which is held in Ukraine in less than 2 weeks. Feeling super excited but also sorry for the politics involved into whether Russia’s participation because I’d still prefer Eurovision to be poltics-free and let the world be about music and a good song for a few nights once a year. 

Finland is participating with Blackbird by Norma John. This year I’ve found a lot of ballads, big, dramatic, emotional and intense ones but also up-beat tracks that some have 70’s-80’s kind of sound.  Also 90’s disco tunes are present as mid-tempo, radio friendly tracks. Not many rock songs, apart from the host country Ukraine but some very dark, deep, even depressing songs which have interesting sounds. 

About 20 some countries will qualify to the final which will take place in May 13th and these are the countries I’d hope to see in there! They’re not in preference order. 

I’m also aware that how these opinions aren’t my final ones cause anything can happen in the actual competition. And I’m changing my mind all the time. Some do better than others nevermind who’s your favourite.

1. HUNGARY

One of the rare countries that doesn’t sing in English and folklore songs in the competition this year! I love the rhythm and even the rap part blends well which I don’t usually like. Also I find the song and its sound organic and kind of eastern, traditional but unique. Credits for that! Stands out from the rest of the crowd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2stjsoO0NfM&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt&index=1

2. MONTENEGRO

Best party/dance tracks in the competition this year! Catchy! Disco!  I love the energy in this one. The sound reminds me of the 90’s. For a change the men are half naked instead of the women.

3. NORWAY

Nice sound! Electro-pop track with catchy sound which is still danceable. Fun, carefree and optimistic! I like the dj being a major part of the performance also. It’s not as athmospheric and emotional as the passed norwegian entries but I like it anyhow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPp37uz8vUs&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt&index=3

4. ICELAND

You either like this or then you don’t. It’s a bit weird, even cold but I think that’s part of the charm. Interesting and organic sound. I believe it gets better the more you listen but then in Eurovision it’s a bit risky cause many hear these songs only once or twice. Looking forward to the live performance and staging. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp3apBsLjvk&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt&index=4

5. IRELAND

One would say that there’s nothing special about this ballad but there’s definitely nothing wrong either. Like a Westlife ballad really. Classic, almost a cliché but to me this represents the perfect ballad. Such a sweet song and a voice. There are many ballads this year but I find this as the best one. I hope he does well in Ukraine. Apparenty this should be amazing live!

6. CZECH REPUBLIC

Fragile jazz tune with appealing message and sound. It’s easy to relax and sink into your thoughts while listening to this. I like the singing not trying to reach the high notes but keeping it simple. And it works just fine as it is. Fresh among all these power ballads. I hope the live performance goes well and makes the song stand out even more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoLWemuLP_g&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt&index=5

7. FRANCE

My first Eurovision love this year! So french! So charming! So feminine and light! I prefer the original French version (below) but I understand the reasons why they added the English lyrics. I truly hope she does well and I can imagine following her career what ever happens in Eurovision. Please do well Alma!

7. LATVIA

Nice disco beat. Edgy. I really like vocals and singing in this one. It doesn’t really rise as high as I would have hoped but it does have a nice even exotic sound. I find this kind of dance music popular this year also which is awesome!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFdSKiWyF_k&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt&index=7

8. CROATIA

This song has many sides. It’s operatic, it’s pop, it’s in English, it’s in Italian. Loving the classical singing in this one bringing something different compared to other songs! Risky but it stands out! It’s a bit corny but so positive and uplifting! I hope people will appreciate this! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxy1Gy3nuGU&index=8&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt

9. POLAND

Such a dark, strong tune. Even haunting atmosphere. There are quite a few of these in the competition this year. Well produced this one and perhaps the best one of the darker songs this year. 

10. BELGIUM

I don’t quite understand the popularity around this. It’s good and I love the electronic sounds but I guess it could rise a bit higher to the next level. Now it’s a bit laying low. But I liker her sound and I’m looking forward to the live performance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbomdE81_mA&index=10&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt

11. SWEDEN

Great live performance! I love the creativity! Even thou it is from Sweden… One of the best dance songs this year. A hit song, no doubt about it. Playful, a bit flirtatious even.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jSrBdN4b5c&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt&index=11

12. MALTA

Beautiful. Very classic power ballad. It could be a part of a movie soundtrack. The singer’s voice reminds me of Faith Hill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfoq7udRPwk&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt&index=12

13. SWITZERLAND

Best of the mid-tempo tracks! A soaring pop song with a classic sound and singing. Typical but works really well. 

Non english songs in ESC2018

This year we can feel Salvado’s affect since we have over double amount of original languages compared to last year. Some have released English versions such as France, Greece but still kept their Eurovision performance in an original language. The songs offer more authentic sounds, they all bring so much diversity, color to this year’s competition! People have really digged up their past and cultural heritage. Hope this will continue next year also! 

ALBANIA - EUGENT BUSHPEPA - MALL (1st Semifinal)

ARMENIA - SEVAK KHANAGYAN - QAMI (1st semifinal)

ESTONIA - ELINA NECHAYEVA - LA FORZA (1st semifinal)

FRANCE - MADAMEMONSIEUR - MERCY 

GEORGIA - ETHNO / JAZZ BAND IRIAO - FOR YOU (2nd semifinal)

GREECE - YIANNA TERZI - ONIRO MOU (1st semifinal)

HUNGARY - AWS - VISLÁT NYÁR (2nd semifinal)

ITALY - ERMAL META E FABRIZIO MORO - NON MI AVETE FATTO NIENTE

MONTENEGRO - VANJA RADOVANOVIC - INJE (2nd semifinal)

PORTUGAL - CLÁUDIA PASCOAL - O JARDIM 

SERBIA - SANJA LLIC & BALKANIKA - NOVA DECA (2nd semifinal)

SLOVENIA - LEA SIRK - HVALA, NE (2nd semifinal)

Random Helsinki.

Discovered the coast of Cascais this weekend! Unfortunately my settings weren’t correct so my shots weren’t that good but oh well..here they are! Gonna do another visit there one of these weeks.. 

Maybe your country is only a place you make up in your own mind. Something you dream about and sing about. Maybe it's not a place on the map at all, but just a story full of people you meet and places you VISIT, full of books and films you've been to. I'm not afraid of being homesick and having no language to live in. I don't have to be like anyone else. I'm walking on the wall and nobody can stop me.

Hugo Hamilton, The Speckled People: A Memoir of a Half-Irish Childhood

The soundtrack of my posts:

The lyrics and songs which I used as titles for my posts. Not in the order as they came out here in the blog. Some of them are my all time favourite but others just have wise thoughts or words I wanted to use. #pausini

01. Benvenuto LIVE

02. Limpido WITH KYLIE MINOGUE

03. La geografia del mio cammino LIVE

04. Tu cosa sogni?

05. Se non te LIVE

06. Bastava

07. Bellissimo cosí

08. Dove resto solo io LIVE

09. Mi tengo

10. Il mio beneficio

11. It's not goodbye 2013 VERSION

12. Le cose che non mi aspetto

13. She - uguale a lei

14. Nel modo piú sincero che c'é

15. Mi perspectiva

16. Celeste

17. Primavera in anticipo/ It is my song LIVE

Lisbon before covid-19

Helsinki in December 2015.

Blue

Hey folks, 

Thought I might actually want to update this thing once in a while... 

Some of these stuff are seriously two months old but for what it's worth I wanna have it all on writing and out there as a proof to myself that I've actually did all of this..

SOOO my birthday... ages ago I know but gotta mention it since it was my first one abroad..Big plans, big plans to get wasted and the hit one of the many night clubs of the city and party my ass off. BUT let’s just say that the first goal was well achieved but the later ones… not so much. Thank you girls again for holding my hair and for the thousandth time my mortified but the sincerest apologies. But at least it was my birthday I was ruining and no one else’s. But oh well... #finnish #stillmortified 

And as my hang over cleared I made the long feared bookings in order to come home in the end of July. On 28th to be exact. Friends and family in Finland, make a mark in your calendars. Read above why I wanna come home and rest of the blog for the reasons why not. It’s incredible how fast time has passed. It feels like yesterday when I was planning it all, counting days and preparing me and the world around me for the grande aventure...Today I have less than 60 days left of my Montréal year. How depressing is that… #stupidstudies #dontwannagohome

It’s been quite stressful and tight in moneylike cause I have to pay some of the student aid I received (too much) back in 2012 to the Finnish government (which is always fun). But luckily Mtl is full of activities that you get to do without paying a penny! 

Speaking of free..

Made my way to the famous Tam Tams finally which is a free Music event at the park of Mount Royal happening every Sunday afternoon. When the weather allows it I guess. Starting at noon and going on for hours until the evening. Insanely popular:  hundreads of people, young people, old people, parents with small children and friends, newcomers, tourists having picniks or just hanging out and enjoying the beaux temps. 

It is not an officially sanctioned nor sponsored event so no one really knows when the first Tam Tams took place. Somewhere between 1970’s and 1990’s apparently. But today it’s one of the best known summer events of the city and the musical scene has developed from the traditional drum circle to DJ’s. Different kinds of vendors, performance artists and exhibitonists can be seen too. 

(pic from http://montrealagogo.tumblr.com/)

More free stuff! International this time. Made a new discovery called “Jane Walks” which are free walking tours insipired by American activist and urbanist Jane Jacobs who started organizing them first in New York and later in Toronto. Today they’re organized worldwide on first weekend of May annually.  The idea is to get the people to discover the neighbourhoods of their cities in a new light. Anyone who wants to share their knowledge and experience can volunteer to organize one and anyone who wants to learn more can join in for free. Here in Montréal there were over 100 different walks to choose from during in three days all over the city.

I took one in the neighbourhood where I live in, the lively and lovely Mile End which I’ve become very fond of over the passed months. During the two hour long walk I was never further from my front door than maybe just a few blocks but still I learnt so many interesting and fascinating facts about this neighbourhood. The theme was street art which  “is anonymous and the entire city is its canvas”. Totally recommend everyone to check their neighbourhoods and cities by joining Jane walks next year! I’m definitely gonna do the same next year, wherever I’ll be. 

For more information: http://www.janeswalk.org/

One of the landmarks of Mile End.

Lisbon Tips vol. II

DON’T COME HERE DURING WINTER ... AND NOT 

ESPECIALLY IN THE SPRING

Despite of being the sunniest capital in Europe winter which means from November ’till February is chilly, windy and rainy. The problem is not the temperature but the humidity and the fact that houses aren’t heated. Spring is not only rainy but super rainy. There can be 30 rainy days in one months trust me. March-April are is the worst time to visit here. Unless of course you like the rain.

 Photo of Kerry Murray! 

NO SPECIAL COFFEES (they have their own)

Portugal has a very strong coffee culture so they don’t need frappuccinos and fancy lattes – they have their own and they keep it simple. In the center you can find Starbucks and other international coffee shops but in general the traditional portuguese way is clearly more popular here especially among the locals. Take a look here how to order a portuguese coffee:

https://lisboasecreta.co/made-in/15-formas-de-pedir-cafe-em-lisboa-o-guia-que-te-faltava/

(not my pic)

PORTUGUESE FOOD AIN’T SPANISH FOOD OR ANYTHING SPICY (my opinion obviously)

A lot of people confuse this or expect these countries have similar food culture – not. They have the same ingredients but the way of using them is clearly different. Seafood is obviously in especially codfish in which there are over 300 recipes to cook it. Fish in general comes in all forms of cooking. Sardines seem to be another big hit. They use spices but carefully. Olive oil is the queen of portuguese cuisine and the local one is told to be the best in the world. Eggs are popular also so don’t wonder if you’ll find an egg on your steak or in your burger. The local cheese of goat’s or sheep’s milk are worth trying for.

ELECTRICITY AND TECHNOLOGY IS EXPENSIVE

When living in here even though many things are cheaper than elsewhere in Europe, housing is not of those things. Rents are a one thing but like having electricity and Internet + other technology is expensive. ”Bill included or not” are usually mentioned for a reason in the adds when rooms are being rented.

LISBON IS NOT A BEACH DESTINATION

To get to the beach you have to take a train or bus (1h-) depending which beach you wanna go to. There’s no beach in Lisbon. I’m sorry! 

METROS RUN BETWEEN 10MIN AND THIS IS NORMAL

When I left Helsinki they had just renewed the metro timetable so that during the rush hour there’s a metro every two minutes. In Lisbon the normal waiting time is 10 minutes. Sometimes it’s shorter like 6 minutes but.. yeah. You don’t wanna have a minute schedule in this city.

Olaias Metro station (red line) - Not my pic!

PAY ATTENTION WHAT YOU PAY

Lisbon and Portugal are experiencing a huge tourism boom which has caused the price getting higher what comes to eating and drinking out + accommodation. I wish people while travelling would find out what is a normal price in a local range before buying a product with three times more expensive rate. But this is not a simple problem which would have a simple solution.

PEOPLE ARE HONEST AND ALWAYS APOLOGIZE

If you forget money on the machine or are given wrong amount of change back – people will come after you. Not that I wouldn’t keep a good care of my money but this goes for anything you might drop from your pocket or bag. But don’t think that pocket thieves or criminals don’t exist here! Another thing is if you bump into someone on the street or in the metro or wherever - make a gesture that you’re sorry and didn’t mean it. A simple gesture with a hand will do it. People appreciate this a lot in here.  

VEGETERIANS ARE A MINORITY

Portuguese food is all about the fish and meat so vegetarians especially if you’re a vegan are struggling to find a proper meal in the local restaurants. However people are quite flexible sometimes, they can prepare something outside of the menu aaand the vegetarian diet is quite trendy at the moment so there a growing number of restaurants that are specialized vegetarian dishes...even in Portugal. 

BOOKS, CD’S AND VINYLES STILL EXIST

The other side of the coin of Portugal being slow, traditional and old fashioned is that BOOKS, CD’S and VINYLS still very much exist unlike anywhere else where all the literature and music has gone online. Obviously there are plenty of strores that sell these things. This is what I love about Portugal!