Found These Random Shots On My Laptop... When It Was Still Summer But Cloudy.

Lahti sunsets from last May :) 

Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.

Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

Helsinki in December 2015.

Who will qualify from ESC SF2 in 2023?

Eurovision is on! Rehearsals are on! We’ve seen most of them performing at the multiple preparties and the first clips on Tiktok and Youtube are in!

It’s time to predict who will qualify on May 11th from Semifinal 2! These are my predictions based on the reactions, comments, listens and clicks in social media, Youtube and Spotify.

Some I will get right, others I may not probably a lot because this is Semifinal 2 with less big fan favourites - However, that’s the risk you will take by continuing reading this.

1. Denmark - Reiley - Breaking my Heart

Reiley is a major Tik Tok star which might be perhaps one of the reasons why he is opening this semi. In Denmark we heard him performing with heavy autotune and the studio cut wasn’t any better but in the rehearsals clips his singing wasn’t that bad actually. They do have a clever staging prop, house like and Reiley is walking through each room - he’s wearing a pink outfit (ESC23 trend). Reminds me a bit of Snap last year. However, in the longer snippet the stage feels a bit empty and his performance in my opinion is not filling it enough.

I kind expected this to become viral or to have some sort of buzz but he’s quite low with views and listens online, there wasn’t much talk (no good or bad) at the preparties either. The song sounds like it starts in the middle and continues like that for the next 3min. So obviously not my personal fave this one. Is Tik Tok generation gonna vote for him? I have doubts. I say OUT. 

2. Armenia - Brunette - Future Lover

Brunette’s music video was already high quality and therefore quite promising. The song has fairly good views and listens in different platforms which indicates that it does have a growing fandome and interest. 

Visually this reminds me of Bulgaria 21 (Victoria) and I see it being memorable and strong enough to break the cursed spot number 2 position. Vocally she seems also on point in the rehearsal clips. I say IN. 

3. Romania -  Theodor Andrei -  D.G.T. (Off and On)

There aren’t many entries that we can say that are surely out but Romania unfortunately is. The guy is 18 years old and rumour has it the song was his school project. He can sing allright and he clearly has a passion. Personally I’m not connecting with this song and I know not many are. The song itself seems messy, his performance to be honest a bit cheap with the dancers and now with his changed pink outfit (we have a lot this year) he will not stand OUT. 

4. Estonia - Alika - Bridges

This is perhaps the best or at least one of the best ballads of ESC23. Dramatic, theatrical but also a little cold. She sings amazingly no doubt. 

The staging seems to be loyal to EestiLaul, she has her piano, similar outfit and structure how she performs on stage - but alone. I wonder if the stage is too empty even though I enjoy the visuals that LED screens are providing. This can fail but I want to believe so IN. 

5. Belgium -  Gustaph - Because of You 

Gustaph has been one of the raising stars of this season, selected quite early on last winter. This is catchy, super 90′s - and it works in my opinion, LED screens are showing the lyrics, Gustaph and his backing vocals / dancers are having fun on stage which will sure come across to the audiences at home. IN.  

6. Cyprus -  Andrew Lambrou -  Break a Broken Heart

This is a decent pop song with a beautiful man singing well - it offers nothing new but what it does it does it well This reminds me of Estonia 2021, it didn’t go through though so bad example but as a song type and a bit visually. 

He sings well. On the stage he’s alone but his presence does fill it. I usually don’t lean on too much whose neighbours are in which semi but Greece is in semi II so... I’m pretty confident this will go to the final. IN. 

7. Iceland -  Diljá - Power

This girl is so full of enery and POWER. There’s a lot of love for this I know even though personally I’m not connecting with this. She’s in a such great physical form obviously but I find her movements and dancing a bit weird even though they might show off her power indeed. The visuals are better on the LED screen what they were in Iceland but I do wonder does the stage look empty? The vocals she nails every time though. 

Iceland does struggle usually to get through - they don’t have loyal neighbours who would back up them and even other Nordics tend to find them weird. I have too many doubts - OUT. 

8. Greece -  Victor Vernicos -  What They Say

Victor’s indie pop song starts a bit slowly. The energy is great at its best but you need to wait for it. Visually I like the colour choices here (anything but red please!) and the lightning effects do work well. I’m not super on board about the wardrobe choice and his jumping - even though it’s age appropriate as he’s 16 years only. But maybe this will appeal more to the younger generation. On the LED wall they also use his own face being reflected - which seems to be somewhat a trend also in ESC 2023. His pronounciation has improved though.

However, Greeks tend to receive votes annyally from their neighbours (Cyprus especially) which might save them even with a weaker song. I see enough potential here so IN. 

9. Poland - Blanka - Solo

This is the hit for summer 2023! Not my personal favourite but this has been elevated a lot by the staging. The colours, visuals (especially on the floor) highlight the summer theme and as a song this is instantly catchy. 

They’ve also added a dance break + wardrobe change which I think work better than in Israel’s performance this year from Semi I. This is IN. 

10. Slovenia - Joker Out - Carpe Diem

Right after the release of the Carpe Diem this grew quickly to become a fan favourite. There’s a lot of positive, free, catchy energy here which will come across despite of not being sung in English. The rehearsals and preparties have proved how the band has charisma and confidence to carry this through. During the clips we don’t see any big props or tricks on the stage except the Carpe Diem reflected in the background - simplicity works here the best. 

I’m slightly put off by the pink outfits as we have some this year. However, potential Top 10 in the Final. IN! 

11. Georgia - Iru - Echo

Georgia often joins the party but their efforts are often not memorable in Eurovision. Not this year. Iru’s vocals are amazing, lyrics not so much but this song is hell of a stormy ballad. The staging supports this with lots of wind I like the so called waterfall LED screens behind her. The white outfit with red lips is divine. 

The idea of the song and performance is not complicated but this is a fine example how simplicity sometimes works the best when performed by a true professional. She slays this easily to the final and will bring Georgia its best ESC result to date for sure. IN. 

12. San Marino -  Piqued Jacks - Like an Animal

We have a few rock entries in this semi. San Marino however offers perhaps the weakest of them unfortunately. Another red theme here, they seem to lean on the rockers charisma but as a song it’s not memorable and catchy in the same way as Slovenia and Australia are. He sings well, they sound good, the lights effects work what we saw from the rehearsal clips. 

However, this doesn’t enjoy much of the ESC hype, love, interest based on the clicks and San Marino has struggled in the past to qualify. I don’t see this year being different unfortunately. OUT. 

13. Austria -  Teya & Salena -  Who the Hell Is Edgar?

These girls don’t take themselves seriously. Their song reflects the same attitude. Instantly catchy, memorable - no one can stop themselves to “poe, poe, poe..” after hearing this. They have a good use of the stage here. It is red theme again but it’s detailed and well executed, we have Edgar Allan Poe face in the background, the girls’ styling is on point, the movements that they do make sense. Clearly a lot of planning and thought has gone into this staging. 

I can’t say nothing bad about this. Probably a winner of Semi II. IN. 

14. Albania -  Albina & Familja Kelmendi - Duje

Albania is every year the first official entry for a new ESC season. Very often I end up supporting them because their songs are high quality, ethnic and tell  a story. Not this year. I’m not connecting with this. And based on the clicks and views, listens not many do.

When Albania hasn’t had a red staging in Eurovision? It’s their national colour but after San Marino and Austria’s red performances... this might not stand out. Albina performs her emotional, dramatic song with her family. I struggle to recognize Albina from the rehearsal clip to be honest but on the other hand she is the only one properly styled compared to the family. We have lots of split ends here and I’m deeply concerned for Albania. I say OUT. 

15. Lithuania -  Monika Linkytė - Stay

My ESC guilty pleasure for 2023 season. I like this one a lot. The gospel kind song and Monika is easy to approach. They’ve transferred the same staging from Lithuania to Liverpool but everything is bigger and brighter. I love how Monika and the background singers have been styled - visually this is beautiful.

Vocally she nails it - no concern. As a song, this tends to start a bit slowly. This is the entry which I’m most doubtful about if it will go through or not. It might. It might not. I say OUT. 

16. Australia - Voyager - Promise

Voyager tried to get their feet wet at ESC already last year but instead became a runner-up in Australia Decides. Their current song Promise is constantly being compared to last year’s Dreamer which perhaps was a bit more impactful.

However, their live staging is full of rock’n roll and high energy. They know what they’re doing and the lead singer is very charismatic. This is load enough which I believe will not be unnoticed by the voters. IN. 

Did you agree with my choices? Or disagree with my opinions? Who do you think will qualify from Semifinal 2? Talk to me in the comments below!

Treasures of Lisbon streets! 

UMK 2020

After two years of selecting internally our representative YLE has gone back to have an open competition. Out of the 400 songs sent out, the final 6 artists with their songs were released in January. I feared the worse and hoped for the best. But compared to many other years material we’ve had this is a gigantic leap to the right directions. Here are my thoughts (the songs appear in the order of their release) - please click the link in the title of the song to listen the tracks.

Saara Aalto represented Finland in 2018 as internally selected artist.

1. TIKA - I LET ME HEART BREAK 

THE power ballad. The X-Factor winner 2018 in Finland is specialized in them and she has a voice for it! However I feel something is missing. It has the right structure but it’s missing some filling. Surprisingly it has kept in the race within the ratings on Youtube (almost 200 000 views) and Spotify (over 120 000 streamings) making it the third most popular UMK entry this year. I haven’t lost my faith though and I’ll give the live version a chance. 

2. ERIKA VIKMAN - CICCIOLINA

The most buzzed about. The song special theme (Italian porn star /politician whose story gave the name for the song) has received attention international and national along with the headlines. I’m bothered by Erika’s poor English skills though and her mispronunciation of the title. However I find her way from the Finnish tango scene to the pop sky interesting. It has a nostalgic Euro/ Finnish pop vibe but doesn’t represent the 2020 scene of either of them - it can be a pro or a con. The song sounds just out dated and something that Finns have been sending to ESC for decades with a little success. I find it difficult to understand why would we be going back for that. However it has a catchy chorus though. Unfortunately general opinion is against me and Cicciolina has been viewed over 1 million times on Youtube and streamed on Spotify  over 1200 000 times. I just hope that these people click the song out of curiosity for once and will not be voting for it. Even though the international ESC bloggers seem to excited about it too. I really stand alone. 

In 2014 Softengine brought Finland our best result (11th in the final) since Lordi’s victory (2006).

3. AKSEL KANKAANRANTA - LOOKING BACK 

Our only male entry. This was the first one I actually liked. Well produced but tt could go further though. I wish they’d update it a bit or the live version will give it much needed kick. I really like his singing! He is fairly popular also among UMK 2020 entries - viewed over 200 000 times on Youtube and streamed almost 200 000 times on Spotify. 

4. F3M - BANANAS

I understand why people wouldn’t like this but that’s exactly why I do! It’s a bit goofy,definitely catchy but also annoying. The song has some definite hooks that will be playing in your head all day but I wonder is it too forgettable? And people like this! Not doing bad on bloggers lists and on Youtube + Spotify considering. 

5. SANSA - LOVER VIEW 

Hate to say this but the loser of the crowd. A very unlikely winner. It doesn’t interest people. However Sansa’s song was the one I was the most excited about beforehand because of the dance and electronic style. It’s nicely produced but too light and easy. I wish there would be something to catch me properly. A great ac companion for a run or to the gym but perhaps that is its biggest problem. The most annoying thing is that I get it why they’ve left the song like this because I understand people who like music without too much drama or screaming. 

6. CATHARINA ZUHLKE - ETERNITY

She competed in UMK 2017 and is back for another round. The first time I heard her song Eternity I knew this was it! From the Perfect Villain to a perfect pop song! However I’m afraid that it might be too predictable and that’s why it hasn’t become a Youtube/ Spotify favourite (or is  it because she was released last). I really hope the live goes well for this one. I’m hopeful based on the positive comments and the mix of two genres (slow ballad in the beginning to catchy euro pop in the end). 

The representitive will be selected tonight at 9pm (finnish time). Make sure you’ll be voting for your favourite(s)!

UMK artists 2020.

And...more!

Less known Lisboa. Monsanto park and Marvila. Worth stepping out of your normal path. 

Fed up with winter.. Longing for summer even if it is cloudy and rainy. Took these last year in Kuopio while I was working in Wine Festival over there... btw going again this year also!