Part Deux: Another Round Of Shots Taken By Me All Over Helsinki. Obsessed With The Waterfront, Blackandwhite

Random Helsinki.

More Cabo da Roca and Praia da Ursa

10 things I DON’T wanna see in ESC 2023

The new Eurovision season is slowly kicking in and first countries are already releasing their national selection contents! And it’s time to set things straight with the passed season and things I’d hope would be improved for ESC 2023! 

10. Tik Tok exclusive 

ESC did a different approach in 2022 with sharing the media content from the rehearsals instead through Youtube but via Tik Tok. I understand the clips being more secretive because the public feedback is brutal towards the product that is not finished and especially when it’s the artist’s first rehearsal on ESC stage. 

However, I’d keep Youtube as equal social media channel and avoid favoring anyone over another. I know EBU wants to expand the viewer age range towards more younger and keep up with its time but this just didn’t feel right. 

9. No zero points

This is a real crime each year. From the audience side more difficult to predict and prevent but from professional juries... Switzerland, Azerbaijan and Germany were the 0 point countries and I find this so hard to believe that no one appreciated the singing, originality, staging in any of these three performers. 

8. Green room interviews back please

Italy did ESC in their own way and that was their prerogative but it was obvious the country doesn’t have the experience and connection with the show. Lacking Green Room interviews almost entirely and not having their own host as in previous years was a void that wasn’t filled. 

7. No hosts mistakes!

In the same breath I could say that ... the hosts’ script wasn’t the best. The chemistry between Alessandro, Laura and Mika didn’t come across. I knew it was there. I love Laura but her personality and sense of humour didn’t get to shine. There were clear hiccups along the show which the biggest were hosts getting confused with the country names. There’s no excuse for that. This is the biggest music TV show in the world, you’ll learn the 40 countries names and flags. Period. 

6. The winner of previous year not giving the trophy to the new one

This is a tradition in ESC as it is in many other contests. This gives such a wrong image about the previous winner’s relationship towards the contest and I do see it as part of carrying through your “ESC winner duty” to pass the title to the next one. 

This didn’t happen this year. And it looked bad in every way. 

5. The previous year’s winner not singing their winning song at ESC 2023

As in the previous, there are certain traditions that shouldn’t be broken. This seemed like Måneskin didn’t want to bother with ESC this year and they used it to promote their new song. They didn’t want to remember the winning moment or even the song. Be present and part of ESC 2022. I repeat: this felt bad. 

4. Fan community media being excluded! 

Obviously being an active follower of several fan community web sites and bloggers I was dying to know my favourite ESC bloggers opinions on the rehearsals, on the site, how everything was... 

This didn’t happen. Not in the way as in previous years. They didn’t have the right to produce the content freely in the premises of the contest, limiting live content and their access to it. This was EBU decision and not so much RAI (Italian broadcaster).

3. Have a back up plan for technical hiccups

Okay the sun which was the major element of the ESC 2022 stage.. not working as it should be wasn’t exactly a small hiccup. However, not having a a proper back up plan was beyond disappointing to viewers and telegations and to be honest a complete lack of professionalism by the event organizers. 

It was just there - this big black hole. The black sun expression was very on point

2.  Semi-final 2 voting scandal among jurers

It was really hard to choose between number 1 and two as they were both very severe crimes we saw in ESC this year. I believe in juries. I don’t always agree with them but I don’t find the 100% public vote simple and the best and that’s why the PROFESSIONAL juries are there. To appreciate good singing, songwriting, staging - efforst being made that the audience might miss or not vote for. 

Having jury votes being tampered like this was unforgiveable and no wonder the ESC voting has been changed (probably due to this). 

1. No online bullying of the artist

Ronela said it, no one comes for this contest to be bullied. Everyone believes in their performance and does their best and it’s a question of personal taste often what you think of the result.

This is obviously part of bigger problem how people treat each other online and especially people they don’t know hiding behind the anonymous usernames. I wish the community would grow to become more loving and respectful when commenting someone’s work. 

What do you want to or don’t want to see in ESC 2023? 

I just found these doors fascinating! Loving the details in this city!

I lived in the city of Montréal in French Canada for a year 2013-2014. Somewhat a month before my departure to back home I headed out to city’s Old Port at the crack of dawn to capture the morning light. This was before my Nikon time so these photos were taken with my regular Sony camera. 

This was the Sunday morning when Formula 1 event was in town within 8 million tourists and there was not a soul apart from me, my friend and a couple of fishermen.. 

UMK 2023 Song review - Portion Boys

The hype is very real around Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the Finnish national selection for Eurovision and the race to Liverpool continues with glam rock anthem!

Portion Boys - Samaa taivasta katsotaan

Portion Boys have been around for a while. They originally started from Youtube back in 2010 and by releasing regurarly singles slowly but surely made theirselves a name in Finland. Especially the few last years have been succesful for them. They’ve become known as a positive dance-pop group with a lots of personality. 

Samaa taivasta katsotaan represents quite well the band’s musical repertoire and style. It offers a great ending to UMK23 series (as it was released as the seventh and the last track) and also to UMK23 show on February 25th. This is a very rich song, we have several elements and genres mixed in this one and it is the thing that might keep the viewer hooked for the entire 3 minutes but it might also be the thing that breaks charm.

I get the feeling of the song trying too hard. It’s trying to please everyone - we have the rock rap, anthem like instrumental parts, heavy metalish screaming going on. Even the lyrics mention several countries and make references in foreign languages. It’s a mess and it’s up to one’s personal taste whether it’s a mess for your taste. 

The song reminds a bit of Eurovision Movie: Fire Saga by its vibes and with its to be honest Eurovision clichés. Even reference to Latvian Pirates in 2008 has been made in social media. There’s a certain sillyness in here but also the spirit of becoming one despite all our differences. Usually these kind of entries haven’t done very well in ESC.

However,  this might be one of the rare UMK23 entries that I do not wish to advance to ESC. On another year yes but not in 2023 when we have better options. However, I have to admit it does hold the strongest hook in UMK23. This might go against the lovers of Cha Cha Cha as it musically and spiritually stands completely on the other side of the edge. However, I can see this becoming a true Finnhit classic and bringing people together on the dancefloor.

What do you think of the seventh UMK23 track and would you vote for Portion Boys’ Samaa taivasta katsotaan to go all the way to Liverpool? UMK final takes place on February 25th!

UMK 2024 Song Review - Vox Poppuli

The hype is very real around Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the Finnish national selection for Eurovision and the race to Malmö ends with another rap entry!

Mikael Gabriel x Nublu - Vox Poppuli

Mikael Gabriel is one of the best known Finnish artists who started his career back in 2007 and has since released 7 studio albums and multiple smash hits. He's had more number #1s than one can count!

A big name UMK audience has been requesting to participate to the contest for years.

His mother is estonian which might explain why he is collaborating now with Nublu, highly succesful rap artist in Estonia. This is surely one of the most interesting UMK entries this year.

Vox Poppuli means in Latin the voice of the people. The song begins with eurodance entry but moves quickly to the 90's / 2000's rock-pop sound that will continue throughout the song. This reminds me of Blink 182 or similar rock band. There's a young energy here despite of its nostalgic sound for older generation.

As a rap song and as a non-rap music fan - this might be the least irritating of the rap songs in UMK24 - also even though musically this seems to be a bit tedious, one note kind of thing, I think this is delivering the crazy fun act better than Windows95man which had kind of similar idea with his performance. I like the choir a lot! Also points for Nublu's rap part in Estonian and not in English.

This has already become somewhat a domestic hit gathering views on Youtube and streams on Spotify. This is easy to listen even though not your cup of tea, it's radio friendly with a catchy memorable chorus and therefore a potential UMK winner. Also MG enjoys a loyal and young fandom so it is expected them to pick up their phones and vote on Saturday night.

Video clip keeps you hooked and we can expect a crazy staging at Nokia Arena at Tampere!

What do you think of the seventh UMK24 track and would you vote for Mikael Gabriel x Nublu to go all the way to Malmö? UMK final takes place on February 10th!

Cinnamon buns, endless summer nights, and saunas. What more could you want?

To do

I’ve been living in MTL for almost four months now. My internship will end within a month and after that I’m gonna face the reality. I need a job, a real one, which they’ll actually pay me doing for. If I don’t find one I’ve been thinking of moving to Toronto where my crappy French won’t be a problem. Going home would be a wise thing to do since I still have my thesis and some courses left to do. But I hate to have my visa which is valid until next summer to go waste. And besides there are still tons of things I want to see and do here.

Below of my development in my to do-list:

Go up the Mont-Royal, visit old town of MTL, main sights etc.

Number of museums of MTL visited: 2

Eat Poutine 

(Poutine -

French fries with with a light brown gravy-like sauce and cheese curds)

Eat Smoked Meat-sandwich

Discover the cool neighbourhood of Mile End and Plateau (never enough thou)

Visit Jean-Talon Market

Survive canadian winter

To make a phone call using the old fashioned pay phone - silly I know but I've never used one! 

Drink beer (québecoise)

Eat bagels

(The famous bagel store where I go - not so often thou anymore - and which is just around my corner)

Learn French and being able to understand Québecois accent (working on it)

Do some ice-skating/snow shoeing or whatever winter outdoor activity while I’m here (and nevermind that I could do this in Finland as well! I'm convinced that it's more fun in here than there..)

Write my first cheque (silly I know but we don't have them anymore)

Visit a National Park (any will do, as long as it has that classic “Canadian nature” scenery with the lakes and mountains)

(This is what I wanna see! Summer's not necessary)

Visit Québec City

Discover true Toronto

Watch an ice hockey match

See a real canadian mountie

Visit Niagara Falls

Visit Ottawa

Events:  Picnik Elektronik

                        Igloofest

                        Fête des Neiges

                        Festival de la lumière & Nuit Blanche

                        Laura Pausini concert

                        Pride Parade

                        Tam Tams (free music event at Mont Royal)

UMK25 Song Review: Sekaisin

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) is back and stronger than ever! We have seven new artists ready to compete for the trophy and the ticket to Basel in May! The third song keeps the quality strike even!

Costee - Sekaisin

Costee is man of 100 million streams and three studio albums under his belt. So a very familiar name in the Finnish music scene!

He started learning music at the age of 8 and he started his career in a band called Sima. His own record deal he signed in 2017 and it's been one hit after another since that. Now days he runs his own record company.

He is known to be an emotional man who is not afraid to be open. He tends to be into darker sounds and vision but lately there has been a more hopeful tune in his music. His UMK entry Sekaisin also fits into this description.

Sekaisin holds a strong contrast to the previous UMK25 entry Nelli's Hitaammin Hautaan. This one is dark with a good elektrobeat. The start is promising, building strongly.

1st chorus works but after that it goes downhill. It doesn't deliver the beginning's promises which is a damn shame.

A lot of people compare this to Benjamin from 2023 with his Hoida Mut but this doesn't reach the same hights and catch you in the same intensity.

Personally I'm not crazy about his voice and I think he pronounces lazily. But there is love for this one as it still holds top20 spot in Spotify Finnish charts so even if he's not winning the trophy he will be fine after UMK.

What do you think of the third UMK25 track and what are the chances of Costee to advance to ESC? Talk to me in the comments below!