A Smile, In Return To A Smile

LA NUIT BLANCHE

The event of the year or at least of my MTL year is just around the corner and I've made a list of activities I'd like to do during the night between March 1st and 2nd. 

I can't believe I was able to narrow it down to this short, out of over 200 activities all over the city! And these are admission free kind of stuff!! 

RENDER & REACT: APPROACH TO A SUBCONSCIOUS SENSORY SYSTEM: is an immersive installation by Tryggvadottir in which a moving “forest” is created out of coloured liquids trickling from organic sculptures. Little by little, the space and its objects are transformed by drops and textures. 

TRAVEL BY TRAMWAY AT THE OLYMPIC PARK! Exploring the Olympic Park with horse-drawn characteristic San Francisco trolleys!

OLD MONTREAL | OF ICE AND LIGHTS: Performances by ice sculptors, creating impressive illuminated works of art in the great wintry outdoors of mighty Place Jacques-Cartier.

VINYL SCRATCHING NIGHT

Vinyl “scratching” workshop in the studio space where public is able to create etchings on vinyl records, while listening to the music of a live DJ. Participants will be treated to a demonstration of intaglio printmaking and can take their own creations home with them.  

+ Food trucks are back!! 

In the tradition of the streets of San Francisco, food trucks are thriving at the Olympic Park! They're there every first Saturday of the month from La Nuit Blanche on so not a necessary thing to do now but.. 

+ Play at the City Hall 

Montreal as a gaming capital, featuring board and video games as well as quizzes are presented at the City Hall. The Hall of Honour in City Hall will be divided into a number of game stations. 

More info here: http://www.montrealenlumiere.com/nuit-blanche-en/default.aspx

100 years of Finland

Even though I left my country in hope to make a home for myself in somewhere else I am still inspired and fascinated by Finland’s character, history and beauty. Finland has been discussed widely this year because of our 100th anniversary of independence. Lonely Planet recently ranked Finland as the third best travel destination and the country gets credits for safety and education among others.

Below I’ve listed some destinations which I haven’t yet seen but would love to someday. Leaving out most of the capital Helsinki, charismatic and growing Tampere and snowy landscapes of Lapland (you’ll find your way there anyway), doesn’t mean I wouldn’t appreciate them but I just wanted to add here some less known attractions. They don’t come in any particular order.

YYTERI BEACH

When you think about the beach destinations or even warm travel destinations, Finland might not pop in your mind. However in the city of Pori, west coast of the country, there lays the longest beach (6km) of Finland and Nordic countries. The dune area stands out with its size in the whole of Europe.

KOLI NATIONAL PARK

There are 40 national parks in Finland situated in different parts of the country. Many of them which I’d like to visit. But to choose one I reperesent the one in North Carelia, near the city of Joensuu. Koli has a heavy cultural heritage background and despite of its beautiful landscapes its purpose is to protect the traditional agricultural heritage. This area in particular has been inspiration to famous Finnish artists such as Jean Sibelius and Eero Järnefelt.

OLD RAUMA

One of the Finnish Unesco World Heritage Sites (7 in total) Old Rauma is located in west coast of Finland. The wooden city center represents a typical nordic city with its buildings going back for 200 years. For the same atmosphere or a city scene, there’s also Old Porvoo which is somewhat smaller but still a worth a visit and probably easier to reach within one hour drive away from Helsinki.

ÅLAND

Åland islands are almost 7000 islands conisting archipelago at the Gulf of Bothnia. It’s an autonomous and the only monolingually Swedish-speaking region in the country. It has only one town, Mariehamn. This is a popular destination for cycling and boating but having been situated between Finland and Sweden it has also interesting historical sights regarding the two nations. We did a school trip here when I was twelwe years old but clearly I was too young to appreciate the oppurtunity.

OLAVINLINNA

Olaf’s Castle, built on an island, is one the several castles from Middle Ages in Finland. It’s located in the city of Savonlinna in the eastern part of the country. Today it’s the northernmost medieval stone standing being founded in the 15th century. The site is famous for hosting annually Opera Festival since 1912. The location is handy because you can add to your trip a visit in the lake Saimaa (the biggest lake in the country) and in the national parks near by. Similar destinations would be the Castle of Turku and Häme.

 PETÄJÄVESI CHURCH

Also one of the Finnish Unesco World Heritage Sites, is the old wooden church situated in Petäjävesi in the central part of the country. It’s a masterpiece of what comes to buildings made out of wood being built in the 18th century. It was forgotten for decades since the new church being built in the area but today the church is a popular site among tourists and weddings. Represents typical eastern Scandinavian but it has details containing gothic style also. We visited once here with my folks when I was a kid but the church was closed so couldn’t get inside. So still on my bucket list!

TURKU

Turku, the oldest city of Finland, founded on the 13th century on the southwest coast of the country. Once a capital during the Swedish era is a still significant center of growth in Finland. Praised as the official Christmas city and summer city with a great atmosphere and ferry connections to Stockholm and Åland islands. The former European Capital of Culture (2011) is a venue for several events for all sizes and tastes. Famous for its riverside, mediaval sites the church and the castle, also the achipelago is worth of a visit! Despite of all these merits I just haven’t got in to the Turku mode and haven’t seen its uniqueness besides the medieval attractions so Turku is definitely on my bucket list!

ISLANDS OF HELSINKI

Many tourists only see the most famous attractions such as the city center and Suomenlinna but the city has these great island destinations which I just adore! Some of them being opened pretty recently and offer get aways from the busy city life with their beaches, restaurants, charming cafes, sport facilities, nature and sea landscapes.

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.

Music is..

Not pictures this time :) But as a passionate music lover I’ve felt the urge for a quite a while actually to share a list of albums that have gone under my skin, given me chills or just simply lived with me during an important time of my life. These aren’t album reviews so please don’t read them as such. I can only talk about what’s been like to listen to them. These are albums where the pleasure to listen is complete from the first seconds ‘till the very end. No fear of the unnecessary songs. I have a tendency to prefer female singers over men and not many male artists have managed to impress me with their work. 

Some of them have been more successful commercially than others but that’s not the reason why I’m talking about them. Most of them are from recent years which you could also conclude that these are the times when I’ve grown the most emotionally. This is pure POP music! There might be hints of rock in them, sometimes theatrical even dramatical, electronic sounds but mainly this is pop music. So if you don’t enjoy it, this might not be your thing. Some of these albums are made by artists I adore and follow religiously, others not but I gotta give credit for an album well made. The ten albums appear in an alphabetical order. 

ARIA (2002) by Gianna Nannini

This is THE album that I discovered the queen of Italian rock music given to me by cousin. At first listen I was doubtful but was won over by her talent and extraordinariness. Respect that the woman has been doing proudly, loudly and openly her thing for almost 40 years in music business. Years go by, even decades but she always sounds good. So does this album.

Aria was her 17th album to date, filled with electronical twists and sounds which make it stand out from the rest of her production. Don’t let the calmness of the title track ‘Aria’ fool you, there’s a lot aggression, pain (Meravigliosamente crudele) and speed (Volo, Immortale) on this album. Even haunting tunes (Crimine d’amore) can be heard but also lighter, catchier beats and rhythms (Mio, Battiti e respiri) when ‘Sveglia’ is wonderfully awakening.

Key track

D’EUX (1995) by Céline Dion

This one is a timeless classic. Forget the artistic and musical image that the name Céline Dion holds. In my opinion Dion has always been better in French. Just simply because there’s more thought in her production in her native than in her English albums. The songs are written especially for her and her voice is used in a much more diverse way. D’eux is the finest example of this. Almost the entire album is made by Jean-Jacques Goldman who before writing music to the French-Canadian star got to know her through interviews, earlier production and meetings so that he’d know what kind of music to write for Dion.

Everyone should listen to this. It’s by far the most diverse album of these ten I’m listing but also among Dion’s production. Discover her singing jazz (Le ballet), catchy guitar pop (Destin), rock (J’irai oú tu iras) but also more fragile, personal, delicate performances (Vole). D’eux refers to male persons and it means ‘from them’. It can be understood to indicate the male songwriters with or without Dion. In 2007 a female version was made in the form of D’elles (from them) which refers to the album’s female songwriters with or without Dion. A beautiful experience also!

Key track

FLAMINGO (2010) by Brandon Flowers

Never been a fan of The Killers, the famous rock band that Brandon Flowers is known for originally. That might be the reason why I love him as a solo artist cause his musical style by himself is far deeper than the rock band production. For me, this is pop music at its best. The music is often light (Only the young, Swallow it) so you can easily get lost in its sounds without paying attention to the fact that many of them carry somewhat heavy theme. There’s something 80’s kind of style also involved (Crossfire). It’s ridiculously real somehow (Jilted lovers & broken hearts). There are moments when I find Flowers as a playful and careless as a little boy but then as serious as an only grown man can be. He has also an exceptional song writing skills in lyrics. He reaches the essence of loss, love and life with small words and gestures in his singing. Personally, I find ‘Playing with fire’ as one of the greatest songs ever written. The intro, for over one minute long prepares you for the words that will sweep off your feet.

Key track

INEDITO (2011) by Laura Pausini

I assume everybody knows how big LP fan I am and it was seriously hard work to choose only one album that has made an impact. Because for me they’ve all made an impact, some more than others and in different ways. Instrumentally I think this is one of the most diverse album from her..I could listen just the instrumental versions of these songs and still be blown away. The use of flute and harmonica are like fresh winds among the orchestras and pop/rock tunes.

Inedito was the first LP album which it took me some time to understand. Back in 2011 I was in crossroads, lost and confused. To reach the things Pausini is singing about on this album I had to travel far and come back (Non ho mai smesso). It took me years to reach the soaring happiness of being alive like in ‘Benvenuto’ or ‘Le cose che non mi aspetto’ and be as grown as the woman in ‘Mi tengo’ who’s lost but also loved or truly see where the line goes (Bastava). I needed to feel the pain, hit the rock bottom and climb back up for these songs (Troppo tempo, Ognuno ha la sua mattita, Come vivi senza me). ‘Celeste’ dedicated to all the women trying to have a baby without success, is probably her most profound songs ever and the hope touches also those who don’t want any children. This is the album that comes after the storm, after you’ve struggled and realized that you’ve survived.

Key track

LE SECRET (2013) by Lara Fabian

I have some Lara Fabian albums in English and in French. I’m not a super fan but the voice does stop me. This album is a masterpiece. Piece of an art, from the beginning ‘till the last second. I find it brave to make such an album considering how the music industry works in these days. The gay community embraced the album since her performance of ‘Deux ils, deux elles’ in favour of equal rights of getting married. 

These songs are stories and Fabian has been writing all of them. I cannot name any of my favourites cause I refuse to ruin the pleasure of this album by cutting into pieces. It’s at its best when taken the time to be listened entirely from the start ‘till the end eyes closed. All the 17 tracks coming to one combination of music that’s pure perfection nevertheless it’s dramatic, theatrical, simple, fragile or almost silent. Just as an instrumental version this album would take your breath away and Fabian’s divine singing, voice and the French language are jewels in the crown.

Key track

LOVE SAVE THE EMPTY (2009) by Erin Mccarley

She’s one of the smaller artists I like since she hasn’t been truly discovered by the world even thou there’s something very Sara Bareilles or/and Sheryl Crow-kind of in her sound. Great discovery suggested by a great friend around 2010-2011. I remember listening to this album, which is her debut btw, while I was doing an Erasmus exchange in Spain. The playful, light melodies (Love save the empty, Sticky-sweet, Blue suitcase) accompanied my new exciting experience abroad, everything that was going on outside but the serious lyrics were telling what was happening in my head what was waiting for me at home (Gotta figure this out, Hello/goodbye, It’s not that easy). She is definitely worth following for.. Great things might happen.

Key track

MANA (2012) by Anna Eriksson

For many years my musical taste included only foreign music or music never sung in Finnish. Don’t know if it’s been the experiences abroad or have I grown to appreciate the artists/ songwriters in Finland and especially those who do it in Finnish. In these days, I gotta admit that songs sung in my native go deeper than in any other language. Anyroad…

Anna Eriksson is one of the most succesful female artists in the country since the 1990’s but it wasn’t until her 9th album called Mana caught my attention. She’s been mostly known as an ‘old peoples’ favourite if I may say so. Entirely produced and written by Eriksson herself, Mana is an impressive and big leap from the stuff she used to make before. It runs in deep (Kulje ohi, Orjantappuran ruusut) and dark waters (Jos mulla olisi sydän, Paha mies). It’s about staying alive (Sanokoot ne mitä vaan, Maailma palelee) and came out in the time when this was just what I needed. Musically it’s quite dramatic at times, accompanied by brilliantly her developed singing. A true break up-album if someone is in a need of one. Several videoclips of almost all the songs were published which I highly recommend also!

Key track

THE SEA (2011) by Melanie C

This might be the album that I’m most eager to talk about but I’m also the saddest for the too little success it has received. Again forget the name and image this artist has. Despite of the ups and downs Melanie C has experienced during her solo artist-career, by 2011 she had proved to be a gifted vocalist and songwriter. The Sea was her fifth solo effort nevertheless and perhaps the most ambitious one also. Big names worked with her on this album but also some long time collaborations.

Again released in 2011 when I was living an emotionally rich or poor, depends how you look at it, life. This was the music that was with me before and after my big turning point in life and managed to fill my emotional needs in both times. If it had been possible to worn out a music file in these days, I could have just done that with this record. These songs have travelled a long way with me. There are rockier, dancier tunes (Rock me, Think about it, Stupid game) but then more sensitive melodies (One by one) and then dramatic ballads that got even electronical (Enemy, Drown) and latin sounds (Weak). ‘All about you’ and ‘Get out of here’ represent the heavier side of the album. Another break up album… A great one and it’s such a shame that the wider audience didn’t find it.

Key track

UN ALUMNO MÀS (2014) by Melendi

Melendi is a rock artist from Spain whom I discovered roughly a year ago. And also his latest album Un alumno más.. love at first listen. He reminds me of Juanes but more rockier and jagged I guess, if you can say that. Don’t like his previous material thou he’s got some more special and rockier stuff if someone finds this too commercial.

There’s a lot of passion and drama on this album. In the music he’s chosen and the way he sings them. An artist that has a strong voice also in songwriting, I find a lot personality and humour in his texts but also an emotional and serious side. There are powerful ballads (La promesa, La saraluna), acoustic tunes (El amor es un arte, Posdata), playful melodies and beats (El gordo y el narco) 80′s kind of sounds (Septiembre, Cenizas en la eternidad) and more upbeat tracks (Tú de Elvis yo de Marilyn). Different instruments of guitars and relaxed, latin based rhythms are constantly present and of course that charm that only a Spanish man can have.

Key track

VAPAA JA YKSIN (2009) by Chisu

The last one! Chisu is a brilliantly talented Finnish artist who produces and writes her music mostly by herself. She’s just released her fourth album which was also an amazing piece of work and it was a really tight struggle to choose between these two. This is her second album and perhaps the most successful one also. She is unique in songwriting and she handles Finnish language in the way I’ve never seen anyone doing. She can be broken to pieces, as fragile as a fine glass or hitting back fiercely or have a wisdom of an old lady who’s seen it all. So are her songs and everybody has an opinion about her. You either love or hate her. There’s no between.

Vapaa ja yksin handles heartbreak, leaving and coming back... the uncertainty whether the choices you’ve made are right ones. The songs may start quietly, calmly, being very acoustic, stripped of everything unnecessary and then rise into this big storm with dramatic, electronic sounds (Lähtö, Etsijät). Or they may be ridiculously goofy and playful (Baden baden, Kerrasta poikki, Saaliit), deadly serious (Sama nainen), fragile acoustic performances (Yksinäisen keijun tarina) or theatrical drama (Miehistä viis, Muusa). As an artist and as a singer super-diverse, she is! I cannot praise enough of her singing and interpretation. It cannot get any deeper than that. Even the language barrier won’t stop the listener noticing the great talent, she is.

Key track

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy listening, in case some of these artists or albums caught your interest :)

Just realized that I haven’t published these yet. Last fall. Home. 

Tomorrow #pausini20th

Treasures of Lisbon streets! 

3 X

While living in Lisboa I’ve been reading this blog called ”Visual Diary” written by Finnish woman living in Lisboa. She writes about design, finnish and international but most of all life in Lisboa. She has nice pics and good point of views, tips about the city. And since I’m lacking inspiration and activity here copied this 3 x idea from one of her posts.

3x HAPPINESS

1.       My job.

2.       New WORKING bank account

3.       New friend(s)

I’ve been rolling in this cicle of negativity lately so here come the positive topics! Nevermind how depressive and hit down I get at the end of the day I’m always happy that I do what I do. It ain’t perfect and it has its down sides but I like the things that I work with and people I work with. Besides I have a new bank account, it’s portuguese and it works! No more need to transfer my money to my finnish account to have access to my funds. I’m also slowly starting to feel like having friends here. People who know this takes time. Good friends. Nice friends.

3x FEARS

1.       My parents dying

2.       Failure

3.       Addiction

And we move on straight to the other end. These are top 3 fears. The number one is obviously inevitable and realistic one. They are my only family and reason why I’d even go home in these days. And they have been good for me, been there for me when I’ve needed. Number two has clearly happened multiple times but still it’s one of the things I keep avoiding and fearing the most. Awful every time. Aaaaand I’ve had my share of alcohol and nicotine used by other people in my life so I hope never to be in a situation controlled by substances.

3X ARTISTS

1.       Laura Pausini

2.       Melanie C

3.       Gianna Nannini / Céline Dion

Gianna Nannini - Fenomenale 2017. 

I love music! I don’t know how to play it or sing it or anything else but boy do I love to listen. These are my favourites, some I’ve mentioned before here in my blog. Discover them if you already haven’t and don’t let prejudices control your mind too much.

3X LISBOA LOVES

1.       Colours/details

2.       Coffee shops everywhere

3.       Glasses and fanny bags

It would take a lifetime to discover all the details that are all over in this city… in the walls of the buildings inside and out. The windows, door and balconies. Equally interesting are the people who live here. Everything is rich in colours and shapes. Never have I ever seen a city filled with so many coffee shops. Besides of actual cafeterias – almost every book store and even car repair shop have a coffee maker and table for you to enjoy your afternoon espresso!

3X EXPERIENCES

1.       Montréal

2.       Meeting LP

3.       Spain

When I was kid I used to go through the geography books at the local library and read every sentence they said about the French speaking Canada. Château Frontenac was a sanctuary and I was a pilgrim making my way to Québec. Even after three years after my MTL experience I think of it as my proudest moment, biggest achievement and happiest time of my life to have been living there. Meeting Laura Pausini, was not part of the plan. I used to listen to her songs, over and over again. But she was distant, it took me years to have courage enough join her official Fan Club and even longer to attend her concert. Now after 23 years of being a fan I’ve met three times, who knew! Spain was unexpected factor also where I ended by a sudden, impulsive, random chain of events. Twice. In the most distinctive areas of the country that gave me life long friends and experiences.

Montréal, the best place on earth. 

3X FINLAND LOVES

1.       Ice cream

2.       Lakes

3.       Sauna

Here are the things that I adore in my country and that I always miss when I’m abroad. The most important obviosly there at number one. Finland is so under estimated as an ice cream destination. We do consume it almost the most in the world, you know! And coffee! Finland is obviously a summer destination with lakes and sauna on the list even though they’re great in the winter time also. But nothing is better than swimming in a finnish lake. The best sauna is at my god parents summer place.

Lahti, my hometown and lake Vesijärvi. 

3X HOBBIES

1.       Music

2.       Photography

3.       Gym

Music subject has been covered up there so let’s move to the photography. I’m not an arty person but I’m fascinated by the world through the lense. You can capture the big scene or focus on the small part of it. Afterwards change colours or bring out the shades to process what I’ve seen and maybe help people to see the beauty in ordinary things around us. Physical exercise is often seen quite shallow thing to do but for me it’s almost the same thing as sitting at a therapist couch. You go through things. You challenge yourself. And most of the times you return lighter home. Emotionally lighter for sure. 

Laura Pausini.

Here’s the Visual Diary blog for any Finnish speaking people who’re interested: http://www.lily.fi/blogit/visual-diary

How should voting system be changed in Eurovision?

So..... Community is buzzing about the results of the Grand Final and especially the voting system. I find it unlikely EBU wouldn’t change the system in somehow considering how huge is the people’s reaction and they did drop the juries from semifinals last year so... Anyhow here are some options. 

1. JURIES ARE DROPPED FROM EUROVISION ENTIRELY 

France 2023. 

I don’t think this will happen. First of all, there are too many delegations and countries that benefit from the jurers. Second, it wouldn’t change the problem. Last year folks were crying why Juries didn’t stop Ukraine winning with sympathy televotes. People don’t always know the best and we do make decisions based on politics etc soo.. Every year we’re not happy with either side of voting system but I do believe we need both sides to continue in the contest. 

2. JURIES PERCENTAGE WILL BE DROPPED 

Currently jurers hold 50% of the votes in the final (semifinals it’s only televote). In some national finals their percentage is less and people votes have more impact. If this scenario did happen, would it be 30%? 40%? 45%? 

Ukraine 2023. 

3. JURERS WILL BE INCREASED TO ADD DIVERSITY OF THE VOTES 

Currently there are 5 jurers / country. Would adding more people bring diversity of giving the points? Because they often are surprisingly aligned on their big favourites. They should be musical professionals or media professionals experticed in music industry and they’re not allowed to talk about the acts to each other or have any connection to the delegations, artists etc. 

4. BRINGING IN 3RD VOTES (TELESCOPIC)

Georgia 2023. 

Sanremo and Benidorm Fest use Telescopic votes. I think they have 15-25% impact to the final points. This might help to smoothe the biggest differences between audience and the jurers or make the final decision in some cases perhaps. 

5. KEEPING JURERS BUT MAKING JURY SHOW PERFORMANCES PUBLIC 

Currently only the audience that bought the tickets to Jury shows and press sees the actual Jury show. Would it be better to add visibility here by publishing the performances later on Youtube? 

Armenia 2023. 

6. KEEPING JURERS AND CHANGING CRITERIA 

So the current criteria being: 

Vocal capacity of the artist(s)

Performance on stage

Composition and originality of the song

Overall impression of the act

Every year the entries outside of pop genre seem to be receiving less Jury love. Jurers should represent different genres and parts of the industry though to appreciate rock, rap entries for example. I wonder is the singing overly hyped in the criteria and should there be different guidelines for it because you can’t judge pop song singing and rock song singing in the same way. 

7. KEEPING JURERS BUT MAKING THEM VOTE ALL THE ACTS 

Croatia 2023. 

Again to make the jury votes more even and less in favour for the big favourites only, would it help if they’d judge ALL the entries? Having limitations on how many 12 points etc you can give of course. This would also solve the zero points dilemma. 

8. KEEPING JURIES BUT CHANGING TELEVOTING TO VOTE 3 ACTS WITH THE SAME PRICE 

In Junior Eurovision public must choose 3 different acts I believe. Not sure how this would work but it would help diving the points instead of people voting for their one and only favourite. In years like these when we have such a strong televote favourites like Finland and Sweden, they tend to suck all the votes and there isn’t much left to anyone else. We saw the televote scores being quite small even for songs that were loved (Austria, Moldova, Czechia etc)

Portugal 2023. 

9. KEEPING THE JURIES BUT CHANGING TELEVOTING FOR FREE

They do this in Melodiefestivalen I think. They’ve built up an app just for voting where voting is free. Again people wouldn’t just vote for the number 1 favourite but several acts and this would also perhaps prevent the unpleasent zero points situations. 

What are your thoughts on the voting system in Eurovision and how would you change it?