Our Conchita's Even started a Home Shopping DayChannel

Seriously,          this must be the first Eurovision Contest winner of recent times, who has taken a whole year, 12 long months-  to prepare, and record, and select songs for her debut Album. We know by now just how amazing Conchita has been since back in May 2014 when she took the Eurovision prize.
In her own words she explains, and truly it's almost her own day-time shopping channel !
We luv U.

                                     'It's for you'  available in Australia now

Vienna Favorites- Russia: +Introducting Kat Vinter (Australia)

                   One song that has grabbed alot of attention in Vienna during the rehearsals is Russia's 'A Million Voices' among a million ballads (well it seems like..) this song manages to really stand out from the rest at Eurovision Song Contest 2015.
The song is sung by Polina Gagarina, an actress, model and songwriter, who's family settled in Athens, Greece. She won Russia's Star Factory in 2003 and has since enjoyed a few hits and two best selling album in Russia. Polina is all set to impress the audience in Vienna, and I think she will just walk through Semi Final 1 to the Grand Final. If not, well with a name like Polina she is perfect to join the schlager team 'Dolly Style' (who need a new girl- I believe)

                  Just behind Polina on stage will be another powerful new artist from Australia no less! and one of the main songwriters of 'A Million Voices' so Guy Sebastian will not be alone at all.

           -Kat, is she counting how many 12 points can my song get in Vienna?

Kat Vinter (Katrina Noorbergan) is from Sydney, Australia, she has done alot of dance-trance tunes vocals in past few years. As well as being a singer/songwriter in her own right. Kat's recent massive claim to fame, is that she has co-wrote 9 songs for Lena (Satellite, ESC 2010) brand new album 'Crystal Sky' This is Lena's fourth album and seems to be a change in direction for luvly Lena, and should go down well in Europe this month. (We Luv Lena)

This year Russia seem to have really come up with a very strong song, powerful that looks like a serious contender for the Eurovison title. Who can really forget just last year at Eurovision 2014- with all the negative press, and audience reaction in Copenhagen.  Russia's song 'Shine' was not, I felt  a strong memorable song yet was still placed in 7th place with 89 points.
This year looks to be very different we think, and with some aussie magic anything could happen. It is Eurovision after all, and already that Top 5 scoreboard looks rather crowded to me!

Check out some more tunes by songwriter Katrina (Aussie) here:
http://katvinter.com

                              I am Polly- 

Vienna Favourites Italy 2015 -In Review

It was back in February that Italy confirmed this year's San Remo winner Il Volo would take up the Eurovision golden ticket. So we have been listening to this tune for a while, certainly it was a grower and has stayed with me all this time, I have even given a couple of Il Volo albums a spin on the i phone! as you do. Their 2011 debut was the best, and very sold well internationally so Eurovision would have not been an obvious choice for the boys.

'Grande Amore' has an instant appeal and although it's not a Eurovision tune in the traditional Euro schlager-sense. It is not so far removed from the show, as has been the case with pop opera tunes at Eurovision in the past. Yet I like the song but I have this nagging feeling it could go down the same road as France's Amaury with a 'Sognu' moment, and end up being a favourite that didn't really make the grade.

It would be great to have an Italian win for the Eurovision 60th year and Roma for 2016, yet somehow I predict maybe another 7th placing for the Italians in Vienna.

Melodifestivalen 2015-In Review & My Top 20

It was Christer Bjorkman himself who said it takes at least 6 months after the grand Melodifestivalen, before you know which songs have been the years best. Very true, and if we look at the music/record buying swedes charts. We see Mans "Heroes" is still around in the chart at 15, along with Hasse Andersson's big svenska hit "Guld och grona skogar". Plus the summer hit "Groupie" from Samir & Viktor are still hanging around. I think it was a wonderful Melo season with some great tunes and classic comebacks. So here is

My own Melodifestivalen 2015 -Top 20
  according to schlagertunes

1 Heroes - Måns Zelmerlöw
2 Möt mig i Gamla stan - Magnus Carlsson
3 Make Me (La La La)-  Dinah Nah
4 Groupie- Samir & Viktor
5 Sting- Eric Saade
6 Don't say No- Midnight Boy
7 Hello Hi - Dolly Style
8 Don't Stop Believing- Mariette
9 I'll be fine- Molly Pettersson Hammar
10 Guld och gröna skogar- Hasse Andersson
11 One by One- Elize Ryd & Rickard Söderberg
12 Forever starts today- Linus Svenning
13 Jag är fri- Jon Henrik Fjällgren
14 Can't Hurt Me Now- Jessica Anderson
15 Nonetheless- Sanne Salomonsen & Marie Bergman
16 If I was God for One Day- Neverstore
17 Don't Stop- Iza
18 Det rår vi inte för (Featuring Victor Crone)- Behrang Miri
19 I see you- Kristin Amparo
20  Black Swan- Caroline Wennergren

                            'See you next year'- Dolly Style & Dinah Nah...

Back in time for Vienna - and all the Euovis- fun + Australia.

We still find it hard to believe Eurovision have built a bridge all the way to Australia! It's a wonderful idea and it's been over whelming to hear so many positive responses to Australia taking part and Guy Sebastian's great little number (Tonight Again) he knocked up in no time at all.

For me it means for the first time ever -I can vote from home in Melbourne. I left home in UK way back in '89 a long time before the tele vote came in. So although being a huge Eurovision fan forever. I have never actually voted..Thanks Eurovision- EBU,  SBS Australia, and the person who, I think actually made it happen,

Le Julia Zemiro. (her royal Eurovis- ness)

Check out lots about Julia Zemiro' on route to Vienna HERE:

https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/3052332/guide-to-eurovision-julia-zemiros-10-favourite-destinations/?cs=34

Melodifestivalen Final 2015- Who will fly the swedish flag in 2015?

I am certain, there has never been a Melodifestivalen final with so many popular male singers ready to take the prize and that ticket all the way to Vienna. If we stop and compare 2015 to last year's final, I feel that it was alot more wide open,  yet there seemed to be only one certain winner with Sanna Neilsen' 'Undo'. Yet in the Melo history we know not always the best song wins, and so often a potential eurovision success is swept aside. This can happen, and certainly not due to a swedish public vote even the international jury can sway the final scoreboard the other way and in the wrong one direction.

So I think, yes Mans is the glory-ticket for the swedes to go to Vienna with  "Heroes" this tune has instant appeal, while also not being not the average schlager-anthem we have heard before. This song is so right for Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in my option. We know just how much a killer-smile can take an artist far in this Euro-fest and Mans has that too. Since the opening bars of 'Cara Mia' in 2007 he has been so perfect, and he has'nt changed only matured.

Yet there are great alternatives to 'Heroes' in Melodifestivalen 2015, with Eric Saade,
Jon Henrik Fjallgren, and Mariette as a strong outsider. Also I think Samir &Viktor will pick up alot of public favour when it comes to the voting. Jon Henrik can give Mans a run for his money but I think this style of song will not translate well in Vienna, and could even stay in the semi finals... So I hope Sweden do not pick him, Eric would do better and as well Mariette although these tunes will do well they are not likely to pull of a win...
My current Top 5 from the Melodifestivalen is as follows:

1 Måns Zelmerlöw- Heroes
2 Magnus Carlsson- Mot mig i Gamla Stan
3 Eric Saade- Sting
4 Midnight Boy- Don't say No
5 Dinah Nah- Make me (La la la)

Vienna Favourites: Calling Belguim: 12 points for music video of entry Rhythm Inside- Loïc Nottet.

In Norway, they are preparing for Norsk Melodi Grand Prix 2015- We are 'thunderstruck' by Erlend!

What a great opener for Norway's Melodi Grand Prix this weekend, unlike the Melodifestivalen in stockholm this weekend MGP have trimmed down the MGP national final to just 11 songs selected for their final. WIth half the songs being presented with a 'Live' orchestra - a wonderful idea we hope it works and could one year be adoped for the Eurovision Song Contest it's self.

Plus, with no lack of variety and talent in the line up in Oslo:

 Brettan (Elisabeth Andreassen)  will return to duet with MGP veteran Tor Endresen, however another male/female duo for Vienna is not advisable at all for Eurovision 2015.
While listening to the song we like Erlend Bratland, he is almost Conchita without a frock n' wig.....!!

The song is 'Thunderstruck' and could create a new storm for Norway in Vienna.

Guy Sebastian for Australia! Wow, what a choice!

Guy Sebastian was revealed on SBS just in the last hour.....

What a great choice, a big opportunity for Guy Sebastian to take his career into international status. Plus Guy has always been a performer that has such alot of postive energy as well as huge confidence in his fantastic voice. After winning a early Australian Idol 2003 he has gone on to become a household name in his homeland.

To Guy's credit he has had minor hits in Germany and hit No :2 in Norway with 'Battle scars' Yet back home he remains the only male artist to have six number ones singles. As well as no less than six platinum selling albums since 2003.

During the press interview Guy Sebastian was very up-front about the new song choice- in that it will be a song from his latest album released in November 2014. This is understandable as to come up with a brand new song they have only a matter of a few weeks left, it is almost impossible.

At the press interview Guy seems to be keen to present a 'ballad' more than a up-tempo dance number- there are 2 or 3 slow tempo songs on his new album 'Madness' The title track 'Madness' is one, the other I think is- 'One of Us' I actually downloaded 'Elephant' a simple tune I like more than these other more commercial choices-
So SBS if you're listening I think with the right staging this could be the one?

check his song out and see what you think??

Thank you Serbia..they comeback to Eurovision with a Diva in a frock purrerfect (Grand Final for sure)

Just when all eyes are on the nordic finals for the schlager comebacks. Over in serbia they come up with the amazing 'Bojana Stameno' and she's going to vienna, will 2015 actually be a repeat of 2007, a 'Molitva' moment?

Melodifestivalen schlagerbus travels to Malmo-o tonight...

Yes,  it's semi-final two from Malmo, and we are simply dizzy with all the excitment of Magnus Carlsson's long awaited return to Melodifestivalen this year. With what promises to be a schlager classic  already. Then thanks to Svt we saw a teaser of Robin in his valentine boxers, and a vest, no less!! the vest has to go, Mr Paulson. Find out lots more here-

thanks Svt...
http://www.svt.se/melodifestivalen/se-bilderna-sa-blir-melodifestivalens-andra-deltavling-2015#2678148_29_1