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LIVE REPORT: Euroviisut 2009 - Semifinal 1




The first semifinal is about to start. Jaana Pelkonen and Peltsi Peltola are hosting live from Tohloppi TV-studios in Tampere.
The show has started and both hosts are dressed casually. After short introduction Peltsi takes his place in greenroom and Jaana takes the stage and explain how it all works.
First on stage will be Kwan with 10.000 light years. Peltsi asks them about their break and solo projects recently, and also their success in Greece with Tainted love.

01. KWAN - 10.000 LIGHT YEARS
Mariko is dressed in short green dress and the band's boys in dark while the stage is mainly purple. Kwan is a main contender for the victory and their pop song is catchy enough with "la la la" hook. The coreography is kept very simple and just some pyros are used as specuial effects. The song's written for Eurovision and the band's taking is seriously. A very good start for the show.

Peltsi meets Riikka in greenroom and they remember Riikka's Eurovision past; backing Jasmine, her solo Toarie and specially the interval act in Helsinki 2007.

02. RIIKKA - MEREN
Stage is blue for this dreamy entry with a lot of ethnic flavour. Riikka wears a dress based on traditional Finnish dresses in white and black and has five female backing singers. Very Värttinä-esque in whole. She has a lot of (Eurovision) fans and could make it to final already tonight.

Next Peltsi chats with Tapani Kansa who returns to Eurovision after 24 years. He has recorded over 500 songs in his long career. He told today that if he wins and goes to Moscow he will sing his song in Russian!

03. TAPANI KANSA - RAKKAUTTA ON, RAUHAA EI
The song is restarted after he missed the beginning "for too many applause". recently he has been known for all mess ups in his concerts, talking too much and not singing.... perfect continuation for that sort of things! He's dressed in suit, with glittery scarf and 5 backing singers. He performs this over dramatic with such passion the Finnish elderly voters will most propably go for it. If Kari Tapio made it 2nd last year.... Sigh...

Next and last is the most unfamiliar name tonight: Tiara. She's from Rovaniemi and distant relative of Mr Lordi.

04. TIARA - MANALA
Tiara is dressed in red and black and the whole performance is very rock bandish. I don't get this song; it leaves me completely empty headed. It's not good nor bad, just plain boring.
Back to greenroom where the atmosphere is rather relaxed after all. The voting is still on but soon we will know which two acts will qualify directly to the final, and which two will have to try their luck again in the second chance....
Voting lines are now closed and Step Up Dancers are performing Aquarius from the musical Hair on stage.....
Tiara is.... out! Tapani Kansa is.... IN! Kwan is ... IN! and so Riikka is out...
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Comments

Anonymous said…
Where did you have the permission to release those photos?
Kind regards: The Photographer

Mistä sait luvan näiden kuvien julkaisuun?
Terveisin: Kuvien ottaja
16:28
Ilkar Blogilkar said…
I have taken the photos off. I have never had problems with Viisukuppila so far, the collaboration has worked fine both ways until now. I did so much PR for your events during Helsinki 2007 I wouldn't get excited for a couple of photos.... My deepest apologies.
16:45
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