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🇫🇮 Blast from the past: Finland 1989

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: Anneli Saaristo, who represented Finland in 1989. Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest Finland’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has been marked by a variety of performances and results since the country’s debut in the competition in 1961. Over the years, Finland has experienced both highs and lows. Finland’s initial years in Eurovision were tough. For many years, the nation struggled to make a significant impact on the scoreboard. They even scored ‘nul points’ (zero points) in 1963, 1965, and 1982. Their best score was a 6th place for Marion Rung and her “Tom Tom Tom” in 1973.Finland’s most iconic moment in the contest came in 2006 when the hard rock band Lordi won with the song “Hard Rock Hallelujah”. Not only did this victory mark Finland’s first and, so far, only win in the contest, but it was also historic because Lordi was a hard rock band with a monster image – quite a departure from the usual Eurovision acts.This year, Finland reached the top again, winning the televote and reaching a second place overall. Again, the song “Cha-cha-cha” and Käärijä’s performance faced a unique sound and performance. Photo: Corinne Cumming/EBU Euroviisut, the national final In those days, the national selection was called Euroviisut. Ten songs competed in the contest that was held on February 4th in the Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki. Note that Anneli Saaristo sang two songs in the competition! Two songs are not in Finnish but in Swedish. The entire show can be watched here. Oi Äiti Maa, sung by Anneli Saaristo, 74 pts, 3rd Kan Det Vara Kärlek?, Mervi Hiltunen, 72 pts, 4th Hiljaisuutta, Kirka, 62 pts, 5th Rauhaton Sydän, Meiju Suvas, 24 pts, 10th Huominen Eurooppa, Tanjalotta Räikkä, 39 pts, 8th La Dolce Vita, Anneli Saaristo, 110 pts, 1st Minä Olen Muistanut, Kim Lönholm, 52 pts, 7th Rakkauden Laulut, Sonja Lumme, 62 pts, 5th Vad Finns Kvar, Cris Owen, 103 pts, 2nd Kahden Juhla, Marjorie, 31 pts, 9th Anneli Saaristo In the early 1970s, Saaristo participated in pop song contests. Throughout the decade, she worked as the soloist for a dance orchestra and mainly recorded cover versions of pop songs. In the spring of 1978, Saaristo competed in the Finnish Eurovision qualifiers Euroviisut with the song “Sinun Kanssasi, Sinua Ilman,” which became her first hit. Her next recording was “Aamulla Rakkaani Näin,” which Lea Laven had performed in the same qualifiers. Saaristo’s first album, “Aina Aika Rakkauden,” was released in 1980. Published by a small record company, the album was a commercial disappointment. In 1982, Saaristo participated in the Autumn Tune competition with the song “Tyhjät Sanat” and in the 1984 Euroviisut with “Sä Liian Paljon Vaadit,” finishing third. Both songs were hits, and her subsequent albums sold better than the first. In the fall of 1988, Saaristo received a press award in the Autumn Tune for her song “Taivaspaikka.” In 1989, she performed in the Eurovision qualifiers with the songs “Oi Äiti Maa” and “La Dolce Vita,” the latter winning. At the Eurovision Song Contest in Lausanne, “La Dolce Vita” placed seventh. The “La Dolce Vita” album achieved gold status. Some of Saaristo’s most renowned songs include “Viimeinen Känni,” “Evakon Laulu,” “Päättyneet Juhlat,” “Appelsiinipuita Aavikkoon,” and “Kypsän Naisen Blues.” In the project “Miten Enkeleitä Vietellään,” she interpreted Bertolt Brecht’s erotic poems alongside Monna Kamu and Liisa Tavi. In the 2000s, Saaristo participated in Rakkauden Kiertokulku concerts with Eija Kantola and Marjorie. Saaristo has also acted, for instance, in Turku City Theater. In 2005, she appeared in Timo Koivusalo’s movie Kaksipäisen Kotkan Varjossa. That same year, she was nominated for the Iskelmä-Finlandia award. In 2011, Saaristo was granted an artist pension. In recent years, she has performed with pop singer Fredi on the “Fredi’s Guest” concert tour. Controversy When Anneli Saaristo took part in Euroviisut and won it, this was of course mentioned in the fan magazines. A Finnish reporter in one of the magazines wrote about Anneli: “She looked like a nightmare already in 1978 when she for the firs time sang in our national heats but the 11 years since then have done their job well: there is no word to describe her looks!”. The writer of the article apologized one magazine later; he explained the article was not a proper translation of a letter in Finnish, and was mixed up with another article, that should have been published. La Dolce Vita “La Dolce Vita” is perhaps one of the most iconic songs associated with Anneli Saaristo, especially on the international stage. It was Finland’s official entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989. The title, which translates to “The Sweet Life” in Italian, captures the essence of living life to the fullest and enjoying its pleasures. The song’s participation in Eurovision marked a significant moment for Finland. Competing in Lausanne, Switzerland, “La Dolce Vita” achieved a commendable 7th place finish. This placement was a notable achievement for Finland at that time. The tune itself is melodious and catchy, combining traditional pop elements with a distinct Finnish touch. Anneli’s powerful voice and emotive rendition made the performance memorable, helping the song stand out amidst other competitors. While “La Dolce Vita” may not have secured the top spot at Eurovision, it cemented its position as one of Anneli Saaristo’s most celebrated tracks. Following the contest, the song enjoyed considerable airplay and popularity in Finland and even gained recognition in various parts of Europe. The song’s success also contributed to Anneli’s continued prominence in Finnish music, further showcasing her versatility and talent.

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Galit Burg died in car accident

Galit Burg passed away. The singer, who represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989, was killed in a car accident. According to the Times of Israel, she was involved in a collision between a truck and two vehicles near Kfar Daniel in central Israel. Youth Galit Burg was born on June 8, 1968. She was born and raised in Bat Yam as the eldest daughter in a family of six children. Kdam Eurovision In 1989, musician Shaike Paykov submitted his song “Derech ha’melech” to Kdam Eurovision, the Israeli preliminary round for the Eurovision Song Contest. He chose 12-year-old Gili Netanel to perform his song. Shortly before the competition, the producers of the Eurovision song contest decided to attach an adult singer to it. That then became Galit Burg. Thus was born the duo “Gili and Galit”. Eurovision Song Contest After winning Kdam Eurovision 1989, the two represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Lausanne, Switzerland. The song placed 12th out of 22 contestants. The two recorded an English version of the song called “Shine for Tomorrow”. Although the song was unsuccessful in other countries, it became a hit in Israel. The English version of the song was not a success and the duo split up shortly afterwards. Tramp In 1991, two years after the Eurovision appearance, Burg founded the band “Tramp”, with which she performed at “Telrock” in Holon. In 1995, they competed for the “Wheel of Fortune Girl” title. United States and Europe Burg married the band’s guitarist and intermittently moved to the United States, where she was engaged in music. In 1994 she released a rock album in Israel that was not a success. Three years later, she went to the European market under the stage name “Galecia”, and published a dance song in English called “You Are The One”, which received a lot of airplay. Later, in 2005, she released an album called “Nogat Bach” consisting of her and her husband’s material. In 2013, she entered the auditions for the first season of X Factor Israel. Private life Borg was the mother of two children. In the first decade of the 21st century, she returned to Israel. Galit Burg was 54 years old.

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Justine Pelmelay

Name : Anneke Wilma Pelmelay Born : 24-9-1958 Nationality : Dutch       National Finals : Nationaal Songfestival 1989 ESC Entries : Blijf zoals je bent (1989)       Website : Facebook/Justine Biography Justine Pelmelay was born as Anneke Pelmelay, the daughter of a mother from Java and a father from Ambon. The stage name Justine is her grandmother’s name. From the mid-80s Justine has been singing in various Dutch groups, such as the Pasadena Dream Band, Swinging Soul Machine and The Jody Singers. She also provided backing vocals for many artists on their single or albums. Her voice could be heard with Gerard Joling, Jerney Kaagman, G’race, but also with Catapult and Rosa King and the rock band of Bert Heerink. Pelmelay sang in several commercials.  In 1988 she was in the backing for Gerard Joling’s performance at the Eurovision Song Contest. A year later she represented the Netherlands herself at the song festival, with the song “Blijf zoals je bent”. The expectations were high: the day before the Song Contest, she was in joint first place with the bookmakers. However, she only finished fifteenth. In the 1990s Pelmelay formed the duo Justine & Marlon together with the Dutch-Indonesian television chef Lonny Gerungan. They successfully released three CD albums with Indonesian songs and thus ensured a revival of the Evergreens from our colonial past. The CD albums were all listed in the Album charts. In the years that followed, Pelmelay also released a few singles, including “The Man I Love”, “Hold Me”, “Een vriend laat je niet in de steek” and “Perhaps Love”, a duet with John Denver. In 2005 Pelmelay made an attempt to go to the Eurovision Song Contest again for the Netherlands. For this she participated in one of the preliminary rounds of the National Song Contest, with the song “What you see is what you get”. That same year she took the place of Sandra Reemer with the Dutch Divas, but stopped in 2006 to continue solo again. In April 2006 Pelmelay recorded a new solo single titled “Nothing’s Gonna Shut Me Up”. In February and March 2007, Pelmelay was back in the spotlight in the Theater Show “The Soul of Motown”. In 2007 Pelmelay gave a gala on the occasion of the charity ‘Cystic Fybrosis’; she raised 100,000 euros with her campaign and has been ambassador of the NCFS (Dutch Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) since 2008. In 2010 Pelmelay came out with the single “Wereld Zonder Liefde” en “De regen voorbij”. In 2011 Pelmelay came out with a new single “Ik laat je nooit meer gaan”. With this single she can be seen and heard regularly on TV and radio. In 2012, she and her then partner wrote the song “De tijd stond stil” in response to the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia. Justine was on board of the ship when it capsized. As a result of her life-threatening illness, she also wrote the song “Doe wat je moet doen”.  Entries Country : The Netherlands Year : 1989 Language : Dutch       Artist : Justine Pelmelay Song : Blijf zoals je bent Lyrics : Cees Bergman Geert-Jan Hessing Aart Mol Erwin van Prehn Elmer Veerhoff Composer(s) : Jan Kisjes Conductor : Harry van Hoof       Backings : – Results   Points : 45 Position : 15 Running order : 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZjXRbKRQXo

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🇫🇮 Blast from the past: Finland 1989

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: Anneli Saaristo, who represented Finland in 1989. Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest Finland’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has been marked by a variety of performances and results since the country’s debut in the competition in 1961. Over the years, Finland has experienced both highs and lows. Finland’s initial years in Eurovision were tough. For many years, the nation struggled to make a significant impact on the scoreboard. They even scored ‘nul points’ (zero points) in 1963, 1965, and 1982. Their best score was a 6th place for Marion Rung and her “Tom Tom Tom” in 1973.Finland’s most iconic moment in the contest came in 2006 when the hard rock band Lordi won with the song “Hard Rock Hallelujah”. Not only did this victory mark Finland’s first and, so far, only win in the contest, but it was also historic because Lordi was a hard rock band with a monster image – quite a departure from the usual Eurovision acts.This year, Finland reached the top again, winning the televote and reaching a second place overall. Again, the song “Cha-cha-cha” and Käärijä’s performance faced a unique sound and performance. Photo: Corinne Cumming/EBU Euroviisut, the national final In those days, the national selection was called Euroviisut. Ten songs competed in the contest that was held on February 4th in the Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki. Note that Anneli Saaristo sang two songs in the competition! Two songs are not in Finnish but in Swedish. The entire show can be watched here. Oi Äiti Maa, sung by Anneli Saaristo, 74 pts, 3rd Kan Det Vara Kärlek?, Mervi Hiltunen, 72 pts, 4th Hiljaisuutta, Kirka, 62 pts, 5th Rauhaton Sydän, Meiju Suvas, 24 pts, 10th Huominen Eurooppa, Tanjalotta Räikkä, 39 pts, 8th La Dolce Vita, Anneli Saaristo, 110 pts, 1st Minä Olen Muistanut, Kim Lönholm, 52 pts, 7th Rakkauden Laulut, Sonja Lumme, 62 pts, 5th Vad Finns Kvar, Cris Owen, 103 pts, 2nd Kahden Juhla, Marjorie, 31 pts, 9th Anneli Saaristo In the early 1970s, Saaristo participated in pop song contests. Throughout the decade, she worked as the soloist for a dance orchestra and mainly recorded cover versions of pop songs. In the spring of 1978, Saaristo competed in the Finnish Eurovision qualifiers Euroviisut with the song “Sinun Kanssasi, Sinua Ilman,” which became her first hit. Her next recording was “Aamulla Rakkaani Näin,” which Lea Laven had performed in the same qualifiers. Saaristo’s first album, “Aina Aika Rakkauden,” was released in 1980. Published by a small record company, the album was a commercial disappointment. In 1982, Saaristo participated in the Autumn Tune competition with the song “Tyhjät Sanat” and in the 1984 Euroviisut with “Sä Liian Paljon Vaadit,” finishing third. Both songs were hits, and her subsequent albums sold better than the first. In the fall of 1988, Saaristo received a press award in the Autumn Tune for her song “Taivaspaikka.” In 1989, she performed in the Eurovision qualifiers with the songs “Oi Äiti Maa” and “La Dolce Vita,” the latter winning. At the Eurovision Song Contest in Lausanne, “La Dolce Vita” placed seventh. The “La Dolce Vita” album achieved gold status. Some of Saaristo’s most renowned songs include “Viimeinen Känni,” “Evakon Laulu,” “Päättyneet Juhlat,” “Appelsiinipuita Aavikkoon,” and “Kypsän Naisen Blues.” In the project “Miten Enkeleitä Vietellään,” she interpreted Bertolt Brecht’s erotic poems alongside Monna Kamu and Liisa Tavi. In the 2000s, Saaristo participated in Rakkauden Kiertokulku concerts with Eija Kantola and Marjorie. Saaristo has also acted, for instance, in Turku City Theater. In 2005, she appeared in Timo Koivusalo’s movie Kaksipäisen Kotkan Varjossa. That same year, she was nominated for the Iskelmä-Finlandia award. In 2011, Saaristo was granted an artist pension. In recent years, she has performed with pop singer Fredi on the “Fredi’s Guest” concert tour. Controversy When Anneli Saaristo took part in Euroviisut and won it, this was of course mentioned in the fan magazines. A Finnish reporter in one of the magazines wrote about Anneli: “She looked like a nightmare already in 1978 when she for the firs time sang in our national heats but the 11 years since then have done their job well: there is no word to describe her looks!”. The writer of the article apologized one magazine later; he explained the article was not a proper translation of a letter in Finnish, and was mixed up with another article, that should have been published. La Dolce Vita “La Dolce Vita” is perhaps one of the most iconic songs associated with Anneli Saaristo, especially on the international stage. It was Finland’s official entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989. The title, which translates to “The Sweet Life” in Italian, captures the essence of living life to the fullest and enjoying its pleasures. The song’s participation in Eurovision marked a significant moment for Finland. Competing in Lausanne, Switzerland, “La Dolce Vita” achieved a commendable 7th place finish. This placement was a notable achievement for Finland at that time. The tune itself is melodious and catchy, combining traditional pop elements with a distinct Finnish touch. Anneli’s powerful voice and emotive rendition made the performance memorable, helping the song stand out amidst other competitors. While “La Dolce Vita” may not have secured the top spot at Eurovision, it cemented its position as one of Anneli Saaristo’s most celebrated tracks. Following the contest, the song enjoyed considerable airplay and popularity in Finland and even gained recognition in various parts of Europe. The song’s success also contributed to Anneli’s continued prominence in Finnish music, further showcasing her versatility and talent.

Read More »

Galit Burg died in car accident

Galit Burg passed away. The singer, who represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989, was killed in a car accident. According to the Times of Israel, she was involved in a collision between a truck and two vehicles near Kfar Daniel in central Israel. Youth Galit Burg was born on June 8, 1968. She was born and raised in Bat Yam as the eldest daughter in a family of six children. Kdam Eurovision In 1989, musician Shaike Paykov submitted his song “Derech ha’melech” to Kdam Eurovision, the Israeli preliminary round for the Eurovision Song Contest. He chose 12-year-old Gili Netanel to perform his song. Shortly before the competition, the producers of the Eurovision song contest decided to attach an adult singer to it. That then became Galit Burg. Thus was born the duo “Gili and Galit”. Eurovision Song Contest After winning Kdam Eurovision 1989, the two represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Lausanne, Switzerland. The song placed 12th out of 22 contestants. The two recorded an English version of the song called “Shine for Tomorrow”. Although the song was unsuccessful in other countries, it became a hit in Israel. The English version of the song was not a success and the duo split up shortly afterwards. Tramp In 1991, two years after the Eurovision appearance, Burg founded the band “Tramp”, with which she performed at “Telrock” in Holon. In 1995, they competed for the “Wheel of Fortune Girl” title. United States and Europe Burg married the band’s guitarist and intermittently moved to the United States, where she was engaged in music. In 1994 she released a rock album in Israel that was not a success. Three years later, she went to the European market under the stage name “Galecia”, and published a dance song in English called “You Are The One”, which received a lot of airplay. Later, in 2005, she released an album called “Nogat Bach” consisting of her and her husband’s material. In 2013, she entered the auditions for the first season of X Factor Israel. Private life Borg was the mother of two children. In the first decade of the 21st century, she returned to Israel. Galit Burg was 54 years old.

Read More »

Justine Pelmelay

Name : Anneke Wilma Pelmelay Born : 24-9-1958 Nationality : Dutch       National Finals : Nationaal Songfestival 1989 ESC Entries : Blijf zoals je bent (1989)       Website : Facebook/Justine Biography Justine Pelmelay was born as Anneke Pelmelay, the daughter of a mother from Java and a father from Ambon. The stage name Justine is her grandmother’s name. From the mid-80s Justine has been singing in various Dutch groups, such as the Pasadena Dream Band, Swinging Soul Machine and The Jody Singers. She also provided backing vocals for many artists on their single or albums. Her voice could be heard with Gerard Joling, Jerney Kaagman, G’race, but also with Catapult and Rosa King and the rock band of Bert Heerink. Pelmelay sang in several commercials.  In 1988 she was in the backing for Gerard Joling’s performance at the Eurovision Song Contest. A year later she represented the Netherlands herself at the song festival, with the song “Blijf zoals je bent”. The expectations were high: the day before the Song Contest, she was in joint first place with the bookmakers. However, she only finished fifteenth. In the 1990s Pelmelay formed the duo Justine & Marlon together with the Dutch-Indonesian television chef Lonny Gerungan. They successfully released three CD albums with Indonesian songs and thus ensured a revival of the Evergreens from our colonial past. The CD albums were all listed in the Album charts. In the years that followed, Pelmelay also released a few singles, including “The Man I Love”, “Hold Me”, “Een vriend laat je niet in de steek” and “Perhaps Love”, a duet with John Denver. In 2005 Pelmelay made an attempt to go to the Eurovision Song Contest again for the Netherlands. For this she participated in one of the preliminary rounds of the National Song Contest, with the song “What you see is what you get”. That same year she took the place of Sandra Reemer with the Dutch Divas, but stopped in 2006 to continue solo again. In April 2006 Pelmelay recorded a new solo single titled “Nothing’s Gonna Shut Me Up”. In February and March 2007, Pelmelay was back in the spotlight in the Theater Show “The Soul of Motown”. In 2007 Pelmelay gave a gala on the occasion of the charity ‘Cystic Fybrosis’; she raised 100,000 euros with her campaign and has been ambassador of the NCFS (Dutch Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) since 2008. In 2010 Pelmelay came out with the single “Wereld Zonder Liefde” en “De regen voorbij”. In 2011 Pelmelay came out with a new single “Ik laat je nooit meer gaan”. With this single she can be seen and heard regularly on TV and radio. In 2012, she and her then partner wrote the song “De tijd stond stil” in response to the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia. Justine was on board of the ship when it capsized. As a result of her life-threatening illness, she also wrote the song “Doe wat je moet doen”.  Entries Country : The Netherlands Year : 1989 Language : Dutch       Artist : Justine Pelmelay Song : Blijf zoals je bent Lyrics : Cees Bergman Geert-Jan Hessing Aart Mol Erwin van Prehn Elmer Veerhoff Composer(s) : Jan Kisjes Conductor : Harry van Hoof       Backings : – Results   Points : 45 Position : 15 Running order : 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZjXRbKRQXo

Read More »

🇫🇮 Blast from the past: Finland 1989

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: Anneli Saaristo, who represented Finland in 1989. Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest Finland’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has been marked by a variety of performances and results since the country’s debut in the competition in 1961. Over the years, Finland has experienced both highs and lows. Finland’s initial years in Eurovision were tough. For many years, the nation struggled to make a significant impact on the scoreboard. They even scored ‘nul points’ (zero points) in 1963, 1965, and 1982. Their best score was a 6th place for Marion Rung and her “Tom Tom Tom” in 1973.Finland’s most iconic moment in the contest came in 2006 when the hard rock band Lordi won with the song “Hard Rock Hallelujah”. Not only did this victory mark Finland’s first and, so far, only win in the contest, but it was also historic because Lordi was a hard rock band with a monster image – quite a departure from the usual Eurovision acts.This year, Finland reached the top again, winning the televote and reaching a second place overall. Again, the song “Cha-cha-cha” and Käärijä’s performance faced a unique sound and performance. Photo: Corinne Cumming/EBU Euroviisut, the national final In those days, the national selection was called Euroviisut. Ten songs competed in the contest that was held on February 4th in the Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki. Note that Anneli Saaristo sang two songs in the competition! Two songs are not in Finnish but in Swedish. The entire show can be watched here. Oi Äiti Maa, sung by Anneli Saaristo, 74 pts, 3rd Kan Det Vara Kärlek?, Mervi Hiltunen, 72 pts, 4th Hiljaisuutta, Kirka, 62 pts, 5th Rauhaton Sydän, Meiju Suvas, 24 pts, 10th Huominen Eurooppa, Tanjalotta Räikkä, 39 pts, 8th La Dolce Vita, Anneli Saaristo, 110 pts, 1st Minä Olen Muistanut, Kim Lönholm, 52 pts, 7th Rakkauden Laulut, Sonja Lumme, 62 pts, 5th Vad Finns Kvar, Cris Owen, 103 pts, 2nd Kahden Juhla, Marjorie, 31 pts, 9th Anneli Saaristo In the early 1970s, Saaristo participated in pop song contests. Throughout the decade, she worked as the soloist for a dance orchestra and mainly recorded cover versions of pop songs. In the spring of 1978, Saaristo competed in the Finnish Eurovision qualifiers Euroviisut with the song “Sinun Kanssasi, Sinua Ilman,” which became her first hit. Her next recording was “Aamulla Rakkaani Näin,” which Lea Laven had performed in the same qualifiers. Saaristo’s first album, “Aina Aika Rakkauden,” was released in 1980. Published by a small record company, the album was a commercial disappointment. In 1982, Saaristo participated in the Autumn Tune competition with the song “Tyhjät Sanat” and in the 1984 Euroviisut with “Sä Liian Paljon Vaadit,” finishing third. Both songs were hits, and her subsequent albums sold better than the first. In the fall of 1988, Saaristo received a press award in the Autumn Tune for her song “Taivaspaikka.” In 1989, she performed in the Eurovision qualifiers with the songs “Oi Äiti Maa” and “La Dolce Vita,” the latter winning. At the Eurovision Song Contest in Lausanne, “La Dolce Vita” placed seventh. The “La Dolce Vita” album achieved gold status. Some of Saaristo’s most renowned songs include “Viimeinen Känni,” “Evakon Laulu,” “Päättyneet Juhlat,” “Appelsiinipuita Aavikkoon,” and “Kypsän Naisen Blues.” In the project “Miten Enkeleitä Vietellään,” she interpreted Bertolt Brecht’s erotic poems alongside Monna Kamu and Liisa Tavi. In the 2000s, Saaristo participated in Rakkauden Kiertokulku concerts with Eija Kantola and Marjorie. Saaristo has also acted, for instance, in Turku City Theater. In 2005, she appeared in Timo Koivusalo’s movie Kaksipäisen Kotkan Varjossa. That same year, she was nominated for the Iskelmä-Finlandia award. In 2011, Saaristo was granted an artist pension. In recent years, she has performed with pop singer Fredi on the “Fredi’s Guest” concert tour. Controversy When Anneli Saaristo took part in Euroviisut and won it, this was of course mentioned in the fan magazines. A Finnish reporter in one of the magazines wrote about Anneli: “She looked like a nightmare already in 1978 when she for the firs time sang in our national heats but the 11 years since then have done their job well: there is no word to describe her looks!”. The writer of the article apologized one magazine later; he explained the article was not a proper translation of a letter in Finnish, and was mixed up with another article, that should have been published. La Dolce Vita “La Dolce Vita” is perhaps one of the most iconic songs associated with Anneli Saaristo, especially on the international stage. It was Finland’s official entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989. The title, which translates to “The Sweet Life” in Italian, captures the essence of living life to the fullest and enjoying its pleasures. The song’s participation in Eurovision marked a significant moment for Finland. Competing in Lausanne, Switzerland, “La Dolce Vita” achieved a commendable 7th place finish. This placement was a notable achievement for Finland at that time. The tune itself is melodious and catchy, combining traditional pop elements with a distinct Finnish touch. Anneli’s powerful voice and emotive rendition made the performance memorable, helping the song stand out amidst other competitors. While “La Dolce Vita” may not have secured the top spot at Eurovision, it cemented its position as one of Anneli Saaristo’s most celebrated tracks. Following the contest, the song enjoyed considerable airplay and popularity in Finland and even gained recognition in various parts of Europe. The song’s success also contributed to Anneli’s continued prominence in Finnish music, further showcasing her versatility and talent.

Read More »

Galit Burg died in car accident

Galit Burg passed away. The singer, who represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989, was killed in a car accident. According to the Times of Israel, she was involved in a collision between a truck and two vehicles near Kfar Daniel in central Israel. Youth Galit Burg was born on June 8, 1968. She was born and raised in Bat Yam as the eldest daughter in a family of six children. Kdam Eurovision In 1989, musician Shaike Paykov submitted his song “Derech ha’melech” to Kdam Eurovision, the Israeli preliminary round for the Eurovision Song Contest. He chose 12-year-old Gili Netanel to perform his song. Shortly before the competition, the producers of the Eurovision song contest decided to attach an adult singer to it. That then became Galit Burg. Thus was born the duo “Gili and Galit”. Eurovision Song Contest After winning Kdam Eurovision 1989, the two represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Lausanne, Switzerland. The song placed 12th out of 22 contestants. The two recorded an English version of the song called “Shine for Tomorrow”. Although the song was unsuccessful in other countries, it became a hit in Israel. The English version of the song was not a success and the duo split up shortly afterwards. Tramp In 1991, two years after the Eurovision appearance, Burg founded the band “Tramp”, with which she performed at “Telrock” in Holon. In 1995, they competed for the “Wheel of Fortune Girl” title. United States and Europe Burg married the band’s guitarist and intermittently moved to the United States, where she was engaged in music. In 1994 she released a rock album in Israel that was not a success. Three years later, she went to the European market under the stage name “Galecia”, and published a dance song in English called “You Are The One”, which received a lot of airplay. Later, in 2005, she released an album called “Nogat Bach” consisting of her and her husband’s material. In 2013, she entered the auditions for the first season of X Factor Israel. Private life Borg was the mother of two children. In the first decade of the 21st century, she returned to Israel. Galit Burg was 54 years old.

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Justine Pelmelay

Name : Anneke Wilma Pelmelay Born : 24-9-1958 Nationality : Dutch       National Finals : Nationaal Songfestival 1989 ESC Entries : Blijf zoals je bent (1989)       Website : Facebook/Justine Biography Justine Pelmelay was born as Anneke Pelmelay, the daughter of a mother from Java and a father from Ambon. The stage name Justine is her grandmother’s name. From the mid-80s Justine has been singing in various Dutch groups, such as the Pasadena Dream Band, Swinging Soul Machine and The Jody Singers. She also provided backing vocals for many artists on their single or albums. Her voice could be heard with Gerard Joling, Jerney Kaagman, G’race, but also with Catapult and Rosa King and the rock band of Bert Heerink. Pelmelay sang in several commercials.  In 1988 she was in the backing for Gerard Joling’s performance at the Eurovision Song Contest. A year later she represented the Netherlands herself at the song festival, with the song “Blijf zoals je bent”. The expectations were high: the day before the Song Contest, she was in joint first place with the bookmakers. However, she only finished fifteenth. In the 1990s Pelmelay formed the duo Justine & Marlon together with the Dutch-Indonesian television chef Lonny Gerungan. They successfully released three CD albums with Indonesian songs and thus ensured a revival of the Evergreens from our colonial past. The CD albums were all listed in the Album charts. In the years that followed, Pelmelay also released a few singles, including “The Man I Love”, “Hold Me”, “Een vriend laat je niet in de steek” and “Perhaps Love”, a duet with John Denver. In 2005 Pelmelay made an attempt to go to the Eurovision Song Contest again for the Netherlands. For this she participated in one of the preliminary rounds of the National Song Contest, with the song “What you see is what you get”. That same year she took the place of Sandra Reemer with the Dutch Divas, but stopped in 2006 to continue solo again. In April 2006 Pelmelay recorded a new solo single titled “Nothing’s Gonna Shut Me Up”. In February and March 2007, Pelmelay was back in the spotlight in the Theater Show “The Soul of Motown”. In 2007 Pelmelay gave a gala on the occasion of the charity ‘Cystic Fybrosis’; she raised 100,000 euros with her campaign and has been ambassador of the NCFS (Dutch Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) since 2008. In 2010 Pelmelay came out with the single “Wereld Zonder Liefde” en “De regen voorbij”. In 2011 Pelmelay came out with a new single “Ik laat je nooit meer gaan”. With this single she can be seen and heard regularly on TV and radio. In 2012, she and her then partner wrote the song “De tijd stond stil” in response to the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia. Justine was on board of the ship when it capsized. As a result of her life-threatening illness, she also wrote the song “Doe wat je moet doen”.  Entries Country : The Netherlands Year : 1989 Language : Dutch       Artist : Justine Pelmelay Song : Blijf zoals je bent Lyrics : Cees Bergman Geert-Jan Hessing Aart Mol Erwin van Prehn Elmer Veerhoff Composer(s) : Jan Kisjes Conductor : Harry van Hoof       Backings : – Results   Points : 45 Position : 15 Running order : 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZjXRbKRQXo

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🇫🇮 Blast from the past: Finland 1989

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: Anneli Saaristo, who represented Finland in 1989. Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest Finland’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has been marked by a variety of performances and results since the country’s debut in the competition in 1961. Over the years, Finland has experienced both highs and lows. Finland’s initial years in Eurovision were tough. For many years, the nation struggled to make a significant impact on the scoreboard. They even scored ‘nul

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Galit Burg died in car accident

Galit Burg passed away. The singer, who represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989, was killed in a car accident. According to the Times of Israel, she was involved in a collision between a truck and two vehicles near Kfar Daniel in central Israel. Youth Galit Burg was born on June 8, 1968. She was born and raised in Bat Yam as the eldest daughter in a family of six children. Kdam Eurovision In 1989, musician Shaike Paykov submitted his song “Derech ha’melech” to Kdam Eurovision, the Israeli preliminary round for the Eurovision Song Contest. He chose 12-year-old Gili

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Justine Pelmelay

Name : Anneke Wilma Pelmelay Born : 24-9-1958 Nationality : Dutch       National Finals : Nationaal Songfestival 1989 ESC Entries : Blijf zoals je bent (1989)       Website : Facebook/Justine Biography Justine Pelmelay was born as Anneke Pelmelay, the daughter of a mother from Java and a father from Ambon. The stage name Justine is her grandmother’s name. From the mid-80s Justine has been singing in various Dutch groups, such as the Pasadena Dream Band, Swinging Soul Machine and The Jody Singers. She also provided backing vocals for many artists on their single or albums. Her voice could

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