I’m Still In Summer... 

Saviez-vous que.. /Did you know that.. ?

Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state.

Canada is the coldest country in the world.

The USA has invaded Canada twice, failing both times. 

There are 53 aboriginal languages spoken by 612 bands in Canada.

Ottawa was chosen to be the capital of Canada by Queen Victoria in 1857 as a compromise between the anglophones and francophones. Previous capitals were Kingston, Montréal and Toronto. 

Ottawa is the third cleanest city in the world. 

In province of Ontario there are several namesakes for English towns like London, Whitby and Scarborough.

Toronto was known as the city of York untill 1834. 

Younge street in Toronto being 1,896 km long is the longest street in the world.

Ottawa

The name Québec comes from the Alconquin (native Canadian inhabitants) word “Kébec” - where the river narrows. Today Québec is also known as the “Belle Province” – The beautiful province.

Québec, three times of a size of Spain, is the largest province of the country.

There are 37 National Parks in Canada which 24 are in Québec.

Québec is the biggest producer of Mapel Syrup in the world.

Québec’s “fleurdelise” was the first provincial flag officially adopted in Canada in 1948. The white cross comes from the ancient royal flags of France when the fleur-de-ils stands for a symbol of purity.

Tourism is the 5th largest industry in Québec and the province welcomes over 3 million tourists annually. Most of them from the US and France.

The capital of the province is Québec City, 230km from Mtl.

Québec City holds the biggest Winter Carnival annually. 

Québecois motto: “Je me souviens” – I remember.

Québec City, founded in 1608, is not only the oldest city in Canada but one of the oldest European settlements in North America.

The city of MTL is an island.

MTL is the 2nd biggest French city in the western world after Paris.

Montréal is told to have more festivals/events than any other North American city. 

MTL was originally called Ville-Marie but was renamed after the “mountain” Mount Royal.

The Mount Royal Parc was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed New York’s Central Park. Don’t still be mistaken to imagine that Montréal’s parc is a copy of New York’s one.

Bixie (bicycle sharing system) which can now be found in several metropolitan cities of the world, was developed in Montréal.

The oldest brewery of Canada, Molson was founded in Montréal in 1786

Château Frontenac in Québec City is said to be the world’s photographed hotel.

(Château Frontenac, Québec City)

Olympic Stadium, also known as “The Big Owe” is one of the costliest one in the world with 1,61 billion dollar expenses.

Mtl is a popular location, especially the old town, to shoot movies. For example movies like X-Men: Days of Future Past, Catch me if you can and many others have been filmed partly in the city. 

Cursing in québecois includes several religious expressions such as tabarnac (tabernacle), criss (Christ), sacrament etc.

With 6 universities and 12 junior colleges Mtl has the highest number of post-secondary students in North America.

Mtl is one of the gay friendliest cities in the world. 

Sources: LonelyPlanet, Wikipedia

Any canadian/québecois readers correct me, if I'm wrong in anything :)

EUROVISION!!! THIS SATURDAY! 

The #SportySpice has come a long way! #SportysFortysWebcast - LOVE HER MUSIC with or without the #SpiceGirls

Amsterdam in April. It was very grey so made it even more so. 

No judgement but my dreams might be just a bit different from yours.  

UMK 2023 Song Review - Benjamin

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

Benjamin - Hoida Mut

Benjamin is a fairly well known popstar in Finland who has released hit songs mostly in English and now quite recently switched back to his native Finnish. He also made a name to himself by winning Dancing with the Stars last year. He is now competing in UMK with his song Hoida Mut (do me). 

UMK apparently is something he’s been eager to do for a while but has felt the Finnish music industry as less ESC-friendly so he’s pushed his participation for years. He’s being seen now as the main competitor for another UMK23 artist Robin who more or less represents the same genre as him. 

Benjamin’s 80′s disco pop tune Hoida Mut is an erotic, solid banger which he wishes to break some of the male sexual stereotypes by singing about surrendering to someone. Despite of the 80′s vibes in here which have been compared to Weekend, the song sounds fresh and current. 

The lyrics are hot and steamy and so is the video. Benjamin’s dance moves come accross definitely and there are some very high expectations now to be met with his live performance in UMK final on February 25th. I don’t think of him as much of a vocalist though but the song fits perfectly for his voice and vocal capacity. I hope he’ll be able to execute this well vocally too when on stage.  

Hoida Mut is one of the four UMK23 entries in FINNISH this year. As Finnish I cannot imagine how the language sounds like for a foreigner but the international reactions have been utterly positive. If this wins the ticket to Liverpool, I really hope and pray they won’t be changing the language. There are a few English verses in here and they feel natural and on spot. 

This is catchy as hell and might be on the road to become the next Ram Pam Pam (UMK22). Even without winning UMK the publicity, visibility he is receiving will surely lift him to hights of the Finnish pop music scene. Out of all the seven UMK23 entries, this is probably what I enjoy listening the most. I’m defintely hooked. However, the song offers a lot of foreplay but does it actually get to the climax? They could have added a trick or two in here to spice up the things even more (musically I mean!). Anyway, in a another ESC selection, Finnish or elsewhere, in 2023 or before - this could win the whole lot!

What do you think of the second UMK23 track and would you vote Benjamin’s Hoida Mut to go all the way to Liverpool? UMK final takes place on February 25th!

Lisbon before Covid-19 

Biggest growers of ESC 2018

Not every song hits you on a first listen. Multiple songs this year didn’t give the best first impressions but along with these spring months my opinion of them is changing and probably keeps on changing as the rehearsals start. 

ALBANIA - Eugent Bushpepa - Mall 

AUSTRIA - César Sampson - Nobody but you

ARMENIA - Sevak Khangyan - Qami

BULGARIA - EQUINOX - Bones

ESTONIA - Elina Nechayeva - La forza 

F.Y.R. MACEDONIA - Eye Cue -  Lost and found

GREECE - Yianna Terzi - Oniro mou

ITALY - Ermal Meta e Fabrizio Moro - Non mi avete fatto niente

THE NETHERLANDS - Waylon - Outaw in ‘em

SWITZERLAND - ZIBBZ - Stones

UKRAINE - Melovin - Under the ladder

Treasures of Lisbon streets! 

Last summer in Suomenlinna, the sea fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site.