The Weekend Update

Well, another weekend has come and gone, and while we don't have any new songs added to the roster of Official Eurovision entries, we had a lot of activity over the past few days in the realm of Preselections, especially from the Nordic region.  Here's what went down up North!

Finland:
This Friday marked the first Semifinal in the Suomen Karsinta (Finnish Qualifier), with five songs battling it out for three places in the Final.  And the winners are:
Johanna Iivanainen - Luojani Mun (My Lord)
Cardiant - Rapture in Time
Marko Maunuksela - Synkän Maan Tango (Troubled Country Tango)

So, in the three songs listed above,  we've got a ballad, metal, and tango, and the rejected songs were pop and rock...you can't say that the Finns lack variety!  We'll see five more songs next Friday.

We've got more after the break!
 Iceland:
The first of three Icelandic Semifinals (or Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins...try saying that five times fast!) took place on Saturday evening, with two songs sailing through to the final out of five competing tunes.  Unlike the Finnish Preselection, local broadcaster RÚV has mandated that all songs must be sung in Icelandic (although I believe they retain the option to switch to English at a later point).  The two going on to the final are:
Haraldur Reynisson - Ef ég hefði vængi (If I Had Wings)
Erna Hrönn Ólafsdóttir - Ástin mín eina (My Loved One)  (I'm not quite sure if I've got the translation right on this one...any Icelandic speakers out there want to let me know?)

There are two more rounds of Icelandic semifinals to go.  Within those two semis are songs by 2009 Eurovision runner-up Yohanna (her song "Is it True?" was truly a stunner) and rocker Magni Ásgeirsson, who is actually better known to American audiences from his appearance on CBS's 2006 series "Rock Star: Supernova".  Magni came in 4th place, but his career has continued to flourish, especially in his native country.  Here's Magni performing an original song on "Rock Star: Supernova".
  
And finally, we have news from Norway:
This year's Melodi Grand Prix started on Saturday night, with seven songs competing for the chance to continue.  The top two go directly on to the finals, but the songs that came in third and fourth place go on to a wildcard round, or Siste Sjansen.
Moving on to the finals:
Helena Bøksle - Vardlokk 
Åste & Rikke - Not That Easy (Ah-Åh-Ah-Åh)

And to the Second Chance Round:
Sie Gubba - Alt Du Vil Ha (Everything You Want)
Use Me - Daisy

So, what do you think of the songs that went through?  Who are you rooting for so far?  Drop me a line in the comments!