Right before we’ll have some more exciting Eurovision stories written in the history book, let’s take a loot at what we had so far! Following the national finals tightly since 2005, here is my top 10 moments of the 2015 National Finals Season!

3. Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2015 and Måns Zelmerlöw – Heroes

It was also another great year of schlager and confetti in the Swedish Melodifestivalen. But the main two reasons which gave it the third place are the great qualifications that Sanna Nielsen showed as a very entertaining and successful host, and for the ”performance that makes you hold your breath and feel like crying” – that’s how I described Måns’ rehearsals from the fourth semifinal of Melodifestivalen 2015 to my friends. As I saw Måns preparing for his first rehearsal, I knew that it will be something special, but the simplicity and the message are doing it all.

They really know how to do the work up there in Stockholm, and even if things don’t go as they should be, there always come a change, and mostly for the better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFVnUG8x_AA

2. Germany: USFÖ – Andreas Kümmert giving his victory to Ann Sophie

The German selection marked my attention already in 2013. It might not be one of the most followed ones, but the songs were very appealing for me, as Heart on the line (2013) and Candy jar (2014) are still among my favorites, so I decided to give it a chance and go to see how the things roll in Hannover this year, and it was just great! Why not spend an Eurovision evening with a country pop duo, a 22 years old DJ and Producer, a medieval band and three jumpy girls in a middle of a workout?

Although Andreas Kümmert did not present a superstar image during the competition days, no one could expect what the end would bring. Ann Sophie was one of my favorites and I hope that the crowd will go crazy for her in Vienna as we enjoyed her performances in Hannover.

1. Finland: Opera Skaala – Heart of light

Back in 2012, Finland had launched their new national final, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, or just UMK. The old-fashioned Eurovision Laulukilpailu Suomen Karsinta was replaced with a new competition aimed to the younger musicians, replacing the good old schlager, tango and metal that dominated the Finnish selection until then, and after a band of high-school boys Seinäjoki gave Finland an excellent 11th place in last year’s final, the hopes from UMK 2015 were high.

It was the NF I enjoyed the most, providing 18 high quality songs in various genres performed by artists who represent many aspects of Finland. Satin Circus were tipped by the fans as a Top 10 entry in Vienna from the beginning, but my own favorite was Heart of Light by Opera Skaala; something so odd and amazing at the same time, makes you say ”What did I just hear?” but yet to want to hear it again, and again, and again, which makes it my best moment of the 2015 National Finals season.

However, cheering for Opera Skaala right before the final, a Finnish friend of mine, who isn’t into Eurovision at all, said that he’s going for PKN. And as he did, the whole Finnish nation went in the same way. And I just wanted some Techno-Opera in Vienna.