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Introduction
The new Finnish pre selection is now called “UMK” (Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu), a kind of revamped national final with several elimination rounds, which should motivate the Finnish music industry to produce high quality songs. In the final show with six entries the quietest song has won. “När ja blunda” is lovely smooth ballad with a touch of dreamy country music, with a very Finnish touch. In regards of this year’s competitors, where the majority will be modern pop songs, this song will definitely be out of the ordinary in Baku. With an appealing stage performance, right illumination and background dancers this can be a success.
Maybe it’s strange to see that Finland has chosen a Swedish song, in fact Swedish is the second official language in Finland. In 1990 there has already been a Swedish sung song “Fri” by Beat, which came 21st.
History
Finland has joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961, when Laila Kinnunen sang “Valoa Ikkunassa” and made a 10th place. So this year in Baku it will be the 46th entry from Finland in the ESC.
Over the years Finland has received the reputation of being last all the time, in fact there were many years with very few points for Finland, but only three times with zero points. Maybe it was due to the language issues or it has just been the wrong choice of the Finnish entries for Eurovision.
After all the years of waiting the hard rock band Lordi came with “Hard Rock Hallelujah” in 2006 and Finland had its first fulminate and very well deserved victory in history. Not to forget that there were quite a few top 10 entries, the most outstanding songs were: “Eläköön Elämä” by Sonja Lumme in 1985 (9th), “La dolce vita” by Anneli Saaristo in 1989 (7th) and “Tom Tom Tom” by Marion Rung in 1973 (6th).
At least Finland is often passing the semi finals, five times out of eight Finland has made it into the grand final with the utmost different songs from hard rock to ballad and pop.
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