This year marks Finland’s 58th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. In the previous edition, the captivating singer Käärijä achieved an impressive second place in Liverpool, trailing behind Loreen from Sweden by only 57 points. The entry “Cha Cha Cha” has since garnered substantial popularity following its performance at ESC.

Finland made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 Laila Kinnunen with “Valoa Ikkunassa” and has since become a regular participant in the competition. However, there were a few years in the 1990s and early 2000s when Finland had to sit out the contest due to poor results.

Under the regulations of that time, nations ranking in the bottom four of the contest were obliged to skip the subsequent year’s edition. Consequently, Finland had to take hiatuses in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003 following their poor placements in the preceding year’s competition. Nonetheless, these interruptions did not diminish Finland’s passion for the event, and the country has rebounded as a robust contender in recent editions.

Despite frequently submitting high-quality songs, Finland’s success in the Eurovision Song Contest has been inconsistent over the years. While they have produced memorable hits, they often found themselves unfairly positioned at the bottom of the scoreboard, with points flowing more generously to other countries.

Finland has experienced the ignominy of receiving “nul points” three times in the past. The first occurrence was in 1963 with the song “Muistojeni laulu” by Laila Halme. The second instance took place in 1965 with the song “Aurinko laskee länteen” by Viktor Klimenko. Finally, in 1982, Finland received zero points again with the song “Nuku pommiin” by Kojo.

Regarding language selection, it’s indeed true that nowadays each country can opt for the language of their entry, and Finland has predominantly chosen English in recent years.

After years of anticipation, the hard rock band Lordi brought “Hard Rock Hallelujah” to the Eurovision stage in 2006, securing Finland’s first resounding victory in ESC history. This triumph was both well-deserved and long-awaited. The entire nation was swept up in “Lordi-fever,” fulfilling a cherished dream. The subsequent contest held in Helsinki the following year was a spectacular and unforgettable event.

Finland has significantly improved its qualification record for the Grand Final. Out of the 19 times Finland has participated in the Semi-Finals, they have advanced to the Grand Final 11 times. Moreover, Finland has showcased a diverse array of music styles in Eurovision, encompassing hard rock, ballads, pop, and folkloric songs.