#and keep their interest in eurovision because i remember being their age when lordi won

[dreamscatch]

it's so much fun to be a finnish museum tour guide for primary school groups during the week after eurovision. these 7-8yo kids will just completely unprompted start screaming CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA CHA at the randomest moments and singing their own versions of the lyrics. one kid asked if they had eurovision back in the early 1900s (the era i was talking to them about). finland will remember käärijä and esc2023 for a very long time. eurovision history is in good hands with these kids who will tell about this moment for so long.

[anotherescsite]

The Finnish 2021

Finland are a misfortune country in the Eurovision Song Contest. They are remembered for their one winner (Lordi) and for the numerous times they have been last (nine times; 1963, 1965, 1968, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2009). I find it shameful because some of their songs are quite good, just overlooked. Like all countries, sometimes you wonder what they were thinking, sometimes that is said more frequently in Finland’s case. I blame Sweden for not being more neighbourly.

Finland is choosing their song contest via the UMK contest which has been used for a few years now. The date of the final is February 22, but they have commenced the release lyrical videos of the songs already. Aksel, who won last year, has returned after saying he was out. He promptly apologized and we all moved on. I am listening to them in the order they are being released.

OSKR “Lie” First cab off the rank is Oskr. The song is quiet and emotion, gentle and brilliant. There is a sadness that settles over the song because the lie is to keep someone else happy when there is turmoil and emptiness inside. Oskr has a lovely voice to suit the song and I can’t wait to hear the raw vocals presenting this. 

Teflon Brothers x Pandora “I Love You” First off, what a wonderful joyful tune to listen to. It is upbeat and fun. It has a very predominant organ which brings a unique flavour to the entry. I really would have liked a better chorus though as the joyous rendition of ‘I love you’ shouldn’t really cut it in 2021. 

Danny “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua” When I saw this gentleman in the line up, I made the mistake of assuming this would be a filler entry as people of this age are not taken seriously in a national final. I was wrong. This entry is a very pleasant song which has humorous lyrics and a delicate presentation. May be too quite an entry to make much impact.

Laura “Play” ERR must have rejected this. Laura has had better songs and this one feels clumsy, and dated. I’m sure she will put on a show in the final that Finland has never seen before, but I’m not really feeling it. It seems like a re-hash of something she sang for Estonia already.

Aksel “Hurt” I think that the charm of Aksel is very smooth nice. Hurt is a different song to his song that of last year. This one is more acoustic and quieter, and it showcases his vocals very nicely. It builds nicely to a chorus of voices, and then it stops like they forgot what they were doing and it goes nowhere. Disappointing.

Blind Channel “Dark Side” This is a song to get the attention of everyone in the audience and the success and failure of the song will fall upon the live performance. It is great that Finland has put a diverse range of songs and this heavy sound and lyrics are a new take on a Eurovision song. I’d like to see this do well.

ILTA “Kelle mä soitan” The last of the Finns is a modern ballad. The music is very pleasant to with a very nicely sung lyric. The song is quite emotive and if ILTA can hit the notes, it may be a contender. I like it. Is it too generic? Maybe.

CONCLUSION:

I like a small selection of songs that are of a decent quality. Best song to represent Finland would be from either ILTA because it as safe choice. Would like to see Blind Channel win to ignite some interest in the song contest. I have a sneaky regard for OSKR‘s song because it is so truthful in it’s approach. Not discounting Aksel; his voice hypnotises.