Yle is going internal again in 2019 and it will be very curious to see who they choose (or get) after Saara Aalto - will they go for big international name or something big in Finland.
Or someone new and emerging?
No. Not Saara Aalto but Sara Forsberg aka SAARA. She's be a perfect choice is Yle plans on playng the visibility and "popularity online" again instead of many other factors as she's got over one million subscribers on her Youtube and over 100 million views. She shot to the fame as the "Tongue woman", continuing with some musical genres ending up The Ellen Show. Step to films, television and music in both Finland and the US was short doing everything from Star Wars to Talent judge and her own cloathing line and some travelling reality show.
Recently her musical career has been somewhat suffering so I'd bet she'd jump the opportunity to do Israel 2019 with all her dedication and bubbly quirky energy....
Should Sanremo festival 2019 act also as the Italian national selection for Eurovision song contest next year ( and we have no reason to believe it wouldn't) there's a major change in rules coming up. Claudio Baglioni, man in charge for the second year in a row hoping to repeat his succesful 2018 edition aims to separate the newcomers and the Big artists totally. That means that the Newcomers, or Nuove proposte aka Giovani will be held already in December instead of along the festival in February. The winner gets a freebie for the Big category.
Somewhat similar system was used already in 1998 when the top-3 of newcomers joined the Big ones in the final and rather questionable way Annalisa Minetti, Newcomers winner won also the Big category while her runner up Lisa placed 3rd among the Big. Otherwise the winner would have been Antonella Ruggiero (ex-Matia Bazar, ESC 1978) followed by Paola Turci and Silvia Salemi. But back then it all happened together. And it wasn't a popular change.... and didn't last another year.
Now with the two separate Sanremos - the Newcomers coming from Casinò di Sanremo in mid December, and the main festival from Teatro Ariston as usual on February 5-9 we get more Sanremo, and the newcomers have more primetime on national television. Also their number will be increased, as will be the Big ones from 20 to 24. And it all should work better than the let's-do-it-all-together-and-get-very-confused 1998.
And this way, the newcomers winner might end up to Israel 2019.
The newcomers selection was introduced in 1984 and most notable winners include Eros Ramazzotti (1984), Michele Zarrillo (1987), Mietta (1989), Marco Masini (1990),
Francesco Gabbani (2016) and has launched the careers of many other non winners.
As we see three newcomers winners have done also Eurovision: Gualazzi as internally chosen for Italy's comeback to the contest in 2011, Francesco Gabbani and Fabrizio Moro as winners of that year's Big category. Special mention to Marco Masini who did Eurovision 1987 in Italy's backing team.
Yle is going internal again in 2019 and it will be very curious to see who they choose (or get) after Saara Aalto - will they go for big international name or something big in Finland.
Or someone new and emerging?
If Robin has been the biggest teenage sensation in Finland ever, Isac Elliot comes close second but most of his repertoire has been in English and more international. Now that he's finally 17 he could well be Eurovision worthy. Already popular in Norway - apparently causing teenage hysteria there - and Poland, Singapore and some other markets, and being in some American radios playlists including Disney and Billboard's Next big sound and winning the MTV Europe best Finnish act twice already... Do I need to say more? Three albums, two EPs and a dozen charting singles to his credit so far wouldn't Eurovision be a logical next step in the world domination? After all he already did Estonian national selection - as a guest star!
Yle is going internal again in 2019 and it will be very curious to see who they choose (or get) after Saara Aalto - will they go for big international name or something big in Finland.
Or someone new and emerging?
Suvi Teräsniska may be under 30 still but has been around over ten years already, selling gold, platinum or multiplatinum with her every album, including three #1s and seven top5 albums. She's also got a long string of radio hits, she won Syksyn sävel contest 2013, has been awarded with various galas as Female artist of the year as well as album of the year in her pop schlager category. She's recorded Christmas albums, took part in various music variety shows including Vain elämää and being a X Factor judge with Saara Aalto plus got married and had two kids in 2015 and 2016, still working most of the time. Several her songs are already modern evergreens and part of the Finnish light music legacy. She's got a huge devoted fan base and in already a seasoned live performer. And most importantly she he has stated she would consider the offer and mostly likely accept should it come.
Emmelie has been a bit lost ever since her win, and has released a sting of undisturbing singles and History isn't any exception. Nice but forgettable....
After dusting off I didn't know with Martha Wash Serhat does the same with Helena Paparizou for his oldie Total disguise, then in duet with Eurovision presenter Viktor Lazlo.... The question remains: why?
The Azeri victory remains still a mystery (well... really?) and both winners haven't really been heard of ever since. This is one of Eldar's latest, dating 1,5 years ago. I miss you is his latest.
His partner in victory Nigar Jamal hasn't bothered the international charts since then either. Her latest (?) Sus is kinda nice ethnic pop. Worth a listen.
Yle is going internal again in 2019 and it will be very curious to see who they choose (or get) after Saara Aalto - will they go for big international name or something big in Finland.
Or someone new and emerging?
Lauri Tähkä is one of the biggest names in the Finnish music industry. He's got his own national romantic style mixing folk with pop and rock ever since he started with his group Elonkerjuu. Elonkerjuu won the Emma award as the Group of the year five years in a row when he was in it before going solo (2006-2010). Since then he has been picking up Male artist of the year in various galas. Three solo studio albums so far (#1 and two #2s, all platinum or multiplatinum sales) and a string of radio hits he would be an excellent choice. Like Pauhaava sydän would have been fabulous back in 2007 for Eurovision.... Mä en pelkää is brand new with a lot more modern sound...
Yle is going internal again in 2019 and it will be very curious to see who they choose (or get) after Saara Aalto - will they go for big international name or something big in Finland.
Or someone new and emerging?
Janna is singer-songwriter, musician and daughter of singer Maarit and musician Sami Hurmerinta. Her mother was a regular in the Finnish national finals in the 70s and represented Finland in festivals in Poland and Bulgaria, among others. And her greatgrandfather is Italian musician Michele Orlando.
But despite that she shines on the Finnish pop and soul scene on her own right. She started her career in late 2000's with two albums in English but the big break came in 2014 when she released her third album in Finnish. In 2018 she was nominated in Emma gaala as the Female artist of the year but sadly lost to Evelina. She has released already six singles off her next album so why not finish it off with some songs to #umk2019? With the right song she could be a very interesting card to play.....
Yle is going internal again in 2019 and it will be very curious to see who they choose (or get) after Saara Aalto - will they go for big international name or something big in Finland.
Or someone new and emerging?
Niila (Arajuuri) is one of those very few Finnish artists who are more succesful abroad than home. In his case in Germany also thanks to collaborations with Sunrise Avenue. He's got a couple of hits also in Switzerland and Austria, and released his debut album in 2016. He would be a great wildcard to play even if most Finns wouldn't have a glue who he is... sadly. This blogger is a fan.
