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UMK 2013 - HEAT TWO LIVE

Join me again tonight at 20.00 CET for the second heat of UMK 2013. Two songs will send to the final directly with 50/50 jury/televote. One act will be send home, the others will get another chance next week.
The Circus nightclub in Helsinki is once again sold out venue and you can follow it here. UMK+ will bring you backstage 19.45-20.00 here and during the break before the results part of the show. 
Last week fan favorites Mikael Saari and Diandra made it to the final, this week we have Krista Siegfrids (who just today has signed her first recording deal with Universal, congrats!) and Arion as clear fan favorites and knowing the judges like them, too, anyone else qualifying would be a surprise. But who will be kicked out? That's the question tonight! And tonight's guest star is Jesse Kaikuranta!
Don't forget to read these UMK artists exclusive interviews right here ->

19.45 Here we go again! The backstage UMK+ online has just started.The web presenters are telling what happened last week, and what will happen tonight. Then the real presenters Ile and Anne are interviewed, their hairdos tonight admired and talk about Twitter and tweets follow. Remember it's #umk13 to join in! Some talk with Toni Wirtanen, then we have a talk with guest star Jesse Kaikuranta :-) He explains how he has been spending his long day between rehearsals.... drinking coffee and such. He also reveals his favorite is Diandra. Ok, let's get to the business, shall we....
20.00 And here we are. Ile & Anne are on stage explaining the procedure and yes, The Circus is sold out also tonight. The judges are being presented and they are Toni Wirtanen, Tomi Saarinen, Aija Puurtinen and Redrama as always. The televoting is open and here we go without further delay: first act....

The shortest song has got a long intro now, but the vocals are still very weak me thinks.  Toni thinks they sound very professional and the song is good but he isn't too impressed still. Aija liked the atmosphere and thinks they did better than before but she didn't seems so impressed either. Tomi thinks people like this as the song has already got radioplay but alos he was expecting something more. Redrama likes the song more and more and thinks they were good with the audience, but something was still missing. I agree with them all. Nice, but that's all...
Krista just signed a dream deal with Universal and is one of the favorites. She's got two backing singers and three female dancers and the wedding theme of course. Vocally good, visually memorabile whether you like it or not and that's sometimes all that one needs. And she surely delivers on stage! Aija congratulates Krista for the record deal first. Then she says Krista has always given something about 150% on stage, maybe less would be more? Aija needs some space, not a musical number. Tomi says she divides people, and also he says less would be more but he hopes to see her in final. Redrama continues with the less department but at the same time thinks Finland does have a spot for someone who is so over the top. Toni concludes saying she may not be the best singer or performer here but surely has UMK's best show. This blogger thinks she's the full package and ready for Malmö. But I'm afraid Finns will stop that before we are that far....
Hmm, I'm starting to think this is the one going out tonight. It just don't work for me, and the vocals weren't that good either. Shame! Tomi isn't yet convinced as the song is in a genre that the competition is very tough. Redrama thinks it isn't enough either even if he likes the song. Toni loves the intro and likes the song, but... he thinks the song is better than the band!? Aija is pleased they have practised their vocals and was thinks the harmonies were much better.
The song has been cut to 3 minutes. The heavy-Beaber does a good job with the vocals and it's more like a band performance now on stage. Sure qualifier, as the Ile said, this is Finnish national music.  Redrama was pleased, the song awakes feelings in him and this is fresh. Toni is happy the band is here and ... respect! Aija praises the singer and thinks they are awesome. Tomi thinks the record label bosses are calling them right now. So, I guess it's full points from the jury for them. I have still mixed feelings about this one, I admit.
 New look and dance moves to Elina, her girls and band. Excellent vocals and groove. This has improved so much! Me likes! And yes, she was nastier and sexier rather than sweet and nice. Well done, Elina! Toni thinks she sings well and has matered the miss pageant pose. He thinks she has improved a lot but it isn't enough. Aija agrees it's better and Elina has now attitude but she wants even more erotica in body language. Tomi also would like to have something more, but agrees there was some mystery in it now. Redrama agrees it has improved, but doesn't yet buy her story... Oh, well... Sometimes it's hard to get what the judges really want?
The brothers from the north end the competition tonight. NIce look, anthemic song, a bit shaky vocals in the beginning. Is it enough?  Is it big enough? I'm afraid it is not. But what did the judges say? Aija says this is one of her favorites and she enjoys the way he sings and the melody is great. Aija wants them to win! Tomi thinks they are ladies' wet dream (?) and that they are real. Redrama says he has liked the song since the beginning and he likes them as they are real and believe in it. Toni has learned to like this more and more. Hmm, ok. High jury points then.... if they get all the religious people to back them they are off to Malmö. A bit like Edin-Ådahl.

20.45 The show continues now online in UMK+. The Krista Siegfrieds fans are going totally ding dong in the audience and Lucy was driving fans are there, too, with their banners. And even Atletico Kumpula's fan is there, with watercolor written banner. How sweet. And let's have some tweets ... oh, there's one from Alejandro, in Spanish and the presenter is completely lost. Ay que dolor! Then Atlético and Elina are interviewed, and then Arion and Lucys. All talk how the atmosphere backstage is good and all support the others and there's no competition. Then off to Krista and congrats for her record deal! And she stick to her motto More is more! Agreed! And then off to the guys of Great Wide North.... and yes, they're over excited over their performance, everything's so cool! And then talk about the ir looks, that is mostly cured by stylist Tommi Kilponen. And indeed, the looks have caused quite a stirr this year in media... And then we are back to the real thing on TV.....

21.05 Back on air with the recap. The voting is still on for a moment. The judges are giving their votes now. Toni's top votes went to Arion and Great Wide North, and Aija does the same. And Tomi continues but adds Krista in the game. Let's see if Redrama agrees.... more or less.

The jury votes: Great Wide North 36, Arion 35, Krista Siegfrids 34, Atletico Kumpula 28, Elina Orkoneva 26, Lucy Was Driving 26. The televote will be crucial here!

21.26 Guest star  Jesse Kaikuranta performs his Syksyn Sävel 2012 winner Järjetön rakkaus.The televote is closed now. Jess told the press today that he's not interested in Eurovision as he sings in Finnish and there's no use going to Eurovision in Finnish. Sigh. Well... who knows, maybe one day he will have a change of heart?

Now to the results.... Great Wide North and Elina Orkoneva to the semifinal! Straight to the final goes... Krista Siegfrids! The last semifinal place goes to... Lucy was driving! So, Atletico Kumpula is out and Arion is in final! Next week we have the semifinal with Iina Salin, Last Panda, Rautakoura, Great Wide North, Lucy Was Driving and Elina Orkoneva and two more will qualify for the final.


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