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ESC 2016 FINLAND: #UMK16 FINAL - THE LIVE BLOG

Finland has its #umk16 final tonight and the winner will be our 50th Eurovisison entry. Roope Salminen is hosting the show from Helsinki with 2013 entrant Krista Siegfrids and Eurovision 2007 hostess Jaana Pelkonen will be there, too. Eurovision 2006 winner Lordi is performing and celebrating the 10th anniversary of their win and also last year's participants Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät grace the show with their presence.
For the first time for a very long time, or ever, the polls give no clue who will win. Pre-contest favorite Saara Aalto is not doing so well in the polls, and the fan favorites Mikael Saari (He won the Finnish fanclub's Fan Award again) and Annice & Kimmo don't seem to appeal to the masses, nor Tuuli. Eini is doing well with general puclic, critics love Sandhja and Barbe-Q-Barbies is picking up speed. Being the only rock entry will surely be an advantage when the masses start to vote tonight, same goes for Eini having the only song in Finnish. Cristal Snow has a lot of fans and has emerged a contender in the last minutes after losing a bit after being also a pre-contest favorite. This is exciting! More than ever! Can't wait!

------ LIVE BLOGGING FROM 9PM CET ---------

Here we go! First a bit relax with a trip to Nuuksio national park! Lovely day in the nice cottage in the snow..... but what will happen next? Quite funny, Krista and Roope are flirting with the artists and Eini is gets draamaa for the outdoor toilet.... Krista, who has "psychic skills" saw something.....!!!??
Lordi!!!! The years after. OMG! How time flies when you are having fun! Hard rock hallelujah tiúrns into cutting Krista in two and Roope in pieces, lol! Now that's a way to start a show! Bood! Welcome to Finland! LOL
And after NSFW show starter on to the show! It's time for the 50th Finnish entry time! Post-modulators remind this is the tightest UMK ever as we have no clue who will win tonight. There are about 6 out 9 who can end up with the ticket to Stockholm! 
Cristal Snow – Love Is Blind
Same staging as in the semis. He starts of vocally very weak and in the video clip he confessed being very nervous. It has been said this would be a great entry but the weakest link is Cristal or rather his vocals. Indeed. Shame. I suppose him fanbase won't be enough for him tonight.
Stella Christine – Ain’t Got Time For Boys
Unlike Cristal she said she has no presssure, getting this far was already such a surprise all after this only bonus. She's vocally good, relaxed. Two backing singers with smooth movements and a dancing couple complete the act. But despite being the dark horse tonight I don't think it's enough.
Annica Milán & Kimmo Blom – Good Enough
Nope. They still didn't have chemistry. Boring. Yawn. And watching three minutes of people watching themselves in mirrors, who's idea was that?  Dark and did I say boring? Plastic 100%. Not even good enough.

In greenroom Cristal is very satisfied with his performance. "I'm no Celine Dion, rather Madonna" LOL. He says he got all out and now the story is told. Stella is also happy with her performance and says it was the best one yet.

Eini – Draamaa
Eini said it was unbelievable she qualified and it took her a moment before it sunk in. It has all been only positive so far and her gig calender is filling up like there's no tomorrow. She's done a huge comeback! A bit shaky vocals at first. And later. That may have cost her the surprise win tonight. Her dress is shorter and legs longer if possible. The cougar looks awesome with her toyboys.

Barbe-Q-Barbies – Let Me Out
Barbies went for beers and sing karaoke after their qualification in some local pub in Helsinki. Except the lead singer who is heavily pregnant, of course. Standard rock performance with pyros and flashing lights. Maybe not so strong as in semis?! A potential compromise winner though.

In greenroom Roope is with Annica and Kimmo who preaach love, unity and Eurovision! Eini was very very happy on stage and thanks the audience who are so wonderful. She hopes that trasnmitted the drama pain to the home sofas, too :-)

Tuuli Okkonen – Don’t Wake Me Up
She's very happy to be able to sing her song again, and who knows maybe for the third time? (Ed,note nope) She says she's got to much good feedback from Europe she thinks it would do well in Globen (Ed.note nope) She starts off with a false note but gathers herself soon. She's a bit off later on but maybe it's the falling rain, or rain of fire that distracts her? Or the wind machine that blew the words away?

Back in greenroom with Barbe-Q-Barbies. They say they get aong well, since they are friend forever. Maybe.
Krista is pregnant. Maybe :-)

Sandhja – Sing It Away
She really wants to win and even if she doesn't this has given her already so much she can't be but thankful. Some experimetal camerawork by YLE that was a bit distracting IMHO but she sung very well, as did her backing singers. She had also a new easier look to accept. Very very good. But good enough to win?

Tuuli in greenroom now. Tuuli says she felt good, and thinks her performance was very peacful and relaxed. But now it's over and she can have a drink of champagne, paid by taxes. Sandhja wonders what happened on stage, she's still out of breath but overjoyed.

Saara Aalto – No Fear
Saara says she has built the most pressure herself. She is here because she wants to do Eurovision. Period. But is she going to be 2nd again? :-) The staging is the same: the wardobe gimmich, bare chested male singers, falling snow and long notes. And Ruslanaesque finish. Meh. But vocally she's good. No doubt about.

Roope asks Krista how does ti feel to win UKM and she says it's wonderful. Fantastic. Especially if you beat Mikael Saari.....

Mikael Saari – On It Goes
He says he would like to keep the staging as minimal as it is here whould he win, maybe change something in the keychange. This is all hard, rough, stressful and ... wonderful! And the staging is minimal like in the semi, with a lot of close ups. Mikael also delivers a few false notes this time. But I can't keep my concentration and head to the chips bag midway..... yawn.... "Modern dance about domestic violance" and no refrain....

Back to greenroom with Saara. Roope asks if she has already practised the face to make if she comes second again? And she says she's so used to it it comes naturally. LOL. She has discovered self irony I see. Next Mikael aka  #mieskarkki or #mancandy. He says he is ready to win Eurovision and brig it to Lahti. Ok.

After post-modulators gave their opinions and checked what's going on in social medias it's time for the last recap. The voting closes shortly.

Next is a look at the back stage and all that with the UMK house dancers..... and all the props used and Krista's crazy outfits.

Voting...... first jury votes....
Before the all important televotes some choir music...... and PKN
Next Krista remembers our first entry Valoa ikkunassa in 1961.....
ha ha ha ha, Saara is SECOND AGAIN!!!!!!

Sandhja wins! :-)

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