FINLAND: ARTISTS WE SHOULD HAVE IN #UMK18 IF ONLY.... Vol.8: BENJAMIN, DIANDRA, MIKAEL GABRIEL, CHISU

 

It's September and the Eurovision 2018 season is officially on. I will feature in coming days names that could be in UMK18, if only...... I say if only, as most likely we won't see any of them in there for UMK is profilied as a newcomers contest instead of being our own Sanremo or Melodifestivalen. In short: a major contest all the big names want to take part not only to win but to boost their record sales and score hits. But one can dream, right? I have thrown in some not so known names for variety. Let's go.... Vol.8 Check out the previous posts by scrolling down.

Benjamin didn't hit fame and fortune from Youtube or Spotify but from Instagram. Yup. He got a huge following before he even recorded one note or before anyone even thought he could be a singer. His debut Underdogs was a Top-10 hit in Finland and became a hit in Spain, of all places, where he apparently has a following. Unbreakable, Young and restless, Body and Man on the moon (below) continued his success. He also made it to television and took part in Tähdet tähdet reality musical variety show placing 4th. He also starred in 20 episode Naked Diary web series for YLE. Spanish teenage girls would certainly secure us a few points :-)

Diandra is Idols winner 2012 and considered one of the finest voices in Finland. She already won Staraoke 2004, a kids singing competition at the age of 8. She also plays violin. She has said Eurovision is her dream and she already tried in 2013 and was the pre-contest favorite but finished 3rd with Colliding into you. Her both albums have sold gold but she's struggled to find her audience switching from English to Finnish and lately featuring in various rappers hits and doing various television shows.  Outta my head, Onni on (below), Prinsessalle, Paha poika, Päästä mut pois and Fiiliksissä are among her best known songs. 

Mikael Gabriel's first appearance was in Idols ten years ago but he didn't make it to the show. He decided to become a rapper. Four albums and string of hits later as himself and as featured artist he's conquered the audiences as rapper, film actor and is becoming more of a singer than rapper. Vain elämää made him a household name. Riippumatto, Helium (below), Vastatuuleen, Viimeisen kerran, Älä herätä mua unesta, Kipua, Liikaa sussa kii... this is kind of pop rap this blogger approves. 

Chisu was not ment to be a singer but songwriter and producer - which she still does writing songs to others. She was the first - and only - female ever to win Emma, the Finnish Grammy, as a producer. She has won six other Emmas for the Song of the year two years in a row (Mun koti ei oo täällä, Baden-Baden) and the best album three times and Female artist as well as the best video award. Four  gold and platinum selling albums and a string of hits has made her one of the leading female artists of the 2000's: Sabotage (below), Ihana, Kohtalon oma, Tuu mua vastaan, Frankenstein, and this blogger's two favorites Yksinäisen keijun tarina and Sama nainen, among the best Finnish songs ever. Now she's one real Eurovision wet dream.....