Darude or Ville Virtanen (43) is maybe the most succesful Finnish DJ and producer and has basicly lived the past two decads with the royalties of his global hit Sandstorm that is still played all the time all around the world. Originally released in 1999 it went on to sell over 500.000 copies in the US alone and charted in countless countries, including #3 in UK. The 12" single sold over 2 million copies worldwide and became the most sold 12" single of 2000 globally. And it's got 116 million Spotify streams, a lot for "an old" song....His debut album earned him three Finnish Grammy awards.
Sandstorm then went on to live in television from Queer as Folk to sporting events and ventually to videogames and especially to Finnish game Angry Birds that introduced the song to a whole new generation.
Since then he has toured the world and performed in various mega events especially in the US, released four albums and 15 singles. He has also remixed dozens of other songs. He has also lived in Atlanta but is now back to Finland with his wife Michelle and children.
He tells when YLE askd him he turned the offer down but after some rethinking decided to call them back and say he's up for it after all - with his own terms - and it was agreed back in September. (Meanwhile YLE had got a dry "No" from also likes of Robin, Antti Tuisku, The Rasmus, Sunrise Avenue and others) He had a few dozen own demos and asked more songs from his collaborators and eventually chose the three to work on for Eurovision. His aim is to reach the final in Tel Aviv and walk out proud and tall, whatever the outcome knowing he did his best with the best song he could produce at this moment. He's honored and excited about the challenge as his songs are usually a lot longer than three minutes and now he has to make short songs with pop edge and catchy chorus and yet sound like Darude.
And for a change Finnish public and media seeem to be mostly in favor of the choice...
Darude was the main act in YLE's New Year's Eve celebrations 2016/17 when Finland started celebrating its 100th anniversary in the center of Helsinki with approx 85.000 people.
His songs with vocalist Sebastian Rejman will be published February 8, 15 and 22 and the Finnish final where the entry will be chosen will take place in Turku on March 2, 2019. There will be an international jury with Finnish televoters in command.
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