When YLE's #UMK2021 jury announced it has selected the seven entries for the final they praised the quality and variety of the entries and even gave out clues of different kind of categories the submissions can be divided, one of them being old Eurovision participants, fans started speculating right away who could they be? This blogger included. But as they spoke about submissions we don't know if any of those were actually selected for the final.
On the other hand if one reads carefully one can note there are seven entries chosen, and they gave us six categories: Eurovision veteran, Emma award winning artist (or writer as they indeed didn't mention artists but submission by..... could be artists, writers, authors or producers), artists from hugely popular Vain elämää series, an export hope, energetic rock band and a hot name from the alternative music genre. Ok, one is missing and the extra slot could go to UMK2020 winner Aksel Kankaanranta after all? Anyways, let's have a look at the possible Eurovision veterans who could be willing to do it again.
Laura Voutilainen, (Addicted to you, 2002) currently acting as the captain in All together now Suomi and enjoying minor radio hits (Kesäkuun 4., Miks ei), the past couple of years while starring in musicals Mamma mia and We will rock you that unfortunately has been postponed to 2021 for reasons we all know. Her song Janottaa features right now in Temptation island Suomi, she has done also another category aka Vain elämää, And she also has tried to get back to Eurovision in 2007 with Kosketa mua, that is imho her best song ever.
Jarkko Ahola (with Teräsbetoni Missä miehet ratsastaa 2008) has launched a successful solo career releasing and touring with Christmas and operatic songs and rock covers and is regular singer in YLE's music programs these days. Someone may have convinced him to try it again, maybe being the rock act on the list?
Somehow most his songs sound like possible UMK drop outs. I mean good, but not quite there yet. Who knows it's his lucky time? He may have given in for the temptation to play this card for notoriety again.....
Virve "Vicky" Rosti (Sata salamaa ESC 1987) is still very much active and could be game for another try, especially when her entry has got a real revival action in the past few years thanks to Antti Tuisku and being a true karaoke classic.
Virve "Vicky" Rosti (Sata salamaa ESC 1987) is still very much active and could be game for another try, especially when her entry has got a real revival action in the past few years thanks to Antti Tuisku and being a true karaoke classic.
Hanna Pakarinen (Leave me alone ESC 2007) has made a comeback to television with Tähdet tähdet series where she proved once again what a stage animal she is, and is apparently working on her new album after motherhood and a break. What would be a better place for a relaunch after several albums in Finnish with somewhat fading success as a recording artist?
Probably the most thinkable Eurovision returnee would be Paradise Oskar or Axel Ehnström, but as a songwriter as he has created a successful career as an international hit maker since Da da dam (ESC 2011). Could he be involved even as a performer with his Folkhem group?
Another possible name is Norma John's (Blackbird ESC 2017) Leena Tirronen with her niece and their newly signed country duo Lili & Luna. Sounds like made for Eurovision. Their debut single already got attention and solid radio play and Sony is most likely ready to back them up for a major breakthrough. Including a featuring in Vain elämää this fall. Or - we might have Lasse Piirainen as a song writer?
And then we have last but not least of course Aksel Kankaanranta, but can we really count him as a veteran as he never got to the real thing? Who knows....
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