FINLAND: HERE ARE THE UMK2021 FINALISTS

The artists may have leaked already last night, as usual, but today they were confirmed in a short presentation on Yle's social media channels and even live on TV1 at 1pm local time. The songs will be aired one per day starting from tomorrow.
The final will take place on February 20 without live audience, and the winner will be determined by televoters (75%) and international jury (25%). The host os the show will be revealed only in February.

TEFLON BROTHERS X PANDORA - I LOVE YOU

(Jaakko Salovaara-Axel Ehnström-Mikko Kuoppala-Heikki Kuula-Jani Tuohimaa-Anneli Magnusson)

Teflon Brothers is a rap, pop, dance trio made of Pyhimys, Heikki Kuula and Voli. They started back in 2006. They have released six albums and 27 singles, often featuring guest vocalists and having humorous lyrics. Their biggest hits are Seksikkäin jäbä (#3), Maradona (Kesä '86) (#1), Pämppää (#1), Hubba bubba (#2), Aksel Kankaanranta got his breakhtrough being featured in Jättiläinen by Pyhimys who has also a very succesful and award winning solo career, the song was the most streamed song in Finland in 2018.

Pandora aka Anneli Magnusson (50) from Sweden but lives in Finland since 2014 with a Finnish boyfriend. She's been popular in Finland throughout her career that started in 1993 when her Trust me was the most sold single of the year in Sweden. In 2003 and 2004 she took part in Melodifestivalen without success. She has released about a dozen albums and various compilations and countless singles since 1993. Last year she was to take part in the Finnish Masked singer as Peacock and finished 4^th.

Worth noting among the songwriters is Axel Ehnström aka Paradise Oskar (ESC 2011)

BLIND CHANNEL - DARK SIDE

(Aleksi Kaunisvesi-Joonas Porko-Joel Hokka-Niko Moilanen-

Olli Matela-Joonas Parkkonen-Tommi Lalli)

Blind Channel is a rock band from Oulu. They have been together since 2013 and have released so far three albums and 20 singles/EPs. In 2018 they were nominated for an Emma award for the best rock. In 2014 they participated in Wacken Metal Battle and got to perform in Wacken Open Air. In 2016-2017 they were the warm up band for Simple Plan, Royal Republic and Amaranth in their tours in Finland and/or Baltics. Other gigs and tours followed. In late 2020 Aleksi Kaunisvesi, better known as Dj producer Alex Mattson joined the band and Timebomb was released.

AKSEL - HURT

(Gerard O'Connell-Kalle Lindroth-Joonas Angeria)

Aksel Kankaanranta (22) against all odds and declarations is back. After winning UMK2020 with Lookingback he has kept quite quiet until late 2020 when he released Muistakuka olet. Apparently he has now two recording deals, one in Finnish and another on in English. His career started in 2017 when he was the runner up of The Voice Finland, and the year after he lend his vocals to Jättiläinen by Pyhimys, the most streamed song of 2018.

ILTA - KELLE MÄ SOITAN

(Ilta Fuchs-Väinö Wallenius-Jouni Aslak-Tuomas kauhanen-Lasse Piirainen-Anssi Växby)

Ilta (23), or Ilta Fuchs is a Finnish-German singer-songwriter. Her career started when she was chosen to sing in megastar Cheek's #1 single Sillat thanks to demos she had recorded. She got a record deal after that and her debut single Koukkuun in 2017 and it sold gold. She has then released 13 singles including Minne mä meen, Christmas songs and covers from Tähdet, tähdet series. She released her debut album late last year. Her discography includes also two other top-10 featuring in Pikku G's Paratiisiin and Mitä sulle jää.

Among songwriters Norma John's Lasse Piirainen and ex-UMK Jouni Aslak. Plus rapper Tuomas Kauhanen. Plus Anssi Växby from Scandinavian Music Group. Quite a weird combo!

OSKR - LIE

(Oskari Ruohonen-Joonas Angeria-David Pramik)

OSKR is a multi instrumentalist son of Matti & Teppo's Teppo Ruohonen, a brother due that has sold over a million albums since 1970s. He's been before in Yournalist and Traffic island bands.

Joonas Angeria is also behind Aksel's song.

LAURA - PLAY

(Karl-Ander Reismann-Reinis Straume-Laura Põldvere)

Laura (32) is of course no stranger to Eurovision. The Estonian star now lives in Helsinki and works with Finnish music people and hopes to launch a career here it seems. She has been to Eurovision already twice (2005 and 2017) but never as a slo act yet. Her Eesti laul hits Moonwalk 2005, Sunflowers 2007, Destiny 2009, Supersonic 2016 and Break me 2020 belong to this bloggers favorites.

DANNY - SINÄ PÄIVÄNÄ KUN KAIKKI RAKASTAA MUA

(Janne Rintala-Timo Ruokola)

Danny or Ilkka Lipsanen (78) is a Finnish music legend but Eurofans know him only as Erika Vikman's ex most likely. In 1970's he launched the show tours in Finland that had nothing to be ashamed compared to the international superstars what came to lights, choreography and all that glitter. Those shows introduced to the big audience names like Kirka, Katri Helena, Virve Rosti among others. In 1977 he took under his wings reigning Miss Finland Armi Aavikko (reference to Erika Vikman is intentional) and almost for 20 years they worked together including a music video that has been voted the worst video ever: Iwant to love you tender, the English version of Tahdon sulle olla hellä that topped the Finnish charts for four months. He has over 100 charting songs to his credit,

This will be Danny's 8^th attempt: 1966 Pieni sana (8th), 1967 Sua kutsun Maarit (2^nd) and Keskiyöllä (4th), 1973 Galileo Galilei (5th), 1974 Josmaailmassa vain ois kahva (7th), 1975 Seikkailija (2nd), 1986 Ninja (8th), 2004 Seventimes seven (10^th)

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ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further? No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

GOODBYE, FAREWELL...

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o

BLOGILKAR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: HANNAH MANCINI

Straight into interview with my Bycycling reporter Robert goes American born Slovenian represent Hannah Mancini. The chatty lady tells us how she ended up from LA to Slovenia and how it is. She does also some serious name dropping. Talks about Slovenian music business. And has her husband turned into an Eurovision maniac?! And how Slovenian does she feel actually? And who would she like to grace the Eurovision stage for Slovenia again? Read it all here: Thank you Hannah for this interview. You're an American woman singing for Slovenia. How on earth did you end up there? I married a Slovenian man! Actually he lived in the States when I met him. I always loved the idea of living in Europe and it was kinda perfect as I met an European man! And he always wanted to come to Europe, his parents emigrated when he was a small child so eventually when the opportunity came, he had a good business thing happening there and also I had some music contacts in Amsterdam and in the UK an

NO AMOR IN ICELAND FOR ÁSDIS MARIA

In Iceland Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2014 started as well. Five songs in the running and two were voted to the final: Gréta Mjöll - Eftir eitt lag and Gissur Páll Gissurarson - Von . To be honest I'm not very suprised about the choices even if I was hoping for Ásdís María Viðarsdóttir - Amor to make it. The people of Björk didn't warm up to that enough, sadly. Also Sverrir Bergmann - Dönsum burtu blús and Vignir Snær Vigfússon - Elsku þú are out but that's ok. Or maybe I would have sent Ásdis Maria with Vignir to the final....Oh well. Next week another five songs and two qualifiers.

Blogilkar exclusive: PASHA PARFENI INTERVIEW

My flying reporter Robert managed to get hold on Pasha Parfeni from Moldova today who has become during this week pretty big favorite to do well. How did he end up in Eurovision, what his goals are and is his granny better than the ones from Buranovo? And will we get a cover album full of Eurovision later on? Find it out here: Why do you want to participate in Eurovision? That's a very difficult question... I want to be a star! A worldstar, ha ha! But I know it's not easy even in Eurovision, only Celine Dion and ABBA have made it. But I can make myself a bit more known, it's good for promotion. After Eurovision I will finish my album and my promo-CD already has nine songs. We will recod maybe 4-5 more and it will make a good album. With what result will you be happy here? Happy? … Top-10! Then I'll be absolutely happy! So if you don't get to the final you will be totally depressed? Yes, maybe... Yes, it would be hard. For me and my team. What are y

CAROLA'S BOOBS STEAL THE SHOW, SVT APOLOGIES

Update! Another thing got Swedes talking last night: Carola's boobs when she was giving away an award. This is not the first time her boombs cause headlines; her misfortunate adventures in the 80's in Japan wer explained with her boobs being too big for Japanese market. Ok.... Or was it the song ? Anyways, Carola apologies and says she thinks the dress is stylish and elegant (even her friends said so) and she's a mature woman in her 40s, not a 16-year-old girl and looks like one. The Swedish Oscars, Guldbagge awards were given out last night. Carola was there as a guest star to sing Barbra Streisand's The way we were when honoring the movie stars who passed away during 2012. However, the cameras were too much on Carola, not on the stars showed in photos in the background and that upset many viewers as that part of the show was to celebrate them, not Carola. Oh well... The producer of the show tells in Aftonbladet the part of the show was made the sam

Summer songs: Kylie Minogue - On a night like this

This is one of the songs that make me think of sweaty summer nights, humid air and being slightly drunk... I wonder where that all comes from? Anyways. Kylie Minogue recorded On a night like this, maybe not first but better than Pandora or Anna Vissi . And Lord which is actually great!

GREECE: HELENA PAPARIZOU HITS AGAIN WITH HAIDE

Eurovision song contest 2005 winner Helena Paparizou has been enjoying Top-5 hits every year since 2003 with the exception of 2010 and 2014, this latest one being already her 27th! And Haide is charting also in Bulgaria and Finland, of all places. The catchiness of her hits has changed less over the years than her face.... Here's the English version , below the Greek version.

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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