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)