FINLAND: UMK 2023 ENTRIES HIT THE CHARTS

How things change! Not so long ago the Finnish national entries didn't bother the charts, not even the winner and there are even entries that have never even been released after the contest. And now, UMK is living a real resurrection or renaissance and has become similar to Sanremo or Malodifestivalen: It makes hits. Artists want to take part. It's hot. Relevant. A hit.

Not all this year's entries have had the time to enter the official charts but last weekend for example Spotify's Top-10 had five UMK entries! I'm sure they will all storm into the charts this week. So far we have two debuts at the official singles Top-20 charts; Benjamin at #7 and Keira at #10. In the radio play Top-100 we have Robin at #46., Benjamin at #55., Lxandra at #65. and even Käårijä made it #77 already. I suppose he might hit the singles #1 and who knows how high on radios.....

Let's look back at how it all started, this new era. Erika Vikman hit #5 on singles chart back in 2020 and stayed at radios top-100 for 43 weeks peaking at #20. Last year BESS broke all time radio play record staying at #1 for 19 consecutive weeks and is still there enjoying her 50th week at #72.

In 2021 Blind Channel hit #1 and also Teflon Brothers/Pandora made the singles chart peaking at #2, as did Ilta reaching #8. All made the radio Top-100, Blind Channel peaking at #2 and Ilta at #5. Aksel peaked at #25 and the rest below 70.

Last year, as said, was BESS all over charts. Eventual winner The Rasmus peaked at #4 while Younghearted did better at #3 and Isaac Sene #13. In radios besides BESS they all did it: The Rasmus #1, Tommy Läntinen #11, Younghearted #17, Cyan Kicks #24, Isaac Sene #25 and Olivera #47 - meaning all hit the Top-50!

And yes, this year has got a good start and might just become biggest chart success ever yet. Käärijä will exlopde for sure, Portion Boys, Kuumaa, Robin and Benjamin they all have a hit already and newer names Keira and Lxandra are charting already. I will follow up the action on weekly basis so stay tuned!

Update 29.1.: Käärijä debuts in official singles chart at #2, Kuumaa at #3 and Portion Boys at #5. Benjamin drops to #7, Keira to #11. So in short five UMK songs are in top-11.

In radio play list Portion Boys debut at #31, Käärijä jumps to #31. Kuumaa debuts at #46, Benjamin stays at #55, Robin drops to #65, Lxnadra drops to #70, Keira debuts at #85.

Update 5.2.: Käärijä stays #2 behind Miley Cyrus at singles singles charts, Kuumaa drops one to #4. Portion Boys drop two to #7, Benjamin drops 4 to #12, Keira drops 2 to #13. In Radios Käärijä climbs 12 to #27, Kuumaa clibs 16 to #30, Benjamin climbs 21 to #34, Keira climbs 30 to #55, Lxandra drops 21 to #90. Robin is already out top top-100.

Update 12.2.: Ladies and gentlemen: We have a #1 on officla singles charts and it's not Käärijä but Kuumaa! They climb 3 places to #1. Käärijä drops two places to #4, Portion Boys five to #12, Benjamin five to #17 as does Keira to #18.

In Radio play Kuumaa is also #1 but with their previous song. Portion Boys drop four places to #27, Benjamin climbs four to #30, Keira climbs 14 to #41, Käärijä drops 27 to #53, Kuumaa drops 26 to #56, Portion Boys climbs 37 to #63 going up again. Big changes here up and down.

Update 19.2.: In official singles chart Top-20 Kuumaa drops one to #2, So does Käärijä to #4. Portion Boys drop 3 to #15. The others have left the chart for now, let's see again next week after the UMK final. In Radio Play Top-100 Kuumaa rises again 25 places to #31, also Portion Boys climb 29 places again to #34, Benjamin drops six to #36, Robin Packalen re-enters at #41, Käärijä drops 26 to #79, I'm sure there will be a lot of action in coming two weeks after UMK final next Saturday.

Extra: In Radio top-100 Kuumaa is still #1 with another song, while Rosa Linn has climbed to #3 again after topping the chart for 7 weeks before). In between is Robin Packalen with another song.

Update 26.2.: Kuumaa climbs back to #1 in the official singles chart. Käärijä climbs to #4 as well, while Portion Boys drop five to #20. In the Radio play chart Keira climbs to new peak #27 (up 34 places!), Portion Boys climb five to new peak at #29. Benjamin climbs one to #35, Lxandra re-enters at #36, a new peak. Käärijä climbs 40 places to #39 while Kuumaa drops nine to #40 and Robin three to #44. So in short all songs are in Top-44! Let's see how next week's chart develops after yesterday's grand final.

Update 5.3.: Käärijä hits #1 in the official singles charts while Kuumaa drops to #2. Keira stays at #7 while Portion Boys rise 12 up to #8. Benjamin stays at #11 so there are still 5 UMK songs in Top-20.

In Radio Play Käärijä climbs 36 to #3. Portion Boys climb three to #9. Keira climbs two to #25. Kuumaa climbs five to #35. Benjamin drops three to #38. Portion Boys drop 21 to #50. And finally Robin Packalen drops 56 to #100.

Update 12.3.: Käärijä stays at #1 while Kuumaa drops one to #3. Keira drops two to #9, Portion Boys drop two to #10, Benjamin drops six to #17. In Radio play Käärijä drops 11 to #14, Benjamin drops five to #43, Keira drops 23 to #48.

Update 19.3.: Käärijä drops to #2 in official singles chart, Kuumaa stays at #3, Keira drops to #16, Portion Boys to #17 and the rest have left the Top-20. In Radio play Käärijä drops six to #20, Kuumaa climbs 15 to #27, Keira drops 14 to #62, Benjamin drops 47 to #90 and Portion Boys stay at #95.

Update 26.3.: Käärijä remains at #2 in the official singles chart, as does Kuumaa at #3. Portion Boys go up again two places and are now #15. Keira drops three to #19. Loreen (SWE) and Alessandra (NOR) also appear in the Top-20.

In Radio play chart Kuumaa stays at #1 and Portion Boys at #5 but NOT with their UMK entries but previous hits. Loreen climbs already to #18, Keira climbs 42 places to #20, her peak position so far! Previous #1 Rosa Linn is going down at #24 after 33 weeks. Kuumaa climbs again one place to #26, also to their highest peak so far! Käärijä drops seven to #33. Benjamin drops five to #95.

Update 2.4.: Käärijä remains steady at #2 in single's official chart that has gone finally from Top-20 to Top-50!!! Kuumaa drops one to #4, Portion Boys four to #19. That would have been it but with the new Top-50 we have also Keira at #24 (down 4) and Benjamin #33.

In the Radio Play we have Keira steady at #20, Käärijä going up 8 to #25 and Kuumaa down 4 to #30,

Update 16.4.(for the past two weeks): Käärijä has stayed steady at #3 in the official singles chart. As does Kuumaa at #4. Portion Boys dropped to #26 but climb this week again to #19. Keira drops to #35 and further #38 this week,

In Radio play Kuumaa jumped 16 places to #4 last week and additional two to #2 this week (thanks to their album release I suppose), Keira stays steady at #14, Also Portion Boys jumped 60 places last week to #35 and further to #21, a new peak! Käärijä dropped one to #26 last week but rise again to #23 this week,

UMK 2023 entries peak position (as of Week 13)

Benjamin (Singles 7 / Radio 30)

Keira (Singles 7 / Radio 20)

Robin Packalen (Radio 41)

Lxandra (Radio 36)

Käärijä (Singles 1./Radio 3)

Portion Boys (singles 5. / Radio 21)

Kuumaa (Singles 1./ Radio 2)

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Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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