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EUROVISION 2024 - UMK FINLAND: JESSE MARKIN - GLOW


Jesse Markin (38) is a Finnish singer and rapper. More loved by the critics so far he's ready to play the UMk card for becoming a household name. Later this year he will also be taking part in Suuri seikkailu adventure reality. He also made headlines by stating should he win UMK he's not going to go to Eurovision if Israel is there....


Jesse was born in Liberia and moved to Finland from Ghana when he was 6. He speaks a very charming Tampere accent these days btw. In 2002 he formed a hip hop band The Megaphone State and they released three albums over ten years. 2018 Jesse released his first solo single Blood/Will shoot and gained good reviews and the video won an award for the best filming. Later he was chosen the Newcomer of the Year by music magazine Soundi. In 2019 he released his debut album and won two Emma (Finnish Grammy) for it, as well as other awards. In 2020 he took a step to reality entertainment by taking part in Dancing with stars placing 7th. His second album Noir came out in 2021 and peaked at n.o 7 in the official albums chart.


Jesse has written Glow with Totte Rautiainen who has also produced it. 


Be what is you, as unique like a jewel
From a seed to a fruit, c'est la vie, know
They gonna see that
Anywhere that you go
You're gonna make it you're gonna make it glow
They gonna see that
Anywhere that you go - oh - oh - oh
You're gonna make, it you're gonna make it

So, what do I think? Jesse has been on my wishlist for UMk for years already so it's good to have him here. I like Glow, I enjoy it's flow and rhythm and this would have been manna from heaven just a few years ago. Now UMK is so strong that one can and will demand for more. I guess we all know he's not going to win and maybe that's not his nor Yle's main idea either. But this is a great addition to the line up. Thnaks, Yle!


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