She's the blue 'n white voice of Finland and has been singing already 63 years but all that comes to an end on August 16, 2025 - the night before she turns 80. The Helsinki Olympic stadium will see and hear her belt out her hits from the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's, 2010's and finally 2020's in a concert tile The Last Night, that will be her one and only performance in 2025. Her career has been long and unlike most everyone she doesn't have had particularly lows but highs and even higher periods of stardom and hit potential. One of the highest heights she's living right now as the new young generations have found and adopted her as well. She has also never really had a break, except in late 1980's/early 1990's after the sudden death of her husband. She returned in 1992 with Anna mulle tähtitaivas, her biggest selling album and the title song she says is her favorite of them all.
Her debut single Poiken kuvat released in 1963 but her big breakthrough came in 1964 with Puhelinlangat laulaa. In 1965 she took part in the national Eurovision selection and should have won by public with Minne tuuli kuljettaa, especially when similar looking France Gall took victory with a similar sounding song! Since then she has recorded nearly 500 songs, released over 30 albums and 22 compilations. She has earned 19 gold discs and 4 platinum discs and one double platinum for her albums. She has sold almost 2 million records.
She has represented Finland in various international competitions and festivals including:
Rostock, DDR 1965 with Minne tuuli kuljettaa and Budapest (4th)
Sopot, Poland 1969 with Maailman pihamaat
Jerusalem, Israel 1979 Eurovision with Katson sineen taivaan (14th)
Millstreet , Ireland 1993 Eurovision with Tule luo (17th)
As Christmas is approaching it's worth mentioning her self written Christmas song Joulumaa released in 1978. Since then it has become one of the most loved Christmas songs, a hard task to any new song!
Some other best known songs are Syysunelma, Katson autiota heikkarantaa, Vasten auringonsiltaa, Mun sydämeni tänne jää. Paloma Blanca, Ei kauniimpaaShe has taken part in the Finnish Eurovision national selection multiple times:
1965 Minne tuuli kuljettaa (3.)
1969 Maailman pihamaat (2.)
1972 Sua rakastan (2.)
1978 Ystävä (2.)
1979 Katson sineen taivaan (1.)
1993 Tule luo (1.)
1993 Viesti (5.)
She was the surprise performer in UMK 2024 final:
Below are some Eurovision covers by her:
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