Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Finland's national selection for Eurovision song contest 2026  or UMK (Uuden musiikin kilpailu) takes place in Tampere tonight in Tampere arena to sold out crowds.  Special guests are last year's UMK winner Erika Vikman (11th in ESC) with last year's Eurovision winner Austrian  JJ, Finland's Eurovision 1985 represent Sonja Lumme and quartet of leading Finnish rappers Elastinen, Ares, Turisti and Averagekidluke. It's worth remembering JJ's staging and even outfit was made in Finland last year with UMK team.  The show is hosted by Jorma Uotinen, Sami Sykkö and Jasmin Beloued. Read more about them here . Out of 491 submitted entries a panel of nine members along with five audience groups selected the seven entries for the final. Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen emerged instantly the runaway favorites to win the selection gaining more Youtube views in 24 hrs than any other UMK entry ever and also reached one million streams in record time. They also became inter...

  Kiki offers as a mix of Finnish melancholy and Greek passion in her Rakkaudenkipee. Kiki, aka Petra Gavalas (29) if half Greek, half Finnish and her brother is none other than pretty successful rapper Lukas Leon, thanks to whom she met her producer and the rest is history.  Kiki's debut single 666 in 2021 was a Top-10 success and the singles have been coming in a steady flow ever since. Her debut album Intuito was released in 2023. Decent chart action and streaming numbers for each and every single but the Big one is still waiting. Could it be Rakkaudenkipee? Eurovision is her big dream and right after that a collaboration with some big Greek artist is on her wishlist.  Rakkaudenkipee *** Kiki, Jaakko Kiuru, Niko Salmela, Leo Jupiter Chart action: Official singles chart: #13. / #19. / #36. / - / - / #14./ #22. / #47./ - Official radio play chart: #21. / #27. / #28. / #27./ #23. / #50./ - / #84./ - / #72. / #81. Spotify debut: #9 with 101.764 streams Spoty monthly listen...

Tonight was the official date but as usual the list leaked already last night as Etta published the group photo and details of her entry in her IG by mistake and obviously someone got a screenshot. Or was it a PR stunt from Yle to boost attention and hype? We will probably never know. And yes, all names were circulating more or less during the past months with the exception of Antti Paalanen. Apparently very well known and famous in his music genre circuit but I have never ever even heard of him I admit.  As for the artists I will go deep with them later after their songs are out (and my holidays over) but I am very, very happy to see Linda and Pete in the list as I have been wishing and hoping both of them for years by now. Not sure about Antti and Komiat but let's hear the songs first. Kiki and Sinikka I'm also happy for, Etta ... not so sure and Chachi is a mystery as she's so far only been as the wife of Jukka Hilden of Duudsomit/The Dudesons fame. But then again she...

 August is in full swing and here's some more #Finpop 2025 for your enjoyment. All artists already familiar to this #Finpop series. Kiki once again has a song co-written by bf Tomi Saario, Elsa by brother Johannes of Kuumaa fame, Sara by Goldielocks while Olli keeps delivering songs that really hit the Finnish chords.  Kiki - Nainen Sara Siipola - BFF Olli Halonen - Kauniita unia Elsa Brotherus - Tähdenlentoja

  It's girl power time as Kiki, Vesta, Etta and Reettabitch belt out some their latest efforts.Enjoy! Kiki - Kohtalo Reettabitch - Pidä kiinni Vesta - Jää mun viereen Etta - Sata shottii

  The month is almost over but this series is not, here's another dose of #finpop 2025! We have the latest from UMK winner Aksel Kankaanranta, already familiar Runo and Kiki with UMK veteran Mikael Gabriel and newcomer Lumo. Enjoy! Runo - Raudasta tehty KIKI / Mikael gabriel - Veri viiniks Lumo - Tuutko kiin aina pitämään Aksel Kankaanranta - Elää ikuisesti

This week we have those Harju brothers again each with their latest offering with added two up and coming female names both tipped for UMK 2025 as well, especially Kiki. I wouldn't mind seeing all of them in UMK if not in 2025 then very soon anyways! FRANS HARJU - MUISTAN KAIKEN  RUNO - POLTAN KAIKEN MIKKO HARJU - ALL IN  KIKI - FOBIA

  Here are some more. Ibe actually said somewhere he wrote Blondina UMK 2024 in mind but liked the song so much he couldn't wait to release it and therefor never submitted it in the end. Well, not bad that decision either as it's already a top-5 hit in Finland. Kiki and ABREU have been both heavily rumored and might still be in with different songs while Pariisin Kevät has a comeback after a few years and just might have tried to do it via UMK. Or then not. Probably we will never know. Ibe - Blondina Kiki - Kuka itkee nyt ABREU - Sulle tehty Pariisin Kevät - Haaveet haaveet

A bit over a week to go before Yle will announce the UMK2023 artists and starts showcasing their songs from  January 12 one per day. Meanwhile the fandom has been trying to figure out who they are by spying social media, Yle's hints dropping every now and then and everything possible from wishful thinking to the logical solutions, or in most cases just pure coincidence.  Some changes have been in the guessing since it started in November ( read more here ) but some seem to be now cemented and fans are sure they are in: Lxnadra, Kuumaa, The Poets of the fall and Portion Boys, only now without Meiju Suvas but maybe with Osku Luukkainen? Now much left from the original late summer wish list by fans though ( here ) New names have emerged especially in the new female singer department. Is it Linda Teränen (with or without her Relax Trio band?), is it LOLA (Lotta-Maria Heinonen)? Or Astrid Nicole? Or is it Berta? Aliisa Syrjä? Yona?  Kiki? The names are flying! How about the bo...

  Another dose of  #Finpop for these hot summer nights including Eurovision almost veteran Akse Kankaanranta's latest offering in Finnish. Enjoy! Aksel Kankaanranta - Vielä sä löydät mun luo Kiki - Rodeo Nelli Matula - Diva Pikku G feat. Ani - Kaukana

  Kiki - 666 Toivonen - J.Karjalaisen Hän Ressu Redford - Hölmö sydän Lili & Luna - Melanie