Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Now that Finland is sailing towards its best or second best placing ever in less than a week and as a formality go through the first semi-final next Tuesday let's see who are behind the fantastic live performance on stage in Liverpool! Besides the four Cha cha cha dancers and Käärijä himself we have off stage legendary Aija Puurtinen in backing vocals. She's been involved in UMK for many years as vocal coach, judge and mentor and has a successful solo career as well many bands she has been singing and playing in. On top of that she has studied music and singing in various degrees and is a true professional. Fredrik Benke Rydman is behind the choreography and staging developed from the original idea by UMK team Heikki Slåen, Elias Koskimies, Vesa Nuoraho, Riikka Kytönen, Jasmir Vesander and Käärijä himself. The outfit is by Vesa Silver, Elina Lario and Teemu Muurimäki. Swedish Fredrik Benke Rydman has choreographed among others Måns Zelmerlöw's winning performance Heroes, as...

But in this case same old isn't bad thing at all! Presenters will be once again Ilkka Uusivuori and Anne Lainto . They did a good job last year so why change? The judges haven't changed either so it's Aija Puurtinen, Redrama, Toni Wirtanen and Tomi Saarinen .  The selecting process is pretty much the same as before as well (all programmes YLE2): 10.12 names of the lucky 12 artists will be revealed   26.12 UMK 2014 will kick of with a special showing how the judges selected the 12 lucky ones among the 420 songs sent in.  28.12 the first six artists perform to the judges 4.1 the other six artists perform to the judges 11.1 first live show with six artists. One of them is voted by combined jury and televote straight to the final, another one is eliminated for good 18.1 same as 11.1 with the remaining six artists 25.1 the remaining eight (two have been eliminated, two have been sent to the final) perform live. Two will be eliminated and there's...

Both Aija Puurtinen and Redrama have "leaked" they are back as jugdes or rather mentors in the coming UMK 2014. Both were also involved in the second season that resulted in the win of Krista Siegfrids. Officially the judges will be revealed by YLE in November. She says in today's Iltalehti: "The experience was much more positive as I expected. I'm very interested in finding new music makers and new music. This job gave me the chance to advice, teach and mentor new talents. I wasn't only a judge, I was very close to the artists and supported them. I have been asked to do Idols most every year but I don't like that. It's way too one sided and judgemental. I don't like all that elimination business.!" Redrama has been busy working on his new album in between UMKs and has even scored a hit with Clouds , the first offering off it and featuring A.J. McLean of Backstreet Boys. Very catchy and groovy it is, maybe we could have something like...

Iina Salin (27) is from Mikkeli but lives now in Helsinki, a singer, musician, vocal coach and music teacher. She also sings in Emma Salokoski Voices and was also a finalist in UMO's new talent contest earlier this year. And now she chose UMK instead of The Voice so that she can sing her own song. She likes soul and dance music and lists Madonna as one of her favorites along with Aretha Franklin but feels most confortable singing disco and pop songs. Coffee and chocolate keeps this energetic woman going.  What did the judges say? Toni Wirtanen: I must give credit that she comes in with the chorus, the strongest part of the song.  Aija Puurtinen: Very strong start indeed. Tomi Saarinen : Best in this clearly is the singer. You can hear she's been doing it a lot. Redrama : Even if the chorus is very strong I don't think it comes out strong enough. I would make it even stronger as now the beat is the same all through the song.  Toni: With better...

Last Panda is a rock band from Oulu but all the guys originate from Kemi, even further north in Lapland. They declae they represent proudly the whole of northern Finland!  The band is Henry Ossian, HC Knuuti, Laze, Aapo Väinämö and Matt. The song is written by Henry Tikkanen, Aapo Immonen and arranged by Last Panda. They grew up together and went to same schools so besides music they also share long friendship. They had done the demo and decided to send it to UMK to get some feedback from professionals, as in today's Finland there's no way for small bands to get noticed when suitable TV-programs are missing at the moment. Except now there's UMK where you have at least a chance to get some feedback and maybe even notoriety. The band is ready to break it big and dreams of living of what they love the most: music. They also want to look like a band on stage and think about their look. The black eye make up is no glamrock inspired thing but refers to panda ...

YLE has finally published their plan for this year's UMK aka Uuden musiikin kilpailu, ex-Euroviisut.  The 12 chosen ones will be announced on December 3, 2012 and we will get to know them all better on December 27. After that two shows will follow when they will be introduced better to the judges and us on January 3 and 10. After that follow three live gigs from Circus nightclub in Helsinki (January 17, 24 and 31) and finally the big final with eight remaining artists in Barona Arena in Espoo.  The judges are Toni Wirtanen (of Apulanta fame), Aija Puurtinen, Redrama and Tomi Saarinen so this time at least that part seems to be rather solid block of people.  The hosts will be Ile Uusivuori and Anne Lainto.  In the three live gigs the jury and the audience will decide who go further, in the final there should be televote only.