Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Another day, another dose of #Finpop 2025. This time with alreadyfamiliar names for this series  ANI, Mikko Harju, Jannika B and Uniikki teaming up with Diabdra's vocals. Enjoy! Uniikki / Diandra - Harmaampii Mikko Harju - Mä nään sut ANI - Öis Jannika B - Älä rakasta mun rakasta

  We have already reached 100 entries as of yesterday for this month's #Finpop2023 - the hiots from streaming platforms, charts and radio waves but here are some more! Enjoy! Käärijä - Huhhahhei Diandra - Night in Paris Sani - Kaunis Aliisa Syrjä - Perillä

Yle has announced the rules for Umk 2023 aka the Finnish national selection for the Eurovision song contest 2023 to be held somewhere in the United Kingdom on behalf of Ukraine. While doing so they also promise that Umk 2023 will be bigger than ever! The submission period is from September 1 to 5 . One artist is allowed up to three submissions (but only one of them can qualify). If chosen the final versions must be ready by November 3. The final will take place in February 2023.  The songs can't be sent to any other country's selections and at least one writer must be a Finn, as well as the main soloist, or at least have a permanent residence in Finland. Rest of the rules are the common Eurovision rules set by Ebu. They also launched a sort of Who do you want to take part? commenting on their Instagram and here is the short list of those names mentioned most often (or just mentioned and who this blogger agrees with ;-) As we've had two rock acts in a row I hope for a more p...

  And last but not least some artists that are more of a wistful thinking and maybe not fitting any other category but being more or less known/upcoming/popular/possibly interested in Eurovision as a career move. Without further explanations enjoy some of their songs: Antti Ketonen Konsta Hietanen Elias Kaskinen Olavi Uusivirta Ilta Janna Diandra Nelli Matula

YLE has been very, very quiet about the coming UMK2019 - so much that fandom is creating such a fuss about it in chat rooms and message boards that even the tabloids are starting to talk about it. Last year this time we already knew Saara Aalto was selected in a surprise twist and YLE angered most everyone who had submitted songs to the selection that was cancelled just like that. Lack of any information or hints only fuels the idea YLE is clueless what to do or simply won't get anyone decent. The only thing known so far is that the selection will take place on March 2, 2019 somewhere, with someone with three songs. When UMK boss Anssi Autio was interviewed about it the whole affair can be summed up in this way: He didn't comment the No comment line of comments he gave to most every question. Meanwhile the fandom has desperately seeked for clues and created several lines of conspiracy theories and even a rather credible reason: Yle may have had someone booked up who then ...

  It's September and the Eurovision 2018 season is officially on. I will feature in coming days names that could be in UMK18, if only...... I say if only, as most likely we won't see any of them in there for UMK is profilied as a newcomers contest instead of being our own Sanremo or Melodifestivalen. In short: a major contest all the big names want to take part not only to win but to boost their record sales and score hits. But one can dream, right? I have thrown in some not so known names for variety. Let's go.... Vol.8 Check out the previous posts by scrolling down. Benjamin didn't hit fame and fortune from Youtube or Spotify but from Instagram. Yup. He got a huge following before he even recorded one note or before anyone even thought he could be a singer. His debut Underdogs was a Top-10 hit in Finland and became a hit in Spain, of all places, where he apparently has a following. Unbreakable , Young and restless , Body and Man on the moon (below) continued...

Since YLE published this morning clips of the 18 entries for the #UMK16 the fans have been searching for clues for who they could be and by now there seems to be a majority believing the following artists are in: Cristal Snow (5), Eini (6), Pää-äijät (11), Saara Aalto (14) and Sandhja (15) and quite a few seem sure also that Tea & Kana (2) and Mikael Saari (9) are in there... More insecurity for Diandra (17), Stina Girs (13), Erja Lyytinen (16)....  Let the guessing continue. 11 days for the reveal :-) After the jump some videos from the beforementioned ones...... Enjoy!

Sweden's Melodifestivaen brings together every year the big names, well known names, a few new names and mixes a show that appeals to most Swedes - and not only. UMK in Finland has been changing from ... well, I don't know what it was ment to be really. In the current form no big names seem to be willing to be part of it, and if we think these years it has been running it has produced only one star: Krista Siegfrids, and Softengine to some level. Mikko Pohjola was ment to become big for example, but nothing happened. From last season's finalist NONE made any impact in the charts or music industry and all are already forgotten. Sad but true.  So, let's play with the idea UMK was actually remodelled with MF style. Big names, four semifinals and all. This is my outtake or who I would have invited for the first new styled UMK that I would also rename as Euroviisut . Simple as that! One can dream, right? Check out after the jump my choices for the first semifinal. An...

The second season of Tähdet, tähdet has been again a success, and no doubt thanks to some Eurovision singers: Krista Siegfrids, Laura Voutilainen, Jarkko Ahola (Teräsbetoni) have done it all the way to the almost end, while Markku Aro was voted out after his country performance. More Eurovision is added when Mira Luoti (PMMP) was eliminated to the sounds of Lapponia , and multiple national finalist Arja Koriseva made it to sixth episode. On top of that UMK host Roope Salminen is in top-4.... As is Laura Voutilainen. But as said, surprisingly and unfairly Krista Siegfrids dropped out last Sunday. She has been a real transformer and managed all genres wonderfully showing she can also sing and is a real performer and it's time to forget ding dong and see what she is all about: a true artist. Now that's she's out I'm all for Laura Voutilainen.... She's in top-4 with Jarkko Ahola, Roope Salminen and opera hunk Waltteri Torikka.

Emma, the Finnish Grammy award nominations have been revealed today. Among the various nominees in different categories we have Softengine , the band that scored 11th in Copenhagen Eurovision 2014. They have been nominated as the newcomer of the year, and they are also among the nominees in the People's Choice award. In newcomers they fight it againt Arion , from UMK 2013. Jari Sillanpää has three nominations: Schlager album of the year, Male artist of the year and he's also listed for People's Choise. Another Eurovision veteran Katri Helena is still going strong; she scored also nomination in Schlager album of the year and also Female artist of the year. Diandra , Idol winner and UMK participant is also nominated for the Female artist of the year and People's Choice. Finally we have Tango King and national selection participant Amadeus Lundberg up for Peoples Choice. Also UMK judge Redrama and national final participant Samuli Edelmann are nominated. The...

Tähdet, tähdet or Stars, stars is a variety show that premiered last year and was won by Eurovision veteran Jari Sillanpää (ESC 2004) and featuring also Vicky Rosti (ESC 1987) and UMK participants Diandra and Stig. This year it is even more Eurovision connected when Krista Siegfrids (ESC 2013), Laura Voutilainen (ESC 2002), Markku Aro (ESC 1971), Jarkko Ahola of Teräsbetoni (ESC 2008) join national selections veteran Arja Koriseva  and #umk15 host Roope Salminen among others in the line. In this series artists perform each week music from different genres from rap to opera, from heavy rock to schlager and pop and everything in between. One of the most talked about performance last season was Jari Sillanpää's Gangnam style .

Namely in popular TV-show Tartu mikkiin (Grab the mic), where singers have to sing and guess musical quizzes and compete against each other and public, too. Krista Siegfrids, Mikael Saari, Diandra Flores and Lucy Was Driving's Otso Koskelo are meeting each other again and competing against each one more time. Surely a lot of Eurovision tunes in store and their own songs, as well. Will Krista & Otso beat Mikael & Diandra or how will it end? With a lot of entertainment for sure.... The show's on YLE2 tonight at 9pm (and rerun tomorrow 10.20am, and Thursday 15.10pm). You can also watch it in YLE Areena. Ding dong! All four have also been interviewed by yours truly here . 

Elina Orkoneva Lucy Was Driving Diandra Flores Krista Siegfrids Iina Salin Last Panda

Here it is. The grand final of UMK 2013 and the field is wild open! Diandra and Mikael have been winning polls, bot so have Krista and Arion. And we can't rule out Great Wide North either. When did we last have a final where five out of eight would be worthy winners? Never propably. This blogger will be happy if the winner is Mikael, Krista or Diandra, but wouldn't be surprised (or so very pleased) if Arion wins. And if Great Wide North wins I would say it's 2000 all over again.... There will be 50-50 televote-jury and no superfinal. Anyways, I will be live blogging the event as always so come along at 20.00 CET! 1. Arion - Lost 2. Elina Orkoneva - He's not my man 3. Lucy Was Driving - Dancing all around the universe 4. Krista Siegfrids - Marry me 5. Last Panda - Saturday night forever 6. Mikael Saari - We should be through 7. Great Wide North - Flags 8. Diandra - Colliding into you

Finland decided next Saturday in a live national final in Barona Arena, Espoo. But who's going to win? The race might be more open that it seems at first glance... Who do the UMK 2013 finalists think are their worst enemies in the final? Elina Orkoneva thinks the other ladies (Diandra and Krista Siegfrids) while Great Wide North, ever so polite and positive think themselves because "they always want to be better than their last performance". Diandra likes the songs of Krista and Mikael Saari personally and would vote for either of them. Lucy Was Driving thinks every act is their worst enemy but most of all Last Panda, the closest to their genre. And the Pandas are afraid of Mikael. Krista thinks Diandra's huge fanbase can make her way to Malmö 2013 a bit more difficult. Arion names Mikael without hesitation and Mikael himself thinks the ladies will take the trophy this year.  So, summa summarum the artists themselves seem to think like the fans and the media: ...

I will be once again live blogging the UMK live tonight. It's time for the semifinal and see who will be the two (or apparently it is four!?) lucky ones the jury and televoters send to next week's grand final with Mikael Saari, Diandra Flores, Krista Siegfrids and Arion. Like the previous weeks the show time is on YLE Areena with UMK+ 19.45 CET and the show itself starts at 20.00 CET,  also on YLE's website. Tonight's guest star is Elonkerjuu. Twitter #UMK13 19.45 UMK+ has started online and soon we will move to The Circus nightclub in Helsinki city center. One of the judges, Aija is interviewed and she tells how she has given advice to the vocalists in the early stages of UMK but now they are on their own and the judges only... judge. She also tells she wished there was more indie pop but apparently that's something missing in the Finnish scene at the moment... Next we talk with the hosts, Ile and Anne, and most of all their outfits for tonight. They remind ...

As expected and predicted Mikael Saari and Diandra made it to the final directly. MIkael scored highest marks from each jury member collecting a total of 38 points. Diandra was as clear runner up with 32 points. The televotes were not annouced but with combined result they made it. Most likely they both were very high on that, too. Ilari Hämäläinen came last with the jury (21 points) and didn't impress the televoters enough either to pass by Rautakoura and Last Panda that got 26 and 27 points from the jury. The jury members didn't have to put the songs in any order but give points from 1 to 10. Two 10's were given (both went to MIkael) and even one 4 (to Ilari from Redrama). Here is the full result: Mikael Saari: 10 (Toni), 10 (Aija), 9 (Tomi), 9 (Redrama) = 38 - > to the final Diandra: 8 (Toni), 8 (Aija), 8 (Tomi), 8 (Redrama) = 32 - > to the final Iina Salin: 6 (Toni), 8 (Aija), 8 (Tomi), 7 (Redrama) = 29 -> to the semifinal Last Panda: 8 /Toni), ...

Join me tonight for a live coverage of the first heat of UMK 2013. Six artists will be on stage, voted by the jury and the public for the first time. Two will secure a place in the final, one will be sent home. The others will still have hope alive to get the final ticket from the semifinal. Anssi Kela is the guest star tonight. Coming live from the sold out Circus in Helsinki. Watch it live here from 19.45 CET. 19.40 The backstage UMK+ has just started. With a black screen and nonsense talking. Apparently eveything's not working out as it should have :-) 19.45 Ok, it all restarted with the view, too. Maybe it was better without. The presenters Ile & Anni are now interviewed and they confess being a bit nervous. Then they go and chat with Diandra, who sits in the make-up. She tells what she's been up to since presenting the demoversion to the judges. Mert Otsamo who designed her dress and Ville who takes care of her make-up and hair had a chance to wave, too. She s...