Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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 ...

Yle is going internal again in 2019 and it will be very curious to see who they choose (or get) after Saara Aalto - will they go for big international name or something big in Finland.  Or someone new and emerging? Johanna Kurkela is no stranger to Eurovision as her big debut that made her a household name was the Finnish national selection 2007 singing Olet uneni kaunein and Jossain metsäin takana already showcasing then her trademark style.  Five succesful albums later she hasn't compromised and is well known for her unique voice and style, but also flirting with heavier repertoire from Metallica to Sonata Arctica and hip hop with Elastinen . And as Nightwish's frontman Tuomas Holopainen is her husband maybe together they could create an entry we all dream about for her or as their joint project AURI? Something like Rakkauslaulu , that has been voted by Finns the love song of the century (written by The Rasmus' Lauri Ylönen and PMMP's Paula Vesala) or a ...

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.6 (Check the other ones scrolling down) Johanna Kurkela has been around already over ten years, and has even tried her luck in Eurovision with Olet uneni kaunein , making her a household name and fan favorite. Her etheric and fragile voice has often flirted with heavier music, and no wonder: She's married to Nightwish's frontman Tuomas Holopainen. She has provided vocals for his solo album and Sonata Arctica . She has even covered Metallica...

And the nominees for the Best Female artist in Emma Gaala, or the Finnish Grammys include Chisu who has already a shelf full of Emma awards (9), last year's winner Sanni , winner of 2009 and 2012 Anna Puu and solidly popular   Johanna Kurkela . And as a joker a newcomer Aurora .  Check out their latest videos after the jump....

And we go on dreaming. After my totally impossible semifinal one and two here would be the dream team for semifinal three. If only..... Who knows? Maybe one day soon we will have a good old Euroviisut back? With big invited names next to open submission.....

As the state failed to collect money to build a new, desperately needed hospital for children all sort of events and fund raising ways has been launched previously. And here finally comes the "ULS17 Live Aid". Nightwish's Tuomas Holopainen wrote the sing together with Simo Reunamäki and Cheek, and 18 artists got together for the recording of the song and the video. A five hour long stadium concert will follow on June 6, 2015 in Helsinki Olympic Stadium with all the artists and the choir of musicians of Finnish National opera and the dancers of the national Ballet. This event should push the donations to pass over the needed sum to start building later this year and the new hospital to be ready in 2017. The list of artists is quite impressive from top selling artists of the past few years like Cheek, Jenni Vartiainen, Chisu, Jesse Kaikuranta to Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus and Samu Haber of Sunrise Avenua. And Eurovision stars Jari Sillanpää, Riki Sorsa and Vesa-Matt...

Katri Helena has been succesful for 50 years already and she has sold nearly 2  million albums in Finland, collected 17 gold, 4 platinum and 1 double platinum albums, but she has never been one to put the top of the charts on fire - her only #1 album is from the 1970's and her last top-3 from 1995. But now she enter with her new and 32nd studio album Taivaan tie , ( listen here) her first in three years straight at number 3, just behind Tuomas Holopainen (of Nightwish) and Kaija Koo, who also enter the charts with their new ones. Here are her charting albums since 1995: 1995 Vie minut (3.) 1998 Missä oot (33.) 2003 Sydämen laulut (compilation) (15.) 2004 Tässä tällä hetkellä (13.) 2006 Elämän langat (10.) 2009 Tulet aina olemaan (14.) 2011 Valon maa (5.) 2012 Sinivalkoinen (compilation) (18.) 2014 Taivaan tie (3. so far ) She has got additional gold disc for Leidit lavalla, an album and tour she did with Marion Rung, Lea Laven and Paula Koivuniemi in 2000...

Now I challenge you all pronounce kertakäyttösydän! Don't let that scare you as this little song about disposable or throwaway heart seems to be rather catchy and real earworm, all but throwaway! She's got the looks, the voice and the image - will the live performance be up to it?  Jasmin Michaela is a new name to big audience but has been dealing with music forever as her mother Kristiina Mäki is also a recording artist. Jasmin is 25 and from Turku and seems to ready to fill the whole in Finnish music scene aiming to become the queen of Latin pop! She says this UMK entry is exactly what kind of music she wants to perform: dance, energetic, happy, latin pop. Her influences include Beyonce, Johanna Kurkela, Spice Girls and Britney Spears. Like her on her Facebook and vote her on my poll on the right side of this page.

In our exlusive interviews n Malmö 2013 Finland's Krista Siegfrids mentioned The Rasmus as the one she would like to see represent Finland in Denmark 2014.  This is also been this blogger's wish for years already! However, recently the lead singer Lauri Ylönen said The Rasmus is about to take a break while he is to release a new album with his new band Amanda . This album was supposed to be his second solo album following the success of his debut.... Meanwhile The Rasmus has announced tour dates in Russia this fall! Things are a bit complicated here but The Rasmus/Lauri/Amadeus would a great choice anyways, but only a wish I guess as UMK 2014 will be here again.... But maybe could be at least involved in writing the song? He and his partner PMMP's Paula Vesala wrote for example Johanna Kurkela 's Rakkauslaulu . Anyways, The Rasmus is one of the most succesful Finnish bands abroad. In 2003 their In the shadows was the number one single in Europe that year. Othe...

Last night it was the last show in Peacock Theater in Helsinki before the show will move on to the Helsinki Ice hall next Sunday. Torsten Borg was voted out - rightfully so if you ask me - and we have two big voiced ladies in the final so one thing is for sure: it will be a female winner in this edition, the first since Hanna Pakarinen , who won the very first edition. The megasuperfavourite since the beginning, only 17-year-old Diandra Flores belted out Listen  from The Dreamgirls but Susanna Erkinheimo (27) was the big surprise by giving such a performance of The Power of love that even Jennifer Rush and Celine Dion would applause. This blogger has loved her cover of Johanna Kurkela's Rakkauslaulu previously while the song's composer, Lauri Ylönen from The Rasmus was as a judge. For the first time ever the Finnish Idols has had singers that can really do big power ballads! But this edition is only saved by these two, The Voice of Finland wins in every other aspect pl...

Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus fame is one of the songwriters in Katri Helena's new album Valon maa out on November 9, 2011. He has written the beautiful Vieras sisar with his companion Paula Vesala, of PMMP. They also wrote Johanna Kurkela's megahit Rakkauslaulu . Other songwriters of rock generation for Katri Helena include Tuure Kilpeläinen and Jussi Hakulinen.  Listen songs from her new album: Vieras sisar , Sinun sydämesi kanssa and Kerro, kerro kuiskaten .

Rihanna's We found love climbs to #1 in Finland this week. In albums Chisu keeps her #1 spot for the third week and has sold double platinum. Kaija Koo drops to #3 from last weeks #2, Juha Tapio is at #4, Samuli Edelmann is at #9, Johanna Kurkela at #10, Jari Sillanpää stays at #13 while Laura Voutilainen enters at #20.

Euroviisut fan favourite Johanna Kurkela has released a double-CD including the best off her albums 2005-2011. Included is also a brand new song Elegia , that is a safe bet to say it will be her Syksyn Sävel 2011 entry. Besides that we have both her Euroviisut 2007 songs, Olet uneni kaunein and Jossain metsäin takana , smash hit Rakkauslaulu, duets with fellow Euroviisut stars Tomi Metsäketo (Tahdon tanssia kanssasi) and Vesa-Matti Loiri ( Kaiken nähnyt ) and Metallica cover Nothing else matters with Club for Five. And her other hits like Hän ei kävele koskaan , Sun särkyä anna mä en , Kosketusta vailla vapiseva mies , Tuo se mulle and Hetki hiljaa . Unique voice and great songs, an artist this blogger would love to see back in Euroviisut, err... I mean UMK!

She was just selected by Elle Finland readers the Female dresser of the year and her album Seili has sold already triple platinum outselling the second most sold album (Anna Puu's Sahara ) by half. Three hit singles En haluu kuolla tänä yönä #1 and  21 weeks in top-20, Nettiin #12 and 11 weeks in top-20 and now Missä muruseni on #1 and 8 weeks in top-20 so far. The album Seili has been in top-40 already 27 weeks, all of them in top-10, debuting at #1, then returning to #1 last week! 2010 has been really dominated by ladies in the Finnish music scene: Jenni, Chisu, Anna Puu, Johanna Kurkela and Maija Vilkkumaa with Kaija Koo have showed chicks rock! Shame none of them is in Euroviisut 2011. (I know I'm repeating myself, sorry!)

Here they are, my dream artists for Eurovision who we will not see for a reason or another. Paula Koivuniemi and Anna Eriksson have said they won't take part again. Hanna Pakarinen is very unlikely and who knows what keeps Johanna Kurkela away? Maybe she's just too popular at the moment just like Jenni Vartiainen. Maybe we will see them in a few years? Tarja Turunen, The Rasmus and Sunrise Avenue are just too big to risk it not winning.... I guess. Meanwhile while waiting for the twelve names to be revealed on 30th lets enjoy some of their biggest hits: Ihmisten edessä , Nettiin , En haluu kuolla tätä yönä , Rakkautta ja piikkilankaa , Anna mulle piiskaa , Moskova , Kaikista kasvoista , Mad girl's love song , Oot voimani mun , Leave me alone , Black Ice , Paperimiehen tytär , Rakkauslaulu , Tuo se mulle , Olet uneni kaunein , Fairytale gone bad , Welcome to my life , Forever yours , In the shadows , Living in a world without you , October & April , I walk alone , Kuolem...

We continue with familiar names with the exception of Neljänsuora, Each song is worth its place here I guess, even Finlanders who really aren't my cup of tea but the song's great. C'est la vie is very recent hit and Milla is a true classic, too. And tomorrow we enter the top-10!! 11. OHIKIITÄVÄÄ - JUHA TAPIO 12. HETKEKSI EN SULLE RUPIA - LAURI TÄHKÄ 13. LOISTO - YÖ 14. OIKEESTI - FINLANDERS 15. SUN SÄRKYÄ ANNA MÄ EN - JOHANNA KURKELA 16. TIE SYDÄMEENI - YÖ 17. C'EST LA VIE - ANNA PUU 18. SIIPIRIKKO - NELJÄNSUORA 19. HUKUN - JANI WICKHOLM 20. MILLA - ANSSI KELA

Italy has already chosen its song for the OGAE Song contest 2010 ( Nina Zilli) and Finland is about to do the same. A lot of familiar names from come back Marion to Johanna Kurkela, from Laura Voutilainen to Jenni Vartiainen and CatCat's Virpi, Kuunkuiskaajat and Chisu.. Listen to all the songs here .

Many familiar names in this part from Idols Katri to 2000's megaduo NYlon Beat, always lovely Johanna and the solid Plogman, Finlanders, Hector and Mamba with not so familiar Mikko Siltala and Jukka Hallikainen whose song sounds very very familiar.... Eurovision connection somehow? Who knows? 191. ONKO VIELÄ AIKAA? - KATRI YLANDER 192. ANNA MULLE - NYLON BEAT 193. POPMUSEO - NELJÄ RUUSUA 194. VANHA SUOLA JANOTTAA - CHARLES PLOGMAN 195. VALON TOIT - FINLANDERS 196. LÄHES ONNELLINEN MIES - HECTOR 197. MEILLE VAI TEILLE - MAMBA 198. JOS MEILLÄ HUOMISTA EI OIS  - MIKKO SILTALA 199. OLLAAN HETKI HILJAA - JOHANNA KURKELA 200. EN TEKISI TOISIN - JUKKA HALLIKAINEN