Blast from the past: Ireland 2003

Tonight is the night: The big final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna. One of the big favorites for the win is Finland, represented by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen.  But who are they? Let’s give them a spotlight. Peter Parkkonen Early Life and Music Beginnings Pete Parkkonen was born in Pihtipudas, Finland, and grew up surrounded by music. He first played drums before discovering his talent for singing as a teenager. Performing with local bands helped him gain early stage experience and build a strong connection with live audiences. Idols Finland and Breakthrough Success Parkkonen rose to national fame in 2008 after finishing third in Idols Finland. Soon after, his debut single “Girl In a Uniform” became a hit, followed by The First Album, which reached number one in Finland. His early career combined chart success, television appearances and live performances across the country. Finnish Pop Career and Major Hits After starting with English-language rock, Parkkonen successfully transitioned into Finnish pop music. Songs like “Mitä mä teen” with JVG became some of his biggest hits. He also won Dancing with the Stars Finland and Tähdet, tähdet, further expanding his popularity. Recent Music and Television Work In recent years, Parkkonen continued releasing successful singles and albums, including PETE. His appearance on Vain elämää introduced new music and showcased his versatility as an artist. Today, he is known as one of Finland’s most recognizable pop and rock performers. Linda Lampenius Early Life and Musical Training Linda Lampenius ( aka Linda Brava) was born on 26 February 1970. She grew  up in Helsinki and Lapinjärvi, Finland, surrounded by both theatre and music. She chose the violin at the age of five and quickly showed exceptional talent. As a child, she performed with the Helsinki Strings youth orchestra, appeared on Finnish television and became the youngest recipient of a scholarship from the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland. International Career and Musical Success Lampenius studied at the Sibelius Academy while gaining orchestral and solo experience. Her international breakthrough came in the late 1990s with both pop and classical music success. The album Linda Brava became a worldwide hit and made her one of Finland’s best-selling classical artists. Throughout her career, she has performed with major orchestras and artists, including Andrew Lloyd Webber. Television, Media and Finnish Comeback Beyond music, Lampenius built a strong television presence through shows such as X Factor Finland and Sweden’s Let’s Dance. She also shared her personal story in the award-winning documentary series Linda. In recent years, her appearance at UMK 2025 introduced her to a new generation and confirmed her lasting influence on Finnish music and pop culture. Eurovision 2026 Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen started collaborating for Finland’s Eurovision journey through UMK 2026, the country’s national selection. Their duet “Liekinheitin” combined Pete’s pop and rock vocals with Linda’s classical violin playing, making the song stand out immediately within the competition. Linda received special permission to perform live on stage during Eurovision — an exceptional decision, as instruments are normally never played live at the Eurovision Song Contest. Can they live up to the sky-high expectations? Tonight, we’ll find out.