We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Finland.
Käärijä
UMK, the Finnish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, has been won by Käärijä. His song “Cha-cha-cha” was written and composed by Johannes Naukkarinen, Aleksi Nurmi and Jukka Sorsa. Käärijä himself also contributed to the lyrics.
Käärijä’s real name is Jere Pöyhönen. He started his career in 2014. In the beginning, he released his own music. It took until 2017 before he had a contract with a record company and released his first single “Koppi tules” / “Nou roblem“. He released a lot of singles. His EP “Peliä” was released in 2018, with two singles “Klo23” and “Puuta heinää” as an extract. His first album, “Fantastista”, reached the Finnish album charts. His real breakthrough however, came when he won the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. “Cha-cha-cha” reached the no.1 spot in the Finnish charts.
Songs in Finnish
“Cha-cha-cha” could well be the very first ever song in the Finnish language, ending up in the top-5 of the Eurovision Song Contest. The best score so far is a 7th place. Finland managed to reach that place twice in the sixties, once in the eighties. Marion Rung made it in 1962 with her sweet song “Tipi tii”. Two years later it was Lasse Mårtenson with his song “Laiskotellen”. And in 1989 Anneli Saaristo brought her Finnish song with Spanish sounds to the 7th place.
Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Finland takes part in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1961, but has not been one of the most successful countries so far. The aforementioned Marion Rung and Lasse Mårtensson held the record until 1973. In that year, Marion Rung broke her own record by becoming 6th with “Tom Tom Tom”. Pihasoittajat did quite well in 1975 with “Old man fiddle”. And yes, we have to mention Monica Aspelund and her song “Lapponia”. She was among the favourites to win, but in the end she became 10th.
Finland only reached the top-5 on one occasion, and they won. The unforgettable band Lordi got the first place in 2006 with “Hard rock hallelujah”. The masks and costumes were clearly not a Eurovision gimmick. The man always dress up like that. Just a few people know how the Lordi guys really look!
Bookmakers
If you look at the betting odds, there is reason for the Finnish to be happy. They currently have the 2nd place. As mentioned, it will be unique for Finland: their 2nd top-5, and the first top-5 for a song in Finnish!
The song
And of course, here is the song:
