Sara Siipola:” Singing will be the main point of my staging show” | Interview

Sara Siipola spoke exclusively to Eurovisionfun and Apostolis about her participation in UMK 2024 with the song “Paskana” and her dream to be on the Eurovision stage in Malmö, Sweden.

How did you make the decision to participate in UMK 2024?

“I thought it was the right time. In my career I already have experiences so far and I would love to one day be the biggest artist in Finland!”

 

After talking to us about the meaning of her song which is entirely in Finnish, she then revealed that the song was not written exclusively for Eurovision.

“‘When the deadline for submitting entries for UMK 2024 was closing, my team and I asked ourselves which song I could enter with and we remembered “Paskana” and immediately said: This is it!”

Which participation has stood out from this year’s UMK?

“I’ve seen all the video clips and all the entries are great! Whoever wins I will be very happy. I think my favorite entry is “Sexmane” from MANIA!”

Afterwards, she revealed to us that she feels pressure after the country’s great success in the competition last year, but her own song is something completely different and new.

What is he preparing for the stage appearance in the national final?

“I can’t say much but it will be something big but also simple! I want to give space to the message of the song and my performance!”

Watch Sara Siipola’s full interview below:

We want to thank Sara for this exclusive interview and wish her best of luck on the final of UMK 2024!

Finland: The running order of UMK 2024!

A few minutes ago Finland‘s national broadcaster Yle announced the line-up of artists who will compete for the ticket to Malmo and Finland’s representation at Eurovision 2024.

The running order of the seven artists who will compete in the UMK 2024 final is as follows:

  1. Sini Sabotage – “Kuori Mua”
  2. Cyan Kicks – “Dancing withe demons”
  3. Jesse Markin  “Glow”
  4. Mikael Gabriel x nublu – “Vox Populi”
  5. Sara Siipola – “Paskana”
  6. SexMane – “Mania”
  7. Windows95man – “No Rules!”

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2024 is scheduled for February 10th in Nokia Arena in Tampere. The hosts of UMK 2024 are Pilvi Hämäläinen, Benjamin and Viivi Pumpanen.

Last year, Finland managed to climb on the 2nd place of the scoreboard with Käärijä and his song “Cha Cha Cha”, winning the televote. That is Finland’s best result since Lordi’s victory in 2006.

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: YLE

Eurovision 2024: Intense Battle at the Top and changes in the Top 5 & Top 10!

As we approach the semi-final draw of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, one of Eurovisionfun‘s favorite and most-discussed columns makes its return. The betting analyses for Eurovision 2024 are back, offering insights into the current landscape as we head towards the highly anticipated event in May.

Hot Competition at the Top

The battle for the top spot in the betting odds continues, with Ukraine maintaining its position as the favorite ten days before the Vidbir 2024 grand final. Compared to our analysis three weeks ago, Ukraine‘s odds have slightly declined, attributed to the popularity of Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil, considered strong contenders for representing Eastern Europe. The odds for Ukraine‘s victory in Malmo range between 5.7 and 7.

The United Kingdom holds its ground in the second position. Similar to Ukraine, the UK‘s odds have decreased, ranging from 6.5 to 8. The selection of Olly Alexander and the expectations surrounding the BBC‘s choice have influenced these odds.

Shuffling in the Top 5

Italy has risen to the third position in the betting odds. Just days before the Sanremo Festival, Italy‘s victory in Malmo is a topic of discussion, with betting odds reaching up to 11 times the initial wager. The country’s strong recent track record, coupled with the impressive Sanremo lineup, has boosted confidence in Italy’s chances.

Sweden now holds the fourth position, aiming for its historic eighth victory on home soil. In-house victory for Sweden is offered at odds ranging from 8 to 13.

Israel rounds off the top 5, facing a decline in odds due to geopolitical realities and the conflict in Gaza. Despite this, Israel‘s odds for victory are around 15.

Top 10

Lithuania steadily climbs to the sixth position, with Silvester Belt‘s “Luktelk” and VB Gang‘s “KABOOM!!!” gaining attention. Odds for Lithuania’s potential first-ever victory in Malmo range from 7 to 17.5.

Norway drops to seventh place, with odds around 15-17. The Melodi Grand Prix 2024, concluding next Saturday, is eagerly awaited by Eurofans.

Greece moves up one spot to eighth, showing resilience after a disappointing presence in Liverpool. Marina Satti‘s name and the direct assignment to a prominent figure in the Greek music scene restored bookers’ confidence on the Mediterranean country. Greece remains in the Top 10 throughout 2024, with odds between 13 and 21.

Switzerland takes the ninth spot, benefitting from the decision not to send a male ballad this year. Memories of Luca Hänni‘s success in 2019 play a role, with odds offered being around 13 and 21, as well as Greece.

Finland completes the top 10, with Sara Siipola and “Paskana” gaining attention. Odds for Finland’s potential victory range from 17 to 22.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE2Fj0W4jP4

As the Eurovision 2024 excitement builds, the betting landscape is dynamic, with shifting odds and intense competition among the favorites. Will the bookmakers’ predictions hold true, or will a surprise winner emerge? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Finland: UMK 2024 finalists react to each others’ songs!

Finland’s national broadcatser YLE posted on its official YouTube account a video, that features the seven UMK 2024 finalists reacting to each others’ song.

You can watch the video by clicking on the following link:

 

We remind you that the competing entries of UMK 2024 that will vie for Finland’s representation on the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden are:

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2024 is scheduled for February 10th in Nokia Arena in Tampere. The hosts of UMK 2024 are Pilvi Hämäläinen, Benjamin and Viivi Pumpanen.

Last year, Finland managed to climb on the 2nd place of the scoreboard with Käärijä and his song “Cha Cha Cha”, winning the televote. That is Finland’s best result since Lordi’s victory in 2006.

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the news!

 

Finland: Listen to the seventh song for UMK 2024!

The finnish broadcaster has released the seventh and last song competing in UMK 2024, the finnish national final for Eurovision 2024.

The song is “Vox Populi by Mikael Gabriel x nublu and you can listen to it here:

Mikael Gabriel and Estonian rapper nublu are among the most successful rap artists in their respective countries. Released in 2010, Mikael Gabriel’s debut album Pohjosen poika was well received, and the singles on his 2015 album Versus broke streaming records even before the album was officially released.

Nublu rose to become Estonia’s biggest artist and rap phenomenon when he was voted Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B Artist of the Year in 2020. A collaboration by Gabriel and nubluUniversum, was released that same year, quickly rising to become one of the most listened-to singles in both countries on Spotify.

Mikael Gabriel x nublu’s UMK entry is called Vox Populi. The song talks about how it is sometimes hard to know what’s true and what isn’t in such polarised public forums.

“The song deals with political and cultural divides, saying that even though we’re all entitled to our own opinions, it doesn’t necessarily make them true. Everyone should use their voice, but at the same time you should also keep in mind that you will be judged no matter what,” says Gabriel.


We remind you that the artists/songs competing to represent Finland will be revealed in this order:

  • Thu, 11 January Cyan Kicks Dancing With Demons”
  • Fri, 12 January Sexmane“Mania”
  • Mon, 15 January Sara Siipola – “Paskana
  • Tue, 16 January Jesse Markin – “Glow
  • Wed, 17 January Windows95Man – “No Rules!
  • Thu, 18 January Sini Sabotage –  “Kuori Mua
  • Fri, 19 January Mikael Gabriel x NUBLU – “Vox Populi

The UMK grand final will take place on Saturday, 10 February, 20:00 CET and will be broadcast on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle radio channels.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding UMK and the finnish representative for Eurovision 2024!

Finland: Listen to the sixth song for UMK 2024!

The finnish broadcaster has released the sixth song competing in UMK 2024, the finnish national final for Eurovision 2024.

The song is Kuori Mua by Sini Sabotage and you can listen to it here:

Having sung and played music since childhood, Sini Sabotage rose to fame with her 2013 hit Levikset repee. The song shot up the Official Finnish Charts to number one for singles and downloads, and it went gold in 2013. Sabotage’s accomplishments since then have truly blazed a trail for female rap artists in Finland.

UMK marks a new chapter for Sabotage, or in her own words, a completely new book. According to Sabotage, the colourful contest entry Kuori mua (‘Peel Me’) was inspired by “a few fireball shots” and a collaborative brainstorming session. The song’s co-creator Vilma Virintie described how Sabotage is like an onion, with its many layers.

“We’re never just what we appear to be on the outside at any given moment. We all have many sides and so much more to give than just one picture, song or moment,” says Virintie.


We remind you that the artists/songs competing to represent Finland will be revealed in this order:

  • Thu, 11 January Cyan Kicks Dancing With Demons”
  • Fri, 12 January Sexmane“Mania”
  • Mon, 15 January Sara Siipola – “Paskana
  • Tue, 16 January Jesse Markin – “Glow
  • Wed, 17 January Windows95Man – “No Rules!
  • Thu, 18 January Sini Sabotage –  “Kuori Mua
  • Fri, 19 January Mikael Gabriel x NUBLU – “Vox Populi

The UMK grand final will take place on Saturday, 10 February, 20:00 CET and will be broadcast on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle radio channels.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding UMK and the finnish representative for Eurovision 2024!

Finland: Listen to the fifth song for UMK 2024!

The finnish broadcaster has released the fifth song competing in UMK 2024, the finnish national final for Eurovision 2024.

The song is No Rules! by Windows95Man and you can listen to it here:

Windows95man is an embodiment of the ’90s, who frees a once timid family man from his everyday life. It all started when Teemu Keisteri’s home videos on YouTube began to circulate all over the world. One of the videos even ended up in a commercial aired during an NHL game.

In 2013, a DJ gig at the Flow Festival brought the character known as Windows95man to life. His artist costume consists of a pair of very cut-off shorts made by Keisteri’s friend, and a Windows95 t-shirt ordered online. Since then, Windows95man has performed at Helsinki’s New Year’s celebration in 2022, as an opening act for Käärijä at the Helsinki Ice Hall and at numerous smaller events.

At UMK, Windows95man will be releasing his very first single, No Rules. The song title refers to the artist’s motto, which appears in both his music and other artistic productions. Henri Piispanen is the singer in No Rules. Keisteri explains that the chorus of the song was so challenging that he had trouble finding a singer with enough technical skill to pull it off. Piispanen was the only one whose voice could go high enough.

“In my opinion, all Finns are a bit looney-tunes deep inside, and I wanted to bring that out more. Now I can share my music with an even bigger audience as well as spread the joyous message of No Rules,” says Keisteri.


We remind you that the artists/songs competing to represent Finland will be revealed in this order:

  • Thu, 11 January Cyan Kicks Dancing With Demons”
  • Fri, 12 January Sexmane“Mania”
  • Mon, 15 January Sara Siipola – “Paskana
  • Tue, 16 January Jesse Markin – “Glow
  • Wed, 17 January Windows95Man – “No Rules!
  • Thu, 18 January Sini Sabotage –  “Kuori Mua
  • Fri, 19 January Mikael Gabriel x NUBLU – “Vox Populi

The UMK grand final will take place on Saturday, 10 February, 20:00 CET and will be broadcast on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle radio channels.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding UMK and the finnish representative for Eurovision 2024!

Finland: Listen to the fourth song for UMK 2024!

The finnish broadcaster has released the fourth song competing in UMK 2024, the finnish national final for Eurovision 2024.

The song is Glow by Jesse Markin and you can listen to it here:

With his debut album Folk in 2019, Jesse Markin became one of Finland’s most captivating new artists overnight. Markin was voted Newcomer of the Year and his album won the Critics Choice award in the annual Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammys).

He found inspiration for his music in movies, literature and his own life. Where Folk focused on social perspectives, his 2021 album Noir explored Markin’s personal life. In addition to everything else, Markin has also made music for the second season of the Moominvalley series.

Markin decided to enter UMK because his entry Glow felt right. The song is an excellent example of how Markin combines genres and styles that are important to him right now in one single.

“One of the main points of the song is ‘don’t give up’. Even the smallest spark can get things going if you just try. Musically speaking, the song contains afro-vibes, cosmic soundscapes and so much more,” describes Markin.


We remind you that the artists/songs competing to represent Finland will be revealed in this order:

  • Thu, 11 January Cyan Kicks Dancing With Demons”
  • Fri, 12 January Sexmane“Mania”
  • Mon, 15 January Sara Siipola – “Paskana
  • Tue, 16 January Jesse Markin – “Glow
  • Wed, 17 January Windows95Man – “No Rules!
  • Thu, 18 January Sini Sabotage –  “Kuori Mua
  • Fri, 19 January Mikael Gabriel x NUBLU – “Vox Populi

The UMK grand final will take place on Saturday, 10 February, 20:00 CET and will be broadcast on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle radio channels.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding UMK and the finnish representative for Eurovision 2024!

Finland: Listen to the third song for UMK 2024!

The finnish broadcaster has released the third song competing in UMK 2024, the finnish national final for Eurovision 2024.

The song is Paskana by Sara Siipola and you can listen to it here:

Sara Siipola’s dark and soulful voice has enchanted Finns with such songs as Rohkee sydänSusta tulee tähti and one of her latest, Uusi musta.

Siipola grew up in the Ostrobothnian town of Laihia. In 2016, she graduated with a vocational qualification in business in Vaasa. Shortly thereafter, she began her singing career. Within five years, she had a raft of singles, a debut album and the music programme Tähdet Tähdet under her belt.

“I love writing songs on big topics. I really want people to be able to listen to my songs whenever they want to feel self-confident and connect with others,” says Siipola.

Her UMK entry Paskana (‘I’m a f***ing wreck’) is about a friend who loses their father and the feelings that the loss stirs up. During one evening, Siipola watched how her friend tried to be present at a dinner party after experiencing such a loss. Paskana deals with grief and lets the listener feel heartbroken: why do others go grocery shopping and go on with their lives when my own world has stopped cold? According to Siipola, the power of the song stems from the fact that it doesn’t romanticise the idea of grief, that there will be a happy ending.


We remind you that the artists/songs competing to represent Finland will be revealed in this order:

  • Thu, 11 January Cyan Kicks Dancing With Demons”
  • Fri, 12 January Sexmane“Mania”
  • Mon, 15 January Sara Siipola – “Paskana
  • Tue, 16 January Jesse Markin – “Glow
  • Wed, 17 January Windows95Man – “No Rules!
  • Thu, 18 January Sini Sabotage –  “Kuori Mua
  • Fri, 19 January Mikael Gabriel x NUBLU – “Vox Populi

The UMK grand final will take place on Saturday, 10 February, 20:00 CET and will be broadcast on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle radio channels.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding UMK and the finnish representative for Eurovision 2024!

Finland: Listen to the second song for UMK 2024!

The finnish broadcaster has released the second song competing in UMK 2024, the finnish national final for Eurovision 2024.

The song is Mania by Sexmane and you can listen to it here:

Sexmane, a.k.a. Max Sene, is currently one of the most listened-to artists in Finland. His 2019 debut album Sextape was a roaring success, sitting on the Official Finnish Albums Chart for over 100 weeks. His second album Väärinymmärretty earned the artist four Emma nominations (Finnish Grammys).

His 2023 album Sextape II sealed his success. After the album’s release, 18 of its 20 songs made the Finnish Top 50 chart. Sene was nominated for four Emmas in two consecutive years and won the title of Finnish Artist of the Year.

His UMK entry Mania was formed slowly from different pieces. Sene wrote the song at different times and in different moods, which is also apparent in the song lyrics.

“The words in the chorus crystallise my thoughts: it’s quite all right to be a bit ‘crazy’. I know that a lot of young people are struggling with mental health challenges. I want to give them the strength and courage to hang in there.”


We remind you that the artists/songs competing to represent Finland will be revealed in this order:

  • Thu, 11 January Cyan Kicks Dancing With Demons”
  • Fri, 12 January Sexmane“Mania”
  • Mon, 15 January Sara Siipola – “Paskana
  • Tue, 16 January Jesse Markin – “Glow
  • Wed, 17 January Windows95Man – “No Rules!
  • Thu, 18 January Sini Sabotage –  “Kuori Mua
  • Fri, 19 January Mikael Gabriel x NUBLU – “Vox Populi

The UMK grand final will take place on Saturday, 10 February, 20:00 CET and will be broadcast on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle radio channels.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding UMK and the finnish representative for Eurovision 2024!