Finland: Listen to Teflon Brothers x Pandora’s song for UMK 2021!

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Recently, the Finnish broadcaster YLE released the second song of UMK, the country’s national final for Eurovision 2021. It is the song of Teflon Brothers x Pandora, “I Love You”.

“I Love You” is not just an instant catchy melody, it aims to help people better express their feelings and become more open and courageous.

We are the Teflon brothers and we represent the people of Finland. And what better way to represent your audience than to be officially crowned Finland’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest?
Our mission is to bring people to joy, celebration and love. We want to tell everyone that love does not care about the language you speak or your appearance. It is the power of non-verbal cues or, as Pandora likes to call it, mental interaction.

The Teflon brothers have been holding the party in Finland for over a decade and now they want to bring their message of love all over Europe!  The idea for I Love You and participating in the UMK has been around for a long time. The seeds of cooperation between the Teflon brothers and Pandora were planted four years ago, in a random meeting behind the scenes.

The seven artists who will claim the golden ticket to Rotterdam are:

Oskr – Lie
Teflon Brothers x Pandora – I Love You
Danny – Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua
Laura – Play
Aksel – Hurt
Blind Channel – Dark Side
Ilta – Kelle mä soitan

The songs that will compete in the grand final of UMK 2021, which will be held on February 20, will be announced one every day, as follows:

January 14 – Oskr – Lie
January 15 – Teflon Brothers x Pandora – I Love You
January 18 – Danny – Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua
January 19 – Laura – Play
January 20 – Aksel – Hurt
January 21 – Blind Channel – Dark Side
January 22 – Ilta – Kelle mä soitan

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news regarding Finland’s participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest to be held in May in the Netherlands.

Finland: Listen to Osk’s song for UMK 2021!

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Some minutes ago, the Finnish national broadcaster YLE released the first song of UMK, the country’s national final for Eurovision 2021. It is Oskr’s song, Lie.

Oskari Ruohonen, also known as Oskr, is a singer and songwriter from the city of Turku. He has been a member of popular bands such as Yournalist and Traffic Island. Oskr is an extremely talented and organic person from a family of musicians. He has written, produced and performed himself and his brother in both Finnish and English. The UMK Competition will serve as the next step in Oscar’s career as he returns to his roots, to perform in English. Oskr idols include James Blake, Bon Iver and Jon Bellion.

Unfortunately, most people do not have the guts to say what they really feel, especially when the stakes are high. They usually end up saying what they think the other person wants to hear. This is something that is universal for all people and cultures, which makes the Eurovision Song Contest the perfect place for my song and its message.

Oskr

The seven artists who will claim the golden ticket to Rotterdam are:

Oskr – Lie
Teflon Brothers x Pandora – I Love You
Danny – Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua
Laura – Play
Aksel – Hurt
Blind Channel – Dark Side
Ilta – Kelle mä soitan

The songs that will compete in the grand final of UMK 2021, which will be held on February 20, will be announced one every day, as follows:

January 14 – Oskr – Lie
January 15 – Teflon Brothers x Pandora – I Love You
January 18 – Danny – Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua
January 19 – Laura – Play
January 20 – Aksel – Hurt
January 21 – Blind Channel – Dark Side
January 22 – Ilta – Kelle mä soitan

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news regarding Finland’s participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest to be held in May in the Netherlands.

Editorial: How fair will the “live on tape video” be for Eurovision 2021?

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The announcement of the EBU and the Dutch organizers for the live on tape video that will be made by the 41 participants of Eurovision 2021, although it ensures that the contest will take place even in the worst case scenario regarding the course of the pandemic, but leaves many questions in the part of justice and equal conditions that should govern the competition.

What exactly is live on tape video?

According to what was announced, all participating broadcasters were asked to record a live performance of their entry in their country. This recording will be delivered before the contest and will take place in a studio. The recording will take place in real time (as it would in the Contest) without making changes to the vocals or any part of the show itself after the recording.

There will be freedom in the delegations, to present as they consider their entries better, but instructions will be given which will ensure the fairness and integrity of the competition. There will be no audience and the recording should be unique and not be published before the event in May.

Delegations are allowed to use similar technical capabilities and dimensions that would be available on stage in Rotterdam, but are also free to choose a more limited production facility. Video recordings must not contain augmented or virtual reality, overlays, confetti, drone shots, water, color use or green screen.

How to ensure meritocracy and fairness in the contest?

In addition to the above, the EBU also announced a series of safety valves, which will ensure that the 41 live video tapes will have been made under the same conditions. Indicatively, we mention that those present in the video recording will be a representative of the Dutch public broadcaster, while the shooting will be watched by the executive supervisor of the contest, as well as a representative from an independent voting observer (E&Y). The duration of the shooting will be one hour and at this time the participants will be able to videotape up to three times their appearance. The selection of the shot will be made by the Head of Delegation and another authorized representative.

Our doubts about live on tape video

First of all, let’s say that even under normal conditions, not everyone competes on equal terms. What do we mean by that? We see in recent years on the eurovision stage, impressive appearances, with the help of the use of technology. Technology that not all broadcasters can use. Fro example Serbian public broadcaster cannot spend the money that Swedish public broadcaster spends. Albanian television cannot spend the money spent by Russian or Azerbaijani television and so on.

So, many times the countries participating in the contest can start from different points of view, but what mitigates the above a bit is that they share the same stage and it is ensured that everyone sings live. With the advancement of technology, and given that each country can use any studio it wants, even that is in question.

We read that Russia uses virtual reality in its appearance for Junior Eurovision 2020, where the contest will take place via live on tape video. An effect that other countries probably will not have at their disposal, for economic and technical reasons.

Of course for the live on tape videos of Eurovision 2021 the EBU has banned such special effects. However, LEDs are not prohibited and it is possible for different sized scenes, something that, as you understand, will differentiate the final result.

What we all hope is that everything you read remains on a theoretical level only. The situation with the pandemic to improve and to have a Eurovision as close to normal as possible, with the 41 artists performing their songs on the stage of the Ahoy Arena!

What is your opinion about the live on tape video? Are equal conditions guaranteed for all?

Eurovision 2021: Participants will record their songs “live-on-tape” to ensure Contest will happen!

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The EBU recently revealed how to ensure that Eurovision 2021 will happen, even in the worst case scenario with the course of the coronary pandemic.

Eurovision 2021 will take place in every way

After yesterday’s announcement that the distribution of countries in the two semifinals remains the same as that of Eurovision 2020, but also the presentation of the four possible scenarios for the conduct of Eurovision 2021, now another detail is given, concerning scenario D. In the new announcement of the EBU, concern the case in which in May the situation with the pandemic will be such that it will not allow air travel and reconnaissance, having a contest as Junior Eurovision 2020 will happen in a few days . With video appearances of the participants!

What is the process

All participating broadcasters were asked to record a live performance of their entries in their country. This recording will be delivered before the contest and will take place in a studio. The recording will take place in real time (as it would in the contest) without making changes to the vocals or any part of the show itself after the recording.

There will be freedom in the delegations, to present as they consider their participations better, but instructions will be given which will ensure the fairness and integrity of the competition. There will be no audience and the recording should be unique and not be published before the event in May.

Delegations are allowed to use similar technical capabilities and dimensions that would be available on stage in Rotterdam, but are also free to choose a more limited production facility. Video recordings must not contain augmented or virtual reality, overlays, confetti, drone shots, water, color use or green screen.

How will it be fair?

Normally in the Eurovision Song Contest all the artists would appear on the same stage under the same conditions giving everyone the same opportunity to shine. For the live recordings, the Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest approved additional measures to guarantee the fairness of the contest.

Prior to the recording, each participating broadcaster will meet with a representative from Host Broadcasters and submit a recording session schedule, studio setup and camera schedule.

The Head of Delegation will be on site during the registration period of 60 minutes and up to three authorized expirations, either alone or with an appropriate mandate, to make the final decision on the selection of the final receipt (from three).

A live link will be created during the recording to allow the Eurovision Executive Supervisor and a representative from an independent voting observer (E&Y) and Host Broadcaster to monitor the recording, provide assistance and support, and ensure the integrity and fairness of the contest.

No videos of the appearances from the national finals can be submitted, but each country can record on the same stage. The “live-on-tape” recordings must be delivered by the end of March.

Of course, as we mentioned at the beginning of the article, all of the above will apply in the case of contestants who will not be able to attend Rotterdam in May. The 65th Eurovision Song Contest will take place anyway!

Source: Eurovision.tv

Eurovision 2021: Allocation draw in semi-finals remains the same as in 2020!

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A little while ago through the official social networks of the contest, it was announced that the draw of the semi-finals of this year’s contest will also apply to Eurovision 2021. Read more

Eurovision 2021: 41 countries to participate!!

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A few moments ago, the EBU revealed the list of the participating countries at the upcoming contest of Eurovision 2021, on 18th, 20th and 22nd of May in Rotterdam the Netherlands. Actually they are the same 41 nations that were about to take part in the 2020 contest that was canceled due to the COVID19 pandemic.

EBU and the Dutch host broadcasters NPO, NOS and AVROTROS have already revealed the 4 scenarios which their are focused on, and they abide by the restrictions and the facts of the pandemic and according to which the Eurovision 2021 will take place. The scenario, which will be chosen, will be announced in due time.

Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said:

“We are grateful for the commitment of the 41 participating broadcasters in helping us bring the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2021.”

“We have the exact same line up of countries that would have competed in 2020 and we are thrilled that they will all return next year. Together with our host broadcasters we are continuing to develop the 4 different scenarios and maintaining a dialogue with all participants. The team from NPO, NOS and AVROTROS are working hard on ensuring the Eurovision Song Contest will provide the excitement and innovation expected by over 180 million viewers, despite the challenging circumstances.”

 

Of the 41 nations taking part, 35 will compete in two Semi-Finals with 10 successful acts from each Semi-Final joining the Big 5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) and hosts the Netherlands in the Grand Final.

Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, said:

“It is fantastic that the same 41 countries that would have taken part this year still want to come to the Netherlands in May 2021. This demonstrates their confidence in our country still being able to organize a successful Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam next year, after the cancellation of the 2020 edition.”

“We have set the bar high to create 3 amazing live shows for an audience of 180 million people, even in these challenging times. To achieve this, we are working on an extensive protocol that guarantees the health of employees, participants, the press and visitors as much as possible.”

 

Participating broadcasters
The following countries (and EBU Member broadcasters) will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam:

Albania (RTSH)

Armenia (AMPTV)

Australia (SBS)*

Austria (ORF)

Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV)

Belarus (BTRC)

Belgium (VRT)

Bulgaria (BNT)

Croatia (HRT)

Cyprus (CyBC)

Czech Republic (CT)

Denmark (DR)

Estonia (ERR)

Finland (YLE)

France (FT)

Germany (ARD/NDR)

Georgia (GPB)

Greece (ERT)

Iceland (RUV)

Ireland (RTE)

Israel (KAN)

Italy (RAI)

Latvia (LTV)

Lithuania (LRT)

Malta (PBS)

Moldova (TRM)

The Netherlands (AVROTROS)

North Macedonia (MKRTV)

Norway (NRK)

Poland (TVP)

Portugal (RTP)

Romania (TVR)

Russia (Channel One)

San Marino (RTV)

Serbia (RTS)

Slovenia (RTVSLO)

Spain (TVE)

Sweden (SVT)

Switzerland (SRG SSR)

Ukraine (UA:PBC)

United Kingdom (BBC)

*EBU Associate

 

It is worth to be mentioned this is the first time since 1990 that we have the same amount of participating countries in two consecutive years.

Source: Eurovision.tv

Finland: More that 300 submissions for UMK 2021 | Finalists announcement on 19th January

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The national broadcaster of Finland, YLE, announced today that the 7 candidates who will compete at Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu final for the ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, have been selected.

 

Big Interest for UMK 2021

More than 300 artist submitted songs in order to claim the representation of Finland in Rotterdam. The submission deadline expired on 7th of September and a few days ago a professional jury of UMK, headed by the music director of YLE, Tapio Hakanen reached the final seven of UMK 2021.

According to insights provided by YLE, the level of the artists and the songs was incredibly strong and the UMK 2021 is expected to be the most difficult of all times. Among the submitted entries are the most talented and successful Finn songwriters and producers, as well as several Finn representatives in Eurovision from previous years.

The 7 finalists of UMK 2021 are expected to be announced on 19th January 2021 while the national final will take place in Tampere on 20th of February. 

The chosen representative for Eurovision 2020 submitted again a song

As we know from earlier this year, the winner of the Finnish Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu for 2020, Aksel Kankaanranta has sent a song to the competition in 2021 without having secured the qualification to the final.

In 2020 he would have competed in Eurovision, with the song Looking Back:

Source: YLE

Finland: Through UMK country’s representative in Eurovision 2021!

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UMK 2020,the process by which Finland has chosen to participate in the 65th Eurovision Contest, was completed last night. Aksel Kankaanranta was the big winner with the song “Looking Back”.

Just before yesterday’s final, Finland’s public television has confirmed that it will use the same way for Eurovision 2021  to choose its entry.

This year, with an open procedure, 426 songs were submitted to YLE to represent the country in Rotterdam.

The music producer of Ylex to be involved in the selection of Finnish entry for 2021 said:

“The open choice for artists and songs by the country’s creators has received a positive response from both the music industry and the Finnish public. We received great songs from many Finnish artists. The end result was to have a great Final. It is our great pleasure to continue the cooperation between Ylex and UMK. Searching for songs will begin in September, so get a chance to start writing songs from now in the spring”.

Source: YLE

Finland: With Aksel Kankaanranta and “Looking Back” in Rotterdam

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Shortly before UMK 2020 was completed, the process through which Finland chose to participate in the 65th Eurovision Contest. The evening’s hosts were Mikko Silvennoinen and Krista Siegfrids (country representative in 2013).

The final took place at the Mediapolis multiplex in Tampere, Finland.

Unlike the previous two years, not one but six different artists competed in the Finnish national final. The result was judged by 50% by an international commission and by 50% by the Finnish public.

The 8 countries that made up the international committees were:

-Bulgaria
-Germany
-Estonia
-United Kingdom
-Spain
-Netherlands
-Russia
-Sweden

Each country had four members in its committee.

The ticket for Rotterdam tonight were claimed by 6 artists:

  1. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity“
  2. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina“
  3. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back“
  4. F3M – “Bananas“
  5. Sansa – “Lover View“
  6. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break“

Following the vote of the international committees, the result was as follows:

Aksel Kankaanranta emerged as the winner with the song “Looking Back” after the end of the poll.

 

Finland: Tonight,the UMK for Eurovision 2020

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Tonight, the UMK 2020 will take place through which Finland will choose its entry in the 65th Eurovision Contest. The show’s  presenters will be Mikko Silvennoinen and Krista Siegfrids (country representative in 2013).

Unlike the previous two years, not one but six different artists will compete in the Finnish national final. The result will be judged by 50% by an international commission and 50% by the Finnish public.

The 8 countries that will form the international committees are:

-Bulgaria
-Germany
-Estonia
-United Kingdom
-Spain
-Netherlands
-Russia
-Sweden
Each country will have four members in its committee.

Ticket for Rotterdam tonight will be claimed by 6 artists in the following order:

  1. Catharina Zühlke – Eternity
  2. Erika Vikman – Cicciolina
  3. Aksel Kankaanranta – Looking Back
  4. F3M – Bananas
  5. Sansa – Lover View
  6. Tika – I Let My Heart Break

The final will take place at the Mediapolis multiplex in Tampere, Finland.

Residents outside of Finland can vote for their favorite song for free by simply downloading the special app available here and easily creating an account so they can vote.

You can watch UMK 2020 at 20:00 CET time time through the official UMK website here as well as through the live broadcast of Yle TV1 HERE.

Bets just before the UMK 2020 final

Many consider tonight’s competition night to be meaningless, as in Finland both in terms of bets, betting and YouTube views etc, there is the biggest favorite in the national final, at least for this season.

Erika Vikman with “Cicciolina” is performing at some companies even at 1.35, which makes it almost a given at UMK 2020. they do just as well in live. But we repeat that in no other national final this year, did we have any participation that is universally considered such a strong favorite.