Finland: UMK 2021 finalists to go public on January 19

Finland: UMK 2021 finalists to go public on January 19
Wednesday, 21 October 2020

  • The Finnish national broadcaster, has revealed that the finalists of the next edition of UMK , the country's national final for Eurovision 2021 will go public on January 19, 2021. 

    YLE, has announced that 7 finalists will be taking part in the Finnish national final , UMK 2021, and feature established artists and upcoming ones in the music scene. The board of contestants will showcase a versatility of music style and type , artists that have met success and received local awards , rock bands but alternative acts too. 

    The seven act will progressively be unveiled from January 19 and on and througt the week on daily bases. The national final will take place on February 20,  2021 and the final outcome will be determined by public and jury voting. The final, which will be held at Tampere Mediapolis' TV studios, will be shown live on Yle TV1 and Yle Areena.

     

    Finland in Eurovision

    Finland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 53 times since its debut in 1961. Finland won the contest for the first time in 2006 with Lordi's "Hard Rock Hallelujah". The country's best result before then was achieved by Marion Rung with the song "Tom Tom Tom" in 1973, which placed sixth.

    Finland has finished last in the contest eleven times, receiving "nul points" in 1963, 1965 and 1982. Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Finland has failed to reach the final eight times. In 2014, the country had its best result in eight years when Softengine finished 11th. In 2015, Finland finished last in the first semi-final with the shortest-ever Eurovision entry, "Aina mun pitää" performed by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät.

    This year Aksel won the national final with the song “Looking Back”.  As the competition was cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic.