Finland: YLE unveils the UMK 2021 national final line up

Finland: YLE unveils the UMK 2021 national final line up
Wednesday, 13 January 2021

  • The Finnish national broadcaster, YLE, has released the seven acts that will compete in the country's national final, UMK 2021, the selection format to determine the nation's Eurovision 2021 representative.

     

    Time of revelation for Finland, as we get to know the 7 candidate acts that will battle for the right to represent Finland at next Eurovision Song Contest that will take place in Rotterdam next May.

     

    The seven acts to take part in the Finnish national final are: 

     

    1. Oskr - Lie

     OSKR

     

     

    2. Teflon Brothers X Pandora - I love you

    teflon

     

     

    3. Danny - Sinä Päivänä Kun Kaikki Rakastaa Mua

    dany

     

     

    4. Laura - Play

    Laura

     

    5. Aksel - Hurt

    aksel

     

     

    6. Blind Channel - Dark Side

    blind channel

     

     

    7. Ilta - Kelle Mä Soitan

    iita

     

    Among the the 7 contestants we see Aksel returning at UMK as he ambitions to finish last year's business with Eurovision after the cancellation of ESC 2020 that interrupted his ESC journey to Rotterdam. In addition, Laura Polvedere, who represented Estonia at Eurovision 2005 and 2017 is trying her luck in the Finnish national final aiming to mark her third ESC participation. 

    All  entries will be released on digital platforms, YLE’s streaming service, Youtube and Spotify from 14-22 January.

    The national final will take place on February 20,  2021 and the final outcome will be determined by public and jury voting. The final will be held at Tampere Mediapolis' TV studios, and will be aired 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 the Finnish act never had the chance to perform on the Eurovision stage in Rotterdam.