Eurovision2022 - Blog Posts
UMK 22 : My top
If pandemic has had any positive effects during the last two years – it is on Eurovision. The contest is now being seen differently as an oppurtunity to promote your music and gain fame than ever before. Television in general I guess since performing live has been pretty challenging now for the passed two years.
Last year’s Eurovision results showed how people are craving for live music, self made songs about real emotions and not pre-choreographed dance moves. All top 3 of winning songs were not sang in English and represented each of them a different genre. Blind Channel brought Finland the best result since Lordi’s victory 15 years prior and have ever since been embraced by charts all over the world. This is the professional spirit I’ve been longing in Finland for years.
UMK 2021 Winners Blind Channel
Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) offers perhaps the best national ESC selection of the season! All the seven acts are already published artsits with their own characters, style and paths. These are all very well produced products already on its own merits and it’s only matter of one’s personal taste whether or not the song is your cup of tea.
This year’s black horse The Rasmus could be easily thought to be the automatic winner being the most famous band among the seven entries but these six other entries do give a fare and balanced battle and the best one will win!
Music videos have also been upgraded what they were from previous years matching to each performance and atmosphere. Check each one by clicking the title of the song below!
Cyan Kicks : Hurricane
Cyan Kicks
This was such an explosive start for this year’s UMK! Cyan Kicks comes from the same record label as last year’s Blind Channel and to be honest they do share some of the same elements. They call their style as modern rock. In genres Hurricane succesfully blands electronic as rockier sounds together. The energy here is undenyable. I cannot think of anything to add to this one. Only live performance will define where they will stand in the race to Torino..
Pros : self made song
Cons : generetic lyrics
BESS : Ram Pam Pam
Bess
The most surprising UMK entry so far and my ultimate favourite! People tend to compare this to Erika Vikman’s Cicciolina a couple years back but I personally I find this 10 x times better. The chorus is catchy and you find yourself singing along Ram Pam Pam instantly! The song is ultimately about freedom and breaking up from a bad relationship. For me this is the best pop-music can offer and I’m so in love with Bess’ raspy voice. I seriously wouldn’t mind if this won the ticket to Italy!
Pros : bold perfomance on the video and hopefully on the stage
Cons : The title of the song + swear words in the lyrics which would have to be changed for ESC
The Rasmus : Jezebel
The Rasmus
The big name among this year UMK entries. Frankly I’m surprised they weren’t just internally selected as for Darude and Saara Aalto. However having them competing this way brings much needed spice to the show. First sight and hear promises well (Desmond Child was one of the songwriters btw!) – I loved the black and yellow look and the quitar (new quitarist Emppu getting much deserved attention through entire song). The song follows safe pattern in its rock genre and moves smoothly from one part to the next one. Tiger roaring is a nice add. However I was slightly disappointed in the chorus – it didn’t explode, reach the hights as I would have wanted. But then the song does improve the more you listen to it and at this point it does sound quite natural as the song goes on. This is hit and stage ready and very familiar from The Rasmus with or without Eurovision.
Pros : Solid, high quality performance
Cons : Too safe? Can The Rasmus answer to these crazy high expectations?
Younghearted : Sun numero
For me less known band but Younghearted has established a reputation of singing beautiful, acoustic songs. Sun Numero makes no exception. This is a heartfelt break-up ballad. The song builds up nicely but a bit too slowly to my taste, the singing is amazing though. This is a great add to this years UMK. I don’t have much to say about this and it bothers me.
Pros : Emotional, gentle – easy to listen
Cons : Too forgettable?
Olivera : Thank God I’m an Atheist
Oliveira was completely new artist for me so no expectations but the song title promised bold, ironic attitude. The first thinfg you hear after pressing play is the VOICE! So unique, strong… I hear so much soul and character. The second thing that blows me away here is the lyrics, they’re so deep which makes me think again that is ESC able to appreciate this talent and art enough? She’s not super well known in Finland but I hope her participation in UMK gets her much deserved attention. I’m loooking forward to see how her R’n’B ballad is staged. Despite of the memorable beat, atmosphere her voice and lyrics are definitely the hook in this one!
Pros : Self produced without a big label behind her
Cons : Just another ballad? Will her voice deliver live?
Tommi Läntinen : Elämä kantaa mua
Every year UMK has a ”senior artist” entry. Last year it was Danny, this year it’s Tommi Läntinen. I prefer Tommi, his songs have always had more flavour even though I cannot call myself a fan by all means. His 1994 hit ”Syvälle Sydämeen Sattuu” about school bullying is a timeless Finnish classic among others. ”Elämä Kantaa Mua” however carries a more uplifting, positive message than Danny’s song last year or Tommi’s previously mentioned hit. The song is written by Finnish rock band Haloo Helsinki, who are one of the best loved rock bands in the country and if they were performing this song, this would be all over the charts. Even sung by Tommi it does have a radio play appeal and the tune does suit for him. He interprets the lyrics in his personal way and has a strong presence. This has grown on me significantly. Would I want him to represent Finland in Turin? Perhaps not but I do hope all the best and success for him with this song.
Pros : well written and performed pop hi
Cons : age group tends to separate this further from the other entries and voters
Isaac Sene : Kuuma jäbä
Another surprise in UMK 22! And probably the hottest one which has promised to make you blush! This is a genre, style and artist I wouldn’t normally listen. However one has to give credit a song well composed and played and charismactic performer. I don’t know if he reminds me of Young Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake or Justin Bieber - or perhaps a mix of all them? This lingers somewhere between pop-R’n’B but includes also electronical sounds. There was a small fuzz around this song if it had been relesed before UMK release – however since no actual recording of this release has emerged, it remains only as a rumour. There’s nothing I would add or remove but as mentioned before not my cup of tea.
Pros : daring, not a traditional ”Finnish” song
Cons : Is he only a teenage idol? Will this sexy performance appeal to voters?
What do you think of this year’s UMK entries? UMK takes place on February 26th at 9pm (FI timezone) on YLE.
Top 10 reasons why Turin is the best Italian city to host Eurovision 2022
The Eurovision 2022 is officially open as any song released since September 2021 can be considered to compete in Eurovision next year. Usually this has been accompanied by the news of the location and exaxt dates and possibly to go with the logo, theme of the upcoming contest. However this year the wait was fashionably late as customed in Italy- the winning country of Eurovision 2021.
17 Italian cities competed to host world’s most watched TV contest for example the Italian capital Rome, fashion and business hub Milan, culinary and musical center Bologna and of course the city where Eurovision itself origins : San Remo. Turin made it’s way to number one spot and Eurovision Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl describes it is the perfect host city!
Here are my top 10 reasons why Turin, this dark but festive city is the best choice to host Eurovision 2022!
1. Turin is the capital of Piedmonte and significant cultural and business center in Northen Italy. All together 2,2 million people live in the city’s metropolitan area.
2. Turin is no stranger to great international events and is best known for hosting Winter Olympics of 2006. Actually the venue is the very same PalaOlimpico (13 000 capacity).
3. The city has an excellent location up North close to the French and Swiss borders and other major Italian metropol Milan. Besides city has it’s own iternational airport 16 km from the city with direct connections from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Munich, Barcelona for example.
4. Italian espresso, TV, automobile industry and telecommunications have all their origins in Turin.
5. RAI - the Italian broadcaster has significant amount of production in the city which eases the steps to organize the event. Turin has been mentioned frequently as a potential host city in Italy over the years whenever Italian artist (almost every year) has come up close to winning.
6. Turin was the first capital of Italy.
7. Turin is popular among Italian and international tourists and it’s famous of its multiple museums such as National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento, National Cinema Museum and National Car Museum.
8. Turin is known by a nick name “Little Paris” or “The Paris of Italy” for its natural beauty.
9. Besides Eurovision you can also squeeze a day trip or two to the Alps!
10. Mole Antonelliana - the iconic tower from Italian two cent coins is in Torino!.
Turin is definitely on my travel to do list! Do you agree with my choices and with the selection of the ESC host city 2022?