Wiwi Jury UMK edition: Pihka ja myrsky with “Sydän ei nuku”

In the run-up to each heat of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), Finland’s selection for Eurovision 2015, the Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — will rate the songs from that heat. Today we turn to Pihka ja myrsky‘s entry “Sydän ei nuku“. This band includes a pair of brothers and a married couple, and their aim is to make songs which make you dance and cry at the same time. Were our tears flowing from joy or horror? Read on to find out…

 “Sydän ei nuku” reviews – Pihka ja myrsky

Deban: With a band name and song title that’s totally unpronounceable, they’ve raised the bar on expectations. Unfortunately, it’s another middle of the road folk offering with a mildly rocky edge. Great music video, but I need to be clear – that’s not what we are here to critique. Considering that this entry is helmed by a five piece band and not a solo singer, it is rather disappointing.

Score: 5/10

Josh: This song isn’t terrible. I usually like a good mix of male/female vocals. They harmonise very well and it’s nice to listen to, but it’s another average pop-rock song bound to get lost in the background behind “Crossroads” and “Truth or Dare”. It’s okay. I’m not mad at it.

Score: 6/10

William: No clue what they’re saying, but it seems like poetry set to an electro-pop beat. Loving it! I think the drums come in at just the right time and are just one reason this song has a pleasant trajectory. I prefer the female part to the male bit, but when they come together it’s fierce. This isn’t a winner, but it’s totally downloadable.

Score: 7/10

Ramadan: I really love the Finnish language, and it works so well in this song. Even though I don’t know what they’re singing about, it’s catchy and enjoyable. I would have liked a better ending to the song. I will definitely put this on my iPhone though.

Score: 7.5/10

Robyn: On one hand, it’s a really contemporary sounding synth-pop song, but on the other hand, it’s a bit boring. The Common Linnets set a high standard for male-female duets last year, but this song doesn’t even come close.

Score: 3/10

Sami: This one is so super catchy and it’s the song that’s been in my head the most of all the 18 songs. I love their voices and the whole song is well produced. I also like the lyrics, but at some point repeating the same phrase gets annoying. I love the instrumental part and I hope they get it to work live too.

Score: 7/10

Sopon: At UMK there’s always that one cute, tiny-voiced song that I end up loving. Last year, it was Hukka ja Mama’s “Selja“, and this year, it’s “Sydän ei nuku”. It’s a bit avant-garde in the beginning, but becomes a really catchy duet by the first chorus. The instrumentals are really well done, and I love the harmony between the two. The Finnish language is used very playfully here, and I love it. I think this could do well in UMK, and maybe in Eurovision.

Score: 9/10

Patrick: This song can be a jam if you understand Finnish – I don’t understand it and that’s why it’s just a normal song for me. It’s catchy and there are some lovely voices but I’m sure the international crowd in Vienna won’t get this…even if it would be special!

Score: 4/10

Mikhail: This song is ok. I like the instrumental part, but the girl’s voice is squeaky and, therefore, a bit annoying. I like the guy’s voice though. Overall, it doesn’t make an impression on me.

Score: 4/10

The highest and lowest scores have been removed before calculating the final scores to avoid bias. We have removed a high of 9 and a low of 3.

The Wiwi Jury Verdict: 5.8/10

You can read all of our reviews and rankings for Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) 2015 by clicking here. You can also keep up with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by following the team from wiwibloggs.com on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.

Photo: YLE