Saara Aalto Monsters Eurovision 2018 Finland

Her first UMK 2018 entry was met with much excitement upon its release a little over one week ago. And it’s not just Eurovision fans who are buying into the “Monsters” hype — the general Finnish public appear to be on board with Saara Aalto’s potential song for Lisbon too!

Saara Aalto “Monsters” Official Music Video

Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland publishes a weekly list of the top 20 songs in Finland based on sales and streaming figures. And the most recent countdown sees “Monsters” debut at number 14.

Saara might have missed out on the top ten, but cracking the top 20 is significant. As well as being Saara’s first chart hit, “Monsters” is also the first Finnish Eurovision hopeful to reach the upper echelons of the chart for several years. In fact, we have to go all the way back to 2011 when Paradise Oskar peaked at six with “Da Da Dam”.

A quick perusal of the archives shows that since Eurovision winners Lordi peaked at number one in 2006, only three other Finnish song contest entries have cracked the chart – Waldo’s People in 2009 (#1), Teräsbetoni in 2008 (#2), and Paradise Oskar.

Recent entries from the likes of Softengine, Krista Siegfrids, Sandhja and Norma John made inroads on secondary charts, but none broke into the main countdown. Typically, international Eurovision acts perform better. Alexander Rybak, Emmelie de Forest, Loreen and Måns Zelmerlöw all enjoyed top 20 success.

Saara’s achievement is all the more impressive given that “Monsters” is only one of three potential Eurovision songs. “Domino” dropped last Friday. We will see how it fares once next week’s chart is published.

Saara Aalto “Domino” Official Music Video

However, early indications suggest that it might not better “Monsters”. On the latest Finnish Spotify chart for Monday “Monsters” sits at 27 while “Domino” is outside the top 50. That said, at the time of writing, Saara occupies the top two spots on iTunes with “Domino” and “Monsters” respectively.

Her third and final effort “Queens” is set for release on Friday.

Of course, local chart success does not guarantee success at Eurovision. But it does bode well. Songs that are popular with the record buying public in home markets also tend to be popular with juries and televoters across Europe and Australia.

What do you think? Is Saara Aalto set for Eurovision glory? Can you see “Monsters” winning Eurovision? Let us know in the comments below.

Follow all of our Finland Eurovision news.

Total
178
Shares
30 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
The Anders
The Anders
6 years ago

Seems like Yle are going for the win, so they are trying very had to send something as Eurovision-like as possible. This is what is wrong about it imo.

Unfortunately both of the songs that have been released so far are built on musical and lyrical clichés that have been heard way too many times before. There is nothing original about them, instead they sound calculated.

eurovision6
eurovision6
6 years ago

Overrated, I dont like it

Harry Ingrosso
Harry Ingrosso
6 years ago

Monsters made it to UK charts 88 (iTunes only)

Fast Food Music Lover
Fast Food Music Lover
6 years ago

It’s a great song. I’m glad she’s getting the recognition she deserves.

Lukas
Lukas
6 years ago

Eurovizijos Atranka’s wildcards are announced as Broken Shadows and Positive Thoughts. Which is weird, as Pusvalanduko was leading all along the way. Huh. Anyway, what’s the difference, they will both be eliminated by next Saturday so what’s the point.

http://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/eurovizija/31/203853/lrt-lt-lankytojai-nusprende-kas-grizta-i-eurovizijos-atranka

Troy
Troy
6 years ago

It’s pretty sad that most countries’ Eurovision songs are usually so poor they can barely make an impact on their own countries’ charts.

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
6 years ago
Reply to  Troy

It happens around the world too. A lot of countries’ local charts are bombared with international music(mostly US and British) so their local artists tend not to chart that high which is why having national song selections is a good platform for them.

Alex
Alex
6 years ago
Reply to  Troy

Finland is not a good example for your point because their chart is so damn short. Only 20 songs! Remember that Softengine did well in ESC, and apparently (if this article is to be believed) they didn’t make it to the Finnish chart either.

Angela Bailey
Angela Bailey
6 years ago

The real story is the vindication this gives Saara over those labels that wouldn’t sign her unless she sang in Finnish, against those who said she couldn’t be a successful pop artist, against the media that trashed her ‘No Fear’ entry. And not many can break through at the age of 30 either.

Who knows what will happen at Eurovision? The nuances of voting in the contest often have little to do with the song. Saara has as good a chance as any though.

Flynn
Flynn
6 years ago

Still can’t believe people are buying into this Gaga reject song, no matter how much star power Saara has she’ll flop with a song like this.

Hopefully Queens lives up to the name and shows that she is a queen and not a dated drag.

Krys Ka
Krys Ka
6 years ago
Reply to  Flynn

Eat a Snickers, Flynn. You’re being a sour diva!

Timo1962FI
Timo1962FI
6 years ago
Reply to  Krys Ka

Thanks Krys Ka 😀 you just made my day.

Marx
Marx
6 years ago
Reply to  Flynn

I agree. I don’t get it nether. Song itself is just very basic. There’s barely enough to differentiate it from an avarage slager.

Marx
Marx
6 years ago
Reply to  Marx

*Schlager

DragKvinna
DragKvinna
6 years ago

I love dragkvinnas in her vid

Arizona
Arizona
6 years ago

Monster’s gonna be this season’s flop. I kinda like it and appreciate Saara but every year has its flop and this is very obvious. I would like to be wrong.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  Arizona

Wasn’t it Safari ?? Romanian ESC hopeful

frenchbaguette
frenchbaguette
6 years ago

i’m happy for her 🙂 i love monsters !

Mercy
Mercy
6 years ago

Are you guys going to write an article everytime she’s going to the toilets as well ?
Even the swiss entry charted in its own country.

Krys Ka
Krys Ka
6 years ago

Burn. Nothing can’t cool it down. But have mercy. 😉 As for me, every other entry can be about Saara. I love the woman. Her ‘Monsters’ is the only thing so far that makes me want to watch this year’s ESC. Otherwise it would be the first time I skip it since 1994. I’m thoroughly fed up with ballads.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

Hold by Nano is in Swedish spotify charts ! while stones is not!
Maybe you can write this instead?

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  Kris

* I meant Swiss

Timo1962FI
Timo1962FI
6 years ago
Reply to  Mercy

Stop reading Wiwibloggs.com if it is so hard to you to bear that there is an interesting, even internationally merited artist in this year’s edition of the ESC. It doesn’t happen every year.

123
123
6 years ago
Reply to  Timo1962FI

“internationally”…i guess you mean just Finland and UK

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago
Reply to  123

Well…yeah…that’s what international means. An international flight doesn’t have to stop at eight countries for it to be international. Two is enough.

Timo1962FI
Timo1962FI
6 years ago
Reply to  123

Go back to school and read more of geogaphy. You might be surprised there are countries like Ireland, Sweden, Australia a.s.o…Saara’s fan base is growing fast. 500k views in a week tells its truth. But hater’s gonna hate. Keep going and don’t suffocate in your hate and anger.

Timo1962FI
Timo1962FI
6 years ago
Reply to  Timo1962FI

Directed to that Mercy person…

Timo1962FI
Timo1962FI
6 years ago
Reply to  Timo1962FI

And 123, too.

Gav
Gav
6 years ago
Reply to  Mercy

Where else would you suggest such an article is written – I’m interested and like reading. People like you puzzle me…