Tomorrow, Wednesday 13 January, Finland‘s broadcaster Yle will reveal the seven acts competing in this year’s national final UMK 2021. But prior to that, the broadcaster has been dropping hints about the identity of the seven competing acts.
Yle has been uploading daily Instagram posts with clues for the seven acts who will compete in the national final. But can these clues tell us who will be competing in the contest next month? Fans have plenty of ideas.
The first act is someone from the Finnish city of Turku. They have previously released music in both Finnish and English. Their song for UMK is written by a songwriter who has previously written for American stars Selena Gomez and G-Eazy.
One name that is coming up a lot with fan guesses is the Finnish popstar Robin Packalen, best known by the mononym Robin. Other suggestions include the Finnish singers Benjamin, and Ressu Redford.
The second artist has had their songs played on playlists, suggesting an artist with a certain amount of popularity. They are described as an icon in their particular type of music and have an international career.
One fan suggestion is the green-haired Finnish popstar Alma (not to be confused with France’s Eurovision 2017 singer) who has a number of international hits. Also suggested is the acclaimed singer, guitarist and blueswoman Erja Lyytinen.
The third act is someone that all Finns will know — suggesting either a huge pop star or possibly someone who has a high profile from another field. They got their start on a singing competition and have won several awards.
One suggestion is Mira Luoti. She is an alum of Popstars, where she was part of the girl group Tiramisu, but has since built up a solo career in music and musical theatre. Another possibility is Antti Tuisku. He got his start on Finnish Idol, and has gone on to have many hit singles and albums.
A Eurovision star makes a comeback
The fourth act is someone who has competed in Eurovision before. They’re described as an artist who has received a lot of radio play. They’re also someone for whom Finnish is not their first language, suggesting a Swedish-speaking Finn.
Fans are looking to Pernilla Karlsson, Axel Ehnström (aka Paradise Oskar) and even Krista Siegfrids. Or could it be someone from outside of Finland? Baltic neighbour and Estonian diva Laura Põldvere is rumoured to have UMK in her sights.
The fifth act is described as a sensitive interpreter. They sang on one of the most streamed songs of the past few years. This singer is also able to “create an entire choir” with their voice.
Fans are suggesting Rita Behm who performs as BEHM. Also suggested is UMK 2020 winner Aksel Kankaanranta — even though he’s claimed to have not entered the 2021 edition. Just to ramp up the drama, Aksel has reacted to UMK’s post with a chin-stroking emoji.
The sixth act is described as the biggest act of UMK 2021, which suggests a group, possibly with up to six members. They have also won the largest international music competition of its type and have a lot of fans from outside Finland.
The biggest suggestion is the symphonic metal group Nightwish, long a fan favourite for Finland’s Eurovision act. The band is fronted by the Dutch singer Floor Jansen — who would be a nice connection to the Eurovision 2021 host country.
The seventh act has been seen on some of the biggest entertainment shows in Finland. They have written several hit songs and are known for their own music as well as covers. One suggestion is Osmo Ikonen, who may be best known to Eurovision fans for finishing second in Finland’s 2009 national final.
But so far, all these names are just speculation. We’ll know the confirmed lineup when Yle announces it tomorrow, Wednesday 13 January at 12:00 CET. You’ll be able to watch a live stream of the event.
Who do you think will take part in UMK 2021? Who is the former Eurovision act? Would you like Aksel to be among the competitors? Tell us your thoughts below!
In “spoken language” such as sentences and all that you should write it like this: “Yle” not YLE since not all letters represent a different word. It’s called Yleisradio so that’s why only the first letter is usually capitalized and this has been the way people at Yle have requested the media to do here in Finland
It actually is! People here usually wrote it all capitalized because the old logo they used gave an impression that it was meant to be written like that. But I think sometimes it might be okay to write it all capitalized depending on the context such as when the competing broadcasters are announced by Eurovision, since every broadcaster is written like that on the list (if I remember it right)
https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2015/10/22/yle-brand-visual-image-and-logos
Searched this so there’s some source in here, it’s in english but there is a finnish & swedish versions too if anyone is interested! 🙂
I would love to see BEHM! “Hei Rakas” is a really good song and it would be awesome to have such quality from Finland. Behm is my favorite singer of Finland.
If the leaks are true (and they seem legit) then brace yourselves. It’s gonna get really bad, then weird, then kinda good and then very bad again.
The participants leaked just a few moments ago 😀 But I won’t spoil them. You can find them on Finnish ESC forums.
Where? Can you provide a link?
would you mind directing me to one of those forums? I can’t find any
Viisukuppila.
thanks!
Checked the forum and I can’t see anything specific
It’s there in a topic talking ’bout UMK2021. Look carefully because I don’t want to spoil them here 😉
Ok so another site just posted the leaked list and (SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER) I guess we can add another name to the “2020 return attempts” list!
I did not find it 🙁
Let’s be honest, if YLE manage to get ALMA to Rotterdam Tampere 2022 is a very strong possibility.
She always said Kittos, next
It’s Kiitos, not kittos
Kiittos 🙂
Personal prediction (or I guess wishlist idk lmao):
1. Robin/Benjamin
2. Alex Mattson
3. Mira Luoti
4. Laura
5. Behm/Chisu
6. Blind Channel
7. Osmo Ikonen
Fyi Alex Mattson is part of Blind Channel nowadays
Oh oops didn’t know that 🙂
Imagine if Lordi came back!
As a Finn here are my guesses based on the clues. In the first one they are obviously leading towards the artist being Robin. It just feels almost too obvious with those hints. Although if there ever was a time to get him in the competition it’s now. For an artist trying to build their international career the COVID hit hard and maybe his team saw Eurovision as a possible way to get the worldwide recognition they are aiming for at this point of time. Benjamin would be a possibility theoretically but I can’t see him changing the language now… Read more »
thank you for the comment! I definitely hope some of them come true (Robin/Benjamin, Behm, Saara even Aksel and Laura)
Krista got recently a baby do u think She would come? What about Mikael Gabriel ?
Krista already lives in the Netherlands so doing Eurovision wouldn’t necessarily be too big of a burden for her. I still think though that the fourth act is more likely a foreign one. Also cannot see Mikael Gabriel doing ESC unless it’s for his mother’s country Estonia. In Finland it would be too big of a risk and also wouldn’t suit his style.
…
I’d love to see Pernilla return! I love her entry so much. The staging, the lyrics, the instrumental, her voice… ugh, it just makes me warm inside!
Was Pernilla a fan favourite in 2012 or something? ESC fans always talk about that entry so nicely. I wasn’t following ESC back then so I don’t know
I don’t think that the was a fave at the time, but her song surly aged great, it probably aged the best from the entries of 2012.
OMG Pernilla, please come back! I’d be surprised if she did consider coming back. She was so unlucky in 2012, my favourite that year
Lol its nice that artists from esc 2011 will be or are in selection for 2021 …Senhit, Saade, Jedward, maybe Paradise Oscar, Evelina was even in Lithuania ..
Coincidentally, those who actually had good material at a time when it was desperately needed. 😉 I always like to see a good comeback, but also a good introduction. I like when there is a bit of both in a NF.
Jedward? Are they in a nf for another country? Ireland has already selected lesley roy
Jedward had offered to make submissions to Ireland (unaware they had already chosen) and UK.
Sorry, they just sent a song to broadcaster 🙂
This is a different “Oskar” not the one from 2011
Yes i know now 🙁
Emma, or Michael Saari pls or Isac Elliot, Mikael Gabriel
Krista, Paradise Oskar and Pernilla Karlsson all had amazing songs on ESC, so if it’s any of them, I’m happy. It would also be so cool to see Laura Poldvere in UMK. As much as like when countries send local talent, I also like talent exchange in a reasonable amount. Estonia did great with Swedish singer Victor last time, so why not ”borrowing” their diva to the Finns? As long as her song is more Supersonic and less her last try in EL, they might go to top 10 with her. 🙂 And Nightwish… I wish!!! 😉 Good luck, Finland!
It would be kinda amazing if they managed to attract such great names after their mellow results from the last few years. Artists must see it as a great opportunity now that they can’t go on any other platforms or tours for visibility.
UMK might be a broadcaster that lets artists do their own thing so it’s more appealing for Finnish artists creatively than their counterparts abroad.
As much as I would love it to be Nightwish…having Hooverphonic in ESC has taught me to be careful what to wish for.
I’m happy that we have Hooverphonic in the contest, they are just a bit too brutally honest for this world. Yes it would be nice to see them sing “Love shine a Light”, yes it would be nice to keep Luka… but still it is their decision and in a way I do appreciate their honesty.
Honesty vs being just cold and rude – In the words of Triana Park: ,,Where we draw the line?”
well being fake vs. being polite – where DO we draw the line… hahaha 🙂
Likewise a good question, indeed. 🙂 I guess it all depends on the context, especially two things: ,,*How* do you frame your opinion?”, and ”*What is the purpose* of your tagging along?*” For instance, I see Hooverphonic’s refusal of singing Love Shine a Light as a hubris more so than an artistic choice, because nobody would’ve doubted their artistic integrity for having Luka humming through ten seconds of a song they wouldn’t usually sing. Heck, if I were a singer, I’d gladly sing Space or I’m a Joker if it was decided that it would symbolize unity. That moment wasn’t… Read more »
There have been tons of well established and globally renown artists and bands who do ESC and are lovely people.
Nightwish, Pernilla and Aksel… can’t we just do an all-Finland edition of ESC? hahaha
No the songs will be released from Thursday till next Friday e(excluding Saturday and Sunday, so each day one song)
Nightwish would be a great surprise and I think that since a lot of their concerts are probably cancelled this year, they really could be in the selection. Anyways the clues are very promising for a great show!
If Benjamin or Robin are in I’s die – top 10 finish for Finland for sure! Behm is also amazing… I wonder who the eurovision act is – I’d say Paradise Oskar, Krista has a baby so I doubt it… Laura maybe
Benjamin is not a very good singer tho, he is more famous for his Instagram. But good luck to all artists