Photo: Yle / Nelli Kenttä

Following the grand reveal of the seven acts competing in Finland’s Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) 2022, it’s time to hear their songs one at a time. First out the gates are Cyan Kicks. They’ve released their entry “Hurricane”.

The song is written and composed by band members Niila Perkkiö and Susanna Alexandra, as well as Amaranthe vocalist Elize Ryd. Music producers Chris Walla and Zakk Cervini have also been involved in creating the final product.

Cyan Kicks – “Hurricane”

“Hurricane” is a powerful song that praises those who pursue courage and self-realisation.

The track is a fusion of styles, with electronic verses and a rockier chorus. Cyan Kicks’s Susanna Alexandra notes this is what makes the band’s unique blend of modern rock: “We aren’t afraid to combine different elements to make our own, distinctive sound. One song might be completely electronic, while another will be seriously heavy, but, at the end of the day, it always sounds like Cyan Kicks.”

Cyan Kicks are an alternative rock group comprised of members Susanna Alexandra, Niila Perkkiö, Leevi Erkkilä and Pietari Reijonen. They formed in 2016 and have since released two studio albums, accumulating over 10 million streams.

“Rock’s always been around, and it’s always been mainstream music, even if it hasn’t always been the centre of media attention. We want to do our part in really keeping rock in the limelight,” the band says.

@wiwibloggs_official Who are you most excited for? Photos: Yle / Nelli Kenttä #UMK22 #Eurovision2022 #TheRasmus ♬ In the Shadows – The Rasmus

UMK 2022 song release schedule

The UMK 2022 songs are being revealed one every weekday starting from 13 January. They’re set to be released at 00:00 EET on the dates listed below:

  • Cyan Kicks – “Hurricane” (13 January)
  • BESS – “Ram pam pam” (14 January)
  • The Rasmus – “Jezebel” (17 January)
  • Younghearted – “Sun numero” (18 January)
  • Olivera – “Thank God I’m An Atheist” (19 January)
  • Tommi Läntinen – “Elämä kantaa mua” (20 January)
  • Isaac Sene – “Kuuma jäbä” (21 January)

UMK 2022 will take place on Saturday 26 February, starting at 20:00 CET / 21:00 EET.

The show will be held at the Logomo Arena in Turku, where the seven acts will perform their songs live for viewers at home and the jury.

What do you make of “Hurricane”? Do you think Cyan Kicks stand a chance of winning UMK 2022? Sound off in the comments below!

57 Comments
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Maclaren
Maclaren
2 years ago

A bit generic. Your place 9-10 qualifier in a semi. Right-side of the board, around place 20, in the final.

Žilvinas
Žilvinas
2 years ago

I get Turkey 2010 vibes while listening to this song. It’s gooood!!

ffgbndn
ffgbndn
2 years ago

i dont understand why everyone is hating this song its really good and meanigful to me . Well not completely rock through but electronic rock? EVEN BETTER !!! i love electronic music so yeah 🙂

Nils
Nils
2 years ago

Not for me either. I’ll put my hopes in The Rasmus for now.

ete sech
ete sech
2 years ago

Reading the comments both here and in their YouTube video, this entry seems to be polarizing, with some people praising it for the same reasons others are bashing it.
Personally, I love the melody but it could be better lyrically. I don’t see it winning, but it could have a chance to make it to the top 10, which would be great for a typically underperforming country like Finland!

Last edited 2 years ago by ete sech
J.R
J.R
2 years ago
Reply to  ete sech

Have you checked the meaning behind song?

ete sech
ete sech
2 years ago
Reply to  J.R

There’s nothing out yet regarding that 🙁

Ffs
Ffs
2 years ago

No !,,,,!

Philou
Philou
2 years ago

Première écoute et j’adore!
Ce titre est totalement addictif,
J’ai hâte de découvrir les autres titres!!
Bravo ?
Salutations de la Suisse

musica
musica
2 years ago

Niila Perkkiö and Leevi Erkkilä sound like made-up Finnish names 🙂 The song is okay-ish. I wouldn’t call it rock though, more like regular pop with a few guitars.

Thanos
Thanos
2 years ago

It’s just an okay song in my book. It leans more to the 2000s pop style instead of the rock style in many parts, which kinda puts me off. Nevertheless it’s much better than many other NF songs we’ve got till now and a pretty solid start to the UMK song launches!

Last edited 2 years ago by Thanos
Rafs
Rafs
2 years ago

Extremely dated and musically bland. Neon lights? Drawings of polyhedral animals in the backround? Never seen these elements before…
The Sounds were more modern 15 years ago than this group.

Ellie
Ellie
2 years ago
Reply to  Rafs

This track could definitely use a bit of the bite The Sounds bring, even on something like Painted by Numbers. They would’ve been a dream Swedish entry in the mid 2000s.

sasha
sasha
2 years ago

i don’t know why people are saying the lyrics aren’t good. maybe i’m just biased because i’m already a huge cyan kicks fan but i think it’s a strong competitor even without hearing the other songs

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago
Reply to  sasha

The lyrics aren’t inspired and carry clichés, but I also don’t see why so many people are complaining about them, since there are many songs the fandom adores that contain lyrics much more problematic or nonsensical. I mean, I would love if people finally start paying more attention to lyrics in Eurovision, I just hope songs with smart lyrics start getting more praise for them too.

Tomato
Tomato
2 years ago

Their song is about the English football player Harry Kane

J.R
J.R
2 years ago
Reply to  Tomato

Nah. The lyrics are inspired by message of conquering your fears. Some come also from co-writer’s battle against borreliosis.

Lollipopmonster
Lollipopmonster
2 years ago

I like it – yes, I really like it.

Kaija
Kaija
2 years ago

Oh lord, what are those lyrics

Kaija
Kaija
2 years ago
Reply to  Kaija

These lyrics is how you ruin a (pop)rock song.

Jay
Jay
2 years ago

Always the same type of songs

Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago

The background music is good , the lyrics are not working for me

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

So cool

Héctor
Héctor
2 years ago

This is what Finlands do well. Full of energy and attitude with the touch of a female vocalist but I don’t think they’d be able to reprise last year success. As I see it, this one is a step down from their previous entry and doesn’t catch your attention right away, it isn’t impactful either. Life performance could fix that. Grand Final would be almost granted at this point. This year there’s going to be more rock acts than usual and, while “Hurricane” betters the Bulgarian entry, I don’t really think it’d would be the top rock act in the… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Héctor
West
West
2 years ago

It’s good, but nothing that stands out – a solid song that I like while listening to it, but forget once it stops.

Bart
Bart
2 years ago

Yes, grabs your attention this song and the rock vibes remind me of Dark Side bit. Don’t know if this is a good thing but i like the song!

GojoSatoru
GojoSatoru
2 years ago

The longer I am in the Eurovision fandom, the more I start to think that Eurofans only listen music for its diversity and the soundtrack of a song instead of the whole package.. Hurricane has a great soundtrack. If Eurovision was a soundtrack contest instead of a songcontest then this would easily get into the top 10. However, Eurovision is a songcontest and with songs you need good lyrics in order to do well. The lyrics of Hurricane is written so poorly, you could make a prejudice that this song is written by a 14 year old or younger. And… Read more »

Ali
Ali
2 years ago
Reply to  GojoSatoru

you’re saying that as if your opinion means more than everyone else’s chill out hun?

Ukraine stan
Ukraine stan
2 years ago

that’s very loud, like it!

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

….. Nemoj da se ljutiš, hrabrost skupi

Kosey
Kosey
2 years ago

A strong start. It is punchy and catchy with a powerful identity. I have no doubt that Finland is once again serving us a high quality National selection.

Alo
Alo
2 years ago

Very good start! Not sure if it will win though.
I also noticed that yle brought around 3/4 rock songs to the competition, so maybe the votes will get split sort of and we will get more competetive competition. Unlike last year where blind channel basically got 50 percent or something of the votes

Sebastian Flores
Sebastian Flores
2 years ago

Very poppy disguised as rock, very young and generic. This is “meh”. Won’t win. Next.

Eeva
Eeva
2 years ago

The singer’s full name is Susanna Aleksandra Saarinen and she goes by alias Susanna Alexandra in the band so it’s only her, Niila and Elize in the writing/composing!

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago

There is only one word I can describe this song— Badass! That’s how you kick off a national final. I hope the rest of the songs are just as great or even greater than this one. UMK Might have one of the smaller collection of Competing national finals songs, but that is not an impediment, but a strength. With fewer songs you can increase the quality control. All I can say is good luck Finland. Let’s hope you can make the final twice in a row

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
2 years ago

the lyrics are lazy, but the production is good and the energy is great

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
2 years ago

Every year, when Finland start releases their songs/videos, it just feels like such a step-up in professionalism from what we’ve had up to that point in the season. This is *really* good and would be one of the strongest entries in most of the finals we’ve had songs for so far.

ete sech
ete sech
2 years ago

Such a cool first release, Cyan Kicks delivering! This song is such an impressive work, blending styles with an attitude.
Even though I don’t think most of the next entries can outperform this one, I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Last edited 2 years ago by ete sech
Jupwe [Fi]
Jupwe [Fi]
2 years ago
Reply to  ete sech

I waiting what we get from rasmus!

James
James
2 years ago

Good start, but my God look at the video! It’s such a good move from Yle & UMK team to make the whole selection reliable, and providing each act with their own day and music video. It also makes all acts get the same start, even if they’re on a big label, smaller label or just starting their career.

Also the artist announcement video was such a quality move, no more of those live introductions, this is the thing that makes UMK what it is – Fresh!

AlexC
AlexC
2 years ago

The start of the song is meh and then it gets better till the end however the problem with Finnish entries is live performances which are usually awful. looking at you Teflon Brothers x Pandora

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago

Last year with Oskr, this year with Cyan Kicks: Finland hooked me right with the first released song. This has great energy, the blend of electronic and rock works, the vocalist seems to have a lot of stage presence and the chorus only needed one play to get glued into my mind (the last thing this happened was exactly with Blind Channel). And to think this is just the 1st entry…

Oh, and whoever is in charge of UMK’s lyrics videos deserves a raise. They look good and always match the energy of the song.

Last edited 2 years ago by Sabrina
Roro31
Roro31
2 years ago

My godddddd so good !!!!!!

Elle
Elle
2 years ago

And this was only the first song for this national final so far. I’m hyped

Last edited 2 years ago by Elle
Jack Popfield
Jack Popfield
2 years ago

Exactly what I expected from Cyan Kicks! An electrifying, immense and vibrant entry blending hard rock and synth-pop with attitude and enough power to transcend into a crowd-pleaser. I’m not sure if the other 6 songs can wow me now, I firmly believe “Hurricane” can deliver Finland a 2nd straight Top 10 finish which hasn’t happened since the 80s (crazy fact)

ESC8
ESC8
2 years ago

I’m now even more curious to listen to the remaining 6 songs but even if there were no other songs this would be perfect as Finland’s entry for ESC. Very nice! Finland wants to have a very good placing again as it seems (at least based on Hurricane)
Let’s see what follows

Zheng
Zheng
2 years ago

Mixed feelings about first song. I think that chorus is not good enough, but electronic parts are very good. Still waiting for Rasmus to slay

just an esc fan
just an esc fan
2 years ago

I feel like i wasn’t even hyped enough for this when the artist lineup was revealed. This was EVERYTHING i needed from Finland. Rock, extra af, powerful and some slight keiino vibes!

Finland already has many chances to be in my personal Top10 and we still have 6 songs left!

Raussen
Raussen
2 years ago

Another top 8 for Finland

Ravencrow Neversmiles
Ravencrow Neversmiles
2 years ago

A strong start! I wouldn’t mind if this was sent to Turin. I hope they get that extra push and energy to the song on stage that some people say it lacks.

finnished
finnished
2 years ago

Sending positive vitutus vibes
2021: put your middle fingers up!!
2022: shut up!!

Jupwe
Jupwe
2 years ago
Reply to  finnished

Mitä muutakaan me muka tehtäs?

RomaniaWillWinEurovisionSongContest2022
RomaniaWillWinEurovisionSongContest2022
2 years ago

I love IT <3

#synthsareawesome
#synthsareawesome
2 years ago

Well, after Maneskin’s victory and Blind Channel’s good results I certainly see why Finland would like to stick to rock. I don’t mind these one: I find the rocky chorus kinda cliché, but some nice electronic touch in the verses compensates it. Not a winner if it goes to ESC, but a possible top 15.

finnished
finnished
2 years ago

What a stylish video! Am I the only one getting rock-Keiino vibes? It’s a strong start, but I believe even stronger entries are coming up.

Ellie
Ellie
2 years ago
Reply to  finnished

It’s very Keiino with guitars. The pop side of me finds this more enjoyable than the rock-loving side.

Roodi
Roodi
2 years ago
Reply to  finnished

This band is good better than Flopno