Finnish broadcaster YLE has today announced the 12 acts that will be competing at Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), Finland’s national selection process, with the final taking place on 1 February at Espoo.
A panel of expert juries chose the entries for UMK 2014, each of which is listed below in alphabetical order. It is the same juries as this year’s national selection process, consisting of Tomi Saarinen (head of YleX radio channel), Aija Puurtinen (singer), Tomi Wirtanen (lead singer of Apulanta) and Redrama (rapper).
You can listen to a 30 second sample from all entries here.
The Contestants
Clarissa feat. Josh Standing with “Top Of The World” (Paul Oxley, David Neisser, Christian Rabb, Annette Lundell, Joshua Standing)
Dennis Fagerström with “My Little Honey Bee” (Dennis Fagerström, Michael James Down, Niklas Hast, Andreas Anastasiou, Primoz Poglajen)
Hanna Sky with “Hope” (Hanna Sky)
Hukka Ja Mama with “Selja” (Lasse Hukka)
Jasmin Michaela with “Kertakäyttösydän” (Mikko Kierikki, Jasmin Michaela, Jutta Annala, Johanna Viksten)
Lili Lambert with “Let Me Take You There” (Lili Lambert, Joonas Kaikko, Lasse Piirainen)
Lauri Mikkola with “Going Down” (Lauri Mikkola)
Madcraft with “Shining Bright” (Tom Nuorivaara, Juho Rinne, Jesse Mäläskä, Otto Uotila)
Makea with “Painovoima” (Makea)
Miau with “God/Drug” (Anu Kaukola, Henna Juvonen)
Mikko Pohjola with “Sängyn Reunalla” (Mikko Pohjola)
Softengine with “Something Better” (Topi Latukka, Henri Oskár)
UMK 2014 starts off with two introduction shows on 28 December and 4 January, followed by the two semi-finals taking place on 11 and 18 January. A second chance round will be on the 25 January before the big finale itself, where one of the entries above will be representing Finland at Copenhagen.
Do you like what you hear? Or is this a dirty dozen? Let us know in the coments box below! And, if you’re feeling like a Finn today, considering reading our country profile of Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest since 2008.
Anthony Ko contributed this report from the U.K. Follow him on Twitter at @bjorneo. You can also keep up-to-date with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by liking our Facebook page.
Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)
My favorite is Mikko Pohjola’s song, saugyn reunalla.
Eeuh. Hard to tell from snippets, maybe they’re better in full.
“Hope” has potential. “Let Me Take You There” might work.
Hope for something with more of a Finnish flavor this time.
I suppose it could be worse…out of the entries, Hope is probably my favorite.
I don’t know what everyone else is talking about. I love almost every song! My favourites however are “Hope”, “Top of the World” and “Let Me Take You There”. As long as Hekka ja Mama or Madcraft don’t win, I’ll be happy. Finland is one of my favourite countries in Eurovision and I always look forward to their selection show, whether its UMK or Euroviisut (as I speak Finnish it generally appeals more to me than other foreign national selections.)
My favorites were Clarissa feat. Josh, Lauri Mikkola, and Hukka ja Mama, with an honorable mention to Miau, whose lyrics sounded funny. Seems like a less exciting selection than previous years, but these are only 30-second clips.
Finland & music = aliens & cats.
I’m sorry, but these songs are…pretty lame/boring/whatthehellwheretheythinking type of songs.
All I can say is that Lili was inspired by Thicke.
Softengine, maybe…no…I don’t know…the ***k…
WHERE’S WOLFGIRL THO
Ah, but true, this year has a weaker selection 🙁 I do like the clip of On Top of the World. Very Melfest. Looking forward to hearing that in whole. Also enjoy Lili & Makea.
Finland is generally lame at Eurovision. Sorry.
Bad songs of UMK 2014