Every day until December 24, we’re stuffing your stockings with a new Eurovision poll and asking you to name your favourite Spanish entry at Eurovision and decide who had the best Eurovision comeback ever (among other things). Consider this our advent calendar for 2015. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, you can let us know your thoughts each and every day by casting your vote and sounding off in our comments section. So slip into your reindeer onesie, bust out your gingerbread, and let’s do this…

Day 6: Finland in Eurovision

Today — December 6 — Finland celebrates its Independence Day. They’ve used their freedom to take punk, folk music and stadium rock to Eurovision — and in three different languages. But which song is your favourite? You can vote for as many songs as you’d like, but you can only vote ONE time.

2006: Lordi – “Hard Rock Hallelujah”

After debuting in 1961, Finland finished last eight times prior to 2006. Salvation came in the form of monster band Lordi. At the national selection they received 67,369 televotes — that’s enormous in Finland — and won in a landslide. In Athens, they notched up a win with 292 points. “Hard Rock Hallelujah” was the first rock song to win the contest and it held the record for most points until 2009.

2007: Hanna – “Leave Me Alone”

https://youtu.be/dUagGZ21Cbo

Finnish Idol winner Hanna Pakarinen had the honour of representing Finland on home ground. She received douze points from two countries — Iceland and Sweden — and finished 17th in the field of 24.

2008: Teräsbetoni – “Missä miehet ratsastaa”

For the third year in a row, Finland sent rock to the contest. Unlike the first two attempts, the song was sung in Finnish. Power metal band Teräsbetoni qualified to the final with “Missä miehet ratsastaa”, but could only muster 22nd place.

2009: Waldo’s People – “Lose Control”

Waldo’s People had some success in Finland in the ’90s and their music video for “U Drive Me Crazy” was playlisted on MTV. Their Eurovision entry “Lose Control” was one of the most watched before Moscow’s contest. Nevertheless, Finland wouldn’t have qualified to the final without the juries, who saved the song from elimination during the semis. Once again Finland finished last in the final, with only 22 points.

2010: Kuunkuiskaajat – “Työlki ellää”

In 2010, Finland sent folk duo Kuunkuiskaajat to the contest with their entry “Työlki ellää”. Unlike a year earlier, the jury cost Finland a spot in the final, as the duo actually placed sixth with televoters. With the combined result their final placement was 11th in the semifinal. Close, but not close enough…

2011: Paradise Oskar – “Da Da Dam”

Paradise Oskar — real name Axel Ehnström — won the last Euroviisukarsinnat in 2011. His self-composed song “Da Da Dam” placed third in the first semifinal in Düsseldorf. Later he opened the final and placed 21st with 57 points. Fie on the running order!

2012: Pernilla – “När jag blundar”

Pernilla Karlsson won the first ever Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) 2012. The song, which was dedicated to her mother, was written by her brother Jonas and sung in Swedish — only the second time a Finnish artist had done that at ESC. Pernilla failed to qualify for the grand final, placing 12th in the semifinal. Here’s what we thought ahead of the contest.

2013: Krista Siegfrids – “Marry Me”

The Voice of Finland finalist Krista Siegfrids received 38.6% of the televotes in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2013, thanks to her hilarious Team Ding Dong and fantastic pop banger “Marry Me”. For the first time ever Finland competed in the second semifinal and qualified by placing ninth. In the final Krista finished in 24th place with 13 points. On a happier note, she eventually got her proposal.

2014: Softengine – “Something Better”

Softengine won Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2014 with their first single “Something Better”. The five-piece group placed third in their semi. They went on to achieve 11th in the final — the best result for Finland since Lordi’s victory.

2015: Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät – “Aina mun pitää”

By winning Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2015 over fan favourites Satin Circus and Opera Skaala, Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät caused a lot of fuss. They also had something of a pioneering moment: They were the first act with developmental disabilities to sing in Eurovision and their entry “Aina mun pitää” was also the shortest Eurovision song ever. Despite huge media attention, PKN failed to reach the final and placed last in their semi.

What’s the best Finnish entry of past 10 years?

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24 Comments
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SpirK
SpirK
8 years ago

1. 2012: Probably my favorite entry of Finland, only competing against some really decent entries from before the 00’s. Moving and melodic, really special.
2. 2007: Great and dramatic.
3. 2011: Nice song.
4. 2013: Nice pop song.
5. 2014: Mainstream yet likeable pop-rock.
6. 2009: Mainstream yet likeable rap-pop.
7. 2010: A nice folk pop song.
8. 2006: Not my style.
9. 2008: Not my cup of tea.
10. 2015: The same.

Juha
Juha
8 years ago

There’s not much to choose, mostly bad songs! Paradise Oskar, Lordi, Pernilla. The rest is terrible or just bad. The best one have been left usually second in UMK/NF at least the past three years.

Timselvision
Timselvision
8 years ago

1 2006
2 2009
3 2008
4 2014
5 2011
6 2007
7 2012
8 2010
9 2013
10 2015

Maria
Maria
8 years ago

Softengine. No doubts about that. Brilliant song and band.

Hugh
Hugh
8 years ago

I have a definite soft spot for nar jag blundar – it’s so… singalongable even though I speak no Swedish.

CHAR uttan CHanSlor….

Lordi, Krista,Oscar also good entries 🙂 2006 is kind of a blank spot for me, but the video seems alright…

Mei International
Mei International
8 years ago

I am probably one of the only people who likes the 2009 entry….so incredibly underrated

Fenistil
Fenistil
8 years ago

Finland is definitely none of my favourite ESC countries. However, Paradise Oscar was my number 1 in 2011. It’s such a lovely song! 2007 is also really good. The rest of them is either average or not my cup of tea. I remember how much I used to hate Lordi back then (now I see how good they are) and currently I hate two most recent Finnish entries.

PP
PP
8 years ago

My TOP 3 song from Finland
1.1987
2.1983
3.1977

PP
PP
8 years ago

1.2013
2.2006
3.2007
4.2009
5.2010
6.2012
7.2011
8.2008
9.2014
10.2015

David
David
8 years ago

Soft engine all the way, it’s my favourite esc song of all time, their follow up songs are all brilliant, even up to their new ep called “from Earth, from ashes, from dust” which came out earlier this week which I’m semi-surprised you haven’t documented considering how critically acclaimed they are.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
8 years ago

They are all pretty bad.
Hanna or Krista were ok but Finland are a country that obviously does not take Eurovision seriously.

xoxo
xoxo
8 years ago

All really good songs, but PKN isn’t really good tho. Hopefully next year they will send some pop/rock style of song!

Jesper
Jesper
8 years ago

Wait they need a poll for the confirmation that Lordi was the best?
Obviously Lordi, but I enjoyed Softengine too

D
D
8 years ago

“Leave Me Alone”, “När jag blundar”, and “Something Better” are miles above the rest in my opinion. I also kinda like “Marry Me” and “Työlki ellää”. “Hard Rock Hallelujah” is extremely overrated, didn’t deserve to even qualify, let alone win. The others are just plain horrible.

cheesecake
cheesecake
8 years ago

Besides Lordi I’d go with Pernilla and Softengine. Paradise Oskar was good as well though.

Duxo
Duxo
8 years ago

We love Finland and their rock, metal and punk.

#NothingBetter
#NothingBetter
8 years ago

Happy Independence day Finland!
Krista’s show was one of the best ever in Eurovision. Her song was international pop. Hanna’s voice is really great and mysterious, her song is really powerful.
These ladies are on the top (with the only winner Lordi, ofc).

Sarah Boucher
Sarah Boucher
8 years ago

PKN Stunk at Vienna.

John
John
8 years ago

1. 2012
2. 2010
3. 2014
4. 2007
5. 2008
6. 2006
7. 2011
8. 2015
9. 2013
10. 2009.

2013 and 2009 are equally bad though.

iCanNameMyselfWhateverIWantSoIllNameMyselfKristaFan123
iCanNameMyselfWhateverIWantSoIllNameMyselfKristaFan123
8 years ago

Krista ofcourse! She’s a star.

NarJag
NarJag
8 years ago

Pernilla obviosuly, my best favorite song from all Eurovision Song Contest.

Lots kisses from Spain.

Leaf
Leaf
8 years ago

Pernilla !!!!!!!!! Still Listen to this song, It is so touchy and timeless !!!!!!!!

Finish – Swedish Lullaby !!!!!

DenizNL
DenizNL
8 years ago

Pernilla!! All that rockstuff was not my cup of tea at all.

Steven
Steven
8 years ago

Leave me alone is one of my favourite entries ever, maybe even my favourite of all time. It’s amazing and a real travesty it came so low. Other than that I love Softengine (my 3rd in 2014) and I have a weird obsession for Lose Control.