Finland’s state broadcaster YLE has revealed the 18 songs that will compete in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) 2016, its national selection for Eurovision. The final takes place on February 27, but before that we get to indulge in three semi-finals, the first of which takes place on February 6. Six acts will battle for the first three spots in the final.

Among them is Clemso, a Nigerian-born singer serving afro-beat realness; Eini, a disco queen with the humorously named track “Draamaa”; Mikko Herranen, who knows how to dish out cheese; Pää-Äijät, who wants to tell you about their “Champagne Heaven”; Saara Aalto, who melds dance pop with Oriental sounds; and Stella Christine, a young upstart who “Ain’t Got Time For Boys”.

But who is your favourite to advance? You can vote for as many acts as you’d like, but you can only vote ONE time, so make it count. It’s up to you Europe. Start voting now!

UMK 2016: Semi Final 1

CLEMSO – THIEF

EINI – DRAAMAA

MIKKO HERRANEN – EVIL TONE

PÄÄ-ÄIJÄT – SHAMPPANJATAIVAS

SAARA AALTO – NO FEAR

STELLA CHRISTINE – AIN’T GOT TIME FOR BOYS

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Jacky
Jacky
8 years ago

I’m loving Shamppanjataivas, can’t wait to see what they do with it live!

Colin
Colin
8 years ago

IMO 3 for the pass are:

Saara Aalto: No Fear
Eini: Draamaa
Stella Christine: Ain’t Got Time For Boys

Hugh
Hugh
8 years ago

I’m really surprised Clemso is doing so poorly in the poll – I reckon it’s a banger!

Laburnum
Laburnum
8 years ago

No Fear or Shamppanjataivas! Don’t really like the others (most take the last places in my top 18).

Lanti
Lanti
8 years ago

I hope Saara doesn’t pull a Siru with bad staging and not qualify

#Draamaa
#Draamaa
8 years ago

1.Eini – She has an unique voice and style. She is charismatic, and she can sing live. She has also a long career.

2.Saara – She has a beautiful voice and she is really talented singer. Her song is pure perfection and she has wrote it herself.

3.Stella – Her song is intimate and catchy. I will get to your head after few listens.

David Who
David Who
8 years ago

“No Fear” by Saara Alto sounds like a potential Eurovision winner to me. The problem is UMK has a recent history of NOT sending potential winners to the contest. I think perhaps Finland just doesn’t want to spend money on hosting it the following year? Cynical I know. x

2015
2015
8 years ago

Previous year i had to switch from melodifestivalen to the Finnish UMK and back, (solju/opera skaala/satin circus/siru) and this year there is only 1 potential winning song in the UMK from miss Saara Aalto! However this year there are almost no joke entries compared to last year.

Hugh
Hugh
8 years ago

I really want four to go through – Ain’t Got Time for Boys, Thief, No Fear, and Draamaa.

DenizNL
DenizNL
8 years ago

No fear and Draamaa.

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
8 years ago

1) Saara Aalto: standard Eurovision song, but the instruments in it give it a twist and Aalto is a versatile performer 2) Clemso: reminds me a lot of my own city’s music tastes (Washington DC and my school in particular has huge Amharic, Nigerian, and Cameroonian communities, so this kind of stuff is pretty common.) It’s a legit usage of an African language for a Eurovision entry, unlike Haba Haba; really good effort from Clemso 3) Stella: gives me the ‘this is what you would hear on the intro to a sitcom from 2003’ vibes, but the other songs in… Read more »

Hippo
Hippo
8 years ago

Gav-
Definitely a bad bet on Finland, they will not win and likely won’t make top 10, my guess is 15th to 20th with Barbe-Q-Barbies. Best hope is to wait for odds to shorten and lay the bet.

PP
PP
8 years ago

For me TOP 3
1.Saara Alto
2.Mikko Herranen
3.Clemso

Gav
Gav
8 years ago

So i just placed a bet on Finland to win. Am I too premature? My boyfriend says yes.

Diane
Diane
8 years ago

“Ain’t Got Time For Boys” is a good song

Álex, from Spain
Álex, from Spain
8 years ago

Saara Aalto with “No fear” is the outstanding one for me. Among the 18 participants. Winner alert…

Cannibal
Cannibal
8 years ago

Draamaa is amazing! I would also like to see Saara and Stella in the final.

EF0912
EF0912
8 years ago

The only song of this semi that excites me is ‘No Fear’ which is creeping up in my estimation as its probably the one I’ve listened most out of the whole contest after ‘Rise Up’ and ‘Poom Poom’.
I think the level is really high this year.

No Name
No Name
8 years ago

I think Saara Alto is the worst among these. The song is sooo messy and she sounds like a sheep in the refrain, which is the worst part of it all. Great production though.

Lindita & Siru
Lindita & Siru
8 years ago

Shamppanjataivas and Evil Tone are forgettable, Thief is not good enough, and Ain’t Got Time For Boys is nice and quite good. However the only really good song among these of the first semi is Draamaa in my opinion. It’s really good, the best of the whole preselection. I love it.

No Fear is extremely annoying to me, sorry for y’all. I just can’t help it, I want to kill someone whenever I hear her voice. Plus the song doesn’t seem to have any structure, it’s just so messy, it goes nowhere. Hopeless.

Freyah
Freyah
8 years ago

EINI!

D
D
8 years ago

UMK is really weak again. Saara Aalto and Stella Christine have two of the only four songs I like so I’d go with them. For the third qualifier I don’t care. Mikael Saari for the win though.

Steven
Steven
8 years ago

For me it would be: 1) Saara Aalto 2) Clemso 3) Stella

Saara’s song is one of my favourites over all the national finals revealed so far and I’m probably too addicted to it. It’s glorious! Clemso stands out and is a really engrossing song. It sounds really strong and hopefully that translate onto his live performance. Stella would probably come in 3rd here for me. It’s a solid song just missing a little oomph. Eini would be a close alternative.

jr esc nl
jr esc nl
8 years ago

Saara alto and eini!