Finland has spoken and UMK 2016 is over. After three weeks of semi finals and a highly anticipated grand final, it was revealed that Sandhja will represent the country at Eurovision 2016 with “Sing It Away”.
Sandhja – “Sing It Away”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbZTcU2vgaA
Sandhja’s win came as something of a surprise, but the juries gave her a convincing lead after their votes. This meant that she was able to hold on to her lead despite only coming third in the public vote.
It’s even more surprising given that Sandhja came sixth in our pre-final readers poll. She was also our sixth favourite with the Wiwi Jury. Still, the people – or at the least, the juries – of Finland have spoken!
The result was made after a 50/50 voting split between a national jury and the public. The jury consisted of ten groups: Eurovision experts, musicians, media, Youtube stars, Finnish-Swedes, LGBT, parliamentarians, road workers, children and social media stars. Our very own Sami was one of the “Eurovision experts” jury members.
During the show we saw a number of performances. Eurovision 2006 winners Lordi opened the show, whilst Krista Siegfrids balanced her role as host with her own version of “Valoa ikkunassa”, Finland’s first ever Eurovision song. We also had a performance from last year’s Finnish representatives, Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät. The band rocked out true to form — although Finland will be hoping for a return to the final at least this year.
COMBINED RESULTS
JURY RESULTS
Our first reaction to Sandhja’s win
UMK 2016 FINAL: RUNNING ORDER
Cristal Snow – “Love Is Blind”
Stella Christine – “Ain’t Got Time For Boys”
Annica Milán & Kimmo Blom – “Good Enough”
Eini – “Draamaa”
Barbe-Q-Barbies – “Let Me Out”
Tuuli Okkonen – “Don’t Wake Me Up”
Sandhja – “Sing It Away”
Saara Aalto – “No Fear”
Mikael Saari – “On It Goes”
What do y’all think of the results? Do you like the song? Will it sail through the semi-final? Let us know in the comments below!
Omg how many bitter people here!!?? Umk is just how is it named new artist competition. Its not whole life and mainly a chance to one artist to get known outside finland. Sandhja deserved it as a very good singer. Umk is really nice competition because atmosphere is excellent and crowd is very loud. Melodifestivalen is complete opposite where all joy is gone and all songs are very similar and every song is from same music genre.
Before I leave my scores for MF (after spending the weekend watching NOR, HUN, FIN and SWE), I had to come here to leave these 3 words: What a disaster! Here is how I scored the performances: Mikael 9.438, Annica and Kimmo 9.263, Stella 9.25, Tuuli 9.25, Saara 9.238, Barbe-Q Barbies 9.200, Cristal Snow 9.113, Eini 8.950, Sandhja 8.863. I hate to be scruffy at this point, but Simon Cowell would call that a cruise-ship type of performance. I thought the idea here was to pick a song that people from other countries are most likely to give their 12… Read more »
Such crap really… not a chance. It has nothing, sorry Finland. You had one or two songs of international class.. Best was, doubtless, Stella Christine with “Ain’t got time for boys”, second might Cristal Snow, with “Love is blind” a nice ballad.. quite up to date.. and as third Annica Milán & Kimmo Blom with “Good enough”. A very interesting voice of CLEMSO, but the song was too bad. A very low standard over all. The finns have obviously problems with the english accent and should ask swedish songwriters for help next year to get a sustainable hit.
Finnish songwriting in general suffers from a lack of understanding the meaning and construction of a good and memorable chorus when it comes to pop music. Two years ago Finland could have had a real winner on its hands, had the chorus of Softengine’s Something Better lived up to the expectations set by the verse. This song has the same problem, in addition to Sandhja’s very shaky live vocals. She has great tone but definitely needs some serious coaching to help control her voice. She has a lovely energetic stage presence, but if your energy takes this much away from… Read more »
How American
Two participants out of nine sung out of tune, so naturally Finland chose one of them. o.O Well, this wasn’t the worst in the final. Just kind of average. If she’ll improve her vocals, she’ll probably be in the ESC finals, though not in the top half.
Great song! Makes me wanna dance.
1. No fear 2. Don’t wake me up 3. Let me out 4. On it goes 5. Good enough 6. Draamaa 7. Aint got time for boys 8. Sing it away 9. Love is blind
Its wasn’t their best option to send, but its not awfull.
6/10
I don’t get it, neither Saara or Sandhja were my favourites. Both of the songs were pretty useless. In my opinion Eini was the best this year. Her song is the usual ESC pop/disco kind of song that gets good scores every year. Yet it has good lyrics and yes Eini is a very symphathetic singer.
Why do people rate Saara so highly? Put a bit of ethnic tune in a song, and Euro fans go crazy for it. It’s crazy. Best song clearly won.
I put a heart where the ???? are
The best song won. It was instant ???? the first time I heard it. Best song picked so far.
Looks like Finland doesn’t want to win this year too.
Oh WOW Finland !!!!
I always focus on other selections but Finland kinda proved me wrong and is back BIG TIME.
I LOVE this SONG.
So different and FUN, doesn’t sound or look like a previous winner and I love her energy and voice.
9/10
This is retro and at the same time modern.
Good song, I liked it, even being a little average.
But Mikael would be my winner of this year’s Eurovision if he won. :/
Mmm, it’s a good and positive song, but “No fear” was better thought I don’t like her staging at all. I kinda like Sandhja’s backvocalists moves which make the performance more enjoyable, but I don’t see it in the Top10. Anyway, I’m a bit worried because “Sing it away” has some “Say Yay” vibes and that can make Barei getting less points, but I think Say Yay has more modern production.
Didn’t see the show but don’t really like the winning song, I would guess Saara and Saari were better
I actually really like this so I’m happy she won. It was either her, tuuli or Stella Christine for me, Mikael and saara both had meh songs that didn’t excite me like sandhja’s. It’s like a much better version of ‘What’s the Pressure’ vocally and stylistically.
TOP 10 of 22
1.Ukraine
2.Norway
3.Spain
4.Germany
5.Hungary
6.Belgium
7.Cyprsu
8.Denmark
9.Belarus
10.Georgia
…
17.Slovenia
18.Italy
19.Albania
20.Malta
21.Ireland
22.United Kingdom
Saara Aalto was robbed again 🙁 I like Sandhja (that sounds like “sandía” – watermelon in Spanish), but Saara was the best option for Finland!!!
Thank you finland. LOVE IT! Im so happy that Mikael didn’t win. This will do well 🙂
Eurovision Song Contest 2016 is SNOOZE FEST 2016.
This is the worst edition so far. We’re halfway already to revealing the complete list of entries and none of the songs are as good as the previous years. This year is a complete downgrade of last years’ high caliber entries.
Majority of the selected songs so far are damn weak and boring.
The only potential entry this year is ICELAND.
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?
Well that makes it 2.5 National Finals where I lost:
– Denmark: Wanted Simone to win
– Finland: Wanted Saara.
* Malta: Eh, kinda liked Christablle’s Kingdom but Ira was destined to win.
But I’ve been correct in
– Hungary (not that I followed much but Freddie delivered)
– Austria: Zoe
– Iceland: Greta
– Ukraine: Jamala
The other NFs I didnt care for, which is good cause I’m less heartbroken if my favorites fail lol!
As of now, Wiktoria narrowly is my MelFest fav.
I am happy with the result but the system is a bit off.
Third in the televote? The people of Finland pretty much just got ignored!
I think Mikael and Saara should do what Napoli did and try to slide their songs in another national contest/internal selection. Sandhja did a great live vocally, but it’s an average song. Mikael Saari would be my ESC winner if he was chosen 🙁 Too bad. At least I am grateful I got to know his song, and Saara’s, Tuuli’s and Kimmo & Annica’s. I will listen to those songs next year just like I’m listening Siru and Opera Skaala now. The quality is quality, no matter the result.
I like the song and singer, she is great.
Still, I can’t believe my favorite Mikael was robbed again. I think he could bring a better result for Finland.
@Diane
Je suis désolée!
It’s Finland, that’s why it won. Last year, they had a awful song, so it’s completely normal for them.
funny to see some of you loving Spain’s fabulastic say yay, yay, yay, whatever that means and hating this one. This one is true in its genre at least.
I actually like it. A lot. I don’t think it’s bland and the fact that it is a radio-friendly pop song isn’t a bad thing in this contest, that just means ESC isn’t living inside a bubble.
Quite catchy chorus too. The Finns can be proud of it. It might not end their track-record of ending near the bottom, but that doesn’t take away anything away from it.
@Marie
“This song is awful”
Well it’s your opinion, the juries gave her first place and the public voted her the third place so… If her song is really that awful, why she even went into the final? Perhaps it’s just you.
Finland is stuck in 2002.
Very glad Saara is gone, wasn’t keen on Mikael either. As long as neither of them won, I was happy, but I was pulling for Stella, Tuuli, and Annica & Kimmo. I thought everyone improved their vocal performances tonight (especially Annica & Kimmo) and was disappointed with Tuuli and Stella at the bottom but with so many respectable songs someone had to be last.
Saara being robbed here just became the greatest crime ever.
Well, that was an interesting surprise! Not sure how it’ll far at the ESC….borderline qualifier likely. 🙂
It’s just, Meh. I wouldn’t put my money on it to get to the finals
In 2000, Nightwish placed first in the televote, but the finnish jury overruled the decision of the public.
Nothing particularly new but i like the energy from her and it’s great to see some diversity in Eurovision. I’ll still have to hear it a few times to understand if this actually has some potential…
No Fear was better than this >_>
I for one LOVE IT!! Good luck Finland, hope you get a good result in Stockholm!
Sorry, I wanted to say: ” (…) but the jury wanted to send the most weird tune.”
Mikael, Saara, Cristal, Eini and Annica & Kimmo were amazing, but the jury wanted to the send the most weird tune.
This song is horrible, but I am most horrified already about the jurors in Eurovision. They will snatch the power from the fans and democracy yet again
“Why so many hatred?”
It’s the reality, just the reality. The song is awful, there’s nothing we can do.
it’s just me or she looks exactly like the bulgarian representive?
Why so many hatred? In my opinion she has the best song. Finland looks gor quality this year. Congrats Sandhja!!
Why can Finland never choose the right act? Is there something in the water over there?
Sandhja is the BEST!!!! I love this, i love this song and singer. I’m so happy that this song won. This year I am a proud Finnish, last year not so proud…
Mikael Saari and Saara Aalto were the worst ever this year and i’m glad that either of them did not get through.
Looking for to see Sandhja in the Eurovision final 🙂
Sad night for me :'( my favorites Annica & Kimmo dont go to Sweden.
Finland keeps me disappointing every year. OMG, Saara Aalto is not winning ESC this year