Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu — Finland’s Eurovision 2017 selection — will explode in all its glory on January 28. Before the fake eyelashes, hair extensions and glittered body suits hit the floor, we thought we’d sit down, review the songs, and film our reactions.
William and Deban listened to the songs for the very first time in front of the camera, and these reactions are candid and uncensored…as is their friction as they weigh up the highs and lows and gimmicks of this year’s contest. You can watch the full video below. Our team will sit down to analyse the songs more thoroughly and thoughtfully in the week ahead, and we’ll upload a separate Top 3 video afterwards.
We’ve been running a UMK 2017 poll on wiwibloggs asking you to name your favourites.
In the first three days we have received a total of 2,586 votes and the results are as follows:
- Emma – “Circle of Light” 27.88% (721 votes)
- Norma John – “Blackbird” 15.16% (392 votes)
- Lauri Yrjölä – “Helppo Elämä” 12.14% (314 votes)
- Alva – “Arrows” 10.56% (273 votes)
- Anni Saikku – “Reach Out For The Sun” 8.39% (217 votes)
- Zühlke – “Perfect Villain” 7.66% (198 votes)
- Günther & D’Sanz – “Love Yourself” 7.58% (196 votes)
- My First Band – “Paradise” 5.84% (151 votes)
- Club La Persé – “My Little World” 3.87% (100 votes)
- Knucklebone Oscar & The Shangri-La Rubies – “Caveman” 0.92% (24 votes)
Total Votes: 2,586
Are you feeling the current standings in our poll? Do you agree that “Circle of Light” is the standout track? Let us know in the comments box below.
PHOTOS: UMK pics at top courtesy of YLE
I loved all of last year’s UMK songs.
This year… I like none of them.
Finland – what happened?!!
Finland won´t pass to the final…again…
Paradise and Circle of Light are the best for me 😀 My First Band is godlike live and Circle of Light is the best song, dunno about the live perf.
I already have my 3 that have the greatest potential to make the Grand Final: 1. Emma: “Circle Of Light”; reminds me a bit of Greta Salóme’s “Hear Them Calling”, which got thrown under the bus in May. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of stage performance she’ll bring with this song. The music really carries this song. 2. My First Band: “Paradise”: Is it just me, or does this remind anyone of something I recently heard from DNCE? There is something really interesting about this song, and the potential stage setup that this song could get. 3. Lauri… Read more »
Ok. You are mean.
@Mii, it means the same in Finnish as well… 😉
Arrows somehow is my favourite of them all, but it’s still not enough. None of these are winners.
Blackbird is just too slow and boring, any emotion evaporates since you’ll fall asleep after one minute.
Circle of light was eh, I guess it would be an okay entry but…
Helppo Elama had a good house chorus but what is with those awful country sounding verses, they just don’t fit together.
~Blackbird Helppo Elama Arrows Circle of Light Paradise thx~
Lauri!
The poll is my same top 3. I voted those same ones as well. Lauri is my fave but Norma and Emma are all really good. The rest is…meh.
Blackbird all the way. 10/10
It sounds TIMELESS….. And all these dancy tunes with cheesy lyrics are gonna be long forgotten after their 3 minutes on the UMK are over.
I know reach out for the sun could have been much with a strong chorus but I still like it and Arrows better than Circle of light………Circle of lights seems to be at a loss of words in the end……40 seconds of we are safe in the circle of light is a bit too much
Perse means ass in Estonian lol. But I think that Arrows, Circle of Light, Blackbird and Reach Out For The Sun are kinda good.
Circle of Bibles is the only song that made me react. The others? Not even a smirk.
Guys, this kind of videos is amazing! I would love it if you did the same for other selections as well. 🙂
I mostly agree with you. Emma is the best indeed.
”Caveman” is so bad that I’m actually starting to enjoy it lmao help me
If I were an alien arriving on this planet for the first time, and “Caveman” was the first song I ever heard from the human race, I would immediately turn around, walk back to my spaceship, fly to the moon, turn around, and use my death laser to vaporize the planet.
I personally love Reach Out For The Sun, the lyrics, the verses, and also the chorus. Makes me feel emotional, and the chorus is a sweet surprise because we would expect something upbeat, but we get something slower. I love it, my #2
Circle of Light is a Circle of Meh…….
But the rest as well…. Blackbird is slightly interesting though