Moi Suomi! Today, on December 6, Finland celebrates its 99th Independence Day. To join in on the celebration, we’ve compiled a list of nine songs that didn’t win Finland’s Eurovision selection Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) but remain in our hearts — and on our playlists.

1. Mikael Saari – We Should Be Through (2013, second place)

Krista Siegfrids was the clear winner of the second edition of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu in 2013, earning almost 39 percent of all televotes. But Mikael Saari came second with his self-penned and touching ballad “We Should Be Through”. The song remains one of the most-loved Finnish national selection songs ever. And there’s no wonder why. Mikael delivered his song with lots of emotion and pitch-perfect vocals.

2. Mikko Pohjola – Sängyn reunalla (2014, second place)

Mikko Pohjola brought one of the most beautiful Finnish ballads to Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu in 2014. He finished second with both the jury and the televote, and had to watch as the winner Softengine went to Copenhagen to represent Finland. The Wiwi Jury described “Sängyn reunalla” as “subtle and haunting”.

3. MIAU – God/Drug (2014, third place)

Finland is known for its rock music — and three-piece girl group MIAU represented the genre well at UMK. This experiential rock number finished third behind entries from Softengine and Mikko Pohjola. The Wiwi Jury compared MIAU to Scandinavian electro divas Robyn and Oh Land and British electronic duo Goldfrapp.

4. Clarissa feat. Josh Standing – Top of the World (2014, unplaced)

2014 was a strong year for UMK, with songs that wouldn’t feel out of place on airwaves abroad. Perhaps the most international song came from Clarissa who was accompanied by British singer Josh Standing. This dance floor filler didn’t make it to the top three of the final, but was a great addition to the final line-up. After UMK, Josh auditioned for The X Factor as part of boy band “The First Kings”.

5. Satin Circus – Crossroads (2015, second place)

Satin Circus was the favourite among wiwibloggs readers to win Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu in 2015. And they were also the favourites of the UMK juries in Finland. But Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät — the world’s best-known punk band made up exclusively of artists with Down Syndrome — won the televote to secure victory. PKN scored a lot of media attention…but failed to qualify for the final. “Crossroads” still got lots of airplay on Finnish radio stations and finished fourth in the OGAE Second Chance Contest.

6. Opera Skaala – Heart of Light (2015, third place)

Opera Skaala mixed opera with EDM (a first for UMK) with “Heart of Light”. The song was the Wiwi Jury’s favourite to win the UMK final, but eventually the group finished third. Even so front woman Essi Luttinen remains one of the most iconic Eurovision divas of recent years.

7. Siru – Mustelmat (2015, unplaced)

The Voice of Finland winner Siru was one of the early favourites to win Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2015 and her Wiwi Jury score (9.7) remains one of the best ever. Sadly, her live performance didn’t measure up to the studio version and Siru crashed out in the semifinals. Even so it remained one of the most loved national finals songs of the season.

8. Saara Aalto – No Fear (2016, second place)

Saara Aalto is making it big in the United Kingdom right now and will compete in the X Factor final on Saturday. But earlier this year she took part in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu with “No Fear”. Saara earned the most points from the televote, but the juries pushed Sandhja to victory. Maybe that was a good thing, as Saara Aalto is now making her international break-through in Britain.

9. Mikael Saari – On It Goes (2016, third place)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cSsRnurikg

Mikael Saari made his UMK comeback in 2016 with another stunning ballad. “On It Goes” was the favourite of wiwibloggs’ readers to win Finland’s national selection this year, but eventually it placed third. The song also represented Finland in the OGAE Second Chance Contest 2016.

Finland will choose its representative for Eurovision 2017 in the final of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2017 on January 28. The ten acts were revealed a couple of weeks ago. You can vote for your favourite(s) to win #UMK17 here.

What are your UMK favourites over the past few years? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago

Hi Kermit – I thought that the song “Marry me” was actually about legalising same-sex marriage in Finland anyhow? 🙂

On a different topic, when one considers that a lot of gay men grow up to be told they can’t go to the Olympics (although that is now changing), Eurovision became a place where gay men could legitimately compete for their country and be accepted. (Except in certain corners of Eastern Europe, it seems; although that too is changing.)

Kermit
Kermit
7 years ago

Lost from 2013 is great, I agree. “Marry Me” is a nice pop song. But the kissing in the end was a very stupid gimnick….especially when we know about the stuoid “gay stereotypes” that sadly plauges ESC

AlvaRito
AlvaRito
7 years ago

Siru <3

Hiro
Hiro
7 years ago

I’m really in love with “Lost” by Arion (UMK 2013) even it’s not doing well at live but I still repeating the song until today and not Krista’s lol UMK 2013 was my first time watching national selections too and I remember how I feel upset when Krista won lol I thought at first Saari would go to Malmö lol In 2014, Softengine was one of their best entry and Finland did well for choosing them In 2016, I like ”Good Enough” by Anica Milan and Kimmo Bloom more than any entries because it’s a good entry and strong song,… Read more »

EUROFAN MEXICO
EUROFAN MEXICO
7 years ago

I MUCH more prefer “Good Enough TOO

Doorioo
Doorioo
7 years ago

Finland had the most underrated song in 2015. This year it was Montenegro. In 2014 Georgia. All great, daring and innovative songs. Esc needs such quality and originality. Songs not made for success in a commercial context. But because it is good music.

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

I never got the hype for Mikael Saari.

Solju is missing from this list, though. “Hold Your Colours” was incredible. Also Norlan “El Misionario” had a good song with “No voy a llorar por ti”

Adam
Adam
7 years ago

Oh wow, I completely missed Opera Skaala in there when typing my other comment. My bad! Must’ve read over it lol, glad its in there 🙂

Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Y’all included two songs from that boring Mikael Snoozaari guy and not Tuuli Okkonen’s “Don’t Wake Jesus Up”?

MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease
MoreMusicLessGlamourPlease
7 years ago

Even if some of the songs listed above are good also in my ears….I think they picked better songs for ESC ALL those years! 🙂 I love all Finnish entries from 2006 to present! 🙂 I don’t like Good Enough from 2016 though….I MUCH more prefer “Good Enough” by Father mc Kenzie from 2011…a GREAT indiepoproc / britpop song…Would maybe be better as an entry. To be honest…I am quite “sick” of all the critism towards PKN and their song. Maybe their song is uncompromised and not so easy on the ears. But I think in a year of mostly… Read more »

#ButNo
#ButNo
7 years ago

“On it goes” would’ve brought Finland the place in the Final.

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

“On It Goes” would have been so perfect, I just realised this again.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

Finland always makes weird decisions. How could Siru not even make it to the final? I mean, okay, her live performance was a bit weak and kind of disappointing but “Mustelmat” was still a brilliant song. And how could PKN win? Actually, how could they even participate in the national selection with such an awful song? Jesus, Finland…

Then we have Sandhja. I mean, I liked her song but come on, there were so many great ones last year. Saara, Tuuli, Mikael, Eini and Annica & Kimmo were all better.

Timbardur62
Timbardur62
7 years ago

Mikko Pohjola/Sängyn reunalla. The studio version of this song reminds me a bit of Robbie Williams’ best ballades. Should’ve been great in English, with a bit heavier arrangement.

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

Crossroads would have got a great result!!
@Adam- look at number 6 ????

Kris
Kris
7 years ago

@Adam.
Uhmmm……maybe read the article again.

Adam
Adam
7 years ago

Surprised Operaa Skaala isn’t on here! What a classic

TamoTumandoPorrohEnLaPlayita
TamoTumandoPorrohEnLaPlayita
7 years ago

I miss UMK… the real one. WTF was thinking Finland this year? Gosh we’ll never have songs like Mustelmat again

Paul D.
Paul D.
7 years ago

UMK used to be sooo good… what happened Suomi?

Antonio
Antonio
7 years ago

“On It Goes” 9th? It’s much better than the other!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago

Okkonen*, apparently. My apologies.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago

It’s a real shame UMK can’t re-use some of these great songs and replace this year’s 2017 selection entirely.

Just a few other shout-outs to Kimmo Blom (two UMK songs), Tuuli Okkenen (Don’t Wake Me Up), Cristal Snow (Love Is Blind) – all also worthy to be on this list. 🙂