She’s the flamboyant songstress who first rose to international prominence on The X Factor UK. And in May Saara Aaalto will represent her native Finland at Eurovision 2018 in Lisbon.
But first, there’s the small matter of choosing a song for her to sing. Ahead of the UMK 2018 final on 3 March, Saara has been releasing her three potential entries on a weekly basis.
The first, “Monsters” officially dropped on Friday 9 February. Track two “Domino” followed on Friday last. To mark the occasion, the singer took over the wiwibloggs Twitter account.
Using #wiwiXsaara, fans from all over the world sent in their questions on everything and anything. And here’s how Saara answered.
It's Saara Aalto here ????????#Domino is out now and I'm here to answer your questions, use #wiwiXsaara and let's talk ???
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
Do you have a personal favourite song out of your three UMK 2018 entries?
I don't actually! They are all so good in their different ways ??? https://t.co/yWXs5Z6hs2
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
Are you scared of finishing second again? (Saara previously finished second on The Voice of Finland, Finland’s Got Talent, X Factor UK and, of course, twice in Finland’s Eurovision selection).
Hahaa!!! I wil always come 2nd, I don't know How to fail… ?? maybe this time I should… and try being 1st?? If you help me ?? https://t.co/WrvfrNrN49
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
Which past Eurovision star would you like to duet with?
Hmm @ConchitaWurst ???? or ABBA ? https://t.co/3ZH9q9q6is
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
What past Eurovision song would you have loved to perform?
Molitva (Serbia 2007) ?? https://t.co/d4dHMyzBvD
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
What is your favourite Eurovision memory?
When Lordi won in 2006. I had a monster party at my home and I went crazy when Finland won.. #monsters ????? https://t.co/yh7FcGTBdd
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
What is your favourite language to sing in?
Hmm.. I LOVE languages.. Chinese is really challenging and fun.. ????? https://t.co/uYTOaWyCNU
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
What inspired you to take part in Eurovision?
Eurovision has always been my dream, I've always felt like it would be the right place for me??? https://t.co/qb4CaVWSj7
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
Will you release your debut international album this year?
YES YES YES ???? https://t.co/QPRMCZNpH2
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
Will the three UMK 2018 songs be on the album?
I'm pretty sure I want them to be on the album ? Thank you Steve ?? https://t.co/F05tJrYyH6
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
Will “Blessed With Love” feature on the album?
Oh Thank you!?? Blessed With Love is on Spotify as it was on my first album in 2011. I tried to get to Eurovision with that song. Came 2nd in the Finnish selection ?? https://t.co/medz5gx4qx
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
Have you thought about staging yet?
UMK/Eurovision are already planned. @brianfriedman has done the creatives for the shows and I can say they are ??????????? AMAZING!! https://t.co/NP2d5585Wp
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
How many songs were considered for Eurovision? Was it difficult to choose the final three?
We had 23 songs… ?? but I have to say in the end it was quite easy to choose the 3. They are all so good for Eurovision ??? https://t.co/XsR81oEk3f
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
How did you narrow the 23 songs down to three?
Thank you??? We played all my 23 songs to a big group of people and they voted like in Eurovision.. and then we saw which were their favorites for ESC. That was helpful?? https://t.co/kCf8nEBIzo
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
Are there any songs you regret not picking for UMK?
No because all of them are gonna be on my album anyway ?? it's gonna be quite a good album I must say ?? https://t.co/Mkvrj1lhI4
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
What are you most excited for in Lisbon?
Seeing the sun ?????? it has been a while ??? https://t.co/VIrVeb7wr8
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
What are you looking forward to most on your Eurovision journey?
To meet EVERYONE !! To have fun and have the best 2 weeks of my life ???? https://t.co/TSMIPVrOAR
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
“Domino” is co-written by Thomas G:son and Johnny Sanchez, who are also the co-writers on Malta’s Eurovision 2018 entry. Do you think it could harm your chances to have two songs written by the same people in the contest?
No because my show would be unforgettable ?????? https://t.co/vRMQYSNIuy
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
What drives you to be the best you can? What is your inspiration?
My fiancée @MeriSopanen ???? She makes me so relaxed, loving and hopeful. I feel like everything is possible when we are together!! It's like… #Domino ?? https://t.co/9ymPkVMu1K
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
What do you think of Salvador Sobral’s “music is not fireworks” speech?
I think music can be everything! Music can also be feelings and fireworks at the same time ! ????? Peace and Love! https://t.co/gXspqiGqIa
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
Thank you everyone! @saaraaalto is here and saying Good Night to you all ?????Glad you like #Domino and thank you for your questions ?????? Talk to you later on my twitter!?? Love, Saara
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 15, 2018
Saara’s third and final 2018 entry “Queens” is set to be released this Friday, 23 February. The UMK 2018 final will take place eight days later on 3 March.
Are you excited to hear “Queens”? Which track is your favourite so far? Can Saara Aalto win Eurovision 2018? Let us know in the comments below.
Well music is something you listen to. Fireworks is something you watch.
Well said Saara music is many different things to different people, put Snobral back in his box. So can’t wait for the new champion to be crowned and his reign to be over.
“Music can also be feelings and fireworks at the same time !”
And with that sentence, she bursts the balloons of countless musical snobs
Oh my god, this Hype is so ridiculous. These songs are NOTHING Special at all. Saara could have come up with ”Perfect life” and I bet you’d still say ”omg slay queen, winneeer”. I’m so sick of it.. Saara is a great artist, I agree on that. But how does that make her a winner when her song isn’t good? I hope the last song is good, otherwise I wouldn’t want her to do well, sorry.
Sorry but the favouritism for Saara Aalto from wiwibloggs is getting a bit ridiculous now. You have never given anyone else control of the entire twitter account. Seriously, I hope she flops!
YES, it’s so obvious at this point. Both of her released songs are so generic and manufactured that I just can’t see them winning. Hyping this much doesn’t make me like her songs at all.
Lol, it’s not favouritism. And fyi, Svala took over our Facebook last year.
I don’t think that coming 2nd in Eurovision is bad actually haha
Now I am very curious about the third song.
“Queens” does not sound like a promising title to me at all. But who knows… usually, you save the best for last, nudging the voters in that direction.
OMG someone called Kerem asked a question. I don’t know why I found that cool. I love Saara but her first two songs haven’t lived up to the hype. Monsters is a tad generic and the chorus in particular is a real let down. Domino is better but I still think it’s not a winner. I’d pick Domino over Monsters but I hope the third song is the one that can give us 100% certainty that she can bring Finland back to the final.
What are you talking about monsters is amazing track.
Lol, my name is Kerem.
Saara is gonna slay Queens could be the esc winning song
I agree with her statement that contradicts Salvador’s. We can have a really catchy song with great visuals that has touching lyrics.
Queen’s coming for WIGS with the last song this Friday! Queens is going to be lit
Also LOVING THE SHADE SHE THREW AT MALTA’S ENTRY FOR THIS YEAR XD
Yes but she didn’t say that music can JUST be fireworks. That was Salvador’s point. I also think everyone interpreted “feelings” as ballads or slow–he said he loved both Occidental Karma and City Lights–those were “feelings” as well that were different than his. He just doesn’t like mass-produced generic songs that you makes no one feel anything and then you bring the pyro rainfall and pretend it’s a winning song. I think Saara’s moment that she won over England completely was when she sat at the piano and sang Winner Takes it All. No gimmicks. No dancing. A woman, her… Read more »
Could just stop hyping her like crazy ?
Her songs have nothing special so far.
Agreed. I mean Monsters is not bad but Domino… Just meh. Manufactured.
Even worse songs can won example 010 and 011.