He’s the iconic DJ who is representing Finland at this year’s Eurovision. And on Friday at midnight Darude released “Look Away” — his third and final song for UMK 2019, Finland’s national selection for Eurovision.
As with UMK’s two other competing songs, “Release Me” and “Superman“, Darude once again joins forces with Sebastian Rejman, the guitarist and lead singer of band The Giant Leap, who provides vocals on the track.
The duo have also written “Look Away” together, the only of Darude’s three songs where Sebastian also features as a co-writer.
The two earlier songs told a personal story. But “Look Away” leans more newsy, tackling large-scale global issues.
As Darude explains: “There are terrible things happening in the world: natural disasters, diseases, wars, exile. It is easier to look away than seeing and thinking about these things.”
The song is a little unpredictable and surprises the listening with its sonic turns. The calm yet powerful beginning builds up steadily towards the chorus which turns “Look Away” into a dance club song. Right after the chorus, it drops again into a serious, slower undertone. Darude is serving up many flavours!
Through this song, Darude and Sebastian want to wake up people to focus and make a difference in the world. The music video also strengthens this global problem that affects all of our lives, as we see people from different cultures, surrounded by various landscapes and weather conditions.
The different scenes are delivered with the help of green screen video technology, all the way in Glendale, Hollywood.
Darude was impressed by the video production, saying, “It is pretty cool to see how this process is done because I haven’t been in this type of production before.”
Darude went to to explain the idea behind the music video. “The thought in this is that if we don’t start looking and taking action, we are going to lose everything,”
Focus on the final
Now that all three songs are out, it is time to turn our heads towards the upcoming UMK final which will be held in Turku on the March 2.
Darude and Sebastian Rejman will perform all three songs at the final, where they will face the televote from the Finnish public as well as a vote from an international jury.
The show will be hosted by Krista Siegfrids and Christoffer Strandberg, including also commentary from Mikko Silvennoinen. 2013 Eurovision winner Emmelie de Forest will also perform in the show.
Poll: Which song should win UMK 2019?
Now that all three songs have been released, which song do you think should win UMK 2019? Vote for your favourite in our poll. You can only vote once, so make it count!
[polldaddy poll=10246722]What do you think? Which one of these songs is your favourite? Let us know in the comments down below.
Read more Finland Eurovision news here
Is it bad that I feel like Sebastian is the problem with all of these songs? The production although in places dated sounds pretty good but I kinda feel like Sebastian ruins it. Sorry about that, it sounds a but nasty to say that.
There is EDM and then there is good EDM. All the three do not belong in the latter category and it seems obvious now that Finland did a mistake. I would not be surprised if this fails to qualify. If I had to choose I would go for release me, which is more audible and makes more sense as a 3 minute song in ESC.
Now I’m at the same point as last year. Excited by the artist, three average meh songs. As Mr. Vanilla Bean pointed out below, there is no immediate favourite as they all merely sound the same. How I wish for 2017 format again… .
It’s the strongest one, but qualifying is the best of what Finland can achieve at ESC 2019.
Ha ha ha… this slow and old cellphone of mine managed to make me accidentally write part of the word in my username and I haven’t noticed it. I am unable to edit it, but year, last comment is by me.
Similar situation as with Saara Aalto last year, as there is little to no difference in style or genre. Wouldn’t it be more exciting if one of the songs sounds like Hard Rock Hallelujah , one like Your Journey and one like Cool Me Down. Then we’d actually have better chance at favorizing one song. This way, if you like soft EDM, you’ll probably like them all. If you don’t, you’ll probably be tired of all three. Not the best competition strategy.
Can’t even decide, ’cause they all sound completely the same to me ??? sorry Finland, but no Final this year for you, Darude isn’t famous enough (or at least not anymore) to qualify on fame alone.
I feel “Look Away” is the best of these 3 songs (though “Superman” is probably more accessible to a general audience), but I can’t say I’m into any of them. Sebastian’s vocals didn’t work for me at all. At first I thought it was because they were burried on the track, but after 3 songs I conclude they’re simply not distinctive enough. I guess Finland’s final result can end up depending too much on how much people are fond of not just EDM, but also a particular kind of EDM that may sound dated to some.
Oh Finland, tough luck this year for you 🙁
Sounds like Darude kept the best for last… I really like this and might do really well for Finland. Good luck, Suomi.
Now come’n – if this was Sweden or Italy you would just praise it and pee honey 😀
Sweden only has cheap schlabop in the Melo this year and euroqueens are delighted. Maybe that’s what they want – cheap residues instead of actual potential hits.
I have no idea what you people are complaining about. Look Away is really good and it could easily reach top 10 in Eurovision with good staging and vocals. The chorus makes you want to dance and the instrumental in the verses is really interesting. Also the ”is it in my head” part is a real hook! This is easily the best out of the 3 and should go to Tel Aviv.
Listening to this with my brother who doesn’t have an interest in Eurovision. He said to me “why don’t you like it? It sounds like a Eurovision song.” I just think it tries to be like a Eurovision song too much. It’s not original. It sounds good, but kinda lacks in something. Maybe on a stage it will be better, but I’m looking at it right now and it doesn’t get any emotions out of me.
I think you should analyze his comment a little further. He is not a Eurovision follower. He apparently liked it.
Less than 0.001% of the people voting in Eurovision actually follow Eurovision like we do. What does it say to you?
Nah man. He says it sounds like a Eurovision song, that doesn’t mean he liked it. People like Eurovision when it’s on but won’t follow it all year round. So everyone has different opinion and some people will be like “Jasus that’s Darude, remember Sandstorm!” and will vote for him. So we have no clue what’s gonna happen in the semi-finals. That’s deep.
1. Superman
2. Look Away
3. Release Me
By far the best out of the three. It has also been the last song released, they already know this is the best. Despite being the best of the bunch,I still think it is a bit unoriginal, but at least is enjoyable. Like a 6.75/10 more or less.
The funny thing is, I like “Look Away” the best. When one considers some of the questions below about the originality of the tracks, I guess I’m “looking away” from them. 😀
It is also a worldwide political message that will resonate at Eurovision.
However, Polegend has a relevant point as well: If “Superman” is the artist’s favourite track, then UMK should just run with that one.
“It is pretty cool to see how this process is done because I haven’t been in this type of production before.”
Huh? According to the video, he was standing in front of a green screen, staring into nowhere.
It’s gonna a be a battle in SF1 between Darude and Victor Crone for that EDM vibe. Imagine Darude not qualifying for the final…
Finland have strong chance (or Cyprus, Czech, maybe Hingary if Andras win ) to open first semi, because other songs in first half will be pop ballad or etno ballad
Yup it might be Darude who will open the SF1. And Victor is in Sf2 so that could hurt Darude Lil bit. But we’ll see 😉 can’t wait OMG!
I’m 90% sure that it’ll be Superman. I just hope that they won’t stage it like Czech Republic 2009.
Aven Romale! (must have been the only one that loved it…;) )
Honestly, I think that’s the only song they can go for since the other two might be problematic due to having such similar chorus melodies to songs called “Release Me” by Agnes Carlsson and “Pocketful of Sunshine” by Natasha Bedingfield. But I don’t know, just my opinion.
All that fan hype for nothing. Saara’s 3 songs were so much better than these. I wouldn’t be shocked if Finland failed to qualify at this rate!
Darude is the perfect example of the fact that a big name, or a great artist is not synonym of good song. The three songs for UMK are mediocre, nothing special
Look-oo-way?
Try the Spotify version with headphones. I wouldn’t even attempt YLE’s versions, they are notorious for their bad audio quality.
Nah it’s just bad pronunciation. I don’t like the singer. He has the most boring voice ever and he can’t pronounce English properly. I hear they just chose him because he is a good friend of Darude’s.
Darude was impressed by the video production, saying, “It is pretty cool to see how this process is done because I haven’t been in this type of production before.”
What production ?? it’s a heap of crap
Best option for Finland song Release Me.
I’m Finnish I can tell; The Finnish don’t like Look Away. Me neither. Thankfully only we Finns can vote, so we won’t make a bad choice.
I mean, the Finns were the same people who voted for PKN over all the great songs in 2015 so idk about that
Hmm, to be honest, there are good and bad things in every song. I love the instrumental of “Release Me”, the singing parts of “Superman” and the message of “Look Away”. Lol, I think I need a mashup at Eurovision haha 😀
all dated but cute, i’d pick superman since it’s his fave anyway
OMG! I can’t pick one, I love all of them.
?
I totally agree. Picking one of these three AMAZING, QUALITY-DRIVEN songs would be mental.
Holy moly, those lyrics are pretentious. They’re worse than “Our Choice”.
i don’t like the vocalist voice..
Yes, nor his accent, it’s weired.
He’s Darude’s bestie or something so that’s why Darude wanted him to be the singer. At least that’s what I’ve heard. But yeah, he’s so bad. His voice is not even mediocre, he isn’t a skilled singer, and his pronunciation is pretty bad tbh.
Yeah, but this is still Eurovision, so in the end I think people will at least be able to agree on the fact that he looks kinda hot in some pictures.
shoulda been a girl’s vocals tbh
It’s Look Away for me.
I feel like i am listening to the same song in 3 different forms…Darude done the best job possible but Sebastian is not delivering…and i wonder how he sounds live
Finland, for second time in a row, picked one of her best singer/dj/performer with three “mah” songs; why don’t they understand that the song is actually more important than the artist?
The meme enthusiasts all over Europe must save Darude if they want to qualify to the grand final.
I miss Saara 🙁 Each song she gave us was amazing!
These songs are just meh…
Saara had Domino, but Finland didn’t choose it. 🙁
Domino was just bland and wouldn’t success either. Any of her songs wasn’t good enough.
Back in 1999 Darude gave us “Sandstorm” which was a big hit and way ahead of its time. So you’d think in 20 years his music would step up into the next era, but no it hasn’t. (I wanted Raiven “Kaos” pop drops)
But remember, DJs change their style of music as time goes by. They don’t want to be remembered as that guy with a one-hit wonder, they want (and should) try other styles of EDM too (something which many will never understand). The perfect case studies of it are Martin Garrix, Zedd, Krewella, and The Chainsmokers.
No…I only like Release Me. And from the heavy autotune used in that man’s voice, I’m afraid he’s not gonna deliver well live.
“Releeeeease me, releeeease my body”. Anyone? They can’t send that song to the contest. It’s just like Agnes Carlsson’s Release me.
Another terrible song. I don’t know why UMK producers decided to internally select another artist (a meme nonetheless). Please can we go back to the old format for 2020, this is gonna be an embarrassment for us Finns. Another non-qualification.
Please, stop speaking for all of us.
Ummmm Darude, what are you doing? Release me’s refrain sounded a lot like Agnes Carlsson’s Release me’s refrain and now the melody in the refrain of Look Away sounds a tad too much like the melody in the refrain of Natasha Bedingfield’s Pocketful of sunshine’s. While Darude (ok well the other guy) sings ‘look away’, Natasha sings ‘take me away’. Not liking this. Finland, you are not gonna do well this year. Zero points.
Omg you are right! I hadn’t realized that before but I listened to those songs now and wow! The resemblance is way too clear to be dismissed. I’m shocked. No wonder all these Darude songs sound like they were made 10 years ago since Carlsson’s and Bedingfield’s songs were released about 10 years ago…
I actually like all of them! Maybe, Superman is slightly weaker than the other two but they are hard to separate! Good job, Finland!
They all sound like so ten years ago?
Which is good because ten years ago music didn’t suck as much as today. What did you want? Dubstep? Cheap schlabop?
Darude could have brought a trance anthem and you would have said it sounded so 90’s (when trance was at its peak). The truth is, nobody can please whiny euroqueens.
Look Away is the only descent song here. Anyway, good luck Finland!
It’s Superman or Look Away for me.
I expect a good result for Finland this year!
Look away is the only decent song.
If Poland didn’t qualify last year, Finland definitely won’t either.
Hahhah! We’ll see about that…
You can’t predict, who will qualifyed based on other Song on same genre or a bit similar in Eurovision, left alone before live. Isn’t good enough though, any of them.
Look Away and Superman are my clear favourites here and I think my country could have a chance of making the final and get a decent finish with them. Softengine is our only top 20 finish in the last 12 years, so not placing last is a victory for us Finns….
Maybe because Softengine was the last good entry Finland sent to Eurovision. Starting from 2015 it was a meltdown of sympathy vote (PKN), nonsense with wasted potential (Sandhja), literal boredom (Norma John) and the textbook definition of fanwank (Saara Aalto).
I’m glad Finland went for a change this year and picked something that sounds both fresh but also nostalgic. Each of the entries has its touch of both radio impact and careful production. I hope the actual voters can value that.
Finland should stop settling in having three songs (if money is not a huge concern)
“Look Away” is definitely my pick. All will do well, I think, but they saved the best for last!
1. Superman
2. Release Me
3. Look Away
But to be honest I like all of them and all of them will go right into my iPod. Well done, Darude!
Like I said, Finland wanted to come last this year and good for them.
Really? If these songs don’t meet your taste, it’s your personal problem 😀
Eurovision its not about personal taste, its about being impactful. However, these 3 songs are just okay, nothing special, a casual viwer wont remember this after the show
Finland in the finals. Big like.
Look away or release me.
They are all so bad, bland and boring that i don’t even care which one wins.