Tampere calling! Finland is about to decide its Eurovision 2020 entry. The final of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2020 takes place on Saturday 7 March and the winner will earn the right to fly the Finnish flag in Rotterdam. Six songs are competing and the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has sat down to review them. Have we found an entry to win UMK 2020 and take Finland to just its second grand final in six attempts?
Kristin
1. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina”
In a rather disappointing and underwhelming UMK contest, “Cicciolina” is the shining light in the darkness. It’s kitch, it’s fun, it’s catchy and it’s simply here for your entertainment! Erika Vikman takes us back to the 80’s and I for one, am all in for the ride. Give me colours, give me hairspray, give me a solid “Cicciolina” party in Rotterdam and I’ll be the happiest camper in Europe. Don’t go bland, Finland. Go big! Erika is your girl and “Cicciolina” is the party anthem of Eurovision 2020. Plain and simple.
2. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity”
3. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back”
4. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break”
5. F3M – “Bananas”
6. Sansa – “Lover View”
Lucy
1. F3M – “Bananas”
I know it’s cheesy, and I know the lyrics are a bit ‘red solo cup’, but c’mon, this is a certified bop. We’re needing some sheer pop this year and F3M give us an excellent rendition of girl power pop music. It’s so much fun, and I can imagine Euroclub loving this too. It’s cheeky and fun and I’m on board. And yes, despite everything, I fully stand by where I’ve placed a certain favourite of most. The lyrics are refreshing, but I just can’t with that melody.
2. Sansa – “Lover View”
3. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back”
4. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break”
5. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina”
6. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity”
Åri
1. Sansa – “Lover View”
It’s funny how songs can go completely under your radar on first listen and then become your clear favourites shortly after that. I don’t know why I thought this was missing something at first but now I’m bopping hard to this. While it’s admittedly not brilliant lyrically, it’s catchy and fun and I love Sansa’s voice. It’s simple and beautiful, but unfortunately doesn’t stand a chance.
2. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back”
3. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina”
4. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break”
5. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity”
6. F3M – “Bananas”
Luis
1. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina”
Ever since Softengine, Finland has struggled to get good results at Eurovision, and has often passed unnoticed. “Cicciolina” would grant them attention levels unseen since Lordi. Erika brings an intoxicating schlager tune which rides on the wave that “Spirit in the Sky” started. However, she takes this to a whole new dimension, with daring lyrics and, hopefully, an over-the-top stage performance. You just need to go all out sometimes!
2. F3M – “Bananas”
3. Sansa – “Lover View”
4. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break”
5. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back”
6. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity”
Natalie
1. F3M – “Bananas”
I am a bit of a sucker for a thick beat and bass. And I also love a bit of a girl pride message. This brings both with a very casual, shameless energy which is kinda awesome. I’m the first to admit this song has problems, I know it’s all cringey and trashy but I really love the fact that this song exists. It’s got a great vibe, it’s really fun, and I’ll happily enjoy it.
2. Sansa – “Lover View”
3. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina”
4. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity”
5. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back”
6. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break”
Antranig
1. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina”
I really wasn’t expecting “Cicciolina” to be ranked first. I certainly wasn’t expecting the porn star song to be the most deeply meaningful song of the entire 2020 season. However, it is by far my favourite song in Finland. It is heaps of fun and a wonderful throwback to less serious times. Plus I never object to hearing my favourite language at Eurovision. I call it the Kamil Show principle — if you don’t have a potential Eurovision winner in the mix, send the most memorable song. This has all the makings of a Euroclub hit for years to come. It’s feelings and fireworks!
2. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity”
3. F3M – “Bananas”
4. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break”
5. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back”
6. Sansa – “Lover View”
Lukas
1. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina”
We got a lot of serious songs for this year’s Eurovision and I think it is time to finally get something simple and fun. Erika with “Cicciolina” gives us just that. This song gets stuck in your head from the first time you hear it and the chorus is so catchy. Even if this song is in Finnish and I do not understand a word she is saying, I am still singing alongside Erika. I think this could do extremely well at Eurovision and bring Finland back to the final.
2. F3M – “Bananas”
3. Sansa – “Lover View”
4. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity”
5. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back”
6. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break”
Florian
1. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina”
“Cicciolina” benefits from being sung in Finnish. While it’s somewhat within the schlager music genre, it doesn’t feel outdated. It’s catchy and contemporary and could work great on the Eurovision stage. If they manage to recreate the atmosphere of the music video on stage, this could just be what Eurovision needs from Finland this year.
2. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity”
3. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back”
4. F3M – “Bananas”
5. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break”
6. Sansa – “Lover View”
Dayana
1. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina”
This year’s UMK has entries of a very good quality and it’s so hard to choose a favourite. They are all diverse — from electro vibes from Sansa to a complete extravaganza from Erika. So happy that UMK has returned back to an open selection! I hardly understand what Erika is saying but that adds an extra point to her entry. When was the last time we have heard such a unique language represented at Eurovision? All parts of Erika’s performance perfectly add up together, making it a perfect — and for sure memorable — candidate for Eurovision.
2. F3M – “Bananas”
3. Sansa – “Lover View”
4. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back”
5. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break”
6. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity”
Robyn
1. Erika Vikman – “Cicciolina”
I was not expecting that “Cicciolina” would be my favourite, and yet here we are. There’s a lot to like about the song. Musically it draws influences from both classical music and Scandi schlager delights. Lyrically, it’s a song of defiance, of a woman who isn’t afraid to get what she wants, even when society is telling her to keep her mouth shut and her legs crossed. In a strange way, it’s a counterpart of “Proud”, with Erika asserting “When you want something, you’ve got to say it out loud”. Well, I say that I want this to go to Rotterdam!
2. F3M – “Bananas”
3. Catharina Zühlke – “Eternity”
4. Sansa – “Lover View”
5. Aksel Kankaanranta – “Looking Back”
6. Tika – “I Let My Heart Break”
I just read most of these songs are amazing and I’m confused now. Are we really listening to the same songs? If “Cicciolina”, a dated schlager song, is the best Finland can give to us, they better be worried. I can’t see a qualifier here. The line-up is pretty weak, in my opinion of course. I do like a couple of songs but none of them could be objectivily a qualifier: “Lover View” is modern and it sounds so smooth but it lacks the power or emotion or uniqueness to stand out. This way, Aksel’s “Looking Back” is modern, lyrics… Read more »
Cicciolina is pure awesomeness!
Really – Cicciolina, Passe-partout, Bulletproof, Say Yes – not even one of them? Interesting, but hey, opinions are personal anyway. Who would be your picks for Denmark, Sweden and Portugal? I’d be quite okay with Aksel and Sansa TBH, but I think that Erika would stand out the most. Whoever Finland picks (aside from Bananas) will likely be high on my list. Thus, I’ll probably stay away from the winner announcement page if it’s not Erika, because I can already imagine a lot of angry people.
Well, thanks for honesty. I wouldn’t mind any of the front-runners TBH. (I did lost several favorites in other selections by now).
Options I would be good with:
Sweden – Dotter, Anna, Victor, Mamas, Paul, maaaybe Felix
Denmark – Emil, Ben & Tan
Portugal – Actually, everyone aside from Elisa R. and Tomas
Finland – Actually, everyone aside from F3M
So, this can hardly go wrong for my list… or can it? 😉
I 100% agree with Åri!! We have the same Top 3. Very nice.
But I also think that Sansa has no chance, the lyrics are just too dumb, lol. But who cares. Cicciolina is amazing, too, and I admit it’s the way better choice for the Eurovision than Lover View could ever be.
“cicciolina” is the first umk song to chart in the suomen virallinen lista (finnish singles top 20) since their 2014 eurovision entry, it should win the televote comfortably, hopefully the juries don’t sabotage.
Are the juries Finnish or international? If they are locals, they could understand the lyrics and be into it. International juries are often not helpful to the national language songs on ESC as well, so I’d be careful in that case.
I think Cioccolina is the best choice. Among a sea of worthy entries, we need that “knowing cheese” – and the song has some meaning too, even if you wouldn’t know it as you were dancing along.
So, here there are 10 people’s opinions on the national final and in Portugal’s article, there are only 5 opinions.
What’s up with that?
For me it’s between F3M and Aksel. I also like Sansa’s song, but I don’t think that would bring Finland great result.
I’m surprised that the wiwi jury find “Bananas” better than “I let my heart break”.
Senhit has two song, 1) “Obsessed” and 2) “Freaky” and public can choose which one she has to sing in Rotterdam voting for 48 hours on a digital platform so at 8th…
Wrong article…
It’s official….now, we are waiting for the song
Senhit for San Marino!
Wow, this was far more unanimous that I expected. IMHO, most of these songs are amazing! It’s not ”Cicciolina by a clear mile” or ”Erika or quit” for me. Tika, Zuhlke and Aksel would all likely be in my top 10 as well. However, since this is among the last NFs and we already have 30 songs, it’s easy to see the pattern of 2020, and that one is more on the slower side. Thus, a national language fast schlager with tongue and cheek lyrics like Cicciolina would stand out so much! It would certainly be a smart move for… Read more »
3 Aksel, 2 Sansa, 1 SLAYRIKA (Erika)
Ema in 2017 failed, in 2015 some favorites failed, in 2016 Saara and Mikael failed …I dont know …I feel somebody else will win, actually maybe Aksel can, he is only one boy here, remind me Estonian selection from 2016 where Juri was only one boy and won…
Juri was not the only man in Eesti laul 2016 (Mick Pedaja and the guy playing on that curious instrument), he just had the best song.
But yeah, in Finland, fan-favorites tend to fall a lot. I get annoyed just think how only in a last few years, they could have had Mustalmat, On It Goes, No Fear, Good Enough, Heart of Light, All For Victory, Love is Blind, Don’t Wake Me Up…
I hope Erika can live-up to the hype in live. Second spot shouldn’t be an issue in a final so small.
loved all of thise. mick pedaja was incredible
Ahhh i forgot about Mick but yeah, there were a “sea” of girls in 2016 in estonian ns ….so maybe it will be same 2morrow in Finland
I’m totally fine with “Cicciolina” or “Lover view” winning but “Bananas” is my guilty pleasure :)))
I’m surprised Sansa is not more of a favourite here. The song is sleak, cool and her voice is beautiful
I dunno why but I have a feeling that Cicciolina would be “Verona – Telemoveis” of 2020
Fandom loves it but in the end fails to qualify
I’m so afraid too, it will be a heartbreak if it goes to Eurovision and doesn’t make it to the final
It’s far too catchy to not qualify – if the staging is done well.
laura wont be singing with her so she will be fine.
For me, it’s the easiest decision of NF season.
Europe needs “Cicciolina”.
Sansa – “Lover View”
like the song . Don’t like the *lover view* Lyric throws me out. what on earth does that mean. Sounds ridiculous and jarring.