Teflon Brothers x Pandora I Love You UMK 2021

In 2020, the second UMK entry to be revealed became a huge fan favourite — Erika Vikman’s “Cicciolina”. Will Teflon Brothers x Pandora be able to match such excitement with their song “I Love You“?

Finnish broadcaster YLE is sticking to last year’s formula, although expanded: this year there will be seven acts competing rather than six. Their songs will be revealed one by one every weeknight at midnight Finland time (23:00 CET) until 21 January.

Teflon Brothers x Pandora “I Love You” (UMK 2021)

“I Love You” is described as an “instantly catchy tune” whose goal is “to help people better express their emotions and become more open and courageous”.

This collaboration has been a long-time in the making. In fact, Teflon Brothers and Pandora first came up with the idea to collaborate by chance four years ago, when they met backstage at an event.

Both Teflon Brothers and Pandora have lengthy careers. The former are a successful Finnish rap-group, while the latter is a Swedish Eurodance star. “Our mission is to bring people together in joy, celebration and love. We want to tell everyone that love does not care what language you speak or how you look. It’s all about the power of non-verbal cues or, as Pandora likes to call it, mental interaction”, they say.

UMK 2021

The grand final of UMK will take place on 20 February. The number of competing acts was whittled down from 278 entries, and only seven entrants will take the stage.

The songs were selected by a jury of industry professionals, led by radio YleX’s music manager Tapio Hakanen. He had praise for the applicants, saying, “The level of the songs and artists was incredibly strong and I am confident that we have coming in the spring of 2021 the toughest UMK of all time. I’m really happy and grateful to each and every musician who sent a song to Yle.”

The winner will be chosen by a mixture of jury and public vote. Rather than the usual 50/50 split, the public will hold 75% of the power.

Follow all of our Finland Eurovision 2021 news.

 

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Milla
Milla
3 years ago

Bad. Sorry.

Bella
Bella
3 years ago

2000’s entry with 80’s elements…ok, I don’t have problem 🙂

Edin
Edin
3 years ago

Seems like there is a trend now sending quirky, over the top songs to ESC now, with weird dances, tunes and quirky elements…i guess it is to stand out but feels like several countries will try to send same type of songs seeing the success of Iceland, Russia and Latvia last year (even though the competition did not happen). It might back fire but we’ll see I suppose

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Edin

Latvia?

Truth
Truth
3 years ago

Such a good song and if this would be selected as a winner it really would be a positive choice from Finland. Usually we’ve gotten dark artistic songs from acts like Norma John and Aksel, don’t get me wrong I like those entries and they were my favourites on their own years (well Aksel and Erika both were in 2020) and the ESC fans have said always that Finland keeps sending so moody artistic songs which a very dark, but this would be a positive choice for us all! And for what I remember people really were demanding more uplifting… Read more »

Emkay
Emkay
3 years ago

It’s okay.
But it would never win esc.

Last edited 3 years ago by Emkay
Héctor
Héctor
3 years ago

OSKR so far for me. Though this is the type of song that receives a lot of points from the televote.

Athelstan
Athelstan
3 years ago

I just cant stop listening to this.
This is a BOP!
Such a feel-good song, which makes you wanna dance!
I think Europe needs something like this right now.

Love love LOVE it!!!

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

It’s already trending in Finland. Number 1 on YouTube and it’ll do very well and Spotify I guess.
It’s so catchy and easy to enjoy and has personality at the same time.

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

wow both artists are well known and the Brothers are massive on Spotify Finland.

the song reminds me of Aha! It’s a fun, uplifting song, i don’t know if it can stand out though.

Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago

Oh Tibor, you’re not a fan of Bloodhound Gang? They have some great songs, Hooray for Boobies is one of my favourite albums of all time – I just love the subversion – there is a lot going on beneath the surface.

Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

Ok fair enough, it is not Voltaire or anything, but they definitely played on the public’s perception of them. In that way, I see them as a precursor to someone like Eminem, who also very much plays with his audience. Of course, time moves on and I’m not sure some of their irony would be viewed now with the same acceptance, but nonetheless there is a glowing knowingness in their performance which I very much enjoy. As to musical content, they are not without merit either – they were one of the first to fuse electronic, rock and punk in… Read more »

Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

Agreed, I am not saying that Bloodhound Gang were a seminal (at least not in the main sense of the word, see what I did there!) piece of art, but I don’t believe it is fair to dismiss them either. Bloodhound Gang were much more than The Bad Touch and pushed the boundaries of what rock and punk music was perceived to be at that time. I also think it is not fair to label them as a “joke act” which is what I perceived your OP was doing. Ultimately, good comedy is not just about being goofy but has… Read more »

Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

You’re right Tibor, the Teflon Brothers are in no way fresh, nor ground-breaking, but I’m not sure you need either of those things to be successful at Eurovision or indeed more generally successful musically-speaking. And a bit of fun and kitsch absolutely has its place imo and doesn’t necessarily lose its place or worth over time. I look for music that captures a mood well, or grabs a moment in time well, and if it does, then it is worthy of praise. I’m not saying Teflon Brothers necessarily does this, but I think something daft or funny or throwaway or… Read more »

Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

No, it’s fine, you’re definitely entitled to have any view that you have, it’s completely fine, I always like reading your posts. I think it might be my own chip on my own shoulder, I have this aversion to the view that I often see that “lighter” songs are somehow less worthy – it is the reason that I hate juries in Eurovision. I believe music belongs to the people, ultimately pop music (at least in an ESC sense) is all about emotion and connection – ultimately it is difficult to objectively judge that in a technical way. So I… Read more »

Colin
Colin
3 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

I can only speak for myself, but for me, a ”guilty pleasure” can mean three somewhat different things, so I hope I can explain it without becoming convoluted. So – A song that is meant to be taken as a joke act, doesn’t take itself seriously and fully succeeds in being entertaining. I fully admit that I love it and I’ll likely rate it high. In a way, they shouldn’t even be called ”guilty” pleasures, but there are aspects from which the term still applies. A song that my brain says it’s not great, but for some reason, I genuinely… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Colin
Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago

Oh dear, it’s happened again, I have been suckered!

Of course it has that DIY-in-your-bedroom trashy quality, of course the versatility of the English lyrics is ridiculous, but you know what, by the time the final chorus came in, I was feeling overwhelmingly uplifted and happy.

Yes, it may sound simple, but sometimes the best things in life are not complicated.

This one has my vote!

Tomino
Tomino
3 years ago

I heard like 20 seconds and I literally hate it. Music like this has no soul…It’s so unpersonal…

rainer1
rainer1
3 years ago

Yeahhhhhhhhhhh, this is absolutly GREAT.

Ibra
Ibra
3 years ago

This was a little disaapointment, they can do better. Maybe not ESC. Hmm.. or maybe..no…yes…no!

Ibra
Ibra
3 years ago
Reply to  Ibra

Now I listened again, its good. But maybe Iceland, Russia and Lithuania will get more votes

Europe Shine a Light!
Europe Shine a Light!
3 years ago

This so good, and it would be a great stage show to do as they have it on the music video honestly. Just really nice staging and it still gives a very well made look of the whole act overall! I’d be happy if this would be the finnish entry for this year

Me!
Me!
3 years ago

I really like this, it’s so catchy and fun with finnish & english in it!

Jake
Jake
3 years ago

Well this will probably fall in the same fandom space as Daði Freyr, The Roop and Little Big. Lots of overlap in style/feeling, but I just don’t see a world that all 4 get into the ESC final. But since they are split evenly by semi–you never know.

Kris
Kris
3 years ago

Not a fan of this much . But finland already has good options .

Actuality
Actuality
3 years ago

I absolutely love this! Such a i chill type of vibe with retro sound in it, I really think this would be a great addition to any Eurovision year.

Also people who always complain that Finland sends too dark songs with sad lyrics should be hearing this, it’s such well made song once again.
UMK 2021 really is the toughest ever!

Whack
Whack
3 years ago

I love it!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago

Ahahaha! Hilarious! Life really is a computer game sometimes. Also funny that it’s in the adult contest yet it’s so obviously immature.
Did anyone spot the Donna Summer reference in the music? I know I did. 🙂
Well done all, this is fun.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
3 years ago

Why do I like this so much? I think this does a better job than the other “80s throwback” tracks in this year’s NFs because it does something more original with the base sound rather than just directly lifting it from the 80s and just representing what we’ve already heard before.

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago

It’s interesting how this is at the same time an 80’s throwback (we’ll have a bunch of these this year and I’m loving it, though I’m more into how “Lost in a Dance” does it), but sounds like 90’s pop too, probably thanks to Pandora’s singing style. The idea of using an arcade sound is also cool. A nice uplifiting song to have in the show, but I think they could had put way more effort in the chorus. I’m still Team “Lie”.

Last edited 3 years ago by Sabrina
Nicky
Nicky
3 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Lie is a mix of Germany 2018 and Netherlands 2019 😉

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago
Reply to  Nicky

I wouldn’t say it’s a mix, but those were indeed songs that came to my mind when I was listening to it. Which only proves there’s an audience for that in Eurovision. The big question about it is if the lack of a climax would hurt it. I personally don’t have a problem with that, but we can save this discussion for later. There are still 5 other songs in UMK to be released and the level of the competition seems to be high this year.

ESC8
ESC8
3 years ago

Guilty pleasure! This could be the finnish entry in 1991, but still it is so catchy, it could do really well. The juries will propably kill it, but I think the televotes will be enough for it to qualify. If there are better songs than this in UMK 2021 then I will be all for them. But between this and ‘Lie’ (which btw is a decent song, and I think it’s better than Looking Back) I am all for ‘I Love You’. It will cheer us up and we will smile for the first time since the pandemic.

ESC8
ESC8
3 years ago
Reply to  ESC8

I have to add that if this is their chosen act for Rotterdam, then I believe that it is possible that this will be the act that will close semi 2.

Mors
Mors
3 years ago
Reply to  ESC8

And if it qualifies, it will open the Grand Final 😉

Lolek
Lolek
3 years ago

Totally unrelated note but I JUST realized that it is the same Pandora from this entry who sang a bunch of really catchy 90’s eurodance songs!!! I used to love “Don’t you know”!! Wow nostalgia!

Lolek
Lolek
3 years ago

Omg this is awesome! I love the vintage vibes to the song. If it sounds as good live as the recorded version, I wouldn’t be upset if they chose this song. My hunch is that Lie will be chosen but right now I feel like it could go either way.

Jamie
Jamie
3 years ago

Is anyone else hearing samples of A-ha’s “Take on me” and Donna Summer’s “I feel love” in this? Kinda love it though

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

Indeed, yes! 🙂

Jamie
Jamie
3 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

The instrumental kinda sounds like Take on Me. Especially the first seconds

Ria van de Velde
Ria van de Velde
3 years ago

I think it ‘s not that bad but it ‘s not my kind of music.

Badwoolfgirl
Badwoolfgirl
3 years ago

This song is reminding of Estonia’s entry Lost in a Dance. I admit, I wasn’t expecting it to be predominantly in Finnish because of the English title.

Colin
Colin
3 years ago

I like it! Instantly likable and unpretentious. 😉 I really enjoy the vibe.

Ricky
Ricky
3 years ago

Its very catchy! And I want to not like it because the chorus is repetitive but it gets stuck in your head and the beat and production is so good! Its an okay song

MaelleForFra
MaelleForFra
3 years ago

There’s something I don’t understand, can someone explain? Why are some “cringey” and “quirky” songs loved by some people such as Iceland and Lithuania last year whilst some are hated such as the hot dog song from eesti laul last year. Just curious.

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago
Reply to  MaelleForFra

Well some do it right and some don’t… it’s a genre, like if you like a ballad doesn’t you have to like all ballads, and if you like a dance song doesn’t mean you have to like all dance songs – for example I love “Replay” and “Fuego”, but can’t stand Raylee’s “Wild”

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

I mean ‘our choice’ and ‘beautiful mess’ are both male ballads but i still like one better than the other.

Was a reply to maelle btw 🙂

Last edited 3 years ago by Frisian esc
John
John
3 years ago

A-ha and Aqua had a baby.

Albert
Albert
3 years ago

I’m so glad that Finland this year chose better songs than last year (2/2), I hope the rest keep up the good level.

I love you: The lyrics is simple and basic, but it’s so catchy and I really like, not a winning song but still good

Last edited 3 years ago by Albert
Puff
Puff
3 years ago
Reply to  Albert

Well the Finnish lyrics aren’t simple at all.. they’re kinda smart actually and playing with words

Alo
Alo
3 years ago

I shouldn’t like it, but damn it’s so catchy and fun.

Puff
Puff
3 years ago

I think dance moves in the live performance will make it even better.

Ravencrow Neversmiles
Ravencrow Neversmiles
3 years ago

It’s catchy it’s fun. It’s very consistent with what teflon brothers usually put out and what I expected from them. I like it because I’m familiar with them, but I doubt that people will get them. The chorus is probably repetitive because these guys always have some humor in their songs and they intentionally made it cliche (like love love peace peace). But it’s still my least favorite part of the song. I like the finnish lyrics more they’re quite clever.

Jago
Jago
3 years ago

Very nice!! Catchy and enjoyable, particularly the finnish lyrics!

Guest
Guest
3 years ago

Production wise it’s quite nice and enjoyable. The lyrics are a bit hmmmm. Honestly though, not bad

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago

Yoooooooooo this actually slaps! Let’s make eurovision 21 one big eighties throwback.

just an esc fan
just an esc fan
3 years ago

“Lie” is def better but this is also rlly rlly good, gives off a great vibe, it’s catchy and also love the 80’s sound! it def lacks on lyrics and voices tho. it’s like “lost in a dance” of eesti laul in a way!

Pomerani
Pomerani
3 years ago

I like the vibe and the overall melody but sadly it’s way too repetitive imo :/

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago

This super fun! Not my winner, I prefer Oskr, but still a good entry to have in a nf – it’s fun without being a complete joke. I like the rap, her voice is so good – very high-pitched and also the 80’s vibes is something I love.. So a good song, not my winner tho 🙂

UMK is serving this year! Can’t wait for next week (Ilta, Aksel and Laura)

Puff
Puff
3 years ago

It could win Eurovision. Period

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Puff

That I don’t know about. The hook’s good, but the rest might be a slightly harder sell for a pan-European audience that doesn’t speak Finnish. Remember, Finland’s winner may have had a hard-edged sound, but it was still in English.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

Very catchy. I like the ’80s 8-bit kinda sound and the lyrics are verbose and clever. My issue is that, ironically enough, I think the idea would be lost in translation at Eurovision and people would judge it solely based on the hook and general sound when the lyrics about the frustrations of not knowing how to express your feelings in another language are the most endearing part. (Also, props for rhyming “sauna” and “Tirana”). Oskr still leads for me, but this is cute and another good entry!

Last edited 3 years ago by Joe
Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

It’s also a clever way of drafting in singers from another country for an actual reason that suits the song (and makes her saying “I love you” in Finnish at the end even more rewarding).

Last edited 3 years ago by Joe
Mikko Suhonen
Mikko Suhonen
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Pandora actually lives in Finland.

Last edited 3 years ago by Mikko Suhonen
Tom
Tom
3 years ago

Not a winner but it’s super nice. Good selection so far!