Tonight at the grand final of UMK 2021, Finland will decide which act will represent the country at Eurovision 2021. But which of the seven finalists should get the ticket to Rotterdam? The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has listened to the entries and ranked our favourites. See what the jury think!

Deban

1. Blind Channel – “Dark Side”

The “Dark Side” often leads to light at the end of the tunnel. Blind Channel’s delivery of psycho-rock stands out, and cuts through a monotonous platter of emerging ballads and disco entries. When Finland goes alternative, it does well at Eurovision. However, this year’s UMK line-up won’t give an easy home-run to any act. Nevertheless, if extra credit goes to acts that think outside of the box, then, Blind Channel should win this show hands-down.

2. Aksel – “Hurt”
3. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – “I Love You”
4. Danny – “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua”
5. Oskr – “Lie”
6. Laura – “Play”
7. Ilta – “Kelle mä soitan”

Josh

1. Aksel – “Hurt”

In a national selection that offers lots of diversity in sound and genre, Aksel stands out again because of his amazing ability to connect words to emotions and spark a reaction in the heart of his listeners. I hear a song that has many emotional nuances, which could potentially speak to a diverse cross-section of viewers. Themes of healing from a broken relationship or fighting to have victory over a serious emotional or physical struggle echo, and I instantly take every word in from beginning to end. There are other more musically complex or rhythmically fun options in this selection to whet the appetites of fans who prefer those kinds of entries, but for me (with some really thoughtful staging), “Hurt” has the most potential to create a moment on stage in Rotterdam.

2. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – “I Love You”
3. Ilta – “Kelle mä soitan”
4. Oskr – “Lie”
5. Blind Channel – “Dark Side”
6. Danny – “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua”
7. Laura – “Play”

Tom

1. Blind Channel – “Dark Side”

Well, I am delighted. I did not expect this and I don’t know why because Finland loves rock. I am surprised when there aren’t more head-banging songs in a Finnish national final. Blind Channel’s “Dark Side” is a breath of fresh air and will give Eurovision something different to look forward to. I am high fiving my teenage self that there is a song like this in contention for Eurovision. Surely! For the purposes of something different, something slightly alternative to the contest. On behalf of Eurovision, this needs this to qualify!

2. Oskr – “Lie”
3. Aksel – “Hurt”
4. Ilta – “Kelle mä soitan”
5. Laura – “Play”
6. Danny – “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua”
7. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – “I Love You”

Luis

1. Blind Channel – “Dark Side”

Just wow. It’s hard to describe this song: powerful is not the word, it goes beyond that. “Dark Side” is such a rush, three minutes of punches to the face, but the kind you would want to (in case that exists). The only drawback here are the slightly cringy lyrics, but it’s actually not something you notice on the first listen. Finland should definitely go back to their metal era, and this is the best chance they’ve had in ages.

2. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – “I Love You”
3. Aksel – “Hurt”
4. Ilta – “Kelle mä soitan”
5. Oskr – “Lie”
6. Danny – “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua”
7. Laura – “Play”

Lauren

1. Blind Channel – “Dark Side”

When the artist names for UMK 2021 were released – or rather, leaked – Blind Channel stood out to me as one to look out for. Their nu-metal/rap rock piece “Dark Side” had me torn on whether I should be for it or against it. Their heavy sound is one I want to hear more of at Eurovision, and even more so when it’s Finland. However, the lyrical content, in particular in the chorus, gave me a false impression of this song’s premise. Digging deeper into it, it feels more like a protest song about the glorified and lethal “rock’n’roll lifestyle”. This would be Finland’s heaviest entry at Eurovision since the legendary 2006-2008 trinity, so I’m all for it.

2. Danny – “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua”
3. Aksel – “Hurt”
4. Ilta – “Kelle mä soitan”
5. Oskr – “Lie”
6. Laura – “Play”
7. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – “I Love You”

Natalie

1. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – “I Love You”

I’m not overwhelmed by UMK this year. Aksel’s song is really underwhelming for me, and everything except the obligatory Finnish language songs and random hard rock offering are kinda meh. This is the only song that jumps out at me. It’ll probably get written off as a joke, but it has character, charm and originality in a selection that is sorely lacking. It’ll be heaps of fun on stage in both Finland the Netherlands. It’ll probably die in the semi-final (most likely thanks to the juries) but at least there’ll be one country to make us smile and dance this year. We deserve it!

2. Ilta – “Kelle mä soitan”
3. Danny – “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua”
4. Blind Channel – “Dark Side”
5. Laura – “Play”
6. Aksel – “Hurt”
7. Oskr – “Lie”

Robyn

1. Blind Channel – “Dark Side”

This song leaves me breathless! I didn’t think it was time for a nu metal revival, but Blind Channel are doing it well, with the song that sounds fresh and energetic rather than derivative. “Dark Side” is full of hooks and the sort of lyrics destined to serve teenage angst — and does a decent job of expressing the uncertainty of being a young person in this modern age. UMK won’t have a live audience, but if Blind Channel can make it feel like they’re rocking an arena, they’ll be the right band to face the Eurovision 2021 set-up.

2. Danny – “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua”
3. Laura – “Play”
4. Oskr – “Lie”
5. Aksel – “Hurt”
6. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – “I Love You”
7. Ilta – “Kelle mä soitan”

Oliver

1. Oskr – “Lie”

The irony here is that “Lie” is one of the most sincere tracks of the national final season yet. It’s nothing ground-breaking, but it’s very radio-friendly. And despite the song’s simplicity, Oskr’s lyrics make it stand out amongst the crowd. His words are honest and relatable, displaying vulnerability without being overly melodramatic. If they get the staging right, this could be one to watch.

2. Aksel – “Hurt”
3. Blind Channel – “Dark Side”
4. Laura – “Play”
5. Ilta – “Kelle mä soitan”
6. Danny – “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua”
7. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – “I Love You”

Pablo

1. Blind Channel – “Dark Side”

I didn’t ask for a complete throwback to the late-00s American nu-metal/rock scene, but I am so glad I got it. The complete package that “Dark Side” offers harks to an era that’s unapologetic and experimental, bound to touch that specific spot that many crave. The big bonus is that it doesn’t feel “watered down for Eurovision”, but rather what Blind Channel does on the regular. As AWS and Minus One taught us, there is a space for great rock entries in Eurovision, and “Dark Side” would carry the torch beautifully; the most exciting Finnish prospect in a long time.

2. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – “I Love You”
3. Ilta – “Kelle mä soitan”
4. Laura – “Play”
5. Oskr – “Lie”
6. Danny – “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua”
7. Aksel – “Hurt”

Rick

1. Blind Channel – “Dark Side”

This is not necessarily the kind of music I would listen to privately because I’m not a huge rock fan. But “Dark side” has something that immediately grabs my attention every time I hear it. The sound puts me almost into another world and they remind me of well-known bands like Linkin Park or Imagine Dragons. We know how well Finland did with rock entries in the past, so it would be a wise choice. It reflects the music market in Finland well but it still sounds international, authentic and current. And this would stand out at Eurovision. No doubt.

2. Oskr – “Lie”
3. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – “I Love You”
4. Ilta – “Kelle mä soitan”
5. Aksel – “Hurt”
6. Laura – “Play”
7. Danny – “Sinä päivänä kun kaikki rakastaa mua”

What do you think? Which song is your favourite? What do you think will end up as Finland’s entry for Eurovision 2021? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more Finland Eurovision news here

15 Comments
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Mr X
Mr X
3 years ago

Please not Aksel one more time…

My favourites are

Ilta
Blind Channel
Teflon Brothers

Oskar

Neil
Neil
3 years ago

Not Deban putting Ilta at last after he didn’t listen to the whole song…

Bryn
Bryn
3 years ago
Reply to  Neil

Period

Lucianna
Lucianna
3 years ago

Blind Channel!

Emily
Emily
3 years ago

1) Blind Channel
2) Aksel
3) Oskr
4) Ilta
5) Teflon Brothers x Pandora
6) Danny
7) Laura

I’d be happy if any of my top four wins it. The other three I don’t really have much of an opinion on, but clearly my no.5 is a popular choice.

Generalpublic
Generalpublic
3 years ago

Bling Chanel is going to flop because they hype it to the sky lol.

Sam
Sam
3 years ago

I really want Aksel to get in again, I think he deserves another chance at representing Finland and I absolutely love his song, I like others but think he should win

Kris
Kris
3 years ago

Finland has 4 perfectly great options according to me .

Danny , Laura and Teflon Bros are not what I’d personally want finland to select.

Kris
Kris
3 years ago
Reply to  Kris

And I’m worried Finland could make the mistake of choosing I love u

Nobody
Nobody
3 years ago

My ranking:

1. Blind Channel
2. Oskr
3. Teflon Brothers x Pandora
4. Aksel
5. Ilta
6. Laura
7. Danny

I think that any of my top 5 can take the win tonight, it will be an exciting show!

Ding dong
Ding dong
3 years ago

This is my list:

1. Teflon Brothers x Pandora
2. Ilta
3. Aksel
4. Oskr
5. Blind Channel
6. Danny
7. Laura

I made it based on my first reactions of the songs, but it might change after the live performances!

ESC8
ESC8
3 years ago

1) Blind Channel
2) Teflon brothers & Pandora
3) Oskr
4) Ilta
5) Laura
6) Aksel
7) Danny
Just my opinion of course

Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago

This has been the hardest national final for me to rank because there are so many songs that I love and no real stinkers. Finland has been one of my favourite countries in recent years (Aina Mun Pitta, Blackbird, Monsters) and they have not disappointed again. There is very little to choose between my top 3 and I honestly would be happy with any of them going: 1. Teflon Brothers x Pandora – I am a big fan of happy-go-lucky dance tracks (shout out to the Vengaboys) and this one hits the perfect sweet spot. It ain’t Shakespeare but it… Read more »

Paul
Paul
3 years ago

Most recently winning acts are those that have done something different so if Darker Side win tonight I think they’ve got a great chance of winning in Rotterdam, as I’d be surprised if we get many/any other rock acts…

Gurl
Gurl
3 years ago

I’d love Aksel. I really like his voice and the feeling he sings with. But it’s going to be Blind Channel for sure.