They’re the multi-platinum selling Finnish rock band who hope to win Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2022 — Finland’s national for Eurovision. And now The Rasmus have released the official music video for their entry “Jezebel”.
In the official press release announcing the news, the band say that “their incredible new guitarist Emilia ‘Emppu’ Suhonen” has “brought a whole new energy to the band.”
That energy is on full show in their music video, which they accurately describe as “darkly seductive”.
The Rasmus release “Jezebel” music video
Here’s the band’s official press release about the music video.
The video was directed by internationally awarded film director Jesse Haaja, who previously directed the video for ‘Wonderman’ from the band’s Dark Matters album.
Vocalist Lauri Ylönen comments: “Emppu is the Star of the video! We wanted to introduce her to the world big time. After all she is like Jezebel, rebellious and dangerous!”
He adds, “I enjoyed being tied up to the bed and tortured. I’ve always pushed myself to the limit at every videoshoot.”
Guitarist and newest member Emppu Suhonen enthuses: “For me the most fun in this music video was to be the one who helps Lauri out of trouble with huge bolt cutters. Never used those before!”
Director Jesse Haaja says: “After I finished my previous feature film, I promised to myself and to my family that I’m taking a long break from the film industry. But then Lauri called me and I promised to listen to Jezebel and think about it. After 5 seconds of playing it, both of my daughters were dancing in the living room and the decision was made to do the video.”
”’Jezebel’ was a big shoot with a high production value, which is very rare for music videos these days. If The Rasmus ever need me again, I’m in!”
‘Jezebel’ was co-written and produced by Desmond Child, who collaborated with The Rasmus on their seventh studio album ‘Black Roses’. Child is responsible for formulating some of rock’s biggest hits, with co-writer and production credits on iconic songs by KISS, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Alice Cooper.
Speaking about the collaboration, Desmond Child says: “Lauri gives me a call and says ‘Hey, I need to write the biggest, greatest song in the entire world, ever. Will you do it [with me]?’ and I said ‘Yeah but I am in Folegandros (Greece)’ and he says, ‘I’ll be right there’. ‘Jezebel’ is an homage, a tribute, to the strong women of today, who own their bodies, who are in charge of their sensuality, their sexuality, and who are determined to be an equal.”
Tipped by bookies as the favourites to win, The Rasmus will compete in Finland’s annual Eurovision selection contest, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (The New Music Competition) on February 26, 2022. The final will be shown live on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle’s radio channels from 9 pm to 11 pm EET. The winner and Finland’s next Eurovision Song Contest participant will be chosen by TV viewers and the International UMK Jury. Those outside of Finland can watch the show at https://areena.yle.fi/tv
The Rasmus will embark on a World Tour in the fall of 2022.
THE RASMUS TOUR 2022
October Mon 10th – Germany | Hamburg, Markthalle
Tue 11th – Germany | Berlin, Metropol
Wed 12th – Poland | Warsaw, Proxima
Thu 13th – Poland | Krakow, Kwadrat
Fri 14th – Germany | Leipzig, Taubchental
Sat 15th – Czech Rep. | Prague, Forum Karlin
Mon 17th – Hungary | Budapest, BNMC
Tue 18th – Austria | Vienna, Ottakringer Brauerei
Wed 19th – Germany | Munich, Neue Theaterfabrik
Fri 21st – Italy | Milan Fabrique
Sat 22nd – Switzerland | Bern, Bierhubeli
Sun 23rd – France | Paris, La Maroquinerie
Mon 24th – Luxembourg | Esch-Sur-Alzette, Rockhal
Tue 25th – Germany | Wiesbaden, Schlachthof (Halfhouse)
Thu 27th – Germany | Cologne, LMH
Fri 28th – Holland | Haarlem, Patronaat
Sun 30th – England | Nottingham, Rock City
Mon 31st – England | Manchester, O2 Ritz
November Tue 1st – Scotland | Glasgow, Garage
Wed 2nd – England | Bristol, O2 Academy
Thu 3rd – England | London, O2 Forum Kentish Town
Sat 5th – Ukraine | Kiev, Mc Hall
Sun 6th – Ukraine | Lviv, Malevich Club
Mon 7th – Ukraine | Odessa, Musical Comedy Theatre
Tue 8th – Ukraine | Dnipro, Shynnic House Of Culture
Wed 9th – Ukraine | Kharkiv, Mekhanika
Fri 11th – Russia | Moscow, Stadium
Sat 12th – Russia | St Petersburg, A2
Will you please call my country ‘the Netherlands’? I want to be included as well
This song could have been amazing. Really bad lyrics and let’s be honest he isn’t the greatest vocalist either. Some of the phrasing comes off like when family guy make fun of scandinavian people pretending to be American. Really poor effort. I expected so much more than this basic song. NIL POINTS
I like this a lot, it’s a nice midtempo-rock that grows as it goes on. One of the highlights of the UMK final for sure. It’s really down to the live shows that will make it or brake it for all of the artists!
I like the song, but it doesn’t quite measure up to their name though. I’ll be happy if they win UMK as they’re my 3rd of the bunch, but personally I like Bess’s song the most 🙂
I’ve been told it’ll be either Bess or Younghearted (theirs are the most popular entries), with only The Rasmus and Isaac Sene having a chance to surprise 🙂
Idk what to say about this, I like them though I’m not a diehard fan and the song’s been growing on me, but still it’s not my favorite from this year’s UMK
My winner by far. And it was from beginning. Therefor so surprised people dont seem to like it. I just love it.
another dated rock song from Finland.
I’m not in love with this song. It’s competent, but Finland has way more interesting options. I’d really pick Isaac Sense instead of this.
Would have pick him also, but if Sweden choose Liamoo’s bluffin, Isaac would be forgotten in this genre. Bluffin is so much better club banger.
It remains to be seen how Isaac does live, but in itself I must say I find Kuuma jâbä a more interesting song than Bluffin’….
Bess, The Younghearted, Cyan Kicks all are most interesting and more modern than Jezebel! The only reason The Rasmus are favorites to win is because of their name and popularity, if this becomes a Tix 2.0 I am done with Finland…
With all due respect there is nothing modern about Cyan Kicks. Though I suppose it’s *more modern* by sounding like it’s from 2009 and not 2005. So I guess you’re right.
This is my Eurovision winner at the moment. (Drops the mic.)
It would be your winner…
I do love The Rasmus but it sounds unfinished how he transitions to Jezebel. Wish they would revamp it a bit.
Looks great! Nice to see they’re already ready for a pretty big tour this year.
Very good song! Maybe not a perfect one but has potential. Bring on The Rasmus!
Great video.
Really sad to see people not liking this song beacuse I think it is the best and most promising one in UMK this year. I thought I was in the majority thinking this way but it’s starting to seem like people don’t agree with me.
I thought we had a videoclip already. Good for them! Jezebel and Ram Pam Pam are my favourites in the Finish national final.
Thank you!
I really hope Bess gonna win UMK this year
Hope this does not win as they are up for a disaster in Turin. Both Finland and The Rasmus.
same
idk if it’s just me but I really don’t like this song, the first part of the chorus doesn’t rhyme at all, the lead singer’s voice is really annoying. I do want to like this song but it just doesn’t hit it for me.
It’s the first thing that you said that I really agree with. Like, instrumentally? I’m cool with it. The voice I’m okay with. But the lyrics are trite and feel incredibly messy. Like you’ve cut newspaper clippings and thrown them on a whiteboard until they make some kind of barely coherent end result… But because it’s paper clippings it always feels off. “Midnight, it’s time to put your face on Game set, a killer shark in heels I’m just the first shot on your hit list High kicks, a predator on wheels” But because it’s paper clippings it always feels… Read more »
What is it that you don’t understand about it specifically? My english isn’t perfect but I understand that the song tells a story about a man who is infatuated with this woman, Jezebel, who kind of uses him and sleeps around. The part that you quoted is mostly metaphors about Jezebel.
They are not the best lyrics I’ve ever heard but they still make sense.
Metaphors still have to make sense. The ones I refer to make no sense in either Finnish or English lol. I mean if you get something out of them, cool, but metaphor that “scary powerful” by just describing things that could be seen as such is… Extremely lazy. A killer shark in heels just referring to someone ruthless but it’s a woman so they’re in heels? Lazy. Predator on wheels is just silly cause it infers an image of something that chases you extremely fast. And the “high kicks” at the start doesn’t make it any less comical. If I’m… Read more »