And then there were three. Late on Sunday Finnish broadcaster Yle revealed the lyric video for “Sekaisin” — Costee’s pop-rock entry for Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2025.
Costee, real name is Jussi Tiainen, grew up in the Turku region. Seven years into his solo career, he has clocked over 100 million streams, three successful albums and countless sold-out gigs. He’s considered a trendsetter in Finland’s alternative pop scene.
Despite all that, he knows struggle. The melancholic pop-rock track conveys the idea that “it’s perfectly okay to feel a bit lost at times” and that “life doesn’t always have to be picture-perfect.”
Or, as Costee puts it: “The song is about how it’s okay to be confused sometimes. Your life doesn’t have to be just a glossy picture. The most important thing in life is your friends and loved ones who are there for you.”
Costee — “Sekaisin”
UMK 2025 song release schedule
The full release schedule is as follows:
- Thursday 9th: Neea River – “Nightmares”
- Friday 10th: Nelli Matula – “Hitaammin hautaan”
- Monday 13th: Costee – “Sekaisin”
- Tuesday 14th: Viivi – “Aina”
- Wednesday 15th: One Morning Left – “Puppy”
- Thursday 16th: Goldielocks – “Made of”
- Friday 17th: Erika Vikman – “Ich komme”
Songs will be released at 00:00 EET each day (22:00 GMT / 23:00 CET the prior evening).
UMK 2025 will take place on Saturday 8 February, starting at 20:00 CET / 21:00 EET. The show will be held inside Nokia Arena in Tampere. Hosts Sanni and Jasmin Beloued will guide viewers through proceedings.
So what do you think of Costee’s song? Where does it rank among the three UMK 2025 songs revealed so far?
This should not even pick to this selection.
So UMK keeps delivering quality production. Unfortunately in this case, this song just falls flat for me. Its so linear. There’s no peaks or troughs, no movement…..it stays stale throughout the song and remains in the same gear.
Not a bad song in the slightest, just not as appealing as the other three.
In another national final, this would probably do better, but im UMK it’s up against some great tracks, with 3 more still to throw their hat in to the ring.
The song is not bad but it’s not my favorite
My least favorite of the 3 so far. It’s just bland
Not my favourite – I still think it’s good, though. However it’s missing a bit of oomph to elevate it. Maybe a fun staging would help – we’ll see.
‘Sekaisin’ is a wonderful word. That will help.
Omg I really like this!
If oatmeal was a song
I like this. In fact, I’ve liked all 3 songs so far. But overall seems a bit of a downgrade over last year’s lot. All 3 just feel like generic radio songs. The last few years UMK has been a lot bolder and what you’d hardly call “7 radio-friendly Spotify tracks”. Wondering if YLE went this direction to guarantee an Erika win.
Erika is hardly going to be as good as Neea is vocaly, plus her music is quite generic, so she will either perform some Maruv style porno act or any other weird stuff to make gays gag about it, so overall Neea seem like the only proffesional choice so far.
wtf
There’s nothing wrong with a catchy rock pop song. The opening backing track had under tones of the song Boys Of Summer which isn’t a bad hook. First listen the music is in my head instantly. Well deserved finalist.
It’s nice, but it’s not enough Eurovision in mind. I’d say this is more radio friendly song, good in it’s own context which isn’t that bad thing either.
“Mostly I’m messed up over YOU…”
Whom is he addressing? I guess the listener will assume it is about a lover, but maybe not. It could be a bad parent, a school bully, late-stage capitalism, Putin… anything!
I like the song, I like Costee. Not a winner, but that’s okay.
First impression is that it’s the weakest of the three
for me so far the selection is poor i do not enjoy any of the songs
Agreed
Tough crowd
Can’t blame them, YLE set the bar too high in 2023 and I think the format is starting to show signs of wearing
I think it’s been okay so far, but you’re right. While the entries are in line with each act’s most recent work, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been impressed thus far. Hopefully, our winner comes out later this week.
* if I didn’t say I haven’t been impressed so far
i agree