Following the grand reveal of the seven acts competing in Finland’s Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) 2023, Finnish broadcaster Yle is dropping the lyrics videos for each entry one by one. Next up is the boy band KUUMAA with the song “Ylivoimainen”.
KUUMAA — that’s Johannes Brotherus, Jonttu Luhtavaara and Aarni Soivio — got their start in 2016. They released their self-titled debut album in 2019, and picked up momentum in 2022 when their tracks “Tulipalo” and “Oo viela sekunnin mun” amassed countless radio spins across Finland.
They’re competing for the Finnish ticket to Liverpool with their song “Ylivoimainen”, a hard-charging pop tune that brings a universal, infectious energy.
Singer Johannes said: “For us, the band is, above all, a group of friends. We’re united by our ambition. This should be taken seriously, but not too seriously”.
KUUMAA — “Ylivoimainen”
UMK 2023 song release schedule
The UMK 2023 songs are being revealed one per weekday until 20 January. They’re set to be released at 00:00 EET on the dates listed below:
- Keira — “No Business On The Dancefloor” (Thursday 12 January)
- Benjamin — “Hoida mut” (Friday 13 January)
- Robin Packalen — “Girls Like You” (Monday 16 January)
- Lxandra — “Something To Lose” (Tuesday 17 January)
- Käärijä – “Cha Cha Cha” (Wednesday 18 January)
- KUUMAA — “Ylivoimainen” (Thursday 19 January)
- Portion Boys — “Samaa taivasta katsotaan” (Friday 20 January)
UMK 2023 will take place on Saturday 25 February at Logomo Arena in Turku, starting at 20:00 CET / 21:00 EET.
The winner will be chosen jointly by Finnish television viewers and international juries. The public will account for 75% of the vote and the juries for the remaining 25%. The finalists were chosen from 362 applicants by a jury of music industry professionals led by Tapio Hakanen, YleX’s Head of Music.
What do you make of “Ylivoimainen”? Do you think KUUMAA can win UMK 2023 and represent Finland at Eurovision? Let us know in the comments below!
At first glance, I thought it would be a let down after Cha cha cha. Boy how wrong was I? Seriously this song is just sooooo amazing! I tend to obsess over song with minor keys usually, but this is just a freaking masterpiece. I wouldnt mind Benjamin or Kaarija winning, cause their songs are literally the best I’ve seen in UMK and that’s saying something. But if this ends up becoming a shock winner, I’ll be so happy!
I have listened to this for way too much. It’s great. Very atmospheric and vibey!
One more very good song 😀 !! I’m still behind Benjamin and then Chachacha, but this is a close third.
This UMK IS so freaking good ! I would be so si so mad and sad if they chose Robin out of these great songs..
Cha cha cha is the one. Everyone else go home.
Bruh there’s no need to be rude ffs
I love it when dance tracks are in minor keys and have a darker side. The lyrics seem to be about finding someone (or something) again no matter what it takes. There is an element of devotion too, and perhaps some religious symbolism (yes, really). The club video is fun, and it disguises the deeper aspects of this song. I’m pleasantly surprised at this one.
Cute & Good Song !!
But it’s not my winner
So far, it’s Kaarija !
I like it a lot, this is very current radio-friendly and has it’s own style, sounds like mix of A-ha and Sandra. Really good imho. The only thing is that I don’t know how competitve this will be vs others but we need to admin that Finland slays this year and we still have Portion Boys to come…
Wow Finland, another amazing song! It’s my #2 behind Kaarija but is definitely more my everyday type of music I enjoy. It’s almost a shame how good UMK is this year, knowing we will lose so many strong options…San Marino, look no further!!!
Denmark’s songs are out BTW.
I don’t think anything could top Cha cha cha, but this is actually very likeable. A gentle, easy-goong yet catchy melody. Sincere and beautiful, I really enjoy this.
It’s really pretty good…it’s just unlucky to be competing in this selection, because as others have pointed out, it just doesn’t have the impact or memorability of the strong entries here.
So far this Is my favorite – it’s the type of song I like to listen outside Eurovision and it’ll go straight to my playlist. 5/5
I like the song
My 2nd fav after Käärijä <3
The chorus is powerfull! After enjoying the 1. part of chorus You think have heard it, then comes oh-oh-oh and lift it to the next level. the sound world there’s a bit of 80’s Sandra ‘Maria magdalena’ synth sounds with Arcade-like oohs, but still it’t this day, even some futuristic sounds in it (for me).
I must be heavy for most of the people here, I even tire myself lol so I stop, the key is the respect but I won’t change people me alone unfortunately, I just hope my heavy comments since weeks and my assumed state of mind are at least understood a little bit and even if it’s just by only one person, it means it wouldn’t have been in vain.
Off topic totally but totally but somebody knows when the journalists in Sweden and Italy will listen the Melfest and San Remo entries?
Sanremo is usually about two weeks before the festival, so any day now. Melodifestivalen is just the day before the heat, I think.
Italian journalists already heard the San Remo entries and Marco Mengoni had the highest ranked song among those that the poll covered.
Wow thank you I didn’t know that! Jonas must be happy! 😉
I am.
Try not to worry so much about what people think. About you, or about anything else. Not so easy, but it can be done.
Ty guy you’re kind
Unfortunately the rabid fans have already decided that cha cha cha is the winner, so they will disregard all the other songs.
So, I’m therefore not a “rabid fan”? 😀
Agreed. It’s a shame because the quality is so good this year at UMK that IF “cha cha cha”flops live people will be hating on anyone else that wins because their hopes and expectations were too high. Ylivoimainen could win and would very much deserve it. Same for any of the other songs.
Well maybe except for ”Girls like you” lol
Another day, another slay for UMK. The quality is so high that it really seems unfair to put such amazing songs lower in my rank. My top 3 changes a lot with every listen. At this moment, my ranking is:
1. Cha cha cha
2. Hoida mut
3. Ylivoimainen
4. Something to lose (it HURTS to put Lxandra so low, the song is really beautiful)
5. No business on the dancefloor
6. Girls like you
Finnish language just gives the songs an extra umph.
Good song, but my least favourite so far still. Has the 80s vibe and the A-ha touch, but Benjamin does the 80s style better still… Exciting to see who Finland will choose now. All are good entries for Eurovision so far!
Sounds so good honestly. Kuuma and Benjamin are currently my favourites. Don’t really see “Cha cha cha” doing well. Might be divisive and grab some televotes but that doesn’t make of it the best choice.
This absolutely giving me that 80’s vibe and it really does have the sound of the new romantic like people have mentioned. It does remind me of Duran Duran music. Overall really good quality song however I don’t think it should win UMK as they have better options which will score higher at the Eurovision Song Contest.
It probably lacks impact to fight for the win in such a strong national final, but I like it a lot. There are good news to Lxandra here, Kuumaa was the last act that could bring something slower and now she has a path only for herself.
On a sidenote: “Cha Cha Cha” keeps growing inside my mind. Finland again has many options that would have my support and that I appreciate for different reasons. I just hope the déjà vu stops there and they pick one of them and not one of the others I think are just fine.
At the end it will be Finland choice and whatever their choice I will respect it as I respect the choice of Belgium as everybody should.
I’ll respect their choice as always, but I can’t promise I won’t regret it… It’s how the game is played, I guess. I’m sure those who voted for The Rasmus were proud about what they did, which won’t change the fact I would prefer to see Bess, Cyan Kicks, Isaac Sene, Olivera or Younghearted in Turin.
You’re the one the most respectful here each time without exception so I have no doubt about your reaction whatever will happen, if only we can say the same for everybody…
Believe me, this comment section is much calmer than it was a few years ago… National finals’ Saturdays (when the fan favorite loses) and the Eurovision week itself can be a little too much to handle, but all we can do is to do our part to keeps things civil. 🙂
Thats the pride of following Nselections, your heart is broken many times 🙁
It happens. But I try to focus on the amount of great artists and song I get to know during the season. And the good thing about having many national finals is that we also win some here and there.
I had to think of A-Ha as well, and it’s a worthy addition to UMK. I like it, yet in this incredible field it’s so far second-to-last for me with only Robin behind them. Still there’s not one song that I dislike in Finland.
Let me just say this, Finland is the new
powerhousenuclear reactor of EurovisionTheir delegation should travel around Europe teaching some broadcasters how to pick songs for a national final. They’re killing it for the third year in a row.
Probably my favorite Finnish entry so far but it’s not exactly a massive meme like the Cha Cha one so it won’t generate too much hype…
I’m a sucker for men using falsetto beautifully when they sing, I really like it.
my fav so far along with hoida mut
the only two id consider amazing
i havent heard a single second from lxndras song yet but the others have issues
This has a melancholic, yearning quality which I very much like.
I like it. We’ve already been spoiled with choice, so yeah, it’s far from my favourite, but it’s good. Reminds of a-ha, I don’t know if that’s fair. The lyrics not so interesting.
1 Benjamin
2 Lxandra
3 Benjamin
4 Käärijä5 KUUMAA
6 Keira
3 Benjamin3 Robin
I’d rank KUUMAA first, Benjamin second and Keira last, the other 3 I’m not too sure about for now. We really need Portugal to bring out some good options today, like they always do actually, because this season is not looking that good so far.
KUUMAA have a good sound, but the lyrics are just another obsessive love song. I’d like a Brotherhood of Man style twist at the end, where it is revealed the song is about the singer’s three year old, or his pet dog. It doesn’t really advance in any way plot-wise.
oh it’s a fair assessment I think. It does have a new romantics vibe, especially in the chorus. I said Depeche Mode, but A-Ha also works as a comparison.
Another possibility is that the lyrics are secretly about religious devotion, and the music, when re-arranged, is actually a series of chants. 🙂 Ah, when music analysis gets deep.
Chill and dope, but nothing super impactful.
UMK2023 has been really really good so far. I think Benjamin still tops my list but Ylivoimainen is really close. It’s the chorus for me, it’s infectious and just sweeps me away every time it hits. It gives me 80s vibes, but of a different type than Hoida Mut, which is big loud 80s synth pop (reminds me a bit of Maniac actually). This feels like a boppier Depeche Mode to me. It has a slight New Romantics vibe IMO
A little mellow indie pop, very nice, probably a little too mellow to win, but I wouldn’t be mad, if it did. Still nothing I completely dislike in this line-up.
It’s not as outstanding or immediately impactful as others in this batch. Also, I think that a couple of things could be added to the song like a higher-key “ylivoimainen” at the very end of the song.
Anyways, it’s one of a kind of songs that I enjoy listening to and as such I loved it!
It has this mellow and nostalgic vibe and the chill beat that carries the song is lovely. This song seems to be more fitted for radio play, though
Ps: Tomorrow I’ll post my UMK23 top after listening to the last entry, stay tuned!
Once again, another really solid, radio-friendly, wonderfully produced track.
The only problem is that it doesn’t stand out among the other acts. I really think Cha Cha Cha will win UMK with a televote landslide.
This is my kind of music. Very well made. Easy going, very pleasant. More quality from Finland.
Finnish songs outsold the English ones for me. All 3 are great
And UMK really killing it with their music videos and visuals again this year
Nothing special
Serving quality again, UMK. The song is pleasant but it doesn’t really stand out much, especially compared to some of the other songs and I believe it will be lost amongst them. It is still good tho
Cuumaa’s song Yaliwoman is great, but it does not reach the level of Caariya. At least before the live show.
No disrespect to the brothers but Finland has a song that can be top 3 in the televoting easily and it’s cha cha cha. I live and breath for the moment that random families in conservative countries will experience this. It is the moment.
I must be the only one that doesnt like Cha Cha Cha; but I suppose it could attract many televoters. My favourites are this one and Hoida Mut.
You’re definitely not! I tried to like Cha Cha Cha really hard but I just couldn’t. I don’t dislike it, I just don’t care about it enough to remember it at all and I’ve heard it 3 times now, every time the whole song. I like quite a few Rammstein songs and I was instantly obsessed with Hatrid mun sigra (I’ve seen people comparing them) but I’m so indifferent to this one.
Hoida mut and Ylivoimainen are also my favorites.
Ok then what do we do, we cancel UMK 2023 because some eurofans have already found their big favorite so the others have no chances then no need to compete? But it’s not how it works. The general public has a say on this too, and will have the last word and their opinion is more important and can be totally different from the eurofans. Everybody has his chances until the end.
Don’t get me wrong I like Cha Cha Cha too but I won’t dismiss the others for that, if they have been chosen it’s not for no reasons it’s because they have chances too.
I’m done, before yesterday the first 2 UMK songs were for some eurofans fantastic, among the best songs from the NFs so far, not generic, perfect etc.. but yesterday a new UMK song arrived and the same eurofans are now saying that Keira and Benjamin songs are too generic and not that good because they prefer Cha Cha Cha. Mehhh, so ugly to see, volatility and inconstancy as its best, some people have really big issues, Schizophrenia is not far, and how you want the artists to appreciate the eurofans after, they are totally unreliable, it’s disgusting for the artists,… Read more »
Why do you urgently need to rely on “the eurofans’ ” opinion?
People change their mind depending on wath’s on offer…
Me personally the eurofans changing opinions each day I don’t care, but I try to put myself in the shoes of the artists and it’s unbearable for them. I’m an eurofan but not proud to be associated with this kind of persons. Give me 50 downvotes if you want, I will stay straight in what I think.
No problem you can have a new favorite appearing does it mean that all the things you thought and said about the others acts you loves before this new song arrived are totally invalidated? The others become bad suddenly…really weird state of mind imo.
*the others acts you loveD
Eurofans have the attention span of a 5 years old, so don’t take it to the heart. and to be fair 99% of the viewer will be hearing the songs for the first time, so whatever the “fans” think is irrelevant to say the least.
I can’t agree more but before the general public the artists have to deal with the eurofans and what a glorious image of us they give to them by acting like that….
The “eurofans” are not one hive mind, and never have been.
Fortunately but the most toxic are the most visible for the artists and like the majority of these artists are new to this esc world, I wonder what they think of the fans globally seeing this….
I feel weird but this is one of the few occasions where I fully agree with you
Schizophrenia? Just no. Firstly, that makes no sense, and secondly, this person is wrong if they think it’s an insult.
This person is me? For sure it’s not an insult but a serious illness.
You feel weird because you agree with me lol ok, I’m not so weird or special you know, I just express what I feel, for sure I have polarizing opinions for the readers of this blog but I assume. We can’t agree on everything.
It’s not that, it must’ve been a wording mistake, but my intention was to say that it was the first time I was agreeing with you in quite a while :/
😉