On Tuesday Finland announced new details about Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2024 — its national selection for Eurovison. The hype was so intense that tickets for the final sold out in an hour earlier today.
Among the juiciest tidbits were hints about this year’s seven finalists. Tapio Hakanen, chair of the UMK jury, said they collectively make the strongest line-up ever to grace the UMK stage. He described the seven songs as follows:
- “A talented artist’s first 90s-style dance song”
- “A power song by a true vocal talent”
- “Perhaps the best song of an indie favourite’s career”
- “Two big name performers doing a surprising duo with a serious refrain”
- “A thunderous rock anthem by a world-touring band”
- “A seriously intense song from one of the most listened-to artists in Finland”
- “A hard-hitting club banger by a well-known artist making a comeback”
So now we wanna know: Who do you think these artists could be?
Our readers have been busy making guesses across social media. When it comes to that “hard-hitting club banger” from a returning artist, a lot of our readers are pointing to BESS, who placed third back at UMK 2022, or Erika Vikman, who placed second in 2020. Both experienced huge commercial success with their songs despite coming up shot. Still others have suggested that #7 refers to Käärijä, the reigning king who also topped the televote a Eurovison.
In terms of #5 — the “world-touring band” with a thunderous rock anthem — we’ve seen suggestions it’s Beast in Black. They are, of course, the power metal band founded in 2015 by lead guitarist Anton Kabanen.
What are your top guesses? Could Krista Siegfrids be the returning artist? Which artists are in the duo teased by #4? Could UMK 2023 host Samu Haber be in the mix? Let us know down below….
I’ve a guess.
1. BESS
2. Isac Elliot
3. NIve
4. The Weeknd and Camila Cabello? (I know they’re not Finns but they’re big names globally)
5. Beast in Black
6. ABREU
7. Antti Tuisku
NIGHTWISH calling <3
UMK proved to be one of the selection to watch for, but do we really need another “Rock” anthem. Not hating at all, but sending the “same” sound every year is playing it “safe”.
And there’s only one name for Finland’s next “rock” representative… BEAST IN BLACK! They’re famous in Finland so why not. They’re also one of my favorites.
Italy sending mostly ballads, Sweden pop songs, France artistic songs…thats not playing it safe and same old same every year? Or is it just rock?
when i stay with the last 3 UMK events i would like to see again ilta,olivera,the younghearted and lxandra – with look at the 1 to 7 descriptions 2 & 3 could match it but i don’t think so.
after the success from käärijä it will be very tough to deliever again a similar result.
Or Kaarija trying to snatch the gold while support for him is stil fresh. Jurors might not try to stop him for the 2nd time in a row, so he might be the spot 7 here.
Finland Telewisions Isnt Corrupted like Sweden , It is More Likely For Plastic Flop Loren to Compete At The Melodifest Again.
You may not like Loreen’s songs, but calling her “a flop” is objectively the furthest thing from the truth. She’s one of the two most successful entrants in the history of Eurovision, purely speaking from the perspective of the contest.
Statements Is Calling
She won ESC TWICE! Yeah, Statements underperformed, but so what (it did reach AC, though, so not a complete flop either). She’s still highly successful. I rooted for Kaarija, and Tattoo isn’t even in my top 10, but come on, she’s not a flop by any means. Quite the opposite.
This is interesting.
I have heard this being claimed many times “She’s one of the two most successful entrants in the history of Eurovision, purely speaking from the perspective of the contest.”
But if you check figures from Måneskin, Celine Dion, Duncan Lawrence and many others, even ABBA so many years later, she does not seem particularly successful. Seems that only her winning songs fly, and others not so.
That’s why I said *purely contest-wise*. In ESC alone, Loreen and Johnny Logan easily take top 2. Charting-wise, Celine Dion, ABBA, Maneskin, Duncan, and a few others surpass them. Still, regarding thousands of artists that participated in ESC, Loreen is still in top 50, if not top 25 charting-wise too. I’ve heard Tattoo on the radio on five separate occassions, in different places. Calling her “a flop” implied that she NQd by a big margin, or something like that. It’s just objectively not true. Whether she is the most successful ESC artist, fifth or fiftieth, she still is successful. That’s… Read more »
Ah yes, I see your point. Then again many artists participate ESC only once.
Which again brings the other point. Loreen has competed in Melodifestivalen now 4 times and I’m afraid that this indicates that she has a pattern. If nothing else works, go to Mello.
Some artists have the same, they keep repeating the same pattern again and again. For one, Saara Aalto had the same. She competed in different talent shows many times (5 times I think) and has now more or less given up on her career as a singer.
Erika Wikman . Just the Best From Finland I hope She Will Win
Just Please Finland We Do Not Want Sarah Aalto , Cyan Kick, Aksal , Blinds Channell but Acseptable Choise Instead of Erika Wikman can be Robin Packalen And Bess
Donewoting Bully trolls leave me alone What I said is True
what about the others? Why does this article look so incomplete
UMK tends to not have returning artists (as competitors) very often. So i doubt any of those hints end up being someone from previous UMK years, or atleast not from recent years. Except maybe hint 7, but that could also be just “artist who makes his first new song in years”-comeback. Finland has enought artists to choose from without having same ones again (unlike Sweden as it usually seems in Melodifestivalen 😀 ). Although UMK team most likely makes the choices based on who has best song/skills, rather than who has already participated etc, so who knows. Many of those… Read more »
I’m not sure whether “a comeback” refers to someone who was a former contestant in UMK, or to someone generally famous who was retired / out of spotlight for awhile. For instance, if this was the UK, having Victoria Beckham at ESC: You Decide would fit the description. Perhaps there’s someone famous in Finland who hasn’t performed in awhile and is returning for UMK?
It would be great to see a UMK comeback with Krista or Saara. I love them both.
Krista yes but Saara god no…
Paradise Oskar needs to come back, and bring his 2011 song back with him. Send it again, rules be damned. The world might actually listen to him this time. Peter was smart, and the original Greta Thunberg. #GlobalBoiling
Peter is now in his 20s and working at the UN, I hear.
The first Eurovision track I saw live! First cab off the rank in the Dusseldorf final. Those graphics were memorable
Paradise Oskar is my runner up in 2011. I’d be excited for his return if he could make an equally good song.
Paradise Oscar ie. Axel Ehnström was one of the composers of the Keira’s song last year. So yes, he has made his comeback already.
This is 100% wishful thinking, but thunderous rock anthem makes me think of Lordi.
I would love to see BEHM ?
“A hard-hitting club banger by a well-known artist making a comeback”
It could be Erika Vikman or KUUMAA
Erika Vikman pls yass queen
Thank you 🙂 was a loooot of work.. I just draw 85 animations for that and worked day and night for the music video, haha.Means a lot you like it!
Finland has such a big, diverse and rich musical scene that I gave up on guessing who’s taking part of UMK from this year on, I’m letting myself be surprised and I know YLE won’t disappoint. Finland is poised to claim revenge in Malmö next year and UMK24 is shaping up to be one of the best ever NFs ever! :DD
I have to give it to them, they are really trying to be successful in Eurovision. I personally am not as big a fan of UMK as others here but I am still looking forward to the rock and indie entries that Finland will give us.
If sub-par broadcasters could only get a bit of Finnish fairy dust and manage get their he–a–ds out of their a**** …
I only have one wish for artist in 2024 and look forward to the whole show.
I’ve heard BEHN kicked around for #6
So far, I’ve seen Cledos, Behm (as you mention), Nelli Matula and Maustetytöt rumoured for some of the spots.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if a woman wins UMK next year, given how it’s shaping up, it’s been a while since that last happened.
I would be down for a more generic pop song this year or BESS if she is returning, though a traditional FInnish metal song shall be extremely good!
The Contest Is Held In Sweden, The Most Generic Country or this Whole ESC so Why Would Finland Copy Them When They Were Original Last Year and Got Second Without Cheats Unlike Loren .
Please spare us more of this Loren issue – she won and square in accordance with the current rules! End of story! Please!
I love this. Other countries are out here giving uninteresting applicant numbers, and YLE has me salivating.
Now I believe that indie favourite is Maustetytöt duo. But we will get many surprises surely.
There’s been 2 artists ever who have done UMK twice (that goes up a little if you include people going solo vs in a band). I’m not expecting too many repeats of old names. Finland has such a rich and deep musical scene and still impresses every time without being repetitive and formulaic. Even the ‘artist making a comeback’ doesn’t have to mean a UMK comeback. Tommy Lantinen did just that last year.
I think so too, I doubt a former participant will come back to UMK this year, it’s rare from Finland
I don’t have any suggestions but I’m very hyped for the rock entry
It’s probably fair to think of it as an early favorite since it’s Finland we’re talking about
Whoever these artists are, may their entries all be legendary, this is shaping up to be one of the greatest national finals of all time in any country