Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest explained

Finland
Contest:ESC
Member Station:Finnish: [[Yle|Yleisradio]]|i=unset (Yle)
Apps:57 (49 finals)
Highest:1st:
Related:Finnish: [[Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu]]
Website:Yle Eurovision page
Current:2024

Finland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 57 times since its debut in . The Finish participant broadcaster in the contest is Finnish: [[Yle|Yleisradio]]|i=unset (Yle), which select its entrant with the national competition Finnish: [[Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu]].

Finland won the contest for the firstand to date onlytime in with "Hard Rock Hallelujah" performed by Lordi. The country's best result before then was achieved with "Tom Tom Tom" by Marion Rung in, which placed sixth.

Finland has finished last in the contest eleven times, receiving nul points in,, and . Since the introduction of the semi-finals in, Finland has failed to reach the final eight times. In, the country had its best result in eight years with "Something Better" by Softengine finishing 11th, a result that would be surpassed with "Dark Side" by Blind Channel, which came sixth in, and later with "Cha Cha Cha" by Käärijä, which won the public vote and came second overall in, the latter of which is Finland's second best result to date.

History

Finnish: [[Yle|Yleisradio]]|i=unset (Yle) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. It has participated in the contest representing Finland since its in 1961.

Before its victory, Finland was considered by many to be the under-achiever of the contest. Prior to 2006, it had placed last a total of eight times, three times with nul points. Finland's entry in, "Finnish: Nuku pommiin|i=no" by Kojo, was one of only fifteen songs to score no points since the modern scoring system was implemented in . Due to poor results, Finland was relegated from taking part in,,, and .[1] [2]

In 2006, Finland won the contest with "Hard Rock Hallelujah" by the band Lordi, an entry that stood out from the Europop that had dominated the competition. The song scored the highest number of points in the history of the contest, with 292, a record that was later broken by Norway's Alexander Rybak in .[3]

In, Finland finished last in the first semi-final with the shortest-ever Eurovision song, the one minute and 27 seconds "Finnish: [[Aina mun pitää]]|i=no" performed by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät.[4] Finland reached the final for the first time in four years in, with Saara Aalto placing 25th. After a non-qualification in with Darude and Sebastian Rejman, Blind Channel placed sixth in, followed by a 21st place for The Rasmus in and a second place for Käärijä in, the latter of which is Finland's second best result to date.[5]

All of Finland's entries were in English between and, and since (with the exceptions of,,, 2015 and 2023); both of these periods allowed submissions in any language. Finland's entries in and 2012 were in Swedish, which is an official language in the country alongside Finnish. All of Finland's other songs have been in Finnish.

Participation overview

Table key
1First place
2Second place
3Third place
Last place
XEntry selected but did not compete
Upcoming event
YearArtistSongLanguageFinalPointsSemiPoints
Laila Kinnunen"Finnish: [[Valoa ikkunassa]]|i=unset"Finnish106rowspan="31" colspan="2"
Marion Rung"Finnish: [[Tipi-tii]]|i=unset"Finnish74
Laila Halme"Finnish: [[Muistojeni laulu]]|i=unset"Finnish13 ◁0
Lasse Mårtenson"Finnish: [[Laiskotellen]]|i=unset"Finnish79
Viktor Klimenko"Finnish: [[Aurinko laskee länteen]]|i=unset"Finnish15 ◁0
Ann-Christine"Playboy"Finnish107
Fredi"Finnish: [[Varjoon – suojaan]]|i=unset"Finnish123
Kristina Hautala"Finnish: [[Kun kello käy]]|i=unset"Finnish16 ◁1
Jarkko and Laura"Finnish: [[Kuin silloin ennen]]|i=unset"Finnish126
Markku Aro and Koivisto Sisters"Finnish: [[Tie uuteen päivään]]|i=unset"Finnish884
Päivi Paunu and Kim Floor"Finnish: [[Muistathan]]|i=unset"Finnish1278
Marion Rung"Tom Tom Tom"English693
Carita"Keep Me Warm"English134
Finnish: [[Pihasoittajat]]|i=unset"Old Man Fiddle"English774
Fredi and the Friends"Pump-Pump"English1144
Monica Aspelund"Finnish: [[Lapponia (song)|Lapponia]]|i=unset"Finnish1050
Seija Simola"Finnish: [[Anna rakkaudelle tilaisuus]]|i=unset"Finnish182
Katri Helena"Finnish: [[Katson sineen taivaan]]|i=unset"Finnish1438
Vesa-Matti Loiri"Finnish: [[Huilumies]]|i=unset"Finnish19 ◁6
Riki Sorsa"Reggae O.K."Finnish1627
Kojo"Finnish: [[Nuku pommiin]]|i=unset"Finnish18 ◁0
Ami Aspelund"Finnish: [[Fantasiaa]]|i=unset"Finnish1141
Kirka"Finnish: [[Hengaillaan]]|i=unset"Finnish946
Sonja Lumme"Finnish: [[Eläköön elämä]]|i=unset"Finnish958
Kari"Never the End"Finnish1522
Vicky Rosti"Finnish: [[Sata salamaa]]|i=unset"Finnish1532
Boulevard"Finnish: [[Nauravat silmät muistetaan]]|i=unset"Finnish203
Anneli Saaristo"Italian: [[La dolce vita (Anneli Saaristo song)|La dolce vita]]|i=unset"Finnish776
Beat"Swedish: [[Fri?]]|i=unset"Swedish21 ◁8
Kaija"Finnish: [[Hullu yö]]|i=unset"Finnish206
Pave"Finnish: [[Yamma, yamma|Yamma Yamma]]|i=unset"Finnish23 ◁4
Katri Helena"Finnish: [[Tule luo]]|i=unset"Finnish1720colspan="2"
CatCat"Bye Bye Baby"Finnish, English2211colspan="2"
Jasmine"Finnish: [[Niin kaunis on taivas]]|i=unset"Finnish23 ◁92226
Edea"Finnish: [[Aava]]|i=unset"Finnish1522rowspan="3" colspan="2"
Nina Åström"A Little Bit"English1818
Laura"Addicted to You"English2024
Jari Sillanpää"Takes 2 to Tango"English1451
Geir Rönning"Why?"English1850
Lordi"Hard Rock Hallelujah"English12921292
Hanna Pakarinen"Leave Me Alone"English1753colspan="2"
Finnish: [[Teräsbetoni]]|i=unset"Finnish: [[Missä miehet ratsastaa]]|i=unset"Finnish2235879
Waldo's People"Lose Control"English25 ◁221242
Finnish: [[Kuunkuiskaajat]]|i=unset"Finnish: [[Työlki ellää]]|i=unset"Finnish1149
Paradise Oskar"Da Da Dam"English21573103
Pernilla"Swedish: [[När jag blundar]]|i=unset"Swedish1241
Krista Siegfrids"Marry Me"English2413964
Softengine"Something Better"English1172397
Finnish: [[Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät]]|i=unset"Finnish: [[Aina mun pitää]]|i=unset"Finnish16 ◁13
Sandhja"Sing It Away"English1551
Norma John"Blackbird"English1292
Saara Aalto"Monsters"English254610108
Darude Sebastian Rejman"Look Away"English17 ◁23
Aksel"Looking Back"Englishcolspan="4" X
Blind Channel"Dark Side"English63015234
The Rasmus"Jezebel"English21387162
Käärijä"Cha Cha Cha"Finnish25261177
Windows95man"No Rules!"English1938759

Awards

Marcel Bezençon Awards

YearCategorySongPerformerwidth=45pxFinalwidth=45pxPointsHost city
Fan Award"Addicted to You"2024 Tallinn
Press Award"Hard Rock Hallelujah"Lordi1292 Athens
Press Award"Da Da Dam"Paradise Oskar2157 Düsseldorf

You're a Vision Award

Related involvement

Conductors

YearConductorNotes
George de Godzinsky[7]
Ossi Runne
[8]
[9]
Henrik Otto Donner
Ossi Runne
Olli Ahvenlahti

Commentators and spokespersons

Over the years, Yle has had several experienced radio and television presenters as commentators. The Eurovision Song Contest has been broadcast in Finland from 1960 to 2001 and from 2021 onwards by Yle TV1 and from 2002 to 2019 by Yle TV2.

YearChannelFinnish commentatorSwedish commentatorSpokesperson
Suomen TelevisioAarno Walli rowspan="2" [10] [11]
Poppe Berg[12]
Jan Sederholm[13]
[14]
[15]
TV-ohjelma 1Jerker Sundholm[16] [17]
[18] [19]
[20] [21]
[22] [23]
[24] [25]
colspan="3"
TV-ohjelma 1rowspan="3" [26]
[27]
TV1[28]
Matti Paalosmaa Åke Grandell Aarre Elo [29] [30]
rowspan="16" Kaarina Pönniö [31] [32]
Erkki Vihtonen [33] [34]
rowspan="2" Kaarina Pönniö [35]
[36]
Matti Paalosmaa [37] [38]
[39] [40]
Annemi Genetz [41]
Solveig Herlin [42]
[43]
Heikki Seppälä [44] [45]
Annemi Genetz [46]
Solveig Herlin [47]
Erkki Toivanen [48]
Erkki Pohjanheimo [49] [50]
Heikki Harma [51] [52]
Erkki Pohjanheimo, Ossi Runne [53] [54]
Erkki Pohjanheimo Johan Finne,, Heidi Kokki [55]
Solveig Herlin [56]
Erkki Pohjanheimo, Kirsi-Maria Niemi [57]
[58]
Erkki Pohjanheimo, Olli Ahvenlahtirowspan="3" [59] [60]
Erkki Pohjanheimo, Sanna Kojo, Minna PenttiSolveig Herlin [61] [62]
Aki Sirkesalo, Olli Ahvenlahti[63] [64]
Maria Guzenina, rowspan="2" Marjo Wilska [65] [66] [67]
[68] [69] [70]
Pia Mäkinen [71]
Yle TV1Jani Juntunen, [72] [73]
Yle TV2Maria Guzenina, Asko Murtomäki [74] [75]
[76] [77]
Markus Kajo, Asko Murtomäki Anna Stenlund [78] [79]
Jaana Pelkonen, Asko Murtomäki, Heikki Paasonen
Ellen Jokikunnas, Asko Murtomäki, Heikki Paasonen
Jaana Pelkonen, Asko Murtomäki, Mikko Peltola
Tobias Larsson Jari Sillanpää
Jaana Pelkonen, Asko MurtomäkiJohanna Pirttilahti
Tarja Närhi, Asko Murtomäki Eva Frantz, Johan Lindroos Susan Aho
Tarja Närhi, Tobias Larsson
Aino Töllinen, Juuso Mäkilähde
Sanna Pirkkalainen, Jorma Hietamäki
Aino Töllinen, Cristal Snow
Jussi-Pekka Rantanen
Mikko Silvennoinen, Krista SiegfridsChristoffer Strandberg
Yle TV1Mikko Silvennoinen Katri Norrlin
Bess
Toni Laaksonen

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-08-09 . From 'Pump-Pump' to 'Cha Cha Cha': Finland's vibrant Eurovision history . 2023-08-09 . eurovision.tv . en.
  2. Web site: Travers . Paul . 2021-05-20 . Remembering when Lordi won Eurovision and took monsters to the… . 2023-07-08 . . en.
  3. News: Mills . Matt . 2023-05-05 . Hard rock hallelujah! How metal found an unlikely home at Eurovision . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-07-08 . 0261-3077.
  4. Web site: Nagesh . Ashitha . 2015-11-06 . This band's members have Down's syndrome and they're raising awareness with rock . 2023-07-08 . Metro . en.
  5. Web site: Robertson . Ben . 2023-02-25 . How UMK Became The Must Watch National Final . 2023-07-08 . ESC Insight.
  6. Web site: Finland wint ‘You’re A Vision Award 2023’ voor meest opvallende Songfestivaloutfit . 22 May 2023 . Songfestival.be . nl.
  7. Book: Roxburgh . Gordon . Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest . 2012 . . Prestatyn . 978-1-84583-065-6 . 93–101 . One: The 1950s and 1960s.
  8. Book: Roxburgh . Gordon . Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest . 2014 . . Prestatyn . 978-1-84583-093-9 . 142–168 . Two: The 1970s.
  9. Book: Roxburgh . Gordon . Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest . 2016 . . Prestatyn . 978-1-84583-118-9 . Three: The 1980s.
  10. News: Radio-ohjelma . 7 November 2022 . . 29 March 1960 . 37 . fi . subscription.
  11. Pajala . Mari . Badenoch . Alexander . Fickers . Andreas . Henrich-Franke . Christian . Intervision Song Contests and Finnish Television between East and West . Airy Curtains in the European Ether: Broadcasting and the Cold War . 2013 . 215–270 . . Baden-Baden, Germany . 10.5771/9783845236070-215 . 9783845236070 . Walli was closely involved in YLE’s ESC productions; among other things he [...] provided the commentary for all the 1960s ESCs on Finnish television. . Academia.edu.
  12. News: Radio ja televisio . 7 November 2022 . . 18 March 1961 . 33 . fi . subscription.
  13. News: Radio ja televisio . 7 November 2022 . . 18 March 1962 . 33 . fi . subscription.
  14. News: Radio ja televisio . 7 November 2022 . . 23 March 1963 . 23 . fi . subscription.
  15. News: Radio ja televisio . 7 November 2022 . . 21 March 1964 . 31 . fi . subscription.
  16. News: Radio ja televisio . 7 November 2022 . . 20 March 1965 . 33 . fi . subscription.
  17. News: 18 iskelmää osallistuu tänään Eurovisiokilpailuun Napolissa . 7 November 2022 . . 20 March 1965 . 33 . fi . subscription.
  18. News: Radio ja televisio . 23 December 2022 . . 5 March 1966 . 33 . fi . subscription.
  19. News: Katseet kohti Luxemburgia . 23 December 2022 . . 5 March 1966 . 33 . fi . subscription.
  20. News: Radio ja televisio . 23 December 2022 . . 8 April 1967 . 37 . fi . subscription.
  21. News: Eurovision laulumestaruus ratkeaa . 23 December 2022 . . 8 April 1967 . 37 . fi . subscription.
  22. News: Radio ja televisio . 23 December 2022 . . 6 April 1968 . 37 . fi . subscription.
  23. News: Jatkoajalla Euroviisut . 23 December 2022 . . 6 April 1968 . 37 . fi . subscription.
  24. News: Radio ja televisio . 23 December 2022 . . 29 March 1969 . 33 . fi . subscription.
  25. News: Eurovision laulukipailu -69 . 23 December 2022 . . 29 March 1969 . 33 . fi . subscription.
  26. News: Radio ja televisio . 23 December 2022 . . 3 April 1971 . 35 . fi . subscription.
  27. News: Radio ja TV . 23 December 2022 . . 25 March 1972 . 39 . fi . subscription.
  28. News: Radio ja TV . 23 December 2022 . . 7 April 1973 . 39 . fi . subscription.
  29. News: Radio ja TV . 23 December 2022 . . 6 April 1974 . 45 . fi . subscription.
  30. News: Carita ensimmäisenä Eurovisiokilpailussa . 23 December 2022 . . 6 April 1974 . 45 . fi . subscription.
  31. News: Radio ja TV . 23 December 2022 . . 22 March 1975 . 41 . fi . subscription.
  32. News: Viulu-ukko loppusuoralla . 23 December 2022 . . 22 March 1975 . 41 . fi . subscription.
  33. News: Radio ja TV . 23 December 2022 . . 3 April 1976 . 27 . fi . subscription.
  34. News: Fredi ja Friends ja Pump Euroviisuissa tänä iltana . 23 December 2022 . . 3 April 1976 . 27 . fi . subscription.
  35. News: Radio ja TV . 23 December 2022 . . 7 May 1977 . 39 . fi . subscription.
  36. News: Radio ja TV . 23 December 2022 . . 22 April 1978 . 37 . fi . subscription.
  37. News: Radio ja TV . 23 December 2022 . . 31 March 1979 . 39 . fi . subscription.
  38. News: Euroviisut . 23 December 2022 . . 31 March 1979 . 39 . fi . subscription.
  39. News: Radio · TV . 14 November 2022 . . 19 April 1980 . 71 . fi . subscription.
  40. News: Brittivinoilua euroviisuista . 23 December 2022 . . 22 April 1980 . 17 . fi . subscription.
  41. News: Radio · TV . 23 December 2022 . . 4 April 1981 . 45 . fi . subscription.
  42. News: Viikon radio ja TV . 23 December 2022 . . 23 April 1982 . 47 . fi . subscription.
  43. News: Radio · TV . 23 December 2022 . . 23 April 1983 . 59 . fi . subscription.
  44. News: Radio · TV . 23 December 2022 . . 5 May 1984 . 61 . fi . subscription.
  45. News: Kirkan vuoro kuudentenatoista . 23 December 2022 . . 5 May 1984 . 61 . fi . subscription.
  46. News: Radio · TV . 14 November 2022 . . 4 May 1985 . 59 . fi . subscription.
  47. News: Radio · Televisio . 14 November 2022 . . 3 May 1986 . 50–51 . fi . subscription.
  48. News: Radio · Televisio . 23 December 2022 . . 9 May 1987 . 62–63 . fi . subscription.
  49. News: Radio · Televisio . 23 December 2022 . . 30 April 1988 . 52–53 . fi . subscription.
  50. News: Euroviisut Dublinista . 23 December 2022 . . 30 April 1988 . 53 . fi . subscription.
  51. News: Radio · Televisio . Radio · Television . 23 December 2022 . . 6 May 1989 . 68–69 . fi . subscription.
  52. News: Marion Rung laulut ja Dolce Vita . Marion Rung's songs and Dolce Vita . 23 December 2022 . . 6 May 1989 . 69 . fi . subscription.
  53. News: Televisio & Radio . Television & Radio . 14 November 2022 . . 5 May 1990 . D11–D12 . fi . subscription.
  54. News: Kajava . Juuka . Hyvin kävi euroviisuissa . 14 November 2022 . It went well at Eurovision . . 7 May 1990 . fi . subscription.
  55. News: Televisio & Radio . Television & Radio . 23 December 2022 . . 4 May 1991 . D9–D10 . fi . subscription.
  56. News: Televisio & Radio . Television & Radio . 23 December 2022 . . 9 May 1992 . D11–D12 . fi . subscription.
  57. News: Televisio & Radio . Television & Radio . 4 November 2022 . . 15 May 1993 . D17–D18 . fi . subscription.
  58. News: Televisio & Radio . Television & Radio . 23 December 2022 . . 30 April 1994 . D11–D12 . fi . subscription.
  59. News: Televisio & Radio . Television & Radio . 23 December 2022 . . 13 May 1995 . D15–D16 . fi . subscription.
  60. Web site: TV-opastiedot: 13.05.1995 . suomikassu.fi . 21 June 2024 . fi . https://web.archive.org/web/20210613042846/https://www.suomikassu.fi/tv-13-05-1995/ . 13 June 2021 . 22.00 Eurovision laulukilpailu Euroviisut kilpailevat 40. kerran. Suoraa lähetystä bublinista selostavat Olli Ahvenlahti ja Erkki Pohjanheimo. . live.
  61. News: Televisio & Radio . Television & Radio . 23 December 2022 . Helsingin Sanomat . 18 May 1996 . D15–D16 . fi . subscription.
  62. News: Width . Terhi . Norjalaiset haluavat euroviisuille uutta ilmettä Euroviisuissa tutut suosikit: Iso-Britannia, Irlanti ja Ruotsi . Norwegians want a new look for Eurovision, the familiar favorites in Eurovision: Great Britain, Ireland and Sweden . 8 July 2022 . . 18 May 1996 . fi . Selostuksesta vastaavat Sanna Kojo ja Erkki Pohjanheimo Oslossa ja Minna Pentti Pasilassa. . Commentary is provided by Sanna Kojo and Erkki Pohjanheimo in Oslo and Minna Pentti in Pasila. . subscription.
  63. News: Televisio & Radio . Television & Radio . 23 December 2022 . . 3 May 1997 . D11–D12 . fi . subscription.
  64. News: Uusitorppa . Harri . Finlande, zero points – Olli Ahvenlahti ja Aki Sirkesalo edustavat Euronollaa Dublinissa . Finland, zero points – Olli Ahvenlahti and Aki Sirkesalo represent Euronolla in Dublin . 23 December 2022 . . 3 May 1997 . fi . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223172114/https://www.hs.fi/radiotelevisio/art-2000003620937.html . 23 December 2022 . live . subscription.
  65. News: TV1 . 7 November 2022 . . 9 May 1998 . fi . subscription.
  66. Pajala . Mari . Closeting Eurovision. Heteronormativity in the Finnish national television . Queer Eurovision . Suomen Queer-tutkimuksen Seuran lehti . 2007 . 2 . 25–42 . 20 June 2022 . The commentary for the Finnish broadcast was provided by [...] Sami Aaltonen and Maria Guzenina..
  67. News: Radio Vega . 7 November 2022 . Helsingin Sanomat . 9 May 1998 . fi . subscription.
  68. News: TV1 . 7 November 2022 . . 29 May 1999 . fi . subscription.
  69. News: Sirpa . Pääkkönen . Osallistujat saavat nyt valita euroviisukielen . Participants can now choose a Eurovision language . 2 July 2022 . . 29 May 1999 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180729141619/https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003803176.html . 29 July 2018 . fi . live . subscription.
  70. News: Radio Vega . 7 November 2022 . Helsingin Sanomat . 29 May 1999 . fi . subscription.
  71. News: TV1 . 7 November 2022 . . 13 May 2000 . fi . subscription.
  72. News: TV1 . 7 November 2022 . . 12 May 2001 . fi . subscription.
  73. News: Radio Vega . 7 November 2022 . Helsingin Sanomat . 12 May 2001 . fi . subscription.
  74. News: TV2 . 7 November 2022 . . 25 May 2002 . fi . subscription.
  75. Web site: Ohjelman tiedot : RITVA-tietokanta . 21 September 2023 . fi.
  76. News: TV2 . 7 November 2022 . . 24 May 2003 . fi . subscription.
  77. Web site: Ohjelman tiedot : RITVA-tietokanta. 21 September 2023 . fi.
  78. News: TV2 – 12.5.2004 . 4 January 2023 . . 12 May 2004 . fi . subscription.
  79. News: FST – 12.5.2004 . 4 January 2023 . . 12 May 2004 . fi . subscription.