No Rules! Explained

No Rules!
Cover:No Rules! cover artwork.jpg
Border:yes
Alt:The cover artwork for "No Rules!". The cover features Keisteri as his stage persona, Windows95man, along with singer Henri Piispanen dressed in a red jacket amongst a grey background.
Type:single
Artist:Windows95man
Genre:Europop[1]
Length:2:55
Label:All Day Entertainment
Misc:
Embed:yes
Song: "No Rules!"
Year:2024
Country:Finland
Artist:Windows95man
With:Henri Piispanen
Language:English
Place:19th
Points:38
Place Semi:7th
Points Semi:59
Prev:Cha Cha Cha
Prev Link:Cha Cha Cha (Käärijä song)
Prev Year:2023

"No Rules!" is a song by Finnish visual artist Teemu Keisteri, known professionally by his stage name persona, Windows95man. It was written and composed by Henri Piispanen, Jussi Roine, and Keisteri, and released on 16 January 2024 through All Day Entertainment Oy. The song represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, where it placed 19th with 38 points at the grand final.

Background and composition

"No Rules" was composed and written by Henri Piispanen, Jussi Roine, and Teemu Keisteri.[2] In interviews, Keisteri has stated that the song spreads a message that advocates to not "take everything so seriously", with an intent for Keisteri to be as relaxed as possible while performing the song.[3] In addition, the song title refers to Keisteri's mantra that he has utilized throughout his life.[4] Keisteri has also stated a desire to bring out the Finnish people's nature of being "looney-tunes deep inside".[5] In a Wiwibloggs analysis written by Ruxandra Tudor, they stated that the song represented "the essence of freedom, advocating for unrestrained self-expression and living life to the fullest", defending the singer's right to live their true identity.[6]

Keisteri partnered with singer and actor Henri Piispanen after Keisteri needed a singer who was capable to hit higher notes than him.[7] Keisteri and Piispanen were announced to compete in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2024 on 10 January 2024,[8] with the song officially premiering six days later.[9]

Music video and promotion

Along the song's premiere, an accompanying music video was released on the same day. To further promote the song, Keisteri announced his intents to participate in various Eurovision pre-parties throughout the months of March and April 2024, including Pre-Party ES on 30 March,[10] the London Eurovision Party on 7 April,[11] Eurovision in Concert on 13 April,[12] and the Nordic Eurovision Party on 14 April.[13]

Critical reception

Finnish media

The song has received varying reviews from multiple beat reporters. Helsingin Sanomat's Juuso Määttänen gave a neutral analysis of the song, declaring that the Finnish people decided to "show the middle finger to the [jury]... [and] enter Eurovision with a joke [entry]... however, it is also to the song's credit that it sounded really good".[14]

Eurovision related-and other media

ESC Insights Ben Robertson praised the song and its message, giving compliments to the song's "simplicity" and for being a more "silly" song compared to other songs sent to the Eurovision Song Contest, stating his belief that the contest shouldn't only be serious songs.[15] In a Wiwibloggs review containing several reviews from several critics, the song was rated 4.63 out of 10 points,[16] earning 36th out of 37 songs on the site's annual ranking.[17] Another review conducted by ESC Bubble that contained reviews from a combination of readers and juries rated the song fifth out of the 15 songs in the Eurovision semi-final "No Rules" was in.[18] ESC Beat's Doron Lahav ranked the song 36th overall, writing that the song was "quite weak" and repetitive.[19] Erin Adam of The Scotsman rated the song four out of 10 points, deeming the song to be "a real marmite entry".[20]

The BBC's Mark Savage called the song "fatally generic", saying Windows95man was "trying too hard to stand out". Vultures Jon O'Brien ranked the song 19th out of 37 songs, thinking that it is "much easier on the ear than its predecessor", referring to Käärijä's "Cha Cha Cha". He further wrote that it was "mirroring the classic Eurodance brilliantly parodied last summer by Kyle Gordon", referring to Gordon's "Planet of the Bass".[21]

Eurovision Song Contest

See main article: Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2024

Finland's broadcaster Yleisradio Oy (Yle) organized a seven-entry competition, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2024 consisting of a singular grand final to select its entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 on 10 February 2024.[22] [23] The edition was the 13th iteration of the contest. The winner of the final was selected by a 75/25 combination vote of televoting and juries, respectively.[24] Keisteri was revealed to be a competitor in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2024 on 10 January 2024, with the song being announced six days later. The performance featured Keisteri hatching himself from a giant egg made out of denim jeans, with him wearing a retro Microsoft Windows shirt and baseball cap. Main singer of the song, Henri Piispanen, also appears on the top of the egg, wearing jorts. Nearing the end of the performance, Keisteri also gets his own pair of jorts that sprays pyrotechnics.[25] In the grand final, although the song came last in with the jury vote, the song won the televote by a wide margin, earning a combined total of 313 points; 40 more than the runner-up, Sara Siipola's "Paskana". As a result of the victory, the song won rights to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.[26]

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 took place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. During the allocation draw on 30 January 2024, Finland was drawn to compete in the first semi-final, performing in the second half of the show.[27] The duo were later drawn to perform tenth, ahead of 's Raiven and before 's Natalia Barbu.[28] For its Eurovision performance, Keisteri wore a censored version of his signature Windows 95 T-shirt, with Piispanen wearing the same outfit from the Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu performance.[29] Along with the duo, two backing dancers were also featured in the performance.[30] The Eurovision performance was described as "quite similar" to the one given in UMK; like the UMK performance, Keisteri is shown in a giant denim jean egg at the beginning and later puts on a jear of jorts during the end of the performance.[31] The performance also featured camera shots that implied that Keisteri did not wear any underwear; however, he did wear nude-coloured underwear.[32] [33] in response to criticism regarding said shots, Keisteri stated that "I don’t care anymore... adults should little bit learn, and let it go a little bit and it’s not so serious that you see (a) little bit (of) my ass [<nowiki/>[[Sic|''sic'']]]". "No Rules!" finished in seventh, scoring 59 points and securing a position in the Eurovision grand final.[34] [35]

The duo performed a repeat of their performance in the grand final on 11 May. The song was performed in 17th, ahead of 's Teya Dora and before 's Iolanda.[36] After the results were announced, they finished in 19th with 38 points, with a split score of seven points from juries and 31 points from public televoting.[37] The song received no sets of the maximum 12 points in either category. Regarding the former, the most awarded was a set of four points given by . With the latter, the maximum awarded was a set of eight points given by .[38] In response to his finish, he stated content that "we pulled through under that heavy pressure. It's been a wild two weeks. We had a lot of fun on stage, everything went smoothly."[39]

Track listing

Digital download/streaming[40]

  1. "No Rules!" – 2:55

Digital download/streaming – Spa Mix[41]

  1. "No Rules! – Spa Mix" – 2:44

Digital download/streaming – classical version[42]

  1. "No Rules! (Classical version)" – 3:04

Digital download/streaming – EP[43]

  1. "No Rules!" – 2:55
  2. "No Rules! – Sturgeon Happy Hardcore Remix" – 3:55
  3. "No Rules! – Sturgeon Happy Hardcore Remix (extended version)" – 4:40
  4. "No Rules! – Rave Remix" – 2:16
  5. "No Rules! – Spa Mix" – 2:44
  6. "No Rules! – Classical version" – 3:04

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Lithuania (AGATA)[44] 35
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 82
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[46] 50

Release history

Country! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)VersionLabel
Various16 January 2024SingleAll Day Entertainment Oy
19 April 2024Spa Mix
26 April 2024Classical
14 June 2024Extended play

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eurovision 2024: Your guide to all 37 songs. 5 May 2024. Mark. Savage. BBC. 11 May 2024.
  2. Web site: Helgeson . Justina . 10 February 2024 . Finland: Windows95man wins UMK 2024 – To Eurovision with "No Rules" . 18 February 2024 . Eurovision World . en-gb.
  3. Web site: Fiilin . Teemu . 12 February 2024 . Who the hell is Windows95man, Finland's choice for Eurovision 2024? . 18 February 2024 . Music Finland . en-US.
  4. Web site: Adams . William Lee . 16 January 2024 . Windows95man releases "No Rules" — his UMK 2024 song in Finland . 18 February 2024 . . en-US.
  5. Web site: Trejo . Iván . 11 February 2024 . Finland: Windows95man wins UMK 2024 and will go to Malmö! . 18 February 2024 . ESC Plus . en-GB.
  6. Web site: Tudor . Ruxandra . 7 May 2024 . "If I'm not alright, tell me why do I feel so beautiful tonight" — Windows95Man breaks all the rules in the "No Rules" lyrics . 28 May 2024 . . en-US.
  7. Web site: Thomas . Daniel . 6 February 2024 . Windows95man: "I love giving people joy, and this song is all about it" . 18 February 2024 . That Eurovision Site . en-GB.
  8. Web site: Oleander–Turja . Jaakko . 10 January 2024 . Tässä he ovat: UMK-kilpailijat kaudelle 2024 . Here they are: the UMK contestants for the 2024 season . 10 January 2024 . . fi.
  9. Web site: Farren . Neil . 16 January 2024 . Finland: Windows95man Releases UMK Entry "No Rules" . 17 February 2024 . Eurovoix . en-GB.
  10. Web site: Garnett . Georgia . 14 March 2024 . Windows95man to perform at Pre-Party ES 2024 . 28 May 2024 . That Eurovision Site . en-GB.
  11. Web site: Percy . Lucy . 15 March 2024 . Finland's Windows95Man confirmed for London Eurovision Party . 28 May 2024 . . en-US.
  12. Web site: Gannon . Rory . 13 March 2024 . Windows95man to perform at Eurovision in Concert 2024 . 28 May 2024 . That Eurovision Site . en-GB.
  13. Web site: Garnett . Georgia . 17 March 2024 . Windows95man to perform at Nordic Eurovision Party 2024 . 28 May 2024 . That Eurovision Site . en-GB.
  14. Web site: Määttänen . Juuso . 11 February 2024 . Suomi menee Euroviisuihin vitsillä sisään, vaikka olisi voinut valita hillitysti tyylikkään show'n . Finland enters Eurovision with a joke, even though it could have chosen a restrainedly stylish show . 18 February 2024 . . fi.
  15. Web site: Robertson . Ben . 11 February 2024 . Sometimes The Songs Should Be Silly . 18 February 2024 . ESC Insight.
  16. Web site: 22 April 2024 . Wiwi Jury: Finland's Windows95Man with "No Rules!" . 28 May 2024 . . en-US.
  17. Web site: Vautrey . Jonathan . 7 April 2024 . Eurovision 2024: Reviews and rankings by the Wiwi Jury . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240501144508/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/04/08/eurovision-2024-reviews-and-rankings-by-the-wiwi-jury/280997/ . 1 May 2024 . 26 April 2024 . . en-US.
  18. Web site: Juhász . Ervin . 23 April 2024 . The Public Reacts to Sweden: Marcus and Martinus – Unforgettable . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240502022256/https://escbubble.com/2024/04/the-public-reacts-to-sweden-marcus-and-martinus-unforgettable/ . 2 May 2024 . 1 May 2024 . ESC Bubble . en-GB.
  19. Web site: Lahav . Doron . 5 April 2024 . Eurovision 2024 Songs Review – Part 3 (Australia, Cyprus, Finland, Iceland and Luxembourg) . 12 May 2024 . ESC Beat . en-US.
  20. Web site: Adam . Erin . 7 May 2024 . Eurovision Song Contest 2024: All 37 songs reviewed ahead of semifinals, including UK's Olly Alexander . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240510235940/https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/eurovision-song-contest-2024-all-37-songs-reviewed-ahead-of-first-eurovision-semifinal-including-uks-olly-alexander-4617993 . 10 May 2024 . 16 May 2024 . The Scotsman.
  21. Web site: O'Brien . Jon . 6 May 2024 . Every 2024 Eurovision Song, Ranked . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507032323/https://www.vulture.com/article/every-2024-eurovision-song-ranked.html . 7 May 2024 . 13 May 2024 . . en.
  22. Web site: Saulo . Sandra . 14 May 2023 . UMK24-haku alkaa elokuussa – nyt valppaana, sillä hakuaika aikaistui! . Applications for UMK 2024 open in August – be alert now, because the application period has come early! . 18 February 2024 . . fi.
  23. Web site: Granger . Anthony . 24 August 2023 . Finland & Switzerland Eurovision 2024 Song Submissions Window Close Shortly . 18 February 2024 . Eurovoix.
  24. Web site: Kauranen . Reetta . 5 February 2024 . Kaikki UMK:sta – näin seuraat, äänestät ja chattailet mukana! . Everything about UMK – this is how you follow, vote and chat along! . 18 February 2024 . . fi.
  25. Web site: Maskell . Emily . 14 February 2024 . Finland may have topped Eurovision's 'Cha Cha Cha' with wild 2024 entrant . 18 February 2024 . . en-US.
  26. Web site: Shokayan . Antranig . 10 February 2024 . Finland: Windows95man wins UMK 2024 with "No Rules!" . 18 February 2024 . . en-US.
  27. Web site: 30 January 2024 . Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Draw results . 17 February 2024 . . . en.
  28. Web site: Adams . William Lee . 26 March 2024 . Eurovision 2024 Semi-Final Running Order Revealed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240427034238/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/03/26/eurovision-2024-semi-final-running-order-revealed-tonight-from-1800-cet/280818/ . 27 April 2024 . 7 April 2024 . . en-US.
  29. Web site: Lahav . Doron . 6 May 2024 . Eurovision 2024 Semi-Final 1: Dress/Jury Rehearsal Live Commetary . 13 May 2024 . ESC Beat . en-US.
  30. Web site: Määttänen . Juuso . 2024-05-08 . Windows95manille oli iskeä paniikki kesken semifinaalin – Jatkoon pääsyn jälkeen 'vintti pimeni' . Windows95man almost panicked during the semifinal – "the lights went out" after qualifying for the final . 8 May 2024 . . fi.
  31. Web site: Lassila . Juhani . 2024-05-03 . Euroviisukuume nousee – Windows95man valmiina viisuviikolle, Käärijä antaa Suomen pisteet finaalissa . Eurovision fever rises – Windows95man ready for the song contest week, Käärijä will announce Finland's points in the final . 8 May 2024 . . fi.
  32. Web site: McLaughlin . Charlotte . 8 May 2024 . Eurovision's Windows95Man says adults need to be less serious and embrace nudity . 27 May 2024 . . en.
  33. Web site: Granger . Anthony . 28 April 2024 . Finland: EBU Will Not Require Further Changes to Window95man's Outfit . 27 May 2024 . Eurovoix . en-GB.
  34. Web site: Ylipiessa . Maiju . 8 May 2024 . Suomen Windows95man etenee euroviisufinaaliin – tanssijat pelastivat pulasta kriittisellä hetkellä . Finland's Windows95man advances to the Eurovision final - the dancers saved the day at a critical moment . 28 May 2024 . . fi.
  35. Web site: Vautrey . Jonathan . 12 May 2024 . Eurovision 2024 semi-finals: Detailed results show Croatia and Israel won each show . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240514041739/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/05/12/eurovision-2024-semi-finals-croatia-israel/281694/ . 14 May 2024 . 12 May 2024 . . en-US.
  36. Web site: Vautrey . Jonathan . 10 May 2024 . Eurovision 2024 grand final running order: Ukraine in second, Austria closes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240510011747/https://wiwibloggs.com/2024/05/10/eurovision-2024-grand-final-running-order/281608/ . 10 May 2024 . 10 May 2024 . . en-US.
  37. Web site: Määttänen . Jusso . 12 May 2024 . Sveitsi voitti Euroviisut, Suomi jäi sijalle 19 – Suomi antoi eniten yleisöpisteitä Israelille . Switzerland won the Eurovision Song Contest, Finland came in 19th place - Finland gave the most audience points to Israel . 27 May 2024 . . fi.
  38. Web site: Grand Final of Malmö 2024 - Finland Grand Final Results Allocation . 27 May 2024 . . European Broadcasting Union.
  39. Web site: Ylipiessa . Maiju . 12 May 2024 . Windows95manille jäi Euroviisuista käteen harvinaislaatuinen ystävyys ja onnistunut finaaliveto – "Päästiin antamaan iloa ja rakkautta" . Windows95man was left with a rare friendship and a successful final bet from Eurovision - "We got to give joy and love" . 27 May 2024 . . fi.
  40. Web site: No Rules! - Single by Windows95Man . . 2024-05-19.
  41. Web site: No Rules! (Spa Mix) - Single by Windows95Man . . 2024-05-19.
  42. Web site: No Rules! (Classical Version) - Single by Windows95Man, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Pessi Levanto . . 2024-05-19.
  43. Web site: NO RULES! MEGAMIX - EP by Windows95Man . . 2024-06-18.
  44. Web site: 2024 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). lt. AGATA. 17 May 2024. 17 May 2024.
  45. Web site: Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20. Sverigetopplistan. 17 May 2024.
  46. Web site: Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. 18 May 2024.

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