We’ve reached that point in Eurovision season where it’s time to turn our gaze to the glittering jewel in the National Selection crown that is Finland’s Uuden Musiikin Kilpailun (UMK).
Now in its 14th edition, the UMK format has been consistent since 2020, with a 6-7 song shortlist announced in January for a February final. Over recent years UMK has earned a reputation for not only the quality of songs in the competition, but also for the quality of the show itself. If UMK is anything to go by, Finland and its public broadcaster, YLE, are not only eager to host Eurovision, but they are well-prepared, with a fine-tuned live show and quality event production other broadcasters would be wise to study.
While some other broadcasters turn their events into month-long marathons, UMK doesn’t faff around. In January, they announce their short-list of seven (7) artists before introducing the songs one-at-a-time over the course of a week and a half. This allows each artist to have a dedicated day in the spotlight. It also gives the audience the opportunity to simply hold space with that day’s one special song, a welcome reprieve for those of us already bathing/drowning in 48 song playlists from several other countries.
About one week after that comes the highlight of my National Final season: the reaction video. Because UMK is so well-curated and focused, each artist is recorded listening to the competition songs for the first time. Their genuine responses to the music and their guesses as to who the artists are have become iconic, especially with moments like Benjamin realizing he’d just listened to Robin Packalen’s new song, and had punctuated it with a “go girl!”
You can watch the show from anywhere in the world directly on Yle’s online streaming service, and they make it easy for the international viewer by using flags to help you select the feed with your preferred commentary language. Jaakko Oleander-Turja will be providing English-language commentary again this year.
This year’s edition is hosted by a pair of women who will be familiar to the Finnish audience: Jasmin Beloued, a Yle Youth News journalist, and SANNI, one of (if not the) most beloved female popstars in Finland. This partnership assures a combination of music industry knowledge and finely-honed presentation skills. It doesn’t hurt that Jasmin is a self-proclaimed “Eurovision fangirl” who has long-dreamed of being a part of the UMK team.
The artists and songs in performance order are:
1. costee – Sekaisin
2. NEEA RIVER – Nightmares
3. Goldielocks – Made Of
4. VIIVI – Aina
5. Nelli Matula – Hitaammin Hautaan
6. Erika Vikman – Ich Komme
This year, voting will begin as soon as costee begins his performance, instead of waiting until the end of all live performances, piggybacking off of a rule change implemented by the EBU for last year’s Eurovision contest. This means that some members of the public will be voting for their favorite studio track or artist instead of the best live performance, which almost makes the live televised concert unnecessary. One could host a radio showcase, at much less cost, for the same result. However, the proceeds from the paid voting will be donated to an organization that supports the mental health of young people, mieli ry, so the extra half hour of voting time could have a major impact on that organization.
The winner will be selected through a combination of jury and public votes. UMK has one of the most public friendly points allocations, with 75% of the total score coming from the voters on the Yle app and only 25% from the 7 international juries.
2024 UMK winner Windows95man is back to open the show and during the interval, host SANNI will pull double duty when she performs a medley of her songs. There’s also a performance by a supergroup consisting of past Finnish Eurovision and National Final artists Annika Eklund (Euroviisut 2006), Laura Voutilainen (ESC 2002), Eini (Euroviisut 1996, UMK 2016), Bess (UMK 2022), Keira (UMK 2023), as well as Finnish violin icon Linda Lampenius. Not for nothing, Erika Vikman was an interval performer at last year’s UMK, so maybe one of these ladies will grace us with a new song for next year’s competition! (Bess? Keira? Let’s go!)
UMK 2025 begins Saturday, February 8th at 8PM CET/2PM EST and is scheduled to last roughly two hours. Soon we’ll know who Finland is sending to the 69th Eurovision Song Contest in Basel!