FINLAND Semi Final : Live Rolling Blog at 20:00(CET) – Just Refresh The Page For Updates

By eurovisionireland on January 25, 2014 • ( Leave a comment )

UMK 2014 Semi Final. Photo : YLE

Finland – Welcome to our live rolling blog for the Semi-Final of UMK2014 aka The Finnish Eurovision National Selection for 2014. Just refresh the page for our live commentary on the show. You can watch the show with us HERE and tell us if you agree with our thoughts

Eight acts now compete for 6 places in next week’s Grand Final where they will join Hanna Sky and Softengine. This time the public will select the 6 finalists as there will be no Jury Vote.

Running order

1. MadCraft – Shining bright
2. Hukka ja Mama – Selja
3. Lauri Mikkola – Going down
4. Jasmin Michaela – Kertakäyttösydän
5. Dennis Fagerström – My little honey bee
6. MIAU – God/Drug
7. Mikko Pohjola – Sängyn reunalla
8. Clarissa feat. Josh Standing – Top of the world

LIVE BLOG

Live before the show starts and the fans are all getting their signs at the ready

Fans of Dennis Fagerstrom. Photo : YLE

Fans of Hukka Ja Mama. Photo : YLE

The show begins!!

UMK 2014 Semi Final Begins. Photo : YLE

MadCraft – Shining bright

madcraft – Photo YLE

Loud, Proud and Made in Finland – via an American School of Rock.

Enough “Oh Oh Oh’s” and handwaving that would give Tom Hanks stiff competition as he waved down passing boats in Castaway. This is bubblegum pop/rock that will give you lock jaw – in a good way!

Hukka ja Mama – Selja

Hukka Ja Mama. Photo : YLE

He looks like the love child of Buddy Holly and Austin Powers and she is styled like “Ting Tong” from Little Britain. With an awkward sensibility about them this is a charming Bluegrass pop song. The stuffed dog is giving the judges a run for their money in the personality stakes!

Lauri Mikkola – Going down

Lauri Mikkola – Photo YLE

THANK YOU – Lauri listened to us and ditched the red/orange suit from last week and has replaced it with a snug fitting white t-shirt and black trousers that would give any Italian man a run for his money. I was all happy as there was less Andrew Lloyd Weber movements until he turned his back to the audience and did some “Sunset Boulevard” jazz hand movements. The question – were you looking at his hands or his derriere? That is the question!

Jasmin Michaela – Kertakäyttösydän

Jasmin Michaela – Photo YLE

Sorry but what show am I looking at? Is this Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing With The Stars? This was Katy Perry meets Beyonce but needing a Red Bull. A big dance song that was missing some bite to it! I just wanted her to let it rip! It was all “Single Ladies” but she is not getting any “Ring On It”.

Dennis Fagerström – My little honey bee

Dennis Fagerström – Photo YLE

If Dennis is the “Honey Bee” then I am the “Honey Trap”! This has it all for me – and I have said that for weeks now. Dennis has just proven that the Finnish people do have good fashion sense and more importantly can sing too. The most engaging performance so far tonight. It was all staged like a perfect little pop gem. Catchy, Sweet and Dripping with Eurovision potential – Winne The Pooh has nothing on this Honey Bee.

MIAU – God/Drug

Miau – Photo YLE

This is everything that Lady Gaga’s “Popart” album was supposed to be! 3 sassy pussycats who looked like they raided Moje 3’s closet but actually made it look cool! A thumping electronic/pop/rock song had my foot banging like it had a mind of it’s own. A crowd pleaser of a song that will look good on a Copenhagen stage. Only 1 thing – the backing vocals were HUGE on this song yet only came from 2 singers at one time but maybe that was just the “God Drug” kicking in with the girls!

Mikko Pohjola – Sängyn reunalla

Mikko Pohjola – Photo YLE

The Wizard of Oz as we went from Black and White to Technicolour. I wanted to see the Lollipop Guild! A pleasant folk song that the locals seemed to like – but we ain’t in Kansas anymore Toto. As one of the judges pointed out that Mikko is in direct competition with Mikka ja Mama for that Folk sound. If I had to pick between I would have to go with Ting Tong and Buddy Holly but I see both acts making the final.

Clarissa feat. Josh Standing – Top of the world

Clarissa and Josh – Photo YLE

Can I award The “Barbara Dex” award to an artist in a National Final as I am pretty sure we are not going to beat these outfits in Copenhagen. What was Clarissa thinking? Did the dogs in the VT before their performance get hold of her jump suit and chew it to shreds! Josh’s vocals were not there and the break dancing would not have survived 2 minutes on the curb in New York never mind a Eurovision Stage in 2014. Finnish – is more a plea now for “Top Of The World”. By far the weakest performance of the night – but I award then the Barbara Dex Award as a consolation.