Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport
    • En Garde!
    • BUWRU Still on Top
    • Hidden Histories: With The Archaeology Society
    • Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia
    • Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights
    • Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!
    • Is There Hope For Percy Jackson?
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Redevelopment plans and the culture of Bangor

      October 28, 2022

      Immediate closure of Menai Bridge following reports of structural integrity issues

      October 28, 2022

      Racial abuse victim calls for harsher sentencing following nightclub assault

      October 28, 2022
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia

      October 29, 2022

      Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights

      October 29, 2022

      Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!

      October 29, 2022
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Gilmore Garms

      October 28, 2022

      Fleeces and Funk

      October 28, 2022

      Cheerleading: Getting your kit together

      October 28, 2022
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      North Wales Ramblings

      October 28, 2022

      Hamza Yassin: The Hard Work That Is Making Luck Happen

      October 28, 2022

      Student’s Union Hosts Repair Cafe for Sustainability Awareness Week

      October 28, 2022
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Interview: Lewis Thompson, VP Sport

      October 29, 2022

      En Garde!

      October 29, 2022

      BUWRU Still on Top

      October 29, 2022
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Arts & Culture»Music»Finland Knocked Out of Eurovision in Semi-Final
    Music

    Finland Knocked Out of Eurovision in Semi-Final

    Ida VäisänenBy Ida VäisänenMay 22, 2015Updated:May 23, 2015No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    So, Finland got knocked out of Eurovision in the semi-finals. As a Finn this does not awaken feelings of defeat as much as fear. As author Jari Tervo said in his blog after Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät was announced as our Eurovision candidate: “Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät does good for the image of Finland in front of hundreds of millions of viewers as tolerant, humane, open-armed, relaxed, happy, tolerant towards minorities and distinctive. We all know that Finland isn’t like that, but this is the image of Finland we are talking about.”

    I considered this an accurate statement at the time, and fear that it still holds true.

    People were against sending the band into Eurovision, and with some people this had very little to do with musical taste. As a Finn I have read message boards with disgust and shame, with the loud minority chanting the one and the same: “We’ll be sent home first and then I’ll be ashamed to be a Finn.”

    Losing at an early stage is not the worst, I think. No, the worst part will be the loud, anonymous minority’s “I told you so.” It will not matter that there must be technical reasons for Finland’s early leaving of the competition, such as the language of the song. Historically songs sung in Finnish have not been successful in Eurovision. However, I am afraid that this won’t be recognised and the only reason why we were kicked out at this stage is our choice of performer. Why did we choose a distinctive act, when we knew that at the end this won’t bring us success in the competition?

    Because it was the right thing to do.

    Petri Kurikan Nimipäivät getting nominated for Eurovision started off as a message of positivity. It’s not all about competition. Instead of choosing the bland and tasteless, we went for something distinctive and raspy. This was the moment I was proud of being Finnish, like when we won with Lordi. We were different, looked down upon by critics but rose above it with wings of Monster Hallelujah! This leap into the unknown brought us success in 2006. Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät started with a similar idea. Still, without a track record of success in competitions to prove the haters wrong, the original joy of making music and being yourself backlashes and becomes the reason for defeat. If we had chosen the generic Satin Circus, this wouldn’t have happened. The message of positivity turns into negativity. We knew this would happen. And now it did.

    Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät did not want to be recognised as a band consisting of disabled people. Journalists have appeared intolerant toward the band, commenting on their looks rather than their music. This is the same hatred convoyed by the obnoxious anonymous minority, just in a more socially-acceptable form. In this the controversy sings its laud: “We are not like you, but we’re here still.” The song was good and meaningful, explaining the frustrations of having others to make decisions on your behalf. “Aina mun pitää,” I always have to. The song was important, the act was important but this important message didn’t convoy to an international audience. If sung in English, I think we would still be in Vienna. Still, I think we made the right choice. What I am afraid of is next year, when this loud minority pipes up again to ask that hate-filled question: What happened last time?

    FINLAND-MUSIC-EUROVISION-QUALIFIERS

    Eurovision Eurovision 2015 finland
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Avatar photo
    Ida Väisänen

    Deputy Editor: Design 2014/15, TV Editor 2013/14

    Related Posts

    Beabadoobee Concert Review: Welcome to Beatopia

    October 29, 2022

    Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – The Stories of 13 Sleepless Nights

    October 29, 2022

    Claire Concert Review: Claire Cottrill in Concert!

    October 29, 2022

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.