On Tuesday Finland announced new details about Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2024 — its national selection for Eurovison. The hype was so intense that tickets for the final sold out in an hour earlier today.
Among the juiciest tidbits were hints about this year’s seven finalists. Tapio Hakanen, chair of the UMK jury, said they collectively make the strongest line-up ever to grace the UMK stage. He described the seven songs as follows:
- “A talented artist’s first 90s-style dance song”
- “A power song by a true vocal talent”
- “Perhaps the best song of an indie favourite’s career”
- “Two big name performers doing a surprising duo with a serious refrain”
- “A thunderous rock anthem by a world-touring band”
- “A seriously intense song from one of the most listened-to artists in Finland”
- “A hard-hitting club banger by a well-known artist making a comeback”
So now we wanna know: Who do you think these artists could be?
Our readers have been busy making guesses across social media. When it comes to that “hard-hitting club banger” from a returning artist, a lot of our readers are pointing to BESS, who placed third back at UMK 2022, or Erika Vikman, who placed second in 2020. Both experienced huge commercial success with their songs despite coming up shot. Still others have suggested that #7 refers to Käärijä, the reigning king who also topped the televote a Eurovison.
In terms of #5 — the “world-touring band” with a thunderous rock anthem — we’ve seen suggestions it’s Beast in Black. They are, of course, the power metal band founded in 2015 by lead guitarist Anton Kabanen.
What are your top guesses? Could Krista Siegfrids be the returning artist? Which artists are in the duo teased by #4? Could UMK 2023 host Samu Haber be in the mix? Let us know down below….
