Introduction

• Participant(s): Blind Channel
• Song: Dark Side
  
• Writer(s): Aleksi Kaunisvesi, Joonas Porko, Joel Hokka, Niko Moilanen, Olli Matela
• Composer(s): Aleksi Kaunisvesi, Joonas Porko, Joel Hokka, Niko Moilanen, Olli Matela
• Broadcaster: YLE
• Social media:       
  
• Team review: 

Unlike other countries Finland did not directly nominated last year’s singer Aksel Kankaanranta. He has granted a place in the national final UMK, but there were six competitors. With his song “Hurt” he made the 6th place. This year it was almost clear that the hard rock band Blind Channel would have had the best chances to win. With over one million clicks the music video has surpassed all expectations. Finland will be sending another hard rock song to Eurovision.

The band Blind Channel actually consist of six members: Joel (vocals, guitar), Niko (vocals), Joonas (guitar), Olli (bass), Tommi (drums) and Aleksi (drums). The band is from Oulu in Northern Finland and the band describes the style as “violent pop” a mix of post hard core, nu metal and alternative rock. The name of the band and the title also symbolizes a mystic and the dark underground, but in a positive way. Blind Channel has become very popular in the scene not only in Finland. The first international gig they had at the Wacken Festival (hard rock music festival in Wacken, Germany). Many singles have been released such as the first single “"Naysayers" and "Calling Out". The current album is called “Violent Pop”.

The song “Dark Side” is a glaring hard rock song even with a certain melody. The song is loud and shriek and is nothing what is normally being heard at the Eurovision Song Contest:

Just another night in my pitch black paradise
Don't wanna cry, so I gotta get paralyzed
My body is my weapon, so I keep it loaded
'Til I'm all over the place like my head exploded
Don't waste your prayers, they can't save us
Lifestyles of the sick and dangerous

Finland has already send Lordi with “Hard Rock Hallelujah” , who made the first ever victory for Finland and Teräsbetoni two year later. Maybe Blind Channel will also motivate their fans throughout Europe to vote for them? Nevertheless, “Dark Side” won’t be the only rock song in this year, Italy is going to send Måneskin, another rock band. This is normally not the music Eurovision fans would listen to. But generally the Eurovision Song Contest is open for all kind of music styles. The more diversity it is, the more people will be interested in.

History

• Debut: 1961
• Participations: 54
• Victories: 1
• Finals: 45 (8 since 2004)
• Top 10: 12
• Chances for Top 10: 22%
• Chances for Final: 47%

Due to the cancellation of the ESC in Rotterdam 2020, the year will not be taken into account. So this year it will be the 54th official Finnish entry in Rotterdam.

Finland has joined quite late in 1961 and had to miss out some years between 1995 and 2003. Due to bad placings Finland had to pause for a year. Over all the years Finland’s reputation in regards of success has suffered. Even if Finland has send songs of outrageous quality quite often and there were great evergreens, but the points did not flow as for other countries and therefore Finland was often found on the bottom of the scoreboard undeservedly. Three times Finland received not even a single point. Maybe this was due to the language issue or it has just been the wrong choice of the Finnish entries for Eurovision or a too strict judgement by the juries. Nowadays every country could chose the language of its choice and the Finnish entries are mostly sung in English, with some exceptions.

After all the long years of waiting the hard rock band Lordi came with “Hard Rock Hallelujah” in 2006 and Finland had its first fulminate victory in history. This was very well deserved and overdue. The entire country was in Lordi-fever and a long-cherished wish came true. A wonderful and unforgettable contest has been held in Helsinki a year later with very proud Finns.

At least Finland is quite often passing the Semi Finals, eight times out of sixteen Finland has made it into the Grand Final with the utmost different styles from hard rock, ballads pop up to folkloristic songs. Last time Finland has been seen in the Grand Final was with Saara Aalto and “Monsters” in Lisbon 2018. The last performer DJ Darude made a last place in the Semi Final, unfortunately.

Biggest successes:

• 1x 1st place
• “Hard Rock Hallelujah” | Lordi (Athens 2006)
• 1x 6th place
• “Tom Tom Tom” | Marion Rung (Luxembourg 1973)
• 4x 7th place
• “Tipi-tii” | Marion Rung (Luxembourg 1962)
• “Laiskotellen” |Lasse Mårtenson (Copenhagen 1964)
• “Old Man Fiddle” |Pihasoittajat (Stockholm 1975)
• “La Dolce Vita” | Anneli Saaristo (Lausanne 1989)

Video Nostalgia

• “Katso Sineen Taivaan” | Katri-Helena
  Rank 14, Jerusalem 1979
• “Päivä Kahden Ihmisen” | Kari Kuivalainen
  Rank 15, Bergen 1986
• “Niin Kaunis On Taivas” | Jasmine
  Rank 23, Oslo 1996