my TOP 7 of UMK 25 (with commentary) | Eurovision 2025 Finland

[@CoxaBranca]

In the UMK system, it is not truly a 75:25 split, the televote actually carries even more weight. This is because the jury uses the 12-point system, so they cannot substantially differentiate their favorite acts from the others, but the televote can. As an example, in UMK 24, the 6th place got half the points of the 1st place in the jury vote, while in the televote the 6th place got one quarter of the vote of the 1st. Other competitions avoid this by ranking both votes, like Albania did. There are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches, but the UMK approach does make it very hard for a quality act to beat a viral act.

[@JanBors]

@@CoxaBranca yes, this system in in UMK attracts more joke actsc than quality music

[@florenna]

@@JanBors IMO it's quite disrespectful for the artist involved to call someone a "joke act"... A fun act is not the same as "joke act"!

[@JanBors]

@ I dont agree, things must be called how they are. It may get someone offended but it does not mean its not true. This is exactly the reason why we are lowered standards so crazily. We are so not to get someone offended by absolutely normal comments, dancing around, that we dont even stagnate, we slide down with quality. Disrespect would be to say its trash or idiotic, I would agree. Still used very mild wording.

[@ullakosmos7760]

Viivi made my tears fall and Goldielocks possessed me, even I see myself as a hardcore trash metal chick. Eurovision " is crazy and it's party", so we all know the result of public votes in Finland. Hopefully live shows rock the boat! Thanks for all your analyses and opinions even though I don't always agree with you - keep breaking the bubble!

[@Balnazzardi]

Well we can only hope Viivi's fanbase will vote for her actively 3 weeks from now. Thats the one advantage she has in this competition that she along with Vikman is the most established artist in Finland who has lot of fans. Even so I sadly think it will not be enough, but it is what it is.

[@michelledehaen8997]

I like Nightmares and Make Of, they are radio friendly. Not eceptional but good average, qualifiers for the finals. 🙂 We (Belgium) have a funny, catchy song (Le Manou) (part 1 of our contest) to be continued 😀💥👍

[@JanBors]

where can I see it?

[@PhilomenaCunkESC]

Here are my predictions, overall probably the strongest selection so far imo: My favorite: Erika Vikman UMK Jury winner: Goldielocks UMK Tele winner: OML UMK winner: OML Best choice: Goldielocks or OML

[@JanBors]

interesting, I see it exactly oppositely with the quality... strong decline

[@PhilomenaCunkESC]

@JanBors For me, this is a great selection, nothing exceptional like UMK 2023. All of the songs debuted top 6 on the finnish spotify charts, and right now, all of them are top 10 on the charts.

[@JanBors]

@ yes, its very domestic focused, not internationally imo

[@florenna]

Oh I really really hope your predictions come true!! And agree about the best choices for ESC, it's either Goldielocks or Puppy, for very different reasons; but I'm basically for *anything* but Erika's p*rn act, for now.

[@JanBors]

Erika would do well at Eurovision too for sure

[@christospanagiotidis6327]

Erika is too much…. It’s still a family show and not a peep show. Hoping for Puppy or Viivi. The quality is still high though

[@Balnazzardi]

Funny you mention Puppy and Viivi because they are on opposites sides of my top 7 list and two extremes😂 The other is the most "serious" of the songs, while the other is the most "joke song"...I will give my vote for Viivi without any doubt, to me the studio/music version already touched deeply, but maybe because it really can hit deeper for Finnish native speaker and especially if you can relate to the lyrics atleast somewhat. Anyhow Erika is the clear favourite to win UMK and if its between Erika and OML, I much rather have Erika there because Puppy makes my ears bleed. Also if we want to send song that can receive jury votes most likely then what better song to send than Viivi's Aina. Ofc in terms of public vote it can be hit or miss and has a risk of not getting into final, but thats the risk we Finns should take. Its time for something different than "funny/strange" act and seeking that Käärijä 2.0, because there wont ever be another ChaChaCha moment.

[@itsgoodiewoodie]

There is 3 strong horses in this race. All depends what happens 8.2. I don't think Erika is such clear favourite.

[@JanBors]

I am almost sure, she will win. Would be a surprise honestly now

[@Balnazzardi]

I agree that Erika and OML are the ones most likely to fight for the win of UMK (unfortunately), but Viivi could really be the dark horse so to speak. Her live performances have usually been great + she has established fanbase in Finland who might give her more votes than she would otherwise receive as newcomer. Overall I dont agree that she would have 0 chance of getting through to the final, but ofcourse with ballad there is always a risk that public wont vote for a ballad. But lets say if she would win UMK and get past semi final, what do you think her chances would be to get points from the jury? And could it even work to her advantage in televotes as well if majority of finalists would be funny/faced paced songs, but hers would be one of the very few ballads?

[@JanBors]

@@Balnazzardi in the finals depends on the competition, I can be like 2021 suprises in top10 or it can be 20, which is more likely my guess. But we need to know the competition.

[@tanjanikola9489]

Several ballads have got to final and done pretty well (Hollow, Ramonda, Bridges). I don't remember another ballad singer who would be as delicate as Viivi, and she would be a wonderful ambassador for different Finnish music. Finland has already proven it can deliver rock, heavy rap & EDM etc.

[@JanBors]

@ those vere better songs

[@vladovlado9020]

Finci kao da piju svaki dan redbull 😂.

[@Kuujuuri]

Your claims about quality are absolutely hilarious when Finnish charts are dominated by pop songs in Finnish with similar quality to these songs here. These songs represent Finnish music industry to a tee apart from lacking rap music.

[@JanBors]

@@Kuujuuri Czech charts are also filled by czech pop which does not have it. Thats not any measure. Its called local popularity.

[@Kuujuuri]

@JanBors yes but how exactly are you expecting something else than that to arise from such industries? Only UK and Sweden truly export music in Europe. It's absolutely ridiculous to call an entire country's music business "not quality" when it's literally the best quality in the said country. Finland can't produce international pop songs when we don't have that industry here and Finns generally speaking only listen to Finnish pop, it's what charts here and international songs have hard time penetrating our charts. It's even evident with the UMK songs where all the songs in Finnish are doing exceptionally well in the charts and the English ones while charting are significantly lower

[@JanBors]

@ how did Rasmus made it back in the time? I think us Europeans are best at finding excuses how something cannot be done.

[@Kuujuuri]

@JanBors The Rasmus is a rock band, and Finland has a long history of exporting rock/metal music, but unless you want Finland to send rock/metal music year after year because it needs to be international. Finland has never exported pop music

[@JanBors]

@ it does not matter really, as music is about individuals. Like football, Finland can produce amazing footballers, it takes time and vision and money. Question is if someone wants to do it or not. Anything else is an excuse