Tonight, the fourth and last semifinal in Finland�s Eurovision Laulukilpailu will be held. The three last songs for the Finnish final are to be selected. The artists competing in the final are already known, but Finnish television viewers have still to decide their favourite songs that will fill the three remaining spots in the Finnish final. Gary Revel jr is back, with songs he has written himself and as a member of the Finnish super group Safe Six, not completely unlike Switzerland�s representatives this year, the group Six4One.
Marita Taavitsainen
Her two songs tonight are called Enkeli itkee and Antaudun, both sung in the Finnish language. Some visitors of esctoday might have noticed that there are a lot of artist�s in Finland this year, which bear the title Queen of tango. Marita earned her tango title back in 1995. Many people considers her as Finland�s brightest shining schlager star. She was born in 1968. In 2005 she celebrated ten years as an artist. She scored her first major big hit with the song André. Marita has since then released three successful albums.
Katariina Hänninen
Katariina�s two songs tonight are called Pala taivasta and Liian aikaisin. This is her debut in the Finnish Eurovision selection. Katariina is 22 years old. In 2004 she participated in the Golden star contest. A new rock star was born! A series of hits then followed: Kuolematon, Paha tuuli and Pimene, followed by the release of her first full length album last year.
Safe Six
A group with six members, one of them is Gary Revel jr. He co-wrote the two songs that are performed tonight: Livin' it up and I can�t wait. Gary Revel jr has been at the Eurovision several times before, as an background vocalist and dancer for the Finnish entries at the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest. Last year he also participated in the Finnish selection as a solo artist and was a favourite. But a small scandal in the papers damaged his popularity for a short while. You can read about it here. But now Gary is back and wants a big revenge for last year�s embarrassing failure!
The other members of Safe Six are Annina Rubinsten, Teemu Mustonen, Charles Slater, Elina Silander and Jennie, who is a bit special. Jenny has two chances to become Finland�s representative this year, both as a solo artist with her already qualified entry Take me higher and then as a member of Safe Six. They are all people with long and impressive merits in Finnish entertainment. They have played in musicals such as Hairspray, Miss Saigon, Stand by me and Saturday night fever. Many of the members have also been backing vocalists at previous Finnish Eurovision selections.
The televoting numbers of tonight's show can be found here. Voting is only possible calling from Finland. The show starts at 21:00 local time, the results will be presented around 22:15.
� You can find the complete list of participants and the song's lyrics here in the Finland 2006 section (in running order!). The Finish national final will be held the 11th of March in Turku, (Åbo).
