Finland, the host country of Eurovision Song Contest 2007, continued its search for the one to follow Lordi�s footsteps with mixed feelings. The Katragate dominated the front pages of papers the first part of the week being then replaced with Kirka�s death on Wednesday all through his funeral on Friday and today�s papers. Tonight YLE run Euroviisut related short clips between each programme all evening.

Here’s how the evening progressed on stage:

Johanna Korkela Olet uneni kaunein/You are my most beautiful dream (music Tomi Aholainen, lyrics Sinikka Svärd)

A dreamlike presentation for this beautiful ballad full of emotion, with smoke and candles on stage. Johanna wanders around with a male dancer and sings well, ending up in bed with him… And she is wearing a sort of nightgown.

Kentala Merry-go-round (music and lyrics Harri Kentala-Janne Hyöty)

The stage looked as confusing as the song sounded itself. Pop-rock with a little Rednex thrown in. He performs well vocally dressed in a t-shirt and jeans playing guitar. And that’s it.

Lovex Anyone anymore (music and lyrics Nino Lovex)

Tonight’s favourite was welcome with screaming girls in audience. Some of them had been waiting for them all night outside the studios in -15 winter weather. Wearing their outfits from promo pictures they were all in black with some red having a disco ball to their background to great effect. A very strong rock song with catchy chorus. Yet, the lead singer is their weakest link.

Anneli Sari, who recorded the Finnish version of Non ho l’etá (Italy 1964) when she was 17 just like Gigliola Cinquetti and grew to become the most successful gipsy singer in Finland was the second guest. She took part in Euroviisut twice, in 1974 with Jäähyväiset (5th) and in 1976 with Mustalaiskaravaani (2nd). She performed Jäähyväiset, a dramatic classy ballad that would have been a great entry for Finland in 1974. These days she mainly lives and performs in Paris, but is planning a concert tour in Finland later this year.

Johanna Kurkela Jossain metsäin takana/Somewhere behind the forests (music Tomi Aholainen, lyrics Heikki Kerkelä)

Johanna gives a very intensive performance of her second song, a midtempo ballad with great lyrics. Somehow she reminds me of Jalisse’s Alessandra Drusian (Italy 1997). Dressed in a cute girly dress and musicians on stage this is a simple and good presentation.

Kentala Left my heart behind (music Harri kentala-Janne Hyöty, lyrics Harri kentala-Maria Ilmoniemi)

Dressed in a vest coat and tie without shirt he starts this rock ballad by the piano. Again candles on stage along his band. Again he is very good vocally.

Lovex Wild and violent (music and lyrics Lovex)

Same outfits and classic rock performance for this rock ballad with heavy guitars. The song ends very suddenly when you least expect it. The lead singer said “Please don’t vote for this song!” after his performance clearly favouring the first one.

Comic Simo Frangén’s Eurovision News were next. He is growing very popular with his sarcastic and ironic, yet loving comments on the week’s Eurovision news. His main news was of course tonight’s Eurovision madness all over Europe. Then he moves on to a very weird Mision Eurovision with separate singers and songs. He wondered if the winner will be never found in the end.

Followed by some promo for the worth coming Euroviisut compilation CD, that will include all 24 songs from Euroviisut 2007 and will be released on February 28. It is expected to be a real big seller and start of a new tradition.

Then to the top-3 of the best songs ever in Eurovision: third Lane moje (Serbia-Montenegro 2004), second Hard rock hallelujah (Finland 2006) and number one of course Waterloo (Sweden 1974). Voting was on YLE’s website all week.

Then he moved to Estonia and Ines gave a short interview and we saw her on stage during rehealses as well. A documentary tells how Estonians watched Eurovision Song Contest long before they were able to participate from Finnish tv. He finished it off with an esclusive secret video of the future interval act in Helsinki: Sauna samba!

Päivi Paunu & Kim Floor, who represented Finland in 1972 were on stage next. They sung Muistathan in Edinburgh and gained a solid 12th place for Finland. These day neither of them is singing anymore. They chatted about their experience in Edinburg and London and were asked the question Jaana & Heikki have asked everyone: Where were you when Lordin won?

The voting started again on Saturday at noon and lasted until 19:00 CET. The songs were presented on radio the previous Monday and have been available on YLE’s website www.yle.fi/eurovision all week. The song that got more votes from each artist proceeded to the final in Turku on February 17.

Here are the results:

Johanna Kurkinen: Olet uneni kaunein 65%
Johanna Kurkinen: Jossain metsäin takana 35%
Kentala: Merry-go-round 36%
Kentala: Left my heart behind 64%
Lovex: Anyone anywhere 84%
Lovex: Wild and violent 16%

Already qualified and final’s running order:

1. Hanna Pakarinen: Leave me alone
2.
3. Jani & Jetsetters: Musta sulhanen
4. Lovex: Anyone anymore
5. Jukka Kuoppamäki: Levitä siivet
6.
7. Katra: Tietäjä
8.
9. Humane: Plane away
10. Thunderstone: Face in the mirror
11. Johanna Kurkinen: Olet uneni kaunein
12. Kentala: Left my heart behind

The fourth and last semi final will be next Saturday. Beats and Styles, Laura Voutilainen (Finland 2002 with Addicted to you) and Jann Wilde & Rose Avenue will be presenting their two songs. The songs will be on also YLE’s website around 18.00 CET on Monday.