Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

{{main|Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Prior to the 2009 contest, {{lang|fi|Yleisradio|i=no}} (Yle) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Finland forty-two times since its first entry in {{esccnty|Finland|y=1961|t=1961}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=22|title=Finland Country Profile|publisher=EBU|access-date=18 August 2014}} It has won the contest once in {{esccnty|Finland|y=2006|t=2006}} with the song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" performed by Lordi. In {{esccnty|Finland|y=2008|t=2008}}, "{{lang|fi|Missä miehet ratsastaa|i=no}}" performed by Teräsbetoni managed to qualify to the final and placed twenty-second.

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, Yle organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster confirmed its intentions to participate at the 2009 contest on 20 June 2008. Yle had selected its entries for the contest through national final competitions that have varied in format over the years. Since 1961, a selection show that was often titled {{lang|fi|Euroviisukarsinta}} highlighted that the purpose of the program was to select a song for Eurovision. Along with its participation confirmation, the broadcaster also announced that its entry for the 2009 contest would be selected through the {{lang|fi|Euroviisut}} selection show.

File:Euroviisut 2009.jpgEuroviisut 2009 was the national final that selected Finland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The competition consisted of three stages that commenced with the first of three semi-finals on 9 January 2009, followed by a Second Chance round on 31 January 2009 and concluded with a final also on 31 January 2009. The three stages were hosted by Eurovision Song Contest 2007 host Jaana Pelkonen and YleX DJ Mikko Peltola. All shows were broadcast on Yle TV2 and online at yle.fi.{{Cite web |title=Tiedote 03.12.2008: Suomen euroviisuehdokkaat 2009 |url=https://vintti.yle.fi/yle.fi/euroviisut/lehdistolle/2008-12-03/tiedote-03122008-suomen-euroviisuehdokkaat-2009.html |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=yle.fi |language=fi}} Both the Second Chance round and the final were also broadcast via radio on Yle Radio Suomi.{{Cite web |last=Klier |first=Marcus |date=31 January 2009 |title=Tonight: National final in Finland |url=http://esctoday.com/13099/tonight_national_final_in_finland-3/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=13 January 2021 |website=Esctoday}}

The format of the competition consisted of three stages: three semi-finals, a Second Chance round and a final. Four songs competed in each semi-final and the top two entries from each semi-final directly qualified to the final. The remaining two entries of each semi-final competed in the Second Chance round where an additional two entries qualified to complete the eight-song lineup in the final. The results for all three stages were determined exclusively by a public vote. Public voting included the options of telephone and SMS voting.{{cite web|last=Davies|first=Russell|date=2008-11-30|title=Finland: YLE gets an early start for 09|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12104|access-date=2008-11-30|publisher=ESCToday}}{{Cite web |date=2008-12-07 |title=Näin Suomen edustaja valitaan |url=http://euroviisut.yle.fi/kotimaan-karsinnat/2008-11-30/nain-suomen-edustaja-valitaan |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=yle.fi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207035006/http://euroviisut.yle.fi/kotimaan-karsinnat/2008-11-30/nain-suomen-edustaja-valitaan |archive-date=7 December 2008 }}

Twelve artists were directly invited by Yle to compete in the national final following consultation with record companies and presented during a press conference on 25 September 2008. Among the competing artists was former Finnish Eurovision entrant Jari Sillanpää who represented Finland in 2004.{{Cite web |last= |date=2008-08-29 |title=Euroviisuedustajan paikasta kisaavat julki 25. syyskuuta |url=https://www.is.fi/viihde/art-2000000140746.html |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi}}{{Cite web |date=2008-09-25 |title=YLE announces Finnish singers! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/yle-announces-finnish-singers |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=eurovision.tv |language=en}} The competing entries were released on 3 December 2008.{{cite web |last=Repo |first=Juha |date=2008-11-30 |title=Finland: All 12 songs online on December 3rd |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12592 |access-date=2008-11-30 |publisher=ESCToday}}{{cite web |last=Repo |first=Juha |date=2008-12-03 |title=Finland: Listen to national final 2009 songs online |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12624 |access-date=2008-12-03 |publisher=ESCToday}}

The three semi-final shows took place on 9, 16 and 23 January 2009 at the Tohloppi Studios in Tampere. The top two from the four competing entries in each semi-final qualified directly to the final based on the results from the public vote, while the remaining two entries advanced to the Second Chance round. In addition to the competing entries, Step Up Dancers performed as the interval act in all three semi-finals.{{cite web |last=Repo |first=Juha |date=2009-01-09 |title=First heat in Finland |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12867 |access-date=2009-01-09 |publisher=ESCToday}}{{cite web |last=Repo |first=Juha |date=2009-01-16 |title=Second heat - national final in Finland |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12927 |access-date=2009-01-16 |publisher=ESCToday}}{{cite web |last=Repo |first=Juha |date=2009-01-23 |title=Third heat - national final in Finland |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/13013 |access-date=2009-01-23 |publisher=ESCToday}}

The Second Chance round took place before the final on 31 January 2009 at the Leonardo Hall in Tampere where the entries placed third and fourth in the preceding three semi-finals competed. The top two from the six competing entries qualified to the final based on the results of a public vote.{{cite web|last=Klier|first=Marcus|date=2009-01-31|title=Tonight: National final in Finland|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/13099|access-date=2009-01-31|publisher=ESCToday}}

The final took place on 31 January 2009 at the Leonardo Hall in Tampere where the eight entries that qualified from the preceding three semi-finals and the Second Chance round competed. The winner was selected over two rounds of public televoting. In the first round, the top three from the eight competing entries qualified to the second round, the superfinal. In the superfinal, "Lose Control" performed by Waldo's People was selected as the winner.{{cite web |last=Schacht |first=Andreas |date=2009-01-31 |title=Finland goes dance: Waldo's People to Moscow! |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1869 |access-date=2009-01-31 |publisher=Eurovision.tv}} A three-member judging panel also providing feedback to the competing artists during the show. The panel consisted of Thomas Lundin (Finnish Eurovision commentator on Yle FST), Hanna-Riikka Siitonen (singer and vocal coach) and Merituuli Lindström (television presenter).{{Cite web |title=Euroviisuraati ruotii Suomen finalistit |url=http://vintti.yle.fi/yle.fi/euroviisut/uutiset/2009-01-14/euroviisuraati-ruotii-suomen-finalistit.html |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=yle.fi |language=fi}} In addition to the performances of the competing entries, the interval act featured Northern Kings and Scandinavian Hunks.

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top nine songs from each semi-final as determined by televoting progress to the final, and a tenth was determined by back-up juries. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 30 January 2009, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals. Finland was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 12 May 2009.{{cite web |last=Bakker |first=Sietse |date=2009-01-30 |title=LIVE: The Semi-Final Allocation Draw |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1857 |access-date=2009-01-30 |publisher=Eurovision.tv}}{{cite web |last=Konstantopolus |first=Fotis |date=2009-01-30 |title=LIVE FROM MOSCOW, THE ALLOCATION DRAW |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=4958 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202072045/http://oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=4958 |archive-date=2009-02-02 |access-date=2009-01-30 |publisher=Oikotimes}}{{cite web |last=Floras |first=Stella |date=2009-01-30 |title=Live: The Eurovision Semi Final draw |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/13083 |access-date=2009-01-30 |publisher=ESCToday}} The running order for the semi-finals was decided through another draw on 16 March 2009 and Finland was set to perform in position 15, following the entry from Romania and before the entry from Portugal.{{cite web |title=First Semi-Final of Moscow 2009 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/moscow-2009/first-semi-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425070821/https://eurovision.tv/event/moscow-2009/first-semi-final |archive-date=25 April 2021 |access-date=25 April 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

The two semi-finals and the final were televised in Finland on Yle TV2 with commentary in Finnish with a second audio program providing commentary in Finnish by Jaana Pelkonen, Mikko Peltola and Asko Murtomäki, and in Swedish by Tobias Larsson.{{Cite web |title=YLE Final Round schedule (in Finnish) |url=http://euroviisut.yle.fi/moskova-2009/2008-11-27/euroviisut-yle-tv2ssa |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515112020/http://euroviisut.yle.fi/moskova-2009/2008-11-27/euroviisut-yle-tv2ssa |archive-date=15 May 2009 |access-date=13 May 2009}} The three shows were also broadcast via radio with Finnish commentary by Sanna Pirkkalainen and Jorma Hietamäki on Yle Radio Suomi.{{cite web |title=Asiasanat – Euroviisut – yle.fi – Arkistoitu |url=http://yle.fi/vintti/yle.fi/euroviisut/kuvaaja/kari-alentola.html |work=yle.fi}} The Finnish spokesperson, who announced the Finnish votes during the final, was 2004 Finnish Eurovision entrant Jari Sillanpää.

Waldo's People took part in technical rehearsals on 4 and 8 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 11 and 12 May.{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Russell |date=3 May 2009 |title=Day 1: Montenegro, Czech Republic, Belgium and Belarus |url=https://esctoday.com/13865/day_1_montenegro_czech_republic_belgium_and_belarus/ |access-date=11 October 2022 |website=Esctoday}}{{Cite web |last=Klier |first=Marcus |date=7 May 2009 |title=Eurovision Day 5: The schedule |url=https://esctoday.com/13913/eurovision_day_5_the_schedule/ |access-date=11 October 2022 |website=Esctoday}} The Finnish performance featured the members of Waldo's People performing in black and silver outfits joined by two backing vocalists and two fire artists. The LED screens displayed blue urban scenes with an illuminated train running from one side to the other and the stage also featured two metal boxes with fire coming out. The performance also featured pyrotechnic effects.{{Cite web |date=2009-05-04 |title=Finland revives the 1990s! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/finland-revives-the-1990s |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=eurovision.tv |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2009-05-08 |title=Finland: dance-song with a message |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/finland-dance-song-with-a-message |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=eurovision.tv |language=en}} The two backing vocalists that joined Waldo's People on stage were Manna Borg and Päivi Virkkunen, while the two fire artists were Niko Virtanen and Kasmir Jolma.{{Cite web |title=Finland |url=https://sixonstage.com/country/finland |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Six on Stage}}

At the end of the show, Finland was announced as having qualified for the grand final. It was later revealed that Finland was selected as the back-up jury qualifier after placing twelfth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 42 points.{{cite web |title=First Semi-Final of Moscow 2009 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/moscow-2009/first-semi-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425070821/https://eurovision.tv/event/moscow-2009/first-semi-final |archive-date=25 April 2021 |access-date=25 April 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

Shortly after the first semi-final, a winners' press conference was held for the ten qualifying countries. As part of this press conference, the qualifying artists took part in a draw to determine the running order for the final. This draw was done in the order the countries appeared in the semi-final running order. Finland was drawn to perform in position 24, following the entry from the United Kingdom and before the entry from Spain.{{Cite web |date=13 May 2009 |title=First Semi-Final contestants draw their running order |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/first-semi-final-contestants-draw-their-running-order |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426150934/https://eurovision.tv/story/first-semi-final-contestants-draw-their-running-order |archive-date=26 April 2018 |access-date=21 October 2021 |website=eurovision.tv}}

Waldo's People once again took part in dress rehearsals on 15 and 16 May before the final, including the jury final where the professional juries cast their final votes before the live show. The band performed a repeat of their semi-final performance during the final on 16 May. At the conclusion of the voting, Finland finished in twenty-fifth (last) place with 22 points.{{cite web |title=Grand Final of Moscow 2009 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/moscow-2009/grand-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425071528/https://eurovision.tv/event/moscow-2009/grand-final |archive-date=25 April 2021 |access-date=25 April 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

The voting system for 2009 involved each country awarding points from 1-8, 10 and 12, with the points in the final being decided by a combination of 50% national jury and 50% televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent. This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently.

Following the release of the full split voting by the EBU after the conclusion of the competition, it was revealed that Finland had placed twenty-second with the public televote and twenty-fourth with the jury vote in the final. In the public vote, Finland scored 30 points, while with the jury vote, Finland scored 12 points.

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Finland and awarded by Finland in the first semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Iceland in the semi-final and to Estonia in the final of the contest.

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The following members comprised the Finnish jury:{{Cite web |title=Ketkä istuvat Suomen asiantuntijaraadissa? |url=http://vintti.yle.fi/yle.fi/euroviisut/uutiset/2009-05-16/ketka-istuvat-suomen-asiantuntijaraadissa.html |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=yle.fi |language=fi}}

• Pekka Laine – Head of Music at Yle
• Jukka Haarma – director
• Satu Mättö – student
• Christel Sundberg (Chisu) – musician
• Sofia Tarkkanen – development manager at Yle Vision

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{{Reflist}}

• {{in lang|fi}} [https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2015/04/21/euroviisujen-suomen-karsinnoista-tuli-esiintyjien-kisa-2000-luvulla Full national final on Yle Elävä Arkisto]

{{Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2009}}

2009

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Eurovision

Eurovision