Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2015 was the fourth edition of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the music competition that selects Finland's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition consisted of four shows that commenced with the first of three semi-finals on 7 February 2015 and conclude with a final on 28 February 2015. The four shows were held at the YLE Studios in Helsinki and hosted by Rakel Liekki and Roope Salminen.[3] All shows were broadcast on Yle TV2 and online at yle.fi/umk. The final was also broadcast online at the official Eurovision Song Contest website eurovision.tv as well as via radio on Yle Radio Suomi and with commentary in Swedish on Yle X3M.[4]

The format of the competition consisted of four shows: three semi-finals and a final. Six songs competed in each semi-final and the top three entries from each semi-final qualified to complete the nine-song lineup in the final.[5] The results for the semi-finals were determined exclusively by a public vote, while the results in the final were determined by the combination of public voting and jury voting.[6] Public voting included the options of telephone, SMS and online voting. The proceeds from the public voting were donated to the Nose Day Foundation (Nenäpäivä-säätiö), which funds projects in developing nations.[7]

A submission period was opened by Yle which lasted between 1 September 2014 and 8 September 2014.[8] The competition allowed entries longer than three minutes to compete, however, should the winning song be longer than three minutes, it would have to be shortened for the Eurovision Song Contest. At least one of the writers and the lead singer(s) had to hold Finnish citizenship or live in Finland permanently in order for the entry to qualify to compete.[9] A panel of experts appointed by Yle selected eighteen entries for the competition from the received submissions. The competing entries were to be presented during a live streamed press conference on 13 January 2015, however the entries were leaked on Spotify on 7 January 2015.[10] The competing entries were also presented in a televised preview programme on 31 January 2015, hosted by Aino Töllinen, where a panel of guests consisting of Cristal Snow, Hanna-Riikka Siitonen, Toni Wirtanen and Regina Iisa discussed the artists and songs and determined which entry had the best music video. The guest panel selected "Ostarilla" performed by Shava as having the best entry.[11]

The first semi-final show took place on 7 February 2015 and the top three from the six competing entries qualified to the final based on the results from the public vote. "Crossroads" performed by Satin Circus, "No voy a llorar por ti" performed by Norlan "El Misionario" and "Aina mun pitää" performed by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät qualified to the final.[12]

The second semi-final show took place on 14 February 2015 and the top three from the six competing entries qualified to the final based on the results from the public vote. "Ostarilla" performed by Shava, "Heart of Light" performed by Opera Skaala and "Lions and Lambs" performed by Jouni Aslak qualified to the final.[13]

The third semi-final show took place on 14 February 2015 and the top three from the six competing entries qualified to the final based on the results from the public vote. "Hold Your Colours" performed by Solju, "Särkyneiden sydänten kulmilla" performed by Järjestyshäiriö and "All for Victory" performed by Angelo De Nile qualified to the final.[14]

The final took place on 28 February 2015 where the nine entries that qualified from the preceding three semi-finals competed. "Aina mun pitää" performed by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät was selected as the winner. The winner was selected by a combination of public votes (90%) and eight jury groups (10%) that represented different sections of Finnish society: Marthas, LGBT, children, Finland Swedes, musicians, the media, Eurovision fans of voluntary UMK viewers and taxi drivers.[15] Each jury group distributed their points as follows: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 points. The viewer vote was based on the percentage of votes each song achieved through the following voting methods: telephone, SMS and online voting.[16]

"Aina mun pitää" set a Eurovision record by being the shortest Eurovision song to ever compete at the contest with its 85-second length.[17] Following their Finnish national final win, the band garnered media interest from international press commenting on the fact that the band was composed of middle-aged men with developmental disabilities.[18][19] The band's manager, Teuvo Merkkiniemi, stated: "They try to change the world by their songs and playing: they are an example to other people with handicaps."[19]

Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät at a dress rehearsal for the first semi-final

Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät took part in technical rehearsals on 11 and 15 May,[17][26] followed by dress rehearsals on 18 and 19 May. This included the jury final where professional juries of each country, responsible for 50 percent of each country's vote, watched and voted on the competing entries.[27]

The stage show featured the members of Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät in a band set-up: vocalist Kari Aalto, guitarist Pertti Kurikka, bassist Sami Helle and drummer Toni Välitalo. Stage lighting was the most prominent feature of the performance with the background LED screens displaying industrial brick walls.[17][26]

At the end of the show, Finland failed to qualify to the final and was not announced among the top ten nations.[28] It was later revealed that Finland had placed sixteenth and last, receiving a total of 13 points.[29]

Voting during the three shows consisted of 50 percent public televoting and 50 percent from a jury deliberation. The jury consisted of five music industry professionals who were citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury was asked to judge each contestant 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 could be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member were released shortly after the grand final.[30]

Following the release of the full split voting by the EBU after the conclusion of the competition, it was revealed that Finland had placed tenth with the public televote and sixteenth (last) with the jury vote in the first semi-final. In the public vote, Finland scored 51 points, while with the jury vote, Finland scored 1 point.[31]

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Finland and awarded by Finland in the first semi-final and grand final of the contest, and the breakdown of the jury voting and televoting conducted during the two shows:[29][32][33][34]