YLE has now announced the 12 invited artists that will take part in the Finnish national finals in January and February 2007. Producer Timo Suomi has said earlier, that the list will include well-known established artists, but apparently some have withdrawn as at least three names are more or less totally unknown even in Finland. The dozen represent different music styles from dance to hard rock, but also some Finnish schlager and pop are included.
The biggest names are undoubtedly Laura, who represented Finland already in 2002 in Tallinn, Hanna Pakarinen who won the first season of Finnish Idols two years ago and a veteran singer-songwriter Jukka Kuoppamäki, whose career spans over five decades.
Beats and Styles
Urban pop combining rock, rap, reggae, disco and electro funk. Beats and Styles consists of two guys Alimo & Control. The band has gained some success abroad.
www.myspace.com/beatsandstyles
Jani & Jetsetters
Guitar rock based on 60’s type bands with a schlager flavour. Records in Finnish. Covered Karl Martindahl's MF entry Love turns water into wine on their album Uusi aalto. The album is currently number 10 in the Finnish album chart.
www.magnummusic.fi/janijetsetters.htm
Humane
Described as liquid rock, fronted by ex-model Kim Herold. Records for Beats and Styles records.
Jann Wilde and Rose Avenue
New band, described as Glam / Pop / Punk inspired by David Bowie, The Cure, Manic Street Preachers, The Ark, Hanoi Rocks. Supported Negative on their recent German tour. First single released on 15th November.
Katra
Mostly unknown artist with one single release, Sahara. Nightwish-style rock in Finnish by Risto Asikainen and Ilkka Vainio (songwriters and producers behind Nylon Beat-success)
Kentala
Mostly known for being the runner-up to Geir Rönning in Finnish national final in 2005. Jamiroquai-style funky pop.
Jukka Kuoppamäki
A schlager veteran, who already took part in Finnish national finals in 1971-75, with his best result being 2nd in 1971 with Uinu poikani, vain. Winner of Syksyn Sävel Song Contest in 1973 and winner of Rostock festival in 1971 and 1972. He now lives in Germany. Current album Suuret tunteet has country-flavoured schlagers in Finnish.
www.poptori.fi/jukkakuoppamaki/
Johanna Kurkela
Debuted in 2004 with hit single ”Tahdon tanssia kanssasi”. Current album Hetki hiljaa has moody ballads sung in Finnish.
Lovex
"Lovex combines the arrogant vibes of 80's rock´n´roll music and today's high technology. The whole purpose of Lovex is to play rock'n roll music the way it's meant to be played: too loud, straight from the heart and with a gleemy glint in the corner of the eye." (From MySpace profile) Biggest hit: Guardian Angel.
www.myspace.com/lovexmusicfinland
Hanna Pakarinen
Winner of Idols 2004. The former forklift driver has released 2 albums so far which both reached number 2 in The Finnish charts. Her style is soft rock in English.
www.myspace.com/hannapakarinen
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna_Pakarinen
Thunderstone
The band of Pasi Rantanen, who supported Lordi as the hooded backing singer in Athens, occasionally also wearing a Kiss-mask. Hard rock.
Laura Voutilainen
Household name in Finland since first hit in 1993. Represented Finland in ESC Tallinn in 2002 with Addicted to you, which famously did much worse than many fans expected. Recent greatest hits album in charts in Finland. She has currently her own restaurant show called DivaDive! where she performs songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Tina Turner and Liza Minelli.