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FINLAND: ARTISTS WE SHOULD HAVE IN #UMK18 - IF ONLY.... Vol.6: JOHANNA KURKELA, EVELINA, KAIJA KOO, JUKKA POIKA


It's September and the Eurovision 2018 season is officially on. I will feature in coming days names that could be in UMK18, if only...... I say if only, as most likely we won't see any of them in there for UMK is profilied as a newcomers contest instead of being our own Sanremo or Melodifestivalen. In short: a major contest all the big names want to take part not only to win but to boost their record sales and score hits. But one can dream, right? I have thrown in some not so known names for variety. Let's go.... Vol.6 (Check the other ones scrolling down)

Johanna Kurkela has been around already over ten years, and has even tried her luck in Eurovision with Olet uneni kaunein, making her a household name and fan favorite. Her etheric and fragile voice has often flirted with heavier music, and no wonder: She's married to Nightwish's frontman Tuomas Holopainen. She has provided vocals for his solo album and Sonata Arctica. She has even covered Metallica. Seven albums so far and hits like Sun särkyä anna mä en, Rakkauslaulu and Oota mua would still make her an awesome Eurovision artist. Below is Kuolevainen.
Evelina has been around only two years but has scored already seven Top-5 hits as herself or as a featured artist. Honey, Sushi, Ei filtterii, Fuulaa, Himalaja, Takajeejee, Kombo and her latest, Kylmii väreitä (below) are among her hits. She however started in The Voice of Finland in 2012 already, but didn't get that far. Her debut album made chart history in Finland by selling platinum before its release for its singles had been streamed over 20 million times. 
Kaija Koo has been around since early 1980's and made her first major appearance in Euroviisut 1981 as one of Frederik's legendary backing singers. In 1984 and 1985 she was backing singer in the Eurovision and rumor is she was ment to sing the 1986 winning entry but declined for personal reasons and disppeared from spotlight until 1993 when she came back with Kuka keksi rakkauden and multiplatinum album. 13 albums later she's more popular than ever and has scored hit after hit; Hanat aukeaa, Kylmä ilman sua, Niin kaunis on hiljaisuus, Tinakeknkätyttö, Kaunis rietas onnellinen, Kuka sen opettaa, Vapaa and Nää yöt ei anna armoo (below)
Jukka Poika is the Finnish reaggae king. After several bands he went solo and his Silkkii (below) in 2011 was a huge hit and already an evergreen. Älä tyri nyt, Mielihyvää, Elä vähän and Rakastaa ja tulla rakastetuks are his other songs that have made Finns go a bit reggae crazy over and over again...



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