FINLAND – Finland’s Contest for New Music UMK, revealed its seven finalists today. One of them will represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, in May 2022: Cyan Kicks, BESS, The Rasmus, Younghearted, Olivera, Tommi Läntinen, and Isaac Sene.
The competing UMK songs will be announced daily starting tomorrow, January 13. The songs and music videos will be available on the Finnish Broadcasting company’s streaming service Yle Areena, as well as on Youtube, Spotify, and other music streaming services at midnight on their own respective days. The winner will be chosen in the UMK final on February 26.
UMK22 song release dates:
Thu 13.1. Cyan Kicks – HurricaneFri 14.1. BESS – Ram pam pamMon 17.1. The Rasmus – JezebelTue 18.1. Younghearted – Sun numeroWed 19.1. Olivera – Thank God I’m an AtheistThu 20.1. Tommi Läntinen – Elämä kantaa mua- Fri 21.1. Isaac Sene – Kuuma jäbä
Tommi Läntinen: Elämä kantaa mua
Of all the contestants in this year’s UMK, the one with the longest career is Tommi Läntinen. A musician for over 40 years, Läntinen has released several albums in different groups, performed at thousands of gigs, and collaborated with countless artists. Läntinen launched his solo career in 1994. Some of his biggest solo hits are Via Dolorosa, Syvälle sydämeen sattuu and Kevät ja minä.
Läntinen’s most recent radio hit single Meidän murusia was released in the summer of 2020. It has been over 10 years since his last album of new music was released. This hiatus will come to an end in February, with the release of his new album, Elämä kantaa mua, which is also the title of his UMK entry.
Members of the band Haloo Helsinki! wrote Läntinen’s UMK entry: Leo Hakanen and Jere Marttila composed it, and Elli Haloo wrote the lyrics. It’s also the first time the group has written a song for another artist. Elämä kantaa mua is a blend of old-school and next-gen rock, which is complemented by Läntinen’s raspy voice. Läntinen’s UMK entry is about change and the courage it takes, regardless of whether the change involves a personal relationship, work or any big decision in life. It’s that moment when you can’t go back, because “there’s nothing to go back to.”
For Läntinen, who has not released any new music for quite some time, the song feels very apt. “Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and make that leap, simply having faith that it will all work out. In many cases it does, when you just let go of the past and surrender to the future,” he explains.
Elämä kantaa mua by Tommi Läntinen will be released on Thursday, January 19 at midnight.
UMK jury comments: “Tommi Läntinen’s UMK entry is one of the finest songs of his career. ‘This is pure encore material right from the first listen,’ remarked one of the panellists. Läntinen’s charismatic and recognisable voice, the life he’s lived and a catchy chorus have conspired to make an uplifting pop-rock song. The song is a fusion of venerable Finnish Rock and a big, international pop-rock sound á la Coldplay.”
