Suomen Käärijä challenges the slippery pop of Sweden’s Loreen with a completely opposite song. Cha cha cha’s charm may yet surprise in Liverpool, writes music journalist Ville Vedenpää.
I was watching the Mello final at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, and Loreen had won. The favourite got to perform in the top spot at number ten. There were 12 finalists, and the most memorable moment of performing is at the back of the pack. The show was even a bit of a dull runner-up.
But you have to admit it. Loreen’s song is a cleverly constructed earworm and its performance is polished to the last detail. A one-time Eurovision winner in 2012, Loreen is a skilled and confident performer. Everything is straight out of a Swedish pop music textbook.
At the same time, Sweden’s proxy is risk-free. Critics have said that Loreen is riding on her old reputation. The song is reminiscent of *Euphoria* and offers nothing new.
I have often been asked if betting statistics can be trusted. They don’t tell the whole truth, but they give a hint. When Lordi competed in Athens in 2006, Finland was fifth in betting before the final. No one quite dared to trust the victory of a monster band that deviated from the formula.
Suomen Käärijä is the dark horse of this year’s Eurovision, like Lord. The *Cha Cha cha* song has become a phenomenon as people around the world are amazed by what they have just seen and heard.
Standing out and being remembered is key in Eurovision. However, this year it doesn’t require much, because the level is average and quiet.
The fate of Finland’s success is therefore largely in the hands of the juries. In general, music professionals value more traditional quality than out-of-the-box madness.
So what do people want this year? Shall we go back to the last produced pop, or does the world feel so oppressive that you have to go dancing.
In Liverpool, we will see an exciting match between Finland and Sweden.
The fact that the Swedes have to rethink Loreen’s stage show brings more excitement to the game. The huge screen that descends on the singer weighs almost two tons, and it is too much for Eurovision, where the technology has to be thought about according to almost 40 performances.
The Finns, on the other hand, have to make sure that Käärijä’s green bolero stays with them until Liverpool.