Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2012 was the first edition of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the music competition that selects Finland's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition consisted of five shows that commenced with the first of four performance shows on 3 February 2012 and concluded with a final on 25 February 2012. The four shows were hosted by YleX DJs Anne Lainto and Joona Kortesmäki. All shows were broadcast on Yle TV2, Yle HD and online at yle.fi. The final was also broadcast via radio on Yle Radio Suomi.[3][4]

The format of the competition consisted of five shows: four performance shows and a final. Six songs competed in each of the first two performance shows and two entries from each show were eliminated. Nine songs consisting of the remaining eight songs and a wildcard selected by a public vote competed in the third performance show and two entries were eliminated to complete the six-song lineup in the final.[5] The results for the first three shows were determined by a five-member judging panel, the results for the fourth show were determined by public voting and judges' voting, while the results in the final were determined exclusively by a public vote. Public voting included the options of telephone and SMS voting.[6]

The judging panel participated in each show by providing feedback to the competing artists and selecting entries to qualify in the competition. The panel consisted of:[7]

• Pauliina Ahokas – Executive Director of Music Export Finland
• Sami Häikiö – Project Manager of Music Export Finland
• Anna Laine – Programmer at Radio Helsinki
• Tomi Saarinen – Head of Music at YleX
• Jorma Hietamäki – Head of Music at Yle Radio Suomi

A submission period was opened by Yle which lasted between 15 August 2011 and 1 October 2011. 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.[6][8] A panel of eleven experts appointed by Yle shortlisted 40 entries from the 540 received submissions.[9][10] Demo versions of the shortlisted entries were released on 2 November 2011 at yle.fi and an online vote took place which was won by "Aamuyön ikuisuus" performed by Jari and Taika. The judging panel selected twelve entries for the competition and an additional three entries for a wildcard selection. The competing entries were presented during a televised preview programme on 27 January 2012, hosted by Anne Lainto and Joona Kortesmäki, and the public was able to vote via telephone and SMS for the wildcard until 2 February 2012. "Teleport My Heart" performed by The Spyro was selected as the public wildcard and was announced during the second performance show on 10 February 2012.[11]

The four performance shows took place on 3, 10, 17 and 24 February 2012 in Helsinki; the first two shows took place at the M1 Studios, while the third show took place at the Club Dom as a live gig in front of an audience and the fourth show took place at the Helsinki Ice Hall as part of the final rehearsals. The public wildcard, "Teleport My Heart" performed by The Spyro, performed starting from the third show.[12] The judges eliminated two of the competing entries in the first three shows, while one was eliminated by the judges in the fourth show after a public vote starting on 17 February 2012 nominated two of the seven remaining entries for elimination.[13] In addition to the performances of the competing entries, Laura Närhi performed as the interval act in the first show.[14]

The final took place on 25 February 2012 at the Helsinki Ice Hall in Helsinki where the six entries that qualified from the preceding four performance shows competed. The winner was selected over two rounds of public televoting. In the first round, the top three from the six competing entries qualified to the second round, the superfinal. In the superfinal, "När jag blundar" performed by Pernilla Karlsson was selected as the winner.[18] In addition to the performances of the competing entries, the interval act featured The Rasmus, Anna Abreu, 2011 Finnish Eurovision entrant Paradise Oskar with Felix Zenger and Minna Tervamäki, and Eun-Ji Ha with Linda Haakana from the Finnish National Ballet.[4]

Pernilla Karlsson specifically promoted "När jag blundar" as the Finnish Eurovision entry on 21 April 2012 by performing during the Eurovision in Concert event which was held at the Melkweg venue in Amsterdam, Netherlands and hosted by Cornald Maas and Ruth Jacott.[19]

Pernilla Karlsson took part in technical rehearsals on 13 and 17 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 21 and 22 May. This included the jury show on 21 May where the professional juries of each country watched and voted on the competing entries. The Finnish performance featured Pernilla Karlsson performing in a green dress joined by cellist Heikki Takkula.[23] The LED screens displayed golden sparkles and fireworks with additional red spotlights surrounding Karlsson. The performance also featured the use of a wind machine.[24][25]

At the end of the show, Finland was not announced among the top 10 entries in the first semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Finland placed twelfth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 41 points.[26]

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. 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 following members comprised the Finnish jury: Patric Sarin, Sana Mustonen, Susanna Laine, Mikael Saari and Kyösti Salokorpi.

Following the release of the full split voting by the EBU after the conclusion of the competition, it was revealed that Finland had placed twelfth with both the public televote and the jury vote in the semi-final. In the public vote, Finland scored 36 points, while with the jury vote, Finland scored 57 points.[27][28]

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: