Singer Saara Aalto has picked three songs which she could perform for Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Aalto wrote on Twitter “choosing my 3 Eurovision options in the next 5 minutes. EXCITING”.
In recent years, state-funded broadcaster YLE has organised the ‘New Music Competition’ UMK where different artists perform their songs, which are voted on by the public and a professional jury to find the winner to represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest.
However, after a series of disappointing results for Finland, this year organisers picked Saara Aalto to be the sole artist. She will sing three songs at the national final, held in early March at Espoo’s Metro Arena. One of those songs will be Finland’s 2018 Eurovision entry.
Finland last appeared in the Eurovision grand final in 2014, when pop band Soft Engine performed their song ‘Something Better’. It finished 11th, Finland’s best result since Lordi won the Song Contest with ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’ in 2006.
Saara Aalto has become an international star after coming second in Britain’s X Factor singing competition in 2016. And she’s no stranger to Finland’s Eurovision campaign, having finished second in the national competition twice before.
This year’s Eurovision Song Contest final take place in Portugal on Saturday 12th May.
