Finland: Saara Aalto selected to sing in Lisbon

Saara Aalto will sing for Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Portugal. The X-factor UK runner-up has been selected internally by broadcaster YLE. YLE will still air the UMK format to pick a song for Aalto.

So far, Finland always held a public national selection for their Eurovision Song Contest participation. However, for the 2018 season Finnish broadcaster, YLE, has decided to change the process by choosing their representative internally.

Finland’s national selection, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, will see Saara Aalto perform three songs composed specifically for her. Of these three individual songs the viewers and international juries will get to select the best one for the Eurovision Song Contest in May in Lisbon.

YLE will broadcast the selection process live from Espoo Metro Areena on 3rd of March. The three songs and music videos will be available before spring 2018. The exact timetable will be available at a later date.

Saara Aalto: Finally at Eurovision after being runner-up

Saara Aalto started her career by finishing runner-up in the first season of The Voice of Finland in 2012. After that, she placed second in two editions of UMK, narrowly missing out on a Eurovision ticket. This year, she rose to international fame when she participated in UK X-factor – again finishing second.

Aalto seems excited to represent Finland in Eurovision. “I know that this journey is going to be fantastic regardless of the results of the actual competition. I’m of course jumping right in with the attitude that I can win the Eurovision Song Contest – or at least finish in second place! That’s something I’ve been great at, no doubt about it,” Saara jokes on the official Eurovision website, as she’s finished second twice in the national Eurovision selection of Finland as well as in The Voice Finland and in X Factor UK.

Saara says that the three songs will differ from each other. All of them will get a spectacular, unprecedented stage show. “There won’t be any of that “let’s just throw in something” vibe. Every detail will be thoroughly thought out and delivered to the maximum. This is going to be a superb experience for the whole of Finland! I have a strong Finnish and international team with me, together we’re able to make great things happen.”