The Rasmus are representing Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Turn this May.
The band – famed for their 00s hit ‘In The Shadows’ – won Finland’s selection contest Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) with a landslide victory for their track ‘Jezebel’ on Saturday (26th February).
“We did it! We are so happy. It was a super tough competition, all the other songs were very good,” says vocalist Lauri Ylönen. “We were preparing so hard for this for six months. We are really taken and honoured and we will be working like pigs to represent Finland in the best way in Turin.”
After winning the contest, the band were asked about how they feel about participating in the competition, following the expulsion of Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.
“This is an important issue and we are constantly thinking about it. It’s really shocking and distressing, and it has been really emotional,” bassist Eero Heinonen commented.
“What is happening feels very wrong. I watched the news on TV in my hotel room and cried. It felt twisted and wrong to go to the UMK rehearsals after that. It was like being on an emotional rollercoaster,” Ylönen added
Of course, while having the Rasmus at Eurovision is great, they will have to beat possibly the greatest song of all time, Latvia’s CITI ZĒNI with the wholesome ‘Eat Your Salad’.
What a bop.
