Who will be the big winner of this 67th edition ofEurovision? At this stage, the suspense remains. But some people are already favorites. This is the case of Käärijä, Representative of Finland, this Nordic country so discreet, but so rich culturally, Käärijä has 22% of chance to win the contest according to the bookmakers, who place him in second position in the ranking of the favorites, just behind the Swedish candidate Loreen.
But then, who is Käärijä (pronouncedˈkæːrijæ in Finnish) and what is the song the Finnish artist plans to perform this week in Liverpool? We tell you everything.
Real name Jere Pöyhönen, the 29-year-old artist launched into music in 2017 by unveiling the double single " Koppi tules " / " Nou roblem ". In 2020, he released his first studio opus, entitled"Fantastista".
But since the beginning of the year and the release of his song " Cha Cha Cha ", co-written with Aleksi Nurmi and Johannes Naukkarinen, the artist has strongly gained popularity in Finland. As a result, the artist finished first (out of seven) in the event'Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2023'; a TV show that allows Finns to choose their Eurovision candidate.
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It must be said that the artist has his own style. Käärijä, which means in Finnish"someone who rolls or wraps something", stands out with his bowl cut, his green fluorescent jacket like a bolero, his leather pants and his spikes. The exuberant singer also proudly displays on his chest a tattoo in homage to the German indus metal band he is particularly fond of, Rammstein.
His song chosen for Eurovision 2023, " Cha Cha Cha " reveals some metal notes, mixed with electro pop and rap. A clever mix that seems to have seduced the ears of many, since his video has been viewed more than 4.6 million times on Youtube!
And his song " Cha Cha Cha " also seems to have caught the eye of other competitors. This is the case of the metal band Lord of The Lost. Representing Germany this year with their song " Blood and Glitter ", Lord of The Lost did not hesitate to revisit the title " Cha Cha Cha " to its sauce.
So, is it a publicity stunt or a real passion for the universe of Käärijä? The question arises, but there is no doubt that the Finnish rapper and singer is likely to cause a sensation in Liverpool this week. Finland, which is not one of the automatically qualified countries, will defend its place this Tuesday, May 9, 2023 in the first semi-final. Note that Käärijä will be the last to go tonight.
While waiting to know the results and if Käärijä will reach the final scheduled for May 13, all Finland is behind its candidate. The capital Helsinki has even dressed in the colors of the artist the famous " Lantern Carriers ", the sculptures present on the facade of the Central Station of the city.
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The last time Finland won at Eurovision was in 2006. That year, the heavy metal band Lordi, famous for their costumes, won the song contest with their track " Hard Rock Hallelujah ".
Official website
eurovision.tv
