#UMK 2014 THE FINAL - LIVE BLOGGING - NOW!

Join me for tonight's UMK 2014 final from Barona Arena in Espoo. Krista Siegfrids will perform, so will Redrama with Kristinia DeBarge. The judges have again their 50% share of votes and the rest is decided by the televoters. Tonight 8pm CET. #JoinMe!

20.30 Here we go! Live on internet UMK+ will be on backstage.....We have Krista Siegfrids who is finally giving farewell to her wedding dress! No more of that aftet tonight and she's ready for new adventres. And more comfortable dresses! Reija Väre and Elias Koskimies are with her there, too....  They have created together the opening number.....
Toni Wirtanen next. He tells the judges are in contact with the artists even after the contest, when the pressure and stress is over. Like in a few days.
Then we have Clarissa and Josh. They plan to work together even in the future, no matter what happens tonight. They are extra happy for the video they just released andit was watched by some 3000 people in 24 hrs.... Next MadCraft. They have released an iPhone app... including their lyrics in various languages and dialect.....
Hukka ja Mama's Mama has a birthday cake on top of her head! Cool! They're planning to release Selja in Spanish.... Mama doesn't speak any Spanish but that won't stop them... Mikko Pohjola is very happy already now  about his #UMK14 adventure. He's already got more than he hoped and wished for... And he's only grateful for the critisism he's got from the judges.
Lauri Mikkola is planning an international career and is apparently the most tweeted one #UMK14 artist abroad. He's also eyeing Spain after UK.....
Softengine won the first heat and now they're back. Meanwhile they have been rehearsing and their future concert set list. Next Finland's Pussy Riot or MIAU. Hell no, they're not political so they're not Pussy Riot! Clear?
Hanna Sky says she has grown a lot as an artist. Who does she think is her main enemy? No one and all, everyone is so good! ;-p

Oh dear lord, now the UMK+ presenters go in English for the pleasure of the international viewers.... and we have Kristinia DeBarge who will duet with Redrama tonight...
Over 15.000 #UMK14 tweets this season so far, and still MadCraft is the king in that department. In Instagram Clarissa takes over, in Facebook MadCraft, most played in Spotify Mikko Pohjola, most watched video Softengine.... In one word: No clear favorite this year, anything can happen tonight!
21.00 Here we go with an opening number directed by Elias Koskimies, choreographed by Reija Väre and starring Krista Siegfrids.... She's desparate to get back to UMK but the judges aren't having any of it so..... And she meets Laura Voutilainen in the A/C tubes and a cat fights is here!

She made it to the stage and kicks off with Amen. Marry me follows and she takes over presenting the show by presenting the artists who make a very funny entrances to the stage and take part in Krista's show.

After all that show the serious stuff begins. The presenters Anne and Ile welcome also the international viewers online and in eurovision.tv and then the judges and the voting instructions.

21.11 First off are tonight's youngest artists, Softengine and their Something better. Red and black staging for them, all guys in suits of some sorts with decorations, fireworks, fine vocals and basic rock band performance. I can't help but finding this a bit boring.... And not quite suitable for Eurovison, is it? Toni is sort of speechless. He thinks the band is great, they sound and look like real stars. Redrama is equally speechless and amazed. World class vocals. Aija thinks they are stylish and th lead singer is breathtakingly good. Tomi agrees with the rest. He is proud of them. So we can expect very high jury scores tonight.....

21. 20 Next another direct qualifier, Hanna Sky and her Hope..The stage is warm red and yellow. Hanna is wearing the same blue dress and the performance is pretty much the same with the acrobatic dancer. Wind machine appears. Yet I don't think she managed to create the magic she did in the heat she won. Vocally wonderful though. She's better than the song really.Redrama thinks she was very convincing, he thinks the song is good but not great but Hanna makes it work. Aija thinks it sounded very good, especially her vocal talent. Tomi says he was a bit confused with the song for a long time but Hanna has found her artist self and made the song good. Toni thinks she's the biggest surprise of this season. He expected nothing but she kicked his ass with the heat performance. Hard to say after these comments how they will vote for her, sounded a bit like "thanks but no thanks" between the lines...

2130. MIAU next with their God/Drug.The backing dancers start from the catwalk and join the girl on stage and the party starts. Colorful, crazy, 80's. The girls clearly enjoy their performance and look the part. Can't help but like it! Aija says they are her favorite group here. Great styly and their song might be the simpliest song of the evening but they take all out of it. Tomi think they have gone beyond his wildest dreams what visually, if Kiss was founded in 2010's by females, it would look like this. Toni thinks they rock. It's disturbing and therefor very exciting. He wants them to Copenhagen. Redrama has learned to like them, too. He still doesn't like the song that much but visually it works and it makes him smile....

21.38 Next Lauri Mikkola and his self penned Going down.Various colors on stage for him, dry ice and the red suit again. Vocally great as expected but is it enough? The song's beautiful but how would it work in Eurovision, that's what keep me wondering? Tomi says he's already proud of this year's artists even if we are ony half way. Also Lauri has found his visual staging, and gotten better with each passage. Finland needs a singer like him. Toni has also warmed up to this song that he wasn't so impressed at first, thanks to Lauri's soulfulness. Redrama  agrees, it wasn't so great at first, but now he's singing it great, more relaxed and he hopes to hear soon Lauri's full album. And chicks like. Aija included. She thinks Lauri is one for competition, as he only gets better and better each time. mm, are they also politely saying between lines he's great elsewhere? Hard to try to make out what the judges really think and how they will vote tonight...
21.47 We have a visit to greenroom that's in the arena actually. Hukka ja Mama are rather excited while watching the other artists....

And then off to MadCraft and Shining bright. Very colorful backdrop to these guys, clealry inspiring from lead singers pyjamas. Is it me or is this a bit de-energized? More Andorran Anonymou than ever when this was the moment to get really crazy! Oh, pyros and skating ramp with bicycles - or whatever it is called? - on stage. Now that's a first in the Eurovision world! Still not my cup of tea. Toni thinks it's great to have this kind of song and group in the line up. This is a real band with real fans. Redrema liked the energy and believes the people will vote for them, he won't. Aija likes the fact they have stage energy but the vocals... Tomi reminds about their social media buzz... but summa summarum, the jury will not vote for them tonight.

21.55 Mikko Pohjola and Sängyn reunalla.  Not going to go around it, this is my favourite. The black and white start of the song with dry ice works magic and he sings very well. Touching, emotional, magical, capturing.... The best song I have heard in the 2014 season so far! That's what I think. Redrama got goose bumps and teary eye. This song works, all is perfect and touches him. He's proud Mikko decided to take part. Aija is touched, too. Heartbreaking, emotional, touching. He sings even better. She listens him even at home! Tomi is touched, too. He reminds this song barely made it to the final 12 and he's now very happy they decided to let it through. He also reminds this is already a radio hit. Toni didn't understand this song at all and was against its place in the top-12. Now he has had a total change of heart and if Mikko goes to Copenhagen, he couldn't be happier!

22.05 Clarissa feat. Josh Standing is next On top of the world.  She's got a hood this time, and Josh not. She's also barely dressed. Josh is doing a good job tonight, there are fireworks, dancers and Melodufestivalen written all over it. Aija thinks show was great, fits nicely the big arena. They look good and she loves Josh's voice. Good luck! Tomi says they might win, but not with his points. They look good.... Toni has respect for Clarissa's effort to get better and have never given up, even if the judges have been rather rough with them. Nice song. Redrama thinks they are a pop duo in studio and so on. Ok, no jury votes for them tonight. Kind of relief really....

22.14 Last but not least Hukka ja Mama with their Selja. Mama is wearing a birthdaycake in her head and Hukka sports a pink shirt. Colorful, sweet and candylike and Rubik's cube i the backdrop. Lovely and charming, very sweet. Great lyrics and likable personalities on stage- This bloggers second favorite. It'd be very interesting to see this in Copenhagen but I'm afraid the televotes won't be enough for them tonight. Finns tend to think about Eurovision  as well and most them find this unsuitable... Tomi thinks they are great and can't wait to hear their whole album. Toni thinks this is wonderful song and they are wonderful and it is something new and unique. And Mama has really blossomed during UMK! Redrama loves the song and loves them. He thinks they have managed to grow with the satge from little studio to big arena and made it work. Aija thinks the song has a great story, they are original and she is really in trouble when sshe is going to have to give votes shortly....
22.24 Back to green room. MadCraft are all excited about the gig in Barona Arena and then we go to recap....

Then Redrama takes the stage with Kristinia and Let go. His Clouds was one of the biggest hits of 2013 in Finland. It featured also a Backstreet Boy and was indeeed great track.  And this new one's not bad either....

22.31 Another recap. And then jury will give out their votes..... Toni's top votes go to MIAU, Mikko and Softengine, Hanna Sky last....  Redrama gives Softengine, Mikko and Hukka ja Mama the highest scores and MadCarft last. Mikko and Softengine are leading... Aija gives top marks to Softengine, then Mikko and MIAU. MadCarft last and now Softengine is leading, Mikko second....Tomi ranks Softengine, Mikko and Hukka ja mama on top, MadCraft last.....

Softengine 38, Mikko Pohjola 35, MIAU 32. Hukka ja Mama 28, Lauri Mikkola 23, Clarissa ft Josh 20, Hanna Sky 19 and MadCarft 13

Krista Siegfrids again on stage doing her new single Cinderella.  With a lot of alter egos and new style.
22.50 Here come the results. Top-3 is in random order: Mikko Pohjola! MIAU! and Softengine!And here re the real results... third is MIAU!

Winner is..... SOFTENGINE!

Oh, Alexander Rybak was there, too.