UMK 2023 Song Review - Portion Boys

UMK 2024 Song Review - Sini Sabotage

The hype is very real around Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the Finnish national selection for Eurovision and the race to Malmö continues with another rap entry!

Sini Sabotage - Kuori Mua

Sini Sabotage is one of the best known Finnish artists but at the same time one of the rare female rappers in the country. She started her career with a banger Levikset Repee roughly a decade ago and has since released 3 studio albums and multiple radio hits. She has fought her way to the top.

Despite of being somewhat a dream name for UMK for years the idea of sending her new Kuori Mua song to the competition was actually proposed to her by the songwriters and producers.

Kuori Mua which means peel me in Finnish is bold even as a title. If you're familiar with her personality and music you'll notice how this instantly fits her like a glove.

Kuori Mua begins with inviting piano notes and moves quickly to the electronic beat. The song has heat, rush - it tells you how to move and focus. This screams gay anthem. All the banger elements are here and they're well produced.

The lyrics and beat are energetic and sensual - some might be irritated by the Finglish here but I'm not a Finnish rap expert enough to say if this is common for Finnish rap. Chorus is a bit flat, it doesn't bunch me as I'd wish it would. This needs several listens even though it is memorable though. Musically I especially enjoy the beginning of the second verse and the bridge here. The piano based moments give the juiciest sounds. The song improves towards the end but still doesn't meet the expectations in my opinion.

Kuori Mua is not on top of the Youtube and Spotify lists when comparing the UMK24 tracks and I think it hasn't grown to become the banger they'd hoped for even in domestic levels.

What comes to the live performance music video promises several options and it must be big since this has been chosen to start the UMK show on Saturday (Feb 10th). I have no doubt she wouldn't be able to deliver this live.

What do you think of the sixt UMK24 track and would you vote for Sini Sabotage to go all the way to Malmö? UMK final takes place on February 10th!

"A friend is like that". Happy Valentine's Day everybody! :)

Praia da Ursa Bear’s beach is famous for its distinguish rocks. Next to Capo da Roca (most western point of EU) you can hike there within 45min-1h. The route is often described as easy but if you’re not used to make an exception from the paths going down might be difficult. 

It’s surprisingly popular and the traffic on the path is heavy. There are entire families with food, tents etc with them. 

Please note that this beach is also known as a nudist beach and as it is located right on the Atlantic coast, the waves are big and cold. I recommend going here when the summer heat wave reaches its peak. 

Treasures of Lisbon streets! 

Early Spring

Oh boy do I have news!

Thou not sure how “new” they are actually since it’s all been out in FB and Twitter for a week already.

But anyway I’m now officially Linguistic video game tester, working for http://www.babelmedia.com/. It doesn’t make video games but provides testing and translating services for those who do. I’m sure everyone’s seen a videogame once in their lives. All the text in it, the menu and directions etc – I’ll be translating it from English to Finnish. This job was so not on my list of “possible jobs in mtl”! But so far so good, based on the three hours that I’ve already been doing it. Very technical with all the computer programs which was expected but once I get the hang of it, I think I’ll enjoy working there . The atmosphere is very relaxed and warm. People seem nice and helpful. The pay is pretty good too. I should live.

The only down side is that I’m on call employee and the shifts which can vary between 7am and midnight come to my knowledge only 12-24h earlier according to my availability information I’ve given them. And even thou weekends are off it makes it kind of hard to plan the rest of your life when you don’t know IF you’ll be working this week and WHEN exactly you’ll be working. And once you’ve told them you’re available at certain time you cannot refuse to work.

(In a ferris wheel at the Fête du Neiges winter event)

At this point when I want to work as much as possible and I want to be available as much as possible for them, it leads to the fact that I’ll be kind of waiting by the phone for the shift to come in and if it ever does. Which totally sucks. But since there’s nothing better available I’m gonna give it a go. I’ve been told by the them, press, employees that the industry is doing well in Montréal however the changes in the industry can be very sudden and unexpected. And apparently being a native Finnish speaker is kind of an asset which just hasn’t kicked in yet. Who knew! #mtlmoments

Sadly with all this job hunting not going as I planned I’ve kind of decided (I keep changing my mind every minute thou) not to go to Laura Pausini’s concert in Toronto on March 9th. Or actually it’s not exactly in Toronto since Casino Rama, the venue is a couple of hours outside of the city. That was kind of the problem for me. Where in Toronto I could have slept in cheap hostels, in the Casino Rama area doesn’t have the same options or low rates. It’s literally in the middle of nowhere. So for financial reasons not going which feels ridiculous cause I had the money to come here all the way from Finland but I cannot afford to see my favourite artist to perform in six hours away from me!?

(Promotion for the Christmas gig in Italy, 2013)

I keep telling myseld that Laura wasn’t really even my priority when I came to Canada.. she just happened to have a concert nearby while I was here. I’ve seen her four times live, met twice, briefly but anyway, got two autographs, even one dedicated to me on my very first LP album. I have great memories of journeys travelled and friends made. I have been so incredibly lucky in the past... I shouldn’t be this sad! And I wasn’t even that excited about this tour. I was excited about the Greatest Hits-album but not about the tour cause I kind of dislike the tracklist, not the songs in it but the order of them which affects greatly to the atmosphere of the concert. But since I’m not going it’s not my problem anymore. Just hoping Laura will release a DVD (with a CD) about the tour for the ones that didn’t get to see her live.

But to more positive things! Otherwise events of this city just keep getting better and better. Igloofest is one of the many winter outdoor events Montréal helds but it just might be the coolest and the craziest one I've ever seen. Tells the great deal about the attitude that the people of this city has towards the weather and winter. It’s an electronic music event organized in the Old Port of Mtl on four weekends Thursday- Saturday nights. It’s the winter version for Picnik Elektronik. People of all ages, from children to older folks come to enjoy the outdoors and great music. We could never have this thing in Finland. Too many laws and regulations preventing it happen. Two stages, several DJ’s during each night, games, food, drinks etc. Awesomeness! Tickets for one night is about $20 so not expensive either! www.igloofest.ca  Definetely #mtlmoments

(Igloofest)

The adventures of my unwanted pets, the mice has ended too. Animal lovers, please don’t read the following. You don’t wanna know, trust me. Had this teeny tiny nightly incident with a rat getting caught in glue trap in my room. Nearly caused me a heart attack. Totally panic I went to search if anyone was still up – it was 1am Monday-Tuesday night. And seriously I’ve never been more grateful for having roomies cause they took the disgusting thing out of my room and seriously tried – and there were two of them, roomates not rats – to get it out of ALIVE AND WELL…with a little glue on its fur but otherwise fine.That was the goal. And according to the package it was supposed be totally possible! But… in this case it wasn’t. Again thanks to my roomies cause I was in so much panic in that point that I couldn’t have gone anyhere near that thing. Yeah the frenchie got a knife and killed it.

The next morning after a badly slept night I went out and got PERPPERMINT OIL which has worked like a miracle! No mouse or rat in sight ever since! And I don’t even have the headaches anymore because of the smell.

And then more deeper stuff...I was asked a while ago if being in Montréal has changed me at all. Didn’t know exactly what to answer in that moment but it got me thinking for sure. The thruth is that I’ve been in Canada now for six months exactly. Another six months away is also my ‘going home’. Yeah… let’s not think about that.

Before I came here I used to describe myself as an open minded person but lately I’ve realized that I really wasn’t. Not that I was a racist or anything but before I never thought I could be friends or have anything in common with people who’re from certain area of the world or are certain kind of people. And I have a feeling that this Babel job is gonna be one eye opening experience more. 

(Canadians truly love their maple syrup! They even make lollipops out of it in the snow! You just roll it up with a stick from there. Never in Finland!) 

I also appreciate more Europe in these days. Lots of canadians complain that all the places that most people can have afford  to go for a holiday are the States and Latin America and even the latter is kind of far. I do see the point even thou for me those contries aren’t exactly dull destinations to travel to. Even Canada is a huge treasurry with its all different provinces and cultures.

But I guess one of the best things in Europe is how small it is. We’ve got all those amazing countries, languages and cultures so close together to each other. Great diversity. So easy to reach and to travel to. Thanks to the European Union we can cross borders without no one asking a thing, where we’re going or why or if we’re ever coming back. No expiration date in your visa. That’s a great benefit. And a great thing to come home to. Someday.

P. S I also seem to have developed a tendency to write less frequently but longer posts when I do actually post something - sorry! Thanks if you made it this far! :)

Eurovision 2017 favourites vol. 2

14. FINLAND

Take a look for the live version cause it’s better than the studio one. It wasn’t my personal choice but since it received most of the points I can admit my defeat. It’s scandinavic, dark, beautiful, poetic, controlled but still emotional performed by two artists that have a true vision. I just love the piano! The live version completes what you hear. Among all these power ballads this simplicity could actually stand out! I hope it reaches its audience. 

15. ESTONIA

Wasn’t so sure of this when it qualified but it does get better the more you listen to it. Well produced mid-tempo ballad with a catchy beat and sound. One of the best ones this year. Also the duet version goes well with the story. The staging should be good too! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vq3GFVeVE8&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt&index=15

16. MOLDOVA

I understand why someone wouldn’t like this but it’s just because I do! This is the clown of the show but in a good way! So entertaining! I find them funny, uplifting and corny but they stand out with their fresh performance which is rich in sounds. Looking forward to live show in Ukraine!

17. AZERBAIJAN

This one’s even scary and haunting. Dark pop at its best with nice modern sound. I especially like the contrast between the sound and angelic vocals.

18. UK

I didn’t like this when I saw the winning live performance but I think it’s improved. Great singer! Something’s still off and I find the studio version still better than in live. There’s obviously power and emotion in here but still can’t help the feeling that something’s missing. It’s a good song but I doubt it will stand out. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac5xNUfzCY4&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt&index=18

19. ICELAND

You either like this or then you don’t. It’s a bit weird, even cold but I think that’s part of the charm. Interesting and organic electro pop sound but will it be enough? I believe it gets better the more you listen but then in Eurovision it’s a bit risky cause many hear these songs only once or twice. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFyl7h4_H1k&index=19&list=PLsTa5HSM8gbFNBl2v0F2t0DmeCCdObZJt

20. CYPRUS

Heavy sound and deep electronic beats. Great mysterious opening! Dramatic but still catchy. Similar to Azerbaijan but it can stand out.I hope he does well!

21. ITALY

My ultimate favourite this year and I truly hope we’re gonna have the competition in Italy next year! This is pure joy from the begining ‘till the end. I find it very stereotypical but still oh loveable! Francesco is so charming and real and the song with its happy, up-beat tune stands out. Not forgetting the gorilla, what a charismatic pair! 

And who will have the courage if not me?

Hello there!

So in case someone has missed my enthusiastic posts on FB or Twitter about leaving to Montréal, Canada I'm glad to inform you about it now. So that’s where I’ll be going, next week actually, and that’s what this blog is all about! My working holiday visa (through the SWAP organization) is for 12 months but I’m doing my practical training while I’m there which will probably last untill the end of this year. After that I WISH, HOPE and PRAY to find a decent job so that I won’t have to come home before the summer 2014.  

I’ve been asked about if I speak French. I probably wouldn’t go if I didn’t. I’ve studied the language now roughly a decade or so but I’ve never been in ANY French speaking territory before. But I feel like the hours spent in the classrooms have totally passed me by and now it’s time to get out there and see what I’ve learnt. If nothing. But I will learn this language - even though it would be the last thing I do!

So still a few days to go, before my departure and things are looking good. I’m emptying my flat which still feels like an endless process (you can’t imagine this amount of stuff I have!) but otherwise everything is well organized for the journey. Or at this point I still think they are. It’s a good thing my parents aren’t together anymore so I’ve got two places to squeeze my stuff into. I might need them one day so it would be a pity to sell them all..

Still no job though but I’ve made a list of potential employers which I will be approaching once I get there. I’d like to work in a hotel, big enough where I could work in different positions but event organizing interests me as well. Luckily there are plenty to choose from. The industry of tourism in Montréal is waaaay bigger than what I’m used to at back home.

Another thing people have been asking me is, am I nervous or scared to go. Yes and no. In a way  I feel like I’ve got nothing to lose here so if I die there, I’ll die happy or trying to be at least. Just in case I have prepared myself for the worst: even though all of this went terribly wrong, I wouldn't find a job or learn the language or whatever. Then I just fly back home and re-arrange the things again.

Going to Canada and especially to Québec has been my dream for as long as I can remember and not just to visit there as a tourist but to really, really, really live there. To explore the nation in a deeper level.

This is definetely the craziest thing and in the same time the most natural thing I’ve ever done in my life. And it is such a liberating feeling! I’ve never been more happy or excited about anything else! Of course I have fears… millions of things can go wrong but I’m not ready to give up on this, just because it’s new and unknown for me. I REFUSE to be the one who’ll be sitting in her rocking chair as a 60-year-old and regretting all the chances she missed.

Who will have the courage if not me?    

Lisboa / Sintra before covid

Some shots from my weekend trip in Nazaré a while back. This where the surfers come usually for the biggest waves during the winter season. 

Lisbon before Covid-19