Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961
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Finland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 with the song "Valoa ikkunassa", composed by Eino Hurme, with lyrics by Sauvo Puhtila, and performed by Laila Kinnunen. The Finnish participating broadcaster, Yleisradio (Yle), selected its entry through a national final. This was the first-ever entry from Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest, and the first-ever entry performed in Finnish in the contest.
Finland| Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 1961 | ||||
| Participating broadcaster | Yleisradio (Yle) | |||
| Country | Finland | |||
| Selection process | National Final | |||
| Selection date | 12 February 1961 | |||
| Competing entry | ||||
| Song | "Valoa ikkunassa" | |||
| Artist | Laila Kinnunen | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Placement | ||||
| Final result | 10th, 6 points | |||
| Participation chronology | ||||
| ||||
Before Eurovision
Eight entries were selected for the competition from 280 received submissions. Yleisradio (Yle) selected four singers (Brita Koivunen, Kai Lind, Laila Kinnunen, and Ritva Mustonen) to perform the songs, each with two songs. The Finnish national selection consisted of a semi final and a final.[1]
Semi-final
The eight songs were played on radio and television test cards in late January, and four finalists were chosen by postcard voting. The public decided the best song from each singer to go forward to the final.[1]
| Artist | R/O | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-final 1 – 22 January 1961 | |||
| Ritva Mustonen | 1 | "Kun kevät saapuu" | N/a |
| 2 | "Portinvartija" | Qualified | |
| Semi-final 2 – 23 January 1961 | |||
| Laila Kinnunen | 1 | "Jossain meren rannalla" | N/a |
| 2 | "Valoa ikkunassa" | Qualified | |
| Semi-final 3 – 25 January 1961 | |||
| Kai Lind | 1 | "Pistäydyn naapurissa" | N/a |
| 2 | "Pikku ikkuna" | Qualified | |
| Semi-final 4 – 26 January 1961 | |||
| Brita Koivunen | 1 | "Puuttuva lehti" | Qualified |
| 2 | "Pikku piccolo" | N/a | |
Final
Yleisradio (Yle) held the national final on 12 February 1961 at the Työväenopisto in Helsinki, hosted by Aarno Walli. The winning song was chosen by an expert jury. The members of the jury were Pärre Förars, George de Godzinsky, Cay Idström, Jussi Koskiluoma, Erkki Melakoski, Jorma Panula, Liisa Tuomi, Aarno Walli, and Ville Zilliacus. The jury did not come into a conclusion during the show, so the results were announced next day.
Brita Koivunen was supposed to perform "Puuttuva lehti" in the final but she withdrew and was replaced by Christina Hellman.[1][3]
| R/O | Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ritva Mustonen | "Portinvartija" |
|
3 |
| 2 | Laila Kinnunen | "Valoa ikkunassa" |
|
1 |
| 3 | Kai Lind | "Pikku ikkuna" | Kari Tuomisaari | 4 |
| 4 | Christina Hellman | "Puuttuva lehti" | Erkki Rahkola[a] | 2 |
- Lyricist unknown
At Eurovision
On the evening of the final Laila Kinnunen performed "Valoa ikkunassa" 4th in the running order, following Austria and preceding Yugoslavia. At the close of voting the song had received 6 points (2 from Italy and the United Kingdom and 1 from Denmark and France), placing Finland joint 10th (with Monaco and the Netherlands) of the 16 entries. The Finnish jury awarded its highest marks (3) to Luxembourg and Monaco.
Voting
Each participating broadcaster assembled a ten-member jury panel. Every jury member could give one point to his or her favourite song.
