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FINLAND – Ich Komme – Erika Vikman
When I heard that Erika was having another go at UMK, I really wasn’t expecting a subtle, understated yet deeply personal emotional ballad, and sure enough I didn’t get one. Ich Komme is subtle and understated in the way Ride of the Valkyries played on a kazoo is subtle and understated.
It’s not – and I may by now be labouring this point – subtle and understated.
Still, they do say that shy bairns get nowt. Just lately Finland is developing quite the reputation as Eurovision’s “fun” kid and for once it seems to be working out for them. In all the years they’ve been entering, they’ve never been in stronger form than they are in the early 2020s.
What’s the trajectory for this one? It’s in the select little group of songs that probably won’t win but absolutely could do, and I can’t think of anything else this year that’s going to create the same buzz of excitement in the arena. It’s well documented that Erika had problems with her in-ear monitor for the UMK performance, and she still came out of the experience well in credit.
The only thing is… visually it MIGHT be a little bit too much. Or it might be exactly the right amount. I’m confident that it won’t be “not enough”.
It’s a fairly strong year at the bottom of the scorecard, I’ve dissed a few entries but everything has its merits. In spite of the strength in depth, I don’t know if we have a clear-cut obvious winner winking at us. It’s ready to be won by anything which catches Europe’s imagination on the big night (and the immediately preceding slightly smaller night).
For my taste, there’s nothing this year that’s obviously better than this one, and there’s very little that’s even as good. I liked Helsinki. I wouldn’t mind going back.
Nick’s score: 12