The stakes are high as The Rasmus team up with famous producer Desmond Child
What is going on?! Is Eurovision 2022 turning into a rock fest?, wonder the fans of the largest European song contest, whose 66th edition will take place May 10-14 in Turin, Italy. After Måneskin took the trophy last year with a punk rock track, it’s been one rock submission for Eurovision 2022 after another. But this time its national selection revealed familiar faces – legendary The Rasmus.
On Wednesday, Jan 12, UMK 2022 – Finland’s New Music Competition – announced its seven finalists to fight for the right to represent the country in Eurovision 2022. Among them is a young Helsinki-based rock band Cyan Kicks and rock icons The Rasmus. The latter sold over 5 million albums after its hit ‘In The Shadows’ (2003) shook both sides of the Atlantic. Watch the artist announcement video:
To make the song a quality hit, The Rasmus frontman Lauri Ylönen messeged world’s top producer-musician Desmond Child, who previously collaborated with them on Black Roses album (2008). “Do you have time? We have to make the world’s best song and win Eurovision,” frontman Lauri Ylönen told the producer. If the new song is anything like Child’s previous works and The Rasmus’ headbanger ‘Livin’ in a World Without You’, which they co-wrote, there is little chance for other UMK contestants to beat such a powerhouse.
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Child has been a lucky charm for many world-famous musicians. Among his catchiest masterpieces are Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’, Ricky Martin’s ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’, Alice Cooper’s ‘Poison’ and Kiss’s ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You’. Will The Rasmus’ new track ‘Jezebel’ shine as bright?
The Rasmus’ performance in UMK 2022 will also be a great platform to showcase their new female guitarist, Emppu Suhonen, who started her career in Finnish girl band TikTak. “I was pretty shocked when the guys asked me to join the band”, Emppu remembers. “And then, a week later, I heard about UMK. Anything else?”
Forty-one countries, officially confirmed to be participating in Eurovision 2022, are currently holding their national selections. The first officially submitted song was Bulgaria’s classic rock entry Intelligent Music Project with the track ‘Intention’. Meanwhile, Germany has made headlines with metal guys Eskimo Callboy proposing its satiric song for Eurovision.
The Rasmus’ song will air Jan 17, and we’ll see the band perform at UMK 2022 final on Feb 6. Do you think Finland’s only right choice would be to choose The Rasmus? Or is The Rasmus’ success a thing of the past? Tell us what you think on AlteRock Facebook and AlteRock Twitter!
