Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981

Eurovision Song Contest 1981
Country  Finland
National selection
Selection process National Final
Selection date(s) 21 February 1981
Selected entrant Riki Sorsa
Selected song "Reggae OK"
Finals performance
Final result 16th, 27 points

Finland was represented by Riki Sorsa and the song "Reggae OK" at the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 4 April in Dublin. Sorsa won the rights to represent Finland on the 21 February.

National Final

The final was hosted by Finnish television producer and singer Erkki Pohjanheimo, at Yleisradio Studio 2 in Helsinki. Eight songs were selected from the semi-final which took place on January 28. The winning song was selected by a national jury.

21 February 1981
Draw Artist Song Points Place
1 Tapani Kansa Sunnuntailapsi 5 6th
2 Paula Koivuniemi Ei tule toista kertaa 1 8th
3 Mikko Alatalo Leuhkat eväät 30 2nd
4 Frederik Titanic 3 7th
5 Taiska Hiroshima 27 3rd
6 Markku Aro & Nisa Soraya Mun suothan tulla vierees sun 13 5th
7 Riki Sorsa Reggae OK 66 1st
8 Juice Leskinen Ilomantsi 26 4th

At Eurovision

On the night Sorsa performed eighth (following Yugoslavia and preceding France). For the first time in 15 years regular Finnish conductor Ossi Runne did not conduct the Finnish entry (instead he was providing the YLE television commentary) and was instead conducted by Otto Donner. At the close of voting Reggae OK had picked up 27 points (the highest points being 6 from Sweden) placing Finland in 16th place out of 20. The Finnish jury awarded it's 12 points to Switzerland.

External Link
(Note - Entries scored out are when Finland did not compete)