Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996

Eurovision Song Contest 1996
Country	Finland
National selection
Selection process	National Final
Selection date(s)	3 February 1996
Selected entrant	Jasmine
Selected song	"Niin kaunis on taivas"
Finals performance
Final result	23rd, 9 points
Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1994 • 1996 • 1998►

Finland was represented by Jasmine, with the song '"Niin kaunis on taivas", at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 18 May in Oslo. "Niin kaunis on taivas" was chosen as the Finnish entry at the national final organised by broadcaster Yle and held on 3 March.

Final

The final was held in Espoo, hosted by Mina Pentti and Nina Houkanen. Ten songs took part with the winner chosen by televoting. One of the other participants was Kirka, who had represented Finland in 1984. "Niin kaunis on taivas" was a clear winner, receiving almost twice as many votes as the second-placed song.^[1]

At Eurovision

In 1996, all countries hoping to participate (with the exception of hosts Norway who were exempted) had to first go through an audio-only pre-qualifying round held on March 20. 29 countries were involved, with the top 22 qualifying for the Oslo final and the remaining seven being eliminated. "Niin kaunis on taivas" received 26 points, placing 22nd and gaining the last qualifying spot for Oslo.

On the night of the final Jasmine performed 18th in the running order, following Ireland and preceding Iceland. Jasmine's appearance on stage with unstyled hair and no make-up (in contrast to her groomed appearance at the national final) caused considerable puzzled comment – she would subsequently explain that she had strongly disliked the results of the Norwegian hairstyling and make-up artists endeavours, and at the last minute had decided to wash out her hair and remove the make-up, but had no time to start again herself so had no choice but to appear on stage au naturel. At the close of voting "Niin kaunis on taivas" had received only 9 points (7 from Iceland and 2 from Norway), placing Finland last of the 23 entries, the eighth time the country had finished the evening at the foot of the scoreboard. The Finnish jury awarded its 12 points to Estonia. The poor result meant that, with the return of relegation rather than the one-off pre-qualifying system used in 1996 with somewhat controversial results, Finland would have to sit out the 1997 contest.^[2]

Voting

Points awarded by Finland

12 points	Estonia
10 points	Ireland
8 points	Sweden
7 points	Norway
6 points	Cyprus
5 points	Turkey
4 points	Switzerland
3 points	Portugal
2 points	France
1 point	Bosnia and Herzegovina

Points awarded to Finland

See also

• Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
• Eurovision Song Contest 1996

References

Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest   Participation 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016   Artists 1960s Laila Kinnunen Marion Rung Laila Halme Lasse Mårtenson Viktor Klimenko Ann Christine Fredi Kristina Hautala Jarkko & Laura 1970s 1970 Markku Aro & Koivistolaiset Päivi Paunu & Kim Floor Marion Rung Carita Pihasoittajat Fredi & Ystävät Monica Aspelund Seija Simola Katri Helena 1980s Vesa-Matti Loiri Riki Sorsa Kojo Ami Aspelund Kirka Sonja Lumme Kari Kuivalainen Vicky Rosti & Boulevard Boulevard Anneli Saaristo 1990s Beat Kaija Kärkinen Pave Maijanen Katri Helena CatCat 1995 Jasmine 1997 Edea 1999 2000s Nina Åström 2001 Laura 2003 Jari Sillanpää Geir Rönning Lordi Hanna Pakarinen Teräsbetoni Waldo's People 2010s Kuunkuiskaajat Paradise Oskar Pernilla Karlsson Krista Siegfrids Softengine Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät   Songs 1960s "Valoa ikkunassa" "Tipi-tii" "Muistojeni laulu" "Laiskotellen" "Aurinko laskee länteen" "Playboy" "Varjoon - suojaan" "Kun kello käy" "Kuin silloin ennen" 1970s 1970 "Tie uuteen päivään" "Muistathan" "Tom Tom Tom" "Keep Me Warm" "Old Man Fiddle" "Pump-Pump" "Lapponia" "Anna rakkaudelle tilaisuus" "Katson sineen taivaan" 1980s "Huilumies" "Reggae OK" "Nuku pommiin" "Fantasiaa" "Hengaillaan" "Eläköön elämä" "Never The End" "Sata salamaa" "Nauravat silmät muistetaan" "La dolce vita" 1990s "Fri?" "Yamma, yamma" "Tule luo" "Bye Bye Baby" 1995 "Niin kaunis on taivas" 1997 "Aava" 1999 2000s "A Little Bit" 2001 "Addicted To You" 2003 "Takes 2 To Tango" "Why?" "Hard Rock Hallelujah" "Leave Me Alone" "Missä miehet ratsastaa" "Lose Control" 2010s "Työlki ellää" "Da Da Dam" "När jag blundar" "Marry Me" "Something Better" "Aina mun pitää" (Note: Entries scored out are when Finland did not compete)