19 March 2024

A national final injustice, an unlucky entry in a strong field, or simply something interesting worth seeing? While we often like to rage about some of our favourites that don’t win selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, often it was bad luck, appearing in the wrong year, or our thoughts simply not aligning with the majority. Either way, it’s still aggravating to a degree to see our favourites fall, and so we reflect and appreciate that we still got to hear and see them, as they will remain etched in our memories whether they appear at Eurovision or not.

Norway

In 2024, the two stories of hard luck actually were caused by the voting systems in those countries, namely Norway and Finland. We all remember Keiino, who won the public vote spectacularly at Eurovision 2019, only got 40 points from the jury and finish sixth overall. At Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix 2024, performing Damdiggida, Keiino finally won a jury vote, only for that to be diminished because organisers reduced the jury’s power to 40% of the total score. That made all the difference in a contest where Gåte with Ulveham won by just 6 points, 250 to 244. That’s now twice that Keiino has finished second at MGP. Performing Monument in 2021, they fell to Tix with Fallen Angel.

We can’t forget the glorious Margaret Berger, returning to MGP for the first time since winning in 2013 and placing fourth at Eurovision with I Feed You My Love. Sadly, the feelings of the Norwegian public towards her and ultimately her seventh placed finish matched the title of her song: Oblivion. Fools!

Finland

In Finland, who at least used a jury of just 25% power since 2021, highlighted the nonsense of such an idea. Either you want their impact, or you don’t. The winner of UMK 2024, Windows95man (with No Rules!) leapt from last place following the jury vote to first overall following the public vote. The victim of this rank stupidity? The stunning Sara Siipola with Paskana.

Denmark

In Denmark, that the jury overruled the public’s preference wasn’t much of a controversy, because Saba (with Sand) was a worthy winner anyway. In second place was Basim (with Johnny), who was also Denmark’s representative in 2014 when they hosted Eurovision on home soil, performing Cliche Love Song.

San Marino

One of the fan favourites in San Marino was Loredana Berte. Following a 7th place in Italy’s San Remo Festival, she would finish second at Una Voce per San Marino 2024 with Pazza. It’s nice to have a backup plan!

Italy

Italy provided another fan favourite with Annalisa, who finished third with Sinceramente at the San Remo Festival.

Update: Subsequent to this post, the video of the performance was made private. Here’s the music video.

Lithuania

Our friends The Roop, who won the Lithuanian national final in both 2020 (On Fire) and 2021 (Discoteque), were back in 2024 to try improve on their eighth place at Eurovision 2021 (2020 was cancelled). Simple Joy didn’t quite compare to On Fire or Discoteque and was justifiably third overall.

My favourite from Lithuania was actually Monika Marija with Unlove You Starting Tomorrow. A simply beautiful ballad that finished fifth.

Sweden

There’s often so many options to pick from Sweden’s Melodifestivalen, and it was outrageous that my favourite song, Elisa Lindström with Forever Yours, did not even make the final. That energy, that vibrancy, those souring vocals – Elisa is forever mine!

Estonia

It would not be a National Final Injustice post without me picking something from Estonia’s Eesti Laul. First up is Ollie with my Friend, who has now finished second at Eesti Laul two years in a row. Sadly, it was year where no one had a chance against the winners, 5miinust x Puuluup.

Finally, it’s Anet Vaikmaa with Serotoniin, who finished fifth with this pulsating and energetic number. The more I watch it, the more I love it. It’s a really well packaged performance to match the song itself.

Update: Eesti Laul deleted their official channel and only transferred some of the performances (like Ollie’s) to the ERR channel, so the above clip of Anet is not official. If it subsequently disappears or is disabled, here’s the music video for Serotoniin.

My Top 5 National Final Injustices of 2024

1 Finland – Sara Siipola – Paskana
2 Sweden – Elisa Lindström – Forever Yours
3 Estonia – Anet Vaikmaa – Serotoniin
4 Lithuania – Monika Marija – Unlove You Starting Tomorrow
5 Norway – Keiino – Damdiggida

Norway: Gåte win NRK Melodi Grand Prix 2024 with Ulveham

Finland: Windows95man rules at UMK 2024 with No Rules!

Estonia: 5miinust x Puuluup romp to victory at Eesti Laul 2024

Sweden: An Unforgettable win for Marcus & Martinus at Melodifestivalen 2024