Finland's monster-heavy band hardrocks into Eurovision final

Lordi makes Finnish Eurovision history

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Finland's representative at this year's Eurovision Song Competition in Athens, the heavy-metal band Lordi, made it into the final in yesterday's semi-final round against 22 other countries. The top ten, along with 14 other pre-qualified song-entries, will go forward to the grand final on Saturday night.
      The intimidating hard rock band made history by being the first Finnish Eurovision representative to make it through the final after the Contest had been limited to 24 finalists, since the number of participating countries had grown too many.
     
The band's entry Hard Rock Hallelujah received a thundering ovation in the Olympic Stadium's Indoor Hall, in Athens.
      After all telephone and SMS votes from the European viewers had been collected, the ten successful semifinalists were announced. In addition to Finland, also Russia, Ireland, Sweden, Macedonia, Lithuania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine, Turkey, and Armenia all qualified for the final on May 20th.
      Neither the number of votes cast nor the ranking of the semifinalists are to be announced.
     
After the semifinal, Tomi Putaansuu, the vocalist of Lordi, was delighted and wished to thank Lapland and the entire Finland for support. Putaansuu hails originally from Rovaniemi in Lapland.
      When asked how he intends to prepare for tomorrow's grand final, Putaansuu said that he would smoke cigarettes and drink Pepsi Max.
      The final of the 51st Eurovision Song Contest is to be held in the Olympic Stadium's Indoor Hall in Athens.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  IHT: Monster band inspires national identity crisis in Finland (19.4.2006)
  Lordi to carry Finnish Eurovision greetings to Athens (14.3.2006)
  Lordi to represent Finland in Athens (13.3.2006)

Links:
  Eurovision 2006 Athens - Greece

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