Eurovision Song Contest 1961
Country Finland
National selection
Selection processNational Final
Selection date(s)12 February 1961
Selected entrantLaila Kinnunen
Selected song"Valoa ikkunassa"
Selected songwriter(s)
  • Eino Hurme
  • Sauvo Puhtila
Finals performance
Final result10th, 6 points
Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
1961 • 1962►

Finland was represented by Laila Kinnunen, with the song "Valoa ikkunassa", at the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 18 March in Cannes, France. Finland was one of three countries (along with Spain and Yugoslavia) making their Eurovision debut in 1961 and "Valoa ikkunassa" was chosen as the first Finnish entry at the national final organised by broadcaster Yle and held on 12 February.

Before Eurovision

National final

The final was held at the Työväenopisto in Helsinki, hosted by Aarno Walli. Four songs took part, having qualified from a radio-only semi-final. The winning song was chosen by an "expert" jury.[1]

Finnish National Final - 12 February 1961
Draw Artist Song Place
1 Ritva Mustonen "Portinvartija" 3
2 Laila Kinnunen "Valoa ikkunassa" 1
3 Kai Lind "Pikku ikkuna" 4
4 Christina Hellman "Puuttuva lehti" 2

Songs eliminated in the semi-final

Artist Song
Laila Kinnunen Jossain meren rannalla
Brita Koivunen Pikku piccolo
Ritva Mustonen Kun kevät saapuu
Kai Lind Pistäydyn naapurissa

[2]

At Eurovision

On the night of the final Laila Kinnunen performed 4th in the running order, following Austria and preceding Yugoslavia. At the close of voting "Valoa ikkunassa" had received 6 points (2 from Italy and the United Kingdom and 1 from Denmark and France), placing Finland joint 10th (with Monaco and the Netherlands) of the 16 entries. The Finnish jury awarded its highest marks (3) to Luxembourg and Monaco.[3]

Voting

Every country had a jury of ten people. Every jury member could give one point to his or her favourite song.

References

  1. ↑ ESC National Finals database - Finland 1961
  2. ↑ "Finnish Semi-final 1961".
  3. ↑ ESC History - Finland 1961
  4. 1 2 "Results of the Final of Cannes 1961". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
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