Finnish punk band with learning difficulties are off to Eurovision.

Kovu

A punk band made up of musicians with learning disabilities is to represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The quartet, named PKN, was chosen by Finnish viewers on Saturday and has now been ranked by bookmakers as among the favourites for the contest.

The group, whose members have Down's syndrome and autism, will perform their 85-second song Aina Mun Pitaa (I Always Have To) at the event in Vienna in May.

I was talking to a couple of Finnish friends online last night and they are slightly embarrassed by the choice as they are of the opinion that it will be looked upon as a sympathy vote. Personally I listen to a lot of Finnish music and while this song wouldn't be to my taste at all, I think their attitude towards the contest is brilliant. (PKN are aiming to raise awareness of people with learning disabilities – and “have a ****ing good time” along the way)

The band was formed in a charity workshop a few years ago before entering their song for Eurovision entry this year and already they're ranked by the bookies as one of the favourites for winning the contest.

So what do you think AH-ers? Do you like the song and think it's Eurovision worthy? Although considering we sent a puppet of a turkey in a shopping trolley a few years back, is there any song not Eurovision-worthy at this stage.

Pie and Mash

Love it!

kneemos

Song is irrelevant. They're going to win.

The Backwards Man

It won't win on musical merit, but no one has won it on musical merit since Sandie Shaw.

Mint Aero

Ireland is going to win it this year.

AndonHandon

It's ****e.

Generic Dreadhead

Is 85 seconds even long enough? :-/

Schwiiing

Never understood why Finland don't just send Nightwish every year.

SEPT 23 1989

Is Eurovision worthy of them?

Cee-Jay-Cee

Fair fcuks to them, I hope they win.

Red Kev

Musically it should have no chance in reality.

However, plenty of people will vote for it out of sympathy, or for mischief or for the craic, so yeah, they have a good chance.

I can see dix or douze points from their Scandanavian and Baltic neighbours regardless.

NIMAN

Finnish punk band with learning difficulties are off to Eurovision.

At least they will have something in common with the people watching this nonsense at home.

Zamboni

These lads are gas!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8a9aYOn8nw

Looking forward to seeing them!

fiachr_a

Red Kev wrote: »

Musically it should have no chance in reality.

Will do better than the Irish entry.

BeerWolf

Eurovision's a joke anyways.

Shrap

I think it's great! Easily as good as most UK punk bands I paid money to see 25 years ago (which doesn't say a lot, musicianship wise, I know...). For me, it'll more than likely be the most listenable song in the Eurovision. OP, you can tell your Finnish friends that this bunch are punk as fcuk and they should be well proud of them. Beat the pants off of Lordi tbf, and they weren't on any sympathy vote....

Edit: Kari has an amazing punk voice. Fantastic. And for what it's worth, these punks will be taken as seriously as any other punk band, by punks, regardless of their learning difficulties. Acceptance of difference and not giving a fcuk about the disapproval by the mainstream is where it's at. Anybody who reckons they'll be in on a sympathy vote knows nothing about punk :cool:

Donkey Oaty

Having intellectual disabilities does not guarantee a win.

Jedward only came eight.

Donkey Oaty

The more I watch that video the more I like those guys.

They've pitched this very well indeed as two fingers up to the sickly balladeer brigade singing about world peace.

force eleven

Mint Aero wrote: »

Ireland is going to win it this year.

I don't think so. And neither do the bookies.

inforfun

The Netherlands should send the Josti Band in that case.
Even more sympathy votes

Kristopherus

Better than that infuriating turkey turd Dustin any day !!!!!!

Yamanoto

Shrap wrote: »

And for what it's worth, these punks will be taken as seriously as any other punk band, by punks, regardless of their learning difficulties.

But they won't be taken seriously by the European public, who'll vote for 'em primarily on the basis of their learning difficulties.

Shrap

Yamanoto wrote: »

But they won't be taken seriously by the European public, who'll vote for 'em primarily on the basis of their learning difficulties.

What, like they voted for Lordi? I don't see it myself. I'd consider a vote for them to be one in the eye for "the establishment", but I doubt there's many fools who'd vote for them if they'd rather be voting for a scantily clad diva with a disco beat and some gyrating dancers with a "feature" piece like stretchy fabric play or light-up water.


Ps. I'm actually still listening to them here! Sh1t hot. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6PWUDCC0bd4F_Nx-jz5bTBFB68j8G8H-

suicide_circus

I've paid to see bands worse than these guys

Edit: I'd also be fairly confident Ms Würst didn't win last year due to having the best song

Generic Dreadhead

I say we send in little timmy pockets next year, have him sing a christmas carol and 1/2 way through, run up, kick his cane away so he falls over. Then laugh at him and have someone tell him christmas is cancelled. WINNER!

Lollipops23

I really liked last year's winner actually. A song that I'd happily listen to even if it wasn't a Eurovision entry.

Our own attempt was tripe- while the girl singing it was decent enough, and the stage show part looked fab, the song sucked.

Links234

Schwiiing wrote: »

Never understood why Finland don't just send Nightwish every year.

Ah now that wouldn't be fair, they'd win every year and then the whole thing would be called off because what's the point any more?

4zn76tysfajdxp

Lyrics are fairly ****e.

2smiggy

4/1 at the moment, a bit short IMO , 6 or 7 /1 at i might have had a bet on them. it's too far away to be backing at that short of odds, who knows what other countries might do yet !!

Shrap

Felipe Tight Shepherd wrote: »

Lyrics are fairly ****e.

Yeah, cos they're so much worse than these masterpieces! https://inxia.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/worst-and-weirdest-lyrics-of-the-2012-eurovision-song-contest/

Hahaaa, oh janey. Finland needn't be embarassed by the punk lyrics at all. This is nearly the least offensive verse from Finland 2013:
Oh oh, oh oh oh, ding dong
Oh oh, oh oh oh, ding dong

I know where the future’s heading, I can see my perfect wedding
Isn’t that just bracing?
I don’t think there are no ladies who will give you cuter babies
Isn’t that amazing?

I’m your slave and you’re my master
Oh baby, come on, take your shot

http://4lyrics.eu/esc/2013/krista-siegfrids-marry-me/

darkpagandeath

Is this competition not supposed to be run On musical merit and not Sympathy ? Or is it now just a bigger version of Xfactor.

Shrap

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Is this competition not supposed to be run On musical merit and not Sympathy ?

Don't think that's been the case for at least 10 years. "Sympathy for your neighbour" appears to be the deciding factor. And "Up your's to the establishment". Besides, there's very little musical merit to most of the songs (to my mind). Going on musical merit alone, this one wins my vote if the rest are as rubbish as usual

Tonyandthewhale

It's not a bad aul tune as punk songs go. Definitely good enough to be an opening act at a pub gig or small independent festival. An awful lot more than I can say for most eurovision acts who seem to be just pretty faces and pretty voices churning out the most inoffensive music imaginable. At least these guys seem to have a genuine interest in music and (presumably) wrote their own songs.

c_man

Shrap wrote: »

I'd consider a vote for them to be one in the eye for "the establishment"

I'm sure the earnings from the text and phone call votes will more than help The Man get over it.

BetterThanThou

Not a bad song, I'm a sucker for a bit of angry music in a European language. Only complaint is that it's a bit short.

4zn76tysfajdxp

Shrap wrote: »

Yeah, cos they're so much worse than these masterpieces! https://inxia.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/worst-and-weirdest-lyrics-of-the-2012-eurovision-song-contest/

They're ****e as well.

Mr. CooL ICE

To be fair, Lordi are awesome

http://m.quickmeme.com/img/a4/a4097609caad2574192dba3cc1f5fcf150bcbf9d7df6eee6d88a46392d7f6d28.jpg

Shrap

Nicolas Cage wrote: »

To be fair, Lordi are awesome awful

FYP Although I gave a cheer to see a metal band winning it. Punk next, FTW!!

Mr. CooL ICE

Shrap wrote: »

FYP Although I gave a cheer to see a metal band winning it. Punk next, FTW!!

"On the day of rockening it's who dares wins"

Shrap

Nicolas Cage wrote: »

"On the day of rockening it's who dares wins"

Rock Hallelujah! Yeah ok. I take it back. They weren't awful and they kicked ass! Their costumes were awful though.

Mr. CooL ICE

I can just imagine a little old woman sitting in front of the TV watching her soaps and deciding to flick over the the Eurovision. Instead of seeing some eastern european pop artist prancing around flamboyantly, she sees a band of monsters with electric guitars, with ridiculous pyrotechnics at the back and a slightly bigger monster with wings at the front, holding an axe, growling into the microphone while wearing a tiny little Finland hat.

Bipolar Joe

I have a bunch of their records. They're awesome, and recommended if you like old style U.S punk, like Black Flag or whatever.

Pumpkinseeds

Eurovision is about novelty, not talent. It's just throw away TV to enjoy with too much booze and junk food.:D

Shrap

Bipolar Joe wrote: »

I have a bunch of their records. They're awesome, and recommended if you like old style U.S punk, like Black Flag or whatever.

They're deadly. First time hearing them today, but I'd have said more old school UK punk like Crass, Flux and Zounds, with touches of Conflict! Bit less hardcore than Black Flag or NoMeansNo, less straight edge than Fugazi or Alice Donut. Honestly think they're more frenetic 3 chords and the proper punk attitude of the UK style than US, no?

Paramite Pie

Links234 wrote: »

Ah now that wouldn't be fair, they'd win every year and then the whole thing would be called off because what's the point any more?

Don't worry, they go through so many vocalists that there'll be enough rejected Nightwish singers for every Entry soon enough. It'd even things out.