Finnish punk band with learning difficulties are off to Eurovision.

Kovu · 02-03-2015 01:20PM #1

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 · 02-03-2015 01:24PM

Love it!

kneemos · 02-03-2015 01:26PM

Song is irrelevant. They're going to win.

The Backwards Man · 02-03-2015 01:26PM

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

Mint Aero · 02-03-2015 01:33PM

Ireland is going to win it this year.

AndonHandon · 02-03-2015 01:39PM

It's ****e.

Generic Dreadhead · 02-03-2015 01:43PM

Is 85 seconds even long enough? :-/

Schwiiing · 02-03-2015 01:43PM

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

SEPT 23 1989 · 02-03-2015 01:49PM

Is Eurovision worthy of them?

Cee-Jay-Cee · 02-03-2015 01:49PM

Fair fcuks to them, I hope they win.

Red Kev · 02-03-2015 01:54PM

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 · 02-03-2015 01:56PM

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 · 02-03-2015 01:57PM

These lads are gas!

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

Looking forward to seeing them!

fiachr_a · 02-03-2015 01:57PM

Red Kev wrote: »

Musically it should have no chance in reality.

Will do better than the Irish entry.

BeerWolf · 02-03-2015 01:58PM

Eurovision's a joke anyways.

Shrap · 02-03-2015 02:00PM

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 · 02-03-2015 02:00PM

Having intellectual disabilities does not guarantee a win.

Jedward only came eight.

Donkey Oaty · 02-03-2015 02:11PM

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 · 02-03-2015 02:12PM

Mint Aero wrote: »

Ireland is going to win it this year.

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

inforfun · 02-03-2015 02:19PM

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

Kristopherus · 02-03-2015 02:37PM

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

Yamanoto · 02-03-2015 02:37PM

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 · 02-03-2015 02:46PM

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 · 02-03-2015 03:42PM

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 · 02-03-2015 04:15PM

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 · 02-03-2015 04:19PM

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 · 02-03-2015 04:21PM

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 · 02-03-2015 04:24PM

Lyrics are fairly ****e.

2smiggy · 02-03-2015 04:44PM

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 · 02-03-2015 04:46PM

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 · 02-03-2015 04:50PM

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

Finnish punk band with learning difficulties are off to Eurovision.

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