Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool was such a great experience. The whole city got involved and the atmosphere and organisation were second to none. There were a number of great songs and performances but what sticks in the mind the most is Käärijä. Finland's entry just captured everyone's imagination. His lime green bolero jacket. His charisma. His iconic dance routine (including a human centipede with his dancers). Even his sauna truck which was parked on the road leading to the arena. All of these helped him to cast a spell over the Eurovision community. His anthemic song 'Cha Cha Cha' just caused ripples of excitement whenever he performed it, meaning that the audience were upset and angry when he didn't take the crown. He was unofficially the people's champion. A fact he recognises, as this is the title of his forthcoming album.
Oasis' 'Morning Glory' plays just before Käärijä takes to the stage. His band all have goggles, fishnet tops, dungarees and goggles, making them look like gothic Minions. It is only half full but right from the start, it is clear that the audience REALLY loves him, eating up tracks like 'Huhhahhei', which is a thumping slice of industrialised cyber metal. 'Auto jää' is cheesy as hell Eurodance but it is undeniably infectious. 'Yhtä vailla' is industrial hip hop which sounds like a cross between the Judgement Night soundtrack and Pharoahe Monch's 'Simon Says'. 'Sex=Money' is pretty hardcore (gabba not punk) and is headache inducing but fun. 'Viulunkieli' sees him showing off his rapping with a decent rapid fire delivery (not that I understand Finnish) whilst the track contorts like Bomfunk MC's 'Freestyler'. 'Ruoska' marries Rammstein style industrial metal with Europop to thrilling effect and the crowd reacts accordingly. His doppelganger Häärijä appears on stage to dance to a ridiculous 'Baila'. Jeskiedes appears on stage for their track, 'Urheilujätkä'. Käärijä is completely surprised by a guest appearance from his friend, Sonny Kylä-Liuhala, who has flown in unexpectedly for the headliner's birthday. This isn't the only concession to his birthday as later on the crowd break out into a rendition of 'Happy Birthday'. 'Bananas' hits hard during the chorus. 'People's Champion' sees him joined by a man in a mushroom outfit with mushrooms on the screen behind him and even I groan at the pun (and I love puns). 'Trafik' is a fucking riot. 'Kot Kot' puts a banging donk on it, coming across like a Finnish Blackout Crew. Everyone is having a ball by the time 'It's Crazy, It's Party' hits. 'Cha Cha Cha' drives the crowd crazy and rightly so because it is killer. He often engages with the audience but it is rather spontaneous. I can't always understand what he's saying but it doesn't really matter as the crowd clearly love him regardless.
Käärijä ****
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