Veteran pop band The Rasmus is heading to Eurovision after its track Jezebel won the Contest for New Music, UMK, on Saturday evening in Turku.
According to the band, Jezebel is a song for "strong, independent women, who blaze their own trail."
The favourite among bookmakers and media outlets heading into the national final, The Rasmus said it was still blown away by the competition.
"The shows were so amazing. We were tense and sweating," the band's drummer, Aki Hakala, said. "We're now going to put on an even better show in Italy and show what we can do."
Eurovision unites
Band members said Russia's invasion in Ukraine cast a shadow over the competition, though they said difficult times also underscore the importance of a singing contest like Eurovision which brings people together.
Lead singer Lauri Ylönen said he had done some soul searching as to whether it was appropriate to participate in a music show in light of current events.
"But at the same time you need music in times like these," guitarist Emppu Suhonen added.
The European Broadcasting Union on Friday said it was shutting Russia out of the Eurovision Song Contest.
In the early 2000s, Rasmus had one of the biggest international followings ever to come from Finland. Their biggest hit In the Shadows, released in 2003, was a top-selling single, breaking into the pop charts of many countries.
The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Turin, Italy from May 10-14. Finland is set to compete in the second semifinal on May 12.