Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961

Finland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 with the song "Valoa ikkunassa", composed by Eino Hurme, with lyrics by Sauvo Puhtila [fi], and performed by Laila Kinnunen. The Finnish participating broadcaster, Yleisradio (Yle), selected its entry through a national final. This was the first-ever entry from Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest, and the first-ever entry performed in Finnish in the contest.

Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961
Eurovision Song Contest 1961
Participating broadcaster	Yleisradio (Yle)
Country	Finland
Selection process	National Final
Selection date	12 February 1961
Competing entry
Song	"Valoa ikkunassa"
Artist	Laila Kinnunen
Songwriters	Eino Hurme Sauvo Puhtila [fi]
Placement
Final result	10th, 6 points
Participation chronology
1961 • 1962►

Before Eurovision

Eight entries were selected for the competition from 280 received submissions. Yleisradio (Yle) selected four singers (Brita Koivunen, Kai Lind [fi], Laila Kinnunen, and Ritva Mustonen [fi]) to perform the songs, each with two songs. The Finnish national selection consisted of a semi final and a final.^[1]

Semi-final

The eight songs were played on radio and television test cards in late January, and four finalists were chosen by postcard voting. The public decided the best song from each singer to go forward to the final.^[1]

Semi-finals – 22–23, 25–26 January 1961^[2]

Broadcast	Artist	Draw	Song	Result
22 January	Ritva Mustonen [fi]	1	"Kun kevät saapuu"	Eliminated
		2	"Portinvartija"	Advanced
23 January	Laila Kinnunen	1	"Jossain meren rannalla"	Eliminated
		2	"Valoa ikkunassa"	Advanced
25 January	Kai Lind [fi]	1	"Pistäydyn naapurissa"	Eliminated
		2	"Pikku ikkuna"	Advanced
26 January	Brita Koivunen	1	"Pistäydyn naapurissa"	Advanced
		2	"Pikku ikkuna"	Eliminated

Final

The finalists from left to right: Kai Lind [fi], Christina Hellman, Laila Kinnunen, and Ritva Mustonen [fi]

Yleisradio (Yle) held the national final on 12 February 1961 at the Työväenopisto in Helsinki, hosted by Aarno Walli [fi]. The winning song was chosen by an expert jury. The members of the jury were Pärre Förars [fi], George de Godzinsky, Cay Idström [fi], Jussi Koskiluoma [fi], Erkki Melakoski [fi], Jorma Panula, Liisa Tuomi, Aarno Walli, and Ville Zilliacus [fi]. The jury did not come into a conclusion during the show, so the results were announced next day.

Brita Koivunen was supposed to perform "Puuttuva lehti" in the final but she withdrew and was replaced by Christina Hellman.^[1][3]

Final – 12 February 1961

Draw	Artist	Song	Songwriter(s)	Place
1	Ritva Mustonen [fi]	"Portinvartija"	Erik Lindström [fi], Hillevi	3
2	Laila Kinnunen	"Valoa ikkunassa"	Eino Hurme, Sauvo Puhtila [fi]	1
3	Kai Lind [fi]	"Pikku ikkuna"	Kari Tuomisaari [fi]	4
4	Christina Hellman	"Puuttuva lehti"	Erkki Rahkola[a]	2

1. Lyricist unknown

At Eurovision

On the evening of the final Laila Kinnunen performed "Valoa ikkunassa" 4th in the running order, following Austria and preceding Yugoslavia. At the close of voting the song 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.

Voting

Each participating broadcaster assembled a ten-member jury panel. Every jury member could give one point to his or her favourite song.

Points awarded to Finland[4] Score Country 2 points  Italy  United Kingdom 1 point  Denmark  France

Points awarded by Finland[4] Score Country 3 points  Luxembourg  Monaco 2 points  Norway 1 point  Denmark  France