Saara Aalto: The eternal second
Saara Aalto from Finland has always finished second in her career. Also in Eurovision
"...and finalist number nine is... Finland!"
So it was announced that Saara Aalto was among the 26 finalists at Eurovision Song Contest 2018. After three years in the cold for Finland the Finnish singer brought her Monsters back to the Grand Final of Eurovision in 2018. She finished 25th in the final.
But not all know the particularity of this placement. Let's dive into Saara Aalto's career and achievements – as the eternal second.
Saara Aalto the 2nd
In 2008 Saara Aalto began her career in Suomi Talent (Finnish version of Britain's got talent) where she placed second.
In 2011 she participated with "Blessed with love" at the Finnish selection UMK, to select the Finnish entrant to Eurovision. Here she placed second again, behind Paradise Oskar's Da Da Dam.
In 2012 she took part at The Voice of Finland and she got the second place again!
In 2016 she was among the UMK finalists again – for the second time. Her song "No Fear" was not enough to get the role of Finnish flag holder in Stockolm. In fact, she arrived second again while Finland sent Sandhja to Eurovision!
So she tried to win in another country to undo the curse of the second place: She decided to participate at X Factor UK in 2016. But again, nothing changed because she finished second again behind Matt Terry!
In 2018 she was selected internally to represent the country at Eurovision 2018 in Lisbon with Monsters. But this time she didn't finished second – but 25th! What?!? Yes of course: second last in the Grand Final!
Dear Saara: It's time to move away from the cursed second place to the first. You deserve it!
Finland in Eurovision Song Contest
Finland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 and has participated ever since, except for six years, mostly because of last years bad position. The country has won the competition once, in 2006 with the song "Hard Rock Hallelujah", performed by Lordi. Since then Finland's best result is 11th place in 2014.
Since the introductions of semi-finals in 2004, Finland has qualified for the Grand Final 8 out of 15 times.
