Eurovision’s voting history statistics show an imbalance between Sweden and Finland.
Torbjörn “Tobbe” Ek, editor and talent expert at Swedish Aftonbladet, opened a Nordic can of worms on Sunday when he criticized the actions of the Finnish Eurovision audience.
Lauren won the Eurovision Song Contest ahead of Karija, and the Swedish star received 12 points from the Finnish expert panel, much was expected. When the people were allowed to speak, Lauren got as many points as Kojo in 1982: zero, zero, zero.
– The biggest surprise of the final was that the Finns did not give Sweden a single point. I can’t believe the Finns think the finale had ten better songs than Tattoo. It sounds really small minded, commented one.
The expert reminded that the Swedes gave full marks to Finland for their kindness on the part of both the board and the spectators.
– Finland, on the other hand, did not vote for Sweden at all. It’s a shame, muttered one.
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“Sour,” said the fox about rowan berries, as many Finns might have thought after reading Eki’s comments.
First, one clearly hasn’t heard that tactical voting has been the spring fashion term on this side of Pohjanlahti.
Eurovision is a song contest that Finns want to win. Why would he vote for the biggest pre-favourite of the race and at the same time underestimate Karija’s chances? In ice hockey, some Finns who support Legion cheer for Tre Kronor’s goals.
Secondly, from a historical point of view, Sweden cannot afford to shout in this direction. The history between our countries is littered with cases where the so-called storebore has behaved in a lowly or shameful manner.
Let’s start with Eurovisa. According to Ilta-Sanomi’s calculations, Sweden has held Finland to nil 14 times since 1975, when they switched to the practice where each country scores ten of their best performances.
Sweden gave “zero points” to Finland in the years 1978–1980, when our representatives were Seja Simola, Katari Helena and Vesa-Matti Loiri, who later became the blue and white votes. One can’t help but spin one’s head and ask, what kind of heartless society shuns Katari Helena and her song Katsun skyen skyen zero?
A more bitter lime was thrown around Finland’s neck by Sweden in 1982–83, 1986 and 1988. Kojo, Amy Aspelund, Kari Kuivlainen and Boulevard were disappointed.
In the worst Swedish situation, Finland’s Eurovision representative was in the years 1990–1997. During the eight years in question, in two of which Finland did not participate due to poor success, Sweden did not receive a single point in the middle of our country, which is mired in recession.
Beet, Kaija, Paave Maijanen, Katari Helena (I guess not again!), ex-favourites Catcat (bye bye baby!?) and Jasmine begged with their hats in their fists, but our cruel western neighbor Its strings kept the dot bag tight.
In the late 1990s, the audience switched to telephone voting, but in 2009, the expert councils were used again because, according to the story, Finland “wrongly” went with Lordi to win the song, and the experts needed to ensure that singing prowess is rewarded and neighboring countries receive the best marks regardless.
For the last 14 years, a mixed system has been used, where the votes of the audience and the jury are taken into account. Sweden completely scorched Finland only in 2013, when Christa Siegfrieds inspired blue and yellow spirits didn’t. In 2021 and -22, the Swedish jury gave zero to Finland when Blind Channel and The Rasmus were on stage.
For comparison, since 1994, Finland has not left Sweden without a surface even once. Finland’s average score for Sweden in the Eurovision final is 5.8. Sweden’s average score for Finland is 4.1.
Another area of society where Finland has always been allowed to suffer and be shamed at the hands of Sweden is sport.
Already in the early 1930s, Sweden resented its former province. Legendary sprinter Paavo Nurme’s road to the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles was sanded by a western neighbor.
Swedish newspapers portrayed Nurmey as a “scary professional” who, according to the Swedes, had broken amateur rules by accepting travel allowances from foreign competitions. Nurmi was banned from the Olympics and never again competed outside the borders of Finland.
A year ago, Urho Kaleva Kekkonen’s argument turned to emotions at the Finland-Sweden international match.
– Traveling to Sweden for an international match is a bit sad as the local press unleashes their blatant hatred towards us and incites the public, complains Finland’s team leader Kekkonen before the Finncamp held in Sweden (HS 26. 8. 1931) Did.
After 44 years, the on-track conflict between the countries was re-experienced. At the time, the focal point in the 5,000 meters at the 1975 Sweden match in Stockholm was Pekka Pyvrinta. Improved Pyvirinta strategy, which angered the Swedes. Some tinkering was done, and eventually the pyvirinta itself was severed. Sweden’s Bengt Najde also experienced rejection.
The case of Paivarinna was explained in the film Uno Turhapuro in Army Bread with memorable results.
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On the other hand, Sundin’s case will never be solved. In 2006, the hockey final of the Torino Olympics was played. Sweden’s Mats Sundin broke Saku Koivu’s racket early in the third set. Koivu had to go skating to get a new racket. Meanwhile, Trey Kroener rolled into Lions territory and Niklas Lidstrom scored the winning goal for 3–2.
Sweden has also seen Ohr in politics. According to a Helsingin Sanomat headline in the fall of 1990, “Sweden completely let Finland down”.
It was agreed that a major foreign policy solution regarding the European Community would be made together. However, Sweden made a double application for EC (now EU) membership alone and broke its promise to Finland. Finland could not apply in view of the EC, as the Soviet Union was still alive, the YYA agreement was valid and Finland officially followed a policy of neutrality. Finland was calling the newspaper in the midst of economic turmoil. Relations between the neighboring countries remained cold for years following the surprise decision.
Against this backdrop of decades, “Tobbe” Ek’s allegations of fraud seem small. Picking a winner is easy.
If Finland is in some ways Sweden’s little brother, it is best seen by pulling home and thinking small. Among them also Sweden is bigger, more beautiful and better.
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The story was edited on 15.5. 10:59 am: Corrected North Sea at Pujanlahti.
