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“Finland, twelve points, Finnland, zwölf Punkte, Finlande, douze points" – mention those words anywhere in Finland this year and you’ll almost certainly get a smile. With Eurovision 2007 only a couple of weeks away, every city from Oulu to Helsinki is looking forward to it and tensions are rising.
The 46-year-old event starts on May 10 with the semi finals; the finals are held on May 12. Hanna Pakarinen’s Leave me alone, since being chosen as Finland’s 2007 entry, has become one of the most frequently played songs on national radio stations.
 Of course Lordi, the hard rock band that left anyone who hasn’t seen last year’s song contest jealous of those who have, takes credit for the fact that Finland is hosting this year’s contest: the monstrous looking orc-like band has been the talk of the contest since they were first chosen to represent Finland.
46 is a golden number for Eurovision. One, it’s the age of the competition itself. Two, it’s the age of the nation’s preminent “eurovision guy,” the man known to his many Myspace fans, Subtv viewers, and City readers simply as “Markku from Finland.” Markku isn’t only a Eurovision guru – he’s become famous in his own right for his particular brand of commentary, and views on all things Finnish. Who better, then, to comment on Songcontest 2007 for 65 Degrees North. Journalist: What is your name? Is Markku your real name?
Markku: My name is Markku, I come from Finland. In Finland Markku is a typical name, it derives from international name Mark, which used to be Finland's valut before Euro. There are no Finnish names coming from Euro yet, but we are a member of European Union!
J: How old are you and what is your profession?
M: I am 46 year old and I am a tecnician, but not like Olli Oikarinen, who is tecnician in Formula yks.
J: Since when do you follow the eurovision songcontest? Have you ever seen any contest live?
M: Hmm, maybe from times of Tipitii or Butt against butt pump-pump. I try to follow everything where Finland wins, be it singing or 3000 m obstacle running. I have not been in Eurovision, but Formula I have been!
J: Where will you watch and listen to this year's contest?
M: I will probably warm my sauna and ask by Finnish invention SMS text message if my friend Ari wants to come too. I wish I had a Finnish fog-screen, I could use it as a shower too. If Finland wins, I will go to the market like everybody and swim in fountain or Kolera-allas. We Finnish people are used to swim in cold materials like icewater.
J: When did you get famous? And when did people starting to visit your myspace page? Did the number of visitor increase after Lordi had won?
M: I have tried to get Finland more famous since last summer - of course everybody still remembers our -95 world champion title (formula yks) and that Helsinki-Vantaa is the best airport in whole wild world in -98, but I want people to know we have much more things we are best in the world, like mobile phone penetration.
I made my web site after Lordi won Eurovision, but I think other Finnish success stories such as getting silver in Nobel and Heikki Kovalainen going to Formula yks have made people more interested about Finland. Of course people were already quite excited about Finland, because we were there leader of EU for one year just recently! So it really helped my work.
J: Are you making all the videos on your page by yourself? Where do you get all the ideas from?
M: I usually make videos with my friend Ari Vatanen (not the rally driver, but my friend with same name). Getting ideas is very easy, because in Finland we are innovative. There are so much great things tourists should know, like famous companies (Nokia, Aarikka), and funny facts (thousands of lakes) so it is more hard to leave something untold.
J: Did you expect Lordi to win last year? And what do you think, finnish people think about last year's success?
M: First I was ashamed that Finland send something strange to Eurovision instead of Tomi Metsäketo, but when I saw that Lordi participated, I was sure he will win! I think Lordi's victory was important to everyone one in world, because it has been the biggest market filling victory for almost a year. In Finland we say "Let's meet at the market - torilla tavataan". That means everybody, also president comes there and goes bananas, even though in Finland we only grow potatoes.
J: Do you think Hanna has a chance to continue the success of last year? If yes, why? If no, why? Will you vote for her?
M: Of course she can win, she is from Finland and everybody in Finland loves her. He even won the Idols which already makes her international name.
Addressing the readers of 65 Degrees North, Markku has some suggestions as to how and what to experience in Finland. “When you come to Finland, watch out for mosquitos but adore our nightless night and also mid night sun,” he suggests. “Go and see the towers of stadium! It's a must see! Other famous high towers: Näsinneedle. And go and see 65 degrees north: it is a world famous line in asphalt! You may be surprised - there is also polar circle (without ice bears)!” For this year’s Eurovision Contest Markku has only one wish. “When Finland won world championship in -95, there was this famous song:"Viille Peltonen, Ville Pel-tooo-nen". I would like everyone to sing the same song with new words:"Haanna Paka-rii-nen, Hanna Pakariinen"! “
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