FINLAND CELEBRATED 95TH BIRTHDAY WITH EUROVISION

Kaija Koo, Laura Voutilainen, Cheek

The Finnish Independence day on December 6 is traditionally celebrated with the glamorous ball in the president's castle. This year Finland celebrated its 95th birthday as we gained independence in 1917. We also had a new presidential couple in charge after 12 years with Tarja Halonen, the first female president. it was pretty close we didn't have a gay president this time around as Pekka Haavisto came close second earlier this year, and his partner Antonio Flores, originally from Columbia would have been "the first lady". Such joy and fun that would have been! Maybe in six years... Anyways, the ball is a little bit "Who's who" in Finland and among this year's some 1800 guests besides all the diplomats, big bosses, political figures, members of parliaments, sportsmen who have made the nation proud over the year there are always some artists for a reason or another. This year among them Laura Voutilainen, Cheek, Kaija Koo, Vicky Rosti (celebrating 30 years as a singer), Pepe Willberg (celebrating 50 years as a singer), Jukka Kuoppamäki, Bianca Morales, Värttinä, Samu Haber of Sunrise Avenue and Samuli Edelmann. And of course Jaana pelkonen was there being a MP! She was there also in 2007 thanks to Eurovision and guess what? She found her current boyfriend there!

And most of all, during the ball in the live broadcast the band played among others Finnish versions Dansevise and Tu te reconnaitras! How cool is that? And then there were other songs like Shanghain valot... Whoever decided on the playlist is an Eurovision fan!

Jaana Pelkonen, Laura Voutilainen

Vicky Rosti, Kaija Koo

I'll post more pics as soon as they're available....

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