The colors of Finland are no longer blue and white, but neon green. The fault of a man: Käärijä, 29-year-old rapper. The Finnish representative at Eurovision 2023, this Saturday night in Liverpool (United Kingdom), is one of the big favorites of the contest with his song "Cha Cha Cha".
Firmly clinging to second place in the ranking of punters, he sets fire to the European stage in a set made of wooden pallets and alongside cha cha cha dancers dressed in neon pink. With a sympathy capital that has conquered fans of the contest, he has accumulated more than 1.4 million views of his parody of "Tattoo" by his Swedish competitor Loreen.
@paidatonriehuja
Loreen im coming!!! #fyp #tiktok #suomitiktok #eurovision #eurovision2023 #foryoupage #musiikkisuomi #tattoo #chachacha
♬ alkuperäinen ääni - Käärijä
But Käärijä is also a phenomenon that has adorned an entire country with neon green boleros with puffed sleeves.
From "Cha Cha Cha" pastries to government negotiations
It's quite simple, no less than forty official structures have split a message of support, sometimes going so far as to change their profile picture... as did the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The interior minister also announced that it would be possible to parade with Finnish flags on Sunday if he won.
Kävi viisuissa miten tahansa, pidämme kaksin käsin kiinni Ruotsin Nato-jäsenyydestä niinku.
We're cheering for #Käärijä on #Eurovision2023 Song Contest!
It's crazy, it's party!
Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha
✌️🟢🟢😎🟢🟢🫱 pic.twitter.com/su6wq2y9g6
— MFA Finland 🇫🇮 (@Ulkoministerio) May 12, 2023
On the side of the Ministry of the Economy, it has been proposed a reinterpretation of the national coat of arms, where the lion with the sword is adorned with the famous bolero of Käärijä. Even the tax department is reinterpreting the lyrics of the song sent to Eurovision.
Toivotamme Käärijälle onnea ja menestystä Liverpooliin!
✌️🟢🟢😎🟢🟢🫱 #Eurovision #Eurovision2023 pic.twitter.com/7dJZaNVMi3
— TEM (@TEM_uutiset) May 12, 2023
While Finnish political parties are in full negotiations to form a government after the legislative elections in April, they were treated Thursday noon to "Cha Cha Cha Pastis" for dessert, reports MP Henrik Wickström. A bit like muffins with the effigy of La Zarra appearing in the Council of Ministers.
Cha Cha Cha. Käärijä-bakelser bjuds det på även vid regeringsförhandlingarna. Mahtavaa tämä yhteisöllisyys.
🫲🟢🟢😎🟢🟢🫱 #chachacha #eurovision pic.twitter.com/gMLdhwRi87
— Henrik Wickström (@wickstromhenrik) May 12, 2023
A few days earlier, it was Helsinki Central Station that dressed its flagship statues. Since then, countless cities have done the same, starting with Oulu, European Capital of Culture in 2026.
#Helsinki is getting ready for the @Eurovision Week! 💚🖤 The Lantern Carriers too at the Central Railway Station have dressed for the occasion - like a cha cha cha cha cha cha cha cha! 💃 📷#visithelsinki #finland #Eurovision2023 adeliina77 (IG) pic.twitter.com/4eVgmBrkot
— Visit Helsinki (@VisitHelsinki) May 8, 2023
From school to the street, passing through churches
No one can escape it. Helsinki's street musicians now have a new track that they play on a loop, dressed in neon green and pink, while the capital's library only recommends books with green covers and has also changed its profile picture. Municipal transport also published a (fictitious) photo of a revamped tram.
In one school, an outfit and the singer's cup were affixed to a window so that children could take "Käärijä selfies" while the Lutheran Church of Finland, the largest in the country, also went with its message of support.
Koululla otettaneen huomenna muutama selfie. Chachacha!#käärijä #eteläinenkoulu #hymyileväkoulu pic.twitter.com/4eWMkLtiP2
— Eija Siilimäki (@ESiilimaki) May 11, 2023
Airlines, trade unions or nature protection agencies... Käärijä madness is everywhere, we tell you. In hospitals, caregivers take pictures of themselves with blouses and swollen charlottes on their arms to imitate the outfit of their favorite candidate.
Käärijäkuume on levinnyt Meilahden sairaalan leikkausosastolle! #käärijä #euroviisut pic.twitter.com/rpZ55lFRSJ
— Minna Päivinen (@minna_paivinen) May 9, 2023
The Finns are dreaming of a second victory at Eurovision, 17 years after that of the group Lordi and their legendary "Hard Rock Hallelujah", again with memorable costumes.