Idols is a Finnish reality-television singing competition that airs on Nelonen (and formerly also on MTV3 and Sub). It debuted in the summer of 2003, and went on to become one of the most popular shows on Finnish television. Part of the Idol franchise, it originated from the reality program Pop Idol created by British entertainment executive Simon Fuller, which was first aired in 2001 in the United Kingdom.
The program seeks to discover the best unsigned singer in Finland through a series of nationwide auditions, and the outcomes of the later stages of the competition are determined by public phone voting.
The four original judges were music executives Jone Nikula and Asko Kallonen, and songwriter-producers Hannu Korkeamäki and Nanna Mikkonen. The current judging panel consists of Nikula, singer Lauri Ylönen, drummer Jussi 69 and rapper Sini Sabotage. The show is hosted by television presenter Heikki Paasonen. Former hosts include Ellen Jokikunnas, Jani Toivola and Niina Backman.
In the seven seasons to date, its winners have been Hanna Pakarinen, Ilkka Jääskeläinen, Ari Koivunen, Koop Arponen, Martti Saarinen and Diandra Flores and Mitra Kaislaranta. Saarinen was the oldest winner at 30 whilst Flores was the youngest at 17. To date, Idols contestants have collectively sold over a million records throughout Finland. Idols is also unique throughout the Idol franchise because so far, the first or second runner-up of almost every season has in fact gone on to become more commercially successful than the winner.
Following the completion of its fourth season, Idols was placed on a hiatus and replaced in 2010 by the X Factor, a new reality singing competition originating from the United Kingdom's version, created by music executive Simon Cowell. However, due to the low ratings of X Factor, MTV3 announced in May 2010, that Idols would return after a two-year hiatus. The fifth season aired in the spring of 2011, and the sixth season in the spring of 2013. The seventh season premiered in the fall of 2013, exactly ten years after the series premiered in 2003.
Audition cities
Season 1: Helsinki, Tampere, TurkuSeason 2: Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, OuluSeason 3: Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, OuluSeason 4: Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Rovaniemi, KuopioSeason 5: Helsinki, Tampere, Rovaniemi, KuopioSeason 6: Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu, Joensuu, VaasaSeason 7: Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu
Judges
Season synopses
Season 1 The first season of Idols premiered in the summer of 2003 and like its sister shows around the world, was an instant ratings success. It was hosted by Ellen Jokikunnas and Heikki Paasonen, and the four judges were Finnish musician Jone Nikula, Helsinki Music Company executive Asko Kallonen, and Finnish songwriters and producers Hannu Korkeamäki and Nanna Mikkonen. The semifinals started on 12 December 2003 and on 9 January 2004 the grand finale was held at the Helsinki Ice Hall. Former forklift truck driver Hanna Pakarinen was declared the first Finnish Idol with 60% of the public votes cast, winning 30,000 euros and a recording contract with Sony BMG.
Winner Hanna Pakarinen released "Love Is Like a Song" as her coronation single after being crowned Finnish Idol. It debuted at number 1 on the Finnish singles chart, a position it held for four weeks. Her debut album When I Become Me was released on 9 June 2004 and it peaked at number 2 for five weeks. It was certified platinum and sold over 52,000 copies in Finland. Her second album Stronger was released in September 2005 and it too peaked at number two, however it did not manage to achieve the same commercial success of her debut, though it did earn gold status, selling almost 17,000 copies. Pakarinen's third studio album Lovers was released on Valentine's Day 2007 and was met with high critical and commercial success, with the album praised as her best to date and a clear change of artistic direction, with Pakarinen moving to a much rockier sound. Despite the fact that it charted lower than her two previous efforts (peaking at number 3), Lovers was active on the chart for fifteen weeks and was certified gold, selling 16,000 copies. Later in 2007 she participated in the Eurovision Song Contest with "Leave Me Alone", the second single from her third album and she finished the contest in 17th place. In January 2009 her fourth studio album Love in a Million Shades was released and charted at number 7, her lowest position to date. The album sold 7,000 and became her first album not be certified. Pakarinen's fifth studio album (and her first to be recorded in Finnish), Paperimiehen Tytär was released in October 2010 and debuted at number 9 on the albums chart.
Runner-up Jani Wickholm signed a recording contract with the RCA division of Sony BMG and his debut album Kaikki muuttuu was released in September 2004. The album held the number 1 spot for two consecutive weeks and was certified platinum, selling 30,000 copies to date. His second album Alumiinitähdet was released a year later, peaked at number 6 but sold only 6,000. His third and fourth albums (Yhden lauseen mies and Ranta-ahon valot) were released in January 2007 and April 2008 respectively, and were met with decreasing sales figures. Neither received a certification, with Yhden lauseen mies selling just 5,000 copies and Ranta-ahon valot fewer than 4,000. Wickholm released his first greatest hits compilation, Kirkkaimmat Tähdet in May 2010, but the album failed to achieve commercial success and as a result, missed the Finnish Top 50.
Third place finisher Antti Tuisku also signed with Sony BMG and has gone on to become the most commercially successful contestant in Idols history, with his albums sales higher than those of all his fellow season one contestants combined. His debut album Ensimmäinen appeared in May 2004 and peaked at number 1 for three consecutive weeks. It was certified double platinum, selling 71,000 copies. Antti Tuisku, his self-titled sophomore effort also hit the top spot when released a year later in May 2005, and was certified platinum after selling over 37,000 copies. He released a Christmas album, Minun Jouluni in November of the same year which was certified gold and peaked at number 3. On 4 October 2006 he released his third and fourth studio albums New York and Rovaniemi simultaneously. The former debuted at number 1 and the latter at number 2, making Tuisku the first Finnish artist to release two albums on the same date and have them take the two highest positions on the chart in their first week. New York proved to be more successful and sold 15,000 copies to be certified gold, whilst Rovaniemi sold just under 14,000. In November 2007 Tuisku released Aikaa, his first "greatest hits" collection. Unlike his previous studio albums which had all been top 2 hits however, it stalled in the chart at number 10, selling only 7,000 copies. His fifth studio album Hengitän was released on 23 September 2009, peaked at number 3 and was accredited gold for sales of over 15,000 copies. Tuisku's sixth studio album, Kaunis Kaaos was released on 27 October 2010 and debuted at number 2, Tuisku's highest chart debut since 2006. It was certified platinum for sales of over 20,000 copies. In addition to the success of his albums, Tuisku has also achieved three number 1 singles, more than any other Idols contestant.
Fourth place finisher Christian Forss signed with Edel Records and released his self-titled debut album Christian Forss in late 2004. Although it initially peaked at number 6 for two weeks, the album quickly fell down and left the chart after selling 13,000 copies and did not achieve gold status. His second album Hungry Heart was released a year later but achieved little commercial success and failed to chart on the Finnish Top 40.
Sixth place finisher Anniina Karjalainen independently released her first album Traces of Me in 2006 but it did not receive significant success, failing to chart and selling only 3,000 copies.
Finalists (ages stated at time of contest)
Contestant Age Hometown Voted Off Liveshow Theme Hanna Pakarinen 22 Lappeenranta Winner Grand Finale Jani Wickholm 26 Kerava 9 January 2004 Antti Tuisku 19 Rovaniemi 2 January 2004 Rock Hits Christian Forss 21 Kimito 19 December 2003 Film Songs Victoria Shuudifonya 20 Turku 12 December 2003 80s Hits Sonja Nurmela 17 Lappeenranta 5 December 2003 My Idol Anniina Karjalainen 20 Helsinki
Elimination chart DateThemeBottom Three5 DecemberMy IdolSonja NurmelaAnniina KarjalainenChristian ForssBottom Two12 December80s HitsVictoria ShuudifonyaJani Wickholm19 DecemberFilm SongsChristian Forss (2)Jani Wickholm (2)2 JanuaryAntti Tuisku9 JanuaryFinaleJani Wickholm (3)Hanna Pakarinen
Season 2 The second season of Idols began in the autumn of 2005. The city of Oulu was added as the fourth audition venue, with a total of 1479 people auditioning. Ellen Jokikunnas and Heikki Paasonen returned to host, but the judging panel saw a significant change, with only Jone Nikula staying on the show. The other three judges were replaced by Musicmakers executive Kim Kuusi, singer-songwriter Nina Tapio and Jarkko Valtee. The semifinals started on 13 November, with Harjavalta's Katri Ylander the hot favourite to win the contest. However, on 18 December 26-year-old Ilkka Jääskeläinen defeated her in the grand finale with 55% of the vote and took the crown as the second Finnish Idol.
Winner Ilkka Jääskeläinen's debut album Vuosisadan rakkaustarina was released on 29 March 2006 and debuted at number two. However, Jääskeläinen failed to achieve significant critical or commercial success, and his debut album spent only three weeks inside the top five. It sold just over 13,000 copies and to date it is the only debut album by an Idol winner or runner-up not to achieve gold status. In December 2006, only one year after his Idols victory, Jääskeläinen was dropped by Sony BMG, becoming the first (and to date only) winner to be dropped by the company.
Runner-up Katri Ylander was also signed up by Sony BMG and would go on to become the most successful of the season 2 Idols contestants. Katri Ylander, her self-titled debut album was a huge critical success and when released in June 2006, spent three weeks at its peak of number 3. In total it spent 28 weeks on the chart and sold almost 27,000 copies throughout Finland, achieving a gold award. Her follow-up album Kaikki nämä sanat only managed to reach number 13, however it enjoyed a lengthy run on the chart and despite its low chart peak, sold 20,000 copies. Ylander's highly anticipated third studio album Valvojat was released on 2 September 2009 and debuted at number 6, seven places higher than her sophomore effort.
Third place finisher Pete Seppälä released his first single "Energiaa" in March 2006 and it peaked at number 2. His debut album Jos nukun kiltisti sohvalla... was delayed until November however, and as a result failed to match the success of its lead single, failing to chart at all and amassing sales of only 5,000.
Fourth place finisher Agnes Pihlava was signed by RCA Records and her first single "I Thought We Were Lovers" became a great success, peaking at number 2 on the Finnish singles chart. Her debut album When The Night Falls was released in September 2006 and reached number 8, selling 12,000 copies. In 2007, Pihlava parted ways with Sony BMG and signed a new recording contract with Finnish label Scandal Records. Her second album Redemption was released on 21 October 2009. Though critically acclaimed, the album failed to make it into the official Finnish albums chart.
Sixth place finisher Roni Tran received a recording contract with Sony BMG and released his debut album Since 1987 in mid-2006. It peaked at number 26 and spent only three weeks on the chart, selling around 4,500 copies. Tran was later dropped by Sony BMG due to the low success of the album.
Finalists (ages stated at time of contest)