NEW MUSIC: THE RASMUS | JEZEBEL

Finnish rock band The Rasmus recently entered Finland's annual Eurovision selection contest, "Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu" (UMK; The New Music Competition). The band has just released its Eurovision entry bid and new single, "Jezebel," via Playground Music. "Jezebel" was co-written and produced by Desmond Child, who collaborated with THE RASMUS on their seventh studio album "Black Roses." They are responsible for formulating some of rock's biggest hits, with co-writer and production credits on iconic songs by Kiss, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Alice Cooper, to name a few. Speaking about the collaboration, Child says: "Lauri gives me a call and says, 'Hey, I need to write the biggest, greatest song in the entire world ever. Will you do it [with me]?' and I said, 'Yeah, but I am in Folegandros (Greece)' and he says, "I'll be right there." The UMK winner and Finland's next Eurovision Song Contest participant will be chosen at the UMK22 event in Turku Logomo on February 26, 2022. The final will be shown live on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle's radio channels from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. EET. The winner will be chosen by TV viewers and the international UMK jury. The Rasmus announced that founding guitarist Pauli Rantasalmi had left the band earlier in the month. Pauli commented: "I have decided to make my departure from the band and seek new adventures and challenges in life. After Italy’s Måneskin emerged victorious at the 2021 event, next year’s Eurovision will be held in Turin. The final is set to air on May 14.