Liekinheitin
| "Liekinheitin" | ||||
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| Single by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen | ||||
| Language | Finnish | |||
| English title | "Flamethrower" | |||
| Released | 16 January 2026 | |||
| Genre | Pop-rock[1] | |||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
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| Linda Lampenius singles chronology | ||||
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| Pete Parkkonen singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Liekinheitin" on YouTube | ||||
| Eurovision Song Contest 2026 entry | ||||
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| ◄ "Ich komme" (2025) | ||||
"Liekinheitin" (Finnish: [ˈlie̯kinˌhei̯t̪in]; transl. "Flamethrower") is a song by Finnish violinist Linda Lampenius and Finnish singer-songwriter Pete Parkkonen. The song was composed by Lampenius and Parkkonen, together with Antti Riihimäki, Lauri Halavaara, and Vilma Alina Lähteenmäki, and was released on 16 January 2026 through Universal Music Oy and PME Records. It will represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 after winning the Finnish national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2026.
Upon its release, "Liekinheitin" became a commercial success in Finland, peaking at number one on the Official Finnish Singles Chart.
Background and composition
"Liekinheitin" was written by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, with Antti Riihimäki, Lauri Halavaara, and Vilma Alina Lähteenmäki. The song was also produced by Riihimäki and Halavaara.[2]
The collaboration between the two artists started when Riihimäki contacted Parkkonen during a break in one of his performances. At the time, Lampenius was already in the studio developing the song's structure alongside Riihimäki, Lähteenmäki, and Halavaara. The production team had been evaluating potential collaborators for the track before finalizing the partnership with Parkkonen.[3]
Thematically, the song explores the idea of a "fiery yet frozen" relationship.[4] Lampenius described the lyrics as being about a person who is "burning hot but suddenly turns ice cold".[5] Parkkonen further added that the song represents a dialogue between two perspectives: the one trying to get close and the one who does not dare let go. This duality is reflected in the instrumentation, where the violin and vocals are intended to "speak" to one another.[6]
Release and music video
The song was officially released as a single on 16 January 2026 through Universal Music Oy and PME Records.[‡ 1][7] The music video, directed by Vertti Virkajärvi, was simultaneously released on Yle Areena and the official YouTube channel of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu.[‡ 2][8] Within its first week of release, the video surpassed one million views on YouTube, making it the fastest-growing video in the history of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu.[6][9]
Promotion
To promote "Liekinheitin" before the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, Lampenius and Parkkonen announced their intent to participate in various Eurovision pre-parties. They will participate at Eurovision in Concert 2026 to be held at AFAS Live Arena in Amsterdam on 11 April 2026.[‡ 3] They will also perform at the London Eurovision Party 2026 to be held at Here at Outernet on 19 April 2026.[10]
Critical reception
Juuso Määttänen of Helsingin Sanomat characterized the song as "safe erotic pop", praising Parkkonen's vocals and Lampenius' violin melodies while noting that its progression toward an "explosive climax" was reminiscent of previous Eurovision entries, specifically JJ's "Wasted Love" and Erika Vikman's "Ich komme".[11] Writing for Ilta-Sanomat, Iiro Myllymäki gave the song a generally positive review, praising the chemistry between Parkkonen and Lampenius, and considered the entry having the best chance of success at Eurovision, despite offering a minor criticism regarding the song's "weak hook" and the lack of connection between the title and the chorus. He also called the entry "so Eurovision that it is almost a parody", though he noted that in the context of the contest, "too much is rarely enough".[12]
The song has also been received positively by Finnish artists, including UMK winners Erika Vikman and Krista Siegfrids, former UMK participants Sara Siipola, Bess, and Tiina Forsby of Portion Boys, and Finnish personalities, including Maria Veitola and Johannes Holopainen, among others.[13] Lead vocalist Tomi Putaansuu of the Eurovision 2006 winning band Lordi also provided a generally positive assessment of the song, describing it as "quite good" with a "cool vibe", but he noted difficulty in identifying a definitive "hook". While he admitted the arrangement was somewhat confusing to him, to which he attributed to his own preference for simpler heavy metal, he concluded that the entry "looks and sounds good" overall.[14]
On the radio show Herman & Toivonen: Very Important Content, musicians Mitja Toivonen and Olli Herman gave the song a polarising review, despite giving it a rating of 7.5 and 8.5, respectively. Toivonen praised its potential for a "grandiose" stage performance, while Herman specifically commended Lampenius's violin performance and Parkkonen's vocal ability. However, the latter heavily criticised the song's lyrical content, describing it as "toxic" and "repulsive". Using a metaphor based on Snow White, he compared the narrative to a protagonist knowingly consuming a poisoned apple and returning for more, which he argued portrayed a highly unhealthy relationship.[15]
Eurovision Song Contest 2026
Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2026
Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2026 was the national final format organised by Yle to select the Finnish representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The competition saw seven entries competing in a final on 28 February 2026. Results during the final were determined based on votes from the public and an international jury, with the final result being 75% of the public vote and 25% of the jury vote.[16] Lampenius and Parkkonen were officially announced to compete in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2026 on 14 January 2026,[17] with their song released the following day.[18] "Liekinheitin" was drawn to perform seventh at the final, and won the contest with 570 points, scoring 492 points from public vote and 78 points from the jury vote.[19][20]
For its UMK performance, the creative team were composed of Ari Levelä, Reija Wäre, Juha-Matti Valtonen, Sergio Jaén, and Matti Myllyaho.[21] The staging featured a dilapidated orchestra stand with chairs and benches both upright and upside down. Lampenius stood on a chair at the beginning of the performance, and Parkkonen was at the front of the stage.[22] The performance also featured flames and other pyrotechnics. Lampenius and Parkkonen remained apart for the most part during the performance which reflects the themes of the song, with them being separated by a burning confessional.[23][24] The performance ends with Lampenius and Parkkonen meeting in front of the chairs, with the chairs rising into the air.[25]
At Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, and will consist of two semi-finals to be held on the respective dates of 12 and 14 May and the final on 16 May 2026.[26] During the allocation draw held on 12 January 2026, Finland was drawn to compete in the first semi-final, performing in the first half of the show.[27] As of March 12th 2026, Finland are first in the betting odds to win the contest.[28]
Charts
| Chart (2026) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[29] | 1 |
| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[30] | 19 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 16 January 2026 | Original |
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See also
References
- ^ "Eurovision 2026: Ti thési dínoun ta stoichímata se Kýpro kai Elláda – Poia chóra figourárei stin koryfí – Deíte tin próti dekáda" [Eurovision 2026: What position do the bets give to Cyprus and Greece – Which country is at the top – See the top ten]. Phileleftheros (in Greek). 25 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ Oleander, Jaakko (16 January 2026). "Kansainvälinen viulisti Linda Lampenius ja suomalainen pop-tähti Pete Parkkonen yhdistävät voimansa – UMK26-kappale nyt kuunneltavissa" [International violinist Linda Lampenius and Finnish pop star Pete Parkkonen join forces – UMK26 song now available to listen to] (in Finnish). Yle. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Oleander, Jaakko (16 January 2026). "International violinist Linda Lampenius teams up with Finnish pop star Pete Parkkonen – the UMK26 song is out now". Yle. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "Ikoninen duo Linda Lampenius ja Pete Parkkonen yhdistävät voimansa Liekinheitin-kappaleella" [Iconic duo Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen join forces for the song "Liekinheitin"] (in Finnish). Universal Music Finland. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Schildt, Saku (16 January 2026). "Millainen on Pete Parkkosen ja Linda Lampeniuksen yhteinen UMK-kisabiisi? Kuuntele itse!" [What is Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius' joint UMK competition song like? Listen for yourself!]. Soundi (in Finnish). Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ a b Puljujärvi, Ismo (19 January 2026). "UMK-ennätys murskaantui" [UMK record shattered]. Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Farren, Neil (16 January 2026). "Finland: Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius Release UMK 2026 Entry "Liekinheitin"". Eurovoix News. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen - Liekinheitin" (in Finnish). Yle Areena. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Viskari, Julia (22 January 2026). "Yksi UMK-kappale rikkoi miljoonan näyttökerran rajapyykin Youtubessa" [One UMK song broke the one million views mark on YouTube]. Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Conte, Davide (9 March 2026). "Lion Ceccah, Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen Confirmed for London Eurovision Party 2026". Eurovoix News. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ^ Määttänen, Juuso (23 January 2026). "Tasapaksuilta radiohiteiltä kuulostavat biisit jättävät vaisun olon – Arvioimme UMK-biisit" [Songs that sound like regular radio hits leave you feeling lethargic – We evaluate UMK songs]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Myllymäki, Iiro (23 January 2026). "Ruotsalainen viisuasiantuntija arvioi kaikki UMK-kappaleet – yksi ylitse muiden" [A Swedish visa expert evaluates all UMK pieces – one above the others]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Karttunen, Camilla (16 January 2026). "Uusin UMK-julkaisu nostatti kylmiä väreitä – Erika Vikman kommentoi: "Taivas"" [The latest UMK publication sent chills down your spine – Erika Vikman commented: "Heaven"]. Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Tänav, Alexia (14 March 2026). "Tätä mieltä Mr. Lordi on Lindan ja Peten euroviisukappaleesta" [This is Mr. Lordi's opinion about Linda and Pete's Eurovision song] (in Finnish). MTV Uutiset. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ Puljujärvi, Ismo (7 February 2026). "UOlli Hermanilta jyrkkä arvio UMK:n ennakkosuosikista: "Ällöttää kuunnella"" [Olli Herman's harsh assessment of UMK's pre-favorite: "It's disgusting to listen to"]. Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Saulo, Sandra; Lassila, Juhani (23 February 2026). "Kaikki UMK26:sta – näin seuraat, äänestät ja chattailet mukana!" [All about UMK26 – this is how you follow, vote and chat!] (in Finnish). Yle. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ Farren, Neil (14 January 2026). "Finland: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2026 Participants Revealed". Eurovoix News. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ Farren, Neil (15 January 2026). "Finland: Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius Release UMK 2026 Entry "Liekinheitin"". Eurovoix News. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ Conte, Davide (9 February 2026). "Finland: UMK 2026 Running Order Revealed". Eurovoix News. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ Kantola, Iida; Ylä-Jussila, Miikka (28 February 2026). "Tässä ovat UMK-voittajat vuonna 2026: Linda Lampenius ja Pete Parkkonen" [Here are the UMK winners in 2026: Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ "Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin (Live) // UMK26" (in Finnish). Yle Areena. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ Kantola, Iida; Laitinen, Ebba; Äijälä, Satu (28 February 2026). "Tältä näyttävät UMK-esitykset – dramaattinen esitys varasti täysin huomion" [This is what UMK performances look like – the dramatic performance completely stole the show]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ Välske, Silja; Lintunen, Katja; Kähkönen, Katariina (28 February 2026). "Mikä show! Linda Lampenius ja Pete Parkkonen räjäyttivät potin" [What a show! Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen blew up the pot] (in Finnish). MTV Uutiset. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ Hopi, Anna (1 March 2026). "Asiantuntija yllättyi Linda Lampeniuksen ja Pete Parkkosen esityksestä" [The expert was surprised by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen's performance]. Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ Kähkönen, Katariina; Lintunen, Katja (28 February 2026). "Lampenius ja Parkkonen lunastivat ennakkosuosikin paikan – MTV seurasi UMK-kenraalia" [Lampenius and Parkkonen claimed the pre-favorite spot – MTV followed the UMK in general] (in Finnish). MTV Uutiset. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ "Vienna announced as host city for Eurovision Song Contest 2026". The Guardian. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ "Vienna 2026: Semi-Final Draw results". Eurovision.com (Press release). European Broadcasting Union. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ^ "Odds Eurovision Song Contest 2026". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ^ "Pete Parkkonen: Liekinheitin" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 11, 2026" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
Primary sources
In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):
- ^ a b "Liekinheitin – Single by Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen". Apple Music (GB). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin (music video) // UMK26 (video). Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026 – via YouTube.
- ^ @eurovisioninconcert; (5 March 2026). "We're delighted to announce our 11th ESC 2026 act for Eurovision in Concert: let's hear it for @lindalampeniusofficial x @peteparkkonen; this year's Finnish representatives! 🇫🇮". Retrieved 21 March 2026 – via Instagram.