Who to follow in Lordi's footsteps?

Yes, Eurovision 2007 may be six months away, but already the Finnish broadcaster YLE have announced the 12 artists that will compete to represent Finland on home ground next May. Unsurprisingly, about half of these twelve are ‘rock’ acts, with three appearing to be particularly ‘hard rock’ (‘hallelujah!’, I’m sure Lordi would say…). These three are:

Jann Wilde and Rose Avenue (left)...

and

Lovex (right)...

and

Thunderstone, described by wikipedia.org as ‘a melodic power metal band’… (below right)...

On top of these three, the other Finnish competitors include Humane, another rock band; Jani & Jetsetters, more rock guitar; and Katra, an 'unknown' rock act. That accounts for half the entrants! The other six performers are urban group Beats&Styles, schlager veteran Jukka Kuoppamaki, balladeer Johanna Kurkela, soft rock Finnish Pop Idol winner Hanna Pakarinen, soloist Kentala, and also Finland's 2002 entrant Laura Voutilainen, who finished (unfairly) in 20th position with Addicted To You.

But are Finland right to try and go for another rock entry? I'm very doubtful. Lordi was very much a one-trick-pony, and although I think it was fantastic, I think most televoters will think that any entry that bears a resemblence to Lordi will be just seen as copying - especially if that country is Finland! Let's not forget that when Turkey's ethnic song won in 2003, they entered a ska song the year after - Ukraine won in 2004 with a tribal song, and then entered a protest anthem - Greece's 2005 win with an upbeat eastern pop song was followed the year after with a big ballad.

Surely Finland wouldn't risk sending another rock song? And if Finland will do it, how many other countries will? Will 2007 just end up being Eurovision's arockolypse?! Only time will tell...