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Finland: 1974 entrant Carita performs at Helsinki festival
Carita did perform a selection of her older jazz-inspired songs as well as some material from her forthcoming release titled My diary of songs. Carita was only 20 years old when she took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 in Brighton. She won both the second heat and the Finnish national final with the song Älä mene pois, composed by Eero Koivistoinen and the lyrics were written by Hector. For the Eurovision Song Contest final the song was translated into English by Frank Robson. The song finished on 13th position of 17 countries with 4 points (the 18th country, France, canceled their participation in 1974 in the last minute as president Pompidou died in the week of the contest) .
Carita has since worked as a teacher at the only music university in Finland, Sibelius Academy, in the department of piano music. She has released six albums, the last one in 1994.
Carita did however disappoint some parts of the sold-out club audience last week, as she did not perform her Eurovision entry. When she returned to do her encore she did apologise for not doing Älä mene pois despite several audience members asking for it. She told the audience that as she had not performed the song in such a long while she could not remember the lyrics to it.
Esctoday.com had an opportunity to talk briefly to Carita after the gig. To the question of the missing Eurovision Song Contest entry she repeated that she really genuinely could not remember the 35-year-old song, but promised to rehearse it again for her future gigs. She also told us that the whole Eurovision experience was a pleasant memory for her and she had nothing bad to say about the contest, even if the song is not part of her repertoire lately, maybe also because it is not one of her own compositions, that she usually performs.
As all fans of the contest know, the 1974 edition is mostly remembered by the first victory of Sweden with Abba and Waterloo, that launched a world-wide career for the band. As Carita Holmström speaks Swedish as her first language and also lived in Sweden in 1974, Esctoday.com asked whether she got into contact with the members of Abba while in Brighton. They were all very distant, Ms Holmström remembered. Abba had the biggest entourage in Brighton and they were very focused at winning, she continued. I don't think anybody there had any doubts who was going to win in Brighton, she concluded.
Carita Holmström - Älä mene pois, video from the Finnish national final 1974 on the YLE website here
Keep me warm at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton:
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I agree with you folks, Finlaand was way too often overlooked... my favorite Finnish songs are Fantasiaa, Laponia, elekoo elamaa, .... their winng with Lordi was more than deserved. It was and still is, a very good song. And together with the Swedes, the Finns must be the most friendly welcoming people in Europe.... love them
Ok thnx guys 
From 1973 till 1976 there was no language rule. In 1977 the language rule was re-applied. Only Germany and Belgium got dispensation because their song was already chosen.
Mind you that Sweden's first victory was with a song in English, the last Dutch victory was in 1975 also in English, and the Flemish had their best result ever in 1977 with a song in English.
No Lina, the rules was not native language at the time.
Apart from Finland both Sweden, Netherlands and Norway chose english instead of their native language.
The video is from the ESC-night in Brighton.
hoe can she sing in english since the rules that time was native languages? That video is from ESC 1974 night or other event?
From Finland I like:
1. 2009 Waldo's people "lose control'
2. 1993 Katri Helena 'Tule luo"
3. 1989 Anneli Saaristo "La dolce vita"
4. 2007 Hanna Pakarinen "leave me alone"
The song was 13th out of 17, not 18, as France didn't take part!
Not one of my favourites..."Tom-tom" the year before was far more exciting
I remember this song "keep me warm" so well as it was the very first Eurovision I ever saw live from Brighton Pavillion UK. I remember liking the song which even now in 2009 would not sound that dated really.
I find this much more appealing than "Waterloo". And such reminiscence makes me feel blue and shows me how times have changed. Many current contestants might turn red witnessing solid musicianship and authentic performing.
But those things don't happen by chance, and I'm glad to find one of my favourite European conservatories mentioned. Not only that some of the world's best conductors acquired their skills at the Sibelius Institute (as well as members of the bands "Nightwish" and "Apocalyptica" 
. Also the first academic folk music department was founded here. And it guarantees every graduate the highest level of class and quality you can get. (I already mentioned some of those gems a few times.) If I studied music again, Helsinki might be the one.
I absolutely love "Keep me warm" which is my winner for 1974 much stronger song than the ones who scored well, however original and fresh there were for the times
The voting system used in 1974 (the last year before the douze point system was introduced) was not very good for the less popular songs. At the bottom of the scoreboard were lots of songs with only a few votes. So several songs with only 3 votes could finish last, while a song with 9 votes could reach a top 10 position.
I love keep me warm however, I did prefer more songs in 1974, but it certainly shouldn't have ended so low...
I like many Finnish Eurovision songs and I like Keep Me Warm, but I wouldn't say it is one of my favourites
As in some cases of past finnish entries: an underrated song!
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