Finland was represented by Laila Halme, with the song "Muistojeni laulu", at the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 23 March in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. "Muistojeni laulu" was chosen as the Finnish entry at the national final organised by broadcaster

Yle Yleisradio Oy ( Finnish, literally "General Radio Ltd." or "General Broadcast Ltd."; abbr. Yle ; sv, Rundradion Ab, italics=no), translated to English as the Finnish Broadcasting Company, is Finland's national public broadcasting company, found ...

and held on 14 February. Halme originally finished third in the national final, but replaced the winning singer Irmeli Mäkelä at Eurovision for unknown reasons.

Before Eurovision

National final

The final was held at the Yle studios in

Helsinki Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the capital, primate, and most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of Uusimaa in southern Finland, and has a population of . The city ...

, hosted by Aarno Walli, Erkki-Mikael, Risto Vanari and

Marion Rung Marion Rung (born 7 December 1945 in Helsinki) is a Finland, Finnish pop singer. She is known for having represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1962 and 1973. Her 1962 Eurovision song placed 7th, and in 1973, she managed to bring F ...

. Eight songs took part, with each performed twice, once with a small combo and once with a full orchestra. The winner was chosen by voting from ten regional juries.

At Eurovision

On the night of the final Halme performed 7th in the running order, following

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

and preceding eventual contest winners

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

. Voting was by each national jury awarding 5-4-3-2-1 to their top five songs, and at the close "Muistojeni laulu" was one of four songs (along with the entries from the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

and Sweden) which had failed to pick up any points at all, the country's first last place finish. The Finnish jury awarded its 5 points to Denmark.ESC History - Finland 1963
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Voting

Finland did not receive any points at the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest.

References

{{Eurovision Song Contest 1963

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Co ...

Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 1963 Eurovision