At the end of LORDI's performance, right before the file is cut, you can hear one of the hosts (this is taken from French television) saying, "Finland has been participating in the Eurovision contest for the past 44 years and has never won. They're certainly not gonna win with this."
The Associated Press is reporting that LORDI scandalized some of their Finnish compatriots when their song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" was chosen to represent the nation. At a press conference, the band's frontman said his plan for the final was to "scream louder and turn the amps up."
"This is a victory for rock music ... and also a victory for open-mindedness," the band's lead singer, Mr. Lordi, said after the win, Finland's first. "We are not Satanists. We are not devil worshipers. This is entertainment."
Combining crunchy guitars, a catchy chorus and mock-demonic imagery, LORDI are reminiscent of U.S. '70s stars KISS, an acknowledged inspiration of Mr. Lordi.
Band members never appear without their elaborate masks and makeup, and do not reveal their true names.