A unique Finnish punk band made up of four members with learning disabilities is to represent the Nordic country in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Austria.
PKN (Pertti Kurikan Nimipaivat) won the right to represent their country after receiving the majority of the public votes during the national competition on Saturday and bookmakers have now enlisted the quartet among the favourites to win the annual extravaganza.
All four members of the group have either Down’s syndrome or autism, but that has not stopped them achieving stardom in their homeland; and it seems now they may be set for bigger and better things as they aim to conquer Europe too.
Singer Kari Aalto, who will perform their hit song Aina Mun Pitaa (I Always Have To), noted that every person suffering from any kind of disability should be brave rather than being afraid of doing things they want to do.
PKN first met during a charity event and later appeared in The Punk Syndrome, an award-winning 2012 documentary. Their song is about the rules and frustrations encountered in day-to-day life such as chores, cleaning up and eating healthily.
It will also be the first time the Eurovision Song Contest has featured a punk band.