Philadelphia Independent - Finland's Eurovision favourite brings flames and a frantic violin to Vienna

Pointing to the mock-up stage where she would polish her stride in a shiny silver gown and steep high heels while intensely playing the strings of her antique 1781 Gagliano violin, Lampenius, 56, told AFP they would be practising "over and over."

Smiling behind a pair of stylish glasses, Parkkonen, 36, said he was "super excited" to "see how the world's biggest TV show is done and be a part of it".

With two weeks remaining until the Eurovision Song Contest Final on May 16, international betting sites give the Nordic country around a 30 percent chance of winning, far ahead the other favourites Denmark, Greece and France.

When meeting AFP, the two performers were relaxed and bubbly -- in stark contrast to their dramatic and intense stage personas.

Blending classical violin with pop and rock, their "Flamethrower" is "a three-minute burst of drama" of "very high musical quality," Eurovision expert Anna Muurinen told AFP.

- 'A helping hand' -

A story about the fear of showing your true self, the song was inspired by Lampenius' own past from before she met her husband more than 20 years ago.

"At that time, I was behaving a little bit like this flamethrower," she explained.

"I let people fall in love with me but then if they got to know me too close, I got scared, because I was afraid that that person would leave me when they knew me for real."

Parkkonen, who appears on stage as enigmatic and brooding while lamenting his unanswered love next to a flaming confessional, hoped the song will serve as "a helping hand".

The song is an "example of where not to go" while conveying the importance of speaking to each other and showing emotions, he said.

Lampenius and Parkkonen had not met before the production of the song but the violinist reached out after she decided he would be the perfect vocalist to accompany her.

As a classical violinist who began her concert career at the age of eight, Lampenius is already internationally acclaimed.

In Finland, her private life has also received media attention over the years.

"And now here we are, life is crazy," said Parkkonen, who became famous after appearing in the Finnish reality TV show "Idols" in 2008.

- Live violin -

Lampenius has requested permission from organiser EBU (European Broadcasting Union) to perform live with her violin in Vienna, as instruments featured on stage are typically pre-recorded.

"We don't know yet, so we will inform everyone at the same time when we get the final answer," she said.

Finland has only claimed the top honour in the competition once when heavy metal band Lordi's monster-themed act won the hearts of the audience.

Having ended up in last place 11 times, a win "would mean a lot... to the Finnish people," Lampenius said, who herself lives in Sweden.

"I got goosebumps," she said when asked about the significance of a win.

It would also mark the first time a song performed in Finnish won, Eurovision expert Muurinen noted.

"Finland's cultural uniqueness has suddenly become a strength," she said.

The 70th edition of the Eurovision occurs at a time when the event is facing a crisis.

More than 1,000 artists have urged a boycott, and several countries have pulled out in protest over Israel's participation.

Only 35 countries will be competing for the top prize in the Austrian capital, marking the smallest edition in recent years.

Parkkonen explained that the duo decided to take part in the Eurovision "with humanity and music".

"Of course, we don't want people to suffer, all the children... it's awful... but we think of our music, we want to connect with people through love and music," Lampenius said.

R.Walker--PI