Lauri Ylönen does not have an actual raincoat, the costume designers say.
The Rasmus is currently representing Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin. The band, which advanced from Thursday’s semi-finals, will be seen in the finals on Saturday.
JezebelThe performance of the song has sparked a debate in Turin due to, among other things, special performance costumes. Soloist Lauri Ylönen seems to be wearing a raincoat, but why on earth?
A Finnish team consisting of costume designers Teemu Muurimäki and Elina Lario as well as Stylist Vesa Silver. Iltalehti reached out to Muurimäki and Silver to tell us more about the outfits.
Lauri Ylönen’s jacket used “theater tricks”, says Teemu Muurimäki. EBU / CORINNE CUMMING
– It’s not actually a raincoat, but we did get that impression, says Muurimäki about Ylönen’s jacket.
– The jacket is not waterproof. We did a bit of theatrical gimmicky: it’s dyed cotton and has a shiny, technical-looking coating on it, he continues.
A genuine raincoat would not be breathable, so it would be awkward to perform in one.
– However, Lauri moves and sweats on stage. Cotton breathes better than real raincoat materials.
Scandinavian atmosphere
I was inspired by a picture found by Ylönen, which he showed as a reference to the working group.
– There was a yellow raincoat in the picture. We wanted a bit of a Scandinavian and childlike feel, but we made it a little rocker. The jacket is oversized, has black leather and a large zipper at the edge of the hood, Muurimäki describes.
When The Rasmus won the UMK in February, Ylönen performed in a yellow faux fur coat. For the Eurovision Song Contest, the outfit was changed, as the presentation was changed anyway: the cartoon characters in the background were removed and replaced with large balloons. The upper coat wanted a similar shine to the balloons.
The surfaces of the jacket and the balloons resemble each other. EBU / CORINNE CUMMING
At the end of the performance, Ylönen takes off his jacket. EBU / CORINNE CUMMING
– The raincoat was a source of inspiration, but we wanted to make it trendy. The jacket fits perfectly into balloons and the glossy material reflects light well, Silver says.
The jacket also occasionally fits on the Eurovision stage, which has an effect resembling running water on the edge.
– We didn’t know about it when we designed the jacket, Silver says.
Visa history
Silver praises that the design of the outfits with The Rasmus was smooth. The collaboration began as early as August last year, when the band began preparing for the UMK competition.
– It was wonderful to get to know them and work together. It was nice to get yellow for the show because they’ve dressed mostly black in the past. They received ideas well, drummer Aki Hakala was brave and dressed kindly. There are several Finnish designers in everyone’s outfits.
Both Muurimäki and Silver have a previous history with wise clothing. Muurimäki once designed Jaana Pelkonen’s outfits when she hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Finland Mikko Leppilammen with in 2007.
Silver was involved in designing Saara Aalto’s costumes when she represented Finland at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest Monsters.
At the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest, The Rasmus wore a full black. The same working group was responsible for these costumes as for the costumes. EBU / CORINNE CUMMING