Finnish EUROVISION Entry Investigated For WITHIN TEMPTATION Plagiarism

ESCToday.com reports: YLE will decide today, with the help of several music professionals and composers, if "Tietäjä", KATRA's qualified entry for the Finnish final, is a copy of "Jillian (I'd Give My Heart)" by WITHIN TEMPTATION, released in 2004. The case was in the air already before Saturday's second semifinal in Finland but, over the weekend, videos circulating in YouTube and various heated fan discussions in message boards have forced YLE to investigate.

"The intro is very similar. The chorus has different notes but sounds alike as well,' says Tracy Lipp, one of the authors of LAURA's "Addicted to You" back in 2002.

The composer of the song, Risto Asikainen, is planning to change the song if necessary. "We could change some notes so it won't remind of 'Jillian' at all. I heard this 'Jillian' [song] for the first time yesterday and wrote down the notes for both songs. Based on those, it is not a copy. Both songs use the clichés of classical music. After Bach there hasn't been anything new in that field." He says he studied the NIGHTWISH songs well to avoid any speculation but he wasn't prepared for this WITHIN TEMPTATION song. Many people after hearing both songs compare them to CARL ORFF's classic work "Carmina Burana" from the 1930s.

"The two songs do sound similar at times," says YLE's Timo Suomi. "We have invited several field professionals to a meeting today and if they think it is plagiarism, 'Tietäjä' will be replaced by KATRA's other song, 'Vaaratar'. I don't think Asikainen should change the notes of the song, it would confuse the voters more than if the song were replaced altogether. Also the rules state the melody of the song itself cannot be changed, only the lyrics and arrangement."

To hear the choruses to the two songs played back-to-back, click here. A video clip of KATRA performing "Tietäjä" in its entirety can be found at this location.

Katra herself isn't worried. "I did my TV debut on this big stage with a sore throat and a slight fever," she said. "I don't mind people comparing me to Tarja Turunen (NIGHTWISH's ex-singer). In Finland people always compare you to someone and I admire Tarja a lot." As for the rumors that Katra is one of the short-listed singers to replace Tarja Turunen in NIGHTWISH, she said, "No, it is not true. I haven't even applied and I'd rather do my own music and sing in Finnish. NIGHTWISH is too gothic for me."

This is the second time the Finnish tabloids have had the chance to scream "Eurovision scandal!" in their front pages. Earlier this month JANN WILDE & ROSE AVENUE's both entries were disqualified when YLE found out they had been in YouTube for months already.

Stay tuned for YLE's official verdict sometime tomorrow.