Education
Saaristo first entered the Finnish Eurovision selection in 1978 with the song "Sinun kanssasi, sinua ilman", which finished fourth.
Saaristo first entered the Finnish Eurovision selection in 1978 with the song "Sinun kanssasi, sinua ilman", which finished fourth.
Saaristo spent the 1970s performing in singing competitions and worked as a dance orchestra singer. Her first album was released in 1980. A second attempt in 1984 with "Sä liian paljon vaadit" ended in third place.
Saaristo finally got her chance in 1989, when "Louisiana dolce vita" was chosen as the Finnish entry for the 34th, held in Lausanne, Switzerland on 6 May.
A song with a distinctly Mediterranean sound and arrangement, "Louisiana dolce vita" finished in seventh place of 22 entries, representing Finland"s best Eurovision placing for 14 years and making it at the time the country"s joint second-highest placement. Saaristo maintained her popularity in Finland and since 1980 has released 18 albums, most recently Uskalla Rakastaa in 2009.
In 2005, she appeared in the historical film Shadow of the Eagle with Mikko Leppilampi, Helena Vierikko and fellow Eurovision veteran Vesa-Matti Loiri.