Kari Kuivalainen (born 14 November 1960) is a Finnish singer-songwriter, best known for his participation in the 1986 Eurovision Song Contest.
Kuivalainen was primarily a composer rather than a singer, and in 1985 he submitted his song "Haaveissa vainko oot mun?"
[1] In 1986, he entered another song, "Päivä kahden ihmisen", which was originally intended for singer Kaija Koo.
However, she declined the chance to participate, so Kuivalainen decided to perform the song himself at the National Final, where he was the choice of the jury (by a margin of only one point over former Eurovision participant Kirka) to go forward to represent Finland at the 31st Eurovision Song Contest.
[3] Kuivalainen subsequently became a member of band Menneisyyden Vangit, alongside another Eurovision veteran, Vicky Rosti.