Friday: Classic Song

Ultra Bra - Sinä lähdit pois (You went away)

mp3: http://www.sendspace.com/file/fdedg1

Finland did not take part in ESC 1997, but we had a sort of shadow contest called Varjoviisut. Some of the top songwriters of country were invited to the event and they had a limited amount of time (1-2 hours or like that) to compose a song that had to contain one obligatory line of lyrics: Yön viimeinen drinkki aamiaiseksi vaihtuu (the last drink of the night is changing into breakfast).

The contest was won by this song written by Kerkko Koskinen and performed by Ultra Bra. Sinä lähdit pois (You went away) became one of the chart successes in 1997, and even though I don't think it would have beated Katrina and the Waves I would have liked to see it in Eurovision too.

Thursday: ESC Song Version

Rattz - Hard Rattz Hallelujah

mp3: http://www.sendspace.com/file/6prd4v

Hard Rock Hallelujah was the song that made it for us. It did not only win ESC but really became sort of anthem of 2006 in Finland.

Since it sold well, it's no wonder that others wanted their share of success and sales euros too. This cover "sung" by animated rats is at least funny. "We're rock'n'roll rats, we show no mercy, cats or traps can kill us!".

Ratzz album made it to official top-10, sold almost platinum and was one of the nominees for Emma (Finnish Grammy) in best childrens' album category.

Wednesday: NF Song

Markku Blomqvist - Liehuva liekinvarsi (Finland 1977)

mp3: http://www.sendspace.com/file/9ztt8i

http://www.yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&g=4&ag=75&t=373&a=3240

During the memorable ESC-season in May Finnish audience had a chance to vote the all time best Finnish national final song. The result was a surprise after evergreens like Sleepwalker by Nightwish, Oot voimani mun by Anna Eriksson or Haaveissa vainko oot mun by Riki Sorsa loosing for this piece of 70's pop. Liehuva liekinvarsi is a song about a bloody triangle drama by an unknown (and late) actor Markku Blomqvist. Song inded second but last in National Final 1977 - yes Jeremy, the year of Lapponia.

Still, it's an evergreen, but best known of it's 80's remake by schlagersinger Timo Turpeinen (although many kids from 70's claim that they've had nightmare of Blomqvist's NF performance). In late 1990's the song got also fame since Speaker of The Parliament Riitta Uosukainen borrowed it's title as the name of her memoirs. Huge best seller, btw, but not because Finns would be a nation crazy for female politcians' life stories. She just happened to describe also the more carnal side of her marriage telling for example, that when her hubby touches her, nothing but "tits, thighs and pussy".

Markku Blomqvist-M...

Tuesday: New Song

Jenni Vartiainen - Ihmisten edessä

mp3: http://www.sendspace.com/file/01ybkp

How to get acclaimed after a career as talent show winner? Jenni Vartiainen has managed in that. She was one of the girls who were picked into girl pop group Gimmel in Finnish editions of Popstars in 2003. Gimmer made some albums, produced many chart hits and split up a couple of years ago. One of them went to study theatre, another disappeared from publicity and Jenni got a solo contract.

But instead of making a simple pop album in the vain of her old success, she waited some years and then released her solo album Ihmisten edessä (In the front of people) which contains expressive but no easy lyrics and 90's trip-hop influences). The name track is probably the simplest and easiest song on the album - if you just leave alone it's subject. One of the biggest hits in Finland this Autumn happens to handle lesbian love.

Monday: ESC Song

Finland 1992 - Pave Maijanen - Yamma Yamma

I am pretty sure that in 1992 no-one would have believed that Finland once would win Eurovision. Especially since this is what we sent that year.

Anyway whole 1992 Finnish selection was a perfect example of how one should *not* organise such a thing. The winner was promised a trip to ESC, runner up would go to a Asian ESC-like song contest in Malaysia. Knowing Finnish track record, no-one actually wanted to win the selection. Also, Tytti Isohookana-Asunmaa who was the minister of culture had stated that Finland should just quit ESC since stuff we sent did not represent our identity and just worsened our reputation abroad.

Still, professional jury picked this long time rocker as a winner. And believe or not, the song lyrics were actually written by one of the most accomplished lyric writer of the coutry - Heikki Harma aka Hector.

Yamma Yamma did not really impress domestic audience, one of most popular TV- series in the country has for example a comedy sketch about a man trying to pass a bravery test: hear Yamma Yamma through. He quit screaming after the intro.

Yamma Yamma did not do well, but I still do think it sort of paved the way to Lordi: people sort of believed that after it we could send anything. And I still sort of like it.

About Me: Marianne

Nick: Marianne

I just got a message from a childhood friend of mine, asking do I still remember how we as a kid used to exchange pics of Eurovision winners. Well, to be honest I had totally forgotten that. So I guess I am now always worthy of a Eurovision fan, having forgotten such a detail (let alone saving the pics!).

But even so: I am your blogger this week. I did not have any special agenda while picking these songs, just that they are different and I like them. And since my musical taste is quite blended, varying from symphonic metal to electropop and practically everything in between, this is hopefully not too an onesided buch either.

About me? I don't think there is much I have not already mentioned on MB. But just a short summary: A Finn, a journalist with Latvia 2000 being my all time ESC-favourite.