A peek into finnish popular music

Now, I am not the hugest fan of popular music. I don't even know what is on top today. But recently I visited an exhibition about finnish popular music along the decades, and felt obligated to pay some attention.

In this little article, I have collected a few picks of my own from the decades. I tried to find examples, which would translate well to the foreign audience. Just click on the name of an artist or band below, for sample on finnish popular music from your favorite era!

Let’s see what music sounded like in Finland in those times…

 

The 60’s

This is when pop music was born in Finland. Because we did not yet have so called popular music, Anglo-american pop-music took over Finland instead. Most songs that became hits in this era were covers. If you like to hear some 60’s american music in finnish, look up Danny and Kirka for example. The era brough also a lot of new ideologies, political topics and so called protest-songs turned out to be popular.

Irwin Goodman
The king of protest songs. Sadly he only made music in finnish, but for some reason the comment section is full of praise from americans.

Ismo Alanko
Ismo Alanko was born in 1960, and he has been the lead of many bands since, in lyrical and singing roles. It is sad, that his linguistic genius does not quite translate well to english. Still, here is an example of how he speaks to the common man.

^Covers of Ismo Alanko album "Kun Suomi putos puusta" (When Finland fell of the tree). Photos taken in Hattuvaara, Ilomantsi.

Freeman
Leo Christer Friman, was born in the 50’s, and became famous in the 70’s, but his music is very 60’s. This is something I imagine Batman in the old TV show would sing along to with Robin, while driving around in their batmobile.

 

The 70’s

Copying foreign songs was no longer in, and finns started to make their own pop music!

Hurriganes
A couple of decades late to the party, - but right on time! Hurriganes celebrates the rock-a-billy sound. The band was very popular in scandinavia at their time. They won “Europatoppen”, the top of Europe in music, in 1974. I don’t know about you, but that swing gets me grooving!

Badding
“The beautifully ugly angel.” The tender voice and shy appeal of this vocalist made the girls scream in this era.

Juice Leskinen
Another ugly man loved by all. (And I am proud to say that appearances do not play such a huge part in finnish music) Together with Badding, this artists is likely the most listened in the country in the 70’s Finland.

Hanoi rocks
Finnish Mick Jagger and the breat-through of glam rock. This band had it’s hey-day in the 80’s, but it was established in the 70’s. Hanoi Rocks was VERY big in Japan, and also the first Finnish band to chart in the UK. One member of the band, Andy Mccoy, made his popularity a life-long career and is still a celebrity in Finland. Personally I am not a fan of the gritty style, but to each their own, they still deserve a mention.

The 80’s

Dingo
Broken, sensitive male voice. Skinny punk boys. This band was the heart-throb of the girls of this era in Finland. Sadly, they made only music in finnish, but that absolute 80’s sound is unmistakable.

Peer Günt
This was something I hadn’t heard of before! But they are pretty good!– and somehow ahead of their time, because they sound like 90’s American rock. They do not look the way they sound. I was expecting tan, hairy men with bandanas and sunglasses, driving military vans, but these are just li’l teen boys, playing music of men.

Yö
This band is among the most enduring ones, thanks to their ability to make many kinds of music, yet hold a timeless vibe. They have successfully evolved and adapt to all rolling decades – without loosing their personal sound. The band was established in 1981 – and it still releases new music and tours yet today! Here is an example from the 80’s, and likely the song they are best known for.

An honorary mention: Leningrad cowboys. - A band made to parody Soviet Union, that became very popular in the Soviet Union.

The 90’s

Raptori
Hip hop culture was never big in Finland. - But hip hop music was! Thanks to this one, sole band, that is still played in the most crashing parties of today! The bold lyrics and strong attitude appealed to young audience in the early 90’s.

The whole heavy-metal genre
I am not going to make any picks here, because everybody knows, that Finland was the Heavy-mecca of music in the 90’s. Instead, I’ll just dump a photo of the exhibition floor here. Can you find any favorites in the picture? :)

Nylon Beat
K-pop from Finland before K-pop took off. Two teenage girls dreaming of, and dealing with, boys – what else? The soft baby bubblegum -sound and dance moves are unmistakeable to today’s K-pop.

Aikakone
Anyone who has played My Summer Car is aware, that your car moves with the power of base. The right sound is essential to be an alfa in town, and for the girls to step in. Techno-dance type of music was huge in the 90’s Finland, and this, with a band called Movetron, was an essential to have in your car’s CD locker.

the 2000’s

Jenni Vartiainen
Picked winner of Finland got Talent – show, and made into a celebrity. It appears, that her music and vocals appeal to foreign audiense and make them interested in the finnish language, so it’s all good. :)

the 2010’s

And that’s where music seems to have ended… From here on, it is naught but made celebrities and products, and re-makes of old classic songs. The only song coming out that I like, an that I feel has any spirit, comes from a queen called Taiska.

Taiska is a grand old lady of Finnish pop music. She has been along this journey since the 70’s. She is over 80 when she recorded this, and she sounds younger and more pop than ever! To me it sounds, like she is trying to say something to the coming generations...so I added subtitles to her myself!

 Perhaps there yet will be a day, when new musical legends are born to the world. Perhaps you or me, will be one of them?

What is your favorite music era, and did you find an artist to suit your fancy in this list? Leave a comment. :)