Kitty - Mickey - Miki

Now we have come to the final entry of our 3rd Finnpicks Chinnichap Week (only 6 days this time). Leena Vanamo recorded "Miki" in 1984 for her only album "Sua kaipaan". Leena did several recordimgs and TV appearences in the 80's, but never quite made it to the front fow of Finnish female singers. BTW, the lyrics for "Miki" were provided by another 80's popper, Pave Maijanen.. The song that Leena covered was called "Mickey" and it was a worldwide smash hit for American Toni Basil (b. Antonia Christina Basilotta) in 1982. Toni cas actually a choreographer and this was her sole pop hit, making her one of the "One Hit Wonders". The original song was, however, recorded in 1979 by British pop rock group Racey. It was titled "Kitty" and was included in their albun "Smash And Grab", which included also their biggest hit "Some Girls" (also written by Chinnichap). You can see Toni Basil perform the famous cheerleader video of "Mickey", here.

Here's the triplet:

Maman papa - Tyttö kampaa märkää tukkaa

Let's hear another finnpick of French origin. Tuula Amberla released "Tyttö kampaa märkää tukkaa" (The girl combs her wet hair) in 1984 following up her breakthrough single "Lulu". In the middle of the 80's Tuula was perhaps the most succesful Finnish female singer and her first two albums were selling in vast quantities. The lyrics and arrangements for this finnpick were made by her regular collaborators, Jukka Alihanka and Ilpo Murtojärvi, respectively. The original song was written and co-performed by French singer-songwriter Georges Brassens. He recorded the song "Maman Papa" already in the beginning of the 1950's. At that point Geoges was still performing in cafes and cabaret restaurants, but after meeting with songstress Patachou (b. Henriette Ragon), she brought him into the music scene. And in fact, this "Maman papa" is one of their duets. Brassens is now an iconic figure in France, he achieved fame through his simple, elegant songs and articulate, diverse lyrics, and he is considered to be one of France's most accomplished postwar poets.

Here's the pair:

Tralala - Tra la laa

Markku Aro and Nisa Soraya recorded "Tra la la" in 1984. This 'kind-of-sexy' song provided a small summer hit for them at the time. Nisa was born in Birmingham England, but moved in Singapore at early age and eventually ended up in Finland in 1980. She started her recording career in 1981 by duetting just with Markku Aro. The original "Tralala" was written by Dutch songwriter and producer Eddy Ouwens and it was the only international hit for Dutch male & female duo Phil & Company (the female singer was called "Phil"). You can see the couple perform the song, here. In 2004 a Swedish pop singer Günther made a re-vamped disco version of this song called "Ding Dong Song".

Here's the pair:

Groovin' - Tuuleen kadonnut

This a song that always puts me in the real summer mood. Sadly, the Finnish versions are rarely played. The beat group Frankies recorded "Tuuleen kadonnut" (Lost in the wind) in 1968. It was the B-side of their only single. On the A-side was their cover of Monkees' Daydream Believer. Frankies was the backing group of Johnny, but he was not involved in this recodding. The lyrics were provided by Pertsa Reponen and the song was arranged by Esa Helasvuo, subsequently a big name in Finnish jazz. In 1984 Riki Sorsa (real name Esko Richard Sorsa) recoded another Finnish version, with different lyrics, called "Kulkee" (It grooves) for his album "Kellot ja Pelit". Riki is a popular pop Finnish singer, starting his career in 1975 with the band Zoo. After that he launched a successful solo career. In Eurovision Song Contest 1981 he represented Finland with the entry "Reggae OK". Today's finnpicked original song was "Groovin'" and it was a smash hit for American pop and rock group Rascals (at the time it was still called Young Rascals) The song was written by group members Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, and legend has it they wrote it after realizing that because of their work schedule, they could see their girlfriends only on Sunday afternoons. You can see them perform the song, here.

Here's the pair:

Sunshine Reggae - Sunshine Reggae

Jokke Seppälä (real name Jorma Seppälä) started his recording career in the 70's in a rock group called Session. After that has worked in the backing groups for Kisu and Vicky Rosti, and as a backing singer in Finnish ESC entries, but also made a short recording career both as solo artist and as a duo with his kid brother Jakke. Seppälä has also produced other artists and written songs for them. In 1984 Jokke recorded "Sunshine Reggae". It was released as a single and was a modest hit. The original "Sunshine Reggae" was written and performed by a Danish group Laid Back. Laid Back was founded in 1979 and the band actually comprised of only two members; Tim Stahl (keyboards) and John Guldberg (guitar). Their greatest international hit was this "Sunshine Reggae" in 1982. You can see a music video of the song, here.

Here's the pair:

Lady Lady Lady - Lady Lady Lady

Markku Aro recorded "Lady Lady Lady" in 1984. It was released only as a single and inexplicably the song has not appeared on any of Markku's collection albums. The single didn't receive much attention chartwise. But the song is good. The original eponymous song became famous in connection with the movie "Flashdance". It was written by our old friend Giorgio Moroder who wrote the score for the movie. It was performed by Joe Esposito, aka "Bean". Esposito is a Grammy winning American singer/songwriter, who was a member of the band Brooklyn Dreams, best known for their collaboration with Donna Summer. You can see the scene from Flashdance with the "Lady" -song playing, here.

Here's the pair:

Million Alyh Roz - Miljoona ruusua

One of the bifggest hits in 1984 in Finland was "Miljoona ruusua" (Million roses). The song was released in several versions, but the most successful was the one by Vera Telenius. She had also written Finnish lyrics. At the time Vera was already 72 years old and was the oldest artist ever to be chosen as the 'Soloist of the Year' in 1984. The sales of the album "Miljoona ruusua" earned her a Diamond Record. The original song was composed by Latvian master of melody, Pauls Raimonds. And the performer was the Russian Diva herself, Alla Pugacheva. we have finnpicked one Pauls-Pugatsova collaboration before, see here.

Here's the pair:

They Don't Know - Syy on rakkauden

Another Anja Niskanen classic in a row. She recorded "Syy on rakkauden" (Love is to blame) in 1984 on her debut album and it was later released as a single. It was not as big success as her first single but a hit anyway. You can see her performing the song in a TV show, here. The original "They Don't Know" was the first single of English singer-sonwriter Kirsty MacColl. The song was a radio hit but lasting success failed to materialise. Kirsty is perhaps best known for her Christmas song "Fairytale of New York", performed with the Pogues. "They Don't Know" was however a big hit for Tracey Ullman in 1983. and went to number 2 in the UK and number 8 in the USA. Watch Tracey perform it here.

Dancing On A Saturday Night - Lauantaina bailataan vaan

As it's Saturday, let's party with Anja Niskanen and "Lauantaina bailataan vaan" (Saturday's only for partying). Anja won the popular "Syksyn Sävel" (Autumn Tune) TV song contest in 1984 and became a teen starlet overnight being only 16 at the time. To cash on the victory an album was released and it went gold. From that album is this teenage party song. Anja was perhaps the first Finnish female teen pop star who really sounded her age. There were of course earlier popsters that were young but this was the first entry in the girlie pop field. The original song was from the pens of Barry Blue and Lynsey de Paul, both pop artists in their own right, but often teamed up in writing songs. This "Dancing On A Saturday Night" was a huge disco-pop hit for Barry in 1973. You can see him performimg it here. Barry's real name was Barry Green and he had a small hit under that name in 1972, but when he 'changed colour', he struck gold.

Updated on 28.08.2010: added the first (1974) Finnish version "Lauantaina kaikki tanssii" by Markku Karjalainen.

Here's the triplet:

Mind Your Love - Sovitaaks näin

Lea Laven (see previous entry) was the "Queen of Covers" in the 70's and 80's. Many - if not all - of her hits were cover versions. One of them was "Sovitaaks näin" (Let's agree this way). It was released as a single in 1984. As on many of Lea's recordings the arrangement was done by Kari Litmanen. The original song "Mind Your Love" was performed by US duo Captain & Tennille. The duo consisted of "Captain" Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille. They achieved chart success in 1975-80 with a bunch of romance and novelty hit songs. Probably best known is their single "Love Will Keep Us Together". Daryl used to play in the backing band of Beach Boys, and Toni has appeared as a backing singer on several Elton John albums and most prominently on the powerful single "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". She also performed backing tracks on Pink Floyd's "The Wall" album.

Zuppa Romana - Nakit ja muusi

Seitsemän Seinähullua Veljestä (Seven Stone Crazy Brothers) is a group formed by Pentti Oskari Kangas in 1966. It has been very popular comedy act for 40 years now, performing music and comedy bits on stage. The song "Nakit ja muusi" (Sausages with mashed potatoes) was recorded in 1984, and has become one of their most requested songs. The original was done in 1983 by a German group with a peculiar name Schrott nach 8 (meaning "Scrap iron after 8 o'clock") and it was called "Zuppa Romana" (Roman soup). It was their only big hit. The original lyrics consist mainly of the names of well-known Italian dishes, as the Finnish version mixes in some fine examples of the Finnish Cuisine.

Here's the pair: