Playa Blanca - Playa Blanca

Gulliver (see earlier entry) recorded "Playa Blanca" in 1977. It was released as a single and it was also included in the album "Paraisilla ollaan". Gulliver was the stage name for Markku Laamanen as a solo artist and also for his group. This song was credited for the group Gulliver. The Finnish words into song were put by Vexi Salmi. The original "Playa Blanca" was the product of Afric Simone, whose songs usually were covered in Finnish by Frederik. Playa Blanca, meaning "White Beach" is the southernmost town of the island of Lanzarote. It is the newest, yet fastest growing tourist resort on the island. Of course, this song might just be paying a generic homage to beaches of white sand; in the Finnish lyrics the location is said to be "west from the Equator";-).

Here's the pair:

Maria Madelena - Maria taikka Leena

I couldn't resist the temptation to put Maria Magdalena to follow Jesus Christ, like, as we have been told, she did in real life. Frederik (yes, HIM again!) recorded "Maria taikka Leena" (Maria or Leena) in 1979 on his "Tsingis Khan" -album. The original song was called "Maria Madelena" and it was one of the lesser hits (1977) for our old friend from Mozambique, Afric Simone. This was the third Afric Simone -cover from Frederik, and one more was to come. The afro-disco song - which is not of religious nature - was once again written by Afric himself in collaboration with Stan Regal.

p.s. I'm on holiday trip for a week, so no finnpicking for a while.

Here's the pair:

Ramaya - Ramaya

This is the last of Frederik Friday for now. One of Frederik's biggest hits has been "Ramaya" that he recorded in 1976. The song fits very well Frederik's style of singing and performing. The original "Ramaya" was performed by our old Finnpick friend Afric Simone in 1975. This was not the first time Frederik covered Afric (see previous entry). The song is extremely catchy and perhaps the song that most people remember Simone by. The song was instant worldwide hit and was - as usual - collaboration of Stanislav Regal and Afric Simone himself.

Here's the pair:

Todo passara Maria - Mulle suostuthan Maria

The third Finnpicks Disco Week song is "Mulle suostuthan Maria" (Would you be mine, Maria). Hard to believe it's performed by famous Finnish balladeer Juhani Markola, who was nothing BUT a disco artist. But this is an excellent version of the song. For my taste, I would even consider it to be better than the original. The song appeared on the other side of the "Ääni puhelimessa" -single (see previous entry) in 1977. The original was called "Todo passara Maria" (Maria passes all). It was a modest disco hit for the Mozambique-born Afric Simone, who has been previusly finnpicked (see and listen here). Like Afric's smash hits "Hafanana" and "Ramaya", the song was collaboration of Stanislav Regal and Afric Simone.

Here's the pair:

Hafanana - Hafanana

Here comes the Frederik Friday again! Frederik recorded "Hafanana" in 1976. It was truly popular song in those days in Finland, becouse 3 other versions of it were recorded in that same year! But the one by Frederik is by far the most famous - and perhaps the best. The original "Hafanana" was written and performed by Afric Simone, a singer, musician and entertainer originating from Mozambique. When he arrived in Europe in the 70's he gained massive popularity with his unique disco sound. Afric's songs are written in the mixture of Swahili and few words from other languages. "Hafanana" was his big European hit in 1975.