Magic Moments - Kauniit muistot

I hope that my blog has re-created some beautiful memories and magic moments. Today's finnpick is called "Kauniit muistot" (Beautiful memories). It was recorded by Olavi Virta (see earlier entry)   in 1958. This is one of Olavi's lesser known songs, even if the original is widely-known evergreen. It was titled "Magic Moments" and performed orignally by Perry Como in 1957. It was written by Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics) and was one of the first collaborations by that duo. The song was only a moderate chart hit in USA, but a smash in UK, where it spent 8 weeks at number one.

Only 8 Finnpicks to go.

Here's the pair:

Glendora - Ikkunaprinssi - Ikkunaprinsessa

This is a familiar song, but I wasn't aware of the first Finnish version - sung from the female point of view - until recently. Seija Lampila (see earlier entry)  recorded "Ikkunaprinssi" (Window prince) in 1957. It was not a hit and remained a forgotten gem. However, the same song became more popular when released by Olavi Virta in 1958 on the B-side of his mega-hit "Poika varjoisalta kujalta". But the biggest Finnish breakthrough came in 1982, when Rauli Badding Somerjoki released his classic version as "Ikkunaprinsessa" (Window princess). The original song "Glendora" was a great succes for Perry Como in 1956. The song deals with a man's unusual attraction to a department store mannequin, and his disillusionment when, at the end of the song, he happens to see it disassembled during the store's renovation.

Here's the bunch:

The Girl In The Wood - Tyttö metsässä

The legendary Finnish crooner Olavi Virta (see previous entry) probably recorded more covers in the 50' than other Finnish artists combined. One of Olavi's better known songs from those years is "Tyttö metsässä" (Girl in the wood"), released as a single in 1960. The song is also credited to the backing vocal group Nordias. The original song was sung by Frankie Laine (b. Francesco Paolo LoVecchio) in 1951. It was written by Terry Gilkyson, who later wrote the classic "Greenfields". Frankie Laine is perhaps best known for singing well-known theme songs for many Western movies. However, he was not a country & western singer, but rather a singer's singer who sang in variety of song styles and genres, stretching from big band crooning to pop to gospel, to rock, to folk, to jazz and blues, all delivered in his inimitable singing style.

Here's the pair:

Guarda che luna - Hopeinen kuu

Perhaps the most famous Finnish singer of all times has been Olavi Virta. His most productive time period was in the 50's, when he was not only recording and performing but also acting in starring role in several movies. The song that always makes us to remember Olavi Virta is "Hopeinen kuu" (The silvery moon). He recorded it in 1960 with the background singing group Nordias. I guess the majority of Finns know the words and melody of this song by heart. The original 'moon' -song was sung by Italian legendary singer and actor Fred Buscaglione (or just 'Fred') in 1958 and it was called "Guarda che luna" (Look at the moon). Fred was killed in a car accident in 1960, when he was only 39 years old.

Here's the pair: