There's A Kind Of Hush - Tulla uudelleen ei voi hetki tää

Taiska Sunday once more... Taiska recorded "Tulla uudelleen ei voi hetki tää" (This moment will not come back) in 1976. It was released on the B-side of our first ever Finnpick "Moi moi vain" and also on the album "Mombasa". Berit recorded this song in that same year, and I'll present also her version here if I ever get hold of it. The original song "There's A Kind Of Hush" was the collaboration of two renowned British songwriters Les Reed and Geoff Stephens. Stephens formed in 1966 The New Vaudeville Band, writing and recording songs in a 1920s musical style, best known for their Stephens-penned debut single "Winchester Cathedral". This "There's a Kind of Hush" was one of their later recordings and did not get much attention. But a little later, a cover version done by Herman's Hermits was a monster hit. But most probably Taiska's and Berit's versions were inspired by The Carpenters' rendition released in 1976.

Here's the triplet:

Ibo Lele - Mombasa

It seems that we have Taiska Sunday again. This time we present the definitive Taiska song. She recorded "Mombasa" in 1975. It became top 10 hit in 1976 and it has since been one of the most popular Finnish records of all time. Therefore it's quite extraordinary that very few have heard the original tune called "Ibo lele". Well it was of Italian origin and composed by Fabio Frizzi, best known for his horror film scores, which have become some of the most widely known in the genre. But this song was from the score written for a 1974 erotic movie called "Amore Libero" (Free Love), directed by Pier Ludovico Pavoni. It features erotic movie star Laura Gemser ("Black Emmanuelle") in her first role. The movie is not set Mombasa, Kenya, but in the island of Seychelles. Then, what is "Ibo Lele"? Well, having not seen the movie, I don't know. I guess it's a location in Seychelles, becouse there's another tune in the soundtrack called "Ibo Lele at Night".

Here's the pair:

There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis - Rautalankamalli

Taiska recorded "Rautalankamalli" (Wire model) in 1982 for her album "Oma tie". The lyrics were provided by Raul Reiman. Pity this wasn't released as a single. The original song had one of the longest titles in a succesful pop song, "There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis". It was performed and co-written by Kirsty MacColl, the daughter of famous English folk singer Ewan MacColl (Ewan finnpicked here, and Kirsty here). It was Kirsty's first hit single, charting in the UK at number 14 in 1981. BTW, the "chip shop" is a take-away, selling fish-and-chips and other hot fast food for hungry Britons. You can see Kirsty perform the "Chip Shop" -song, here.

Here's the pair:

Girls Talk - Anna lämpösi loistaa

Our frequent Finnpick artist Taiska recorded "Anna lämpösi loistaa" (Let your warmth be shining) in 1980. It was on her album "Villi vapauden kaipuu" and it was also released as a single, on the b-side of her original hit song "Hiroshima". This finnpicked song came UK and was written by Elvis Costello and it was a big hit for another British rocker Dave Edmunds (actually he was Welsh) in 1979. The hit single was culled from his album "Repeat When Necessary". You can see Dave with his group Rockpile perform the song, here.

Updated on 03-10-2010: Added Kontra's version "Flipperirakastaja" (Flipper lover).

Here's the triplet:

Boat On The River - Aamulla yksin - Joki

This is one of those songs that are timeless. It still pleases the musical ear and will be doing so in the decades to come. Taiska recorded "Aamulla yksin" (Alone in the morning) in 1980 for her album "Villi vapauden kaipuu". The lyrics were provided by Raul Reiman. It did not cause much commotion at the time, being only an album track. But when Riki Sorsa (see earlier entry) recorded the same song under new title "Joki" (The river) and with different lyrics in 1993, the song became an istant hit - and a pop classic. The original song was called "Boat On The River", and it was performed by American rock group Styx. This Chicago band was known for melding their progressive rock with hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and the flair of a Broadway musical. This folkish "Boat" song was one of the hit singles culled from their best selling 1979 album "Cornerstone". It was written by band's guitarist Tom Shaw.

Here's the pair:

Love You Till I Die - Sulle ainiaan

The first Baccara -singles were aptly covered in Finland - both A-sides and B-sides. Mami (see earlier entry) recorded "Sulle ainiaan" (To you forever) for their one-off project album "Disco Shock" in 1978. The Finnish lyrics were done by Pertsa Reponen. Another version to the same lyrics was done by Taiska; this cover was released on the B-side of Taiska's big hit single "Miksi näin". I will add this version here in the very near future. The original "Love You Till I Die" was the B-side of Baccara's second single "Sorry I'm A Lady" (finnpicked here). You can see Mayte and Maria perform the song, here.

Updated on 23.03.2010: added Taiska's version

Here's the triplet:

Angelica And Ramone - Rannalla

Frequently finnpicked Taiska didn't release so many singles. but most of them have become Finnish pop classics. Like this "Rannalla" (On the beach) that was on the B-side of her 1980 single. And I consider it to be better than the original, thanks to lyrics by Raul Reiman, arrangement by Jori Sivonen and - of course - the sincere vocals by Taiska herself. The original was called "Angelica And Ramone" and was a minor hit for the Swedish pop group Secret Service, which has been finnpicked before (see here). The song was written by Claes Af Geijerstam, famous Swedish musician, radio personality and DJ.

Updated on 13.11.2009: Added Björn Skif's original version.

Here's the pair:

Fairytale - Ihmemaa

Our old friend Taiska (see previous entry) released her hit single "Ihmemaa" (Wonderland) in 1977. It has some kind of wonderful naiviety that still charms people. The original song was called "Fairytale" and it was sung by Irish singer Dana in 1976. Dana is famous for representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 and winning with "All Kinds of Everything". She has been popular singer throughout these years, but mainly in her home country. BTW, the song is composed by Paul Greedus, who also wrote Dracula's Tango (see previous entry).

Here's the pair:

Please Mr. Please - Viistoista siis

In the b-side of Taiska's 1978 single was "Viistoista siis" (So, fifteen). The single wasn't any greater success, but this song was extraordinary, perhaps even unique, in the sense that it dealt with a woman's (seemingly sexual) attachment to an under-aged boy. We have often heard men singing about 'young girl, much too young girl', but a woman singing about 'young boy' is quite unusual, even today. In the song, the law-abiding woman apologetically tells the boy that he should be at least 15 years old before they can really do something. The original song was performed by Olivia Newton-John in her album 'Have You Never Been Mellow' in 1975 (released as a single, too). It was written by John Rostill and Bruce Welch from the Shadows. The storyline in this original version is quite different; the woman sitting in the bar begs that a cowboy would not play B-17 in the jukebox, becouse "it was our song, it was his song, but it's over".

Here's the pair:

Auf der strasse nach süden - Villi vapauden kaipuu

Let's hear some more from Taiska. She recorded a song called 'Villi vapauden kaipuu' in 1980 published in the eponymous album. This perky dance beat tune originated from Germany, and was performed by Tony Marshall (real name Herbert Anton Hilger) in 1978 with the title 'Auf der strasse nach süden' (On the south-bound road) . The song became known all around the world when David Hasselhof recorded it in 1989 as 'Looking For Freedom'. The freedom theme made the song a symbolic song for when the Berlin Wall was torn down in November 1989.

Here's the triple:

Brasilo Brasila - Brasilo brasila

Let's have another one from Taiska. In 1976 she recorded "Brasilo brasila". It reflects the well-known tendency of the Finns to love anything EXOTIC in those days. It usually was a sure bet to pick up an exotic sounding song for the artist to cover. The exotism might have been in the name of the song or in the melody or arrangement. This Taiska's song has it all - carnival music from Brazil. But it was not from Brazil. Not a long way. The song was the Eurovision Song Contest entry in the national semi-finals of Luxembourg in 1976 (it placed in 2nd). It was presented by a group called Best Wishes, of which we haven't heard anything since. But the composer of the song was ESC -legend Ralph Siegel. He has been composer for 18(!) ESC entries and his big moment came in 1982, when Nicole won with his 'Ein Bisschen Frieden'.

Here's the pair:

Take Me High - Moi moi vain

We start by saying "Moi moi vain". Which is what Finns usually say when they meet. Meaning something like 'Just saying Hello'. It was also the title of the single by a popular Finnish female singer Taiska (real name Hannele Suominen) in 1976.
The original was "Take Me High". the first (and only) solo hit single for Mariska Veres, whom we all know as the lead singer of Shocking Blue. She recorded it in 1975.

Here's the pair: