Reflections - Kipinä

Anja Niskanen (see earlier entry) recorded "Kipinä" (The Spark) in 1991 for her album "Ikkuna". It was released only as an album track, although the song might have had hit potential. The original was one of the Supremes' greatest hits titled "Reflections" released in 1967. At this point the group had already been re-christened as Diana Ross & The Supremes. It was one of their last hits written and produced by Holland–Dozier–Holland team. The song was influenced by the psychedelic rock sounds of the time. You can see Supremes perform the song, here.

Just 24 Finnpicks to go.

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Wonderful Life - Kaunis on maailma taas

Arto Nuotio began his recording career in the start of 70's under pseudonym Aquarius. He recorded quite inferior (to put it mildly) version of "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" and was in the hiatus for ten years. In the 80's he came back with a more adult-orientated repertoire. Arto recorded "Kaunis on maailma taas" (The world is beautiful once more) in 1991 for his album "Saari rakkauden". The song was also released as a single B-side, but the single failed to hit the charts. The original was recorded by a Liverpudlian artist called Black (real name Colin Vearncombe). It was written by his friend and musical partner David Dix. It may become as a suprise, but this was Black's SECOND Top Ten UK hit - the first one being "Sweetest Smile". Everyone remembers Black for "Wonderful Life", as it became such a huge worldwide hit. You can see the music video of the song, here.

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I Was Made For Loving You - Eero Eros

Well, it's now time for Frederik Friday again! Frederik recorded "Eero Eros" in 1991 for his album "Killeri". For this - and for the majority of the other tracks - the lyrics were provided by Jaana Rinne. She is probably best known for her work as a lyricist in many Clifters' albums. The original song was the classic rock anthem "I Was Made For Loving You", a smash hit for Kiss. It was originally recorded for their 1979 album "Dynasty" and released as the A-side of their first single from that album. The song is written in the disco style that was popular in the US at the time. Kiss guitarist and vocalist Paul Stanley, who co-wrote the song, has stated that it was a conscious effort on his part to prove how easy it was to write and record a hit disco song. You can see Kiss perform the song, here.

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One Fine Day - Paras päivä

Today is the day one of the fresh new year 2010. Let's hope that this and the days that follow will be the best days of our lives. Anja Niskanen (see earlier entry) recorded "Paras päivä" (The best day) in 1991 on her album "Ikkuna". Surprisingly this was the first Finnish version of the original classic song. The original "One Fine Day" was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and was a top ten hit in the summer of 1963 for girl group the Chiffons Goffin and King were inspired by the title of the aria "Un bel di" from the Puccini opera Madama Butterfly. The song originally featured a vocal by Little Eva, but was reassigned to the Chiffons who'd had a recent number 1 with the similarly entitled "He's So Fine". The Chiffons' vocals were recorded onto the original master with the Little Eva vocal erased.

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Kodachrome - Kameramies

Anna Hanski released her second album "Syksyiset unet" in 1991. One of the covers on that album was "Kameramies" (Camera man). The original "Kodachrome" was written and performed by Paul Simon on his 1973 album "There Goes Rhymin' Simon ". It was also released as a single and it was a hit in USA but not in England, partly because BBC rarely played it. The BBC had very strict rules about commercial endorsements, and they would not allow stations to play songs that seemed to push products. Kodachrome is a registered trademark of the Kodak company. It is a method of color transparency.

Updated on 18.09.2010: added the first Finnish version "Mustavalkoista" (Black and white) by Aaron.

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Meet Me In Stockholm - Me kaksi matkalla Tukholmaan

Yesterday's country cover was almost, but not quite, Tex-Mex. Today's song is definetely Tex-Mex even if it has been made in (and the lyrics tell about) Scandinavia. This song has always been my personal favourite, and I was pleasently surprised to find out that there were two Finnish covers (with different lyrics) made of it. And neither of these I had heard at the time of their releases! The first one "Me kaksi matkalla Tuktholmaan" (We two on our way to Stockholm) was done in 1983 by Eini (see previous entry), who was known as a disco queen, but succeeds very well in her interpretation of this country ballad. The second cover "Luoksesi Tukholmaan" (To meet you in Stockholm) was performed by the 'usual suspect' Kari Tapio (see previous entry) in 1991. This also is a very good version of the original song that was written and performed by Tex-Mex legend Doug Sahm (b. Douglas Wayne Sahm) He signed in 1983 with the Swedish label Sonet and recorded some singles and albums for it, and toured extensively in Europe. In my opinion this is one of the best songs Doug ever did. BTW, 'the slow boat to Helsinki town' mentioned in the lyrics, refers to the car ferries traveling on the route Stockholm-Helsinki and standing for the luxury liners that Finnish everyman can afford.

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Perhaps Love - Se on rakkautta oikeaa

We continue this series of Finnish duet covers with the song "Se on rakkautta oikeaa" (It is real love) recorded by Arja Koriseva and Tapani Kansa (see previous entries here and here) in 1991. It was released on Arja's 2nd album "Me kaksi vain". Arja was very popular artist at the time and the album went platinum. This song was never released as a single, which is a pity becouse it's one of those hidden gems of love songs, and should be played in all weddings :-). The original song is called "Perhaps Love" and is written by late John Denver (b. Henry John Deutschendorf) . Denver originally recorded it in 1975 as a duet with Placido Domingo. It was not expected to be a commercial success, but as one radio station played it on the air, and the call-in response from listeners was overwhelming, they were convinced to release it. Annie, Denver's first wife and the Annie of "Annie's Song" once said that "Perhaps Love" was her favorite of all of the songs John wrote. So there must be something special about it ... Here we present John Denver duetting with - not Placido Domingo - but Danish songstress Lene Siel. This is perhaps how it should have done in the first place ...

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You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Kolmen minuutin muna

Mauri "Moog" Konttinen (see previous entry) was very active figure in pop music in 80's and in the beginning of 90's. He had several bands and one of the them was called Moogetmoogs in 1985-1993. This band was famous for covering several 60's hits with their inimitable style and witty lyrics. Their biggest success was the second single "Kolmen minuutin muna" (Three minute egg) in 1991. The original tune was performed by the Canadian rock group Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) as "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet". This was the first big international hit for the group in 1974. The main figures in the band were the guitarist Randy Bachman and the singer and bass guitarist C.F. (Fred) Turner. BTO had a string of hit albums and singles in the 70's, until 1977, when Randy left for solo career.

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Black But Sweet - Miljoonan markan pakarat

Heikki "Pedro" Hietanen is a Finnish musician, who has played keyboards in groups like Wigwam, Pepe & Paradise, and his own group Pedro's Heavy Gentlemen. This Gentlemen group recorded "Miljoonan markan pakarat" (Buttocks worth of a million Finnish Marks (Finnish Mark or "Markka" preceded the "Euro" as our currency)) in 1991 featuring a lady called Marjo Leinonen as a lead singer. The song tolds a story about a woman who builds her quite successful career on her buttocks. The original was an old calypso song called "Black But Sweet" and it was written and performed by Frederick Wilmoth Hendricks, better known as Wilmoth Houdini. He was born in Trinidad, but in 1928 settled in New York. There he began an extensive recording career as calypso singer and songwriter that would continue through the 1940s. Houdini was the first calypsonian to have a successful career in the United States, and was often called the "Calypso King of New York".

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