Fröken fräken - Pikku neiti porvoolainen

Matti Heinivaho (see previous entry) had a big hit with "Pikku neiti porvoolainen" (Little Miss from Porvoo) in 1965. The song is a tribute to that year's Miss Finland, Virpi Miettinen, who's home town was Porvoo. Virpi was a runner-up in both Miss Europe and Miss Universe Paget. The original song originated from Sweden and was called "Fröken fräken" (Miss freckles). It was written and performed by a Swedish singer, composer, lyricist, actor and musician, Thore Skogman in 1963, and was a tribute to beauties of Värmland. He got an idea of the song while reading a magazine and spotting a picture of red-haired girl with freckles. (no, it wasn't Pippi Longstocking). The song became smash hit in Sweden in 1964 when performed by pop group Sven-Ingvars.

Here's the triplet:

Rawhide - Lännen tie

The final entry for now (I guess there will be a sequel ...) in 'Finnish Wild West In Song' is "Lännen tie" (The Trail of the West) by Matti Heinivaho. Matti started our mini series and thus it's appropriate that he will end it, too. The song was recorded in 1966 and famous for it's whip effects and cowboy yells. It was perhaps the most popular of the Finnish western songs in the 60's mainly becouse of the popularity of television western series 'Rawhide' that was shown in Finland at the time - and was also called 'Lännen tie'. 'Rawhide' was a series which aired on the American network CBS from 1959 to 1966 and launched the career of Clint Eastwood. The theme for "Rawhide" is (again) composed by Dimitri Tiomkin in 1958 and was originally recorded by Frankie Laine (real name Francesco Paolo LoVecchio). Laine was a successful American musician, singer and songwriter whose career started in 1930's and lasted 75 years, He sang songs stretching from big band crooning to pop to western-themed songs to jazz and blues, all delivered with his inimitable singing style.

Here's the pair:

Per Qualche Dollaro in Piú - Arosusi

Now - let's start a mini series called 'Finnish Wild West In Song'. In the late 50's and early 60's songs that told stories of the Wild West were exceptionally popular in Finland. Perhaps the arrival of televison with many Western TV-series and the invasion of many famous western movies were adding fuel to the fire. We open this theme appropriately with an Opening Theme (pun intented). Matti Heinivaho recorded "Arosusi" (Steppenwolf) in 1968 as his next to last single (lyrics by legendary Juha Vainio). Matti had begun his career in 50's as a vibraphonist and a singer, and had some hit singles in the 60's. Many of them with 'western' flavour. Later he established a long career working in Finnish television as a producer and director. I guess it takes a lot of guts to make a vocal version of Ennio Morricone's music. But the Finns have always had that kind of guts. The original "Arosusi" is the opening theme of the Sergio Leone movie "Per Qualche Dollaro in Piú" (For A Few Dollars More 1965). The guitar playing and the famous whistling are done by Alessandro Alessandroni.

Here's the pair: