View From A Bridge - Kuin roskakertomus

Meiju Suvas recorded oddly titled "Kuin roskakertomus" (Like pulp fiction) in 1982 for her debut album "Meiju". The Finnish lyrics were made by Vexi Salmi. The original song was called "View From A Bridge". It was the 5th consecutive UK Top 20 hit for Kim Wilde in 1982. The song told the story of a girl committing suicide by jumping off a bridge.  The siblings who wrote the song, were the same as with most of Kim's hits; Marty Wilde (father) and Ricky Wilde (brother).

53 Finnpicks to go.

Here's the pair:

Twist In My Sobriety - Rakkauden muistomerkki

This piece of music is among my favourite songs of the 80's. Meiju Suvas recorded "Rakkauden muistomerkki" (Monument of love) in 1989. It was released on her album "Sydän tietää" and also as a single, being a minor hit for her. The Finnish lyrics were written by Turkka Mali. The original song "Twist In My Sobriety" was a worldwide hit fot Tanita Tikaram. Tanita was a British pop/folk singer who startedperforming in nightclubs while she was still a teenager, and made her debut album "Ancient Heart" in 1988 when she was oly 19 years old. This "Twist" was the second single release - the first one was "Good Tradition" - from that album. Tanita got her exotic name and looks from a Malaysian mother and a Fijian father.

Here's the pair:

Hallo Bimmelbahn - Gotta go home - Kotia päin

Here's another artist I know nothing about. Meiju (real name Meiju Laine) recorded several cover songs for budget hit compilation albums, and also a couple of singles. This "Kotia päin" (Homebound) appeared on one of those singles (on the flipside was her version of Blondie's "Sunday Girl"), released in 1979. The original was a German song "Hallo Bimmelbahn" released in 1973, performed by a group called Nighttrain andf written by the brothers Heinz and Jürgen Huth. It was later re-written by Frank Farian anf Fred Joy in 1979 and It became the lead single off Boney M's fourth album "Oceans of Fantasy" The song was the group's eighth and final number 1 single in the German charts.

Here's the pair:

You're My Heart, You're My Soul - Ota kii

This song was recorded in Finnish in 7 different versions in 1985. So it must have been a ultra-popular song. Well - it was, but actually none of the Finnish covers - all titled "Ota kii" (lyrics by Chrisse Johansson) - were charted hits. The most played one was done by Meiju Suvas, but I prefer the one by Seija Simola. Alas, I present them both here.  The original "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" was performed by was a German dance pop duo Modern Talking  It consisted of Thomas Anders and Dieter Bohlen, anf they were Germany's most successful pop act of the 80's. They had several hit singles reaching the top 5 all over the world. The studio vocal line up of Rolf Köhler, Michael Scholz and Detlef Wiedeke produced the high choruses characteristic of Modern Talking, but were never credited on their albums, and eventually went to law over the matter."You're My Heart, You're My Soul" was Modern Talking's first hit single and sold eight million copies world-wide. You can see them perform the song, here.

Here's the triplet:

Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Hei hei näkemiin

Meiju Suvas (see earlier entry) released "Hei hei näkemiin" (Hey, hey, bye bye) as an album track on her second album "Pidä musta kiinni" in 1983. The lyrics were provided by Raul Reiman. The original song was performed by US one-hit-wonder band called Steam, who had a smash hit with "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye". The song was co-written by Paul Leka. who has written several other finnpicked songs. Somehow, we Finns seem to like Paul's songwriting. Other writers were Leka's old band mates Gary DeCarlo and Dale Frashuer, and they recorded the song under fictitious band name "Steam" with Gary in lead vocals. It became a number one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1969. The song's chorus remains well-known, and is frequently used as a crowd chant at many sporting events.

Here's the pair:

Summer Fly - Oma maailma

This is a haunting song. You want listen to it again and again. Meiju Suvas recorded "Oma maailma" (Own world) in 1993. It was on the flip side of "Ystäväsi aina" (finnpicked earlier, see here) on a single released in 1994. The original song "Summer Fly" was written and sung by Cheryl Wheeler, an American singer-songwriter of contemporary folk music. "Summer Fly" was on his first record, an EP named "Newport Songs" released in 1983, but she recorded it again for her "Half a Book" album released in 1991. The lyrics tell about how your summer would fly by when you were young. Wheeler tours extensively, and her live concerts include comic routines and serious discussions in addition to the songs themselves.

Here's the pair:

Amigos para siempre - Ystäväsi aina

As today is Valentines Day, which in Finland is called "Ystävän Päivä" (Friends Day), I think it's a perfect time to present a song that depicts the theme of the day very well. Meiju Suvas (see previous entry) recorded "Ystäväsi aina" (Always your friend) in 1993. The original song "Amigos para siempre" (Friends forever) was no less than the Official Barcelona Olympic Theme composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and performed at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain in 1992 by Sarah Brightman and José Carreras. The lovely voice of Sarah's blends well with Jose's. Later a music group from Barcelona, called 'Los Manolos' made a driving rumba version of this majestic song and had a huge pop hit with it. And this was the version that Meiju covered.

Here's the triple:

Maria no mas - Tää onnea on

Finnpicks Disco Week continues now with Meiju Suvas singing "Tää onnea on" (This is happiness), released as a single and on an album in 1982. The album sold 60000 items and earned a Diamond Disc for Meiju. Meiju was very popular artist in the 80's performing mainly disco-orientated cover songs. In the 90's she turned into covering Spanish and Greek songs, many picked by herself. She is still performing and recently celebrated her 25th year as a performer. Despite the Spanish title, the original was a Dutch song and sung by a duo with a French name - Fantastique. And this style of disco music was labeled as Italo Disco. So very international mix! The duo comprised the talents of Dick Das and Astrid Leuweringen. They had a couple of hits in the beginning of 80's. But rarely heard since.

Here's the pair: