La La La Te Quiero - Mä kuuman naisen sain

Actually this would have been the place and time for the last Frederik Friday. But as I have no Frederik song available at the moment, here's Kari Tapio to fill in. And in deed, the song "Mä kuuman naisen sain" (I got a hot woman) would have suited well for Frederik.  Kari recorded it in 1977, and the Finnish lyrics were written by Pertsa Reponen. The arrangement was provided Veikko Samuli. The original song "La La La Te Quiero" (La la la I love you) was made popular in 1977 by Spanish beat group Los Diablos. They were obviously quite 'finnpickable' band, becouse we have finnpicked them twice before, see here and here.

Just 11 Finnpicks to go.

Here's the pair:

The Ketchup Song - Ketsuppitanssi

This is an exceptional finnpick, because the song has been released in this century. Sheidi (real name unknown to me ... ) recorded "Ketsuppitanssi" (Ketchup dance) in 2002, and had a minor hit with it. However, it didn't make her a permanent star. One of her better moments was performing as one of Finland’s backing singers (to Laura's "Addicted To You") in the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest in Tallinn. The Finnish lyrics for today's finnpick were written by Ilkka Vainio, who is he son of our past lyric master Juha Vainio. The original tune "The Ketchup Song" (aka "Asereje") was a worldwide massive hit for Spanish girl group Las Kethcup. At the time of their breakthrough in 2002 the group comprised of the three daughters of Juan Muñoz, a famous Spanish flamenco guitarist known as El Tomate (The Tomato). Hence the name "Las Ketchup". In 2006 a fourth sister joined the group to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest with "Un Blodymary" (losing miserably to Lordi's "Hard Rock Hallelujah" ;-)). You can see the group perform (and dance) "Asereje", here. Additionally we present another Finnish version, the irresistibly contagious song called "Paten salsa" by Smurffit ...

Here's the triplet:

Mi tierra cristiana - Sierra Nevada

Anneli Pasanen (see earlier entry) had a short span of singing career in the 70's/80's. Even if she had steady following, she never made real big breakthrough. Anneli recorded "Sierra Nevada" in 1977 for her album "Rakastan jokaista päivää". It was released as a single, but it went nowhere chartwise. The lyrics were provided by Pertsa Reponen. The original song was called "Mi tierra cristiana" (My christian land) and it was a hit in 1974 for Spanish pop group Los Puntos. The group originated from Almeria, and was formed in 1967 consisting of five young students. At first they performed covers of popular pop songs but later they began writing their own material, mostly written (like this finnpick) by band member Alfonso Grano De Oro. The theme of the song, Sierra Nevada, is a mountain range in the region of group's home province Almería. It contains the highest point of continental Spain, Mulhacén at 3478 metres. Due to its landscape, numerous spaghetti westerns were filmed there.

Here's the pair:

Hijo de Luna - Kuun poika

Tuula Amberla (see earlier entry) recorded "Kuun poika" (Son of the moon) in 1992 for her album that also was titled "Kuun poika". This track was, for some reason, not released as a single (it would have been a hit ...). The lyrics, as in most of Tuula's songs, were provided by Jukka Alihanka. The original song "Hijo de Luna" (Son of the Moon) was of Spanish origin. It was written by José María Cano and performed originally by his band Mecano. It appeared on their 1986 album, "Entre el cielo y el suelo", and had an enormous success all over the Spanish speaking world. The lead vocal were performed by the female member of the group, Ana Torroja. The lyrics depict a gypsy woman praying to the Moon for a husband. In the end, the moon says that she shall have her man, but in return she wants her first-born child to be turned over to her. BTW, this song was also submitted by the band as a potential Eurovision Song Contest Entry in 1986, however Spanish Telvison (TVE) selected the group Cadillac ...

Here's the pair:

Sitamalobadudo - Fin de semana - Viikonloppu

Now being weekend we present a song called "Viikonloppu" (Weekend). It was first recorded in Finnish by girl group Seidat in 1972, but that recording I unfortunately don't have. Instead here's the most known Finnish version by Kisu, recorded in 1973 for his "Kun paljon antaa" album. The lyrics were written by veteran lyricist Kari Tuomisaari. The original song called "Sitamalobadudo" was written by our old French friend, songwriter and producer Daniel Vangarde. I don't exactly know who recorded the original version, but the Spanish beat group Los Diablos (finnpicked before, see here) had a big hit with it in 1971 with the title "Fin de semana" (Weekend) and I guess it was just their version that inspired Finnish artists.

Here's the pair:

Two Kinds of Lovers - Hän sinut jättää

This is to my mind one of the finest moments in the Finnish 60's pop music. Topmost (see earlier entry) recorded "Hän sinut jättää" (She will be leaving you) in 1967. It is superbly arranged and sung harmony pop, and - in my opinion - beats the original, whatever it is. The original song was called "Two Kinds of Lovers" and it was written by American songwriter duo Kasha and Hirschhorn. The song was included in the first album (1966) by Spanish pop group Los Bravos, and I guess Topmost picked it up from there, becouse they also covered the "Black Is Black" from the same album. Probably it is not the original version, but I have not found any other, of which the one by Australian/British group The Gibsons is a strong contender. Los Bravos was by far the most popular (internationally) Spanish pop group in the 60's. The band originally were an amalgamation of two Spanish pop groups, Los Sonor and The Runaways. Their lead singer, Mike Kogel (aka Mike Kennedy), was from Germany.

Updated on 18.09.2010: added The Gibsons' version, which clearly is the one that Topmost brilliantly covered.

Here's the triplet:

Playa Blanca - Playa Blanca

Gulliver (see earlier entry) recorded "Playa Blanca" in 1977. It was released as a single and it was also included in the album "Paraisilla ollaan". Gulliver was the stage name for Markku Laamanen as a solo artist and also for his group. This song was credited for the group Gulliver. The Finnish words into song were put by Vexi Salmi. The original "Playa Blanca" was the product of Afric Simone, whose songs usually were covered in Finnish by Frederik. Playa Blanca, meaning "White Beach" is the southernmost town of the island of Lanzarote. It is the newest, yet fastest growing tourist resort on the island. Of course, this song might just be paying a generic homage to beaches of white sand; in the Finnish lyrics the location is said to be "west from the Equator";-).

Here's the pair:

Un rayo de sol - Säde auringon

Ritva Oksanen had her first solo hit with "Säde auringon" (Ray of the sun) in 1970. In that same year the multi-talented actor/singer also scored big with Ossi Ahlapuro and "Maria Isabel" (see earlier entry) . The original song was composed by our old French friend Daniel Vangarde. This is already 7th finnpicked Vangarde composition. I don't have the original French version (called "Fernando") of the song, but the version that Ritva covered was done in Spain. The group Los Diablos had a massive hit with the spanish version called "Un rayo de sol" (The ray of the sun). The song earned the first Gold Record for this Barcelona band and was THE summer hit of 1970, as the the afore-mentioned "Maria isabel" was in 1969. You can Los Diablos perform the song in early promotional video, here.

Here's the pair:

Ay Ay Sailor - Tartu käteen ja tykkää vähän

This is the last in our line of Baccara covers. Maisa Tammi recorded "Tartu käteen ja tykkää vähän" (Take my hand and love a little) in 1980. It was released as a single and on some compilation album, but never received the attention it should have deserved. Also Meiju (see earlier entry) recorded a version of this song, but it didn't fare any better. Unfortunately there's nothing to tell about Maisa Tammi. She recorded four songs in 1980-81 and one more in 1986. But the singer has been buried in oblivion. The original song "Ay Ay Sailor" was the original Baccara's last big international hit. You can see them perform it live, here. BTW, "ay" is in English an alternative spelling of aye ("yes"), and in Spanish an interjection, meaning something like "ooh". So, the song title can be interpreted as "Yes Yes Sailor" and "Ooh Ooh Sailor".

Here's the pair:

Mad In Madrid - Si Si Senjor

Yesterday we praised Granada, today we do the same for Madrid. However, Mami (i.e. Maarit and Irina Milan) did not expicitly sang about the city in their 1978 Finnish version called "Si Si senjor". But as the title suggests, they had a very positive attitude towards Spain and Spaniards (and it all happens in Madrid). In the original song "Mad In Madrid" Baccara sings 'Madrid is paradise'. The lyrics were - as in almost all Baccara hits - done by German songwriter and producer. Frank Dostal. The song was on the B-side of their 1978 hit "Darling" in at least Dutch and Japanese pressings, but it was not released on their regular albums. So it's kind of a rare track, but of course available on many Baccara compilations.

Here's the pair:

Granada - Granada

This is the finnpick number 500!

Granada is a province in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in Southern Spain. This 'land of dreams' is praised in the song "Granada" written in 1932 by the Mexican composer Agustín Lara. The song has become a standard and covered by Frankie Laine, Mario Lanza, Frank Sinatra and numerous others. Mami recorded "Granada" in 1978 for the disco compilation album "Disco Shock". And of course they didn't cover the original "Granada", but the version by Baccara, which was released as their 3rd single in 1977. You can see them perform the song live, here.

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:

Cara Mia - Rakastua voisit aivan pikkuisen

Eini covered both sides of Baccara's first single. But they were released here as separate singles. The first one "Yes Sir, alkaa polttaa" was the bigger seller and Eini's breakthrough song. But this second one "Rakastua voisit aivan pikkuisen" (You could fall in love, just a little) climbed also to Top 10 in Finland in 1978. There were also three other covers made in Finland in the same year, to the same lyrics ,made by Pertsa Reponen. The original song "Cara Mia" was, as stated , the B-side of Baccara's first single "Yes Sir I Can Boogie". It was composed, as always, by Ralf Soja. This happens to me my personal favourite of Baccara songs. You can see them perform it live, here.

Here's the pair:

Darling - Haavein

On the B-side of Mirumaru's yesterday's finnpick "Tää me osataan" was another Baccara -cover "Haavein" (With dreams), but we don't pick that version now. There were three versions of that song made in 1978; By Mirumaru, Mami and Bon Bon. We present here the Bon Bon version. They were a female vocal duo (of course) and consisted of Nina Keres and Outi Lindgren. Their career as Bon Bon was very short. They cut one album and single and that was it. Their record company planned to make them "The Baccara of Finland", but no major breakthrough came, and they called it quits. This "Haavein" was not released as a single, instead an other Baccara -cover "Koochie Koo" (as "Yksi yö"). There was an abundance of Baccara cover singles at the time! The original "Haavein" was called "Darling" and it was Baccara's fifth single, not as massive hit as the previous ones, but it definitely is one of their classics. you can see them perform the song, here.

Here's the pair:

Parlez-vous francais - Tää me osataan

We continue our "Baccara Week" with the song recorded by all-girl vocal group Mirumaru in 1978 with the title "Tää me osataan" (Now, this we know). Mirumaru consisted of singers Titta Kokkonen (b. Leena-Maija Jokinen), Paula Nurminen (b. Paula Karppanen) and Päivi Paunu. We have presented Päivi before (see earlier entry). Titta is famous comedienne, who has performed in various TV- and stage shows and movies. She also participated in Eurovision Song Contest 1976 as a chorus girl in Fredi's "Pump Pump". Paula was one half of the 60's vocal duo Tuula ja Paula, who had couple of hits back then. Mirumaru recorded two albums and some singles, without any bigger success. The tongue-in-cheek lyrics for "Tää me osataan" are provided by Kari Tuomisaari. The original Baccara song was "Parlez-vous francais". It represented Luxembourg in the in ESC 1978, placing 7th in the contest, but becoming one of the best-sellers in that year. You can see the performance, here.

Here's the pair:

Sorry, I'm A Lady - Sorry, jos oon lady

We slide away from 'Ladies' to Baccara with this song. Lea Laven recorded "Sorry, jos oon leidi" in 1978 for her album "Aamulla rakkaani näin". In the same year also Vicky Rosti and Mami versioned the song with the same lyrics (by Pertsa Reponen). Mami was an interesting group. It was a vocal duo of Maarit (see earlier entry) and Irina Milan (see earlier entry) formed for making the "Disco Shock" album in 1978. They recorded 9 tracks for the album, mainly Baccara covers. It's a pity that this dynamic duo has not made any further recordings. But of course they both have individually made brilliant careers in the music biz. The original song "Sorry, I'm A Lady' was the second single of Spanish duo Baccara (Mayte Mateos and María Mendiola) in 1977 and big hit all over the world. This song, as all their hits was written by Dutch producer and composer Rolf Soja. You can see Mayte and Maria perform the song, here.

Here's the triplet:

Amor con amor se paga - Sydän rakastaa

"Sydän rakastaa" is fine track from Anita Hirvonen's eponymous album released in 1977. This album was released in CD -form in the 90's and it's possible that the version we present here is re-recorded for that album. Anyhow, it's an enchanting love song and Anita's performance is one of her best. The touching lyrics are by Chrisse Johansson. The original song was called "Amor con amor se paga" (Love's paid with love) and it was written and recorded by Ricardo Ceratto. Born in Santa Fe, Argentina, Ricardo was succesful artist nationally in the beginning of the 70's, but became known internationally when he moved to Mexico and developed an intense artistic activity, recording and composing tunes that were hits in Spanish language world. Later he turned to recording Christian music. We present here also the version that Anita possibly covered, namely the one by Jose Velez, recorded in 1976. Jose won the Sopot Music Festival in 1977 and represented his home country Spain in Eurovision Song Contest in 1978.

Updated on 10.10.2010: Replaced Anita's 1990 version with her 1977 waltz version.

Here's the triplet:

Gorrión - Varpunen

Kai Hyttinen has made a couple of successful songs about birds. "Varpunen" (Sparrow) was one of those and recorded in 1980. It has become a little classic and one of the most requested songs in Kai's repertoire. The touching lyrics were made by Veikko "Vexi" Salmi. The original song "Gorrión" (Sparrow) was written and performed by Miguel Gallardo, who had a hit with it in 1978. Miguel was a Spanish singer and composer, born in in Granada, Andalucia. He was one of the most successful Spanish singers in the seventies and early eighties, making waves especially in Latin America.

Here's the pair:

Mozart Symphony No.40 - Mozart 40

From Bach to Mozart we go ... In 1971 Päivi Paunu had a big success with a vocal version (lyrics by Juha Vainio) of Mozart's 40th Symphony simply called "Mozart 40". On this recording Päivi shares vocals with the arranger of the song, Aarno Raninen. Aarno did solo career as a singer, but he's better known as songwriter, arranger and conductot. In 1977 his composition "Lapponia" represented Finland in ESC. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote his Symphony No. 40 in G minor, in 1788 and the work was completed on 25 July. The composition occupied an exceptionally productive period of just a few weeks, during which time he also completed the 39th and 41st symphonies. The version that Päivi ja Aarno covered was of course the famous one by Waldo de los Rios done in 1971. Waldo had ability to transform European classical music into pop music. And this arrangement of Mozart's No. 40 recorded with the Manuel de Falla orchestra, reached the top spots in charts of several European countries. Apart from this Finnish one, I have not heard of any other vocal version of this classic.

Here's the pair:

Help (Get Me Some Help) - Taas laulu kun soi

We have presented a long line of Finnish male singers with single-first-name-in-english monikers; Danny, Johnny, Robin, Dave ... Now it's time to introduce Peter. (b. Pekka Parviainen). He recorded only three singles in 1969-1972, and none of them was any great success. Which is a pity, because at least this last one of those three "Taas laulu kun soi" (When there's songs played again) in 1972 deserved to be a hit. The original came from Spain. "Help Get Me Some Help" (originally "Help! ayúdame!") was a worldwide hit in for Tony Ronald. Tony was born as Siegfried Andre Den Boer Kramer in Holland but moved in the 60's to Spain (Barcelona). In 1971 he had his breakthrough with winning a Spanish song festival in Tenerife and recording this song composed by his (and ours, see earlier entry) friend Daniel Vangarde.

Here's the pair: