Dance of Love - Kuin noidat me tanssitaan

Tapani Kansa recorded "Kuin noidat me tanssitaan" (We dance like the witches) in 1974. It is a rare piece of music today as it was released only on the B-Side of a single (Tapani's cover of "My Way" was on the A-side). The original song "Dance of Love" was a great single in 1965 for country/rockabilly/soul chameleon Charlie Rich, who also wrote the song.

Here's the pair:

California Dreaming - Kalajoen hiekat

Tapani Kansa recorded "Kalajoen hiekat" (The sands of Kalajoki) in 1978, at the time that everything was discofied. This was the disco version of the original that - for some inexplicable reason - never before had been covered in Finnish. The Finnish lyrics that depicted the fun and sun in the sands of Kalajoki were done by Tapani himself. Kalajoki, in the western coast of Finland, has been named "The Riviera of the North". The original song was the classic "California Dreaming", the 1965 song by Mamas & Papas. The song was written by the group members John and Michelle Phillips already in 1963. You can see Mamas & Papas perform thes song here,   , but here in Finnpicks we present the first recoded version done by Barry McGuire (of "Eve of Festruction" fame), a good friend of the group. Mamas & Papas are doing the bacground vocals on this. You can read the background of "California Dreaming", here. 

Here's the pair:

Tout,tout doucement - Tule jo kotiin

We conclude this mini-series of "leaving" songs with a "coming back" song and with another one by Tapani Kansa. He recorded "Tule jo kotiin" (Come back home) in 1983 for his album "Tässä ja nyt". The lyrics were provided by Vexi Salmi. The album broke several years hiatus of recording, but after this album it took several years before Tapani recorded pop music again. The original song "Tout, tout doucement" (All softly) was written by Frenchman Jean Jacques Goldman under pseudonym 'Sweet memories'. The song was a minor hit in France for songstress named Jane Surrey. I know nothing about Jane, but I guess she was an English woman, becouse this song was recorded in London.

Here's the pair:

Why Can't I Cry - Hän mennyt on

We haven't finnpicked with Tapani Kansa lately. Now is the time. He recorded "Hän mennyt on" (She has gone) in 1968. It was included on his debut album, and released also as a single. But it was only a minor hit - perhaps this was too much of a power ballad for Finnish taste. The lyrics were done by Pertsa Reponen,. The original song was called "Why Can't I Cry" and the version that Tapani covered must have been the one on Tom Jones' 1968 album "Delilah" (Kansa covered also the title song). Tom's rendition might have been the original one, but let's also take account on the woman's view by listening to Petula Clark's interpretation from the same year 1968.

Here's the triplet:

Howzat - Mee pois

Tapani Kansa recorded "Mee pois" (Go away) for his 1977 album "Mistä rakkaus alkoi". It was also released on the B-side of his big hit "Aidin pikkupoika". The original song was written and performed by Sherbet (a.k.a. The Sherbs) that was one of the most successful Australian rock bands of the 1970s. Their biggest single was this "Howzat" (1976), reaching number one in Australia and also a top 5 hit in the UK. "Howzat" is often used as a cricket anthem The word "Howzat" is a catchcry used by cricketers when appealing to the umpire.

Here's the pair:

Jedem Abend Folgt Ein Morgen - Yö kun menee päivä tulee

Let's continue yesterday's finnpick's "Night" theme by presenting "Yö kun menee päivä tulee" (When the night goes, the day comes). It is one of the lesser known Tapani Kansa singles. It was recorded in 1969 and was not a hit, even if it is a quite catchy schlager tune. Esko Linnavalli took care of the arrangement and the lyrics were provided by Sauvo "Saukki" Puhtila. The original song came from Germany. Connie Francis (b. Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero ) - after her popularity had waned in USA - recorded several albums and singles in Germany, and this "Jedem Abend Folgt Ein Morgen" (Every night is followed by a morning) was her single offering in 1968. It was on the B-side of her minor hit "Canzone di Napoli".

Here's the pair:

C'mon Marianne - Marianne

"Marianne" was the first single of Tapani Kansa, released in 1967. He did not like it, but it however launched a very successful an long-lasting career for him. The original, "C'mon Marianne" was performed by The Four Seasons. The single was the last Four Seasons single to reach the Top Ten in the 1960s, At the time the lead singer Frankie Valli was already starting his solo career. The song includes a very Motown-like riff, one which The Doors also used in their 1969 single "Touch Me". A group called Grapefruit had a hit with their version of "C'mon Marianne" in UK in 1968.

Here's the pair:

My Sweet Lord - Isäni mun

Tapani Kansa was bold enough to record "Isäni mun" (Father of mine) in 1971. It was on the flipside of a cover of "Proud Mary" (I guess we are about to hear also that one in the future ...) and didn't get much attention. The lyrics are done by Staffan Folk, which, I guess, is just another pseudonym for Tapani himself. It's quite peculiar, in Finland, to hear a chorus sing 'Hare Krishna' while the singer is trying to find his Father (=God). Well, it was not so peculiar in the original song "My Sweet Lord", becouse it was written by George Harrison, and we all are familiar with George's fling with the eastern religions. However, it is generally not known that George wrote the song for his friend Billy Preston (another "5th Beatle"). It was included in his album "Encouraging Words" and was a minor hit for Billy in early 1970. George himself covered his own song on his album "All Things Must Pass", and it was released as a single in November 1970. And it became a worldwide hit. Later, as we well remember, a court decision was made that Harrison was unintentionally copied an earlier song - "He's So Fine" by The Chiffons. He was ordered to surrender the majority of royalties from "My Sweet Lord". Eventually, Harrison later bought the rights to "He's So Fine" ...

Here's the triplet:


You can see a selection of some hand-picked Youtube videos of today's Finnpick song by playing my shared playlist in tuberadio.fm.

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 ...

Here's the pair:

Dunja Du - Käymme yhdessä ain

This time we meet again Tapani Kansa. He had a smash hit with "Käymme yhdessä ain" (We will always be together) in 1968. It was one of the most popular songs of that year and it has been re-released on numerous oldies compilations ever since. And the song has been a standard play at weddings. Tapani may have covered the Swedish version of the song sung by the baritone Gunnar Wiklund, but the original tune was a German one. The song called "Dunja Du" was written and performed by a popular German schlager singer Ronny (real name Wolfgang Roloff) in 1966. He was a skilled recording engineer in the 50's but had sucess also a singer since 1954. At the end of 1963 he adopted the name Ronny and had his first number one hit in Germany "Oh My Darling Caroline" in 1964. Lots of other hits followed and among them "Dunja Du" in 1966.

Here's the pair:

Il Etait Une Fois Nous Deux - Sulle

After the disco thumping we will move into more romantic mood. Tapani Kansa released "Sulle" (For you) as a single in 1977. It was medium-sized hit for him and the song has become a regular part of his repertoire. The original song "Il Etait Une Fois Nous Deux" (Once there were us two), was done into an European-wide hit by famous singer Joe Dassin in 1976. It was composed by Dassin's - and our - old friend Salvatore "Toto" Cutugno, and also recorded by Cutugno's group Albatros as "Monja Monja". Joe Dassin was born in USA but emigrated later to Europe. His father was the movie director Jules Dassin. And probably partly becouse of his famous father, he secured his first recording contract in the 60's. The song "Les Champs-Élysées" was his first international hit and "Taka Takata" 1972 made him world star.

Here's the pair:

Manchester et Liverpool - Kauempaa ja kauempaa

Tapani Kansa was perhaps the "Finnish King of Covers" in late 60's and in the 70's. Many if not all of his biggest hits were covers. One of the lesser known songs covered by him was "Kauempaa ja kauempaa" (From further and further away) released as single in late 1967. The orignal song was of French origin even if the title "Manchester et Liverpool" was quite British. The song was performed by Marie Laforet (b. Maïténa Doumenach). She was a French singer and actress, whose parents were Armenian. She became very popular actress in French films and interpreted many roles in the 1960s. She starred a.o. in "La Fille aux Yeux d'Or" (The Girl with the Golden Eyes), which become her nickname. Some of her most memorable pop songs were written and/or arranged by French composer André Popp, such as this "Manchester et Liverpool" in 1966.

Here's the pair:

Melina - Melina

Tapani Kansa (see previous entry) recorded "Melina" in 1976. It was a hit and it has since been among the most popular of Tapani's songs. It suits very well for his voice and the deliverance is more gentle and toned down than in most of Kansa's offerings. The original song was sung in 1975 by a Spaniard named Camilo Blanes Cortés, better known as Camilo Sesto. He also composed the song and wrote the lyrics. The song tells about the famous Greek actress Melina Mercouri. Camilo's breakthrough came by plying the main role in the Spanish version of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' in 1975. Until this day, Camilo Sesto has sold more than 120 million albums worldwide.

Here's the pair:

Uno Tranquillo - Päättyneet on päivät

Tapani Kansa (see earlier entry) recorded several covers in the early yeras of his career in the 60's and 70's. One of the most popular was "Päättyneet on päivät" (The days are over), or the "Zai-zai-zai" -song as it is also referred, in 1968. The original one is - of course - from Italy. A singer named Riccardo Del Turco performed it as "Uno Tranquillo" (A calm one). Riccardo had a couple of other hits too, but he wasn't actually a superstar in italy. This song became worldwide hit when recorded by the Tremeloes as "Suddenly You Love Me".

Here's the pair:

Il Mondo Cambiera - Sä luota päivään nousevaan

Tapani Kansa (see previous entry) recorded "Sä luota päivään nousevaan" (You can trust in the rising sun) and it was released as a single in 1973. The lyrics were made by Tapani himself. This optimistic ballad was well received by Finnish audience. The original was once again of Italian origin. "Il Mondo Cambiera" (The world will change) was a hit for Gian Luigi 'Gianni' Morandi in 1972 and was an entry in the Italian TV's 'Canzonissima' song contest. Gianni is famous Italian singer and actor, who recorded his first song already in 1962, and since then made 34 albums and sold altogether 34 million discs.

Here's the pair:

Viva America - Kesän lapsi

Disco music was the craze of the day in 70's. Almost every Finnish artist was obliged to record a disco song. Tapani Kansa did several of those. One of the most popular was "Kesän lapsi" (A child of summer) in 1976. Kansa's and Katri-Helena's versions of the song re-surface every summer as summer retro-hits. The original(?) came from France and was done by a group called Banzai et Les Clodettes. The lead 'singer' Banzai and the all-girl backing group were in the Claude Francois stable. The Clodettes were usually seen as the dancing group performing with the legendary Francois, and the name of the group was of course taken after his first name.

Here's the pair: