I Can't Get Enough - Loppumaton ikävä

Mona Carita usually sang fast-paced discofied songs. But perhaps her voice would have been better suited for slower ballads. At least this "Loppumaton ikävä" (Endless yearning) is a nice example of that kind of delivery. She recorded in 1981 for her album "Nykyaikainen", Raul Reiman wrote the lyrics and Veikko Samuli did the arrangements. The original song "I Can't Get Enough" was the B-side to Kelly Marie's (b. Jacqueline McKinnon) great 1980 disco hit "Feels Like I'm In Love". As with Mona Carita, this song showcases the often overlooked, more sombre, side of Kelly Marie. The song was co-written by our old acquaintance Peter Yellowstone - together with his pals Steve Voice and Mike Tinsley.

64 Finnpicks to go.

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Hooked On A Feeling - Pahuksen tunteet

Leo Luoto recorded "Pahuksen tunteet" (Damn these feelings) in 1974. For some reason it remained only an album track on the "Leo Luoto" LP. The first Finnish version was done a year ealier by Dave, but that recording I don't have. So we listen to Leo's interpretation, which is no bad at all. The Finnish lyrics were written by Chrisse Johansson. The original song was named "Hooked On A Feeling" and it was a smash hit on two occasions. In 1969 the original version performed by B. J. Thomas (b. Billy Joe Thomas)  reached number 5 in Billboard Top 100 chart. The song featured the distinctive sound of the electric sitar. In 1971, the Englishman Jonathan King  produced his own version, adding the famous "ooga chaka" chants. King described it as "a reggae rhythm by male voices". His version reached number 23 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1974, the Swedish pop group Blue Swede (with Björn Skifs as lead singer) did a cover, which included their own version of King's "ooga chaka" introduction, and their version reached number 1 in the US. BTW, the song was written by Mark James, who also wrote such monster hits as "Suspicious Minds", "Moody Blue" and "Always On My Mind".

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65 Finnpicks to go.

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Give Me Your Heart Tonight - Enemmän kuin nainen

Jarmo "Jamppa" Tuominen had an absolute pitch (a.k.a. perfect pitch). He mastered seven instruments - saxophone being the main istrument - and started his career as musician already at the age of 11 in youth orchestras. His recording career as a singer began in 1976, when he had a massive hit with the song "Aamu toi, ilta vei". We have already presented Jamppa before - as a "guest artist" - here. He recorded this "Enemmän kuin nainen" (More than a woman) in 1985 for his album "Onnenpoika". It was also released as a single, but received not the popularity it deserved. The original song came from UK. "Give Me Your Heart Tonight" was a big hit for Welsh rock/pop singer Shakin' Stevens (b. Michael Barratt)  in 1982. It reached number 3 in the UK chart. Surprisingly perhaps, the writer of the song, Billy Livsey, was American, a Nashville songwriter and producer. You can see Shaky perform the song, here.

66 Finnpicks to go.

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Games People Play - Leikit ihmisten

Seija Simola released the album "Tunteen sain" in 1976. One of the tracks was "Leikit ihmisten" (The games of the people) Pertti Reponen's lyrics depicted the various vanities of the man. As did the original "Games People Play", whisch was written and performed by singer and songwriter Joe South in 1968. The lyrics and title are thought to be a direct reference to Dr. Eric Berne's bestselling book of the same name released in 1964. It deals with the "games" human beings play in interacting with one another. Joe South's song won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. The distinctive guitar at the opening is played on a Danelectro Guitar Sitar.

67 Finnpicks to go.

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Popcorn - Sumu

We have had a couple of foggy mornings and we need no further excuse to present this song called "Sumu" (The fog). The girl group Seidat released it in 1972, as the A-Side to "Kuinka Voit Sä Kaukomailla" (finnpicked earlier, see here).  this somg is again fine example of how we Finns like to vocalize instrumental hits. Well, this wasn't a hit for the girls. The original "Sumu" was called "Popcorn", and it was originally released in 1969 on the album "Music To Moog By" by the early German American moog synthetisizer pioneer Gershon Kingsley (b. Götz Gustav Ksinski). He actually made the tune out of listening to a popcorn machine. "Popcorn" became an international hit in 1972 for UK instrumental cover band Hot Butter, fronted by the keyboard player Stan Free. The record sold over two million globally.

68 Finnpicks to go.

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The Day I Met Marie - Kun taas tavattiin

Erkki Pohjanheimo (see earlier entry) recorded "Kun taas tavattiin" (When we met again) in 1967. but, sadly, no hit for Erkki. The original song "The Day I Met Marie" was a hit in 1967 for Cliff Richard. It reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart and some consider it to be the quintessential summer hit, due to its summery nature. Cliff has told that this is one of his own favourites. It's written by Shadows guitarist Hank Marvin. You can see Cliff perform the song, here.

69 Finnpicks to go.

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Andremo in citta/Oltre la notte - Kaiken kauniin rinnalla

Jari Lappalainen was a true Finnish One Hit Wonder. This 1970 recording "Kaiken kauniin rinnalla" (In reference to all the beautiful) was his only hit, and a big one at that. Jari is one of the most famous Finnish session musicians and his main instrument is violin, but he also masters mandolin, guitar and bass. In the 70's he also released some solo records as a singer. The Finnish lyrics for this song were provided by Sauvo "Saukki" Puhtila and the arragements by Jaakkko Salo. The original song "Oltre la notte" (Beyond the night) was the one of the two main themes in the 1966 Italian movie "Andremo in citta" (We're going to the city). The movie starred Geraldine Chaplin and it was a story of a woman, his blind kid brother and a partizan during the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia in World War II. The score for the movie was composed by Ivan Vandor, partner of Ennio Morricone. We present here the song as published in the soundtrack of movie. The Italian singer Iva Zanicchi later made a minor hit with the vocal version of "Oltre la notte". And that version was probably the one that inspired Jari.

70 Finnpicks to go.

Menina - Menina

Since this blog is going to be past it's lifetime when the next Eurovision Song Contest takes place, there will not be the traditional ESC Countdown Week next spring. So here's one song that would have been included in that countdown. Mimmi Mustakallio recorded "Menina" in 1971. Sadly, it was no hit. The original was an excellent song, also called "Menina" (a.k.a  "Menina do alto da serra", meaning something like "The high ridge girl"). It was the Portuguese entry in the 1971 ESC in Dublin. It was performed by songstress named Tonicha (b. Antónia de Jesus Montes Tonicha Viegas), and placed 9th, which was the best result for Portugal in ESC up to that point. You can see Tonicha present the song live in Dublin, here. BTW, this is the first song of Portuguese origin in Finnpicks.

71 Finnpicks to go.