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Vappu or how to alienate your Finnish friends

Posted about 1 year ago

[Leningrad Cowboys - Sauna / 2:08]

From my previous entries¤ on "Suomalainen Kevät" or "Finnish Spring," you may have concluded that musically Finland only deals in broody atmosphere and sullen spirits. That is only one facet of the country's production.

Finland is also the land of 1,000 tangos and other merrymaking such as Vappu on 1st May. It is an occasion for Finns to show their true festive coats and caps. (Read about this tradition here)

Which brings me to one the most playful bands in the world: the Leningrad Cowboys. These two words will suffice to alienate any Finnish friends you may have. Looked down if not loathed by their fellow countrymen, these lads play their rocked up covers of classics with a devil-may-care flair.
Look away now if you don't like "taking the piss."

Leningrad Cowboys - Pretty Fly For A White Guy

(¤ Suomalainen Kevät: Series #1; Series#2)

0

Comments (15)

  1. Universalis
    Universalis says ° ° ° The vid fits quite perfectly into : ""the whole of the Finnish political scene has adopted Vappu as the day to go out on stumps and agitate."" Source : Read about this tradition here (in post above :) or also in the link below :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night#Finland Funny Fins :))))))
    Permalink posted 05/29/2008
  2. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Blast, you're still up at this late hour, Univ! Isn't it interesting to see how Nordic traditions and sagas are still so vibrant in all those countries from Sweden to Germany? -- Incidentally, did you see Aki Kaurimäki's film "Leningrad Cowboys Go America?" There's a cameo by Jim Jarmush.
    Permalink posted 05/29/2008
  3. Universalis
    Universalis says ° ° ° M'up now YEP :) Well , i'd say not only "interesting" and it goes way further than the lands you mentionned, so many ppl from these ethnics got to emigrate to America as well :) And maybe even the first Euro- colonist in America was Leif Eriksonn, the Red :) But that is not very different from the "latin" or "greek" tradition, also there are many links to ancient wisdoms. And of course i cannot talk about "Rome" without mentionning "Carthago" and this leads us now in Africa, there too berber and saharawy traditions are millenary-old-stones, guess that is a worldwide affair. Even the american original native population (yes the ill-called indians) retained (at least part of) their's elderly forms of knowledge, think of voodoo, think of Joruba... Why would you forget where you came from if you intend to try to go toward anywhere else ??? :)))))))
    Permalink posted 05/29/2008
  4. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says Geezus, how many people do they have on the stage with them in that clip?
    Permalink posted 05/29/2008
  5. deadmandeadman
    deadmandeadman says This post, and the resultant comments remind me yet again why I Mog. Kudos all around.
    Permalink posted 05/29/2008
  6. scotfree
    scotfree says Echo deadman - great entertainment, informed read - thanks! . it's like ZZ Top got stuck feet first on the tilt-a-whirl...yee-haw, comrades!
    Permalink posted 05/29/2008
  7. 1234chainsaw
    1234chainsaw says Michael, my apologies for missing your Finland spring posts while on the road. Thanks for all your efforts, though: the spring in Finland can be very nice, although occasionally you can get some snow even in late May, so yes it can snow on Vappu (i.e. European Labor Day coupled with the Nordic Walpurgis tradition). "Leningrad Cowboys Go To America" is a very funny if whimsical movie. The main dudes in the band started a band called Sleepy Sleepers (which did its stuff in Finnish) already in the mid or late '70s, so they're pretty long-time fixtures. I'd have to admit that I don't much care for LC, but I had to admire their determination when they got the Red Army choir to come and perform with them in the main square in Helsinki. Musically, Finland has a pretty varied scene for a country of its size (although Sweden would probably have to be regarded as even more vibrant): heavy metal and garage rock and probably the best known examples, but there's also lots of electronic music, experimental stuff, post-punk, world music type Finnish folk music, and loads of jazz and classical music conductors. I've fallen a bit out of the loop in the past 5-6 years, but still find something good and new every time I visit back home.
    Permalink posted 05/29/2008
  8. Bartleby
    Bartleby says *Univ*: I knew you'd bring some real culture and knowledge to this post. Thank you very much. *Aug*: I can't be sure about the number of performers on stage. All I know that when they tour, the Red Army Choir is made of 110 artists, including dancers and musicians. *DMDM*: Well, thank very much for your kind words. *Scot*: Aren't they just full of energy? I really like their dedication to having serious fun. *1234chainsaw*: Thank you so much for your contribution, Pekka. The idea of this Finnish spring came from my passage in Paris at the end of April. I heard there was a slew of events and festivities in Paris and elsewhere in France. This Finnish Festival called "100% Finlande" made me want to dig up some of the Suomi stuff I had. -- Truth be told, I don't really care for the LC either but I thought some people might want to watch the film which I liked very much.
    Permalink posted 05/30/2008
  9. Anna
    Anna says I've seen Leningrad Cowboys Go To America (so funny, epic manager character), but I didn't have any knowledge concerning their music till now. They sound, like you said, playful and that's fine by me. And here's a gift for you:
    Permalink posted 05/30/2008
  10. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Anna, my dear. I'm afraid you have the LC hairdo right down to the follicles. As I've said, I like their playfulness even though I've yet to meet a single Finn who'll admit that they like the LC. -- The film is just brilliant, isn't it? I haven't seen it in ages but for some reason it stuck in mind.
    Permalink posted 05/30/2008
  11. lilja88
    lilja88 says Haha! I actually have a Finnish friend that I've just been dying to alienate....this is perfect. Thank you.
    Permalink posted 05/30/2008
  12. Bartleby
    Bartleby says The pleasure is entirely mine, my dear. -- If you want to wind up your Finnish friend, there's no better name than Leningrad Cowboys to make them cringe.
    Permalink posted 05/31/2008
  13. ivylander
    ivylander says Kaurismaki is responsible for one of my favorite quotes of all time. This from the NY Times, October 3, 1990: "Is his native Finland as dreary as it seems in his movies, he was asked at a press conference? Smoking a cigarette and drinking a bottle of beer, the director answered in a monotone, 'It's a wonderland.' "
    Permalink posted 05/31/2008
  14. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Kauriäki is a wonder of dry humour like that. I still remember seeing him with an interviewer who was asking: "Are you a humorous person with a dark streak or gloomy man with comical?" -- Long silence while he drags on his cigarette: "I'm a lousy listener."
    Permalink posted 05/31/2008
  15. dangerdot
    dangerdot says omg, this video is too good to be true.... thanks bartleby :-)
    Permalink posted 06/01/2008

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