Tampere Part 3. Don’t Ask Me How Parts There Are :D 

UMK 2024 Song Review - Sini Sabotage

The hype is very real around Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the Finnish national selection for Eurovision and the race to Malmö continues with another rap entry!

Sini Sabotage - Kuori Mua

Sini Sabotage is one of the best known Finnish artists but at the same time one of the rare female rappers in the country. She started her career with a banger Levikset Repee roughly a decade ago and has since released 3 studio albums and multiple radio hits. She has fought her way to the top.

Despite of being somewhat a dream name for UMK for years the idea of sending her new Kuori Mua song to the competition was actually proposed to her by the songwriters and producers.

Kuori Mua which means peel me in Finnish is bold even as a title. If you're familiar with her personality and music you'll notice how this instantly fits her like a glove.

Kuori Mua begins with inviting piano notes and moves quickly to the electronic beat. The song has heat, rush - it tells you how to move and focus. This screams gay anthem. All the banger elements are here and they're well produced.

The lyrics and beat are energetic and sensual - some might be irritated by the Finglish here but I'm not a Finnish rap expert enough to say if this is common for Finnish rap. Chorus is a bit flat, it doesn't bunch me as I'd wish it would. This needs several listens even though it is memorable though. Musically I especially enjoy the beginning of the second verse and the bridge here. The piano based moments give the juiciest sounds. The song improves towards the end but still doesn't meet the expectations in my opinion.

Kuori Mua is not on top of the Youtube and Spotify lists when comparing the UMK24 tracks and I think it hasn't grown to become the banger they'd hoped for even in domestic levels.

What comes to the live performance music video promises several options and it must be big since this has been chosen to start the UMK show on Saturday (Feb 10th). I have no doubt she wouldn't be able to deliver this live.

What do you think of the sixt UMK24 track and would you vote for Sini Sabotage to go all the way to Malmö? UMK final takes place on February 10th!

Christmas time in Porvoo last year. 

Saviez-vous que.. /Did you know that.. ?

Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state.

Canada is the coldest country in the world.

The USA has invaded Canada twice, failing both times. 

There are 53 aboriginal languages spoken by 612 bands in Canada.

Ottawa was chosen to be the capital of Canada by Queen Victoria in 1857 as a compromise between the anglophones and francophones. Previous capitals were Kingston, Montréal and Toronto. 

Ottawa is the third cleanest city in the world. 

In province of Ontario there are several namesakes for English towns like London, Whitby and Scarborough.

Toronto was known as the city of York untill 1834. 

Younge street in Toronto being 1,896 km long is the longest street in the world.

Ottawa

The name Québec comes from the Alconquin (native Canadian inhabitants) word “Kébec” - where the river narrows. Today Québec is also known as the “Belle Province” – The beautiful province.

Québec, three times of a size of Spain, is the largest province of the country.

There are 37 National Parks in Canada which 24 are in Québec.

Québec is the biggest producer of Mapel Syrup in the world.

Québec’s “fleurdelise” was the first provincial flag officially adopted in Canada in 1948. The white cross comes from the ancient royal flags of France when the fleur-de-ils stands for a symbol of purity.

Tourism is the 5th largest industry in Québec and the province welcomes over 3 million tourists annually. Most of them from the US and France.

The capital of the province is Québec City, 230km from Mtl.

Québec City holds the biggest Winter Carnival annually. 

Québecois motto: “Je me souviens” – I remember.

Québec City, founded in 1608, is not only the oldest city in Canada but one of the oldest European settlements in North America.

The city of MTL is an island.

MTL is the 2nd biggest French city in the western world after Paris.

Montréal is told to have more festivals/events than any other North American city. 

MTL was originally called Ville-Marie but was renamed after the “mountain” Mount Royal.

The Mount Royal Parc was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed New York’s Central Park. Don’t still be mistaken to imagine that Montréal’s parc is a copy of New York’s one.

Bixie (bicycle sharing system) which can now be found in several metropolitan cities of the world, was developed in Montréal.

The oldest brewery of Canada, Molson was founded in Montréal in 1786

Château Frontenac in Québec City is said to be the world’s photographed hotel.

(Château Frontenac, Québec City)

Olympic Stadium, also known as “The Big Owe” is one of the costliest one in the world with 1,61 billion dollar expenses.

Mtl is a popular location, especially the old town, to shoot movies. For example movies like X-Men: Days of Future Past, Catch me if you can and many others have been filmed partly in the city. 

Cursing in québecois includes several religious expressions such as tabarnac (tabernacle), criss (Christ), sacrament etc.

With 6 universities and 12 junior colleges Mtl has the highest number of post-secondary students in North America.

Mtl is one of the gay friendliest cities in the world. 

Sources: LonelyPlanet, Wikipedia

Any canadian/québecois readers correct me, if I'm wrong in anything :)

It's not good-bye..

So I left Finland a week ago. (sorry about the delay btw.) And to be honest I thought that the leaving part would all be a routine thing by now since this is my third time I’m leaving for abroad to do more than just a holiday trip. I thought wrong. Yeah everybody cried and I cried – mainly because you lot did! But not for a moment I did regret of going.

I’ve never seen my parents so sad and worried though. And I did feel especially sad about leaving them behind.

In the middle of all the packing and leaving I was extremely grateful for the friends and family I have, who support me with this emotionally and financially.. after all. They may not understand why but they’re still standing by my side when I decide to do these grazy things of mine.

(Iceland)

About the trip itself. I guess everyone’s heard a bit of a bump on the road I had in Boston.

First of all I missed my connection flight to Toronto cause it took me forever to get through the customs (not with the actual authority thing but the standing in the lines thing) and I had only two hours for changing the terminal and the flight. And then I lost my other suitcase which I’m really sad about cause it had all my normal, everyday clothes. You cannot believe how difficult it is to force yourself to shopping!

And my Finnish flag was there! My Laura Pausini t-shirts were there! So much stuff I would have needed now. And also the bag itself! It was so good, ”Eastpak” it was and it was so practical, lighter and everything. And besides the the wheels in my pink luggage stopped working and…I do have to admit that at one point, I did think that I must be a madwoman for doing this Canada project of mine. But oh well, shit happens.. next time I definetely know better!!  This is all part of the fun eh?

(My grey and lost luggage and with that also my carrot body cream, my canadian guides and my last supper at work - french fries and goat cheese with devil's jam) 

Everything else went just fine no problems whatsoever, all the security thingies, dealing with the immigration office in Canada. And financially I didn’t loose a penny with all of this mess, the airline(s) paid the accommodation at the Hilton Hotel in Boston (I only slept there three hours but gotta brag right) and the new flight to Toronto. And everybody in Boston and in Toronto were really helpful and friendly all the time so can’t complain about that.  At least I’m safe and sound in Canada :) 

(The first time I saw Canada!) 

Street art + Lisbon detail hunting! 

15 years ago since one of the biggest success story of Finnish music was released :) #nostalgia #helsinki

Treasures of Lisbon streets! 

The buildings of Helsinki. Loving the colour and small details in them.

Music is..

Not pictures this time :) But as a passionate music lover I’ve felt the urge for a quite a while actually to share a list of albums that have gone under my skin, given me chills or just simply lived with me during an important time of my life. These aren’t album reviews so please don’t read them as such. I can only talk about what’s been like to listen to them. These are albums where the pleasure to listen is complete from the first seconds ‘till the very end. No fear of the unnecessary songs. I have a tendency to prefer female singers over men and not many male artists have managed to impress me with their work. 

Some of them have been more successful commercially than others but that’s not the reason why I’m talking about them. Most of them are from recent years which you could also conclude that these are the times when I’ve grown the most emotionally. This is pure POP music! There might be hints of rock in them, sometimes theatrical even dramatical, electronic sounds but mainly this is pop music. So if you don’t enjoy it, this might not be your thing. Some of these albums are made by artists I adore and follow religiously, others not but I gotta give credit for an album well made. The ten albums appear in an alphabetical order. 

ARIA (2002) by Gianna Nannini

This is THE album that I discovered the queen of Italian rock music given to me by cousin. At first listen I was doubtful but was won over by her talent and extraordinariness. Respect that the woman has been doing proudly, loudly and openly her thing for almost 40 years in music business. Years go by, even decades but she always sounds good. So does this album.

Aria was her 17th album to date, filled with electronical twists and sounds which make it stand out from the rest of her production. Don’t let the calmness of the title track ‘Aria’ fool you, there’s a lot aggression, pain (Meravigliosamente crudele) and speed (Volo, Immortale) on this album. Even haunting tunes (Crimine d’amore) can be heard but also lighter, catchier beats and rhythms (Mio, Battiti e respiri) when ‘Sveglia’ is wonderfully awakening.

Key track

D’EUX (1995) by Céline Dion

This one is a timeless classic. Forget the artistic and musical image that the name Céline Dion holds. In my opinion Dion has always been better in French. Just simply because there’s more thought in her production in her native than in her English albums. The songs are written especially for her and her voice is used in a much more diverse way. D’eux is the finest example of this. Almost the entire album is made by Jean-Jacques Goldman who before writing music to the French-Canadian star got to know her through interviews, earlier production and meetings so that he’d know what kind of music to write for Dion.

Everyone should listen to this. It’s by far the most diverse album of these ten I’m listing but also among Dion’s production. Discover her singing jazz (Le ballet), catchy guitar pop (Destin), rock (J’irai oú tu iras) but also more fragile, personal, delicate performances (Vole). D’eux refers to male persons and it means ‘from them’. It can be understood to indicate the male songwriters with or without Dion. In 2007 a female version was made in the form of D’elles (from them) which refers to the album’s female songwriters with or without Dion. A beautiful experience also!

Key track

FLAMINGO (2010) by Brandon Flowers

Never been a fan of The Killers, the famous rock band that Brandon Flowers is known for originally. That might be the reason why I love him as a solo artist cause his musical style by himself is far deeper than the rock band production. For me, this is pop music at its best. The music is often light (Only the young, Swallow it) so you can easily get lost in its sounds without paying attention to the fact that many of them carry somewhat heavy theme. There’s something 80’s kind of style also involved (Crossfire). It’s ridiculously real somehow (Jilted lovers & broken hearts). There are moments when I find Flowers as a playful and careless as a little boy but then as serious as an only grown man can be. He has also an exceptional song writing skills in lyrics. He reaches the essence of loss, love and life with small words and gestures in his singing. Personally, I find ‘Playing with fire’ as one of the greatest songs ever written. The intro, for over one minute long prepares you for the words that will sweep off your feet.

Key track

INEDITO (2011) by Laura Pausini

I assume everybody knows how big LP fan I am and it was seriously hard work to choose only one album that has made an impact. Because for me they’ve all made an impact, some more than others and in different ways. Instrumentally I think this is one of the most diverse album from her..I could listen just the instrumental versions of these songs and still be blown away. The use of flute and harmonica are like fresh winds among the orchestras and pop/rock tunes.

Inedito was the first LP album which it took me some time to understand. Back in 2011 I was in crossroads, lost and confused. To reach the things Pausini is singing about on this album I had to travel far and come back (Non ho mai smesso). It took me years to reach the soaring happiness of being alive like in ‘Benvenuto’ or ‘Le cose che non mi aspetto’ and be as grown as the woman in ‘Mi tengo’ who’s lost but also loved or truly see where the line goes (Bastava). I needed to feel the pain, hit the rock bottom and climb back up for these songs (Troppo tempo, Ognuno ha la sua mattita, Come vivi senza me). ‘Celeste’ dedicated to all the women trying to have a baby without success, is probably her most profound songs ever and the hope touches also those who don’t want any children. This is the album that comes after the storm, after you’ve struggled and realized that you’ve survived.

Key track

LE SECRET (2013) by Lara Fabian

I have some Lara Fabian albums in English and in French. I’m not a super fan but the voice does stop me. This album is a masterpiece. Piece of an art, from the beginning ‘till the last second. I find it brave to make such an album considering how the music industry works in these days. The gay community embraced the album since her performance of ‘Deux ils, deux elles’ in favour of equal rights of getting married. 

These songs are stories and Fabian has been writing all of them. I cannot name any of my favourites cause I refuse to ruin the pleasure of this album by cutting into pieces. It’s at its best when taken the time to be listened entirely from the start ‘till the end eyes closed. All the 17 tracks coming to one combination of music that’s pure perfection nevertheless it’s dramatic, theatrical, simple, fragile or almost silent. Just as an instrumental version this album would take your breath away and Fabian’s divine singing, voice and the French language are jewels in the crown.

Key track

LOVE SAVE THE EMPTY (2009) by Erin Mccarley

She’s one of the smaller artists I like since she hasn’t been truly discovered by the world even thou there’s something very Sara Bareilles or/and Sheryl Crow-kind of in her sound. Great discovery suggested by a great friend around 2010-2011. I remember listening to this album, which is her debut btw, while I was doing an Erasmus exchange in Spain. The playful, light melodies (Love save the empty, Sticky-sweet, Blue suitcase) accompanied my new exciting experience abroad, everything that was going on outside but the serious lyrics were telling what was happening in my head what was waiting for me at home (Gotta figure this out, Hello/goodbye, It’s not that easy). She is definitely worth following for.. Great things might happen.

Key track

MANA (2012) by Anna Eriksson

For many years my musical taste included only foreign music or music never sung in Finnish. Don’t know if it’s been the experiences abroad or have I grown to appreciate the artists/ songwriters in Finland and especially those who do it in Finnish. In these days, I gotta admit that songs sung in my native go deeper than in any other language. Anyroad…

Anna Eriksson is one of the most succesful female artists in the country since the 1990’s but it wasn’t until her 9th album called Mana caught my attention. She’s been mostly known as an ‘old peoples’ favourite if I may say so. Entirely produced and written by Eriksson herself, Mana is an impressive and big leap from the stuff she used to make before. It runs in deep (Kulje ohi, Orjantappuran ruusut) and dark waters (Jos mulla olisi sydän, Paha mies). It’s about staying alive (Sanokoot ne mitä vaan, Maailma palelee) and came out in the time when this was just what I needed. Musically it’s quite dramatic at times, accompanied by brilliantly her developed singing. A true break up-album if someone is in a need of one. Several videoclips of almost all the songs were published which I highly recommend also!

Key track

THE SEA (2011) by Melanie C

This might be the album that I’m most eager to talk about but I’m also the saddest for the too little success it has received. Again forget the name and image this artist has. Despite of the ups and downs Melanie C has experienced during her solo artist-career, by 2011 she had proved to be a gifted vocalist and songwriter. The Sea was her fifth solo effort nevertheless and perhaps the most ambitious one also. Big names worked with her on this album but also some long time collaborations.

Again released in 2011 when I was living an emotionally rich or poor, depends how you look at it, life. This was the music that was with me before and after my big turning point in life and managed to fill my emotional needs in both times. If it had been possible to worn out a music file in these days, I could have just done that with this record. These songs have travelled a long way with me. There are rockier, dancier tunes (Rock me, Think about it, Stupid game) but then more sensitive melodies (One by one) and then dramatic ballads that got even electronical (Enemy, Drown) and latin sounds (Weak). ‘All about you’ and ‘Get out of here’ represent the heavier side of the album. Another break up album… A great one and it’s such a shame that the wider audience didn’t find it.

Key track

UN ALUMNO MÀS (2014) by Melendi

Melendi is a rock artist from Spain whom I discovered roughly a year ago. And also his latest album Un alumno más.. love at first listen. He reminds me of Juanes but more rockier and jagged I guess, if you can say that. Don’t like his previous material thou he’s got some more special and rockier stuff if someone finds this too commercial.

There’s a lot of passion and drama on this album. In the music he’s chosen and the way he sings them. An artist that has a strong voice also in songwriting, I find a lot personality and humour in his texts but also an emotional and serious side. There are powerful ballads (La promesa, La saraluna), acoustic tunes (El amor es un arte, Posdata), playful melodies and beats (El gordo y el narco) 80′s kind of sounds (Septiembre, Cenizas en la eternidad) and more upbeat tracks (Tú de Elvis yo de Marilyn). Different instruments of guitars and relaxed, latin based rhythms are constantly present and of course that charm that only a Spanish man can have.

Key track

VAPAA JA YKSIN (2009) by Chisu

The last one! Chisu is a brilliantly talented Finnish artist who produces and writes her music mostly by herself. She’s just released her fourth album which was also an amazing piece of work and it was a really tight struggle to choose between these two. This is her second album and perhaps the most successful one also. She is unique in songwriting and she handles Finnish language in the way I’ve never seen anyone doing. She can be broken to pieces, as fragile as a fine glass or hitting back fiercely or have a wisdom of an old lady who’s seen it all. So are her songs and everybody has an opinion about her. You either love or hate her. There’s no between.

Vapaa ja yksin handles heartbreak, leaving and coming back... the uncertainty whether the choices you’ve made are right ones. The songs may start quietly, calmly, being very acoustic, stripped of everything unnecessary and then rise into this big storm with dramatic, electronic sounds (Lähtö, Etsijät). Or they may be ridiculously goofy and playful (Baden baden, Kerrasta poikki, Saaliit), deadly serious (Sama nainen), fragile acoustic performances (Yksinäisen keijun tarina) or theatrical drama (Miehistä viis, Muusa). As an artist and as a singer super-diverse, she is! I cannot praise enough of her singing and interpretation. It cannot get any deeper than that. Even the language barrier won’t stop the listener noticing the great talent, she is.

Key track

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy listening, in case some of these artists or albums caught your interest :)

National Pantheon in Lisbon aka Church of Santa Engrácia started in 17th century but not completed until in 1966. This is the last resting place to many famous portuguese characters for example the Presidents of Portugal and portuguese royal family. Not free but worth a visit and there’s a cool viewing point upstairs. 

+ On my way there found this cutest portuguese house with all the plants, laundry details!