forum.varttina.com

[sodeste_veninde]

I'm currently reading the Kalevala (and really loving it--it's so much fun and has so much spirit!) and so I'm wondering how much of Värttinä's music was influenced by the Kalevala. A lot of what I'm reading reminds me of Värttinä songs!<BR>I know I read something somewhere about what influenced Värttinä's music...but I can't find what I read

[scott]

The Kalevala was a huge influnce on Värttinä's early music -- the same Karelian folk songs that inspired and comprised the Kalevala also served as Värttinä's source material. I guess the influence has been less direct as the band's material has become more self-composed, but the connection is still very clear.

[757]

Apart from the mere structure of the verses there are quite a few lyrics in Värttinä's songs that have been taken more or less directly from the Kalevala. I don't know how well you can see it if you read the translations though. Earlier the connection was indeed much clearer than now but it's still there.<P>For example in the song Lupaus on Miero there are the lines "Harvoin yhtehen yhymme, yhtehen / Harvoin näämme toinen toista". In the Kalevala it says "Harvoin yhtehen yhymme, saamme toinen toisihimme". When you read the Kalevala you recognize all the time themes and verses that are similar in Värttinä's songs. The same thing happens when you read Kanteletar.

[sodeste_veninde]

Thank you both very much! I've picked up on some of the times when Värttinä has used Kalevala verses...and now I'll be looking for more.

[salmol]

Did you know that the lyrics were written by a member of the Finnish parlament, Mikko Alatalo. I think this could be more accurate version of Jäätelökesä lyrics:<P>Sun jäätelösuukkos<BR>se kasteli mua<BR>mua järkytti kieles<BR>en vielä tuntenut sua<P>Silloin aurinko nauroi<BR>kai rakastuville<BR>toinen rähjäinen ressu<BR>toinen vähän kai dille<P>Muistan jäätelökesää<BR>kun ne lakaisee puistot<BR>uima-altaat tyhjennetään<BR>Jäde, nuolet mun muistoo<P>Olit verta ja lihaa<BR>olit ihminen<BR>hehkuit rakkautta vihaa<BR>poika tunteellinen<P>Ja kun olinpa DOWN<BR>tiesin ollut en yksin<BR>ja sen kesän maun<BR>kanssas koin sykähdyksin<P>Muistan jäätelökesää<BR>kun lapset kiirehtii kouluun<BR>posken rusketus häviää<BR>illat pimenee jouluun<P>Niin syksy on tullut<BR>Sä jäit jäätelökesään<BR>sä käenpojan opetit laulamaan<BR>muttet vieraaseen pesään<P>Muistan jäätelökesää<BR>kun tulit kanssani rantaan<BR>silloin kartat erilaiset <BR>siirsit tähdistä santaan<P>Muistan mennyttä kesää <BR>sinä mulle jäit mieleen<BR>Jäde makee, iho suolainen<BR>Anna, jano jää kieleen<P>Muistan jäätelökesää<BR>sinä mulle jäit mieleen<BR>Jäde makee, iho suolainen<BR>Anna, jano jää kieleen<P>And the same in english (take it or leave it):<P>Your kiss of ice-cream <BR>It made me wet<BR>I was shocked of your tongue<BR>I didn’t know you yet<P>Then the sun was laughing<BR>Perhaps to us who are falling in love<BR>Other one is grungy poor fellow<BR>And another maybe bit fool<P>I remember the ice-cream summer<BR>When they sweep the parks<BR>Swimming-pools get emptied<BR>Ice-cream, you stay in my memories<P>You were flesh and blood<BR>You were a human<BR>Glowing love and hate<BR>boy of passion<P>And when I was down<BR>I knew I was not alone<BR>And that summer's taste<BR>I felt with you with a beat<P>I remember the ice-cream summer<BR>When children rush to the school<BR>tan from the cheek vanishes<BR>Evenings darken towards Christmas<P>So the autumn has become<BR>You stayed in the ice-cream summer<BR>You taught the coo-coo bird to sing<BR>But not to strangers nest<P>I remember the ice-cream summer <BR>When you came to beach with me<BR>Then different kind of maps<BR>You moved them from stars to the sand<P>I remember the past summer<BR>You stayed on my mind<BR>Ice-cream sweet, salty skin <BR>Give, the thirst stays on the tongue<P>I remember the ice-cream summer<BR>You stayed on my mind<BR>Ice-cream sweet, salty skin <BR>Give, the thirst stays on the tongue