onnellinen laulujen maa

The Finnish music scene is much more intresting then it's Dutch counterpart. In the Dutch hitlits you only find American and Brittish artists. Sometimes you find Dutch artists who sings in English. Dutch artists who sing in Dutch are very very rare. For some reason we only like songs in our own languages when we are 50+, unemployed or completly drunk. In other words, you are not in as a teenager if you like Dutch language music. Of course we have some Dutch language hits, but they are extreemly rare.

In Finland it is compleetly diffrent. There Finnish language music rocks the nation, as it's dominant in the Finnish hitlists. Finnish language can be found in all music genres known to man. I think this diffrence is part due that Finland is a much younger country then the Netherlands is, we are already there in th 16th century as the United Provences and Finland is celebrating its 98th birthday on 6-12 this year. So they are much more nationalistic then we are. I can scence that the Finns are still proud they became independend from Russia and still hold a grudge against them and Sweden, the former rulers of Finland. We had our wars agains Spain, from which we became independend, but knowone holds a grudge agaist them. And we had also our wars against them and we even make a mention of our common past in our national anthem.

But back to the music.

Al lot of Finnish songs go about love, friendship, sadnes, anger, Finnish culture or Finland as a nation. While in Netherlands, we try to avoid the last two as much as possible. We think it is way to nationalistic and wrong. Even if you make jokes about it. It is somewhat tolerated in protest songs, but not more then that. Still, I find it a little shame that Finnish songs are only known in Finland, hence some exeptions. Like the songs Freestyler from Bomfunk FC's, Sandstorm from Darude or bands like HIM, Nightwish or Childeren of Bodom.

So here are some Finnish songs for you to enjoy: