Eläkeläiset Video
Since giving up my weekly show for the summer, I've heard from lots of listeners about how they will cope - not from the lack of my show, but from the relative lack of Humppa on the WFMU airwaves. Humppa, as in the bouncy polka-esque stylings of the great Finnish band Eläkeläiset.
Eläkeläiset (which translates to The Retirees) have a penchant for heavy drinking, cover versions and Humppa. Here's a video of them performing in a German pub, followed by an interview in Finnish and English: [download mpeg video, 15 megs, or youtube it] And here's an MP3 of their cover of Like A Virgin from their latest album Humppasirkus: [download MP3]. Here's the official Eläkeläiset website, and a guide to their cover versions. Their wikipedia page claims that the band is very popular with Free BSD developers. Go figure. Thanks to John in Oslo for the introduction!
It terrifies me that there is someone other than myself e-mailing you humppa heckles Ken ;)
I work with a large number of germans and am always trying to talk them into going to these shows when they tour. The response is usually something like 'oh you have to watch out for those fins they are all drunks who travel to germany for the cheap booze'.
Great stuff however!
Posted by: nh dave | June 27, 2006 at 05:59 PM
What a great band! I have personally converted a number of people into Eläkeläiset believers.
Unfortunately I didn't get to see them in Berlin this March, as all the tickets were sold-out, but their last year's Mosters of Humppa 2 show in Treptow park was brilliant. The best thing was Lassi Kinnunen doing the Lambada accordion solo, and the oddly appropriate cover of Scorpions' Wind of Change.
They're playing Monsters of Humppa 3 on July 22nd, but I just can't justify another trip to Berlin.
Oh, and BTW, the impression of Finns in Russia is even worse than it is in Germany. I grew up in St. Petersburg, and I've never seen a sober Finn when I was there.
D
Posted by: Dmitriy | June 27, 2006 at 06:25 PM
Humppa...I found these guys years ago on Napster, just plugging away for cover versions, Hotel California was one of the first....Humppa Las Vegas!!!!!!!! Dave K.
Posted by: Dave K. | June 27, 2006 at 06:29 PM
Holy crap, that is Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" that they are doing in the YouTube video. That is some great stuff!!!!
Posted by: Gavin | June 27, 2006 at 07:56 PM