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Interviews Music

On the way to Popgasm – Interview with Samu Haber of Sunrise Avenue

In less than half a decade, Sunrise Avenue has achieved what most of the new Finnish pop-rock bands just dream about: an astonishing international success with a second studio album just recently released into the market: Popgasm. Samu Haber, their charismatic lead singer, had time while travelling around Germany to kindly answer our questions and give opinions about the superfast growth of the band, the expectations for the future or the internal painful changes that they experienced when Janne did not continue with them.

Sunrise Avenue

Hello Samu and thanks a lot for answering our questions. What can you tell us about the new second album of the band Popgasm? Any favorite tracks?

Well… sure you have your favorite tracks but since we made all the songs on PopGasm with the guys, all the songs are like our babies and therefore it’s impossible to rank them that clear. Maybe Welcome to My Life is the track if I have to pick one. It’s such an honest description of my life.

Was it easier now to work again together with producer Jukka Backlund?

Working with Jukka is never easy, but that is the catch ;) He is a personality that flies around the room and you just gotta wait for the results to come out from him. Sure we knew us better now but getting too close to the producer is not always only a good thing. It’s a great thing that he left the band and is now focusing on production.

You got an amazing success with your debut album. Do you feel now like being “on the way to wonderland” in real life? Were you expecting so many good sales and audience’s response when you started with the band?

No, honestly I didn’t. I was hoping that music could become as my career and it did. But it got far bigger than I ever let myself dream. Sure I believed that if all the winds blow our way, we could go very far, just like now with the second album. But it’s always up to 50% luck anyway, so the best you can do is do your best and see what comes.

Samu Haber

Every month dozens of new Finnish rock bands release their debut albums. The market is overcrowded. What is the formula and advices you can give to connect so quickly and successfully with the public as Sunrise Avenue did from the beginning?

There is no recipe. You just gotta try hard and try to make your own thing. The copy-cats who copy bands that are already famous, are pathetic.

Getting such doses of fame and recognition in such a relatively short period of time… Do you notice that has affected you in any way as human being? I mean, do you have the case that friends or relatives could tell you things like “now you are an asshole and you have changed a lot”, or do you think you keep your feet on the earth as a good Finn?

No. Not really. Some of the people you used to know want to have a little piece of your success and the story by hanging next to you at the clubs but I personally hate those wannabe’s. They wanna introduce you to all their friends and they think it’s cool. Sad. The REAL friends haven’t changed their behavior at all and that is something that makes me really happy. And if I’d ever start behaving like a “super star” I know my real friends would kick my ass BIG time! That is their job in all this and I know they’d do it for my own best.

You released a live DVD Live in Wonderland shot in Germany during your first tour. Was not risky to launch such a product with only one studio album released? Why you did not want to wait longer to do it?

Risk… This business is only full of risky moves. I think the experience was extremely great for all of us and actually I guess the DVD made it pretty ok in the stores too.

In the DVD “Live in Wonderland” I remember there was a comment that alcohol was not allowed during the tour for the members. Is that true? Do you have “dry” law when touring, or was more a joke? Who drinks the most at the band?

That was just a joke. We don’t actually party on tour because that would make the next day’s show pretty painful. But at the end of the tour there’s usually the “GRANDE FINALE” party. And that is something we need to have. Between show days I usually have a glass of wine and go to bed.

I just read in your tour blog that you smashed your head in the Provinssirock gig. How is your forehead looking now?

It looks amazingly good. I just removed the stitches last night and you can barely notice the scratch because I have my hair on it. I will have a memory from Provinssi Rock 2009 forever on my face. That’s cool.

You seem to enjoy writing and sharing thoughts through Internet with the audience. Do you find all the free time you need to write? What other hobbies do you have when you are not on the road?

I usually write the blogs on the plane. You have nothing but time there and I write stuff in the air and then go through it quickly at home. It had become this kind of as therapy thing for me. I sleep better if I let out everything that has happened the last few days. I love sports. I try to go to gym 5 times a week. Also team sports. Ice Hockey is the best. Unfortunately there’s not that much time for that now.

I know the band is pretty big in Germany, and I suppose you are thankful to the fans there, but what other venues do you especially like to visit when playing? And in what places would you like to tour but still have not had the chance?

Yes, the Germans have been very nice to as at least so far. We love to play anywhere where they want to hear us. We have had super great experiences all over and we have learned that the good and loud audience can be waiting for you anywhere.

We had an interview with the ex-member of Sunrise Avenue Janne Kärkkäinen. Maybe it is a topic you do not want to talk much about, but with the perspective of time, is there anything you want to comment about his leave from the band? Have you had the chance to listen to his new project Phoenix Effect?

It was the hardest decision I have ever made and it hurt me like hell before and especially after. I was really broken for more than a year and I am very thankful for the people who stood by me and us. Everything is much better as a team and also musically in the band now. I just wish the guy could grow up and accept what happened. It’s been 2 years. I have only heard “Broken Promises” but sure it’s pretty hard for me to evaluate his stuff without feelings being mixed. I honestly wish Janne and Phoenix Effect all the best from the bottom of my heart.

Janne out of the band was the hardest decision I have ever made…

Sunrise Avenue

I heard that the tattoo you have that says “Forever Yours” was due to a relation with a girl that did not work out. Is that true? How was the story? Do you think that you would do something like that again for another girl?

Yep. The tattoo was a replacement for an engagement ring. I don’t like rings and it doesn’t feel natural to wear one when I play the guitar. Yep, we were supposed to get married and all, but it went bad. We are luckily good friends now with her. I am just happy I didn’t tattoo her name on me. I hope I find someone someday who is worth another tattoo ;)

What are your future plans?

Now we are just promoting the new stuff and playing all the shows through the summer. Then in October we will start our European tour again and I guess that will go on until early next year with a break around the New Year, I hope.

Anything you want to add for the readers or that you would like me to have asked you?

Just the fact that I am writing the answers on a German highway and the speed is 230Km/hour.

Samu Haber

Q&A with Samu Haber

Favorite gig played ever that you remember?

There has been so many so special. Maybe the first 5 shows with the new album now in Helsinki, Berlin, Zurich, Athens and Helsinki again. It made me believe that maybe not everybody has forgotten Sunrise avenue.

If you would not play with Sunrise Avenue, is there any other band you would like to have been a member of?

I can’t imagine anything else. This is the group I started when I was 16, so I will stick with it.

Craziest thing that has happened to you on and off stage?

I must say the craziest thing on stage is a few weeks ago when I smashed my own face with my own guitar. I seem to have a few more steps to become a pro ;) Off stage this 40+ drunken “lady” squeezed my balls very hard and it hurt like hell. I told her to bring her boyfriend to me because I don’t hit women… The boyfriend never came. I was very embarrassed afterwards but there’s a limit with everything. Even with me.

Do you think that is possible to reach an orgasm due to pop music?

I do. I have had it many times ;) Just relax and it’ll come.

Nicest thing that a fan has told you or done for you?

The guy who sold his house in the early days so we could pay for the studios. I will always owe one for Mr. Mikko Virtala.

Favorite place to chill out in Finland?

Our summerhouse. No internet, no phones. Just the nature and the family. You can be 110% yourself and nobody wants anything from you. I also love my home / house very much.

What sentence in Finnish language would you choose first to teach a foreigner?

“Ei se oo niin justiinsa” it means everything doesn’t have to be perfect. I love the phrase.

How many languages can you speak?

I speak Finnish & English pretty well; I can survive in Spanish and Swedish and a little German.

For more information about Sunrise Avenue, visit their official site:
www.sunriseave.com

Categories
Albums Music

Greenday – 21st Century Breakdown

It seems that it was yesterday when these American punk rockers set a little revolution with their agile music… and now we can enjoy already their 8th studio album!

Greenday

Greenday was quite important in my teenage years. Together with Offspring, they opened me the doors to punk music and many other classic bands during the nineties. But while Offspring are lost in combat, Greenday resist in an excellent shape (even appearing in The Simpsons movie last year).

The album is conceived in a kind of rock-opera mode, divided into 3 different parts, but not, this is not exactly an Ayreon album, so do not expect very long symphonic tracks, most of the songs remain fast and powerful, although I miss a bit of the fierce spirit of their first albums. Greenday, with the past of years, have gained in composing better lyrics and sounding more compact and clean, but have lost in spontaneity.  Nowadays is just another good rock band that appears often on MTV, but although still acid, not a reference for younger audiences anymore.

Do not misunderstand me, the album has a great quality, with excellent tracks like Last Night on Earth or Know your Enemy, but you would expect Greenday moving in a bit different league than Nickelback… and that is not the case…

Rating 3/5

Categories
Albums Music

The Oh La Las – Songs from the third floor

The Finnish band led by Oskar Nyman and Joel Isaksson features their promising debut album. See the life green like a pear!

Oh la las in Tallinn

The band is composed by Oskar Nyman on the vocals, Joel Isaksson  on the guitar, piano, banjo and vocals, Egon Veevo on the bass and Anders Salim on the drums. As they explain at their official MySpace site, most of the work for their first studio album was done while enjoying some nice time in a summer cottage. We don’t know if that cottage had a third floor, or if the Finnish guys had stairs available to reach a third degree of inspiration, but what is certain is that their debut album is a more than notable work.

With folky pop-rock style, they have quite a nice and interesting American sound, which can remind you to bands like The Jayhawks or even The Rolling Stones themselves in some parts of the record. As some highlighted tracks, I would recommend All is Well, I ´ll be Fine or the relaxing acoustic parts of Home as well as the romantic ballad Hold Me.

As you can see, the Finns have quite a positive vibe in their songs (and their titles), quite refreshing in a scene that usually reaches from the most depressing side of the music.

A great work, pretty enjoyable. If I can put a “but”, I would complain that there are only 8 tracks to listen to!

Rating 4/5

Categories
Albums Music

Yölintu – Nyt ja Aina

After a couple of years of awaiting, here you have the new album from the Kings of Finnish Iskelmä.

Simo Silmu and his fellows from Yölintu are some of the biggest representatives of Iskelmä sound nowadays in Finland.

Yölintu

For those of you who have lived in Finland, probably Iskelmä is not unfamiliar (even if you do not want to, you will listen to it in some radio station while taking a ride in a public bus). For those of you who do not know it, we could resume it as a kind of melancholic pop, but also very danceable.

Although Iskelmä is not my favorite genre, and it is probably more aimed at an audience of over 30 years old, the songs are actually quite catchy. Tracks like the first single Anteeksi, Pimeästä Valoon or Ihana Sinä can be part of the perfect soundtrack for the next Juhannus, while enjoying the company of friends in a cottage having beer, sausages and sauna.

Quite a good work, if you think about it inside the Iskelmä genre. For those of you who want to come closer to the Finnish spirit, and discover an important side of its musical scene, this is worthy a try!

Rating 3/5

Categories
Albums Music

Deep Insight – Sucker for Love

The young band from Helsinki offers an excellent album full of great rock and Amazing lyrics!

Although being young, the Finnish band has already a wide experience. They have played more than 300 live gigs and released a few albums before this current Sucker for Love, apart from touring with names like The Rasmus. Actually, if you like The Rasmus, probably you will enjoy them too, although Deep Insight goes a bit less “darker” and more oriented into an American rock sound. And I like it.

Deep Insight

The vocals of Jukka are awesome, very well backed up by the rest of the band that offers a great orchestration in every track. Songs like Let me Go! , Rock with my Band, Dangerous or Sucker for Love would perfectly be number 1 hits with a bit more of promotion.

The record is all in all a very nice surprise indeed and a great rock album. They will be touring intensively all over Finland this summer, so I advice you not to meet them on stage!

Rating 4/5

Categories
Interviews Music

Estonian fairytale in USA – Interview with Kerli

Born in the small population of Elva (Estonia) in 1987, Kerli is a singer not afraid of big challenges. Young, talented, intelligent and beautiful, she decided to pursue her musical dream at a very tender age moving out of her native country to USA. Many put in doubt that she would ever achieve anything important, but the time and the effort seems to be paying off after the good success of her album Love is Dead. Although very busy, Kerli had some free time to answer the questions of FREE! Magazine about her past, present and future:

When you moved to USA, you were just 18. Was it difficult for you to leave friends, family, etc behind?

I actually moved to Sweden first, when I was 17 and to Los Angeles on my 20th birthday. I was sitting in my hotel room with two suitcases. One of them had a blanket in them and the other one had candleholders and some clothes. I sat there like this for a month and cried every day. It was really difficult at first but I never doubted that it was the right thing to do. I guess I sort of always knew that many sacrifices had to be made for me to become the best that I could be. I always felt like I was on some kind of a mission to make beautiful things and inspire people.

kerli

What were the most shocking things to discover in those first years abroad?

I never thought it was going to be easy but I never expected it to be this difficult, either. It was shocking to discover that a lot of people in high positions actually have no clue what they’re doing, so an artist has to do it all on their own. Los Angeles in itself is kind of shocking. I guess it’s the most weird that you will ever find. It can almost be scary how many broken dreams this city contains. And then there’s of course the fact that everything is BIG in America. It used to freak me out but now every time I travel to Europe, I get pissed about the small coffee cups. Hahaha. I got into many bad habits and was around many sad people but I wrote some good music.

Can you say that the feeling of loneliness shocked you?

I felt lonely but I’ve always felt so misunderstood that loneliness wasn’t much of a new thing.

How did you overcome it?

I didn’t. I escaped… meaning I got into many bad habits and was around many sad people until I realized my time on earth is too short to waste it on anything that doesn’t make me the best that I can be.

What else did you discover about yourself?

This isn’t even so much about me as it is about human nature I guess. I was standing outside a restaurant and had just broken up with my boyfriend. I didn’t know anyone and I had nowhere to go. I was so scared that it felt almost beautiful. Being scared of things and then overcoming them is one of the best things that can happen. It makes u push the limits and do things that you didn’t even know u were capable of.

Do you visit Estonia often?

About once or twice a year.

I happen to know your town Elva. Do you ever miss the contact with nature there? What is the best and the worst feature of the place, from your point of view?

kerli2

I do miss the nature. The older I get the more I start appreciating the green forests. It's funny you start seeing things so different when you grow up. I think I'm a fairy, so I'm supposed to live in a forest.

And actually it seems that Elva is a great source for successful Estonian female singers in the recent years. Is there something in the water there that make girls be more interested in music?

Repression and pain is what makes u seek beauty I guess. And there's nothing more beautiful than art, in whatever form. I walked by a painter on the street today and he was surrounded with such great energy it instantly made my day.

Can you imagine yourself to live in a forest all the time?

Not all the time. I love the internet too much :). But if I could disappear for a couple of months with my recording gear, I’m pretty sure something beautiful could happen. I’m thinking of going to Siberia sometimes soon. Or Amazon..

What do you do to fulfill your wish to live in a forest? Or is it just an idea?

I want to make some great records that would touch many more people than just the ones I would meet in the forest, so I’ll stick around the big cities for awhile and make that happen. One day when I’m old, I will build a little hut inside a hill and decorate it with sparkling things and old charming furniture. I will write books and make tea to pilgrims who will travel to my house to get some insight and learn a few secrets about life.

You have commented in past interviews that in Estonia you were feeling a bit “in a box”, not free to show creativity. Do you still keep that feeling when you visit back, or do you notice changes in the mentality of the people?

Nothing ever changes there, that's why I can't live there. I really believe in constant change and growth. If I'm not better today than I was yesterday than my day is wasted. But I have started to realize how great my friends and family are here. They’re just such solid people.

Could you please explain in what sense do you mean ‘great’ and ‘solid’?

Solid as of real. They do what they say and when they say they love you it will stay that way. When I go home it’s just about the simple things. At the end of the day the only thing that is going to matter is how much you love and were loved.

Are you aware of what happens in Estonian music scene nowadays? If you would have to recommend any Estonian band or musician to a foreign listener, would you have some to choose?

We have so many talented musicians. Their shows and styling is getting better all the time. The world is so easy to access now; therefore u can't really ignore what's being done by the best artists in the world. So there's like a constant push to grow, which is really cool.I really like our rapper Chalice. He's the shizz. And our classical musicians of course.

“I really don´t know how to chill out at all”

In the artwork of your CDs and promotional pictures, you have a bit that image of “blonde femme fatale”. How is the real Kerli, when not working? Would people find you easier in a trendy club at night, or having a coffee with friends in the bar around the corner?

They would find me in my room writing music or working on something else. I really don't know how to chill out at all.

In your MySpace page I can see that you say that “it is not important the place where I am from”, but at the same time you have there pictures of your hometown. So… how is your real feeling when you think back of your home? Are you proud of being Estonian (or having been raised in Estonia influenced the way you are nowadays?), or do you prefer more to be considered more like a “citizen of the world”?

I think Estonians have some qualities I really admire. Like when they love you, they REALLY love you. They are good people. And I think that coming from nowhere and hopefully becoming a true citizen of the world is so much more challenging than growing up with all the great things. And I'm always up for a good challenge.

What could be your next challenge?

I want my next record to be bigger than the last one.

XIHA

If somebody asks you when being abroad to teach them a word or a sentence in Estonian, which one do you choose?

Whichever one they ask about. They usually want to know the dirty ones.

Being still quite young, you have a lot of experience behind your back. Do you see yourself in the future living still in USA, or have you ever thought you would like to come back to your native country at some point of your life?

Not Estonia. Maybe I'm going to change my mind some day but right now it's just too small for me. I love  living in the US and being from some weird fantasy place next to Russia and just doing my thing in a place where everyone wants to become larger than life. It forces u to grow so much, so fast.

Do you think that for new young Estonian artists, are there chances to get their dreams staying in Estonia, or the music industry is so small there that there is no other way than emigrating?

I don't know. So much is online now. I don't think territory has anything to do with anything very soon. love wins. good music wins.

I heard that you were supposed to tour with the Finnish band The Rasmus this year, but it was finally cancelled. Can you explain a bit more about it?

Yeah, I would also like to apologize to all my fans who wanted to make it to the show. I was just about to leave to the airport when my label called and said they need me in the studio as soon as possible to work on my second album. I had all the outfits made and all… boooo!

What are your plans for the rest of 2009?

I'm working on the new album and hopefully can release it soon.

Anything else you want to add for the readers?

When love is your intention, nothing else matters.


XIHA

“Q&A with Kerli

Favourite song ever?

Bjork, Joga

Alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks?

Non.

If a man wants to make you a nice present, what is better, flowers or candles?

Both, please! But flowers always work.

What is your most pleasant memory of your musical career so far?

Listening to my first album being mastered.

And any embarrassing moment?

My dress almost slipped down during a show. I had to hold it up the whole time to make sure my boobs weren’t showing.

How many languages can you speak?

2 and music.

For more information about Kerli, you can visit her official site:

www.kerlimusic.com

Categories
Misc News

Website for Madonna´s concert

Categories
Albums Music

Marko Haavisto & Poutahaukat – Tuhannen Kaipuun Maa

A greatest hits album that gathers all the best of the famous Finnish artists during the last years.

Marko Haavisto

After 12 years of career and being part of the soundtrack of several Aki Kaurismäki´s movies, it was about time for Marko and company to release a greatest hits. In this Land of 1000 Longings you will find a good collection of no less than 20 tracks with a great rock & roll touch, but also adding the unavoidable Finnish folky experience there.

Melancholic songs to be listened with a mix of happiness and sadness, looking backwards and forwards to what life brings. Marko is accompanied by Samuli Halonen on the drums and Jouni Saario and  Kai Järvinen on the guitars.

If you want to understand a bit more of Finnish music and its particular spirit, this album is a must have; very touchy, even if you do not understand Finnish language.

Rating 4/5

Categories
Albums Music

Clark Kent – This is Personal

Debut album for the rock band coming from Helsinki, the Finnish capital. And I dare to say that an excellent first step in their career!

The Finnish band has recently released their first album just by themselves after been a few years trying to get a deal with a record company. But they have also counted with two heavyweights names of the pop/rock Finnish scene, Jukka Backlund and Samu Haber from Sunrise Avenue, who gave them advice in the production of some tracks.

Clark Kent

Actually, the result is pretty good, and the young band has nothing to envy to the newest release by Sunrise Avenue. What you find here is a sound a bit more harder and rock oriented than in Sunrise Avenue, closer to other Finnish bands like The Rasmus. Drums keep pushing in the songs, from which I would highlight the introductory I.W.T.C.Y. or Across the Sea.

Sounding clean, with cohesion and singing the lyrics in English (which is always nicer facing future international projection), Clark Kent delivers a solid rock album. Recommendable!

Rating 4/5

Categories
Antonio's blog Blogs

2 years ago…

It seems to have been yesterday, but it was already 2 years ago when we closed the printed edition of FREE! Magazine. Did you remember it? Did any of you spotted it in the streets of Helsinki? It is funny how so much effort and illusion can be faded away so quickly. Luckily, the online magazine is here for you, and although I cannot update it as often as I would like, I hope it still gives the chance to many of you to read some nice content about Finland and other north European countries.

FREE!

I was quite pissed off at the time we closed the newspaper. I suppose that it is very difficult when you invest all your money and energy in a project that does not pay off. Well, actually I learnt a lot from the experience, but maybe at that time I was so stressed trying to put things together that even did not have much time to stop and enjoy the moment. I also realized how difficult is for foreigners to make business in Finland. Finnish are used to dealing with always the same people, and believe me, they are not so eager to open the doors to new ideas and collaborations. At the time we were running the printed newspaper, our main competitor had been already 3 years in the market, and many Finns I talked to (and who could speak pretty good English) had no idea of their existence, even when they could find copies a few meters away from them.

The question remains: is there a place for English publications in Finland? Maybe…if they are run by Finnish big corporations that can afford losses at the beginning. Same than me, most of the other foreign journalist I know just struggle to survive with their pages, magazines and blogs, having economical losses but keeping the illusion while having to get other jobs to survive. It is a side of Finland that most of the Finnish do not see, or they do not want to see. We could even extrapolate the situation to the general situation of foreigners in Finland. They are there, but for most of the Finns, they are just groups of people who live in the suburbs and have no impact on their lives. It is a sad situation, but well, step by step it is changing. Maybe the change is not fast enough for my generation to see.

FREE!

So our newspaper was closed, but life goes on. Actually I am happy to see how many of our collaborators now work with the competitor, and the level of cultural news there has improved drastically. So I suppose we did something good, even if that just means that the competitor survived and copied our editorial line to improve their contents ;)

To those of you who have followed our articles through these years, many thanks! And to all the many others who closed the doors to our ideas or did not even have the time or energy to answer our emails, well guys, I hope that now with this economical crisis you do not feel in the same situation, getting rejected emails. Meanwhile a bunch of foreign journalists will continue keeping the faith and writing stories about Finland for those who want to read them.

Categories
Cinema DVD

What just happened

Robert de Niro joins forces again with director Barry Levinson in a movie that discovers all the dirty secrets of Hollywood industry.

Based on the book by Hollywood producer Art Linson, who also wrote the script for the movie, here comes a movie that although not being any masterpiece, it certainly entertains. The cast is actually superb, with names like De Niro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, John Turturro, Robin Wright Penn and Stanley Tucci gathered together. Even the new teenage sensation from Twilight, Kristen Stewart, has a small role as De Niro´s daughter (I still cannot stand her way of talking).

De Niro

Although the rhythm of the movie has some ups and downs, there are a couple of funny memorable moments with a final climax at Cannes festival. Certainly maybe the general quality of the movie does not keep up with what such a great cast could have achieved, but the spectator catches easily the essence of what Levinson tries to transmit us, and that is fair enough.

Not a bad movie, although if you are dog’s lover, you are not going to like a few scenes here…

Rating 3/5

The best: De Niro awake-dreaming of kicking the ass of Tucci like if he would be back in his best mafia films. And starting to smoke again while awaiting Bruce Willis coming out of the van (shaved or not shaved).

The worst: Why every time that Kristen Stewart opens her mouth, she has to mumble and hesitate?

The detail: Based on the non-fiction book by Linson: What Just Happened: Bitter Hollywood Tales From the Front Line

What just happened Trailer

Categories
Cinema DVD

Angus, thongs and perfect snogging.

Based on the popular book series, here comes the cinema adaptation of what tries to be one of the English teenage comedies of the year.

After reading some other reviews from viewers and critics in Internet, I am not sure if it is me that I am getting older and grumpier, or that the watchers swallow whatever product they see on screen. Because this must be one of the worst movies I have seen during the last year. I actually was not expecting much (maybe because I am a man, so usually I find funnier jokes and the sense of humor when the main characters of the teenage comedies are also male, what can I do…) and at the end of the movie, sadly I realized I was right.

Angus, thongs and perfect snogging

I expect from a teenage comedy to have some irreverent moment, but here all that you find is some female teenagers that find the most risky moment of their lives between wearing thongs or normal underwear. What an excitement! Even if I would have a teenage daughter, that I do not have, I would not see the reason why she should see a gang of teenage girls acting like if they would be 8 years old. Not mentioning that is far away from the reality, how many of you had your parents renting a super luxury club for your birthday when you were 15 years old? Not only that the acting is bad, but also the scriptwriters made things worse: the character or Peter, which is probably one of the few ones that could be saved and turn a bit funny, is hardly used in the plot. And so on so on.

Honestly, maybe some teenage girls will enjoy watching this, if they can feel identified in the middle of the hormonal storm that the British girls seem to be immersed. For the rest of spectators who consider they having a bit of a brain, skip this one. A total waste of time.

Rating 2/5

The best: Peter, the “saliva kisser”.

The worst: Do not get me started…

 The detail: In the books, Robbie is the singer of the band, not the bass play.

Angus, thongs and perfect snogging Trailer

Categories
Albums Music

Matthau Mikojan – Mania for life

The Finnish musician from Tampere features his second studio album.

Matthau Mikojan

After building up a solid name in the rock Finnish scene with his previous band Bloodpit, Matthau started his solo career in 2008, and not long time ago here you have his follow-up album. The lyrics are notable, with good tracks like Mania for life, Chasing ghosts or Slow Down. Although with a little touch of melancholy, in general the album is light-hearted and easy to listen to and dance. It is also a “plus” that Matthau not only plays many instruments, but also composes all the songs.

Apart from different venues in Finland, he will be also touring in other European countries like Russia or Germany during the summer. If he happens to play close to you, do not miss the chance to see him on stage. A good effort by the Tamperelainen!

Rating 3/5

Categories
Books Features

Beyond the Frontiers of Imperial Russia

Born in 1832 in the island of Uto, Finnish Otto W. Lindholm´s life was always full of adventure. He travelled the world several times, and gained an excellent reputation in the most exclusive aristocratic circles of the Imperial Russia. The recollection of his amazing journeys has been not lost thanks to his great grandsons, Alexander C. de Haes-Tyrtoff and Nicholas Tyrtoff Davis, the editors of the current book who dedicated 4 years of effort  to the publication of Lindholm´s memories. A unique life of a unique Finnish man that you should not miss!

Book cover

After reading the memories of Lindholm´s life, I was certainly impressed with his achievements. His life was not easy, but we are facing a man who is able to endeavour the most impossible tasks with a decision made of steel. The young Otto had certainly to grow fast, losing his father at the age of twelve and enlisting on a whaler to sail around the world. He is the ultimate definition of resolution, a man shaped by the experience and the will to improve and escalate in the social circles. Nicholas Davis, one of the editors of the book, defines perfectly the image that could remain of Lindholm after following his wanderings around the globe:  “The picture that remains in my mind is that of being a captain of a whaling ship in 1859 at the age of 27 years and shows what he was capable of for the rest of his life; the courage to confront unknown dangers and to take responsibilities in dangerous situations; his strongest points are to learn and to know in detail everything that was new – the how and the why (steam-engines, gold mining, surveying, constructions, etc.). His weak points: like every human being he must have had weaknesses but they really don’t appear in his writings. He certainly was stubborn.

Lindholm was an educated man who put a great interest in finishing his studies with the best grades. But you can notice throughout the book that maybe his biggest moments of pleasure are when he is in full contact with the nature, trying to find his way in the middle of isolated landscape in North Russia or pursuing a whale in the vast ocean. Nevertheless, coming from a relatively humble family, you cannot miss that he really finds pleasure in collecting meticulously every new friend from the high aristocracy that he meets and the honours that provided to him.

Although born in what is today the territory of Finland, the references to the country happen just from time to time, when the young Otto comes to Helsinki to finish his studies after his first experiences in a whaler, or years later when he comes back renting the best carriage of the city. But the Finnish capital was never one of his favourite ones, although he had a good time with old friends there, always considering it in a way inferior to many other cities that he had visited around the world in that time. It is also very curious to see his trips through the United States or Japan, and how he was able to foresee many changes that would happen years later. Lindholm seems to have had a distinctive good sense for making business as far as analyzing situations and people in every particular situation, and that led him to be a successful captain and later business man. Although he was a tough man and did not hesitate to use the force if needed, you can see also his more human and fair side: in several moments around the book, he shows an unusual mercy and flexibility towards the boat crew, even if they misbehaved. Lindholm showed that was not only a brave and clever man, but also a kind one who could understand the feelings of the men around him, but could also hold a firm authority if needed.

Travelling one million kilometres and 17 times around the world

It is a pity that there are not more graphic memories of Lindhom´s trips.  Unfortunately most of his photographs were destroyed in a fire in the year 1905 that affected his library. Nicholas Davis calculates that “Otto Lindholm travelled 17 times around the world. If one considers that one had to travel in the 19th century from Europe to the Pacific and the Far East by way of Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope one can easily estimate that he probably travelled over one million kilometres in his life time“. An amazing statistic even nowadays, so imagine with the technical difficulties that any traveller would have to face in the 19th century!

whale hunting

The book is pretty recommendable for those of you interested in Finnish history and travelling. Not so many times you have the chance to read such an eloquent narration of adventures all over the world; In fact, I have a warning for animal lovers: maybe you will not enjoy this book. The description of killing whales and many other animals like bears, foxes, etc, are sometimes quite meticulous. But take into account that these men were travelling with no catering service close to them. Hunting for them was in many cases not only a hobby (although in some parts of the book they also go hunting for fun with the aristocracy) but a ways of surviving in a wild environment.  Sometimes I just miss that Otto would share more details about his private life and family relations instead of the accountancy of all the dinners and parties he gets invited, but obviously, he was finding more interesting to account about his social developments, keeping (as a good Finn) his role as caring husband and father for himself.

The Russian city of Vladivostock celebrates in 2010 its  150 years of existence, and due to the great effort that Lindholm made to develop the city, both great grandsons Alexander and Nicholas have been invited to the festivities. Nothing better like finishing the description of Lindhom with the final resuming words by Nicholas about his ancestor:

Otto Lindholm certainly sought adventure, was daring, headstrong and fortunate, but always with this humanitarianism which finds something honest in every man. He is also someone who knew that a favour would be returned one day, who saw in everyone opposite him a potential friend. Ambitious, Otto certainly wanted to be well known, but he also wanted it for others and his family.  He had a natural talent for business but was also someone who could foresee opportunities; he had a foreboding for the precariousness of life, just like an ice-pack which one thinks is secure but might suddenly break up when the wind turns. He also knew that from any hopeless situation one can always survive through hope and human courage”.

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Albums Music

Maj Karma – Salama

Herra Ylppö, one of the most charismatic Finnish frontman, is back with his band and a new studio album.

Maj Karma

After releasing his solo album Sata Vuotta in 2008, Mr. Ylppö is back with Maj Karma, one of the most successful Finnish rock bands of the last years. The new work counts with 10 tracks that, from my point of view, the fans will dig immediately. Maybe the sound is not as raw and powerful as in previous albums, but the essence is still there: the magnetic voice and lyrics of Ylppö, the poetry with a note of desperation…

If you do not understand Finnish, then it is a bit more difficult to enjoy for the foreign listener, which is a pity, because it will narrow the projection of the band now and in future years. But well, they will always have their faithful Finnish followers. Not a bad effort, although do not expect much new.

Rating 3/5