Libertango, one of the best-known compositions by Astor Piazzolla, is 50 this year! Since its original release in 1974, it was covered about a zillion times. Some of the most famous versions include those by Al Di Meola, Richard Galliano, Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda, Yo-Yo Ma and Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Here's another stunning cover by the Finnish accordionist Ronja Pehkonen.
...is False Prophets by Penya, a London-based trio consisting of multi-instrumentalist Magnus PI, lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Lilli Elina and percussionist Jimmy le Messurier. The band's eponymous album is out now.
...is Sateen Tango composed by Unto Mononen in 1965. This version is performed by Sväng and appears on the Finnish harmonica quartet's new album Sväng Plays Tango.
Remu Aaltonen is probably best known as a founding member of the legendary Finnish rock band Hurriganes. This week's song, Asserio, appears on Remu's Latin-influenced album, Andalusian muistelot.
Sweden had ABBA. Finland has BABB: The Bad Ass Brass Band! This week's song is Oso polar, from the band's truly bad-ass eponymous album.
...is Desconsolado from the 1989 Finnish road movie Leningrad Cowboys Go America directed by Aki Kaurismäki.
When the film was finished, the fictional rock band, Leningrad Cowboys, continued as a real one. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of their iconic Total Balalaika Show, Leningrad Cowboys and The Russian Air Force Choir will be touring Finland from 27 November to 7 December 2013.
Back to Finland: this week's song is Karjalan poikia (Los Muchachos de Carelia) by Veli-Matti Järvenpää, one of Polkabilly Rebels and inventor of "Fin-Mex" style.
...is Tango Hississä (Tango in an Elevator) performed by my Finnish tango heroines, Milla Viljamaa and Johanna Juhola. The duo's new album, Tango Diary, is out 10 October.
Raúl Mannola is an Argentina-born Finnish guitarist now based in Madrid. This week's song is milonga Nenúfar performed by Raúl Mannola Quartet, featuring Leandro Bianchi (guitar), Juan Carlos Aracil (flute) and Jesús Mañeru (percussion).
Continuing with tango: this week's song is Nostalgias written in 1936 by Argentinians Juan Carlos Cobián and Enrique Cadícamo. I like this version by Finnish singer Pauliina May.
For our 100th song of the week, I feel a strong urge to return to tango. This time, it is Finnish tango nuevo. Kadonnut Kuu (Lost Moon) performed by the brilliant Duo Milla & Johanna. This tango appears on their second album Mi Retorno. You'll want to listen to their music again and again.
With that, I am off to holidays. Watch this space in a couple weeks' time.
Kirill
Happy New Year everybody! I am back from holidays in Stockholm, Helsinki, and in between. On New Year's eve (that was Sunday), I walked into Café Tin Tin Tango, which is exactly what the name suggests: café with tango in background and Tintin posters on the wall. It also doubles as launderette (that was my main reason to visit it: the hotel did not do laundry on Sunday.) The washing mashine was well hidden behind the thick screen of tobacco smoke but I managed to find it. While waiting, I had a nice cup of coffee and enjoyed some great music. Which brings us to the subject of Finnish Tango. According to the Pekka Gronow's article for Virtual Finland website,
Finland has taken the potato from Peru — potato in Finnish is peruna, by the way — and the tango from Argentina. Both these South American imports are cultivated in these northern latitudes perhaps even more devotedly than in their countries of origin.This week's song is Suo sana vain performed by Georg Malmstén.
Enjoy the tango!
Kirill
