1000 Years of Finnish Pop Music and Fashion

Professional vocalist sings through the last 1000 years of Finnish pop music!
What we now call traditional music or folk music in Finland used to be the pop music from when humans first started singing and playing instruments until like 100 years ago. But how did we get from 1000 to 3000 years old (we don’t know exactly) rune singing tradition to 2020’s most promising new artist Behm? Watch the video to see the evolution of Finnish pop (and fashion!) over 1000 years!
Follow me:
Instagram: / vilma.jaa
Facebook: / vilmajaamusic
Website: vilmajaa.fi/
About the evolution of pop music in Finland:
Runolaulu (rune song) was the main form of song until ballads came around in the 1600s. Until actually quite recently there wasn’t much to entertain you-no TV, no internet-so song was the way to tell and hear stories. It wasn’t uncommon to sing continuously for hours, improvising new lyrics and variating the melody. Rune singing was like a second language to many. At first popular ballad stories that were known all over Europe were often adopted into rune songs. The metre was the same, only the stories were new. Slowly people started embracing a different metre too and ballad evolved into its rhymed form it had all over Europe. Ballad was hugely popular until the end of 1800s, and lyrics were printed and sold so the songs spread and were known all around Finland.
I included Viena Karelian yoik (not to be confused with Sámi yoik) in the video even though it isn’t and has never been a part of Finland. The tradition and the form of song is just so very unique and cool, I had to include it, and it is just a bit East from the border of Finland and Russia. Viena Karelian dialect of Karelian language is extremely close to Finnish. When I visited Viena, I spoke Finnish (adding a few Karelian words I knew) and the locals spoke Karelian. The yoik language, though, is much harder to understand as almost everything is a metaphor. Alliteration is even a bigger part of Viena Karelian yoik than it is of rune song. The metre isn’t fixed, and there are three different parts; lyric part, lyric refrain and refrain.
In the 1700s in the Western parts of Finland polska came around from Sweden and it was very popular both played and sang for a couple hundred years. Rhymed song was here to stay and rekilaulu became another popular style of rhymed song of young people. Also the songs were now about courting and more shallow and light-hearted topics than ballads that often told stories of tragic love and death. After polska, waltz was huge for a long time-especially played. I included a waltz song on this video because the song is funny and I’ve played, sang and even recorded it with my old duo mammantytöt!. (I linked our version below. Also the rekilaulu Erojaisryyppy is by us.) In the late 1800s polka became one of the most popular dances all around Europe. In Finland polka too was played more than sang, but I couldn’t not include Ieva’s polka, made famous worldwide by Loituma with their amazing a cappella arrangement!
After Finland lost land-mostly a big chunk of Karelia- to Russia in wars in the 1940s, and nearly 0.5 million people lost their homes and had to settle somewhere new, songs about longing home to Karelia started popping up. Schlager had come around in the 1930s and in 1955 it was the pop of the time. Muistatko Monrepos’n (Do You Remember Monrepos), made famous by Annikki Tähti, became such a huge hit, even in 2018 it was the fourth all time most sold single in Finland.
In the 1970s what we now call Suomirock (Finnish rock) started finding it’s form. The song Murheellisten laulujen maa (Land of Sorrowful Songs) from 1982 by Eppu Normaali was an enormous hit and has been ranked at the top of every “Best Finnish Rock Song of All Time” list over the years since.
In the 2000s hip hop truly reached Finland. Artists started rapping in Finnish and a teen rapper Pikku G was the first hip hop artist to sell platinum in Finland with his album Räjähdysvaara (Explosion Hazard), which was the most sold album in Finland in 2003. Hip hop has then become one of the biggest genres of pop music in Finland.
I chose Frida by Behm to represent pop music in Finland now. It represents the new wave of singer-songwriters in pop and the song has been constantly on the radio since it was released in July 2020, also at the top of many Spotify lists for months. And I just think it’s a great and catchy song! The album Draaman kaari viehättää, released in September 2020, was the most sold album in Finland in 2020.
References for the history lesson above: Stuff I’ve learnt over 7 years of studying traditional / folk music at university, and Wikipedia.

[@maarikanaikkajas2728]

I love the first song, the rune song with its unique atmosphere - so simple, yet so full of feeling

Thanks! I feel the same- so minimalistic, yet captivating. I love the tradition

[@manelpaulino1251]

Molecules, atoms everywhere. Very cool aesthetic

Thanks!

[@dukethibeats5136]

I love how your voice completely fits with each era. And the shift from ear to era is so surreal. The songs are so amazing and make me wanna learn Finnish even though it's one of the most complicated languages in the world. Thank you so much for your effort good luck and please keep uploading these amazing videos.😍👌👌

Wow, thank you so much, what a sweet comment & compliments 🥰

[@muenchhausenmusic]

Your first statement!! I found she seemed really comfortable in all the styles! Also, that karelian singing was really cool indeed 😍

[@theveryproudmoroccan2834]

Finnish is such a beautiful language. Great video and your voice is beautiful.

[@tsutrisn]

Watching this 2 years late. Thank you for all your effort in making this excellent video, it sparks my interest to learn more about Finnish culture. My favourite song is the "Lunastettava neito", second era, I keep replaying it over and over again.

[@eakeak354]

Oh wow ! Thats an entire scale ! With very natural transitions !!

[@danielsaan1976]

Vilma, nice to see you are making more music. Finnish is an insanely beautiful language. You're making sounds that I (as and Englishman), simply cannot make. I look forward to listening to more. Best, Daniel

Thank you! You can hear more pretty soon actually! I have a live stream concert on Sunday May 30! 😊 Here's a concert teaser video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zny1iWCBfLSGqs0 Link to the live stream: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJiqcp-jf5qLh5Y

[@danielsaan1976]

@ I'll watch this with interest! Takk

[@zacjean123]

This video is amazing! I think you have made an excellent work. I loved the traditional costumes and your voice matches every style! Onnittelut🙌

Thank you! 😊

[@gabrieldaryscopoulos6143]

Didn't expect this at all. Pretty cool tho. You have a beautiful voice, peaceful vibes.

[@ruin7307]

Your voice sends shivers down my spine, absolutely beautiful

[@cynicalcenobia]

This has been so interesting- the older songs from the beginning have weirdly reminded me of Old Hungarian folk songs🇭🇺 - none of the words per se, just something about the rhythm or the intonation of the song.🙂 Nicely, done would love to see more uploads esp on life in 🇫🇮 & what makes it the happiest country today - in your view!☺️

Thank you! Now I'm interested to hear old Hungarian folk songs! Will have to look some up! 😊

[@cynicalcenobia]

@ Super - here's a good one for starters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5KwZ2NroLVmqrc Obviously, it's a modern reworking, but still pretty, I think. :) In places it almost sounds Finnish to my ears; might be that the two langs are very, very distantly related, might be just my imagination. :)

@@cynicalcenobia That's really beautiful!! Thank you!

[@LuchoCardenas]

This is awesome! I like Polska, Polka and Waltz tones and rhythm. Will you present this on TikTok divide in six parts?

Thanks!! I'm not on TikTok, so no :D

[@bradt8019]

This video is so good.🇫🇮 🤔👍 Every era was so perfect, beautiful voice. 😏👍 I like the older rune singing the best.🌟🌟🌟🌟 The rap was great too. Best video I've seen in a while. Kiitos paljon.

[@lenkym2194]

Best 6 minutes of my life lately Kiitos!

Wow, thank you! 😍

[@lenkym2194]

Vilma Jää I don’t say things lightly only sincerely. kiitos ❤️

[@AshutoshPundir]

PHENOMENAL

[@vashthestampede4716]

Vilmaaa!! I'm Home!! I knew you from Dating Beyond Borders. Awesome performance!! You're a high performance singer. Awesome!

Thanks!! 😊

[@mmazurek86]

i love this video, great job :)

[@lyap9221]

Nice song recommendations and I love how you change the costumes and makeup from time to time, and also the props from traditional candles, vases and books to boring IKEA potted plants!

Thanks!

[@ArvinAlenda]

that was beautiful 😍😍😍

[@SchilkeSmooth]

You hit it out of the park with this one. Great snapshot of Finnish music and I really enjoy the older "runolaulua." Absolute gem of a KZbin channel you've got

*Because 1000 years is a LONG time, I couldn't fit every single style of pop music there has been into one video. This is a rough overview of a long history.* *Most styles of music mentioned in the video have been sung way longer than the years mentioned. The timeline only shows when a specific style was the most popular or came around.* Songs from the video that are available somewhere to listen to: Rekilaulu: Erojaisryyppy tinyurl.com/yye6uzo7 Waltz: Lontoovin yössä tinyurl.com/y4ffwty4 Polka: Ievan polkka kzbin.info/www/bejne/barLapxmhaadmc0 Schlager: Muistatko Monrepos’n tinyurl.com/y2plzseo Finnish Rock: Murheellisten laulujen maa tinyurl.com/y3228bax Finnish Hip Hop: Me ollaan nuoriso tinyurl.com/y29omvwc Pop NOW: Frida tinyurl.com/yyypavfh Singing: Vilma Jää Drum and bass tracks and mixing: Mikko Renfors Guitars: Mikko Malmivaara, Vilma Jää, Juho Kuovi Rest of instruments*: Vilma Jää *except for bass in Erojaisryyppy: Laura Petäjä Filming: Hilu Toivonen-Alastalo, Vilma Jää Editing: Marina Iakovleva Costuming: Hilu Toivonen-Alastalo, Vilma Jää Makeup & hair : Vilma Jää Bonus disclaimer: The rune song theme is common especially in Ingria and Karelia.

[@RoccosModernKeyboards]

This is very cool! You could do more videos like this

[@parsa3958]

wonderful voice😍

[@charlesalkula8014]

Fun! Thanks for creating this walk down memory's path

[@TechNeekAprendizaje]

Wow, it's awesome! I'm starting to learn suomi, I find the finnish culture so interesting, thanks for the video, congrats, we hope more material like this C:

Thank you! Kiitos! 😊

[@helmiulpukkap5594]

Wow. You have just got a new fan!

[@TheLilja27]

hei kiitos upeasta ja opettavaisesta videosta! löysin just sun musiikin ja tää video oli kans hieno taidonnäyte. - elina

[@human4life29]

Moi oot mun lempi laulaja ja oot mahtava laulaa sä inspiroit mua laulaa ja mä haluun kiittää sua♡

[@davidfont2596]

I'd love it if you would link to the full versions of each of these videos, as you make them.

[@perennial_Haru_backup]

Kiitos paljon!

[@carlomolina1894]

Beautifull

[@thierrymorel7306]

I saw and heard Vilma in "Innocence" by Kaija Saarahio. Magnificent interpretation.

[@ilkkahalonen8514]

Saariaho keksi Vilman Ei turhaan 💜💜💜🎵

[@thierrymorel7306]

@@ilkkahalonen8514 maybe in english ? or french?

[@JuraTravel]

Bardzo fajne zestawienie 👍

[@sakkeraappana]

Tosi kova 🙌 Eput tuli kovana yllätyksenä edellisten jälkeen 😅🤌

[@iiristarnanen9209]

Vilma, lovely video!

Kiitos, Iiris! 🥰

[@vilmatalvitie9562]

Vauuu Vilma! Tosi hieno video, tosi korkeetasoinen niin informatiivisesti, visuaalisesti kuin musiikillisesti!

Oi kiitos, ihana kommentti, Vilma! 🥰

[@miisamay1899]

Olipa mielenkiintoinen ja ihanasti toteutettu video! 😊

Oi kiitos! 🥰

[@alexIVMKD]

Completely fell in love, jk. Amazing music, congrats. Subscribed!

[@KamalSharma-uq1jb]

Music, love and knowledge have no language. Keep it up. 👌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Thank you!

[@ah-nimetheory7193]

You got a wonderful voice. The last song kinda reminds me of The Cranberries. Now m gonna delve into some good Finnish music.

[@joohncaarloesparago]

Love this video 🙂🙂 from the phils..

Thank you! ✨

[@DAVIDKHAINE]

Very interesting, pretty voice too :)

[@cristixav]

Hi Vilma, I came to your channel on Marina's recommendation. I am not a complete stranger to Finnish culture, but I'm sure I can learn more here.

Great! 🙃🇫🇮

[@lalrinzualiralte]

You’re so beautiful ❤️ please make more contents🥺

Thanks! A couple videos are in the works, yes! Subscribe to know when I post next! 😌

[@hermaeusmora4874]

Onneks löysin tän tällee vaan vuoden myöhässä ☺ tosi mielenkiintoista settii

[@HiluTA66]

Thank you for your thanks 🙏 Love you 🧡 Mom

Kiitos vielä, äiti. Mäki sua ❤️

[@OlliTamminen]

5:21 Menetetty mahdollisuus: "Mut Vilma Jää tietää paremmin, todellakin!" 🤣 Mahtava video! 🔥

[@HanniAutere]

Mahtavaa, Vilma!! =)

Jee, kiitos Hanni! 🧡

[@loonnaax1789]

Wow

[@Mustaenkeli]

amazing video! where can I find this rune song?

[@SojaMurto]

Ai että sie oot huikee

Oii kiitos! 😊

[@bjornemland2135]

Interesting and funny exposé, thanks! (But that typical Finnish tango wasn't among them, I think?)

[@duhni4551]

Aika hemmetin hyvä =) Thumbs up! =)

[@nippleninja255]

Vähäs siisti video

[@rikurodriguesneto6043]

tosi hyvä!

[@sudiptoojha777]

wow ...that was amazing ...😍😍😍..you just made my day... is there any video of 4th and 6th song?

6th song you can find on my old duo's album: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHjNlnunj7uel8U & open.spotify.com/track/4XHvDyy8O256a9VYqsO5P6?si=5yOPjfQgTfatWXkssx_KZg&dl_branch=1 😊

And thank you!! 😊

[@junardcasino-zv4xg]

Hi,i like u 😊,wonderful voice.

[@NekoChanSenpai]

Gotta wonder what the neighbors must've thought while you were recording! (Also, you can't really blame us for only going back a hundred years; we haven't been here very long.)

[@ChamithaPriyasankha]

Finnish music without metal? thought myself and saw the title 'pop music' But anyway love your video. Kiitos paljon

Thank you! 😊 Sorry no metal 😕 if I included every type of popular music there has ever been around Finland the video would be 10 times as long lol

[@ivanskoropis8531]

Super−supercute! 😊😊😊

[@riittakurkela2063]

Hieno, hauska, hupaisa!

[@jeremiasrobinson]

Hi, will you please make some more runesong or more runesong-like music for KZbin? Thank you, from Colorado.

[@sylarkane8883]

Tämä on kaunista. Taidetta ja kykyä. Olen rakastunut.

[@lailajaaskelainen1167]

Jäätävän upeaa, Vilma

[@alexbaranov8285]

1860 Polka is the most familiar for me. Good luck!

Thanks!

[@pastilance1]

1:48 this sounds really close to the Bulgarian folklore music, but I liked 4:00 you were stunning there ^^

[@hghe6842]

雖然完全聽不懂，但真的很有趣😆

[@paivipentikainen682]

💫♥️💫

[@max_s557]

Love your videos! How tall are you? ❤️

Thanks! I'm 174 cm / 5'8 :)

[@max_s557]

@ you’re also very beautiful and a great singer! x

[@turpasauna]

Mieletön joiku!!

[@franconovelo1359]

A M A Z I N G ! But where is the Black metal?

[@puzzleme5]

AWau! Niin hieno että menin sekasin.. Tuo Lunastettava Neito oli mun korvaan hyvä ja haastava !

[@sergeypotyomkin6621]

Hey, what`s about Villie VaLo(ve) & HIM?! 😘 How could this be overlooked 😢

[@tuanngo8575]

i was expecting some power metal or melodic death metal lol

[@gabrielgabriel5177]

All songs are good before that rock and other modern western genres greetings from Finland 💪💪💪🇫🇮

[@theproducertk]

1600s sounded the most 🔥 to me.

[@indigenousnorwegianeuropa4145]

Oh right… Sisu mindset🫵

[@Jager_jaafoure]

Style:Polska. Song:Rune.

[@leskinennet]

More

[@juansaturday]

First of 2024

[@Dermie]

dopamine and serotonin?

gotta admit, the hip hop was my favorite

It was my favourite to film too!! So much fun living 7yo Vilma's fantasy

[@wkm345]

cute :-)

[@computationalerror69]

cat likes this

[@drsrsv8884]

Your eyes are almost Asian looking, very interesting! Is it common for Finnish people to have such eyes?

[@raakavoima-yk4ry]

How?

[@turpasauna]

Those from East region have quite Asian features in some way. I'm not sure where she's from though.

[@solene9193]

No metal music ? 😯😯

Couldn't fit everything from the past 1000 years in under 10 minutes, had to leave quite a lot of stuff out 😄

[@solene9193]

@ of course haha, but the data about Finland having the most metal bands per capita in the world just struck me, that's why I was disturbed it wasn't in the video 😆

[@zamdee]

Eput in rhe 70’s? Please, get your decades straight girlie 😂

[@LoganHunter82]

Ihan unohtu 50-luku ja 60-luku...

[@kidzerpia868]

The man in the thumbnail is not Finnish, but a Karelian runesinger Puavila Jamani. Also, I find it a bit weird you just randomly added the Viena Karelian yoik in this video, just because it sounds cool. Why not appreciate your Finnish traditions? Are they not beautiful enough, because I think your singing was otherwise beautiful. Our karelians traditions have for so long been showcased as finnish, and this feels almost the same even when you acknowledged it's not Finnish.

Well, actually if we're being 100% accurate and precise, a small part of Viena Karelia is actually inside the Finnish borders. Three Viena Karelian villages exist inside the borders. But Finland has been its own country for 103 years and on this video we're talking about 1000 years of music, so I wouldn't count country borders as a legitimate way to measure which tradition is Finnish, which is Karelian etc. Also, a big chunk of Karelia was and still is a part of "official" Finland and I personally have roots there. So I don't see a problem in including this awesome tradition and giving it a platform which it rarely gets, especially when I distinctly make clear that it isn't "Finnish". :) Also, didn't "randomly" add it - I have a BA in folk music, this summer I'm graduating with an MA. I've studied this stuff quite a bit and know my history. :)

This is an important discussion, though, and I'm always happy to discuss and debate it! For video purposes it was quite a lot easier to call the video "1000 years of FINNISH ..." than "1000 years of this specific cultural region ..." 😅

[@kidzerpia868]

@ I don't have a problem with you singing in this karelian style, but I still don't understand why you added it to this video showcasing finnish tradition, when you could've made another video with just this karelian tradition. And I'm well aware about the history of Karelia and it's borders and how not a single culture only exists in one country. But there's some things we can clearly point out as karelian vs finnish. Kelkettely (viena karelian yoik) and iänel itkemine (lamentsinging) are for sure karelian traditions. It's obviously not just about borders, there's also differences between ethnic groups and cultural identity. You probably wouldn't add for example sámi music or swedish music in this, because both groups exist also inside/close to Finland's borders?

[@mesiemo4918]

​@@kidzerpia868 it is a nice idea for next video which I would like to see: folkmusic in sámi, swedish, norwegian, meänkieli, karealian... (what else?) in Finland I loved the

[@krapulanta]

wasn't Karelia a part of Finland before it was lost in war or am I completely wrong?

[@moonliteX]

Omg wtf

[@Skege1000]

Et sit parempaa rap biisiä löytäny

Oisin löytäny, mut esittelen täl videol kunkin aikakauden suosituimpia biisejä. Tää oli Pikku G:n suosituin biisi, ja Pikku G oli eka räppäri Suomessa, joka möi (Räjähdysvaara) levyllään platinaa. 🙂