The Day That Everyone Loves Danny

Danny, legendary Finnish singer born as Ilkka Johannes Lipsanen (in 1942),  will enter the Finnish preselection for the 2021 Eurovision song contest Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (New Music Contest) with the Janne Rintala penned song Sinä Päivänä Kun Kaikki Rakastaa Mua (the day that everyone loves me).

Now the Uuden (new) part of that is a bit misplaced as Danny’s first singles were released in 1964.

Over the years Danny has had many hits in his home country and he is credited for putting touring live shows on the map for Finland. His live shows, often supported by other now well known Finnish singers (Kirka, Katri Helena, Vicky Rosti),  were among the first to start live music pop culture in the country, with hysterical screaming and all that.

There’s a movie and a musical about his life and they’re both called Danny. So he must have done something right.

The new Rotterdam 2021 Collection is open!

This year it’s the 8^th time (and 9^th song) Danny tries to get to the Eurovision Song Contest. Here's the Finnish 2021 page at the new Rotterdam Collection. 

The song premiered at 11 PM CET on Januari 17th and is now available from all your local digitessen.

Post Premiere Update: Now I didn't expect that! My Finnish is a bit rusty but the English translation is in the video below. Absolutely wonderful lyrics, sort of sad in a tongue in cheek way, resigning in the inevitable. 

Now you just keep that day away for a while longer Mr. Danny!

 

   

Here’s a list of his earlier Euroviisut efforts.
1966 Pieni Saana (Little Saana, 8th)
- single (Scandia KS 628) has the winning song Playboy by Ann Christine on the b-side!
1967 Sua Kutsun, Maarit (I call you, Maarit, 2nd)
1967 Keskiyöllä (At midnight, 4th)
- both 1967 songs on single (Scandia KS 682), 2nd placed song also on VA EP 4 Iskelmää (Scandia SEP 215).
1973 Galileo Galilei (5th) (video below)
- single (Scandia KS 891)
1974 Jos Maailmassa Vain Ois Kahva (If there was only a handle on the world, 7th)
- single (Delta DES 5)
1975 Seikkailija (Adventurer, 2nd)
- single (Delta DES 10)
1986 Ninja (8th)
- single (M&T Productions MTP 1097)
2004 Seven Times Seven (in English) - Danny & D’Voices (10th)
- CD Minulta Sinulle (Poptori 1134-2), also on promo cds (MUFA records) 
Seven Times Seven is a nod to his 1968 hit Seitsemän Kertaa Seitsemän which means Seven Times Seven
2021 Sinä Päivänä Kun Kaikki Rakastaa Mua (the day that everyone loves me)
- digital single

-- -- 
 

Eurovisio Special 1978

Danny's Eurovision covers

But this is Eurocovers so we’ll take a look at Danny’s coverversions of Eurovision songs. All are translated into Finnish. Many come from Various Artists LP’s from the 70’s and 80’s where most Eurovision tunes from one year were translated and recorded by Finnish artists.
Two times he paired up with Armi Aaviko who you’ll probably remember as Miss Finland 1977. Sadly Armi died in 2002, just 42 years old.

The YT links are all audio's on Youtube.
 
 

Here’s the list of Danny’s Eurocovers.
Säästä Suukkosi Vain (Save your kisses for me, U.K. 1976) (YT)
Judy Judy (Judy et Cie, Belgium 1976) (YT)
- Both on Eurovision 1976 covers VA LP Huipulla 10 Eurovisio Special (Scandia SLP 632)
- Judy Judy also on LP Elämän Maku (Scandia SLP 631)

Päin Seinää - Armi ja Danni (Rock Bottom, U.K. 1977)  (YT)  
Beatles (Sweden 1977) (YT)
- VA Eurovision covers LP Eurovisio Special 1977 (Scandia SLP 648)
- LP Tahdon Olla Sulle Hellä (Scandia SLP 647)

Beatles 1977

Beatles also b-side to Armi & Danni single Tahdon Olla Sulle Hellä  (7"Scandia KS 979)
 
Jäi Taakse Päivät Nuo - Armi ja Danny (Bad Old Days, U.K. 1978) (YT)
- VA Eurovision covers LP Eurovisio Special 1978
 
Disco Tango (Denmark 1979)
- VA Eurovision covers LP  Eurovisio 79 (Scandia SLP 911)
 
Vain Rakkaus Jää (Tænker Altid På Dig, Denmark 1980)
- VA Eurovision covers LP Eurovisio Special 1980 (Scandia SLP 917)
 
On Meri Tänään Tauhatan (Feggari Kalokerino, Greece 1981) (YT)
- 7” single, b-side to Vain Kaksi Nauhaa (Scandia KS 1058)
- VA Eurovision covers LP Eurovisio Special 1981 (Finnlevy FL 5095)
 
Maybe there’s more, if you know any, just drop a comment.

Danny Facebook and Website (in Finnish)

Danny at Discogs

You may like these other Eurocovers posts:

A La Laila - The collected works of Laila Kinnunen and Eurocovers Discography

2007: The Finweeks, a series of posts about Finnish artists and coverversions tying in with the Helsinki contest of 2007.

Milana Misic posts Daughter of Laila sings some of mom's songs.
Lia Hokke's Playboy -  Finland 1966's cutest cover.

Some moody Finnish music for the winter.

Lovely new version of the first ever Finnish entry, still a classic at home.
And a new classic in the making: a Finnish version of Dutch 2014 entry Calm After The Storm

FINWEEKS: Laila Kinnunen Eurocovers discography

The Finweeks continue with a Eurocovers discography of Laila Kinnunen. Below is all the information I have collected over the years, If I missed something, please let me know.

Laila Kinnunen (Laura Annikki Kinnunen) was one of the greatest singers of Finnish popular music in the 50's and 60's.
She earned her legendary status with her smooth voice that made the sometimes harsh Finnish language sound like velvet. Her body of work is impressive and many of her recordings have been released on CD.
She sang many Italian classics but also other European and American standards, Russian songs and of course Finnish originals. She recorded in several languages including Finnish, Swedish, Hungarian, German, English, Italian and Spanish.
To most Eurovision fans Eurovision fans she is probably best known for Valoa Ikkunassa, the first ever Finnish entry from 1961 which ended only 10th.
Laila Kinnunen died in december 2000.
(Picture: Laila Kinnunen features on a Finnish postal stamp, along with Katri Helena, Marion Rung and Kirka. Of course Lordi have their own stamps in the set.)
LAILA KINNUNEN - EUROVISION & EUROCOVERS DISCOGRAPHY

Finland 1961 - Valoa Ikkunassa - Laila Kinnunen
- Valoa ikkunassa (Scandia KS 388 & EP Laila Cannes'issa)
- Ett ljus I ett fönster (Swedish) - Laila (Sonet T 7503, on 7" with a Swedish version of Sommar I Palma, red vinyl)
The Swedish records all appeared under the name Laila, without Kinnunen.

Finland 1962 - Tipi-tii - original by Marion Rung
- Tipi-tii (7" Scandia KS 423 & EP Scandia SEP 159)
- Ti-pi-ti (Swedish) - Laila (7" Sonet T 7523, red vinyl)

France 1960 - Tom Pillibi - Jacqueline Boyer
- Tom Pillibi (7" Scandia KS 358* & EP Eurovision Laulukilpailut)
- Tom Pillibi (Swedish) - Laila (EP, Sonet SXP 4023)
Germany 1960 - Bonne nuit, ma cherie - Wyn Hoop
- Yö jo on cherie (EP Scandia KS 358* & EP Eurovision Laulukilpailut)
- Bonne nuit, ma cherie (Swedish) (EP Sonet SXP 4028, blue vinyl, pictured and EP Sonet SXP 4023)
Italy 1960 - Romantica - Renato Rascel
- Romantica (7" Scandia KS 355** & EP Eurovision Laulukilpailut)
- Romantica (Swedish) - Laila (EP, Sonet SXP 4023)
Sweden 1960 - Alla andra får varann - Siw Malmkvist
- Kaiki muut saavat toisensa (7" Scandia KS 355** & EP Eurovision Laulukilpailut) (picture: The lyrics to Tipi-tii, click the pic for larger version)


1960: The EP Eurovision Laulukilpailut (Scandia SEP 120) features above 4 Finnish coverversions from 1960 by Laila Kinnunen.
The Swedish versions of Tom Pillibi, Bonne nuit and Romantica can also be found on a Swedish EP (Sonet SXP 4023)













Thanks Klaus!Thanks Erik !


Italy 1961 - Al di lá - Betty Curtis
- Kaikkialla (7" Scandia KS 390*** & EP Laila Cannes'issa)
- Al di lá (Swedish) - Laila (EP Sonet SXP 4023)
Norway 1961 - Sommer i palma - Nora Brockstedt
- Käsa Palmassa (7" Scandia KS 390 & EP Laila Cannes'issa)
- Sommar i palma (Swedish) - Laila (7" Sonet T 7503, see Valoa ikkunassa) 1961: The EP Laila Cannes'issa (The contest was in Cannes that year) features The Finnish 1961 entry, coverversions of the Italian and Swedish entries and a version of Pikku ikkuna, the song that was 4th in the 1961 Finnish National Final by Kai Lind.

Sweden 1962 - Sol och vår - Inger Berggren
- Kevätauer (7" Scandia KS 425 & EP Laila, Scandia SEP 164)
Denmark 1963 - Dansevise - Grethe & Jörgen Ingmann
- Tanssilaulu (7" Scandia KS 474)
France 1964 - Le chant de Mallory - Rachel
- Malloryn laulu (CD Muistojen kyyneleet)
Austria 1966 - Merci Cherie - Udo Jürgens
- Mercie Chérie (German) (CD Muistojen kyyneleet)
Luxembourg 1966 - Ce soir je t'attendais - Michèle Torr
- Odotin sinua (CD Kadonneet helmet)

2001 CD Muistojen kyyneleet and 2002 CD Kadonneet helmet are collections of rare recordings and previously unreleased material including several songs in English and Italian


A recommended compilation is the Finnish 2CD Kaikki kauneimmat from 2004 which features many of the Eurovision covers, her greatest hits and versions of songs like Marina, Lazzarella and Brigitte Bardot.





Source: Finnish recordings are probably the best archived in the world. If you visit Database of The Finnish Institute of Recorded Sound you can find all documented records that were ever released in Finland from 1901 to 1999.Not just Eurovision, but anything you need to find out. If anyone in Finland ever recorded a cover of your favorite song, it's there.

FINWEEKS: Eurocovers covers the classics in Finnish

Eurovision Week in Helsinki.
It's been said before, despite the lack of success Finland is a Eurovision Nation Extraordinaire. In no other country have so many Eurovision songs been covered and most of them were recorded in Finnish. Popular singers like Laila Kinnunen, Katri Helena and Marion Rung each have recorded 10 or more songs in Finnish.
In the 80's there were LP's featuring all songs of the yearly event getting the Finn-over and even in modern times, when not many coverversions are recorded, there's the odd Finnish version.

Here's some Finnish coverversions of the ancient Eurovision winners.
I don't know of any Finnish cover of the first Eurovision (Refrain by Lys Assia, 1956) but for almost every year after some Finnish artist has covered the Eurovision winner, and often several other entries too.
Netherlands 1957 - Net als toen - Corry Brokken
- Kalevi Tauru - Oispa unta se vain (7" Triola ts 356 & 78 RPM Triola t 4356, 1958)
France 1958 - Dors Mon Amour - André Claveau
- Leif Wager - Nukkuos rakas (EP Blu Master blu 122 & 78 RPM Blue Master blu 550) (Leif Wager pictured right)Netherlands 1959 - 'n Beetje - Teddy Scholten
- Seija Karpiomaa - Vain hiukan (Various artists EP Scandia SEP 99)


France 1960 - Tom Pillibi - Jacqueline Boyer
- Laila Kinnunen - Tom Pillibi (7" Scandia KS 358 & EP Eurovision Laulukilpailut, Scandia SEP 120)
Laila Kinnunen (1939-2000) is one of the great legendary singers in the history of Finnish popular music.
I'm working on a Eurocovers post detailing all her Eurovision covers to be featured here soon.

Luxembourg 1961 - Nous les amoureux - Jean Claude Pascal
- Leif Wager - Me rakastavaiset (7" Decca SD 5528)
France 1962 - Un premier amour - Isabelle Aubret
- Vieno Kekkonen - Ensimäinen rakkaus (7" Scandia KS 428 & EP Scandia SEP 162)

Finnish recordings are probably the best archived in the world. If you visit Database of The Finnish Institute of Recorded Sound you can find all documented records that were ever released in Finland from 1901 to 1999.
Not just Eurovision, but anything you need to find out. If anyone in Finland ever recorded a cover of your favorite song, it's there.



Above are featured vinyl recordings that mostly haven't been issued on CD.
A must have 2CD with Eurocovers from 1958 to the late 90's in Finnish is available in Finnish shops and at BeaRecords. You can find details in this Eurocovers post.

VII: Year Of The Puppet - Sätkynukke from Finland

Another day, another Puppet. One day before the Big 40 here's a Finnish version of Sandie's song by Maarja-Leena (Hentunen). I couldn't find any info on the singer and I don't have a picture either.

Sätkynukke was released on a single (Philips PF 340 791) and can also be found on the fantastic Finnish compilation CD Eri Esittäjiä Käännetyt viisuhelmet.
This is a must have 2CD with 50 Eurovision songs covered by Finnish artists, all sung in Finnish.
Finnish artists have always been very active in covering worldwide hits and Eurovision songs are no exception. It features the big hits and winners but also some unexpected choices. See the tracklist of the CD below.

The Finnish Eurocovers 2CD is available from BeaRecords, (Kaannetyt Viisuhelmet) and at most Finnish CD stores

Eri Esittäjiä Käännetyt viisuhelmet - tracklist
CD1
01: TAIVAAN SINESSÄ - Nel blu dipinto di blu - (Volare) Olavi Virta
02: CIAO CIAO BAMBINA - Leif Wager
03: TANSSILAULU - Dansevise - Laila Kinnunen
04: LIIAN NUORI RAKKAUTEEN - Non ho l’eta per amarti - Anneli Sari
05: VAHANUKKE, LAULAVA NUKKE - Poupée de cire, - Ritva Palukka
06: SÄTKYNUKKE - Puppet On A String - Maarja Leena
07: LA LA LA - She Gives me Love - Carola
08: MUA ONNITELKAA - Congratulations - Robin
09: RAKKAUDELTA NÄYTTÄÄ, HITTO VIE - Det börjar verka - Eero Raittinen
10: PENKKI, PUU JA PUISTOTIE - Un banc, un arbre, une rue - Carola
11: VARKAIN VIEN TAIKKA LAINAAN - Beg, Steel Or Borrow - Tapani Kansa
12: RAKASTAN - SAAVUTHAN - Après toi - Carola
13: NUORUUS ON SEIKKAILU - Tu te reconnaitras - Katri Helena
14: SAIN MUISTON - Ey sham - Marion Rung
15: WATERLOO Ami Aspelund
16: NIIN - Si - Lea Laven
17: SAANHAN OLLA HÄN - Let Me Be The One - Kai Hyttinen
18: DING-A-DONG Hanne
19: JENNIE, JENNIE Matti Esko
20: SILLOIN - Era - Marion ja Kirka
21: SÄÄSTÄ SUUKKOSI VAIN - Save Your Kisses For Me - Tapani Kansa
22: NIIN SE KÄY - 1 - 2 - 3 - Lea Laven
23: LINTU JA LAPSI - L´oiseau et l´enfant - Katri Helena
24: PÄIN SEINÄÄ - Rock Bottom - Armi ja Danny
25: VAPAANA - Libera - Seija Simola

CD2
01: SOITTOTUNNIT - Mathima solfege - Silhuetit
02: PALAA - Feuer - Päivi
03: HALLELUJA - Hallelujah - Anna, Muska ja Kirka
04: TSINGIS KHAN - Dschingis Khan - Frederik
05: DISCO TANGO Marion Rung
06: VUODET OHI KÄY - What’s Another Year - Kisu
07: AMSTERDAM Katri Helena
08: KUIN TEATTERISSA - Theater - Ami Aspelund
09: ISÄ-PAPPA PINGVIINI - Le Papa Pinqouin - Armi Aavikko
10: ON MERI TÄNÄÄN RAUHATON - Feggari Kalokerino - Danny
11: LIIAN PIAN ILTA PÄÄTTYY - Layla - Eini
12: HUMANAHUM Kari Tapio
13: JOHNNY BLUE Katri Helena
14: TAHDON ELÄÄ - Hora - Markku Aro
15: RAKKAUS VOITTAA - Mono i agapi - Berit
16: VAIN HIEMAN RAUHAA - Ein bisschen Frieden - Katri Helena
17: MUUKALAINEN - Främling - Meiju Suvas
18: LAHJAN SAIN - Si la vie est cadeau - Taiska
19: JULIE - Dzuli - Ilkka Salo
20: DIGGI LOO - DIGGI LEY Meiju Suvas
21: JUNA TURKUUN - Tredi di tozeur i - Seija Simola
22: MIKSI RAKKAUDELLA LEIKIT - Love Games - Vicky Rosti
23: PÄÄTTYNEET JUHLAT - La fiesta termino - Anneli Saaristo
24: ENNEN SUA - Neka mi ne svane - Laura Voutilainen
25: RAKKAUS ON SININEN - L’amour est bleu – Yölintu