The members of Korpiklaani have been conquered by so many invaders that they should have been Irish, and there is a peculiar pastoral sadness to their music which the Irish could most definitely identify with. But no, these warrior peasants are from Finland, and as one listens to their albums, one realizes that their English leaves a lot to be desired. The songs sung in their own tongue sound surer of themselves, and more aggressive. In English, they sound defeated, but in Finnish, they are unconquered.
Yet according to their lyrics, their village has been invaded many times, and they have been raped and pillaged by many, from kings seeking tribute to missionaries bearing Bibles and swords. Korpiklaani are willing to take up arms and fight for their land and gods, but it seems that they would much rather exist as a peaceful village, where one can enjoy women, drink, and the environment.
Their music is fraught with images of nature, from the eagle in “Tuli Kokko” to the deep forest imagery of “Journey Man” and “Vakirauta.” In fact, it would seem that the word “korpiklaani” means “wilderness” in Finnish.
They sing songs of farmers and hunters, simple folks, peasants who live in the wilderness, who govern themselves, and who on occasion have to take up arms against invaders who almost always win. But does this stop the invaded? No, their spirits are never broken, and they always continue to live with single-minded survival instinct.
Perhaps it is their constant need to party that helps them overcome the dreariness of their constant defeat. One listen to “Kirki” is enough to prove that they have an absolute lust for life and fun. The English translation leaves a bit to be desired, but one gets the idea behind such lyrics as “Nipples, fingers/hot phallus, raging fire!/Raise your horny head!”
There are two songs, both in English, which show their dedication to alcohol: “Happy Little Boozer” and “Beer, Beer.” The former is a testament to the power of alcohol (“He sees himself as the saviour of the world/his will is strong and he’s feeling good”), and the latter shows how soothing beer can be to one’s soul:
“When drunk I’m talking
When drunk I’m joking
When drunk I can be as I’ve
Always wanted to be.”
Through the joys of booze, they are able to escape the misery of having been conquered. All they want is to be left alone to live in peace, but if they’re challenged, they’re willing to fight back. According to “Cottages and Saunas,” “We eat iron, we shit the chain.” Korpiklaani are not to be fucked with. Raise a pint to this band, and hope that they will be around for a long time.
Band: Korpiklaani
Recommended albums: VOICE OF THE WILDERNESS and TALES ALONG THIS ROAD
Released by Napalm Records
No comments:
Post a Comment