Ilkka Lipsanen
Encyclopedia
Ilkka Johannes Lipsanen (born September 24, 1942, Pori
), also known as Danny, is a Finnish
singer and guitarist. He started his career with the band Islanders who released a couple of singles, among them Danny's first recording which was in English: East Virginia by Joan Baez
in 1964. During his national service Danny switched to his native Finnish and recorded two hits, "Kauan" ("Downtown
" by Petula Clark
) and "Piilopaikka" ("You've Got Your Troubles"). After the army in 1966 Danny launched his own management company D-Tuotanto and started his hugely popular and spectacular "Danny-Shows" which toured around Finland every summer all the way to the late 1970s, with a different theme every year and an entourage of other well-known singers and entertainers. During the 1960s Danny recorded a number of hits, among them "Kesäkatu" (Loving Spoonful's "Summer In The City
"), "Vähän ennen kyyneleitä" ("El angel de la guarda"), "Tuuliviiri", "Rebecca" and "Se eikö todista että muutuin" ("If I Promise"). In 1968 Danny appeared in Spede Pasanen
's film comedy Noin seitsemän veljestä as a medieval troubadour and performed his song "Seitsemän kertaa seitsemän" which became another hit.
Some of the best known hits for Danny in the 1970s were "Vai niin, vai niin" ("How Do You Do"), "Maantieltä taloon" ("Son of My Father
" by Chicory Tip
) and "Kuusamo" ("L'ete Indien - Africa" by Joe Dassin
). In 1977 Danny joined together with former Miss Finland, Armi Aavikko
, with whom he had the extremely popular hits "Tahdon olla sulle hellä" and "Kaiken sulle antaisin". He was married to Liisa Lipsanen until 2006, when they divorced.
A song by Jukka Kuoppamäki
, "Tämä taivas, tämä maa", was a big hit for Danny in 1992. In 1997 performed in China
and in 1988 in Turkey
. These days Danny is considered an elder statesman in Finnish popular music, still active in music business and touring.
Danny achieved some notoriety outside Finland in 2006 when the 1978 music video duet with the late Armi Aavikko
, "Tahdon olla sulle hellä", sung in English as "I Wanna Love You Tender" became an internet meme
. The choreography
of this video was particularly noteworthy. While it was apparently intended to be "erotic and tantalizing", in the eyes of many it principally succeeded in being hilarious.
Pori
Pori is a city and municipality on the west coast of Finland. The city is located some from the Gulf of Bothnia, on the estuary of the Kokemäenjoki river, which is the largest in Finland. Pori is the most important town in the Satakunta region....
), also known as Danny, is a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
singer and guitarist. He started his career with the band Islanders who released a couple of singles, among them Danny's first recording which was in English: East Virginia by Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
in 1964. During his national service Danny switched to his native Finnish and recorded two hits, "Kauan" ("Downtown
Downtown (Petula Clark song)
"Downtown" is a pop song composed by Tony Hatch which, as recorded by Petula Clark, became an international hit – No. 1 in the US and No. 2 in the UK – at the end of 1964.-Original recording:...
" by Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
) and "Piilopaikka" ("You've Got Your Troubles"). After the army in 1966 Danny launched his own management company D-Tuotanto and started his hugely popular and spectacular "Danny-Shows" which toured around Finland every summer all the way to the late 1970s, with a different theme every year and an entourage of other well-known singers and entertainers. During the 1960s Danny recorded a number of hits, among them "Kesäkatu" (Loving Spoonful's "Summer In The City
Summer in the City
"Summer in the City" is the title of a song recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful, written by Mark Sebastian and Steve Boone. It came from their album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful and it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966...
"), "Vähän ennen kyyneleitä" ("El angel de la guarda"), "Tuuliviiri", "Rebecca" and "Se eikö todista että muutuin" ("If I Promise"). In 1968 Danny appeared in Spede Pasanen
Spede Pasanen
Pertti Olavi "Spede" Pasanen was a Finnish film director and producer, comedian, humorist, inventor, TV personality and practitioner of gags....
's film comedy Noin seitsemän veljestä as a medieval troubadour and performed his song "Seitsemän kertaa seitsemän" which became another hit.
Some of the best known hits for Danny in the 1970s were "Vai niin, vai niin" ("How Do You Do"), "Maantieltä taloon" ("Son of My Father
Son of my Father
"Son Of My Father" is a song popularised by Chicory Tip. Giorgio Moroder, the co-writer, also recorded it and had a minor hit.Originally written by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte in Italian as Tu sei mio padre and recorded under the moniker Giorgio. A copy found its way to studio manager Roger...
" by Chicory Tip
Chicory Tip
Chicory Tip is a British pop group from Maidstone, Kent, originally comprising; vocalist Peter Hewson ; guitarist Rick Foster ; bass guitarist Barry Mayger ; drummer Brian Shearer ; and guitarist and keyboard player Rod Cloutt Chicory Tip is a British pop group from Maidstone, Kent, originally...
) and "Kuusamo" ("L'ete Indien - Africa" by Joe Dassin
Joe Dassin
Joseph Ira Dassin , more commonly known as Joe Dassin, was an American singer-songwriter best known for his French songs of the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
). In 1977 Danny joined together with former Miss Finland, Armi Aavikko
Armi Aavikko
Armi Anja Orvokki Aavikko was a Finnish beauty queen and singer.She was chosen as Miss Finland in 1977 and was best known for her duets with singer Danny...
, with whom he had the extremely popular hits "Tahdon olla sulle hellä" and "Kaiken sulle antaisin". He was married to Liisa Lipsanen until 2006, when they divorced.
A song by Jukka Kuoppamäki
Jukka Kuoppamäki
Jukka Kuoppamäki is a Finnish singer, songwriter and priest for The Christian Community in Germany. He visits his summer house in Finland every year. He is one of the most prolific Finnish popular singer-songwriters and has written over 1 500 songs for himself and other famous Finnish singers...
, "Tämä taivas, tämä maa", was a big hit for Danny in 1992. In 1997 performed in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and in 1988 in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. These days Danny is considered an elder statesman in Finnish popular music, still active in music business and touring.
Danny achieved some notoriety outside Finland in 2006 when the 1978 music video duet with the late Armi Aavikko
Armi Aavikko
Armi Anja Orvokki Aavikko was a Finnish beauty queen and singer.She was chosen as Miss Finland in 1977 and was best known for her duets with singer Danny...
, "Tahdon olla sulle hellä", sung in English as "I Wanna Love You Tender" became an internet meme
Internet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
. The choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
of this video was particularly noteworthy. While it was apparently intended to be "erotic and tantalizing", in the eyes of many it principally succeeded in being hilarious.