Kaija Pohjola
Encyclopedia
Kaija Pohjola born is an award-winning Finnish singer. She first came to fame as a tango
singer; now her repertoire includes evergreens and Finnish pop.
Kaija Pohjola says of her early life:
In her teens she took part in singing competitions. In 1968 she won competitions in Kausala and Kouvola
. (Latva & Tuunainen, p 345)
In 1969 she won the Tähtijahti (starsearch) competition organised by a newspaper (the sources differ about the name of the paper: according to Nyman (p 74) it is Suosikki; Latva & Tuunainen (p 345) say Intro). Her song was Dong Hoin tyttö, composed by Juha Vainio
, and is included in the LP Tähtijahti . (Latva & Tuunainen, p 345)
In the early 1970s she used the stage name Maarit, but reverted to her own name to avoid confusion with Maarit Hurmerinta, who also recorded under the name Maarit. (Latva & Tuunainen, p 345). About this time (the sources do not give an exact date) she got married and singing was put on hold in favour of raising a family.
In 1990 her children Petri and Paula had reached the ages of 12 and 9, and Kaija felt able to compete in the Tangomarkkinat
. She became Tango Princess in spite of poor conditions in the competition hall:
"The evening of the finals was sweltering hot and inside the television lights brought the temperature to over 50 degrees. We sat in the front of the auditorium and awaited our turns. When I climbed on to the stage I was nearly passing out." (Nyland, p. 75)
The following year she tried again and became Tango Queen at the age of 40. In 1992 she took part in the Eurovision Song Contest
selection programme with Rexi (real name Raimo Kero) with Rexi's own composition Ruskaa näin sinun silmissäs. There was strong competition from Arja Koriseva
with Huomiseen and Sonja Lumme
with Rakkauden bulevardi, but the song eventually chosen was the weak Yamma-yamma by Pave Maijanen
, which came 23rd in the Eurovision itself. The winner was Linda Martin
with Why Me?, composed by previous winner Johnny Logan
under the name Séan Sherrard. (source:Latva & Tuunainen, pp 346, 368; Murtomäki, p 169)
Since 1991 she has appeared every year at the Tangomarkkinat, and in 2003 issued a DVD devoted entirely to tangos.
Finnish tango
Finnish tango is an established variation of the Argentine tango and one of the most enduring and popular music forms in Finland. Brought to Europe in the 1910s by travelling musicians, Finns began to take up the form and write their own tangos in the 1930s...
singer; now her repertoire includes evergreens and Finnish pop.
- "I have three brothers. I was interested in cars, guns, and other boyish things. I was good at climbing trees, but I didn't dare come down till someone came to get me. I didn't learn girls' games till I went to school."
- "I have sung all my life. Mother tells of an occasion we were eating in a restaurant where there was live music a lunchtime. I whispered to Mother that I would like to go and sing. She gave me permission, and I, a little chubby four year old girl, went onto the stage and curtseyed. I sang the first song I learned, Oskar Merikanto's Laula tyttö. Then I curtseyed again and returned to the table. It was my first performance before the public." (Nyland, p. 74)
In her teens she took part in singing competitions. In 1968 she won competitions in Kausala and Kouvola
Kouvola
Kouvola is a town and municipality in southeastern Finland. It is located northeast of the capital, Helsinki.The city has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
. (Latva & Tuunainen, p 345)
In 1969 she won the Tähtijahti (starsearch) competition organised by a newspaper (the sources differ about the name of the paper: according to Nyman (p 74) it is Suosikki; Latva & Tuunainen (p 345) say Intro). Her song was Dong Hoin tyttö, composed by Juha Vainio
Juha Vainio
Juha Harri "Junnu" Vainio, also known as Juha "Watt" Vainio was a Finnish lyricist, singer, composer and teacher. With the lyrics or music to over 2,400 songs to his name, Vainio is as one of Finland's most prolific lyricists along with Reino Helismaa and Vexi Salmi...
, and is included in the LP Tähtijahti . (Latva & Tuunainen, p 345)
In the early 1970s she used the stage name Maarit, but reverted to her own name to avoid confusion with Maarit Hurmerinta, who also recorded under the name Maarit. (Latva & Tuunainen, p 345). About this time (the sources do not give an exact date) she got married and singing was put on hold in favour of raising a family.
In 1990 her children Petri and Paula had reached the ages of 12 and 9, and Kaija felt able to compete in the Tangomarkkinat
Tangomarkkinat
The Tangomarkkinat is the world's oldest tango festival. It is held early every July in Seinäjoki, Finland. As well as competitions to find the country's best tango singers, composers, and dancers, the festival features public dancing to live music provided by the best Finnish entertainers...
. She became Tango Princess in spite of poor conditions in the competition hall:
"The evening of the finals was sweltering hot and inside the television lights brought the temperature to over 50 degrees. We sat in the front of the auditorium and awaited our turns. When I climbed on to the stage I was nearly passing out." (Nyland, p. 75)
The following year she tried again and became Tango Queen at the age of 40. In 1992 she took part in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
selection programme with Rexi (real name Raimo Kero) with Rexi's own composition Ruskaa näin sinun silmissäs. There was strong competition from Arja Koriseva
Arja Koriseva
Arja Sinikka Koriseva is an award-winning Finnish singer. She first came to fame as a tango singer; now her repertoire includes evergreens, Finnish pop, musical theatre, and sacred music....
with Huomiseen and Sonja Lumme
Sonja Lumme
Sonja Lumme is a singer in Finland who represented her country in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 in which she sang Eläköön elämä. She got 59 points and came 9th place overall. Lumme made further attempts to represent Finland, partticipating in the 1988 Finnish final and in 1989, she came fifth...
with Rakkauden bulevardi, but the song eventually chosen was the weak Yamma-yamma by Pave Maijanen
Pave Maijanen
Pekka Juhani "Pave" Maijanen is a famous Finnish musician, who has acted as a singer, songwriter, bass player, keyboard player, drummer, guitarist and producer during his long career...
, which came 23rd in the Eurovision itself. The winner was Linda Martin
Linda Martin
Linda Martin is an Irish singer and television presenter. She is best known in Europe as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, with the song "Why Me?", and in Ireland as a member of the 1970s/1980s band, Chips.-Chips:Martin started off her musical career when she joined the band Chips...
with Why Me?, composed by previous winner Johnny Logan
Johnny Logan (singer)
Johnny Logan , is an Australian-born Irish singer and composer. He is regarded as "Mister Eurovision", having participated in the Eurovision Song Contest many times since the 1970s, and, since 1992, has been the most successful artist in Eurovision history.Logan has won the international contest on...
under the name Séan Sherrard. (source:Latva & Tuunainen, pp 346, 368; Murtomäki, p 169)
Since 1991 she has appeared every year at the Tangomarkkinat, and in 2003 issued a DVD devoted entirely to tangos.
Discography
- 1969 Tähtijahti (one track only) (LP)
- 1990 Tangomarkkinat 3 (one track only) (LP)
- 1991 Tangokunings ja -kuningatar (with Jaska Mäkynen)(LP)
- 1992 Kultaa kuutamo loi
- 1994 Nyt tanssimaan
- 1995 Tatuoitu ruusu
- 2000 Lasiset lauseet
- 2003 Tangokuningatar
Sources
- Marja Nyman, Tangokuninkaalliset, Revontuli 2002, ISBN 952-5170-27-6
- Tony Latva and Petri Tuunainen, Iskelmän tähtitaivas, WSOY 2004, ISBN 951-0-27817-3
- Asko Murtomäki, Finland 12 points!, Teos 2007, ISBN 978-951-851-106-2