Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät

Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät

All four members performing on a stage.

Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät performing at Provinssirock in 2013
Background information
Also known as PKN
Origin Helsinki, Finland
Genres Punk rock
Years active 2009 (2009)–present
Labels Red Lounge Records, Sony Music
Website www.pkn.rocks
Members Pertti Kurikka
Kari Aalto
Sami Helle
Toni Välitalo

Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (Finnish for Pertti Kurikka's name day), also known as PKN, is a Finnish punk rock band, formed in 2009 in a charity workshop for adults with developmental disabilities. They are the main focus of the Finnish documentary film The Punk Syndrome. In 2015, they qualified for the finals of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, which they later won; they represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 but got knocked out in the semi-final.

History

Formation (2004-2012)

Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät began in a workshop run by Lyhty, a charity for adults with developmental disabilities. In 2004, Pertti Kurikka, the future guitarist of the band, met organizer Kalle Pajamaa of Lyhty.[1] Pajamaa, who remains manager of the band today, noticed Kurikka's potential and sought to establish a band based upon him.[2] They worked on the band's formation over the next five years,[1] and in 2009 the band made its debut.[2]

In 2009, Finnish director Pekka Karjalainen sought music performed by people with disabilities for the film Vähän kunnioitusta,[3] which tells the story of a young girl with a learning disability aspiring to live an independent and normal life.[1] Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät is featured in the film with their first-ever demo: "Kallioon!".[1][4] The song became a hit, and the band soon discovered that they had a following outside the circle of disabled people.[3]

In 2012, their fame grew as they were the main subject of The Punk Syndrome, a Finnish documentary film. The documentary, depicting the band's story from its outset to their first European tour, earned them a following in Scandinavia and Germany.[5]

2014: Charity concert with Mr. Lordi

In 2014, the band performed in a charity concert with Mr. Lordi of the Finnish rock band, Lordi. The charity concert was held in Rovaniemi on 23 May 2014 for benefit of the mentally-disabled community of Mozambique and the Lapland Metkat Association.[6] Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät's bold and unusual take on Eurovision has been compared to that of Lordi, Finland's 2006 Eurovision entry and the winner of that year's contest.[7]

2015: Eurovision Song Contest 2015

The band entered Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu, Finland's national selection for Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "Aina mun pitää".[8] They entered the contest in order to raise awareness for people with Down's Syndrome.[9] On 7 February 2015, the band was one of the three acts from the first-semi finals to advance to the finals.[10] On 28 February 2015, the band won Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2015, thereby becoming Finland's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria in May 2015.[11] PKN was the first punk band to compete in Eurovision.[12]

PKN's Eurovision bid was noticed by the international media and covered, for instance, by the BBC,[12][13] The Guardian,[14] VICE[5] and the Associated Press.[15]

Posti issued a PKN stamp on 11 May 2015, eight days before the first Eurovision semi-final in Vienna.[16]

Members

The band has four members: guitarist Pertti Kurikka, vocalist Kari Aalto, bassist Sami Helle and Toni Välitalo on drums.

Pertti Kurikka

Pertti Kurikka (born 26. December 1956 in Vihti)[17] is the band's guitarist. He writes the music for the band and also some of the lyrics.[18] He has released a spoken word cassette[19] and a book[20] of horror stories under the pseudonym Kalevi Helvetti. He also edits a zine called "Kotipäivä" ("Home Day").[21]

Kurikka has been listening to punk for 30 years, but also listens to many other music genres ranging from classical to schlager and disco to children's music.[22] He visits church regularly and plans to retire and stop playing music when he turns 60.[22] He can also play the street organ.[18]

Kari Aalto

Kari Aalto (born 25. May 1976 in Tampere)[23][24] is the singer of the band and also writes most of their lyrics. He is a school friend of Kurikka.[25] He has his own talk show on Finnish local radio station Bassoradio.[26] He can play drums, bass and keyboards.[25] He loves motorcycles, American cars, women and alcohol.[27][28] He listens to 1950's and 1960's rock, psychobilly, rockabilly, surf, doowop and also rap, heavy metal and folk.[24][27] He does not listen to punk in his spare time, as nowadays it is his profession.[24]

Sami Helle

Sami Helle (born 1973)[29][30] plays bass in the band and also sings background vocals. As a child he lived in Boston, New York City, Paris and Antibes, so he can speak fluent English.[17] He is politically active as a member of the Finnish Central Party[31] and also as activist of Me itse, an organization of disabled people.[32] He wishes to become a municipal councillor of Helsinki and later a member of the parliament.[33]

Toni Välitalo

Toni Välitalo (born 1982 or 1983)[30] is the drummer and also the youngest member of the band.[34] He started playing drums at the age of six.[35] In addition to punk, he plays other genres such as jenkka, blues and mazurka.[35] His favourite music is Finnish schlager.[36]

Kalle Pajamaa

Disability director Kalle Pajamaa (born 1978) is the band's concert manager and arranges the songs for the band. He is affectionately called the fifth member of the band.[37]

Discography

Compilation albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
FIN
[38]
Kuus kuppia kahvia ja yks kokis 17
Sikakovapaketti
  • Released: 2012
  • Label: N/A
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 —
Coffee Not Tea
  • Released: 2013
  • Label: Constant Flux
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 —
The Best of Greatest Hits
  • Released: 8 May 2015
  • Label: Epic Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 4
"—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays

Title Details
Ei yhteiskunta yhtä miestä kaipaa
  • Released: October 2010
  • Label: Airiston Punk-Levyt, Red Lounge Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD
Päättäjä on pettäjä
  • Released: June 2011
  • Label: Headbands
  • Format: Digital download, CD
Osaa eläimetkin pieree
  • Released: November 2011
  • Label: Mauski Records, Punk & Pillu
  • Format: Digital download, CD
Asuntolaelämää
  • Released: October 2012
  • Label: Airiston Punk-levyt
  • Format: Digital download, CD
Jarmo
  • Released: 20 November 2013
  • Label: Airiston Punk-Levyt, Punk & Pillu
  • Format: Digital download, CD
Mies haisee / Joe Weider
  • Released: February 2015
  • Label: Mauski Records, Punk & Pillu
  • Format: Digital download, CD

Singles

Title Year Album
"Mongoloidi" 2014 Non-album singles
"Me ollaan runkkareita"
"Aina mun pitää" 2015
"Mies haisee"
"Oma rauha"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Arttu Tolonen (June 2013). "Never mind the mall punks, here's Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät!". Finnish Music Quarterly. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Nytpedia: Tällainen yhtye on Pertti Kurikan nimipäivät" [Nytpedia: This is what the band Pertti Kurikan nimipäivät is like]. Nyt (in Finnish). 2 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 "The Story of PKN, the Finnish punk sensation ready to rock Eurovision". Nyt. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  4. ↑ Arto Mäenpää (13 January 2015). "Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät osallistuu Uuden Musiikin Kilpailuun" [Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät takes part in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu]. KaaosZine (in Finnish). Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 Hay, Mark (3 March 2015). "A Finnish Punk Band with Learning Disabilities Is Going to Eurovision". VICE. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät point Mr. Lordi May Rovaniemi". Kvtl.fi. 2014-02-28. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  7. ↑ "The Punk Syndrome: Band With Down Syndrome Applies for Eurovision". Sputnik. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "UMK15 // PERTTI KURIKAN NIMIPÄIVÄT: "Aina mun pitää"". Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu on Youtube. 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  9. ↑ "Punk band with Down Syndrome looks to raise awareness in Eurovision Song Contest". deathandtaxes.com. 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  10. ↑ "UMK 2015: SATIN CIRCUS, PERTTI KURIKAN NIMIPÄIVÄT AND NORLAN EL MISIONARIO ADVANCE TO THE FINAL". wiwibloggs.com. 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  11. ↑ "Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät win UMK in Finland!". eurovision.tv. 2015-02-28. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
  12. 1 2 "Finland punk band PKN set for Eurovision". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Finnish punk band with a difference". BBC World Service. BBC. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  14. ↑ Crouch, David (27 February 2015). "Finnish punk band with a difference take a punt at Eurovision title". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "Disabled punk rockers to compete in Eurovision Song Contest". Yahoo! Music. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "Let's cheer on Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät to Eurovision victory". Posti. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  17. 1 2 Jouni K. Kemppainen (13 February 2015). "Suomen euroviisuedustaja Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät pitää pissatauot ajallaan". Kuukausiliite (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  18. 1 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123827/http://kovasikajuttu.fi/en/topics/band-members. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ↑ "Kalevi Helvetti - Kertoo Kummitusjuttuja (Cassette, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  20. ↑ ""Musta haamu tappaa" – Pertti Kurikan synkkä sivupersoona Kalevi Helvetti julkaisi kirjan - Kirjat - Nyt". Nyt.fi. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  21. ↑ Tiina-Rakel Liekki (14 May 2015). "Suomen euroviisuedustajat henkilökuvissa". Kioski (in Finnish). Yle. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  22. 1 2 "Pertti Kurikka: "Idea Euroviisuihin osallistumisesta oli minun" | Kodin Kuvalehti" (in Finnish). Kodinkuvalehti.fi. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  23. ↑ "PKN:n punkkarit saivat kotimatkalla kuninkaallisen kohtelun: Ykkösluokka, kapteenin tervehdys, lahja henkilökunnalta - Euroviisut - Kulttuuri - Helsingin Sanomat". Hs.fi. 2015-05-24. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  24. 1 2 3 Noora Jussila. "Onnen päivät | Vihreä Lanka" (in Finnish). Vihrealanka.fi. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  25. 1 2 Maiju Majamaa. "Viisusuosikki Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät -tähtien koskettavat elämäntarinat: "Äitiä oli aina ikävä"". Ilta-Sanomat.
  26. ↑ "Euroviisupunkkari Kari Aalto isännöi taas Basson ohjelmaa | ray.fi" (in Finnish). Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  27. 1 2 Siina Leppä. "PKN-laulaja Kari Aalto kertoo nolosta kokemuksesta Ray:n lehdessä – sai ravintolaan porttikiellon". Ilta-Sanomat.
  28. ↑ "YLE". yle.fi.
  29. ↑ "Suomen euroviisuedustaja Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät pitää pissatauot ajallaan - Euroviisut - Kuukausiliite - Helsingin Sanomat". Hs.fi. 2015-02-13. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  30. 1 2 Maiju Majamaa (2015-01-24). "Viisusuosikki Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät -tähtien koskettavat elämäntarinat: "Äitiä oli aina ikävä" - Musiikki - Ilta-Sanomat". Iltasanomat.fi. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  31. ↑ Hilkka Säävälä (2015-02-24). "Keskusta uhoaa voittavansa jo euroviisutkin | Yle Uutiset". yle.fi. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  32. ↑
  33. ↑ "YleX". yle.fi. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  34. ↑ "Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät HSTV:n haastattelussa: "Tuli tunne, että nyt tulee Surun pyyhin silmistäni" - Euroviisut - Kulttuuri - Helsingin Sanomat". Hs.fi. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  35. 1 2 Kirsikka Kiviniemi (2015-03-03). "PKN-viisurumpalin isä: Tällainen Toni oli lapsena - Euroviisut - Ilta-Sanomat". Iltasanomat.fi. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  36. ↑ "UMK-kilpailijat valmistautuvat iltaan: yksi takoo Katri Helenaa, toinen etsii kadonnutta ääntä - Euroviisut - Kulttuuri - Helsingin Sanomat". Hs.fi. 2015-01-14. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  37. ↑ "Nimipäiväjuhlien järjestäjä". Kouvolan Sanomat (in Finnish). 5 January 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  38. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät". Finnish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Softengine
with "Something Better"		 Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
2015 		Succeeded by
Sandhja
with "Sing It Away"
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