eight tracks. a foreigner's guide to estonian pop music

A Foreigner’s Introduction to Estonian Pop Music

EIGHT TRACKSAs heard

by KALLE PAAS

As heard by KALLE PAAS

Feel free to share, print and discuss.

I’ve credited all the photographers, I managed to identify.

That’s entertainment. Just like Paul Weller once famously claimed.

www.kallepaas.eu


EIGHT TRACKS

December 2011

Dear Barret,

I see that you've seen a lot of Estonia and are still enjoying it. Therefore I thought that in addition to this god-forsaken language, pretty girls, fabulous Old Town in Tallinn and vivid Ida-Virumaa there are other things about Estonia you might want to know.

I think you might enter the next level.

Being someone somewhere means being amidst the local pop culture. Nowadays, of course,“local“ might as easily be „global“. I recall how we discussed U2's music from the 1980s last summer; it is clear we both have experienced Nirvana or Oasis on some level. And we as well as tens of millions of people across the globe know a certain ms Black...But then again, there is still a lot of 'local'. If you imagine Earth's pop music as some sort of a city, then it would have two dense and close cores and many suburbs. The States and The UK would be the two in the centre, while France, Germany, Spain and Sweden with Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid would be the areas right around the cores. By following this lead, Estonia would, of course, be somewhere on the outskirts.If you are a habitant of the core, you would know your area very well, but you would have very little knowledge of the life in the

periphery. John Peel, for example, stories and some bad music. Be was an outstanding man in this warned!sense – most certainly was he well I wrote the following short pieces aware of Anglo-American pop without much research. This is music, but he had an eye for the mostly because of the time limits. periphery as well. In the beginning Nevertheless I’d prefer to leave the of the 1990s, he asked Röövel actual scientific research to the Ööbik, an Estonian indie rock guys who have the ambition to be outfit, to play in one of his actual scientific researchers.legendary BBC sessions. Rather, my point here is to give an This case of Röövel Ööbik's is still e n t e r t a i n i n g i n s i g h t t o a fondly remembered by indie microscopic part of Estonian pop enthusiasts over here. John Peel's music. I try to draw a few lines session stands proudly among from the past to the present. other moments when Estonian pop Accidentally, while browsing my music and culture broke into the records, I stumbled upon a lot of consciousness of the core. 90s. Perhaps it's not even so much Moments such as. Err... The of an accident, rather than a sign of Singing Rev... Oh wait, it's not the this decade's importance. The time yet to go all Singing 1990s were years when Estonia, Revolution again... the state and its society re-oriented A suburb dweller from this towards the West. This deeply aforementioned city – just like an affected pop cul ture. And Estonian pop culture junkie – everything went sort of nuts back would be quite well aware of then...what's going on in the core. Just Actually, from another point of like he (or she) is aware what's view, we can say that it was going on in his (or her) everyday actually the popular culture that home, the periphery. Therefore, we affected everyone and everything might even say, the life in the edge else, right from the 60s (and even of the city is more interesting, previous decades) up to today. If since it sort of makes you „zoom“ we went all Singing Revolution in and out in the pop culture. now, I could point how the whole This consideration is the first and process was pop culture in political perhaps the most important point action, but this is not the point of of this brochure. The rest is a few this brochure.


EIGHT TRACKS

Random pop art found on the streets of Tartu, 2009. Self-loathing (or actually self-realization?)while processing dairy products mightbe the mainstream of tomorrow.

I see what Boris did here! This is the reach of Anglo-American pop actually Creedence Clearwater culture: a 1969 song by a Californian Revival's „Proud Mary“! rock outfit became domesticated on the First recorded in 1968, it has been other side of the other side of the repeatedly covered in four decades by Atlant ic . This is in teres t ing, Tina Turner. In Estonia, the latest well considering the geography and history known rendition was performed by the - when Western European cultural eventual winner Liis Lemsalu in connections with the States were rather Estonian Pop Idol’s fourth season. obvious, the other side of this Europe, In this version, however, it's эстрада the Eastern Bloc was ideologically cut singer Boris Lehtlaan (b. 1946). Quite off from this fun loving, beat-believing amusingly, the lyrics in first verse are music.basically the same both in Estonian and But indirectly this culture came across English, even though it's quite hard to the Baltic Sea, because the people board an old riverboat here in Estonia. under Брежнев’s rigid socialist beats The thing is, the rivers here are longed for something fun. And so, generally not wide enough to fit a boat! symbolically, rataslaev reached Yet I included this cover for many another harbor.reasons. Most obviously, it represents

BORIS LEHTLAANVANAS RATASLAEVAS

Still no actual rataslaev.

A Foreigner’s Introduction to Estonian Pop MusicEIGHT TRACKS

Although Western pop culture was in the Union, bands were often not so public ideologically frowned upon by genre-specific, this due to the the Party, it was not that Western vinyls censorship but also the lack of were seeked and burned together with equipent and the Union’s huge socio-their traitor owners by the KGB. economical and cultural differences.Actually, it has been said that the Party Therefore, Apelsin is actually a fine even encouraged modern pop music case study. From the powerful spiritual among Soviet youth – but candidly, of „Laululilled” (”There are many who and with a hope to use this craze to have suffered, who have sacrificed control the youth. So there was even their lives...”) to the tuba-powered this all-Soviet pop circuit – a closed variety of „Karulaul”, they represent circle of artists that were permitted to quite a few genres.tour the whole Union. „Matkalaul“ („The Hiking Song“) is Most of the superstars that toured from the humours side. For me, Sankt Peterburg or Moskva as well as personally, it represents a dominant Siberian winter wasteland towns were, ironic Soviet Estonian vibe. Its lyrics of course, Russian. But then again, have lines like „Kahekümnes sajand / even alien Baltic people had their näkineiud vete pääl / kosekohinas / chances. Apelsin was among the most kandled käes, gaasimaskid peas“ curious of this curious Estonian („20th century / mermaids on the water superstar plejaad – it was basically a / in the murmur of the waterfall / with ten-piece musical humour troupe, yet harps in their hands, gas masks on their very fine instrumentally. heads“). This paints a decent picture: When I call Apelsin jokers, I must heavy industrialization and folk cultre emphasize the the differences between together with nature and pollution.Soviet and Western pop industries. In

APELSINMATKALAUL

While many Estonian pop-rock groups tried to be more hip, tried to look in fashion, Apelsin were too great to bother. Plus this photo proves that the Soviet jacket industry was actually really striving.


METRO LUMINALISA TULI KOJU

The 1990s were a terrible time. During and rather suicidal music that was yet previous decades, quite often the best neither emo nor Nirvana, rather a was actually filtered out of that hard- m i x t u r e o f n o r t h e r n / e a s t e r n to-obtain Anglo-American pop music. melancholy and post-Soviet angst set Because of the exclusiveness of to overwhelming guitar rock.Western music, people actually „Isa tuli koju“ is perhaps the most well performed and listened to a lot of known Metro Luminal song. This tune, progressive or art rock. which I remember form my childhood Now the floodgates came crashing as graspingly strange and yet very down and all hell broke loose. In serious, is the ultimate trip into everyday music, the liberty to choose depressiivrokk. As the lyrics go –produced the liberty to produce cheaply packaged nonsensical Father came home – father's hands are cold

eurodance. Going back to Europe Father came home – father and his soul

turned out to be taking the worst out of Father came home – and his eyes so sad

cheap German or English synthezised Father came home – and his cigarette smoke

dance beats.Quality rock music was not the - it becomes clearer that this music mainstream anymore; part of it was, might entertain you or might not but most of it sunk underwater and entertain you, but most certainly it will resettled as subcultures. This, for take your soul and force it to march example, combined with the state of dead drunk through a cold winter night shock the society was in, produced an from a bar to nowhere... Or to another interesting branch of rock called bar. In the middle of the 1990s, in the depressiivrokk. Bands such as Metro middle of a post-Soviet wasteland of a Luminal and Kosmikud as well as society.Sõpruse Puiestee produced emotional

I tried to google a photo of a bar in Tallinn from the 90s. Found no photos of bars. Most probably everyone was to depressed or drunk to take those photos. Therefore, here is a slick daytime photoof telephone booths - almost lacking any decent phones!


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For me, the problem with Estonian rap demographic or cultural ensions that has always been that we don't have it can be seen in Lasnamäe or Ida-here. By it, I mean the social ground Virumaa. Second, Tammelinn is a needed to produce these rhythmic bourgeois suburb in the forementioned slashes through the curtains of town. And so the chances of coming injustice. Sure, we have had – and have from such a background and becoming today – a lot of social injustice. But this a rapper are, to say the least, slight.injustice is more general and involves But then again, we have neither had the whole country or all the people those Mississippis nor riverboats, yet instead of a certain social group. the music that grew out of them Therefore, we all should be rappers captivates us. Therefore, it might be around here – or should no one be. that rap and hip-hop are actually as One well known Estonian rapper, Cool universal modes of expression as pop D (also a member of A-Rühm), was music in general.born in Tartu. He lived in Tammelinn. And so we have A-Rühm, whose late This is not the typical set-up for a 1990s super hit „Popmuusik“ is rapper shouting about kindergarten arguably the most well known and kids getting AK-47s and killing sons of beloved Estonian rap song. The lyrics bitches (from the song titled, wait for bash local pop music and pop industry it, „AK 47“). at the time. And somehow A-Rühm First, Tartu is the artsy university town, and their older songs retain certain yet has no major airports or seaports to self-reflecting humour and irony, generate dense traffic and clash of something that many modern pop rap cultures. And neither are there outfits often seem to lack.

A-RÜHMPOPMUUSIK

Here is an interior photo of a house that is currently being sold in Tammelinn, Tartu.You surely can find 50 cent here, those damn sofas swallow all the change that pours of the pockets while sitting!


Rock music, as we know, is crowded might also interpret Estonian 1990s with poetical expressions for eurodance star Estin's „Esimene lumi“ deflowering ladies while aboard a as a song describing aspiring young horse/motocycle/car. Or, in Queen's artist's first trip into this life of drug-case, bicycles. These processes need to fuelled stardom.be fuelled with booze and motivated But then again, this might just be a bad by Columbia's finest. love song about the first crush melting And while you live a life of drugs, you just like the first snow. This might as might as well write songs about it. A well be a song that characterizes quite well known example is Black well this less than interesting Sabbath's „Snowblind“, a song not so mainstream of Estonian pop music in much about making a snowman rather the 1990s.than being one. And Estin was never that aspiring By following the Western route, we anyway.

This is Estin (born Esta Simakova) a few years ago. Just like the pop musicfrom the 90s has become the basis of quite popular retro parties, Estinhas become somewhat of a MILF material.

ESTINESIMENE LUMI


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„A good way to promote your album is counterparts. This is a bit about having to show your penis while on stage,“ it instead of hoping to find it. claims Ivar Põllu, frontman of Genialistid – whose members have 1990s /2000s pop- rock g roup pursued other interests ranging from Genialistid. He has a lot of marketing composing classical pieces to advice – strangely for a band who founding theatres – were just talented never was much into mainstream and strangely attractive because of marketing anyway. that. Even though mr Põllu looked – The thing is, Genialistid was ironic as and still looks – more of a nerd much as s incere and t r icky. librarian than rock star.Throughout their few albums, they But then again, Phil Collins has sold played around with themes ranging more than 100 million records while from love to drinking beer. They never looking all the time like... Phil Collins!claimed to make art, but managed to be more classy than most of their

GENIALISTIDMAAPEALNE PARADIISON ROCK’N’ROLL

Managerial advice: „It’s penis time now!”


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JAAN TÄTTESÕPRADE LAUL NR. 2

Before going sailing around the world, Tätte did a hugely succesful farewell tour.Even during this moment depicted here on this photo, he cashed in a fortune.It has been speculated, however, that some of the crowd was there, hoping that if theypay, Tätte would leave for good.

The bitter truth is, you are not a famous fictious homo- or solo-sexual encounters

pop musician unless there's a solid between Tätte and his friend, actor Marko

subculture of people who hate you. Matvere, who are currently on a boat

If you leave people indifferent, you are journey around the world.

just like their everyday surroundings, Therefore, Jaan Tätte is certainly a star. He

mundane and unattractive. But people do and his songs have become sort of raw

not want to see the guy next door on the material for stories, jokes and memes. He

stage, they want to see something out of is both beloved and hated.

the ordinary (Cobain, in fact, looked like I have friends who think Tätte's naive and

the guy next door, but he had crazy mode simple songs are absolutely amazing. And

the actual guy didn't have). then I have friends who find Tätte's naive

Unfortunately, for every fan you get an and simple songs to be utter pseudo-deep

additional hater who finds you either too bullshit.

pretentious, fake or just plain irritating. Actually, coming back to the beginning of

This is the law of the pop. But as we see, if this story, Jaan Tätte does not fully fit into

there are haters, there are lovers. For the this star formula. He looks like a random

artist wants to be spoken about, this is the long-haired bass player from a rubbish

fuel to The Stardom Express. cover band. He is far from radiating the

The same can be said about hit songs. One raw, yet glamorous vibe of Robert Plant

summer evening I was out on the tiles (as or Jon Bon Jovi. In Lady GaGa's

Led Zeppelin once put it). I passed a bar wardrobe terms: the only meat this guy

while a group of people sang a rendition of actually carries as an accessory might be

singer-songwriter Jaan Tätte's recent hit some small dead animal he caught while

„Tuulevaiksel ööl“. It had such lyrics: being the lighthouse guard on one of the

westernmost of Estonian islands, Tuulevaiksel ööl Vilsandi.Tätte pihku lööb „Sõprade laul nr. 2“ is basically this man Tuule suund on nord

in a few minutes, you either love it or Nüüd on Marko kord

hate it.

The actual lyrics are much more about

sailing, foghorns and real love rather than


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Yesterday I read an article about Mihkel Not that I am saying Raud is a genius, but

Raud's this year's achievements. It seems then again, he is quite close to it.

that in addition to being one of the judges But let's keep moving. Back in the 1990s

in Estonian version of the „Pop Idol“ and (while also being a radio jockey!), he

hosting a weekly talk show in TV, Raud founded a band which was eventually

wrote songs, performed as a guitar player called Mr Lawrence. This song – „Call

and a singer in a few bands, wrote a play, Your Name“ – is not one of his greatest

travelled around the globe and did a bunch hits, but illustrates quite well the case I

of other things I've already forgotten. want to prove.

Well, he is a busy man. Mr Lawrence was quite successful – they

In the beginning of the 1990s he had just played real music in real venues to real

become sober. He had spent the latter half people. Something that was rare those

of the previous decade dead drunk while days, considering our previous stories.

being the guitarist of a cult Estonian band Basically, it took one Mihkel Raud to do

called Singer Vinger. For years, he had great Estonian pop music while the rest of

lived a life as rock'n'roll as it could be in the mainstream was either absolute

S o v i e t E s t o n i a , p e r f o r m i n g i n rubbish or alarmingly close to being

kultuurimajad, playing raw sounding rubbish. It took one genius-like guy who

pompous social rock. All those events are sounded like god damn U2 to stand out in

in fact described in detail in „Musta pori the middle of this whirlpool that was the

näkku“, Mihkel's hugely successful re-orientation of Estonian pop culture in

autobiography. the 1990s.

Yes, he has even written a book that It was quite a time.

surpassed everything else in Estonia in

popularity, the Holy Bible included.

MR LAWRENCECALL YOUR NAME

Among other artists, Mr Lawrence performed at Rock Summer, an Estonian festival which attracted over the course of a few years artists such as Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, EMF, Bonnie Tyler, Marillion, Bob Geldof, Slade, Procol Harum, Shamen, Ultravox, Blur, Iggy Pop, Motorhead, Simple Minds, Björk etc. Many of them most likely came because Tallinn was an exotic stage to be on.When the air of extraordinary faded, the festival went bankrupt.

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EIGHT TRACKS

eight tracks. a foreigner's guide to estonian pop music

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