For this week's Three Tune Tuesday, popularized on Hive by @Ablaze , I’m diving into some nostalgic Finnish children's tunes that I used to listen to as a kid. These songs bring back some great memories — some of which I’ve even passed down to my own kids. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane, with a little space for you to enjoy the tunes too!
1. Pieni Ankanpoikanen by Kipparikvartetti & Metro-tytöt
This one’s a funny little tune about a happy duckling swimming in a pond, hanging out by a water lily with his friends — a frog and a water flea. Everything is going well until, well... the duckling flea gets eaten by a happy water snake. (Edit: I listened it through and it seems I had forgotten who gets eaten.) It’s a quirky and oddly cheerful song that was a staple in my childhood. Even though the ending is a bit dark, it never fails to make me smile.
2. Jänöjussin mäenlasku by Georg Malmstén
This one gave me chills as a kid — and not the good kind! The song is about a bunny going downhill skiing, and for some reason, it made me nervous about trying it myself. I didn't even give downhill skiing a go until my late teens! But when I finally did, I ended up loving it, and now it's something I want to do every winter. Unfortunately, it’s a bit of an expensive hobby, but it’s worth it when I get the chance to hit the slopes.
3. Rosvolaulu by Elina Salo (from Kolme Iloista Rosvoa / Kardemumman Rosvot)
This song has a special place in my heart because it’s connected to the story Kolme Iloista Rosvoa (The Three Merry Robbers) by the Norwegian author Thorbjørn Egner. My parents used to read the story to me, and they would sing this song while doing so. Now, I’ve done the same with my kids — reading the story and singing this song to them when they were little. It’s one of those songs that’s tied to family memories, both as a kid and as a parent.
By the way, Elina Salo might sound familiar to many, because she was the Finnish voice actor for Pikku-Myy (Little My) in the Moomin series, based on Tove Jansson's world-famous books.
These songs may be simple children’s tunes, but they hold a lot of meaning for me. It’s amazing how music can connect us to our past and how it shapes our experiences. Hope you enjoy these little pieces of Finnish childhood!