Saturday Flashback: Antti Tuisku – Jää tai mee

“It’s a builder.”

Tom: Suggested by an anonymous reader, this track’s in from Finland. It’s a couple of months old now, but I’m running with it anyway because first: it’s a builder, and second: I bet you’re surprised by the direction it builds in.

Tim: Hmm – mildly unexpected, I’ll grudgingly admit.

Tom: I was expecting a four-on-the-floor club banger, and what I got was something a bit more interesting: it’s up-and-down like a roller coaster, with more euphoric builds than should rightly fit into four minutes. I was surprised, actually: I thought it’d outstay its welcome, but I enjoyed it to the end.

Tim: As did I – there’s no real opportunity to get bored, what with the regular up and downing. I particularly enjoyed the video – I see quite a bit of myself in his often ridiculous dancing, and I appreciate it when that happens.

Tom: Finnish is a difficult language to translate, but one lyric stood out: “Have mercy on me now, do not play with my emotions”. He’s asking his partner to either stay or go — but just make their mind up either way. Not typical fodder for a dance track, that.

Tim: No, I guess not. Good work all round, then.

Antti Tuisku – Hyökyaalto

Unnecessary double handclaps.

Tom: Some Finnish electronic Europop for you now, Mr. Jeffries, suggested by reader Laura.

Tom: Hyökyaalto means ‘tsunami’, and he’s using that as a metaphor for love.

It’s a very listenable track, if not all that catchy. That “woah-oh-oh” breakdown before the chorus is great, and I’m always a fan of unnecessary double handclaps. It’s almost a bit U2-ish – add The Edge doing some electric guitar over the top and I think you’re basically there.

Tim: The intro got me nodding approvingly, and that feeling continued throughout, really. I slightly wish they’d done a bit more with the higher-pitched woah-oh-oh from the intro, through. The first time I heard it I did think it went on a bit after the bridge; the second time I also felt that, but didn’t mind at all.

Tom: Translated into English, I reckon this could be a hit over here.

There’s a curious disconnect between the video and the audio: in the video, his mouth putting so much energy and emphasis into every word, while the version of him in the studio seems to be singing quite calmly.

Tim: Sure, but if you put that amount of energy into a normal recording studio he’s going to end up knocking through the walls with his arms.

Tom: Not sure about the cuddle-party during the bridge, though.

Tim: Yeah – doesn’t really fit with the whole love idea.