Finnish music, Top lists

Favorite Finnish Songs of the Year 2020

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And here goes the final year-end list. No reissues lists anymore, because there’s so much new music that a) I don’t really have the time to listen to reissues b) I most definitely don’t have the money to buy reissues. Anyway, here are are my favorite Finnish songs of the year. This is mostly just a big playlist with 80+ Finnish songs. Mostly one song per artist with some small exceptions. Veli has two. One in English and one in Finnish. Kielo Kärkkäinen has the new solo single and a song from the 2020 EP with Matti Salo. And well Kalevi Suopursu and Mikko Siltanen have a few too, but different projects. Haamusoittajat is only available on Bandcamp, so you won’t find that from the playlist. I typed about 40 of the biggest favorites here in random order, but that’s barely enough to get started so the playlist has about double. Only top 3 are sorta “ranked” and even that is not important. It’s just a playlist of Finnish songs I loved during the year.

Haamusoittajat – Ahvenheinä (not on Spotify, listen/buy at bandcamp)
Robert Ensio Niemistö – Tasahaikka (Jukan Musiikki)
Metsäheikki – Puut tanssivat hiljaa (Helmi Levyt)
Isse – Loimii (Helmi Levyt)
Joni Ekman – Mikään ei riitä (Soit Se Silti)
Sam Shingler – Fight or Flight (Soit Se Silti)
Matti Jasu – A Love Story
Message Field – Numbers (Soit Se Silti)
Verandan – Pink Clouds (Soliti)
Arppa – Laavalamppuja (Arppa Music)
Janne Laurila – Neljä tonnii pilvee (Soit Se Silti)
Bizzarro & Jukka Nissinen – Rankaisen lempeydellä (Humu Records)
Litku Klemetti – Mona (Luova Records)
Antero Kaksikäsi – Yödösä (Hyvät levyt)
Janne Tapion Sisäinen Avaruus – Rantaan vie moottoritie (Iso Pinkki)
Vino Puu – Hullu Lintu
Bad Sauna – Tehdään jotain tyhmää (All That Plazz)
Maustetytöt – Äiti älä huoli (Is This Art?)
joku iiris – Hyvä tyttö (Humu Records / Jukan Musiikki / Hillotehdas)
Joose Keskitalo – Nukkekoti (Helmi Levyt)
Mitä Helvettiä Nyt Taas – Et ole yksin (Nature Sucks Anyway Records)
Sami Heikkilä – Eiväthän kukat (Luova Records)
Punomo – Anna aikaa (Solina Records)
Lätsä – Keskiyön Cowboy (Helmi Levyt)
The Sugarrush – Yeah (Nature Sucks Anyway Records)
Puhelinseksi – Valomerkki (Svart Records)
Mummypowder – Sara’s Song (All That Plazz)
Kielo Kärkkäinen – Saman ihmeen nähnyt (Texicalli)
Viljami Kukkonen – Heikolla päällä (Karhuvaltio Records)
Rock Siltanen – Tulevaisuus ei oo sitä mitä se oli (Joteskii Groteskii)
Guggenheim-projektz – Matematiikon poika (Helmi Levyt / Jukan Musiikki)
Jani Matti Juhani feat Sini – Talven kylmät kyyneleet (Ainoa Productions)
Tvärtom – Järkytys
Teini-Pää – Hotelliin (Pop-Antik Kustannus / Goosebumb Record) – also check out their perfect ABBA cover 112 here.
Amuri – Masa (Helmi Levyt)
Veli – Elokuussa (Evil Veli Recordings)
Rosita Luu – Kuollut Monta Kertaa (Helmi Levyt)

3. Nightbird – Travelin’ Baby (Ella Ruth Institutet)

This great album from singer-songwriter Nightbird aka Anna-Stina Jungerstam has several songs worthy of a spot on this little list, but perhaps this album opener and title track is sthe finest of them all.

2. Kalevi Suopursu – Sinä olet minun sunnuntai (Helmi Levyt)

Sinä olet minun sunnuntai by Kalevi Suopursu is the the Finnish song I listened to the most this year. Not necessarily the best song from the album, if you use some silly objective parameters but definitely the one that I loved the most. That chorus is just pure perfection. Probably because I never learned to love the weekdays.

1. Laura Moisio – Kaukana onnesta (Texicalli)

My favorite Finnish song of the year 2020 is Kaukana onnesta by Laura Moisio. I instantly fell in love with it when I first heard it January and it never lost its poignant and profound beauty. In fact, it may have found even new and deeper levels during the year, because back in January I was still blissfully unaware how this year would unfold. I’m grateful that I had this compassionate song on my side warning me about the dangers of sinking in too deep. The devastating darkness of this song might have been the shining light that I needed. A work of art.

And here’s the big playlist with 80 plus Finnish songs from the year 2020.

Playlist link

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Favorite Songs of the Year 2020 Part Three (incl. Song of the Year + Playlist)

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And here’s the final part to this with the song of the year and longer playlist than anyone is willing to listen. I could go on and on and write 20 parts, but I don’t have the time and well nobody would probably care anyway. So let’s wrap this up now. First a few randomly selected picks from the playlist.

Part Three
Part Two
Part One

The Posies – Sideways (23 Records)

Like everyone knows The Posies is my all-time favorite band and Amazing Disgrace is my all-time favorite album. So it’s a big deal when there is a no The Posies song. This one is mighty good too. Classic Jon Auer therer for you.

Teenage Fanclub – Home (PeMa)

Like everyone knows Teenage Fanclub is on the second place on that all-time favorite band list and Grand Prix is second on that all-time albums list. So it’s a big deal when there is a new TFC song.

Benchmarks – Technicolor

I think my lists need a bit of rock too and who better to provide it than Benchmarks. I really love this song Technicolor from their new album.

Kyle Nix – Blue Eyes (Bossier City Record)

I have no idea why this album from Kyle Nix wasn’t on the album list. For some reason, I just haven’t listened to the whole album that much yet. I need to work on that, because I absolute love some of these singles. This Blue Eyes especially. lovin’ and losin’ sure beats not living at all. Now that’s an universal truth.

Nat Vazer – Like Demi (Hotel Motel Records)

Something from Australia for a change. This is a really wonderful opener from Nat Vazer great record Is this Offensive and Loud?.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apr1iEYFOwI

Gus Clark and the Least of His Problems – Thoughts and Prayers (Plastic Pistol Records)

Gus Clark is one of the many songwriters I’ve found thanks to the Western AF video channel. He had a bunch of great singles and all of them become favorites.

Lily McKown – B-Team

This song from Lily McKown’s excellent debut album resonated with me deeply.

Ashley Ray – Warm Body

Ashley Ray also released a damn good album. The highlight for me was this powerful song called Warm Body.

V.V. Lightbody – If It’s Not Me (Acrophase Records)

This V.V. Lightbody song is a spectacular anti-jealous anthem.

Waylon Payne – Shiver (Carnival Recording Company)

Speechless.

Abby Hamilton – Change Things

And before the song of the year, I want to share a couple of songs that I really loved this year. These did appear on the earlier eoty lists, but they mattered and the songwriters perhaps aren’t that household names yet. First Abby Hamilton who made one of my favorite EPs of the year. This live video is how I fell in love with the song.

Jeremy Ferrara – Ourselves

Jeremy Ferrara’s great album With Every Change has a lot of beautiful songs, but Ourselves is the one that made the biggest impact on me.

McCarthy Trenching – Asking for a Friend

What a sweet story song. I can listen to it on repeat for an hour and I still enjoy it every time. And even though I know how the story unfolds, I’m always very relieved that Bruce is just fine.

Flora Hibberd – I’m Gonna Leave You

Flora Hibberd made my favorite EP of the year. I love all five songs and I can’t really pick a favourite. So I’ll cheat a little bit and post the video of I’m Gonna Leave You and put It Will Come True on the playlist. Now what do I with the other three beauties. Incredible EP from start to finish.

Evangeline Gentle – Sundays (Sonic Unyon Records)

Evangeline Gentle was a big new favorite and I really love her album. Half of the songs could be on the songs of the year list, so let’s use the same cheating method and put the video of Sundays here and the beautiful album closer Good and Guided to the playlist.

Everything before was not on any order. I just wanted to highlight some artists that weren’t on the earlier lists along with a couple of big new favorites. The playlist is slightly top heavy, so you’ll find the album cuts that made a big impact on me. There’s plenty of songs that should have essays written about them. But yeah, I do want to select the song of the year and it has never been easier.

J.E.Sunde – I Don’t Care to Dance (Vietnam)

The song of the year is I Don’t Care to Dance by J.E. Sunde. I’ve loved this song since I first saw the live at Pony Rug video back in 2018. I’m thrilled that it finally arrived to a record and that it sounds absolutely perfect. I’m happy they kept it small, because a song so pure at heart don’t need any sugarcoating. A dance at a wedding reception. A kind gentle sway against toxic masculinity. Subtle, but full of heart. I’m a shy, self-doubt ridden, overly romantic unmanly man and this song is everything to me. A very few songs have ever resonated with me as deeply I Don’t Care to Dance. I love it as much as you can possibly love a song.

And here’s the insanely long playlist with more 2020 favorites. And no I don’t expect anyone to listen to whole 26 hours of it. I’m 100% sure something very important is missing from it, because it’s hard to control such a monster. At least with my non-existant organizing skills. It’s just difficult if not impossible to remember what I already added and what I didn’t. But there sure is plenty of great songs on it and should keep you busy for a little a while. It’s slightly top heavy, but not in any order after J.E. Sunde. And completely random after first 50 or 100.

Playlist link

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Favorite Songs of the Year 2020 Part Two

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Part Three
Part Two
Part One

Another set of favorite songs of 2020. Randomly selected from the forthcoming giant playlist. Mostly focusing on the ones that weren’t on the earlier year-end lists. One more part to come. Maybe even two. Not sure yet.

LadyCouch – Foolish and Blue (Cafe Rooster Records)

LadyCouch is a new band led by Allen Thompson and Keshia Bailey. They had a great run of singles on Cafe Rooster Records.

Thee Sacred Souls – Give Us Justice (Penrose Records)

I really love the Can I Call You Rose? and Will I See You Again? singles as well, but this powerful protest song made the biggest impact.

India Ramey – King of the Ashes

The highlight of India Ramey’s excellent new album was this important song.

Aaron Frazer – If I Got It (Your Love Brought It) (Dead Oceans / Easy Eye sound)

I think most of the Aaron Frazer praises can be left on the 2021 eoty list, because that’s when the album comes out. But yeah, the co-vocalist and drummer extraordinaire of Durand Jones & The Indications will release solo debut in early 2021 and released gorgeous advance singles from the forthcoming album.

Pharis & Jason Romero – Bet On Love (Lula Records)

An album that I still haven’t listened to enough is the new album from Pharis & Jason Romero. I should make some time for it during the holidays, because I absolute love the timeless beauty of this title song Bet On Love.

Bart – Used To Be (Idee Fixe Records)

Canadian Bart released a couple of fantastic singles. Used To Be is a perfect pop song and sounds heavenly good.

Strawberry Heritage – Sweet Marie

And speaking of sweet, lush beautiful songs. We got a new album from Michigan’s Strawberry Heritage and oh how good it is.

Maya De Vitry – In the Meantime, I Love You (Mad Maker Studio)

What a sweetheart of a song this is from Maya De Vitry’s new album.

Chris Acker – Orion’s Gut

Chris Acker was on the album list, but want to put his here too. I’m not sure is this my absolute favorite song from the album, but it was this song and video that made me a fan. Plus A Song Catcher is the same kind of internet gold as Western AF. Add GemsonVHS and few other and you’ll have a giant library of amazing current songwriters.

Heather Valley – Emily

Heather Valley gave us great covers of Lucero and Tom T. Hall and this wonderful original called Emily.

The Weather Station – Tried to Tell You (Fat Possum Records)

Here’s a song from the 2021 album of the year candidate. The self-titled The Weather Station is my favorite album of the past decade and I can’t wait to hear the new one. There’s a couple of singles already out and available and I love them both.

Michael Feuerstack – I Used to Be a Singer (Forward Music Group)

More 2021 gold. New Michael Feuerstack album Harmonize the Moon is coming out in March and the first single is absolutely marvellous.

Johanna Samuels – High Tide for One (Mama Bird Recording Co)

And even more first singles of 2021 albums. This new song from Johanna Samuels is tremendous.

Lonny – Incandescente

This Lonny single is also something rather otherworldly and easily breaks through the language barrier. I might not understand it, but I can feel every note.

Richard Allen – Reasonably Foolish

This Richard Allen album was one the late treasures of the year. I considered putting it on the album list, but in the end I thought I haven’t listened to it enough yet. However, it definitely deserves some year-end love, so let’s wrap this part of the songs mix with a really lovely song from the album.

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