Valentin is Erasmus in Helsinki, and attended from the inside to the election of a punk group with Down syndrome to represent Finland at Eurovision.
Currently Erasmus exchange in Helsinki, I had the chance to attend last Saturday in a rather surreal moment in Finnish television, which was broadcasting the final of the election of its representative at Eurovision . Out of nowhere, a group of punks forties arrived on scene between two particularly bad candidates
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A punk band that sings in Finnish
First big surprise: music rather aggressive and one-half minutes only is far from the standards to which we are accustomed the contest. In addition, words are shouted in Finnish whereas today a text in English is almost essential to claim win the contest – only France continues to offer titles written in his own language … in vain.
Still, it seemed to please an audience excited (remember that Eurovision is not the same image abroad than in France). But the surprise is even greater when I realize the middle of the provision that Group members are all trisomy 21 , which does not prevent them from playing very well!
Not surprisingly, Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (meaning in Finnish “ the feast of Pertti Kurikan ‘guitarist in the group), now known as PKN, won handily final getting almost 40% of the vote.
Raising disability … but not only
They announced then want to raise awareness of disability by passing the message that it takes courage when you are mentally deficient. They also added expect people to vote for them, not out of pity but for the quality of their music because after all, they are normal people.
The four members met in an adult care center in a state of intellectual disability in Helsinki and the group was then formed in 2009. Their words, they write themselves, can sometimes smile. One of their songs says such hatred against the chiropodists they do not understand the value.
But a little digging, we discover that these texts express above all their ill-being, sincerely and much deeper than it appears, while criticizing the company and its perspective on disability. Thus, in one of their track called Kallioon , they explain:
“I do not want to live in a home. I do not want to live in an institution. I want to live in Kallio [Editor's note: class neighborhood, student and hipster Helsinki], quiet, in a bomb shelter. “
The song they will perform at Eurovision, Aina mun pitää list for its daily obligations they could do without (like going see the doctor through the daily shower).
Although past completely unnoticed in France (though we could have predicted it a surprise hit at the Sugarman or Dig! ), a wonderful documentary on PKN was released in cinemas in 2012. The Punk Syndrome tells the daily life of the group and addresses (without any pathos) issues integration into society of persons with mental illness (for example, leaving home for a specialized institute, dating or engagement in politics …).
However, the feature is not limited to this and is primarily a real movie on punks situating the genre as a fringe movement claiming their hatred against society. A movement in which our four Finns thus have quite a place!
Participation that is controversial
We already accuse Finland for having chosen his group only to attract pity . The reactions of the fans “hardcore” Eurovision on specialized sites are frightening. Some speak of the worst song in the running of all time (particularly heavy charges for the very kitsch selection each year), and announced that they will boycott the competition if it reaches the finals in Vienna (we can only imagine their reaction if the group were to win)!
Others say bothered by the live group where “ the singer shook his head oddly ” and criticized a potential vote ” compassio n “. There’s hope that the members of PKN give them wrong and win the trophy. Not because they are sick, but only for their original artistic proposal and the importance of their message (as for that of Conchita Wurst last year).
and us, if Finland only wanted to cry in the cottages to win Eurovision, a girl in a wheelchair who gets I’m sick would have been more appropriate than a punk group totally opposed to codes of the show!
then begins to dream of the discomfort caused to competitors offering songs of dubious quality, when they realize that these sacred Finns know better play the drums they …
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