Album Review: Jos Sä Tietäisit Pieni Liisa Parka by Erkki Eräs
Let’s get one thing straight—Finnish pop in the '70s wasn’t exactly known for breaking global charts. But hey, that doesn’t mean it can’t slap harder than your grandma’s cinnamon buns on a Sunday morning. Enter Erkki Eräs and his quirky little gem of an album, Jos Sä Tietäisit Pieni Liisa Parka. Released under Decca with Klaus Salmi waving his conductor baton like he’s summoning rain clouds, this record is pure vintage Finland—a mix of melancholy, melody, and just enough cheese to make you smile.
First up, the titular track “Jos Sä Tietäisit.” Oh man, where do I even start? The song opens with this soft, almost shy piano riff that feels like someone tiptoeing into a room they’re not supposed to be in. Then BAM!—Erkki’s vocals come in, smooth as butter but dripping with emotion. It’s the kind of tune that sticks to your brain like gum under a school desk. You’ll find yourself humming it while waiting for the bus or pretending you’re starring in some dramatic Finnish soap opera. Kudos to K. Kirsi for penning lyrics so heartfelt they might as well come with a warning label: “May cause spontaneous sobbing.”
Then there’s “Pieni Liisa Parka,” which is basically a ballad ripped straight out of Elvi Sinervo’s radio drama Toukokuun Viimeisenä Iltana (Google Translate tells me it means "On the Last Evening of May"). This track hits different—it’s slow, deliberate, and kinda haunting. Imagine walking through a misty forest at dawn, except instead of trees, you’re surrounded by feelings. Lots of feelings. There’s something about the way the strings swell behind Erkki’s voice that makes you wanna grab a cup of coffee and stare wistfully out a window. Or maybe cry quietly into your oatmeal. Either works.
What really stands out here is how unapologetically Finnish this album feels. No flashy gimmicks, no attempts to sound “international.” Just good ol’ homegrown vibes wrapped up in a cozy blanket of nostalgia. And honestly? That’s refreshing. In a world full of overproduced beats and autotuned voices, Jos Sä Tietäisit Pieni Liisa Parka reminds us that sometimes simplicity hits hardest.
So yeah, would I recommend this album? Absolutely—if you’re into moody Scandinavian tunes that sound like they were recorded in someone’s living room circa 1972. If nothing else, it’s worth a listen just to say you’ve experienced the magic of Erkki Eräs. Plus, who wouldn’t want to casually drop lines like “Oh, I’ve been vibing with some Finnish ballads lately” at parties?
Final thought: Listening to this album feels like finding an old photograph tucked inside a book—you don’t know why it’s there, but somehow it makes everything feel more meaningful. Or maybe I’m just overthinking it because I had too much rye bread today. Who knows?
