Korpiklaani
From Shaman to Korpiklaani
Korpiklaani or "Forest Clan" was started by Jonne Järvelä when Shaman, another project, collapsed.
They are considered to be masters of Folk metal and create original, fast paced and well sounding songs.
The band
Jonne Järvelä experiments with music. Shaman was his way to express himself and that hasn't changed since then. Korpiklaani is still a band high on the experimental ladder.
Everything started with Jonne Järvelä searching for more band members. One early fish was Jaakko Lemmetty, an excellent violist and great music maker.
Matson soon joined them as the drummer of the band, he was an old friend of Jonne. With him came Arto Tissari, on the bass and Toni Honkanen on the guitar. Via Toni, Ali Määttä was recruited as percussionist. That's 6, and so it started.
In 2005 some changes occurred. Juho joined them as a full-time accordion player. Arto left for the military and was replaced by Jarkko Aaltonen on the bass.
2 more left the band, Ali and Honka (percussion and guitar).
Currently, the band is made from 6 people.
Jonne Järvelä: vocals & guitar
Kalle "Cane" Savijärvi: guitar
Jarkko Aaltonen: bass
Jaakko "Hittavainen" Lemmetty: violin
Juho Kauppinen: accordion
Matti "Matson" Johansson: drums
The music
Music is never easy to categorize for 100% as 1 genre. But Korpiklaani is proud to wear the folk metal label, and that's exactly what you hear when listenign to them.
Songs by Korpiklaani are either in English or Finnish in contradiction to one of the Shaman trademarks, songs in the Sámi language.
Usually, when a band is labeled as folk metal, one expects metal music with many folk influences. But it wouldn't hurt to say Korpiklaani is different. If you listen to Korpiklaani, expect to hear folk, with many metal influences.
The song lyrics are inspired by Finnish folk and tales. No surprise if you know the band members are all Finnish.
Discography
Korpiklaani made 4 full albums, all released under the Napalm Records label.
Band logo
Discography pictures - All Korpiklaani album covers
Wooden Pints
Album: Spirit of the Forest
Song: Wooden Pints
Lyrics
There's men, underground
Who have never seen the sun
But they really know how to party
Little men from underground
Who have never seen the sun
But the really know how to party
They rise their wooden pints and they yolk and sing
And they fight and dance 'till the morning
( x 2 )
And they fight and dance 'till the morning
( x 2 )
Tables full, reindeer meat
And the camp fire shines and the brick walls are full candles
Tables full, wooden pints
They don't care about their sins
They just wanna get drunk and party
They rise their wooden pints and they yolk and sing
And they fight and dance 'till the morning
( x 2 )
And they fight and dance 'till the morning
( x 2 )
Long war is now past
Only good men have lasted
They need women, meat, beer and rum
Fight battle full of blood no thoughts about god they just slaughtered killed and tormented
They rise their wooden pints and they yolk and sing
And they fight and dance 'till the morning
( x 2 )
And they fight and dance 'till the morning
( x 2 )
*silent*
Long war is now past
Only good men have lasted
They need women, meat, beer and rum
Fight battle full of blood no thoughts about god they just slaughtered killed and tormented
The rise their wooden pints and they yolk and sing
And they fight and dance 'till the morning
( x 2 )
And they fight and dance 'till the morning
( x 2 )
Before The Morning Sun
Album: Spirit of the Forest
Song: Before The Morning Sun
Lyrics
Down, in the forest path
When the night comes closer
Air's full of magic
When, elf girls dancing
Dancing in the circle
I watch them from the bushes
Down, in the forest path
When night comes closer
When the sun goes down
Once, once again
I will try to sleep
Before the morning sun
Down, in the forest path
When night comes closer
When the sun goes down
Once, once again
I will try to sleep
Before the morning sun
God Of Wind
Album: Spirit of the Forest
Song: God Of Wind
Lyrics
Let me tell you a story
Story of a man
Who wants to be a god
God of the wind
He dressed to brown
Brown leather clothes
He used a bone mace
And ate mushrooms
He lived in the woods
There trees are huge
Only friends were trolls
Who were all the time drunk
He saw nightmare
There big bad bear
Ran behind him
And shouted these words:
If you want to be a god of wind
You have to beat me
If you want to be a god of wind
You must take my skin
If you want to be a god of wind
You must use my nails
If you want to be a god of wind
You must be like me, must be like bear
Let me tell you a story
Story of a man
Who wants to be a god
God of the wind
He dressed to brown
Brown leather clothes
He used a bone mace
And ate mushrooms
He lived in the woods
There trees are huge
Only friends were trolls
Who were all the time drunk
He saw nightmare
There big bad bear
Ran behind him
And shouted these words:
If you want to be a god of wind
You have to beat me
If you want to be a god of wind
You must take my skin
If you want to be a god of wind
You must use my nails
If you want to be a god of wind
You must be like me, must be like bear
You have to beat me
If you want to be a god of wind
You must take my skin
If you want to be a god of wind
You must use my nails
If you want to be a god of wind
You must be like me, must be like bear
With Trees
Album: Spirit of the Forest
Song: With Trees
Lyrics
Far, far away, where the birch wouldn't grow
Far, far away and where the wind freezes your face
There you won't be alone
So far away, My mind flies to the moon
Far, far away, I can see what happens soon
And what's most important
I would rather fly with eagles, to the snowy hills
I would rather run with wolves, between the trees
I would rather be with trees, than in the middle of noisy streets
I would rather fly with eagles, to the snowy hills
I would rather run with wolves, between the trees
I would rather be with trees, than in the middle of noisy streets
Beer Beer
Album: Voice of Wilderness
Song: Beer Beer
Lyrics
From evening to morning
and morning to evening
I wanna drink
something stronger than a man
From evening to morning
and morning to evening
I wanna drink
cause that's what I am
Beer, beer
I want beer
from beer I get really drunk
Beer, beer
I need more beer
so much I pass out
( x 2 )
For beer I'm working
for beer I'm fighting
for beer I'll do
whatever I have to
when drunk I'm talking
when drunk I'm joking
when drunk I can be as I've
always wanted to be
Beer, beer
I want beer
from beer I get really drunk
Beer, beer
I need more beer
so much I pass out
( x 2 )
Beer, beer
I want beer
from beer I get really drunk
Beer, beer
I need more beer
so much I pass out
( x 2 )
*arrrrrgghhh*
Beer, beer
( x 14 )
Happy little boozer
Album: Tales Along This Road
Song: Happy little boozer
Lyrics
He sees himself as the savior of the world
His will is strong and he's feeling good
Ive known him since the first taste of beer
I will meet him many times in a year
Happy little, Happy little, Happy little boozer...
( x 8 )
He thinks he is the most famous guy
He smiles and laughs and he has a loud voice
He can be very nice he can be full of anger
He'll behave very well, right after misbehaving
Happy little, Happy little, Happy little boozer...
( x 8 )
Happy little, Happy little, Happy little boozer...
( x 8 )