Eurovision Entry in Finland Ditches Contest and Radio Airplay Skyrockets

Helsinki, Finland (FNB)
The single "En sista vers' (A Final Verse) which was released by prize-nominated author and composer Gunnar K. A. Njålsson earlier this month is starting to receive increasing radio airplay in the Nordic countries, even where the uniquely moving Swedish lyrics are not fully understood. Nordic TV and radio stations began selecting and airing the song barely two weeks after receiving word that it had been radio released. Indeed, Njålsson's agent, Hans Ånäs, is astonished at the fact that the entire promo stock of the single didn't even last a week.

"We received requests from as far away as Turkey, Canada, Japan and Brunei and every Nordic country and territory now has a copy! I could never have imagined anything like this!' Ånäs exclaims. When asked what is so attractive about a song in Swedish from Finland, Njålsson's agent provides a very quick answer: "I'll use the words of those who've heard the song and given us feedback, namely it is a cross between eastern and western music with a very special harmony that for whatever reason everyone seems to understand and relate with. It grows on you after a couple of plays'.

Composer Njålsson recalls the hectic week after the announcement of the the titles and composers of the entries going on in the Finnish national Eurovison competition. "Firstly, I was relieved and not disappointed when I heard that we were not going on. I remember screaming at my agent- ‘We're free!' I suspect he thought I was crazy at first, that I'd gone over the edge from disappointment, but a weight was lifted. Firstly, we could release in our own way and on our own time. Secondly, I already had people asking for a copy and those who had worked with me now and before kept coming with all sorts of proposals during that month of waiting- proposals that sounded more suitable than the Eurovision Song Contest for this particular song. The promo stock didn't even last a week and we'd never planned on sending a Swedish song around the world, but the requests kept coming from Asia and North America and now we're on air all the time!'

"En Sista Vers' is often heard in Finland, Sweden, the Faeroe Islands and Even Greenland and Iceland and may well be gaining territory in Japan, Brunei and Turkey before long. In addition to the unique melody, the words when translated show the clear signature of an adept author experienced at moving his audience, even to tears. Petra Schauman who has made a career as actress and opera singer at the Swedish National Theatre in Helsinki, Finland renders a very delicate and almost heartbreaking interpretation of lyrics speaking of the loss of a dear friend, memories and hope that two souls will be reunited after death. ‘Friendship knows no death' seems to be the motto of Njålsson's new single. Anyone who has ever had a best friend can relate to the message and this is perhaps a partial cause of the increasing popularity of the song. The arrangement is for large orchestra including french horns, oboes, flutes, clarinets and string section. The influence of composers like Rachmaninov and Mancini is clearly audible in both the vocal and instrumental versions of the song. However unusual it is for a composer under forty to employ the styles and sounds of the best 60's and 70's pop music, the result is intriguing enough to appeal even to the more modern music enthusiasts.

But "En Sista Vers' is definitely not the final verse for Njålsson who is re-releasing his elegant latin jazz arrangement "Novela Policial' near the end of this year. "En sista vers' is the main project and will receive our utmost attention. We are currently negotiating different deals for other releases of the same song and it appears as though this song will make its mark. That's what I was saying about proper context for the song. I put my soul into this song and since it was inspired by the sudden death of my best friend, I want it to receive the utmost respect. I'm glad we got to make the first release in our own way and with due care.'

The single "En sista vers' was released November 2004 and includes two tracks- a vocal and an instrumental. Vocalist Petra Schauman sings "En sista vers' on the first track. Both tracks include a piano solo by Gunnar K. A. Njålsson. "En sista vers' (A Final Verse) is a European pop ballad which was among the entries for the Finnish national competition for the Eurovision song contest in 2004. The lyrics are in Swedish and deal the loss of a dear friend and the hope of meeting again after death. The current release is to international radio and television only with pending distribution agreements in several countries. More information can be obtained from Hans G. Ånäs or Mr. T. Tuomainen at BMG Finland Publishing, Helsinki, Finland.