Ever dream of Helsinki

Hakaniemi, Helsinki, 11.04.2011

When I visited Helsinki I was impressed by the popularity of rock and metal music; it was a particularly interesting aspect of the city from a cultural studies perspective, as these genres seemed to be reaching the status of a contemporary type of folk music. Janne Mäkelä of the Finnish Jazz and Pop Archive argues that many bands achieved significant recognition and commercial success at the international level, and thus affected the popular music discourse in the country; this is an example of the ways in which transnational forms of culture may have an important role in the making of national identity (Alternations: The case of international success in Finnish popular music, European Journal of Cultural Studies, 12, 367-382, 2009).

Mäkelä also discusses the question of mainstream media attention and coverage; one characteristic case was the rift in Nightwish, which developed between the lead singer Tarja Turunen and the rest of the group in 2005, and became front page news for a fortnight (p.  379). Nightwish is an example of an internationally prominent band, and Ever Dream is one of their best songs; as well as my favourite of theirs.

Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day

Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me

Would you do it with me
Heal the scars and change the stars
Would you do it with me
Turn loose the heaven within

I'd take you away
Castaway on a lonely day
Bosom for a teary cheek
My song can but borrow your grace

Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day

Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me

Come out, come out, wherever you are
So lost in your sea
Give in, give in, for my touch
For my taste, for my lust

Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day

Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me

Your beauty cascaded on me
In this white night fantasy