This is NOT going to be a thread to-end-all-threads, but I thought I would share this with the numerous Finnophiles on SDMB.
Last night, Mr Kiffa and I were watching an episode of Desmond Morris’ Sexes series [certainly better TV than Big Brother or Message in A Bottle movie]. There was a segment on HUUTAJAT, the Finnish Men’s Shouting Choir [a group of avant-garde long haired Finn’s dressed in plain black suit who shout out the lyrics]. Mr Kiffa turned to me, much perplexed and asked: now, why would your people/roots dream up such music, such a testosterone display?
I was stuck for an answer until I remembered VARTINNA, a women’s singing group who has been described as a Wall of estrogen. “Värttinä, in its absolutely unwavering, vibratoless attack [which is] bracing and energizing…” then I thought to look up some lyrics: many of the songs are written from the point of view of a village girl who is discovering her sexual power over boys or the credible marriage alternative of singlehood.
“Let’s all young girls sing so loud that everyone can hear. In this village the boys are just like pigs in their pen and the girls are just like the crows of our village, but I am like a small cat who wants to purr on boys’ arms.”
“It is good to live as a maid. The old man will never scold or chide you and you don’t need to quarrel with him. Dear mourning maidens, don’t mourn for suitors. You don’t have to live in a stranger’s house and fawn upon your mother-in-law.”
So this thread is just another MPSIMS on the eternal Battle of the Sexes this time played on the music field. Do you have any thoughts to share?
Check out Huutajat’s version of the Star Spangled Banner at http://www.huutajat.com