These guys play humorous, mainly cover versions of famous pop and rock hits… Read Full Bio ↴These guys play humorous, mainly cover versions of famous pop and rock hits using the fast and hilarious beat of humppa (trad. Finnish polka-like dance) and are very, very often drunk. In fact, all of their live shows are performed while intoxicated, and every one of their albums (save for one, which is widely recognized as their worst record) has also been recorded in a similar state.

Current members of the band are Onni Waris (keyboard, vocals), Petteri Halonen (keyboard, guitar, vocals), Lassi Kinnunen (accordion, vocals), Martti Waris (bass, vocals) and Kristian Voutilainen (drums, vocals). Ilmari Koivuluhta (sound technique, logistics) and Pekka Jokinen (graphics, merchandise) are completing the humppa family. These are not in fact their real names; their (fake) first names are their second names, and their (fake) surnames are their mothers' maiden names. Onni Waris and Martti Waris are in no way related, both of their mothers' maiden names just happen to be the same.

According to the band's statements, they play between 80 and 100 concerts in a year, of which only 20 in Finland and 40 to 50 in Germany. While touring in Germany they hid bottles of vodka in various places next to the Autobahn and asked their fans to find them using treasure maps provided by the band.

Albums by Eläkeläiset in Finnish charts (2 albums):
1. Humppaelämää
reach: 14/2003 - 15/2003; peak pos: 23; weeks: 2
2. Humppasirkus
reach: 08/2006 - 10/2006; peak pos: 10; weeks: 3

Songs by Eläkeläiset in Finnish charts (4 songs):
1. Das Humppawerk
reach: 23/2006 - 26/2006; peak pos: 6; weeks: 4
2. Jukolan Humppa
reach: 03/2006 - 07/2006; peak pos: 5; weeks: 5
3. Katkolla Humppa
reach: 11/2003 - 12/2003; peak pos: 6; weeks: 2
4. Keväthumppa
reach: 20/2003 - 20/2003; peak pos: 17; weeks: 1

Humppamedia
Eläkeläiset Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Viikkolehdet juopoiks leimaa
Ne liput puolitankoon heivaa
Tippapullot lentää seinään
Letkut syvemmälle nenään

Äijät nää ei lähde täältä mihinkään
Äijät nää vain humppaa jyskyttää
Äijät nää ei lähde täältä mihinkään

Äijät nää vain humppaa jyskyttää

Pikkupopparit ne poraa
Arkuille jo viskoo soraa
Diskopellet jortsuissansa
Mäkistarttaa koneitansa

Äijät nää ei lähde täältä mihinkään
Äijät nää vain humppaa jyskyttää
Äijät nää ei lähde täältä mihinkään
Äijät nää vain humppaa jyskyttää

Lapsenlapset touhun teilaa
Kun ukit jahtaa uutta heilaa

Äijät nää ei lähde täältä mihinkään
Äijät nää vain humppaa jyskyttää
Äijät nää ei lähde täältä mihinkään
Äijät nää vain humppaa jyskyttää
Äijät nää ei lähde täältä mihinkään
Äijät nää vain humppaa jyskyttää

Äijät nää ei lähde täältä mihinkään
Äijät nää vain humppaa jyskyttää

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Eläkeläiset's song "Humppamedia" paint a picture of a party scene filled with different groups of people, all participating in their own way. The first verse mentions how weekly magazines label people as drunks, while flags are lowered to half-mast and empty beer bottles are thrown against walls. The second verse talks about how young pop fans are mocking the more reserved individuals, while disco dancers strut their stuff and athletes prepare to start their competitions. Finally, the last verse mentions how even grandchildren are getting caught up in the party atmosphere while the "Äijät," or old-timers, are still happily dancing away.

Overall, the song seems to be celebrating the idea of people coming together to party, regardless of age or background. While some may view certain groups with disdain, the lyrics suggest that everyone is welcome to join in the fun and enjoy themselves through the power of the humpa, or traditional Finnish dance music.

Line by Line Meaning

Viikkolehdet juopoiks leimaa
Weekly magazines label drinkers as alcoholics

Ne liput puolitankoon heivaa
They lower the flags halfway

Tippapullot lentää seinään
Drip bottles fly to the walls

Letkut syvemmälle nenään
Tubes go deeper into the nose

Äijät nää ei lähde täältä mihinkään
These guys won't leave from here anywhere

Äijät nää vain humppaa jyskyttää
These guys only dance to humppa beats

Pikkupopparit ne poraa
Small-time pop stars bore us

Arkuille jo viskoo soraa
They already throw dirt on coffins

Diskopellet jortsuissansa
Disco freaks in their shorts

Mäkistarttaa koneitansa
They start their Mac computers

Lapsenlapset touhun teilaa
Grandchildren mess around