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

Kiitokset humpasta
Eläkeläiset Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Humppaportugalia
yksin soperran
ei siitä kukaan tajua
siksi huudan kovempaa
schönke dan, kiitokset humpasta
schönke dan, no hei
ettekö te tajua
schönke dan, kiitokset humpasta

schönke dan
humppaportugalia
kieltä ei oo sekavampata
kuusi miljardia sanaa
eikä kielioppia
schönke dan, kiitokset humpasta
schönke dan, no helevetti
ettekö te tajua
schönke dan, kiitokset humpasta
schönke dan
humppaportugalia
itsekseni soperran
ei sitä kukaan tajua
siksi huudan lujempa
schönke dan, kiitokset humpasta
schönke dan, no helevetti
ettekö te tajua
schönke dan, kiitokset humpasta
schönke dan
schönke dan, kiitokset humpasta
schönke dan, no helevetti
ettekö te tajua

schönke dan, kiitokset humpasta
schönke dan

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Kiitokset humpasta" by Elakelaiset refer to the experience of speaking or attempting to speak a foreign language, in this case, "humppaportugalia." The singer is struggling to communicate with others in this language, and feels that no one understands them. They express frustration at the complexity and confusion of the language, with "six billion words and no grammar." Despite this, the singer continues to try to communicate, even if it means yelling louder.

The chorus of the song features the phrase "schönke dan," which is likely a made-up word meant to sound like a Portuguese phrase. It could be interpreted as a way of expressing gratitude or thanks, perhaps for attempting to communicate in the language. Overall, the song is a humorous take on the challenges of language barriers and the attempts to communicate across them.

Line by Line Meaning

Humppaportugalia
I'm speaking gibberish, a made-up language that no one understands, with a humpa (a Finnish dance) twist.

yksin soperran
I'm mumbling to myself, not really making sense.

ei siitä kukaan tajua
No one can understand what I'm saying.

siksi huudan kovempaa
That's why I have to shout louder.

schönke dan, kiitokset humpasta
Thanks to the humpa dance, I'm having fun.

schönke dan, no hei
Thanks, but also, hey!

ettekö te tajua
Don't you understand?

humppaportugalia
Back to the gibberish language with a humpa beat.

kieltä ei oo sekavampata
There's no more confusing language than this one.

kuusi miljardia sanaa
Six billion words in the language, it's craziness!

eikä kielioppia
And no grammar rules, just madness.