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
Pultsarihumppa
Eläkeläiset Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vääntyä suu
Suru puseroon takertuu
Humpattu on ja eilinenkin
Pätkittäin mieleen palautuu
Hukkuu arjen ahdistavuus
Kukkuu oi kulma uus
Hu hah hei,
Meille maistuu alkohooli
Hu hah hei,
Sitä meille kantakaa
Rouvatkin, mikä meille kuuluu
Se suosiolla meille antakaa
Se suosiolla meille antakaa
Pulsonkit tykkää vettä litkiä
Popsivatkin kalanperkeitä
Urheilijakin, ne latkii maitoa
Mutta meillä onkin
Piru merrassa
Hukkuu arjen ahdistavuus
Kukkuu oi kulma uus
Kukkuu, kuuleko kuu
Hu hah hei,
Meille maistuu alkohooli
Hu hah hei,
Sitä meille kantakaa
Rouvatkin, mikä meille kuuluu
Se suosiolla meille antakaa
Se suosiolla meille antakaa
Hukkuu arjen ahdistavuus
Kukkuu oi kulma uus
Kukkuu, kuuleko kuu
Hu hah hei,
Meille maistuu alkohooli
Hu hah hei,
Sitä meille kantakaa
Rouvatkin, mikä meille kuuluu
Se suosiolla meille antakaa
Se suosiolla meille antakaa
Hu hah hei,
Meille maistuu alkohooli
Hu hah hei,
Sitä meille kantakaa
Rouvatkin, mikä meille kuuluu
Se suosiolla meille antakaa
Se suosiolla meille antakaa
The lyrics of Eläkeläiset's song Pultsarihumppa describe the feeling of letting go of daily worries and embracing the enjoyment of alcohol. The opening lines describe the physical reaction of the singer as they begin to feel the sorrow weighing down on them, before reminiscing on the previous night's festivities. The chorus repeats the call for alcohol to be brought to them, with the additional note that even the respected members of society, such as athletes and the elderly, also indulge. This is contrasted with the final line of the chorus, where the singer asks for alcohol to be given to them with ease and no judgment from others. The verses highlight the joy that comes from drinking with friends and declares that for them, it is the devil that is in the details of their revelry.
Eläkeläiset's lyrics have a reputation for being humorous and cleverly crafted, while the themes they explore are often deeply rooted in Finnish culture. This particular song is a nod to the Finnish culture of 'pullon henki' or bottle spirit, where alcohol is used as a coping mechanism for the harsh realities of daily life. The song also highlights the Finnish tradition of 'humppa', a fast-paced dance that involves swaying and jumping to the beat, which is a staple at celebrations and events in the country.
Line by Line Meaning
Hui kun nyt alkaa
Wow, it's starting to feel good
Vääntyä suu
The smile is forming on my face
Suru puseroon takertuu
All the sadness is leaving me
Humpattu on ja eilinenkin
We've danced the night away and yesterday too
Pätkittäin mieleen palautuu
Memories of last night come in pieces
Hukkuu arjen ahdistavuus
The stress of daily life is fading
Kukkuu oi kulma uus
The night is filled with new experiences
Kukkuu, kuuleko kuu
Listen to the moon, it's calling us
Hu hah hei,
Hey ho,
Meille maistuu alkohooli
We enjoy alcohol
Sitä meille kantakaa
Bring us more
Rouvatkin, mikä meille kuuluu
Even the ladies know what's good for us
Se suosiolla meille antakaa
They happily give it to us
Pulsonkit tykkää vettä litkiä
Fishermen like to drink water
Popsivatkin kalanperkeitä
They even snack on fish bones
Urheilijakin, ne latkii maitoa
Even athletes drink milk
Mutta meillä onkin
But what we have is
Piru merrassa
The devil inside us
Contributed by Caroline T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.