While other folk metal bands began with metal before adding folk music, Korpiklaani started with folk music before turning metal. The roots of Korpiklaani can be traced back to a Sami folk music group under the name of 'Shamaani Duo', an "in-house restaurant band" created by Jonne Järvelä in 1993. An album of folk music (Hunka Lunka) was released under this name before Järvelä relocated and "Shamaani Duo" morphed into "Shaman". Shaman was the second incarnation of Korpiklaani, formed in 1996 which is notable for the heavy use of original native Sámic music elements and lyrics in Northern Sámi. The band's music was based on the folk music of Shamaani Duo. The most widely used elements are the shamanic drum, yoik and humppa. Besides yoik, the vocals vary from clean to rather aggressive growling.
The musical style of Shaman is quite distinctive, especially in the slow songs, due to its entrancing atmosphere created by the monophonic, "narrow" synth sound making the deep contrast to the spacious sound of the acoustic guitar, the shamanic drum and yoik singing. The first recording released under the name of Shaman was the demo single Ođđa máilbmi (New World in Northern Sámi). The video clip shot for the song featured a wolf breaking free from its cage and running into the forest. Besides the single CD the song was included on the band's first full-length album Idja (Night in Northern Sámi, 1999) as well. The band released another album, Shamániac, in 2002. The band underwent another evolution in 2003, and "Shaman" became "Korpiklaani" (with only Järvelä and drummer Samu Ruotsalainen remaining from the last "Shaman" lineup), with the music style to a more conventional folk metal with folk/thrash vocals instead of yoiking. Shamániac had already featured a strong resemblance to the future Korpiklaani style. In fact, the song, "Vuola lávlla", has the same music as the Korpiklaani song, "Beer Beer".
The change in name was accompanied by a change in the music. The traditional yoik vocals and the use of the Northern Sámi language were dropped while the synthesizer was replaced with real folk instruments. Jonne Järvelä credits his work with Finntroll as the catalyst for the shift in emphasis from folk to metal. Their song lyrics are often related to alcohol and partying. According to Jonne Järvelä, Korpiklaani's music would be seen as "old people's music with heavy metal guitars" in Finland.
There has been some collaboration between Korpiklaani and Finntroll, as Samu Ruotsalainen of Finntroll provided session drums for their debut album Spirit of the Forest and Järvelä provided the yoiking for the title track of Finntroll's album Jaktens Tid. Juha Jyrkäs has written some Finnish lyrics to Korpiklaani and from 2011 lyrics are written by poet Tuomas Keskimäki, who writes lyrics in the old Finnish "kalevalametre".
In September 2011 Korpiklaani announced that Jaakko "Hittavainen" Lemmetty would be leaving the band due to personal health issues which made the constant touring and recording impossible. First his replacement was violist Teemu Eerola and later, nowadays permanent member, Tuomas Rounakari. In 2013 accordion player Juho Kauppinen left Korpiklaani and the new accordion player is Sami Perttula.
Beer Beer
Korpiklaani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And morning to evening
I want to drink
Something stronger than a man
From evening to morning
And morning to evening
I want to drink
Cause that's what I am
I want beer
From beer I get really drunk
Beer, beer
I need more beer
So much I pass out
For beer I'm working
For beer I'm fighting
For bee I'll do
Whatever I have to
When drunk I'm talking
When drunk I'm joking
When drunk I can be as I've
Always wanted to be
The lyrics in Korpiklaani's song "Beer Beer" speak clearly to the joys of drinking beer. The first few lines articulate the singer's desire to drink "something stronger than a man" throughout the day, from morning until evening. This sentiment is repeated later on, suggesting that the singer is really committed to his love of beer. The chorus is just as straightforward, insisting that "beer, beer" is what the singer wants and needs in order to feel drunk and happy.
The verses suggest that the singer is willing to go to great lengths to drink beer: he'll work hard, fight, and do whatever he has to in order to get his hands on this beloved beverage. The final lines of the song are perhaps the most telling, as the singer notes that when he's drunk, he can finally be himself. This suggests that drinking beer is not just a fun social activity, but a way for the singer to escape from everyday life and let his true personality shine through.
Line by Line Meaning
From evening to morning
Throughout the entire night, from sunset to sunrise
And morning to evening
And throughout the whole day, from sunrise to sunset
I want to drink
I desire to consume alcoholic beverages
Something stronger than a man
Something with a higher alcohol content than a typical human can handle
From evening to morning
Throughout the entire night, from sunset to sunrise (repeated)
And morning to evening
And throughout the whole day, from sunrise to sunset (repeated)
I want to drink
I desire to consume alcoholic beverages (repeated)
Cause that's what I am
Because drinking is a fundamental part of my identity
Beer, beer
A repetition of the desire for beer
I want beer
The intense craving for beer
From beer I get really drunk
Drinking beer results in heavy intoxication
Beer, beer
A repetition of the desire for beer (repeated)
I need more beer
I require additional beer to continue my consumption
So much I pass out
I drink to an excessive degree, to the point of unconsciousness
For beer I'm working
I am laboring in order to afford the ability to purchase beer
For beer I'm fighting
I am battling in order to obtain beer
For beer I'll do
I am willing to perform any task in exchange for beer
Whatever I have to
Without hesitation or limit
When drunk I'm talking
In a state of drunkenness, I often become loquacious
When drunk I'm joking
In a state of drunkenness, I often amuse myself and others with humor
When drunk I can be as I've
When intoxicated, I am able to act however I please
Always wanted to be
In a manner that represents my true self, but is inhibited when sober
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@napalmrecords
Oldie but goldie!
@JeanBaptisteEmanuelZorg
Zorg's oldies but goldies, very practical :)
@caressofstars4239
I envy you for being so young that you consider this nice song to be an oldie :}}}} For me, it is new music - but I think I'll take another beer now!
@PFgreenisthecolour
😂
@gdduuhsstyhbbb
seeing old 4chan terms is weird
@dusshan1
how about to upload it in proper quality? i understand youtube does some damage but it can definitely sound better than this. 256kbps at least... please
@mucke777
powerwulf: we drink your blood kopiklaani: we drink your beer whats more worse?
@gibbeniganskulldugger9155
your grammar
answering a 5 year old comment
what's worse?
@AlexanderCheff
Drinking the bloodwine?
@matthijsgeerts9593
Alestorm we are here to drink your beer and steal your rum