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.
Korpiklaani
Korpiklaani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tapiolan tarpojaksi
Olen syntynt' sotijalo,
Varttunt' vaeltaja vahva.
Soitten, korpein halki tarvon,
Aarnikankain aarteit' etsin,
Ikihenki syömmehessäin,
Salon, korven klaanin,
Kourat kontioisen
Salon, korven klaanin
Vuorten voima ranteissain"
Salon Korpiklaani
Salon Korpiklaani
Miul'on kourat kontioisen,
Tarkka tieto ilvekseltä,
Soitto saapunt' sarwekkaalta,
Juoksu suen jäntereistä.
Laatiaksen laajan laulun,
Sovittaiksen suuren soiton,
Eläimille, immeisille,
Kairamaitten lapsosille.
The lyrics to Korpiklaani by the Finnish folk metal band Korpiklaani tell the story of a man who considers himself a warrior and a strong traveler. He was raised by the mythical creature Kanervalan and trained by the forest nomads of Tapiola. He wanders through the forests and mountains, searching for treasures hidden in the ancient forests of Finland. His heart is filled with the eternal spirit of nature, and his hands are as strong as the mountains that surround him. He refers to himself as a member of the Korpiklaani, which translates to "Forest Clan" in English.
The second verse talks about the main character's abilities and skills. He boasts of having the sharp sense of a bear, the tracking skills of a fox, and the speed of a wolf. He also speaks of his musical prowess, able to play music on the horn of a reindeer and use the tendons of a dog as the strings for his instrument. He is a poet, which he uses to create a song for all the creatures of the forest and the children of the wilderness. The song embodies the strength and power of the mountains and the primordial beauty of the ancient forests of Finland.
Line by Line Meaning
Kanervalan kasvatiksi,
I was raised in Kanervala
Tapiolan tarpojaksi
I became a wanderer of Tapiola
Olen syntynt' sotijalo,
I was born as a warrior
Varttunt' vaeltaja vahva.
I have grown to be a strong wanderer
Soitten, korpein halki tarvon,
I roam through forests and thickets
Aarnikankain aarteit' etsin,
I seek treasures in ancient forests
Ikihenki syömmehessäin,
I have eternal life within my heart
Vuorten voima rantehessain.
I have the strength of mountains at my side
Salon, korven klaanin,
I'm part of the clan of the forest and wilds
Kourat kontioisen
I have hands as powerful as a bear's
Salon, korven klaanin
I'm part of the clan of the forest and wilds
Vuorten voima ranteissain"
I have the strength of mountains in my hands
Salon Korpiklaani
We are the forest clan
Salon Korpiklaani
We are the forest clan
Miul'on kourat kontioisen,
I have hands as powerful as a bear's
Tarkka tieto ilvekseltä,
I have precise knowledge from the lynx
Soitto saapunt' sarwekkaalta,
I have learned music from the moose
Juoksu suen jäntereistä.
I learned to run from the wolf
Laatiaksen laajan laulun,
I create grand songs
Sovittaiksen suuren soiton,
I compose grand music
Eläimille, immeisille,
For animals and mankind
Kairamaitten lapsosille.
For the children of the northland.
Contributed by Adeline L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dimitris Lentzaris
English Lyrics according to lyricsmode :
Brought up by Kanervala,
To travel through Tapiola,
Born a noble warrior
Grown a strong wanderer.
Travelin' through the wilds, woods,
Treasures of the virgin forest.
Spirit of all time in my heart,
Strength of the mountains
In my hands.
Clan of the forest,
Clan of the wilderness,
Hands of a bear.
Clan of the forest,
Clan of the wilderness,
Strength of the mountains.
Clan of the wilderness
Clan of the wilderness
Hands of a bear,
Wisdom of a lynx,
Music from the horned one,
Speed from the wolves' legs.
I have.
Gaia Pavon
Salon, korven klaanin,
Kourat kontioisen
Salon, korven klaanin
Vuorten voima ranteissain"
Salon Korpiklaani
Salon Korpiklaani
Miul'on kourat kontioisen,
Tarkka tieto ilvekseltд,
Soitto saapunt' sarwekkaalta,
Juoksu suen jдntereistд.
Laatiaksen laajan laulun,
Sovittaiksen suuren soiton,
Elдimille, immeisille,
Kairamaitten lapsosille.
john pina
love this song ..I can't stop rocking it!
Dimitris Lentzaris
English Lyrics according to lyricsmode :
Brought up by Kanervala,
To travel through Tapiola,
Born a noble warrior
Grown a strong wanderer.
Travelin' through the wilds, woods,
Treasures of the virgin forest.
Spirit of all time in my heart,
Strength of the mountains
In my hands.
Clan of the forest,
Clan of the wilderness,
Hands of a bear.
Clan of the forest,
Clan of the wilderness,
Strength of the mountains.
Clan of the wilderness
Clan of the wilderness
Hands of a bear,
Wisdom of a lynx,
Music from the horned one,
Speed from the wolves' legs.
I have.
Lilli Mango
thank you this song makes me jump, yet I do not untertand one word ;D
Zissimus
Crytica ja nerozprávam po fínsky a aj tak ich počúvam. nie že by si bol rás že to zaujíma ľudí mimo fínska. a teraz si z toho čo som napisal bortak
Talen Tompkins
He gave a translation for those who don't speak Finnish. Which I bet is most of their fan base.
DanzouXG
and original
Marisch Baranyai
I love Korpiklaani! Very good music!
LifeInHell08
Awesome song!!!! True folk metal!!! /m/
Михаил Дягилев
Афигенная тема!!!
Kalin Demirev
The band and all their songs are awesome! Hail from Bulgaria!! \m/