Ultra Bra was a rather large band, consisting of three female (Terhi Kokkonen, Vuokko Hovatta and Anna Tulusto who left after 'Kroketti') and two male singers (Arto Talme and Olli Virtaperko), a pianist (Kerkko Koskinen), a drummer (Antti Lehtinen), a guitarist (Joel Melasniemi), a bass player (Tommi Saarikoski), a percussionist (Jan Pethman), a saxophonist (Marko Portin), a trombone player (Ilmari Pohjola) and a trumpet player (Kari Pelttari). Thus the band's sound is quite massive at times, strings and choral parts also appearing in many songs. As years went by, the band's sound evolved into a much more straight-forward rock sound, especially during Vesireittejä.
Ultra Bra's first release was a EP, called Houkutusten kiihottava maku (The Exciting Taste of Temptations), released in the summer of 1995. Their first album, Vapaaherran elämää (The Life of A Baron) was released in 1996 and was selected as the album of the year by a respected Finnish music magazine Rumba. Of all their albums, the debut has significantly the most political messages within, including lyrics about the late Ken Saro-Wiwa (Ken Saro-Wiwa on Kuollut), the second world war, the situation with the newly founded European Union, etcetera.
Their second album, Kroketti (Croquet), is considered as Ultra Bra's breakthrough album. It was released in 1997 and has sold double platinum in Finland since the release. Third album Kalifornia (California) was released in the spring of 1999. The band played a highly successful live gig on the show Jyrki Live in the national television upon its release, catapulting both it and Kroketti into the national Top 10 in sales.
In the year 2000, before releasing their fourth and for now the last album Vesireittejä (Water Routes), the members decided that they had reached the point where they didn't want to continue with the band. They toured with the new album and announced their decision half a year later. The band then released a compilation, Sinä päivänä kun synnyin (On The Day I Was Born). They held seven goodbye shows and withdrew on the 20th of October 2001.
Officially Ultra Bra is not yet disbanded, but on an extended break. It is thought to be quite unlikely for them to reunite for a new album. Many of the former members are now in other bands or solo projects; most notably Scandinavian Music Group with Kokkonen, Melasniemi, and Lehtinen; and Kerkko Koskinen with his succesful solo releases.
Nainen joka elää vapaaherran elämää
Ultra Bra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
kiristää tahtia ja hengästyy
hän ei ajattele vainajia
eikä mielisairaita
vaan katsoo kahta siltaa
jotka ylittävät meren
näkee monia kasveja
joita ei mainitse nimeltä
Mikään ei voisi hermostuttaa naista
joka elää vapaaherran elämää
uuden vuoden jälkeen astuu
kirkkoon pitsissä
ja monina aamuina herätessään
muisti juuri nähneensä
raa'an väkivaltaisia unia
Katselee ikkunan takana kulkevaa tietä
selailee lehtiä ja huvittuu
hän ei kuuntele puhelinta
eikä vaatimuksia
vaan näkee yhden sillan
jonka alla kiskot kulkevat
tietää monia päiviä
joina ei liikennöi junia
Mikään ei voisi hermostuttaa naista
joka elää vapaaherran elämää
uuden vuoden jälkeen astuu
kirkkoon pitsissä
ja monina aamuina herätessään
muisti juuri nähneensä
raa'an väkivaltaisia unia
The song "Nainen joka elää vapaaherran elämää" by Ultra Bra is about a woman who lives a life of privilege, but seems to struggle with some internal demons. The opening verse describes her walking along a road next to a cemetery, picking up her pace and getting out of breath. Despite being near the graves and a mental institution, she isn't thinking about those things. Instead, she's looking at two bridges that cross the sea and noticing various plants that she doesn't name.
The second verse has the woman looking out the window at another road, reading newspapers and finding them amusing. She isn't answering the phone or responding to demands placed on her, but she notices a railroad bridge that doesn't see much traffic. Throughout both verses, the woman seems disconnected from the world around her, lost in her thoughts.
The chorus repeatedly emphasizes that nothing can make this woman nervous, as she lives a "vapaaherran elämää," or life of a baroness. Yet, she attends church in lace dresses and wakes up from vividly violent dreams on many mornings. The last line of each chorus seems to be a reminder that even someone who lives a posh life still has their problems.
Overall, the song seems to depict the loneliness and isolation that can come with a life of privilege. The woman may have everything she could ever want or need, but she still struggles to connect with the world around her and grapples with her own inner turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
Kävelee hautausmaan vieressä kulkevaa tietä
The woman is walking on the road near the cemetery, increasing her pace and getting out of breath. She doesn't think about the dead and the mentally ill, but instead looks at two bridges that cross the sea and sees many plants that she doesn't name.
Mikään ei voisi hermostuttaa naista
Nothing could make the woman nervous.
joka elää vapaaherran elämää
Because she lives the life of a noblewoman.
uuden vuoden jälkeen astuu
After the new year, she steps into the church.
kirkkoon pitsissä
She wears lace to the church.
ja monina aamuina herätessään
And on many mornings when she wakes up,
muisti juuri nähneensä
she remembers that she just saw
raa'an väkivaltaisia unia
brutal and violent dreams.
Katselee ikkunan takana kulkevaa tietä
She looks at the road outside the window, reads newspapers and finds them amusing. She doesn't answer the phone or listen to any demands, but she sees a bridge under which the tracks run, and she knows many days when no trains run.
tietää monia päiviä
She knows many days when no trains run.
joina ei liikennöi junia
On these days, no trains run.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FinnishMusicFan
One of my favourite UB songs. The video has its charm, as it reminds me of where I used to live in Helsinki in 2000. Where was this video shot, anyway? Note Olli's awkward standing, the crazy editing and how Antti lets himself go singing along at the 1.55 mark.
shinyglass
This has to be my favourite UB song!!! They're great. I wish they were popular in Australia.
Petri Ahonen
Omistan kaikki Ultra Bran levyt. TOUDELLA kuulostelemisen arvoinen bändi!!
dconflict
Ihana.... This is my fav UB track.
Sampo Heikkinen
:D Tulee täydelliset muistot lapsuudesta silloin 2000 luvun alussa kun aina pitkillä automatkoilla näitä kuuntelin. On mulla kyllä vallan täydelliset vanhemmat! :D Ja sitten kuin aina siskon kanssa lauloin tässä laulussa mukana! Ja aina kohdassa hengästyy joku autossa hengähti! :D! Mikä nostalgian tunne, kaunis, selittelemätön. On se vaan hienoa.
shinyglass
Why? She was so gorgeous!!!
I Am Pesukone
Ultra Bra on loistava :D ja SMG :D
shinyglass
I luv Anna Tulusto, she is so gawgus, it's a shame she left the band.
jtwrtn
on se kova!
sarnat1977
Most of the shots are from Ruoholahti area. The band is playing inside the Cable Factory, it seems.