In August 2005, Värttinä recorded their tenth studio album called Miero at Finnvox Studios, Helsinki. It was released on 25 January 2006 in Finland, and 30 January 2006 worldwide. In 2006, Värttinä also released the Värttinä Archive Live DVD, which included material from their 20th anniversary concert and other new and archive material. Värttinä collaborated with A.R. Rahman, a famous composer from India, in composing the music for the theatrical adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, which played in Toronto in 2006 and in London in 2007.
Värttinä has been featured on popular children's show Arthur singing their hit song "Matalii ja Mustii" from the album Seleniko. The song was also featured on the show's first soundtrack, Arthur and Friends: The First Almost Real Not Live CD (Or Tape).
Pihi Neito
Värttinä Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tarjottihin, monenmoista ja
Näköistä näytettihin.
Kävi kosjat koittamassa
Katsomassa kylän keikarit ja
Komeimmat kurkkimassa.
Pailemassa törkyturvat ja turilaat
Tahtomassa.
Viinaveikotkin vokotteli
Vaimoksensa, viinaputelin pitelijät
Omaksensa.
Keikarit kokeili kuntoa ja kykyä,
Keikarit kokeili kuntoa ja kykyä.
En mie noita huolinunna
Halunnunna. En mie noita
Huolinunna halunnunna.
En mie noita luolinunna
Halunnunna, en mie noita
Huolinunna halunna.
Pihiks miut pihtariks miut
Mainittihin, pihiks miut pihtariks
Miut mainittihin.
Nirppanenäks sa nokkavaksi
Naurettihin, nirppanenäks ja
Nokkavaksi naurettihin.
Kihtikintuks kihtikintuks
Kuiskittihin, lahoks lahnaks lahoks
Lahnaks leimattihin.
Kun en menny kun en mie menny
Miesten matkaan.
Kun en menny kun en mie menny
Miesten matkaan.
Ollu miesten mielehinen
Mieluhinen, miesten ollu
Mielehinen ja näköinen.
Nainu naapurista nuorinta ja
Komeinta, ottanu omasta kylästä ja
Kylästä.
En mie anna enkä mie anna
Ollenkana, mie en anna enkä mie
Anna ollenkana.
Herrain helmoja heilutella
Hipelöijä, miesten mekolla mesoa
Ja mesoa.
Viiä veikon vällyjen alle vällyn alle
Veikon viiä viettelyksiin vokotella.
Vilä viekon vällujen alle vällyn alle
Veikon viiä viettelyksiin vokotella.
En mie anna neitouttani
Nuoruuttani, mie en anna
Nuoruuttani neitouttani.
En mie anna neitouttani
Nuoruuttani, mie en anna
Nuoruuttani neitouttani.
The lyrics of Värttinä's song "Pihi Neito" describe the experiences of a woman who is courted by many men from her village. The suitors are of different types and personalities, ranging from "wine companions" to "arrogant and disrespectful" men. However, despite the many attempts to win her affection, the woman remains steadfast and independent, refusing to conform to societal expectations or give up her freedom.
In the verses, we see how her suitors try to impress her with their looks and skills ("Komeimmat kurkkimassa"), but in the end, she rejects them all ("En mie noita huolinunna halunnunna"). The woman is even mocked by others in the village for being too picky or "nirppanenäks" (fussy), but she still stands firm and refuses to settle ("En mie anna neitouttani nuoruuttani").
Overall, the message of the song is one of empowerment and self-determination. The woman in the song is a symbol of resilience against societal pressure to conform, as she valiantly defends her personal integrity against a barrage of unwanted suitors.
Line by Line Meaning
Monenmoista miestä miulle
Several types of men were offered to me
Tarjottihin, monenmoista ja
They were offered, many and different
Näköistä näytettihin.
They were shown to me
Kävi kosjat koittamassa
The suitors came to try
Katsomassa kylän keikarit ja
Checking out the village peacocks and
Komeimmat kurkkimassa.
The most handsome were lurking
Törkyturvat tapailemassa
The gross-faced were trying to impress
Pailemassa törkyturvat ja turilaat
The lowlifes were trying to shine
Tahtomassa.
Seeking love.
Viinaveikotkin vokotteli
The wine guys also lured
Vaimoksensa, viinaputelin pitelijät
For wives, drinkers of wine bottles
Omaksensa.
As their own.
Keikarit kokeili kuntoa ja kykyä,
The peacocks tested each others’ strength and ability,
Keikarit kokeili kuntoa ja kykyä.
The peacocks tested each others’ strength and ability.
En mie noita huolinunna
I didn't want any of them
Halunnunna. En mie noita
I didn't want them
Huolinunna halunnunna.
I didn't desire them.
En mie noita luolinunna
I didn't believe them
Halunnunna, en mie noita
I didn't want them,
Huolinunna halunna.
And I didn't desire them.
Pihiks miut pihtariks miut
I was called a miser
Mainittihin, pihiks miut pihtariks
I was mentioned as a miser
Miut mainittihin.
I was talked about.
Nirppanenäks sa nokkavaksi
I was laughed at for being finicky-nosed and sharp
Naurettihin, nirppanenäks ja
I was laughed at, being finicky-nosed and
Nokkavaksi naurettihin.
Sharp in appearance.
Kihtikintuks kihtikintuks
I was called lame
Kuiskittihin, lahoks lahnaks
They whispered, as a rotten fish
Lahoks leimattihin.
They marked me as a rotten fish.
Kun en menny kun en mie menny
Since I didn't go
Miesten matkaan.
With the men.
Ollu miesten mielehinen
I was pleasing to men
Mieluhinen, miesten ollu
Pleasing to men, I was
Mielehinen ja näköinen.
Pleasing in appearance.
Nainu naapurista nuorinta ja
I married the youngest and
Komeinta, ottanu omasta kylästä ja
Most handsome, taken from my own town and
Kylästä.
Town.
En mie anna enkä mie anna
I won't give away
Ollenkana, mie en anna enkä mie
Not ever, I won't give it away
Anna ollenkana.
No, not ever.
Herrain helmoja heilutella
Flirting with the men
Hipelöijä, miesten mekolla mesoa
Being playful, boasting in men's company
Ja mesoa.
And boasting.
Viiä veikon vällyjen alle vällyn alle
To draw them under the covers of a friend
Veikon viiä viettelyksiin vokotella.
To seduce the friends and lure them.
Vilä viekon vällujen alle vällyn alle
To draw them under the covers of a friend, again
Veikon viiä viettelyksiin vokotella.
To seduce the friends and lure them.
En mie anna neitouttani
I won't give away my virginity
Nuoruuttani, mie en anna
My youth, I won't give it up,
Nuoruuttani neitouttani.
My virginity or my youth.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rhkips
The song that kickstarted my fascination with and love for Finland!
I remember a friend giving me a mixtape in '95 that had this song on it. Eventually, he found the information, and I started searching...
Thank you to whomever I corresponded with via international mail at Varttina Headquarters, for allowing my mother to send a check, and shipping Seleniko to me in the States. I mowed a lot of lawns that summer to afford the shipping charges, and it was worth every last bit!
Värttinä Official
That's a great story! Thanks for sharing!
David Morales
Oh wow. Lol
thejackal007
I have to admit, I heard of Värttinä through the silliest way: through the PBS cartoon Arthur. That said, when I was able, I bought Seleniko and play it for anyone that will listen. I still don't know much about Finland, but I am learning and music is always one of the first places I try to start when I learn about a culture or region that is new to me. Thank you for the wonderful passport!
MloveHb
Wanted to send this to a friend and I was floored upon finding this!
How have I listened to this song 1,000 times and never realized there was a music video?
Yevgeniya Sorokina
Excellent MV! Congrats girls :)
Kenn Stewart
This is my favourite track from Seleniko and the band that recorded Koko and Vihma was the best lineup.
katiuscia pellicane
avevo il loro disco!spettacolare!!
Mie Sterckx
The old days...Never seen this before.
Värttinä Official
Yes, a looooong time ago... 😊