~*Introduce your country's artists/bands!*~
 

I have wanted to make this kind thread for so long that you can't believe it! XD And finally it's here!

The idea is to introduce some artist(s) or band(s) from your country.
Here's little instructions:
1. Introduce artist(s) or/and band(s) from your country.
2. Include short history of the artist/band. [You can use Wikipedia here if u don't wanna write : D]
3. Include 1~5 songs from the artist/band you are introducing.
4. If the artist/band doesn't sing in English, it would be nice to have English translation of the lyrics ^.^
5. Add picture of the artist/band if possible!
6. You can introduce 5 artist(s) and/or band(s) per/day.

Happy presenting!~

I start the actual thread in the post above.

Okay, let's start! I introduce you to some top-artist of Finland!~


http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...i/maijuska.png
Maija Vilkkumaa
Stage name: Maija Vilkkumaa [also given name]
Debut year: 1990 [as a girl group "Tarharyhmä" [trans. "Kindergarteners"]
1999 [as a solo artist]
Genre: Rock Pop/Finnrock
Language: Finnish
Main Studio albums:
Pitkä ihana leikki (1999) [trans. Long Lovely Game]
Meikit, ketjut ja vyöt (2001) [trans. Make-ups, Necklakes and Belts]
Ei (2003) [trans. No]
Se ei olekaan niin (2005) [trans. But it's not like that]
Totuutta ja tehtävää (2006) [trans. Thruth and Dare, compilation]
Ilta Savoyssa (2007) [trans. A night at Savoy, live recording]
Superpallo (2008) [trans. Superball]
Kunnes joet muuttaa suuntaa (2010) [trans. Until Rivers Change Direction]

From Wikipedia:
"Maija Johanna Vilkkumaa (born November 9, 1973 in Helsinki, Finland) a Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter. Beginning her musical hobbies at an early age, Vilkkumaa studied in high school where she and her friends set up the band Tarharyhmä in 1990, which broke up in 1995. While studying Finnish language at the University of Helsinki, she started to take singing lessons and went on to start her solo career in 1999.

Since 1999 to 2011, Vilkkumaa has released eight full-length albums and sold over 300,000 records,[1] becoming one of the best-selling female recording artists in Finland.[2] Met with commercial success, the singer — who writes and composes the songs by herself[3] — has also been complimented for being a key actor in reforming the art of Finnish song lyrics[4] and has received five Emma Awards, an accolade for outstanding achievements in music, awarded by the Finnish music industry."
read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maija_Vilkkumaa

Vilkkumaa is one of the most popular female rock singers in Finland. However, you either love her or hate her. Why? Because of her pretty unique voice and singing style. She has pretty raw-sounding voice, so if you don't like raw females, you gonna hate her : D

Here's couple of songs from her~

The first song, "Lottovoitto" has been understood as a critic of Finnish society and customs.


This is more happier sounding example from her. One of my favorites <3 Name's "Kuiskaile suu" [Whisper My Mouth]

Ewa Farna
(i disliked her when she came back to Poland, cause she debuted with polish "version" of Miz - In the sky song ~it's called Tam gdzie nie ma już dróg if you like to hear it on youtube~ This song it's pretty crappy, but I really like her songs since 2010!)
http://mtvema.mtvnimages.com/2010/im....jpg?width=512

From wiki: Ewa Farna (born 12 August 1993) is a Polish pop rock singer from the Czech Republic. She was born in Třinec, and belongs to the Polish minority in the Czech Republic. Farna released three studio albums with Czech lyrics, which sold platinum in the Czech Republic and were later re-recorded and released with Polish lyrics. Farna is the youngest commercially successful singer in the Czech Republic. She is set to perform at the 2010 Teen Choice Awards with her new English single.

So she sings in Czech and Polish.

Some of her new polish songs:




My favorite Ewa song, Czech lyrics

i really like the video too~

Rough english translation from "Maska" chorus
("Mask")
Take off your mask
I know that is not easy to recognize your real face
But just let's try, if you know that fame can easily go down
And the journey of your dreams is closer
Take off your mask!
Go into the neverending abyss
And know your real face
Believe that the day with the right feeling will come
So don't be afraid and shout it loud
I am taking off my mask! It's me!

Rough "Ewakuacja" ("Evacuation") english translation (also by me)

I will take my 2 favorite pop singers from Brazil... They are also the biggest we have on the last decades... living legends level :P

IVETE SANGALO

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Aa4kstR3N-...te+Sangalo.jpg
From wikipedia:
Biggest Hits:

Festa (Party)



Sorte Grande (Greatest Luck)



Se eu não te amasse tanto assim (If I didn't love you so much)



Personal Favorite:

Berimbau Metalizado (Metalic)




MARISA MONTE

http://www.culturamix.com/wp-content...a-monte-02.jpg
From wikipedia:
Biggest Hits:

Amor, I love you (My love, eu te amo)



Velha Infancia (Old Childhood)



Já sei namorar (Already know how to make out)



Personal Favorite:

Infinito Particular (Particular Infinity)

Jessica Mauboy


http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/7...amauboypng.png


Jessica Hilda Mauboy (born 4 August 1989), is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. Born in Darwin, Northern Territory, Mauboy auditioned for the fourth season of Australian Idol in 2006 to pursue a recording career, when she later became the runner-up of the season. Although she did not win the show, Mauboy subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia.

Brooke Fraser
http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/...oke+Fraser.png
(If the songs are not showing up, please check out for yourself on youtube)

Something in The Water


Shadowfeet


Without You


Betty

The only one that is very popular among my people at the moment (and that I know of lmao) is a group called "Sudden Rush", compiled of a girl and a guy.

I am Hmong, and I personally think the Hmong language is beautiful. The Hmong people are not widely known...yet. Our community is still fighting to get our names into textbooks.

The video has English translations within it (although the video in the background is obviously not the music video).

@pepper Oh, I think I like her! : D Especially Bez Lez ans she's only my age! Cool! [she looks way older than me though X,D]

@Andrenekoi Oh, they both sound so Brazilian! X3~ My personal favorite is Sorte Grande. Marisa Monte sounds familiar name to me : o

@SURREAL RAINBOW She's so pretty, I love her hair! <3 My favorites from her are Run and Let Me Be Me

@XLuna&1LOVE You know what? : D I fell in love with hers Something in the Water [It's one of my favorite songs ever now!], Betty and Jack kerouac that I bought them from iTunes! <3
I also introduced her to my friend who fell in love ; )

@NintendoHTF1242 Oh, so exotic! And you are right, the language sounds beautiful!~

I'm gonna translate one more song from Maija Vilkkumaa, then I present another artist~

wow this is such a good thread! thanks for making it :)

TESLA BOY

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1484/x481ad37f.jpg

Tesla Boy is a Russian synthpop / new wave band formed by Anton Sevidov, Dima Midborn and Poko Cox in late 2008.

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8108/xbf572559.jpg

The band started by recording a five-track demo entitled "The Tesla Boy", distributing it amongst friends and on the internet. It was later published under the title "The Tesla Boy EP." The promo CD features full artwork by DW Design studios. Bloggers took note of the demo, describing the band's music as "some of the most exciting electronic music of the year", "the best thing to come from Russia since vodka" and "the finest pop group in the world today". The band were quickly booked for sold-out concerts in many major Soviet cities and headlined three major Russian music festivals: Afisha, Stereoleto and MIGZ.

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/2...aboytbpng1.png

Since August 2009, the band has been signed to the British label Mullet Records. The label released the aforementioned demo "The Tesla Boy EP" along with a "The Tesla Boy" remix EP, and the band's debut LP "Modern Thrills" in May 2010, which was followed by the three singles "Electric Lady, "Thinking Of You" and "Liberating Soul".

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7658/x0905bc17.jpg

I really love this band, I have seen them live twice and both were great. I remember how they gained popularity through the internet back in 2009 and I was so excited about them too. They are Moscow-based band and I was living in Saint-Petersburg, so when they made their debute on my town's stage, it was the huge success. They are not popular in mainstream actually, but only among indie, hipsters and so on.


TESLA BOY - FIRE
this is my most favourite tesla boy's song



TESLA BOY - SPIRIT OF THE NIGHT



TESLA BOY - ELECTRIC LADY




Try them if you like 80s music, synthpop, bands of Valerie Collective and like Cut Copy.

@YUKARI I'm so happy that u like it! ^__^ Btw, Tesla Boy do sound pretty 80's!

And now, for the next artist!

CHISU
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...2010_chisu.jpg
Stage name: Chisu [real name: Christel Martina Sundberg]
Born: January 3,1982 (age 29)
Debut year: 2008
Genre: Pop
Language: Finnish
Main studio albums:
Alkovi (2008) [Alcove]
Vapaa ja yksin (2009) [Free and Alone]

From Ilosaarirock Festival site (2010):
"When it comes to Chisu, it's probably at least reasonable to talk about a person with multiple skills: she is a distiguished singer, composer, lyricist, arranger, recorder, producer and musician. In addition to her two solo albums Alkovi (Alcove), released in 2008, and Vapaa ja yksin (Free and Alone), released in 2009, you might also have heard Chisu's touch in many other productions ranging from the Idols contestant Antti Tuisku's music to the soundtrack of the ghost ride in Särkänniemi. Some people just know how to do it!

Chisu made a surprise appearance by slipping through the back door of the music industry when her first single Mun koti ei oo täällä (My Home Is Not Here) rose to the top of radio charts. But when she released her second album last year that she became familiar to practically everyone: to both hit channel listeners and the music freaks who spend their time delving in the reviews in music magazines. Vapaa ja yksin is a brave, original and creative tour de force that at times has a very cinematic feel to it. The worlds and atmospheres of the songs vary from intensely dramatic situations to small playful moments, with Chisu's charming voice holding it all densely together. The more modern features blend fluently together with aspects familiar from old popular songs, taking the listener from one surprise to another. The themes of the lyrics are also varied. It's possible to sing about heartache and love on the same album that has lyrics about depression and fairies, just listen!

The stunning quality of the album didn't go unacknowledged by critics either, and Chisu was also a seven-time nominee for 2010 Emma Awards."

Chisu has really pretty voice and I like many of her songs.

One of my all time favorite is this one below, called Baden-Baden.
At the time of recording, Finland was in bad recession. This song has quite imaginative conclusion to it!


EDIT: since you guys seem to like Chisu, I'll add another song from her! ;3
Oh, and nice to hear that there is Finnish music lovers!

Here's a playful and cute song called "Saaliit" [Preys]


I tried to translate it as cutely as possible : D~

AHH YOU FINNISH PEOPLE KEEP POSTING MORE I LOVE YOU!!!! I'm a huge Finnish music nerd, but most of the bands I have sing in English and I want more in Finnish *so beautiful dies* I've been limited to Sara, Indica, Uniklubi, and Hausmylly!!!

loving Tesla Boy and Chisu!! :love

Even though I'm from America I bet a lot of people don't know about this band...

Kamelot

http://www.statetheatreconcerts.com/...es/kamelot.jpg
Origin: Tampa, Florida, United States
Genres: Progressive Metal, Power Metal, Symphonic Metal
Years active: 1991–present

Kamelot continues their ascension to the top! Kamelot is one of metal’s most unique, influential and prestigious acts to come along in decades. The group’s reputation among fans and media alike is marked by enthusiasm as well as esteem, with each of their eight studio albums to date surpassing its predecessor in terms of songwriting and production. As one of the most difficult-tocategorize artists on the metal scene, Kamelot are poised to assault the planet with their most insightful and ambitious project to date, “Poetry for the Poisoned”, proving once again they are Invictus in the metal scene.

Ready to continue their rise to the pinnacle of metal royalty, founding guitarist Thomas Youngblood and vocalist Roy Khan are joined by drummer Casey Grillo, keyboardist Oliver Palotai, and new bassist Sean Tibbetts to complete their journey to systematically alter the face of metal. Throughout the recent years, their releases have achieved cult status around the world, and “Poetry for the Poisoned” will once again raise the bar for others to follow.

Ghost Opera


Love you to Death
This is a BEAUTIFUL and SAD ballad


Rule the World


The Great Pandemonium

@Eewyi
I really liked Maija Vilkkumaa's voice, reminds me of Matsutoya Yumi! I will for sure hear more of her!
And Chisu is also very cute :O They really sing on a very interesting way! Liked both^^

@SURREAL_RAINBOW
Wow! What a gorgeous voice! :O Really, really gorgeous!

@NintendoHTF1242
The language really sounds beautiful! ^^


@YUKARI
Veeery 80s! I even googled then to see how old the band was xD *dances*
@pepper
It's hard to find girls with a voice suited for rock! Really nice!^^

@xLuna&1LOVE
Gorgeous voice, and Something in the water is catchy as hell @______@

@Kashoku
I'm not really into metal, but I could clearly hear they were trying to do something different... Something I really respect even if their sound is not really my cup of tea^^


---------------
This one is not among my favorite, I don't really like him... But it's our biggest teen idol right now... and he is from my city :P


http://www.lazermusica.com/blog/wp-c...exualidade.jpg

LUAN SANTANA

Biggest Hits:

Meteoro (Meteor)




Química do Amor (Chemistry of Love) feat. Ivete Sangalo

Maija Vilkkumaa and Chisu are good singers:)

Anna Abreu
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_E1COK6wwW3o/Sp.../AnnaAbreu.jpg
Background information
Birth name: Anna Eira Margarida Mourão de Melo e Abreu
Born: February 7, 1990 (age 21)
Origin: Vantaa, Finland
Genres: Pop, R&B, Dance
Instruments: Singing
Years active: 2007–present
Labels: Sony BMG (2007-Present)
Associated acts: Ari Koivunen, Hanna Pakarinen, Redrama
Studio Albums:
Anna Abreu [2007]
Now [2008]
Just A Pretty Face? [2009]
Rush [2011]

Website

Anna Abreu (born Anna Eira Margarida Mourão de Melo e Abreu on February 7, 1990 in Vantaa, Finland) is a Finnish-Portuguese singer who rose to fame as the runner-up of the third series of the Finnish singing competition Finnish Pop Idol in 2007. Her music is primarily pop, though her songs also have R&B, dance and Latin rhythms to them. Since her participation in Idols, Abreu has become one of the highest-selling Finnish Idols star and one of the most successful Finnish female singer, with record sales of over 170,000 from four albums.Her self-titled debut album sold double-platinum with over 86,000 copies.

Abreu's Portuguese father Paulo lives in Sintra, Portugal, whilst she and her Finnish mother Liisa lives in Vantaa with Anna. Abreu has a brother Emil, who is four years older than she is. As a young girl she lived in Portugal and outside music, her other hobbies include reggaeton-dance and playing the violin. Abreu became multi-lingual at a young age, being fluent in Finnish, Portuguese, English, Spanish and a little Swedish.

Some of her songs;
Ivory Tower
Vinegar
Music Everywhere
Hysteria

So you might like the artist below, she sings only in finnish;)

Jenni Vartiainen
http://is12.snstatic.fi/kuvat/jenniv...393583917.jpeg
Birth name: Jenni Mari Vartinen
Born: March 20, 1983 (age 28) Kuopio, Finland
Genres: Pop
Occupations: Singer
Years active: 2002—2004; 2007—present
Labels: Warner Music Finland
Associated acts: Gimmel
Studio Albums:
Ihmisten edessä [2007]
Seili [2010]

Jenni Mari Vartiainen (born March 20, 1983, in Kuopio), is a Finnish pop singer. Before her musical endeavours, she was a figure skater in her teen-age years and attended the Music High School of Kuopio. Vartiainen rose to publicity after winning the 2002 talent show Popstars with Susanna Korvala, Ushma Karnani and Jonna Pirinen, forming the band Gimmel that released two albums before breaking up in October 2004.

After Gimmel, Vartiainen started her solo career, releasing her debut single "Tunnoton" in April 2007. In September of the same year, the single was followed by her debut album Ihmisten edessä and its eponymous second single, both of which sold gold in Finland. In late March of 2010, Jenni Vartiainen released her second studio album Seili, after the arrival of its gold-selling debut single "En haluu kuolla tänä yönä". The sophomore album debuted at number one on the Finnish Chart and went on to sell over 100,000 copies, becoming the best-selling album of 2010 in Finland. Met with mixed to positive critiques for its combination of pop elements and ballads, Seili spawned another gold-selling single, "Missä muruseni on", which dominated the top-three spots of the Finnish Singles Chart all the way to early 2011.

During her solo career, Jenni Vartiainen has sold over 180,000 records in Finland and received nine Emma Awards.

Some of her songs;
Ihmisten edessä [In front of people]
En haluu kuolla tänä yönä [I don't wanna die tonight]
Missä muruseni on [Where is my sweetie]

--
I don't listen to finnish music so, I'm just introducing these singers and their songs on the basis of what I like.
I hope this sentence makes sense lol.

Hmmm, well this will be interesting, considering Britain has a equal proportion of good singers and terrible singer XD

I think I'll choose a singer that people always seem to forget about

Natasha Bedingfield

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/z...5/natasha1.jpg


Some of my favourite singles from her

Unwritten
A nice song with a really nice message. Mid-tempo, but also uplifting.


Single
A very upbeat song with another positive female-empowerment message. She's not putting down relationships and men in this song, but what she's doing is not saying that being in a relationship is her main focus in life.


These Words
A purely fun, upbeat, summer love song. I do love the lyrics in this one, they're a lot of fun, as is the beat.


I Bruise Easily
The only really true ballad I've put on here. Not one of my favourite all-time ballads from her, but it is my favourite that was released as a single.





I'm also going to show a singer who is extremely British. As in, Londoner-type British. Not posh in any way

Lily Allen

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/z...Allen35328.jpg

Some of my favourites of her singles:

Smile
Her debut single. A simple break-up in which she hates the guy who broke-up with/cheated on her. The video is hilarious though XD


LDN
A sing about the 'joys' of London, with a video that shows exactly that. Hilarious and lots of fun. It really shows the dirty, dark parts of London. Not that there aren't nice parts of London, those are the parts of London that the tourists flock to.
I live in the country ^_^


***** You
I love the lyrics in this song. Plus, yet another very upbeat, fun song. Even though she's talking about hating people.





Well, there's two quite different female pop artists from England. Enjoy ^_^

Eewji & Andrenekoi, thank you for trying out Brooke Fraser! I'm glad you guys like her!

Must say that I like Anna Abreu, Chisu and Jessica Mauboy!!

I'm going you to introduce one of my favorite, danish music acts.
_

Annika Aakjær

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...eefc04ac_z.jpg

Annika Aakjær (Born 6 July 1982) is a Danish singer, songwriter and guitarist.

She is one of the first was included in the new songwriter training at Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. Her first album "Little philanthropist" reaped praise from critics who predicted on her a great future. The second album "Missionary" also got good reviews. She starred in 2009 in Anne Dorte Michelsen's financial crisis cabaret and appeared in 2009-2010 in music cubits "Come Together" on the Eastern Gasworks (theatre).

Annika Aakjær was nominated for 2 steppe wolves (award) in 2009 and won "the one hope of the Year" and in 2010 nominated for P3 Gold in the category of "Talent."

Annika Aakjær stars as Daimi in a new film about Dirch Passer (Danish actor, 1926-1980) in 2011.

Studio Albums:
2007 - Little Philantrophist
2010 - Missionary

In my own words, I think she is just superb. She writes modern folk-pop and is not afraid to point out the flaws of society. Her lyrics often involves fear, fear of not doing what you want in life and just choosing a comfortable life, fear of death, fear of life etc. She covers The Beatles songs with excellency and sings with a rough, yet silky voice with a lot of character to it.





Some of her really, fantastic covers:

I luv Kamelot!! :luv2 My ex introduced me to them!! <3333 For some odd reason, I get visual kei vibes from them (more so GACKT)! :laugh

CaseNumber:825, hey you've got lots of cool artists in England!! :love I like Lily Allen's cover of Everybody's Changing which is originally made by Keane )