No matter what you think, this is world class punk rock, 1978. This 7″ did put Finland as one of the homes of punk firmly on the map, many great bands followed defining punk and whole new genres. But this one stands out. Forever.
Eppu Normaali started in 1976 in small town Finland (outside Tampere) and went to fame big time in Finland. Not with their early punk style but their later rock stuff but they are still tongue-in-check and street-credible (but, yes, a rock band). The 7″ title song is also on their debut album “Aknepop” and they make some play around the theme – one song is “Poliisi pamputtaa” (Cops beat with batons) and this is the “follow up”: “Poliisi pamputtaa taas” (Cops beat with batons again) – nice one!
The verdict:
1977 – yes, yes, yes – would have been on Top of the Pops in UK
published by a cool lable – Poko (an EMI subprint) released a lot of the early punk in SF
found in a cool shop – Konneckschen, where else?
catching sound – Ramones. What else?
The lyrics – obviously about police brutality but given i can not fathom finish i can’t say – ACAB instead of ABBA?
The words are great sing-a-long stuff (and no clue of below is correct suomi):
Poliisi ajaa sinisellä autolla, uaa, sinisellä autolla Poliisilla on pillit katolla, uaa, pillit katolla Poliisi pamputtaa kumisella pampulla, uaa, kumisella pampulla Poliisi uhkaa ihmisiä putkalla, uaa, ihmisiä putkalla On mukavaa ajaa sinisellä autolla, uaa, sinisellä autolla Mukavaa pamputtaa kumisella pampulla, uaa, kumisella pampulla Systeemin vartija se poliisin on työ Poliisi hippejä pampulla lyö On mukavaa ajaa sinisellä autolla, uaa, sinisellä autolla Mukavaa pamputtaa kumisella pampulla, uaa, kumisella pampulla Poliisi ajaa sinisellä autolla, uaa, sinisellä autolla Poliisilla on pillit katolla, uaa, pillit katolla Poliisi pamputtaa kumisella pampulla, uaa, kumisella pampulla Poliisi uhkaa ihmisiä putkalla, uaa, ihmisiä putkalla (c) 1978 Eppu Normaali / Poko Records
English rough translation thanks to my finish friends:
The polices drives in a blue car, uaa, in a blue car. The police has whistles on the roof, uaa, whistles on the roof. The police beats with a rubber baton, uaa, with a rubber baton. The police threatens people with jail, uaa, people with jail. It’s nice to drive in a blue car, uaa, in a blue car. Nice to beat with a rubber baton, uaa, with a rubber baton. The guardian of the System, that’s the police’s job. Police beats hippies with a baton. It’s nice to drive in a blue car, uaa, in a blue car. Nice to beat with a rubber baton, uaa, with a rubber baton. The polices drives in a blue car, uaa, in a blue car. The police has whistles on the roof, uaa, whistles on the roof. The police beats with a rubber baton, uaa, with a rubber baton. The police threatens people with jail, uaa, people with jail.
See some rare live footage in this finish punk documentary (click on the pic below, will open in new window):
And this is a great cover version by the Italian band “The Zen Circus” transporting the song into 2012 – at perfect pace and confirming the timeless beauty of this ultimate gem:
But not only the Italians cover this, Hamburgs own Napalm (soon featured here too) dig that song too – see Witte, Reder, Lui & Arne live in London 02.10.2011:
Suomi Punk rules!