Finnish Music

The music scene in Finland is truely one of a kind. Modern music consists mostly of heavy rock and roll and death metal. Several Finnish bands have made it onto the International Music Scene and Finland is home to several large Metal Music Festivals. Probably the most noted Finnish band to gain recognition in America would be H.I.M., an abbreviation for "His Infernal Majesty". Labeling themselves as "Love Metal" the music is edgy and dark, but melodic. A sort of sad undertone with lots of references to religion, particularly a sort of darkened Christianity are found throughout the lyrics of their songs. Much of Finland's youth listens to this type of music, other popular musicians including The Rasmus, Nightwish, Children of Bodom, and Hanoi Rocks - all music that has migrated to The States, but recognized by a small fraction of our poplation.

A question arises in my head as to why this type of music is so popular in a country that strives for good and just? Not to imply that all Metal/Hard Rock listeners aren't good people, but rather that this music implies a connection to evil-doing in that it is a gothic way of musical expression. It doesn't seem to fit with what society at large practices uniformly, as a culture. Perhaps it is only an American idea that Death Metal is "wrong'" or "bad" to listen to, and this type of music to the Finnish youth is no different that what Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus are to us. Either way it is a unique characteristic of the country and it hasn't gone unnoticed. The Finnish band H.I.M. has guest starred and appeared on American Television on the shows Jackass and Viva la Bam, both two successful programs broadcasted by MTV. Some of the episodes were actually shot in Helsinki and other parts of Finland which gained the country some notoriety among America's youth.

The Finnish People/Gender Equality

From what I've heard the Finnish are a proud people who play by the rules. It is an unthought of, no question way of life for Finns, that one must strive to work hard and to practice respect. I have heard of people saying that Finns are so set in their ways to abide by the law, that in the city, even if there were no cars within eyeshot, a Finn wouldn't even think about crossing the street until after sign changed to "walk" .. These ideals are so engrained into the lives, and personalities of the Finnish population, that evidently Finland has been found "the least corrupt country" since 1998. I read this on a website that stated that these facts were via the Berlin based organization, Transparency International.

I believe that these underlying ideals of encouriging a society to do right and abide by the law is a contributing factor as to why Finland is so advanced, in more than one way. A very tech- savvy nation, it is the home of Nokia among many other large corporations exporting the latest and greatest new devices. But in addition to its sucsessful engineering and manufacturing industries, Finland has set an example for the world regarding Gender roles and equality. Women and Men coexist truely equal with one another. Finland's workforce is split 50/50 working men and women. There are more female doctors in Finland than male doctors. Also, Finland has already had 2 female Prime Ministers - (the current, Tarja Halonen, appeared on The Conan O'Brien Show for striking a shocking resemblance to O'Brien himself).

So why in Finland does it appear that the oppression of women is completely erased? America prides itself on it's support of equal rights, yet men on average earn a much higher salary than women do here. Furthermore, the idea of a woman president is still somewhat of a shakey subject, though we are making strides towards acceptance of a more completed idea of women's equality.

I admire this culture a lot for it's ideals. It has also been suggested before that Finnish are amongst the most friendly and hospitible people you can find on the earth. Though a lot of Finn's are known to be shy and inhibited upon introduction, in most cases when they open up to new people they are positive and friendly. In a Finnish household, guests are held in high esteem and treated like royalty. It is just a way of life, a way of behaving that goes without saying.

Environmentalism

Also a world leader in the world's current attempts to "go green", Finland is a big advocate for the preservation and conservation of the earth. For me, this is the reason why I even began to look into the Scandinavian culture, and I have wished to study abroad there. Maybe because Finland is not as heavily industrialized as America, that they are working hard towards keeping the world clean. Many of Finland's natural uninhabited landscapes are amazingly beautiful and remain abundant, and they are appreciated by their onlookers. A common theme that I have come across with the native Finns, in reading, is their devout appreciation for nature and the natural world around them. I have to think that the ancient tradition of enjoying a sauna must be a good representation of this continual tie with nature, as it is a favorite activity among the Finnish that has been around for centuries. It is usually a social experience, and most saunas are planted somewhere in the woods. Anyways, having seen a multitude of pictures in books and travel guides, I would have to agree that the natural landscapes should be protected, simply because of their unspoiled beauty. A study abroad program in Finland is something I've considered going, as it is such a leading place in the environmental field. Though it is an extremely different culture I believe it is a culture I might be able to benefit from.

Sisu

One very particular aspect of a Finnish person's daily lives that struck me, is "Sisu". It's a word that means perserverence and inner strength. Finn's live by it, seemingly, in sort of an unspoken way. Though the word is known, it appears that it's meaning is more often seen in the actions displayed by a Finn than within his or her conversation. A specific way of living seen across this culture includes having the guts to face a challenge, not back down, and face the enemy. As I have done a bit of research on the country, I have come across this concept many times. I think that a clear divide in culture between America and Finland is demonstrated by it's wide acceptance throughout its native land. Not to say that all Americans have no ability to persevere or don't appreciate the concept of inner strength, rather, it isn't understood as part of being an American.

Finland The Country

What can be said of a Scandinavian Country such as Finland, Sweden, or Iceland? I've kind of noticed that Americans don't think much of the Scandinavian countries. When the average American thinks of taking a trip to Europe, in most cases, the first thing popping to mind would be Paris or Rome, London or Amsterdam. Possibly even central Europe ... Germany, Poland, Switzerland. I don't think I've ever heard someone tell me that their family is planning a trip to Helsinki or Stockholm. Perhaps it is because the far reaches of Northeastern Europe are thought to be a world away. I've found that most people know that it's cold there, that they have all or no sunlight depending on the time of year, and most importantly that it's where Santa comes from. But little information is commonly known amongst Americans regarding the cultures of Scandinavian countries. Having looked into study abroad options in the country of Finland, I have found this culture interesting, very different from my own ... but also very high-functioning. A world leader in public education systems and environmentalism, I find this country fascinating and wonder why in America it is so overlooked?