First Time Reaction to Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha | Finland 🇫🇮 /// Eurovision 2023 

he was performing live in madrid/amsterdam/london (pre party for eurovision) und people went CRAZY for him, I expect him to win or be under the top 3 in the final, this song is like a drug 😉

Käärijä was not at all known in Finland before his win. He had life-threatening illness about ten years ago, ending his career in sports (can see the scar on his stomach from surgery). About six years ago he started to make music with a friend of his, also from the sports era, and ever since they've been doing music together, not labelling the music in any genre, perhaps other than rap. Käärijä means a "wrapper" in Finnish, it is not a word play with rapper, but stems with his gambling habits (wrapping the money, NOT, said he has lost way more than won). His favourite band is Rammstein and from Eurovision Song Contest he remembers the best Verka Serduchka's (Ukrainian representative) Dancing Lasha Tumbai. Can actually see both of these influences in Cha cha cha, from the metal part to the crazy part. From all the videos he has posted, it has become clear he is a funny, sincere, and perhaps due his illness and past, he has become quite sensitive, so outside these rough looks and silly stuff he does on stage and in front of camera, he has got a huge heart. Käärijä, then, is something he says to be a role he takes. A role that has also a sidekick named Häärijä (someone who just hangs around and does important looking stuff).

The duality in the song hits in so many levels, like some have pointed out already. You can feel his mood change after getting drunk. You can see the work-life balance between the hard week of work and the friday night. He comes from industrial surroundings, from between the pallets (lava in Finnish) and ends up in stage (lava in Finnish). Also, it's a struggle with masculinity - are men allowed or are they brave enough to dance or even move to anything else than aggressive, heavy music? Hence the boxing ring, hence the fighting dancers. Hence the change from "metal" to trance. Basically the whole song is about dropping your guard and getting hit into face with fun. This is damn difficult to not enjoy. And if you went out to club and this came on, I bet you would smile and dance like a maniac once you let yourself loose.😅

A thing that's I find kinda fun with the song is that people tend to dance to and enjoy the "commercial"/mainstream music when they are drunk and partying. In that regard it fits incredibly well with the theme/plot of the song.

It's funny how this separates so cleanly the "I love the first part, but the last part is off" and "I don't like the first part, but the last part redeems the song" -groups

It took me a while also to understand how the song changes into basically another song. But then I bought it. Pretty genious actually. Not many dare to do that. This song is full of humour and yeah, let's admit it, it is catchy as hell :) Surely would like to be even once in a gig where this song is played and audience goes absolutely bollocks 😆 Also props that people all over Europe have actually learnt the lyrics even though they don't know what the hell they are singing about 😂 I really hope this wins over really quite boring Sweden's Loreen song

Thanks for the comments! You were analysing it thorougly - appreciatable! I will explain you a bit on the song: the story and the structure and why the song is how it is. First of all this is not a joke entry. This song is about social anxiety and being free from gender or normative expectations being a "real man". In the first part of the song he is an angry and shy man after a hard week and he wants to dance even though he doesn't know how and he can't because he is expected to be “hard man”. ChaChaCha ballroom dancers are the same: they have to respect traditional dance regulations including that they have to "(fake)smile" all the time and Käärijä controls them with the red ribbons just like the norms, authoritarian society or people's prejudices. But after having some piña coladas the his mind opens little by little and he has more confidence in himself even though he didn't know how to dance and he and the dancers become free without regulations and expectations of the other people and can be as they are! You dance as you dance - be proud who you are and how you move! That's why the song is happy in the end! Well: to dance and to be as we are - we don't have to do and be as the authoritarians say or the people with prejudices. The pina colada and champagne are just metaphors for being open minded or feeling free of who you are, no alcohol necessary! The lyrics in this 3-minute masterpeace are metaphorical and about social anxiety. That's why this song is super smart and one of the favourites to win! To the song itself it takes metal -> rap -> edm into the song. It is a total journey with lyrics and music that go hand in hand! Cha Cha Cha 💚💚💚 It's crazy - it's party💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺

This song has so many layers,everytime you love more❤️🤘

This is the most thoughtful and thorough reaction I've seen so far - excellent! Your very first reaction had me laughing out loud with recognition (same here!). I can't agree fully (but then, it would be weird if everyone in the world thought the exactly same!), as IMO the sheer different between the 'dark and light' parts of the song brings something magically special to the table,. It's also a good and clever advertisement for Käärijä's other musical work, because - as here - he is not pinning himself down to one type of music at all. It kind of depends on how open a person is to vastly different styles as to how their reaction (enjoyment/disappointment) pans out. I'm hoping that the appeal to both the Rammstein-type brigade and the Europop-types - plus the fact he is an adorable and charismatic performer who can undoubtedly get a crowd pumping (see the recent pared-down pre-party performance in Madrid) will help him get over the line and beat Sweden (current betting odds are putting him second to Loreen) 🙏. I mean, c'mon guys - Loreen's had her turn! 🙂

This was a great reaction! I understand, why you didn’t dig the last part of the song. I also like the first part more. But it’s Eurovision after all, so I think the whole song simply can’t be “Rammstein”. But I think this is different, and something that has never seen on the ESC stage before. Good analyzing, thanks!

Meh, we all have our opinions... 😏 For me, Käärijä is currently the favorite for Eurovision. ☺ I love everything about this song, and the way he performs. 🤔 I would not call this/him weird, or strange, he is just... Käärijä. 😉

This was very similar reaction to when I first saw this song. But it really grew on me. I still have it on my playlist to this day.

The first part of the song is probably the better part but I think they have done a wonderful job of mixing it up with the second melodic part. That's what eurovision is all about. I think mixing all those genres is what makes the song so special. Plus the song needed something for people to sing other than Cha Cha Cha and to be catchy in the ears and they have brough it. EXCELLENT!

Love this analyzing! 👍 And love Käärijä! 💚🇫🇮💖

For me it is the best, I listened to it three times before I liked it, but then I loved it. It got a dance and the lyric is really good.

The ballroom dancers represent the Pina Colada he is drinking. Holding his glass with both hands are represented by the pink ribbons to the dancers. In the live version he cuts the strings after having enough to go dancing like a donky (signaling he can not dance at all). The last aggressive cha cha cha and arm movement maybe related to anger or aggresive related issues he is having after having to much pina colada's. Brilliant song and performance. A certain classic in the years to come. My number 1 for sure of this years EVSC.

🇫🇮 Cha cha cha! ❤

I think Käärijä is a big fan of Ramstein, so it is not surprising this reminds Ramstein. Ramstein is propably a big inspiration for Käärijä.

The banging and the smile on your face ❤

Can't stop laughing how many people mix Finland and Iceland 😅 Björk is Icelandic. When I was in USA, someone really knowingly informed he had been in Finland - when I asked where, he answered in Keflavik. Needless to say that is some 2500km away from Finland

He started his rapper career with a laconic Napoleon Dynamite style but became Nacho Libre. His live shows are always wild! He plays drums as well. I can’t understand why so many young kids just love Käärijä!

🎉 this might be my fav analysis for the song. Thank you and hope to see your vids soon again 🎉

Funny, that you say that the first part, which you like more, makes you want to play videogames. Some other commentators have said that the second part reminds them of Super Mario, the final part when he has won the game, and everybody is celebrating. Maybe one level of this song is, that it is based on videogames?

You want more Finnish music? Try some Nightwish, Wintersun, Steve 'n' Seagulls, Tarot... to start with ;)

I clearly prefer the live version. After the video release I guess, the song still grew. And we ca see it also in the live version of Finnland and later in ESC-Final which was the best. My true winner of the ESC.

WOW Finland!!

En shock cuando te vi con el mate! Jaja no me lo esperaba

Björk is from 🇮🇸Iceland

Great analysis!

Well, that's pretty much how it is in reality when you go out, get drunk and dance your heart out on the dance floor thinking you're the leading star in the Fame or something. Actually you're just doing some silly dance moves on the dance floor and the whole epic Fame dancing scene is just alcohol driven trance-like emotions liberating mostly banal imaginary inner world experience. That's how it is in Finland at least. People rarely talk on Monday how they ruled the dance floor in the weekend. If they would, they would have to face and acknowledge the reality that they didn't and then they couldn't do the same thing over again the next weekend.

Your the first person I've seen react that liked the first part but not the second. Most seem to feel uneasy or don't like this first part and then love it when it becomes commercial.

He has Rammstein tattoo.

Käärijä was a promising professional ice-hockey player before his unfortunately illness.

I am immediately(hard word for a Finn) liking(is that a word?)your content. This songs perfomer is a big fan of Rammstein! He have a Rammstein logo tattoo in his chest

I love it❤❤

Serious analysis. Good job!

Nice video and talking about Kaarijas videos. Maybe he will do something like Lordi did 2006. Greetings from Finland 🇫🇮 the more I listen cha-cha-cha, the more I like it 🤘😎

winner

I think all the strange dancing and all represents the acwardnes a finnish man can feel an exhibit.

Käärijä's song is perferct for Eurovision because it has a catchphrase and it so called "gay club danceable" and NO that is not a slur ppl, you know what I mean! (Meaning I've partied my whole life in gay clubs and I know which songs are playable/danceable xD)

JUST PLAY JAA JAA DING DONG!

💚💚💚💚💚💚

And yes, it is true this guy was not known in Finland basically at all before he won UMK competition. Also drama included because I think he was pretty close of actually dying to a disease but survived

It is a knock-out from drinking and getting drunk. Rammstein goes K-Pop

Hey man, haven't you really heard Finnish rock/heavy bands like: Amorphis, Sentenced, Swallow The Sun, 69eyes, Nightwish, HIM, Apocalyptica, Omnium Gatherum ... The list could continue indefinitely. Finland is the most heavist people in the world 🇫🇮💙 And so much to remember that Metallican Enter Sandman's riff was sometimes accused of stolen from a Finnish band's Get Stoned riff called Stone. Undeniably something is the same in them. P.S. Björk is from Iceland. But the Lordi who once won the Eurovision Song Contest, will be added to the list because the Eurovision Song Contest. Lordi won Finland so far the only victory in 2006 with Hard Rock Hallelujah🖤🇫🇮 But thanks for the nice analysis. It was nice to listen to it. I put the channel on order🙏🏻

❤❤❤

congrats on the pronunciation of his name! You nailed it!

Hello from Finland, I can tell something about singer Käärijä. Jere is his first name and Jere is really big fan of Ramstein if you didn't know this.

This guy seems like a Swedish producer. Can analyze the song really well.

he is the best ❤❤❤ cha cha cha

Thats what I kept saying - reminds me a lot of Rammstein vs PSY 🎉

By not buying into it, you are buying into it. That's the whole point.

Hey!! Käärijä is the Best!!

Good reaction. But for the 2nd part its meant to eurovision

Remember so much the prodigy

Diablo is one great band I would suggest to have a listen, if you one day wish to discover more Finnish stuff..

Esta semana en España: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tRd-BxMFr8g.html

Wolfenstein!

Le di like y subscribe en cuanto vi el mate jajaja❤

Please watch the live video because its much Bitter than this

Tu reaccion 😂😂

12:34 hahah!

😂😂😂😂😅😅😅😅

Why you skipped the whole song almost

Bjoerg is from Iceland not Finland

You really should review the live version of this song, it is much better.

Glad they deleted the horrible autotune from the live performance.

Are you pro-russia?

Maybe you should stop less and listen longer and better watch the live versions

Its a cool for show but I dont get It that fits in Eurovision SONG contest that lyrics dont tell me much. I have to say frankly first part is much better that second one. It falls down on me, and start to be a little childish. Also using of autotune I dont know how he can do It in ESC without. I heard It was not allowed, and should be so. If we still talking about again "Song Contest" second part is like Teletubbies song 😅 🙄😓

I have just listened to this at a live party and it sounded not very good , sorry but its not something I would vote for, But good luck to all the performers this year.

Kids wear those when they are learning to swim? I’m Finnish and think a friend of mine had that kind of swimming aid. The ”music” is annoying but maybe the European gays like it? I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a joke or not. I can’t listen to this shit.