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Käärijä

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Käärijä
Käärijä in June 2023
Käärijä in June 2023
Background information
Birth nameJere Mikael Pöyhönen
Born (1993-10-21) 21 October 1993 (age 31)
Helsinki, Finland[1]
OriginVantaa, Finland
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2016–present
Labels

Jere Mikael Pöyhönen (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈjere ˈmikɑel ˈpøy̯hønen]; born 21 October 1993), known professionally as Käärijä (Finnish: [ˈkæːrijæ]), is a Finnish rapper, singer and songwriter. He represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "Cha Cha Cha", placing second with 526 points and finishing first in the public vote with 376. His entry topped the charts in Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Lithuania and reached the top ten in thirteen other countries, becoming the first song in Finnish to reach the top ten of the UK Singles Chart.[4]

Musical career

[edit]

Pöyhönen grew up in the Ruskeasanta neighbourhood of Vantaa, Greater Helsinki, as the son of Mikko and Arja Pöyhönen.[5][6] He discovered his passion for music while learning to play the drums, and started producing music in 2014. His stage name, owing to his gambling hobby, is derived from the phrase kääriä rahaa, "make a fast buck".[7][8]

Pöyhönen released his music independently until 2017, when he was signed to the record label Monsp Records. He subsequently released the double single "Koppi tules" / "Nou roblem".[9] The following year, he released an extended play, titled Peliä. In 2020, his debut album Fantastista was released.[10]

On 11 January 2023, Pöyhönen was announced as one of seven participants in Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2023, the Finnish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.[11][12] His entry "Cha Cha Cha" was co-written with Aleksi Nurmi and Johannes Naukkarinen, and was released on 18 January 2023.[12] At the national selection competition he finished in first place with a total of 539 points (467 points from the televote and 72 points from the juries), thus becoming the Finnish representative for that year's Eurovision in Liverpool.[13]

Käärijä performing "Cha Cha Cha" on stage during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 at the Liverpool Arena.

Performing in the first semi-final, held on 9 May 2023, Pöyhönen finished first with 177 points and thus qualified for the final. In the final, he topped the public vote with 376 points, but ultimately finished in second place with 526 points overall to Sweden's entrant Loreen.[14]

Ahead of Eurovision, Finnish software company Zoan created an experience inside the popular online video game Fortnite, where players can visit a virtual rendering of Helsinki's famous Senate Square with Käärijä signs and stages.[15][16] With the release, Finland became the first country in the world whose capital city has a photorealistic twin in Fortnite.[17]

Käärijä was nominated at the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards in the Best Nordic Act category, which he went on to win.[18][19]

He released his second studio album, entitled "People's Champion", on 1 November 2024.

Other appearances in Eurovision

[edit]

In Malmö 2024, Käärijä appeared during the voting session of the 2nd Semi-Final and made a playthrough of a small portion of the single "Cha Cha Cha" after a performance of Ievan polkka.[20] He was also set to read the votes from the Finnish Jury, but withdrew on the day of the Grand Final without stating a reason; a few days later it was confirmed he withdrew due to the disqualification of Dutch entrant Joost Klein earlier that day.[21][22]

Artistic style and influences

[edit]
Kaarija performing in Dublin, 2023
Käärijä performing in Dublin, 2023

Pöyhönen's image as Käärijä started off with a bowl cut and a yellow suit, but during performances he would get too warm, remove the suit and perform mostly shirtless, which became a part of his brand.[23][24] On social media Pöyhönen uses the name "Paidaton Riehuja", which translates to "shirtless rampager", and is a reference to his punk rap song of the same title. He has expressed his belief that going topless should be acceptable regardless of body shape or size.[25]

Pöyhönen has described Rammstein as a major influence of his, and he has a Rammstein tattoo across his chest.[26]

Sometimes, a yellow-clad doppelgänger on rollerblades called "Häärijä" (or "Paidaton Kiehuja" on social media), who's real name is Tomi Häppölä, has been observed in connection with Käärijä.[27][28]

In promotion for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, the artist has used the phrase "it's crazy, it's party" to describe "Cha Cha Cha", which became an Internet meme and was adopted by his brand as a merchandise catchphrase.[29] He went on to release a single with the same title on September 15, 2023, with Estonian rapper Tommy Cash as a feature.

Personal life

[edit]
Käärijä in 2021

Pöyhönen has spoken about suffering from ulcerative colitis since his teenage years, culminating in emergency intestine removal surgery in 2014. The scar of the stoma he had to use for five months afterwards is still visible on his lower stomach. He has stated he wants to be open about his experience with the disease, to encourage others to get checked for it.[23]

Pöyhönen used to play ice hockey from 2009 to 2013, before he started his musical career.[30]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details Peak chart positions
FIN
[31]
Fantastista 4
People's Champion
  • Released: 1 November 2024[33]
  • Label: Warner Music Finland
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 2

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details Peak chart positions
FIN
[31]
Peliä 22
Cha Cha Cha Mixtape
  • Released: 12 May 2023[35]
  • Label: Warner Music Finland, Monsp
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, CD, LP
 2

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Album or EP
FIN
[31][36] 		IRE
[37] 		ISL
[38] 		LTU
[39] 		NLD
[40] 		NOR
[41] 		SWE
[42] 		UK
[43] 		WW
[44]
"Heila"
(featuring Urho Ghettonen) 		2016 — — — — — — — — — Non-album singles
"Urheilujätkä"
(featuring Jeskiedes) 		— — — — — — — — —
"Puun takaa" — — — — — — — — —
"Tuuliviiri" 2017 — — — — — — — — —
"Ajoa" — — — — — — — — —
"Koppi tules" — — — — — — — — —
"Nou Roblem" — — — — — — — — —
"Klo23" 2018 — — — — — — — — — Peliä
"Puuta heinää" — — — — — — — — —
"Viulunkieli" 30 — — — — — — — — Fantastista
"Rock Rock" 2019 — — — — — — — — —
"Hirttää kiinni" — — — — — — — — —
"Mic mac" 44 — — — — — — — —
"Paidaton riehuja" 2020 — — — — — — — — — Non-album singles
"Menestynyt yksilö" 2021 — — — — — — — — —
"Siitä viis" — — — — — — — — —
"Välikuolema" 2022 19 — — — — — — — — Cha Cha Cha Mixtape
"Cha Cha Cha" 2023 1 7 2 1 13 3 1 6 27
"It's Crazy, It's Party"
(featuring Tommy Cash) 		4 — — — — — — — — People's Champion
"Huhhahhei" 5 — — — — — — — —
"Ruoska"
(with Erika Vikman) 		2024 1 — — — — — — — —
"Kot Kot" 8 — — — — — — — —
"Trafik!"
(with Joost Klein) 		5 — — 60 84 — — — — Non-album single
"Sex = Money" 15 — — — — — — — — People's Champion
"Autiomaa" 23 — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.


Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Ceremony Category Work Result
2023 MTV Europe Music Awards Best Nordic Act Himself Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jere Pöyhönen career statistics at EliteProspects.com
  2. ^ Saulo, Sandra; Norrlin, Katri; Lassila, Juhani (11 January 2023). "Finland's National Selection for the Eurovision Song Contest Revealed: Who Will Represent Finland in Liverpool?". Yle. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  3. ^ Adams, William Lee (17 January 2023). "Cha Cha Cha! Käärijä releases his UMK 2023 song in Finland". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Eurovision Official Chart Record! Why 2023 is contest's biggest year yet". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  5. ^ Harjumaa, Jarkko (10 May 2023). "Käärijä on ihan tavallinen Jere ja äidin poika – Euroviisujen voittajasuosikin nivalalaislahtöinen äiti Arja Pöyhönen uskoo, että poika jaksaa hul-lunmyllyn läpi". Kaleva (in Finnish). Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  6. ^ Massinen, Tuomas (13 May 2023). "Käärijä-buumia ihmeissään seurannut vantaalainen Mikko-isä uskoo poikansa viisuvoittoon – Näin hän evästi Jereä finaaliin". Vantaan Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  7. ^ Aflecht, Tuomas (18 June 2020). ""Koko ajan kehitytään, muttei unohdeta miksi tätä musaa tehdään" – Haastattelussa Käärijä, joka ei halua vakavoitua liikaa" (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  8. ^ Grace, Emily (10 April 2023). "🇫🇮 Finland: "I've always been a crazy and energetic guy" - An Interview With Käärijä". Eurovoix. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  9. ^ Penttinen, Henri (16 June 2022). "Vantaalaislähtöinen räppäri Jere Pöyhönen, 28, päätti urastaan sairaalassa toipuessaan – "Otan takin pois keikan alussa ja alan riehumaan"". Vantaan Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Tavallinen arjen mies Käärijä julkaisi fantastisen debyyttialbuminsa". Warner Music Finland (in Finnish). 17 February 2020. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  11. ^ Grace, Emily (11 January 2023). "Finland: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2023 Participants Revealed". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Vuoden 2023 UMK-artistit ovat nyt selvillä – jokaisella biisillä on oma julkaisupäivänsä". Yle (in Finnish). 10 January 2023. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  13. ^ Farren, Neil (25 February 2023). "Finland: Käärijä to Eurovision 2023". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  14. ^ Kataja, Marika (14 May 2023). "Ruotsi voitti euroviisut - euroopapalaisten yleisöjen mukaan selvä voittaja oli kakkoseksi tullut Suomi". Yle (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Watch: Finland's Eurovision hopeful Käärijä makes Fortnite appearance". Yle News. 4 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  16. ^ van Leijden, Bente (4 May 2023). "Finland will use the game 'Fortnite' to promote Käärijä's 'Cha Cha Cha'". ESCXTRA.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Finland's wise representative Käärijä got into the Fortnite game used by millions of players". Observatorial.com. 4 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  18. ^ "The 2023 MTV EMA Nominations are here!". www.mtvema.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  19. ^ "MTV Recognizes Artists with 2023 MTV EMA Awards". www.mtvema.com. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  20. ^ Ntinos, Fotios (8 May 2024). "Eurovision 2024: Käärijä will appear during the Second Semi-Final!". Eurovision News | Music | Fun. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  21. ^ Washak, James (8 May 2024). "🇸🇪 Eurovision 2024: Käärijä Revealed as Semi-Final Two Interval Act". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Former Eurovision contestant Kaarija to step down as Finland's jury spokesperson". guernseypress.com. 11 May 2024. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  23. ^ a b Vuorinen, Mirella (1 May 2023). "Käärijä's Journey From Illness And Unemployment To Eurovision Legend". ESC Insight - Home of the Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  24. ^ "UMK:n tämän vuoden ilmiöksi noussut Käärijän Cha cha cha -biletysbiisi on auttanut monia mielenterveysongelmissa". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 18 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  25. ^ "EUROVISION 2023: OUTtv interviews Käärijä (Finland)". YouTube. 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  26. ^ Naakka, Anna-Maija (26 February 2023). "Vakava sairastuminen teini-iässä muutti Käärijän koko elämän – lähettää nyt nuorille painavan viestin". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  27. ^ Valavaara, Sara (11 April 2023). "Tuoreet somevideot Käärijästä saivat aikaan kysymystulvan: Kuka on Häärijä?" [Recent social media videos about Käärijä caused a flood of questions: Who is Häärijä?]. Iltalehti (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  28. ^ Haili, Aino (9 May 2023). "Huomasitko? Käärijää erehdyttävän paljon muistuttava salaperäinen "Häärijä" vilahti suorassa lähetyksessä kesken Seitsemän uutisten" [Did you notice? The mysterious "Häärijä", which looks a lot like Käärijä, flashed live in the middle of the seven o'clock news!]. MTV Uutiset (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  29. ^ Sohne, Charlie (20 May 2023). "How Putin Poisoned Eurovision". POLITICO. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  30. ^ "Jere Pöyhönen - Stats & Facts - Elite Prospects". Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  31. ^ a b c "Käärijä". Musiikkituottajat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  32. ^ "Fantastista - Album by Käärijä". Spotify. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  33. ^ "People's Champion - Album by Käärijä". Spotify. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Peliä - EP - EP by Käärijä". Spotify. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  35. ^ "Cha Cha Cha Mixtape - EP - Album by Käärijä". Apple Music. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Suomen virallinen lista – Artistit: Käärijä, Joost" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  37. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 19 May 2023. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  38. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. 20 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  39. ^ Peak chart positions for singles in Lithuania:
  40. ^ "Uitgebreide zoekopdracht: Käärijä". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  41. ^ "Singel 2023 uke 20". VG-lista. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  42. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  43. ^ "Kaarija | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  44. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of May 27, 2023". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
2023 		Succeeded by
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