Cha Cha Cha (Käärijä song) explained

Cha Cha Cha
Cover:Cha Cha Cha (Käärijä song).png
Type:single
Artist:Käärijä
Ep:Cha Cha Cha Mixtape
Genre:
Length:2:55
Label:Warner Music Finland
Prev Title:Välikuolema
Prev Year:2022
Next Title:It's Crazy, It's Party
Next Year:2023
Misc:
Embed:yes
Song: "Cha Cha Cha"
Year:2023
Country:Finland
Artist:Käärijä
Language:Finnish
Place:2nd
Points:526
Place Semi:1st
Points Semi:177
Prev:Jezebel
Prev Year:2022
Prev Link:Jezebel (The Rasmus song)
Next:No Rules!
Next Year:2024
Next Link:No Rules!

"Cha Cha Cha" is a song by Finnish rapper and singer Käärijä, released on 18 January 2023, through Warner Music Finland.[2] The song represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 after winning Finnish: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2023, the Finnish national selection for that year's Eurovision Song Contest.[3] [4] "Cha Cha Cha" became a fan favourite to win the competition, topping the public vote with 376 points, scoring the all-time second-highest televote points and finishing in second place overall with 526 points.[5]

"Cha Cha Cha" topped the charts in its native Finland, as well as in Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden. It reached the top ten in eleven other regions including Austria, Belgium, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, becoming the first ever song in Finnish to reach the top ten of the UK Singles Chart.[6] In 2024, it gained a platinum music certification in Poland.

Background and composition

The song has been described as a "metal-dance-pop fusion track" by Wiwibloggs writer Oliver Adams. In an analysis of the song written by Adams, the lyrics describe someone's feelings during a night out. At first, the person in the song heads to a bar, with the intention to "free my mind of fear". After drinking several piña coladas, the person heads to the dance floor, free of fear, saying "this world ain’t making me scared no more."[7]

In an interview with the BBC, Käärijä stated that the song was about freedom. He would compare the song to when people face problems, saying "we all have problems... when the weekend comes, people want to forget all those sad things. And many times they drink a piña colada and get the courage to go to the dance floor... I don't care what other people are thinking. Am I or not? It don't matter! And I hope other people will think the same."[8]

Eurovision Song Contest

See main article: Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

Finnish: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2023

Finnish: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2023 was the twelfth edition of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK), the music competition that selects Finland's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition consisted of a final on 25 February 2023, where seven entries competed.[9] The winner was selected by a combination of public votes (75%) and seven international jury groups from Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom (25%).[10] The viewers had a total of 882 points to award, while the juries had a total of 294 points to award. Each jury group distributed their points as follows: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 points. The viewer vote was based on the percentage of votes each song achieved through telephone, SMS and app voting.[11]

"Cha Cha Cha" was drawn to perform third in the final. In the days leading up to the final, the song was considered a heavy favorite to win the contest, winning polls on various Eurovision fansites.[12] [13] During the voting in the final, it was revealed that the song had received 72 jury points and 467 televoting points, earning a total of 539 points, winning by a margin of 387 points. As a result of its win, the song would go on to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

When asked why he believed he won, Käärijä stated that the uniqueness of both the song and the performance may have assisted in winning by a wide margin, saying "UMK has never seen a song or performance like this before... you can go far even if you are not the most skilled singer or rapper."[14]

At Eurovision

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with mutually favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 31 January 2023, an allocation draw was held, which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, and determined which half of the show they would perform in.

Finland was placed into the first semi-final, held on 9 May 2023, and performed last in the show.[15] The song qualified for the final held on 13 May 2023, winning the semi-final with 177 points.[16] In the grand final, the song won the public vote with 376 points but came second overall with 526 points, short of Sweden's winning total of 583 points for Loreen's "Tattoo".[17]

Commercial performance

The song has reached the number 1 position on Spotify's Viral 50 chart,[18] and number 7 position on its Top 50 chart.[19] It is the first Finnish-language song to reach Spotify's global top 200,[20] and it became Spotify's most listened Finnish-language song of all time, beating the song "Ikuinen vappu" by JVG, which held the previous record.[21] On the UK Singles Chart, "Cha Cha Cha" debuted at number six, the first Finnish-language song ever to reach the top ten.[22] The song reached 100 million streams on Spotify in August 2023.[23]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[24]

Cover versions

"Cha Cha Cha" was covered by German band and fellow Lord of the Lost.[25] A remix by Norwegian DJ Alan Walker was also released.

Sanja Vučić, who represented and, as part of Hurricane, in and, performed "Cha Cha Cha" during the interval act of the second semifinal of Pesma za Evroviziju '24.[26]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[27] 22
Croatia (Billboard)[28] 2
Croatia (HRT)[29] 47
Global 200 (Billboard)[30] 27
Greece International (IFPI)[31] 2
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[32] 2
Israel (Media Forest)[33] 5
Italy (FIMI)[34] 85
Latvia (LAIPA)[35] 1
Lithuania (AGATA)[36] 1
Luxembourg (Billboard)[37] 11
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[38] 9
Norway (VG-lista)[39] 3
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[40] 2
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41] 46
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 1
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[43] 12

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[44] 9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 25

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Savage . Mark . 9 May 2023 . Eurovision Q&A: Käärijä is Finland's Cha Cha Charmer . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230509005115/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65473482 . 9 May 2023 . 9 May 2023 . BBC News.
  2. Web site: Adams . William Lee . 17 January 2023 . Cha Cha Cha! Käärijä releases his UMK 2023 song in Finland . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117213845/https://wiwibloggs.com/2023/01/17/cha-cha-cha-kaarija-releases-his-umk-2023-song-in-finland/274723/ . 17 January 2023 . 25 February 2023 . . en-US.
  3. Web site: Vautrey . Jonathan . 25 February 2023 . Käärijä wins Finland's UMK 2023 and will perform "Cha Cha Cha" at Eurovision . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230225202526/https://wiwibloggs.com/2023/02/25/finland-umk-2023-results/275916/ . 25 February 2023 . 25 February 2023 . . en-US.
  4. Web site: 25 February 2023 . Finland send Käärijä to Liverpool with 'Cha Cha Cha' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230225210552/https://eurovision.tv/story/finland-send-kaarija-to-liverpool . 25 February 2023 . 25 February 2023 . . en.
  5. Web site: Määttänen . Jusso . 2023-05-07 . Cha cha chasta tuli tunnettu kappale ympäri maailmaa – HS seurasi viisuviikkoa hetki hetkeltä . Cha Cha cha became a well-known song around the world - HS followed the Eurovision period moment by moment . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230513231702/https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000009562561.html . 13 May 2023 . 2023-05-17 . . fi.
  6. Web site: Eurovision Official Chart Record! Why 2023 is contest's biggest year yet . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230519174018/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/eurovision-official-chart-record-loreen-kaeaerijae-mae-muller-and-alessandra-reach-uk-top-10-simultaneously__39322/ . 19 May 2023 . 2023-05-19 . www.officialcharts.com . 19 May 2023 . en.
  7. Web site: Adams . Oliver . 2023-04-19 . Käärijä "Cha Cha Cha" lyrics - Finland Eurovision 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514050602/https://wiwibloggs.com/2023/04/19/kaarija-cha-cha-cha-lyrics-finland-eurovision-2023/275991/ . 14 May 2023 . 2023-05-17 . . en-US.
  8. News: Savage . Mark . 2023-05-09 . Käärijä is Finland's Cha Cha Charmer. Eurovision Q&A . en-GB . . live . 2023-05-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516201215/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65473482 . 16 May 2023.
  9. Web site: Farren . Neil . 2022-12-01 . Finland: Samu Haber to Host UMK 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221201095954/https://eurovoix.com/2022/12/01/finland-samu-haber-host-umk-2023/ . 1 December 2022 . 2023-01-11 . Eurovoix . en-GB.
  10. Web site: UMK announces its seven international juries . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230225095855/https://escbubble.com/2023/02/umk-announces-its-seven-international-juries/ . 25 February 2023 . 2023-02-25 . ESCBubble . 23 February 2023 . en-GB.
  11. Web site: Näin äänestät UMK23-suosikkibiisiäsi – lataa Yle-sovellus puhelimeesi! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230213062725/https://yle.fi/aihe/a/20-10004178 . 13 February 2023 . 2023-02-13 . yle.fi . fi.
  12. Web site: Adams . William Lee . 24 February 2023 . Poll results: Käärijä is our readers' favourite to win UMK 2023 in Finland . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230225001412/https://wiwibloggs.com/2023/02/24/poll-results-kaarija-is-our-readers-favourite-to-win-umk-2023-in-finland/275868/ . 25 February 2023 . 25 February 2023 . . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2023-02-25 . YOU have predicted Käärijä to win UMK 2023! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226045249/https://escxtra.com/2023/02/25/you-have-predicted-kaarija-to-win-umk-2023/ . 26 February 2023 . 2023-02-26 . ESCXTRA.com . en-GB.
  14. Web site: Määttänen . Jusso . 25 February 2023 . Euroviisut Käärijä voitti UMK:n ylivoimaisella äänivyöryllä, edustaa Suomea Euroviisuissa: "Luulin tämän olevan unta" . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230225223132/https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000009413934.html . 25 February 2023 . 25 February 2023 . . fi.
  15. Web site: Groot . Evert . 2023-01-31 . Eurovision 2023: Allocation Draw results . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203005317/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2023-allocation-draw-results . 3 February 2023 . 2023-05-10 . European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
  16. Web site: 2023-05-09 . Eurovision 2023: The First Semi-Final Qualifiers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230509214911/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2023-first-semi-final-qualifiers . 9 May 2023 . 2023-05-10 . European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
  17. Web site: 2023-05-07 . Viisuraportti Cha cha chasta tuli tunnettu kappale ympäri maailmaa – HS seurasi viisuviikkoa hetki hetkeltä . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230513231702/https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000009562561.html . 13 May 2023 . 2023-05-27 . Helsingin Sanomat . fi.
  18. Web site: Spotify Viral 50 17/05/2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514132949/https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZEVXbLiRSasKsNU9 . 14 May 2023 . 17 May 2023 . spotify.com.
  19. Web site: Spotify Top 50 16/05/2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230514132933/https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZEVXbMDoHDwVN2tF . 14 May 2023 . 16 May 2023 . spotify.com.
  20. Web site: 2023-05-13 . Käärijä's Cha Cha Cha reaches Spotify's most listened . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230518214314/https://yle.fi/a/74-20031672 . 18 May 2023 . 18 May 2023 . Yle News.
  21. Web site: 2023-05-17 . Cha cha cha löi JVG:n kappaleen ennätyksen . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230520201913/https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000009591638.html . 20 May 2023 . 2023-05-20 . . fi.
  22. Web site: 19 May 2023 . Viral Eurovision star Käärijä on 'Cha Cha Cha' crashing the Top 10, and finding fans in Rammstein . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230521111614/https://www.nme.com/news/music/viral-eurovision-star-kaarija-on-cha-cha-cha-crashing-the-top-10-and-finding-fans-in-rammstein-3445419 . 21 May 2023 . 21 May 2023 . NME.
  23. News: Saulo . Sandra . 2023-08-21 . UMK24-biisihaku on alkanut — Oletko sinä Käärijän seuraaja? . fi . yle . 2023-08-21.
  24. Web site: Credits / Cha Cha Cha / Käärijä . June 6, 2023 . Tidal.
  25. https://eurovoix.com/2023/05/06/lord-of-the-lost-cha-cha-cha-cover/ Germany: Lord of the Lost Release “Cha Cha Cha” Cover
  26. Web site: EVO KO JE PROŠAO U FINALE PESME ZA EVROVIZIJU: Tu je Konstrakta, ali i NAJVEĆA KONKURENCIJA Breskvici, oni su sve bliže Malmeu . sr-Latn . 29 February 2024 . 1 March 2024 . Lidija . Stoisavljević . Kurir.
  27. 22 May 2023 . The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 22 May 2023 . The ARIA Report . . 1733 . 9.
  28. Croatia Songs: Week of May 27, 2023 . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230523154446/https://www.billboard.com/charts/croatia-songs-hotw/2023-05-27/ . 23 May 2023 . 23 May 2023.
  29. Web site: Ed Sheeran preuzeo listu ARC 100 s pjesmom "Eyes Closed" . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230529101252/https://radio.hrt.hr/drugi-program/glazba/ed-sheeran-preuzeo-listu-arc-100-s-pjesmom-eyes-closed--10793938 . 29 May 2023 . 29 May 2023 . HRT.
  30. Billboard Global 200: Week of May 27, 2023 . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230527163550/https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-global-200/2023-05-27/ . 27 May 2023 . 23 May 2023.
  31. Web site: IFPI Charts . https://web.archive.org/web/20230525081000/https://ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html . 25 May 2023 . 24 May 2023 . ifpi.gr.
  32. Web site: 20 May 2023 . Tónlistinn – Lög . The Music – Songs . https://archive.today/20230520213300/http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/ . 20 May 2023 . 20 May 2023 . . is.
  33. Web site: שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי . Media Forest - International Songs Weekly Chart . 22 May 2023 . Media Forest Israel.
  34. Web site: Classifica settimanale WK 20 (dal 12.05.2023 al 18.05.2023) . live . https://archive.today/20211023063804/https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl%23/charts/3/2012/48#/charts/3/2023/20 . 23 October 2021 . 19 May 2023 . . it.
  35. Web site: May 22, 2023 . Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 20. nedēļa . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522081049/https://www.parmuziku.lv/chart?type=2&week=2023-W20&limit=100&id=5e472896c97ba . 22 May 2023 . May 29, 2023 . . en, lv.
  36. Web site: 19 May 2023 . 2023 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230519080556/https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s20-2/ . 19 May 2023 . 19 May 2023 . . lt.
  37. Luxembourg Songs: Week of May 27, 2023 . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230524140117/https://www.billboard.com/charts/luxembourg-songs-hotw/2023-05-27/ . 24 May 2023 . 23 May 2023.
  38. Web site: 22 May 2023 . NZ Hot Singles Chart . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230520002839/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5581 . 20 May 2023 . 20 May 2023 . Recorded Music NZ.
  39. Web site: Käärijä . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230519134626/https://topplista.no/artist/7738/ . 19 May 2023 . 19 May 2023 . VG-lista.
  40. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202134558/https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-sprzedazy/single-w-streamie . 2 February 2023 . 26 May 2023 . . pl . Select week 12.05.2023–18.05.2023..
  41. Web site: 22 May 2023 . Spain Top 100 Canciones 20 2023 – from 12/05/2023 to 18/05/2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230523022534/https://www.promusicae.es/en/weekly-download/songs_20_12-may-2023-to-18-may-2023-n5172/ . 23 May 2023 . 23 May 2023 . . es.
  42. Web site: Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230519121310/https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41?dspy=2023&dspp=20 . 19 May 2023 . 19 May 2023 . Sverigetopplistan.
  43. World Digital Song Sales: Week of June 3, 2023 . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531110447/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2023-06-03/ . 31 May 2023 . 31 May 2023 . subscription.
  44. Web site: TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – 2023. Plötutíðindi. 8 March 2024. is.
  45. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 2023. Sverigetopplistan. 18 January 2024.