Seleniko Explained

Seleniko
Type:	Album
Artist:	Värttinä
Cover:	Varttina - Seleniko.jpg
Released:	1992
Recorded:	1992
Studio:	Finnvox-Studio, Helsinki
Genre:	Finnish folk music
Length:	47:22
Label:	Polygram Finland, Spirit, Music & Words, Xenophile, NorthSide
Producer:	Hijaz Mustapha
Prev Title:	Oi Dai
Prev Year:	1991
Next Title:	Aitara
Next Year:	1994

Seleniko is the fourth album by Finnish folk group Värttinä, and second after they re-formed in 1990, released in Finland by Spirit and Polygram Finland in 1992. It immediately reached the top of the European World Music radio charts, and remained there for 3 months. In 1993, it was released by Music & Words in Benelux and Xenophile Records in the United States. NorthSide re-released the album in 1998 in the United States.

The song "Matalii ja mustii" was featured on the episode "Binky Rules/Meet Binky" of the children's show Arthur in the United States, and also appears on the first Arthur soundtrack.

Track listing

"Seelinnikoi" (music: tradition, lyrics: Sari Kaasinen, arrangement: Janne Lappalainen, Tom Nyman, Riitta Potnoja, Kari Reiman) – 3:40
"Lemmennosto" / "Awakening of Love" (music & lyrics: S. Kaasinen, arr.: Nyman, Reiman, Tommi Viksten) – 2:53
"Kylä vuotti uutta kuuta" / "The Village Awaits the New Moon" (music & lyrics: trad., arr.: S. Kassinen, Lappalainen, Nyman, Reiman) – 5:08
"Sulhassii" / "Bride Grooms" (music: trad., lyrics & arr.: S. Kaasinen) – 2:55
"Matalii ja mustii" / "Sad and Mournful" or "Short and Black" (music & lyrics: trad. arr.: Nyman, Reiman, Viksten) – 2:57
"Hoptsoi" (music: Reiman, arr.: Reijo Heiskanen, Laapaleinen, Nyman, Reiman) – 3:21
"Suuret ja soriat" / "Tall and Handsome" (music: Reiman, lyrics: Reiman/trad., arr.: Nyman, Reiman) – 3:42
"Leppiäinen" / "Gentle as Alder" (music: Reiman/trad., lyrics: S. Kaasinen/trad., arr.: S. Kaasinen, Lappalainen, Reiman) – 2:45
"Pihi neito" / "Stingy Girl" (music: trad., lyrics: S. Kaasinen, arr.: Lappalainen, Nyman, Reiman) – 2:41
"Mika miulla mielessa" / "What's on my mind?" (music: trad., lyrics: S. Kaasinen, arr.: S. Kaasinen, Lappalainen, Nyman, Reiman) – 3:38
"Kiirama" (music: Reiman, arr.: Heiskanen, Lappalainen, Nyman, Potinoja, Reiman) – 3:36
"Hyvä tyttönä hypätä" / "Good to Stay a Single Girl" (music: trad., lyrics: S. Kaasinen, arr.: Heiskanen, S. Kaasinen, Lappalainen, Nyman, Potinoja, Reiman) – 3:45
"Fanfaari" / "Fanfare" (music: trad., lyrics & arr.: S. Kaasinen) – 2:16
"Paukkuvat pasuunat" / "Thundering Trumpets" (music: trad., lyrics: S. Kaasinen, arr.: S. Kaasinen, Lappalainen, Nyman, Reiman) – 4:02

Personnel

Värttinä

Mari Kaasinen - vocals
Sari Kaasinen - vocals
Kirsi Kähkönen - vocals
Sirpa Reiman - vocals
Reijo Heiskanen - guitar, bouzouki (track 7), percussion (1,3)
Janne Lappalainen - bouzouki, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, kaval, tin whistle
Tom Nyman - string bass, keyboard (3, 14), domra
Riitta Potinoja - 5-row accordion, keyboard (11)
Kari Reiman - fiddle, kantele, tenor banjo

Guests

Janne Haavisto - percussion (8)
Anu Laakkonen - trumpet
Tom Nekljudow - percussion

Singles

Kylä Vuotti Uutta Kuuta, Seelinnikoi

A single containing "Kylä Vuotti Uutta Kuuta" and "Seelinnikoi" from this album was released in 1992 in Finland by Polygram.

Pihi Neito, Matalii ja Mustii

In 1993, a second single from this album, containing "Pihi Neito" and "Matalii ja Mustii", was released by PolyGram in Finland.