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Pave Maijanen

About:

3 September 1950

Pekka Juhani "Pave" Maijanen grew up in the Lappeenranta garrison house where lived a lot of non-commissioned officers of families. His dad bought himself a harmonica . However, he did not bother at home to say that it was for himself, but instead he claimed to have bought it for his son Pekka. Maijanen learned to play by ear, and he and his father began to visit one of the gigs when Maijanen was five years old. The father, however, died Pave is 8 years old, and he never saw his son as a professional musician. In 1960 Maijanen already played in various bands, such as The Top Cats (1964), Kopet (1968–1969) and Mielikummitus (1969–1970). But his first serious band membership was for Pepe & Paradise as a bass player and soloist with the single 'Fever' (1975)..Het traded that band for The Royals (1975–1978). By the eighties Maijanen was ready for a career as a solo artist. Early 80's Maijanen founded the band Pave's Mistakes , who released two albums in English. The band was not a big succes untill they released their farewell single in Finnish. 'Pidä huolta / Maybe' was a suprise hit and perhaps the push for Pave to switch to Suomi sung pop.

The first solo album bearing the name of dancing shoes appeared in 1983, including, the disco-funk-hit "Aiaiai". Throughout the 1980s Pave is a solo albums recorded in Finnish rock - and pop music . Maijanen made ​​a song, usually self, often under the pseudonym Maija Paavonen. In the decade he scored hits with songs like  ”Lähtisitkö”, ”Jano”, ”Joki ja meri”, ”Elämän nälkä” and ”Ikävä”. Maijanen was also a renowned producer of the upcoming New Wave scene. He produced albums for the Hurriganes Dingo. Sometimes Maija has also been called "the sixth Dingoksi," because he was actively involved in Dingon operation in the 1980s.

In the 1990s the Pave career went downwards. He albums sold less and a major blow came when he ended last at the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest with the song " Yamma Yamma ". His own solo career hiatus, during which he worked as the keyboardist Dingo comeback gigs in 1993-1994. At the end of the decade Pave returned to the limelight when he, Kirka , Hector and Pepe started the Mestarit band and performed sold-skating rinks. In 1999 a DVD was released of the sold out shows. Pave started recording TV soundtracks and sung the theme music for the DuckTales series and The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. In July 2012 he was granted the Schlager-Finlandia Award.

On the web:

- Pave's website:http://www.pavemaijanen.com/

What do we think:

DB: The Finns have a sort of love-hate relationship with Pave Maijanen. The 'serious' music press reviews his music too lightly and poppy. In the meantime each Fin sings along with his unpretentious hitsong 'ai ai ai'. Maijanen's mix of funky pop, reggae and folk tunes is both happy and alluring. His talent is that he can write seemingly simple pop melodies that are both catchy and well made. Artisticly you haggle wether this is a quality or not, but Pave Maijanen remains close to what pop music also is there for and that is providing fun.

If you like this, you probably like.. / european counterparts:

Ratata (Sweden)

Albums:

♪♪♪ - Tanssivat kengät (1983)

♪♪♪ - Maijanen (1984)

♪♪ - Palava sydän (1985)

- Maailman tuulet (1987)

- Kuutamokeikka (1990)

- No Joking (1991)

- Sirkus saapuu tivoliin (1994)

- Kohti uutta maailmaa (1998)

- Mustaa valkoisella (2000)

- Kaikessa rauhassa (2010)

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided