Viipuri (or now Выборг), the long lost town that these days is part of Russia lies in the hearts of Finns, who had to leave it in and in their children's and grandchildren's. The older generations put their longing into music with some legendary songs, could it be otherwise?
Viipuri was the capital of Carelian region and when the Finns had to leave in 1940 when losing 1/10 of its territory it was Finland's 2nd biggest town and the most international one with over 70.000 inhabitants. Finland evacuated them all (400.000 people) and set them to other parts of the country. Finns reconquered the town in 1941 when many of them returned and rebuilt the badly destroyed town but Sovjet Union took over it again in 1944 and it has ever since been part of Sovjet Union, and now Russia. This blogger's heading off there today to see its current state.....
Annikki Tähti's Muistatko Monrepos'n (Do you remember Monrepos?) is an ode to the beautiful park in Viipuri with its bridges and moonlit nights she fondly remembers and longs for. The song, recorded in 1955 was the very first gold certificated single in Finland, and still is the 4th most sold single ever in Finland with its 38.000 copies sold.
Georg Malmsten's Heili Karjalasta (Fiancee from Carelia) recorded in 1938 is another evergreen, telling a story how he travelling the world found his loved one from Carelia, the sweetest girl ever who has totally charmed and enchanted him....
In 1960 another song was released, Georg's brother Eugen and his Sellane ol' Viipuri (Viipuri was like that), another anthem for its liveliness and happy times there that originates to the 1920's. The song has been covered many many times including Henry Theel (1969). The lurics describe life now dull and work oriented while back in Viipuri, the town of Carelians one could dance day and night and there were no worries, someone always helped and sung it away and the sorrow was only for the horses and yes, theres also reference to MOnrepos park, moonlight and kisses....
Makes me wonder what kind of love park that Monrepos was?!
Georg died in 1981, Henry in 1989 and Annikki in 2017 but their songs about Viipuri live on a long after the dream of getting it and Carelia back are nothing but a long lost dream....
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