Scandinavian Eurovision Entry Song Makes Its Way to America

Espoo, Finland. - From the time he began putting the notes and words to paper in his little home in the suburbs of Helsinki to the heated and intense studio sessions in the sleepy little artist’s colony of Tuusula, Finland, the multilingual Fenno-Swede composer with Canadian and Italian roots was guided by a vision, a call- to put to music and words the shock, loss, pain and hopes involved in losing a good friend. Gunnar K. A. Njålsson is by no means new to the music scene. He has behind him musical studies, including bassoon on the university level, with excellent grades. What is unique about his career as a composer and songwriter is that he was not known as such until recently. And even then, it was the prolific Finnish pop-composer Marko Kolehmainen who founded the platinum band “Aikakone” (Time Machine) who pulled this versatile composer and arranger back into the public light. Warned by conservative parents that a musician’s career was fraught with poverty and insecurity, Njålsson went on to become a very well-known administrative scientist and Space Law specialist. In 2003 the 35 year-old composer began making an album produced by Mr. Kolehmainen and worked together with musician Alex Ojasti, also of the Finnish band “Aikakone”.

“It was a slow but exciting process and we were ready to continue working on that album, after the first successful song. However, I received word of the death of my best friend. The news was shocking, unbelievable and then devastating. In May, when we laid his urn to rest in a churchyard in the little village of Kimito, I couldn’t believe I was escorting my best buddy to the grave!” Njålsson recalls. It was from these experiences and not least from vivid memories of moments of laughter, future plans and hope that composer Njålsson authored the song “En sista vers”. That music written from the depths of the soul is bound to make an impression on listeners is no overstatement of the facts, if one follows the success Njålsson has had with “En sista vers”. From the very start the song was exposed to the scrutiny of critics. It was first en entry in the Finnish national Eurovision contest and then went on to become a surprise success almost overnight in the Nordic countries. Praised for quality arrangement and lyrics, the promo CDs were out-of-stock nearly every week and orders began pouring in from Italy, Turkey, North America and Asia.

Finnish record label GKAN Composition in Espoo, Finland was founded to provide quality classical and jazz music to the broadcasting and film industries in the Nordic countries and South America. The little record label could, however, no longer handle the amount of orders coming in for “En sista vers”. The unexpected surge in popularity of the unique ballad led to their having to engage separate distributors in the process, that is, when the CD was in stock.

“I could have never imagined anything like the popularity this album and song have received!” Njålsson exclaims. “I think we are seeing a trend toward a demand for more value-based lyrics and well-arranged, original music. At least I hope we are experiencing such a trend. If so, then it is easier to understand why this album has been so incredibly popular, even internationally.” Njålsson hypothesizes. For now, GKAN Composition has decided to pause in the pressing of more CDs of “En sista vers” in order to have time to concentrate on the label’s new release, the elegant Latin jazz instrumental “Novela policial”. Due to demand, however, they recently made a deal with US distributor CD Baby, based in Portland, Oregon for exclusive physical and digital distribution by this company in North and South America. But even here stocks have not lasted. And this has triggered reactions on the part of libraries and cultural archives who have begun hoarding the album in anticipation of the final stock depletion.

“I’m not saying we’ll never reproduce the album;” says GKAN Composition CEO, “but we need time to concentrate on other projects as well.” When asked if they will consider putting more copies into circulation if demand continues to surge, GKAN Composition representatives replied “Certainly! We have to reality into consideration!”.

The album “En sista vers” was released in the Fall of 2004 and contains a vocal and instrumental version of song. Opera and theatrical star Petra Schauman sings “En sista vers” on the first track accompanied by several noted musicians, including Njålsson himself at the piano. “En sista vers” is available online from CD Baby and is being distributed as well by Apple iTunes and other digital distributors. GKAN Composition take orders strictly from the various radio stations in Europe, Africa and Asia. Their site is located at http://www.spacepol.com/GKANComp/. CD Baby sells the CD at the address: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/gkan/ .