Aro and ace Finnish music recs! Let’s go!
Aro first, though there might be some overlap
In a weird turn of events our list will be kicked off by Mouhous. What can I say, the sexiest boyband in Finland has some aromantic vibes every once in a while. Rule number one is show no love, after all. Specifically Ihminen (Human) and Liian lähel aurinkoo (Too close to the sun) both have lyrics explicitly disregarding the notion of romance. For all your aromantic summer needs! For a bit more complex look at it, Sori rakas (Sorry love) could go here too, discussing relationships that aren’t particularly romantic, disregarding the notion of being a one true love. Overall in their music, I’d pay particular attention to Van Hegen’s verses, as often he has quite dismissive and avoidant lyrics when it comes to romance.
This list won’t be made without Gettomasa. He has for years now discussed in interviews how the idea of a person who is supposed to complete you, of a soulmate, of a relationship that goes before everything and overall a romance strong like that are completely foreign concepts to him. This is reflected in all his texts about love. Onko jossain (Is there somewhere) is perhaps the most striking and in depth piece on this.
Senya makes it to this list with the first explicitly sexual aromantic song. Rockstar makes it clear she might be into it, but she’s not in it for a relationship or any kind of feelings. "This is just sex to me". Overall, she has many songs with this vibe, but Rockstar makes it most clear.
On a more well known artist and song, we have Vesala with Monta nimee (Many names). The song considers how love means many things to people, but the singer finds the idea very difficult and specifically, too sudden, wishing to not name the feeling.
Mikael Laurent also has some kind relationship and romance avoidant songs. Particularly I love Kultaa (Gold/Darling), with the lyrics saying that while it may seem there is something behind his eyes, it's not love.
And of course, to finish off, my most listened to song by a long mile. Mitä sul oli mieles (What did you have in mind) by Ahti. It's fun, it's flirty, and it says no to a relationship.
Asexual time, because there are never enough of recs for these kinds of songs.
Let's kick this list off with Tupakkaa ja rakkautta (Cigarettes and love) by Jaakko Kulta. The entire Ihminen album is filled with such a love for humanity and life but with also a great deal of sorrow, confusion and even anger. This song highlight particularly how easily we caught up in specific concepts and ideas and forget to simply be who we are and to love. It doesn't ask you to categorize yourself, or to announce yourself, or to even do anything specific. It asks you, quite simply, to remember to love, and to do it more often.
We gotta put the beautiful longing and undefined feelings writing of Kuumaa on this list. Specifically I’ll put Tuun viel himaan (I’ll cone home eventually) here. Home can be a lot of things, but very few of them material. It helps that this song has been the opener to their set, where the stage and the fans are home. It has also been used by them band to represent their inner dynamic, that the band itself is home. What is home, if not love like that?
I want to put Kävellään (Lets walk) by ibe here as well. Ibe has plenty of songs wondering about connection, meaning and belonging. This song is about finding emotional connection with yourself, your surroundings and other people through walking.
Somehow Gettomasa makes it to this list as well. In the same vein as Kävellään by ibe, we have Jälkeekään (Without a trace) by Gettomasa, asking for another to just come and disappear with you, not to do anything in particular, but to just exist in your own world together. Where anything or anywhere can be an adventure. You don't need to think too hard about how you are with that other person or how you and your actions may be perceived.
I can’t not include Elefantti huonees (Elephant in the room) by Jambo. The song is about wishing for love and connection, but finding yourself excluded from people. That there is something that everyone else seem to be in on, and you are not, and that social life feels like a performance for it. Specifically the repeated line ”I always thought we belonged together”, not directed at anyone specific, but just people in general, highlights how belonging and connection is often left to specific conventions and we limit, who is allowed.
So, anyone have any additions? I'd love to hear them, because I think these categories are a lot more rarely written for than many others.
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