Anki, Bosse & Robert: Tunnetko (Do You Know) [Connais-tu]

This song was recorded for the first time in 1965 by Nana Mouskouri and Michel Legrand. Its music was written by Legrand, and the original lyrics were penned by Eddy Marnay. According to the database of Second Hand Songs, this Finnish version by Anki, Bosse and Robert is the only adaptation of it.

It could be said that Anki, Bosse and Robert’s recording is a bit better and more interesting than the original track, which sounds a bit cold and crude. You can listen to Nana Mouskouri and Michel Legrand’s version here:

* * * * *

Musiikin tähän lauluun on säveltänyt Michel Legrand ja alkuperäinen sanoitus on Eddy Marnayn. Legrand levytti kappaleen Nana Mouskourin kanssa vuonna 1965. Ankin, Bossen ja Robertin versio on vuodelta 1969. Äänitearkiston mukaan Ankin laulajapartneri on Ismo Sajakorpi.

Ankin, Bossen ja Robertin levytys on vähän parempi ja kiinnostavampi kuin alkuperäinen versio, joka kuulostaa melko kylmältä ja raa’alta. Alkuperäisen voi kuunnella tästä linkistä:

* * * * *

Tunnetko (Do You Know) [Connais-tu]
Performed by Anki, Bosse & Robert (Anki’s singing partner is Ismo Sajakorpi)
Lyrics by Saukki (pen name of Sauvo Puhtila)
Arranged by Nacke Johansson
Recorded in 1968, PSO Record Company, Helsinki, Finland

Music by Michel Legrand
Original lyrics by Eddy Marnay

Translated from the Finnish by Taina Pemberton
Photograph: iStock

Please note the following in the translation from Finnish to English, which you can see in the video: In Finnish, “blue love” (sininen rakkaus) does not directly refer to melancholy love; instead, it is a symbolic expression. It can be freely interpreted in different ways. In terms of the story, the Finnish version follows the original French one, although the details differ somewhat.

* * * * *

The Finnish trio ANKI, BOSSE & ROBERT was founded in 1965. The members of the trio were Agneta Lindqvist, Lars Österberg and Robert Österberg. The trio released four albums between 1965 and 1969.

“Nacke Johansson” was a nickname for PAUL JOHANSSON (1932–2007), who was a Finnish conductor, arranger, composer, pianist and producer of music. His father, Martin Johansson, was a violinist. As a composer and pianist, Nacke Johansson was self-taught. He was a well-respected arranger, working for two record companies (Scandia and Fazer). Johansson composed jazz, hits, and theatre and film music. His most popular song is probably “Muistathan” (Do You Remember), whose he composed together with Juha Flinck. It was the Finnish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972.

SAUVO PUHTILA (b. 1928) is one of the most eminent post-war lyricists today, both in terms of original lyrics and adaptations. His life’s work as a lyricist has been singularly complex and broad-ranging. Although he has produced a huge number of original lyrics, Puhtila is even better known and more esteemed for his adaptations, which his knowledge of languages has allowed him to produce from the originals written in various languages. He has adapted lyrics for operas, operettas, musicals, choir songs, solos, various hits, pop and rock songs and ditties, as well as gospel, Christmas, children’s and folk songs.

Puhtila’s extensive production of original lyrics includes, for example, hits, ditties, songs for various representatives of Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest and songs for musicals, films, choirs, children and church services.

His career extends from the 1950s to the 80s, and we can safely assume that Puhtila is the most productive lyricist in Finland, with the largest body of work and the broadest spectrum of genres. More than 2,500 of his lyrics have been released on disc, while the number of his individual lyrics is roughly double that. [He himself reported that he had written the lyrics to over 6,000 songs.] Puhtila did not work specifically with any one composer, but instead made lyrics for several song writers and companies using many pen-names. As well as his own name, he has used about a dozen pseudonyms, of which his nickname Saukki is the best known. Other well-known names include Solja Tuuli, Pekka Saarto, Veikko Vallas, P. L. Saarinen, A. Ojapuu and Timjami.

Sauvo Puhtila has always been – and continues to be today – highly regarded and respected among both experts and colleagues due to his superior technique and rich expression, as well as his unique style, which permeates his work throughout.

(This article about Sauvo Puhtila is part of a wider article titled “Sauvo Puhtila receives Honorary Award for a life’s work”, and was published in issue 3/2002 of the Selvis magazine. Selvis is the members’ magazine of the Finnish association Elvis ry. Founded in 1954, Elvis ry is an association for professional musicians and lyricists. – English translation of the article: Taina Pemberton, 2017)