Laughs guaranteed! Rolling at the goofy Japanese title—Korpiklaani straight from the forests of Finland.

favorite_borderLast updated:2018/9/20

• Live Spot LugHirata Hiroyasu
  I’m Hiroyasu Hirata from Live Spot RAG. When I was 15, I was blown away by how cool music—especially rock—was, and I started playing guitar and formed a band. I’m from Kochi Prefecture, where there weren’t many live houses or concert venues, so there were few opportunities to experience live music. Back then, our sources of information were magazines, CDs, and even VHS tapes (!?). Still, I was captivated by the sparkle of music, and I spent my days enjoying guitar and music, mostly neglecting my studies. I moved to Kyoto for university and “graduated” from the light music club, so to speak (laugh). Until then, I mainly listened to Japanese rock and Western hard rock, but thanks to seniors and peers I learned there was so much more music in the world. Now I listen to anything that strikes me as good, regardless of genre. After graduating, I joined RAG. After about six years in the office and about ten years in the music studio, I now work at the long-established Live Spot RAG, which has been around for 39 years, mainly handling promotions. Being exposed to the “real music” performed by Japan’s top musicians and delivering it to our audience lets me feel the brilliance of music anew every day. I still play guitar and keep a band going casually, and in recent years I’ve even started singing—better late than never. I’ve fully become an old guy by now, but I hope we can continue to chase “what lies beyond the dreams I painted with music back then” together.

This is a Finnish metal band:KorpiklaaniThis is the Japanese title of a song by Korpiklaani.

I only found out about this band recently myself, but they’re pretty wild, huh! lol

First of all, the genre that this music gets categorized as has gone through some bizarre transitions—“forest metal,” “travel metal,” “feast metal,” and “booze metal”—and lately it seems to have finally settled on “folk metal.”

Indeed, we have members playing parts not commonly found in metal bands, such as violin and accordion, which gives the music a traditional feel.

Dash Out! Korpiklaani

Its sound is distinctive, but what’s truly remarkable about this band is, after all, the Japanese titles of their songs.

It seems this was originally a strategy by Soundholic, the label releasing the Japanese edition, but it’s just way too funny (lol).

For example, the Japanese titles and original titles of the tracks included on the 1st album “Fly Out! Korpiklaani” (released in 2004; original title: Spirit Of The Forest—what an incredible translation!) are as follows.

1. Barroom Brawl Donjara Hoi – Wooden Pints
2. Let's drink until morning — Before the Morning Sun
3. Kamikaze Nordic Corps – God of Wind
4. The forest is crying – With Trees
5. Beer is truly the water of God – Pellonpekko
6. Eye-Power King – You Looked Into My Eyes
7. Panicky Polka – Hullunhumppa
8. Go beyond my gravestone – A man can go even through the grey stone
9. Han Festival in the Winter Night Sky – Pixies Dance
10. If there's alcohol, I'm a million horsepower – Run, You Horse
11. Let's go anywhere with the crows – Crows Bring The Spring
12. Dead men tell no tales – From the Soulless Spirits
13. Taiko Sage – Shaman Drum
14. Korpiklaani of the Earth – Mother Earth

「1.

Brawling Donjara Hoi at the Tavern – Wooden Pints

I suppose the Japanese title was chosen based on the song’s lyrics, but how on earth do you get that from any possible translation?

Even as Japanese, something like “Donjara-hoi” is already nonsensical (lol).

If translated literally, I think it would probably be something like “a pint of beer drunk in the forest.”

A music video that's way too surreal has also been made for this song.

「4.

The Forest Is Crying – With Trees

Is it unexpectedly socially conscious? It gives me a vibe similar to Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song.”

For now, I'm drinking like crazy all the way through the album! LOL

Jump out! Search for Korpiklaani

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Korpiklaani of the Wasteland

And the 2nd album, “Korpiklaani of the Wilderness” (released in 2005).

Original title: Voice Of Wilderness (This feels like quite an excellent translation.) The Japanese and original titles of the tracks included.

1. A Refreshing Bath in the Sauna – Cottages And Saunas
2. When I Journey – Journey Man
3. Burn! Campfire – Fields In Flames
4. Face the cursed forest! – Pine Woods
5. Hustle Hustle in the Forest – Spirit Of The Forest
6. The great outdoors feels so good – Native Land
7. “Hunting” is the destiny of a man – Hunting Song
8. All-you-can-drink beer – Ryyppäjäiset
9. Let's drink until we puke – Beer, Beer
10. True Story! Finnish Folktale – Old Tale
11. Sorrowful Korpiklaani – Hands as Wings

The copywriter who came up with this Japanese title is probably a genius.

Overall, it has the atmosphere of a school camp.

It looks like you’re still drinking too much as always (lol).

The final “11.

“Korpiklaani of Sorrow – Kädet Siipinä” is the perfect punchline!

Search for the Korpiklaani of the wilderness

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A Very Korpi Tale

Japanese titles and original titles of the tracks included on the 3rd album “Yonimo Korupi na Monogatari” (released in 2006; original title: Tales Along This Road — somehow clear yet somehow not...).

1. Exhilarating! Drunken Old Man – Happy Little Boozer
2. Korpiklaani of the Battlefield – Väkirauta
3. Drink, sing—summer vacation – Midsummer Night
4. The Black Eagle Flies Away – Tuli Kokko
5. Burn, spring’s dance — Spring Dance
6. Cool Biz in the Forest Shade – Under the Sun
7. Rise up! The forest fairies, the Korpi corps – Korpiklaani
8. A Man’s Medal of Honor – Korpiklaani Edition – Rise
9. Delusion, Instant Rhapsody – Kirki
10. The night forest is full of dangers – Hide Your Riches
11. A good trip, bird mood – Free Like an Eagle

Apparently, the Japanese title of this album was actually chosen through a public contest!

There really are so many genius copywriters in the world, aren’t there?

I can feel the same reliable quality in the way they’re already drinking from the very first song, as always.

Words like “sake,” “forest,” “hunt,” and “han” seem to form a unified band image, but “6.

Is “Cool Biz in the forest shade – Under The Sun” a new direction?

Search for the most Korpi-like stories in the world

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It seems that Korpiklaani continued to release an album every year thereafter and has released eight albums so far.

If you’re interested, be sure to look up the Japanese titles of the other albums as well. You’ll surely be stifling laughter—and, as always, they seem to be drunk out of their minds!