Katri Helena celebrates her 60th birthday as an artist. Written by Elina Hirvonen, the biography Katri Helena – Singer tells the story of the blue and white star’s life from her childhood in Tohmajärvi.
Yet Katri Helena has been written about, and a lot. Although she has spoken little about her private life, it has made the headlines.
Better to tell your story yourself
– My life partner said, yes, you have to do it yourself with someone, so that someone else doesn’t mess up your life.
The idea for the book matured when the corona era brought the singer into quarantine for eight weeks because of his age.
– I’m free after this. I can do whatever I want and I’m no longer attached to whether I’m accepted or not, says Katri Helena.
Many media outlets published excerpts from the book – especially male relationships making headlines. Katri Helena was not surprised.
In the book, Katri Helena admits that the rumors about her relationship with Danny are true, although she calls it a workplace romance. In time, the same rumors made the first husband point a pistol at Katri Helena.
He is also not afraid of a possible public showdown with Panu Rajala, with whom he is now finally telling his own version of the years he spent with.
– I’m not afraid, because I don’t find out. Hasn’t he already done his part, but I have nothing else to say on the subject.
Living in the public eye since she was a young woman has shaped Katri Helena.
– It has made me cautious, especially in relationships. If people live with me, they’ve had to adapt to what I think is right, because I bring that publicity on me anyway.
Katri secretly ran away from her parents to a singing competition
Katri Helena, real name Katri Helena Kalaoja, was born in the small village of Tohmajärvi on the eastern border. Katri Helena already knew as a child that she wanted to sing. At the age of 12, he ran away from his parents to the singing competition of Toivo Kärje, who had secretly arrived in his home village and was touring the country.
According to her parents, Katri Helena was still far too young to participate. When Katri Helena won the competition, her parents calmed down and allowed the girl to continue her singing hobby, even allowing the girl to take singing lessons.
– I was an enthusiastic performer throughout my childhood. I was always upbeat and happy, because I found that it makes people feel good – and also yourself! And if the smile has congealed, I’ve gone to congeal somewhere where I can’t be seen, says Katri Helena.
The career started quickly and the home village was left behind. Katri Helena already lived in Helsinki in her early twenties as a recording artist.
The first release was the 1963 *Poikie kuvart* song, when Katri Helena was barely of legal age. The following year’s song \”The Wires Sing\” broke the bank.
Other hits include *Where the wind carries*, *Take me* and *Give me a starry sky*.
Katri Helena has recorded almost 500 songs, and published 52 albums and collections. 19 gold discs have been accumulated, four platinum discs and one double platinum.
Katri Helena has a strong work ethic. In the new book, he also talks about his methods. When he learned the words to the songs in the repertoire for the big concert tour in 1999, he did it on a bicycle.\n \”My bicycle had a basket on the front, and I attached cardboard to it and the lyrics of the song with clothespins on the cardboard. I ran five or six kilometer runs, read the words from a piece of cardboard I attached to the basket and sang. I noticed that I learn best when the blood gets oxygen while moving. I have learned dozens of texts using that method,\” says Katri Helena in her autobiography written by Elena Hirvonen.
The autobiography reveals in many ways that Katri Helena is an esthetician. Katri Helena says that she enjoys self-improvement, beautiful outfits, spaces and furniture. In music, beauty is found in Harmony.
– A piece of music is beautiful when the text and the melody are, as it were, the same pair. *I look at a deserted sandy beach* is, in my opinion, an example of a beautiful, elegant and good hit.
Give me a starry sky
The song *Anna mulle tahtitaivas*, which became a huge hit, not only comforted Katri Helena, but also helped her financially through the depression years.
Coffee and cognac
Now in her 60th year as an artist, Katri Helena says that she is a pop singer ending her career as an artist.
This summer and autumn, Katri Helena will perform all over Finland. In the summer, there are concerts from Seinäjoki’s Tango market to Kiuruvesi’s Iskelmäviiki and Helsinki’s Juhlaviiki. The autumn performances are in Porvoo, Hyvinkää and Kouvola.
– I appreciate that I can still go to these places to perform, because this won’t last much longer. There are new artists, and people always want something new. I’m surprised that I’ve been able to get people to listen to me for so long, says Katri Helena.
According to Katri Helena, new, previously unreleased songs will not be heard in future concerts. He interprets hit songs familiar to the audience, from dance stages and off them, as well as he can.
Katri Helena compares her career to dinner.
– Yes, dessert is already eaten here. Is the coffee and cognac ready?
*What is your best memory of Katri Helena? Which of his songs is the most important to you? You can discuss the topic until 23:00 tomorrow, April 14, 2023.*