The Elämäni song, which gathers a million viewers, brings praise to presenter Katja Ståhl and excites the Minister of Defense – we took a peek behind the scenes of the program

The program you can see above has become very popular, especially in the current fourth season. The program format of my life’s song is now being tried to be taken abroad as well.

The guests invited to the Elämäni biisi program get to know each other in Tampere’s Mediapolis before the live broadcast. After a while, they should guess which song each has chosen as important to them.

The song of my life, the warmth of strangers.  At the table, from left, Mira Potkonen, Kike Elomaa, Antti Kaikkonen, Petja Peltomaa, with my back to the camera, Mika Poutala and Harri Henttinen.
The guests of the Elämäni biisi program sit at the same table to get to know each other before the broadcast and hear the final instructions from the content director Petja Peltomaa (right).

Although the group laughs and jokes, everyone is nervous. Even an experienced politician, Defense Minister Kaikkonen (center), admits to butterflies in his stomach, because when choosing a song, something about his personal life is revealed.

– I’ve been involved in many, but it’s rarely so exciting. This is a live broadcast and I guess you have to tell something about yourself. For a Finnish man, such openings are a bit difficult, but we will try to manage.

Antti Kaikkonen looks towards the camera.
According to Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen, programs like Elämäni biis are needed in this world situation. – People need things that make them feel good. Otherwise, it’s a bit dark and windy.

Member of Parliament Kike Elomaa (ps.) says that he has followed the Elämäni song since the beginning and thinks that he has watched almost all the episodes.

– This is one of the best music programs ever. Here, the competition is a side issue and the most important are the people’s stories and why he has chosen that particular song.

Kike Elomaa in disguise looks towards the camera.
– I try to control myself. I’m quite emotional. I doubt that I also feel during the other songs, thought Kike Elomaa before the Elämäni biisi program.

Interpreting the songs also sensitizes the artist

During the dress rehearsal of my life song, the back room gets busy. The program was initially recorded, but now it is done live, which adds to the sense of excitement.

– There are quite fast-paced situations here when we do it live and everything funny happens here. This back room is full of pulpy stuff. When the h-moment approaches, we move to the studio side and that’s where all the magic happens.

Diandra Flores.  Profile.
– Appearing in the program is super wonderful and exciting every time. It’s wonderful if you’ve touched something or brought joy or strength, says Diandra, the singer of the Elämäni song.

Diandra believes that one of the secrets of the show’s popularity is that in the playful competition, no one makes it to the next round and no one is eliminated.

The singer herself admits that she sometimes gets sensitive when interpreting songs.

– Sometimes you have to really push yourself. But you have to be the captain of the ship so that things don’t go completely crazy and you can keep yourself together.

The stories of the guests appeal to the audience

The lobby of Tampere’s Mediapolis is buzzing as the public starts to enter. People take pictures in front of the Elämäni biisi signs and write the names of the songs of their lives on a big blackboard.

A chalkboard wall intended for the audience of the Elämäni Biisi program, on which own life songs are written.
The audience coming to the Elämäni biisi program can write the names of their favorite songs on the blackboard.

– This is such an incredibly warm-hearted program and the stories of the characters are so wonderful, says Nissi.

The audience of the Elämäni Biisi program.
Louhi Porvari (left) and Lotta Nissi have watched the Elämäni biisi program at home and have become sensitive to the interpretations of the songs and people’s stories. They wondered if the atmosphere would be different in a live audience.

Katja Ståhl’s relaxed approach receives praise

According to the long-time presenter, this is the best program he has been doing. All areas are in the hands of professionals and he can act as chairman of the guests. Even Ståhl doesn’t know before the broadcast which song is chosen by whom.

Katja Ståhl smiles and looks towards the camera in Elämäni Biisi costume factory.
– From the first season, Päivi Räsänen inevitably remembered how the song of her life could be Pelimies. I somehow can’t get over it at any point, says Katja Ståhl, host of the Elämäni biisi show.

The 53-year-old Ståhl is more popular than ever thanks to the program.

– I have never received such positive feedback in my life and not this much either. If I were 30 now, I wouldn’t be nearly as good at this. Maybe I was just now ready to be praised and I say no. That it didn’t work out. I liked it too, Ståhl laughs.

World conquest on the horizon

Peltomaa is now working as a content director for Yellow Film

– It looks very promising that we can sell elsewhere. The Finnish format is not the easiest to sell, but whenever foreigners see this, it becomes clear to them what is special about it.

– The core of the format is truly Finnish. This is honest, human, genuine and funny. This is where the elements of Finnishness come together, when you don’t try to be any more than you are.