Sauna song as a tradition – What is it and why is it sung?
Sisältö
Sauna song rages and the hot steam produced by the steam rises to cover our body. Warm, but dim lighting creates an atmosphere so beautiful. A cold sauna drink oozes down the throat as a fresh satisfyer, cooling the body.
What is a sauna song?
As a tradition, sauna song and also various spells have played a joyful role in Finnish sauna culture. When you go to the sauna together, you can be quiet and enjoy the steam in your own peace, or you can discuss both serious and unnecessary things.
The sauna is a place where you can enjoy both the steam and the company, and there is always something merry in the company. Steamy sauna moments are transformed into merry moments with sauna songs, which are easy to learn together or sing sort of. Often, sauna songs go well with rhymes, which adds to the traditional feeling.
Traditional Finnish sauna song
One example that a Finnish sauna song looks like is “Hello steam, hello warm“:
“Hello steam, hello warm
hello breath tantrum,
bath with the warmest of stones,
sweat old Väinämöinen’s.
From the steam a fresh bath whisk,
from the power of tar to healthy.
Steam from the stone of the stove,
steam from sauna moss.
To make health
to build the irony,
to the sore to the anointed, to the wicked to heal.’
Modern mainstream sauna songs
However, these songs have become friends with modern songs that can often be heard even on the radio and other music streaming services that are also enjoyed outside the sauna. They are sauna-themed songs that are now also played in the newest saunas through bluethooth speakers in the sauna space.
Here are some examples of mainstream sauna-themed songs:
1. Ramses II – Löylyä lissää (feat. JVG)
2. Poju-Poika Saunoo (Lyrics)
And lest you miss anything, next up is a version of the Finnish song “Poika Saunoo” made in Estonian as well.
3. Poju – Poika saunoo viroksi (Hellad Velled – Poeg on kodus)
4. HesaÄijä – Sauna lämpee (Audio) ft. Mäkki
Then there is slightly older music by Tapio Rautavaara.
5. Tapio Rautavaara – Löylyä lissää
If you are new to saunas – and why not an older one too
As a new sauna bather, it is good to know that it is not always and often customary to sing these sauna songs in the sauna, as the roots of the tradition are far away and thus the world has changed in a more modern direction. So there is no need to be afraid that as soon as you go to the sauna, the performance of your life awaits you. It’s a different matter if you want to sing to others, with others or alone, because who would be bothered by a small-scale musical part?
Which sauna song or related song comes to mind for you?