Rauli Somerjoki

Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki
Rauli Somerjoki in 1984
Background information
Birth name	Rauli Aarre Tapani Somerjoki
Also known as	Badding
Born	(1947-08-30)30 August 1947 Somero, Finland
Origin	Somero, Finland
Died	14 January 1987(1987-01-14) (aged 39) Helsinki, Finland
Genres	Finnish rock, Schlager, rock and roll
Occupation(s)	singer, songwriter
Years active	1966–1987
Labels	Love Records, Johanna Kustannus, Minimusic, Dojo AAB-Tuotanto

Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki (born as Rauli Aarre Tapani Somerjoki) (30 August 1947, Somero - 14 January 1987, Helsinki) was a Finnish rock singer. His records were published on such labels as Love Records. His nickname Badding is derived from Paddington Bear.

Badding's most famous songs include "Fiilaten ja höyläten" (originally Reelin' and Rockin' by Chuck Berry), "Paratiisi" ('Paradise', a song composed by Somerjoki himself and the lyrics written together with Arja Tiainen), "Bensaa suonissa" ('Gasoline in veins', composed by Somerjoki himself, the lyrics written by Jarkko Laine), "Ikkunaprinsessa" ('Window princess', originally Glendora), "Tähdet, tähdet" ('Stars, Stars', a song made by Somerjoki himself) and "Laivat" ('Ships', 'Parakhody', originally a Russian popular song).

Badding was born in Somero into a family of five children. He founded his first band, The Five Yes in 1963 and also worked in the group Suomen Talvisota 1939-1940. Together with M. A. Numminen, he caused some scandal with provocative songs like "Mitä nuoren aviomiehen tulee muistaa" and "Jenkka ulkosynnyttimistä".

Badding started his solo career in 1970. He competed in the Syksyn sävel song contest with "Ja rokki soi" written by Matti ja Teppo.

During his later career, Somerjoki worked with Agents. His last gig took place in Seinäjoki on 28 December 1986. During the fall, he had suffered many bouts of bronchitis, and in January 1987 he died in Helsinki of alcohol-related ailments. He was only 39 years of age.

Aki Kaurismäki has used Somerjoki's music in his films and published a biography of Somerjoki titled Badding: Rauli Somerjoen elämä ja laulut (1996) written by Heikki Metsämäki and Juha Miettinen. Somerjoki also appeared in the film The Worthless (Finnish: Arvottomat) by Mika Kaurismäki in 1982.

In 2000 Markku Pölönen directed the film Badding, starring Janne Reinikainen about Somerjoki's life. (It is available on DVD, bundled with Pölönen's Onnen maa, a comedy-drama about a Finnish farm family, featuring Finnish tango.

Discography

Studio albums

• Synnyin rokkaamaan (1971)
• Näin käy rock & roll (1974)
• Sydän lämpöä täys (1975)
• Rakkaudella – Raulilta (1982) / Sävel rakkauden (1986) / Bussi Somerolle (2001)
• Ikkunaprinsessa (1982)
• Tähdet, tähdet (1983)
• Laivat (1985)

Several compilation albums and a tribute album have been also released.

See also

• Heikki Metsämäki and Juha Miettinen: Badding: Rauli Somerjoen elämä ja laulut. Sputnik, 1996. ISBN 951-97431-0-3.
• List of best-selling music artists in Finland

References

• Tony Latva and Petri Tuunainen, Iskelmän tähtitaivas, WSOY 2004, ISBN 951-0-27817-3