The Kasper Stromman Design Blog

Magazine of the month: Roiskeläppä

The Kasper Stromman Design Blog magazine of the month is Roiskeläppä, published by Karprint. The first issue features singer Eini on the cover, whose biggest claim to fame is her 1977 Finnish cover version of the Baccara hit Yes sir, I can boogie.

The magazine is very enthusiastic about the fact that Eini “talks like a man about cars and driving”. We also learn that the singer has recently taken up zumba fitness.

The second main feature is about former bodybuilder and singer Kike Elomaa, who is now a Member of Parliament representing the Racist Party True Finns. We learn that she  refuses to recieve any compensation for her cab fares as an MP, and used to drive a sponsored “Ford Siesta” back in the day. Fascinating.

Then Roiskeläppä seems to run out of singers in their 50s, and instead interviews a random woman who apparently “enjoys being stuck in traffic… where she can send texts and organize her papers.” She also won’t commute by bus since “there might not be room for all passengers”.

After this Roiskeläppä throws away all pretentious of being a car mag, and does an article on Finnish schlager music instead. Is the lady on the right really setting fire to her shoe?

In conclusion: Roiskeläppä caters to the over 50s crowd who likes to drive everywhere, and likes to do this while listening to Finnish music from the 80s.

For anyone under 50 it’s a fascinating glimpse into a world of bland music with singers you are vaguely aware of, and where public transport is considered strange and mystical. Because, you know, car is king.

Rating: 7