PMMP was a Finnish pop rock band fronted by singers Paula Vesala and

Mira Luoti Mira Anna Maria Luoti (born February 28, 1978, in Pori) is a Finnish singer and actress, best known as co-frontwoman of the band PMMP with Paula Vesala Paula Julia Vesala (born December 10, 1981) is a Finnish singer-songwriter, actress, and pl ...

and backed by musicians

Mikko Virta Mikko is a Finnish masculine given name and equivalent of the English name Michael, having been borrowed into the Finnish language. The given name Mikko is shared by the following notable people: * Mikko Alatalo, Finnish musician and politician * ...

Juho Vehmanen The Juho was a German automobile manufactured only in 1922; the small 400 cc two-stroke was the unsuccessful product of a motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle ...

and

Heikki Kytölä Heikki is a Finnish and Estonian male given name. It derives from a medieval vernacular form of the name Henrik. Notable people with the name include: *Heikki Aho (footballer) (born 1983), Finnish footballer *Heikki A. Alikoski (1912–1997), F ...

. The name of the band is often said to be an abbreviation of the sentence "Paulan ja Miran Molemmat Puolet", which can be translated in English as "Both Sides of Paula and Mira". However, in an interview on the Finnish talk show Krisse Show, they stated that the name of the band comes, like ABBA, from the names of 4 of its members: so PMMP is Paula, Mira, Mira, Paula. PMMP's albums were produced by former Thergothon drummer

Jori Sjöroos Jori (or von Jori) is the name of an old noble family of Zurich. The origin of the name is uncertain: perhaps from "valvassores majores". The first mentions of this family of Reichsfreiherren (Barons of the Holy Roman Empire) are from the year ...

, who also wrote the music for all the songs. The lyrics are written by Paula and Mira. The band is an acclaimed live act. PMMP first became well known in Finland with the 2003 summer hit ''Rusketusraidat'' ("''Tan Lines''"). They then enjoyed great success with their second album ''Kovemmat kädet'' ("''Rougher Hands''"), which sold gold (double platinum year 2010). An extended version of the album was released in August 2005. ''Oo siellä jossain mun'', a single from the aforementioned album, is PMMP's biggest hit so far in Finland. In November 2006 PMMP released their third album ''Leskiäidin tyttäret'' ("''Daughters of a widow mother''"), which sold platinum on the day it was released. They released an album labeled ''Puuhevonen'' ("''Wooden Horse''") with traditional children's songs in 2007, around the time their first children were born. In 2009 they released their fourth rock/pop album ''Veden varaan'' ("''Overboard''") and their fifth album ''Rakkaudesta'' ("''Of Love''"), released in 2012, is considered as their comeback album. PMMP played their final concert on October 27, 2013, in the sold-out Helsinki Ice Hall.

"Matka jatkuu vaan" – The Journey Continues

In an article titled "Matka jatkuu vaan" in the biggest Finnish newspaper

Helsingin Sanomat ''Helsingin Sanomat'', abbreviated ''HS'' and colloquially known as , is the largest subscription newspaper in Finland and the Nordic countries, owned by Sanoma. Except after certain holidays, it is published daily. Its name derives from that of ...

(17.2.2007), journalist Leena Virtanen attempts to explain how it is that PMMP appeal to both children and adults, concluding that while indeed an energetic pop band PMMP "live within the space between childhood and adulthood", referring to the lifeworlds of both children and adults, carried through with eternal optimism. Virtanen concludes with the words from one of PMMP's best known songs "Matkalaulu" (travel song), which is in fact a song about the band being on the road: "Tämä voi olla koko elämämme ihanin päivä. Ajetaan hiljempaa. Toivon, että matka jatkuu, jatkuu vaan" his could be the most wonderful day of our whole life. Let's drive slower. I hope the journey goes on, goes on and on..."

Activism

PMMP has supported

Amnesty International Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says it has more than ten million members and sup ...

's work against the violence towards women. The song ''Joku raja'' from the album ''Leskiäidin tyttäret'' is named after Amnesty's campaign by the same name. On 25 May 2013 PMMP was supposed to perform together with two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot at the Maailma kylässä (World Village) festival in Helsinki. The members of Pussy Riot had disappeared and PMMP performed without them but supported their cause for human rights in Russia. Following that event, after 10 years of performing, the group disbanded.

The members of PMMP

*'' Paula Vesala'', ''December 10, 1981'' - vocals *''

'', ''February 28, 1978'' - vocals *''

'', ''March 22, 1982'' - guitar, backing vocals *''

'', ''March 31, 1981'' - bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards *''

'', ''October 14, 1981(?)'' - drums, percussion, backing vocals

Discography

Albums

Singles

*2003: "Rusketusraidat" (#1) ''Tan Lines'' *2003: "Niina" (promo only) *2003: "Joutsenet" (#8) *2005: "Päiväkoti" (#13) ''Kindergarten'' *2005: "Oo siellä jossain mun" (promo only) *2005: "Matkalaulu" ''Journey Song'' (promo only) *2005: "Pikkuveli" ''Little Brother'' (promo only) *2006: "Henkilökohtaisesti" ''Face to Face'' *2006: "Tässä elämä on" ''Life Is Here'' (radio only) *2006: "Kiitos" (promo / radio only) *2007: "Joku raja" (#1) *2009: "Viimeinen valitusvirsi" ''The Last Jeremiad'' *2009: "Lautturi" ''Ferryman'' (promo/radio only) *2009: "Pariterapiaa" ''Couple Therapy'' *2009: "Lapsuus loppui" ''Childhood Ended'' (promo/radio only) *2012: "Heliumpallo" ''Helium Balloon'' *2012: "Rakkaalleni" ''To My Love''

References

*Mira Luoti, Paula Vesala, Hanna Ylönen, Pasi Kostiainen, ''PMMP''. Like (Publishing), 2008. . *http://www.last.fm/music/PMMP?ac=pmmp

External links

Official homepage
{{Authority control Finnish musical groups