The Perfect Pitch

The videos mentioned in an earlier post are now uploaded to ESS.fi and are ready for voting. People can watch all the performances from Lanun aukio, Lahti, recorded 4th of October from 10 am to 2 pm. Just go to the ESS.fi video section and click “Karaoke” above the videos, so the system will sort everything else out.

For example you can watch Ninni Timonen as she performs “Kun katsoit minuun” by Anna Erikson, or see how Ina and Kia Rinne’s adaptation of “Pikkuveli” by Tavaramarkkinat goes.

Once you have your favorite, you can vote him or her by going to the voting page.

For non Finnish speaking readers:

1. Vastaajan nimi = your name

2. Vastaajan osoite = your address

3. Vastaajan puhelinnumero = your phone number

4. Vastaajan sähköpostiosoite = your email

5. Tuleeko talouteenne Etelä-Suomen Sanomat tilattuna? = Do you already order Etelä-Suomen Sanomat? (your answer probably is “Ei = No”)

6. Minulle saa lähettää ESA-konsernin medioiden tarjouksia ja etuja = Do you want to receive advertisement and other information about ESA Media Group? (Ei = No, Kyllä = Yes)

Enjoy and happy voting everybody!

ps. photos are here

Last Saturday, Lahti Lahti witnessed something it didn’t expect to see a few months or even weeks ago. On a misty October morning, a strange structure was being built by even stranger people. Eventually, all kinds of cables, lights and speakers were installed in the middle of the city. As it was early morning, only a few by passers by witnessed this shady activity so the group responsible for this weird stunt could work in peace.

The serenity of that Saturday morning didn’t last for long. Soon the streets of Lahti echoed with the melodies of George Ots as the president of the Karaoke World Championships, Kari Hujanen, volunteered to do the soundcheck with “Moskovan Valot”. The scene was now set.

KWC Organization, Eastway Sound & Lighting, Lahden Messut and ESS.fi (the local news portal) held an open mic event in the center of Lahti, just beside the new ESS Media Center. People of all ages joined in to sing karaoke for four hours from 10am - 2pm. It didn’t matter whether the singer was in grade school or in a retirement home, everybody had a chance to sing what ever they loved. Karaoke does not discriminate. Even with Municipal elections just around the corner, a lot of candidates put party status aside and were out spreading the word because of karaoke. People cheered for the singers while joining in and singing along.

Every performance was recorded by the ESS.fi crew. They will put the videos on their website, so people can vote for their favorites. The three winners will each receive VIP tickets to the Karaoke World Championsips for themselves and for their friend. All singers received free coffee and pastries.

Over 50 people sang during the four hours. Even the Finland’s own Patrick Swayze, Juha Karvonen (fourth place in the mens series in 2007) came along and gave the good people of Lahti a sneak peak as to what he has in store for this year. Click for more pictures..