It’s fast become the most-talked-about entry in Finland’s Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2021. And not just online — “I Love You” by Teflon Brothers x Pandora is also a streaming hit that’s refusing to budge from its position near the top of the Finnish Spotify chart. But what is the entry about and what do the lyrics mean?
Scroll down for “I Love You” lyrics
Teflon Brothers x Pandora “I Love You” (Finland’s Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2021)
Teflon Brothers — that’s Mikko “Pyhimys” Kuoppala, Heikki Kuula and Jani “Voli” Tuohimaa — have been active since 2006, although it wasn’t until 2013 that the hip hop trio began to enjoy significant mainstream success. They’ve had three number one singles and over a dozen top-ten hits.
Pandora — born Anneli Magnusson — is a Swedish Eurodance star, best known for 1990s hits like “Trust Me” and “Don’t You Know”. She also competed in Melodifestivalen 2003 and 2004. The singer’s fiance is Finnish, and she calls the country her home for half of the year.
The “I Love You” collaboration has been a long time in the making. The seeds were first planted four years ago, after a chance meeting between Teflon Brothers and Pandora backstage at a music event.
What do the “I Love You” lyrics mean?
“I Love You” is an undeniable earworm — from the irresistible synths to the very easy to remember hook. But is there more to the song than it’s brash and glossy exterior. Upon hearing the chorus, which largely consists of Pandora singing “I love you” over and over, many have written the track off as mere junk food music. However, Teflon Brothers argue that there’s more than first meets the eye ear.
The track is supposed to address the difficulty of expressing emotions and encourages one to be more open and bold. And indeed, while “I love you” is just three simple words, they can be famously difficult to say. In the song, Pandora has moved beyond this initial stage of doubting and being self-consciousness. Hence why she throws caution to the wind and sings the lyrics again and again and again.
Deeper meaning can be found in the Finnish-language verses, which also seem somewhat ridiculous upon first listen. “With our song, we want to bring people together for joy… joy and love and a message that love does not look at language skills or external aspects. It’s about the power of wordless interaction, that is, in Pandora’s words, mental interaction”, says the group.
So regardless of whether they’re talking in broken English, conversing with a Ukrainian cashier or lost in Albania’s capital, some things are universal, including the entry’s central messages of love and joy. They might not come riding on horseback with a bouquet of roses, but the guys still have feelings… even if they’d rather eat junk food than discuss them. Phimys hopes that “I Love You” will stir up a variety of feelings in listeners. “That is, a person might be a little confused, but on the same primitive level, they love that piece and could not resist its attraction!”.
“I Love You” lyrics — Teflon Brothers x Pandora (Finland’s UMK 2021)
Written and Composed by: Jaakko Salovaara, Axel Ehnström, Mikko Kuoppala, Heikki Kuula, Jani Tuohimaa and Anneli Magnusson.
You may not recognise the name, but most of you will already be familiar with Axel Ehnström. The accomplished songwriter represented Finland at Eurovision 2011 under the stage name Paradise Oskar.
Finnish/English text |
English translation |
Tiettömällä tiellä rakkaudesta renttu Tunteiden tulkki, rikkinäinen enkku En ruusua pujottamas taaksesi korvan En ratsulla saavu, mut saat multa horsman (Baby, baby love you) Ja kyl sä tiedät Mä oon vaan ihminen Vaikken puhua osaa Assanvessakassa Ukrainassa Kerto nimensä Mut rakkautta en osaa sanottaaI, and I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I Honey, honey come ride, c-c-come ride I love you, I, I love you, I love you Baby, baby love you Baby, baby love youEi koskaan mun puhelin soi Tätä tuskaa ei saunota pois Suomalaisen juntin tunteet on huhu Syön makkaraa en tunteista puhu (Baby, baby love you) Keskellä Tiranaa Taas mua ivataan Kun en ymmärrä mitään Paikallisen sihteeriopiston kokelaat Aina sekottaa mun suomalaisen päänI, and I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I Honey, honey come ride, c-c-come ride I love you, I, I love you, I love you Baby, baby love you (You know that I love you) I love you (Oh), I, I love you, I love you Baby, baby love you I got your message, it’s a mutual attraction I, and I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you Mä rakastan sua |
On a roadless road, this bum of love An interpreter of emotions, with a broken English, I won’t be sliding a rose behind your ear, I won’t be arriving on a horse but I’ll give you a thistle weed, (Baby baby love you) And surely you know it, that I’m only a human being, Even though I don’t know how to speak, The cashier at a Ukrainian train station’s toilet told me her name, But for love, I just can’t find the words,I, and I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I Honey, honey come ride, c-c-come ride I love you, I, I love you, I love you Baby, baby love you Baby, baby love youNever does my phone ring, even sauna won’t soothe this pain, The feelings of a Finnish hick are only a rumour, I eat sausage and I won’t speak of my emotions, (Baby baby love you) In the middle of Tirana, they’re once again mocking me, For not understanding anything, Local female candidates of the secretary school, Always make my Finnish head spin,I, and I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I Honey, honey come ride, c-c-come ride I love you, I, I love you, I love you Baby, baby love you (You know that I love you) I love you (Oh), I, I love you, I love you Baby, baby love you I got your message, it’s a mutual attraction I, and I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you I love you |
Are you loving “I Love You”? Do you appreciate the message or are you just here for the catchy hook and synths? Let us know below.
This song is so uplifting. It can win (the other songs are boring) but they need a good performance. Last year Cicciolina was good but the staging was deeply disappointing…Let’s hope they find the secret combination and win!
I love it. Uplifting and catchy! Reminds me of Aha’s Take on Me!
Finland, PLEASE!!!! well i hope the live performance is not disappointing because similar songs have failed to live up to expectations.
This is clearly added in my Spotify playlist.
Well those English lyrics have definitely confused me……
But does it matter because it is one hell of a catchy tune!!
Oh forgot: Sausage is a popular food here
You’re welcome 🙂
It’s because they rhyme with finnish words: “Assanvessakassa + Ukrainassa” & “Tiranaa + ivataan”
There are some references to old Finnish hits. Not sure about those, but they might be references too.
Such a catchy song! I hope the Finnish jury doesn’t make the same mistake twice (although I like “Looking Back”). This could do well!