Samae Koskinen - Läski mulkku (English subtitles) (Finnish music)

"Fat Jerk", from SuomiLOVE, Season 1, Episode 1 (aired November 15th 2014).
Samae Koskinen's "Läski mulkku" is the kind of song that hits you with its honesty and humor-and it's hard not to get caught up in the whirlwind of realness it throws at you. Samae Koskinen, for those unfamiliar, is a Finnish singer-songwriter who’s been doing his thing for years, blending folk, rock, and heartfelt storytelling in his music. He’s a guy who doesn’t shy away from digging into real life, the ugly and beautiful parts alike, and "Läski mulkku" is a perfect testament to that.
The title might come across as a bit blunt-okay, more than a bit-but that’s part of its charm. "Läski mulkku," which translates loosely to something like "Fat Jerk" (though it’s a lot more colorful in Finnish), takes a self-deprecating jab at vanity, body image, and the ways we sometimes get stuck in our own heads. The song is full of sharp wit, but also an emotional core that’s almost tender. Koskinen’s knack for writing lyrics that are funny but still sting a little bit really comes through here, and it makes you think about the way we criticize ourselves in everyday life.
Now, the SuomiLOVE live rendition of "Läski mulkku" is really something special. SuomiLOVE is this beloved Finnish TV show that celebrates love-romantic, platonic, familial, you name it-through music. Each episode has people sharing their personal stories, and those stories get paired with a song that fits the situation, often performed by the original artists. It's all about creating these touching, sometimes heart-wrenching moments, with music as the central theme. And Samae Koskinen’s performance of "Läski mulkku" on the show was one of those moments that just worked beautifully.
On SuomiLOVE, Koskinen delivered "Läski mulkku" in the very first episode of the first season. He performed at what was dubbed the "world's smallest festival," and the performance was quite minimalist, a man-and-guitar type of deal. There was a mix of humor and sincerity that makes it clear why he’s such a well-loved figure in Finland’s music scene. There’s a lightness to his presence-he doesn’t take himself too seriously, which only adds to the song’s charm. Seeing him sing this self-critical yet somehow affectionate song in a live setting, especially on a show as heartfelt as SuomiLOVE, really gave the track another layer. It felt like he wasn’t just singing about his own insecurities, but about the shared human experience of feeling less-than or out of place-and still being able to laugh about it.
That live performance was a reminder of what makes Samae Koskinen special: his ability to connect, to be vulnerable without getting overly sentimental. It’s like he’s saying, "Yeah, life’s messy, and I’m kind of a mess, but aren’t we all?" And that’s the beauty of it-he’s there, flaws and all, turning what could be a harsh look in the mirror into a moment where we can all laugh and maybe even feel a little better about our own reflection.