Eurovision: What do the Finnish lyrics to K??rij?’s Eurovision 2023 entry ‘Cha Cha Cha’ mean?

Finnish rapper, singer, songwriter K??rij? is among the frontrunners to take home the 2023 Eurovision trophy this year.

Sporting a fashion-forward bowl cut, the experimental artist is one of 26 musical acts descending upon Liverpool on Saturday (13 May) for the song contest’s grand final.

Among others, he will be joined by the UK’s pop star Mae Muller, Norway’s TikTok sensation Alessandra, and Germany’s head-banging, throat-ripping metal band Lord of the Lost.

K??rij? – real name Jere P?yh?nen – has been making music since 2014 and gained more fans following the release of his debut album Fantastita in 2020. (Beware of lookalikes; the BBC awkwardly mistook a Eurovision superfan for the Finnish singer.)

According to the bookies, the musician is among the favourites to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winners – Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra – and take home the top prize this weekend.

K??rij?’s Eurovision entry – titled “Cha Cha Cha” – is characteristic of his genre-defying approach, fusing rap, electronic music, metal and schlager.

A celebration of delicious pina coladas and refreshing pints, the track is a surefire party anthem.

His performance is likewise predictably eclectic, melding ballroom dancing, wooden pallets, and a show-stopping neon green bolero jacket.

“Cha Cha Cha” was written together with his two friends, multi-platinum-selling producer and songwriter Johannes “Kiro” Naukkarinen, and producer Aleksi Nurmi.

If you’re interested in what the Finnish lyrics mean in English, you can check out both the original lyrics and their English translation below.

“Cha Cha Cha” (English)

This exhausting week and the many long days are behind

There’s only bar and pi?a colada on my mind

There is some time for a few, the night is still youngish

This icy shell is something I have to demolish

//

Holding on the drinks with both hands tied on them like a

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, no

There’s no tomorrow when I grab a pint tightly like a

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, no

Wanna mess my head up and to free my mind of fear like a

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, no

And I stay on this seat until I have to climb off it like a

//

A couple pi?a coladas I have devoured

Yet the expression I have on my face is sour, yeah yeah ye ye yeh

There is some time for a few, the night is still youngish

This icy shell is something I have to demolish

The floor is calling me when I’m no longer so frozen

Like a cha cha cha I am approachin’

//

Holding on the drinks with both hands tied on them like a

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, no

There’s no tomorrow when I grab a pint tightly like a

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, no

Wanna mess my head up and to free my mind of fear like a

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, no

And I stay on this seat until I have to climb off it like a whoa

//

I head towards the dance floor

Like a cha cha cha

And this world ain’t making me scared no more

Like a cha cha cha

When Champagne all over myself I pour

//

Cha cha cha

One eye keeps turning crossed too far

And talking is so hard when this different side of me does its part

Cha cha cha

I don’t usually go and drop my guard, not me

But now I am that guy, now I am that guy

I head towards dance floor

Like a cha cha cha

And this world ain’t making me scared no more

Like a cha cha cha

When Champagne all over myself I pour

//

Like a cha cha cha

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha aa-aah

Like a cha cha cha

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha

“Cha Cha Cha” (Finnish)

Rankka viikko ja paljon pitkii p?ivi? takan,

Mielenkiintona pi?a colada ja rata,

Ilta on viel? nuori ja aikaa kumota,

T?? j?inen ulkokuori on aika tuhota

//

Pid?n kaksin k?sin kiinni juomista niinku

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, ei

En mieti huomista ku tartun tuopista niinku,

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, ei

Haluun olla sekasin ja vapaa huolista niinku

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, ei

Ja m? jatkan kunnes en en?? pysy tuolissa niinku

//

Muutama pi?a colada on jo takana,

Silti mul on viel? naamataulu vakava, yeah yeah ye ye yeh

Ilta on viel? nuori ja aikaa kumota,

T?? j?inen ulkokuori on aika tuhota,

Parketti kutsuu mua ku en oo en?? lukossa,

Niinku cha cha cha m? oon tulossa

//

Pid?n kaksin k?sin kiinni juomista niinku,

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, ei

En mieti huomista ku tartun tuopista niinku,

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, ei

Haluun olla sekasin ja vapaa huolista niinku,

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha, ei

Ja m? jatkan kunnes en en?? pysy tuolissa niinku vou,

//

Nyt l?hden tanssimaan niinku cha cha cha cha enk? pelk??k??n t?t? maailmaa,

Niinku cha cha cha kun m? kaadan p??lleni samppanjaa,

//

Cha cha cha toinen silm? jo karsastaa, ja puhe sammaltaa ku t?? toinen puoli must vallan saa,

Cha cha cha en oo arkena t?? mies laisinkaan, en oo mut t?n??n oon se mies, t?n??n oon se mies

//

Nyt l?hden tanssimaan niinku cha cha cha, enk? pelk??k??n t?t? maailmaa,

Niinku cha cha cha, kun m? kaadan p??lleni samppanjaa,

Niinku cha cha cha

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha aa-aah

Niinku cha cha cha

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha

Cha cha cha cha cha cha cha