Performed by: Fredi
Music by: Lasse Mårtenson
Lyrics by: Alvi Vuorinen
Conductor: Ossi Runne
Language: Finnish
Placing: 12th (3 points)

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"Varjoon – suojaan" ("To shadow – to safety") was the Finnish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1967, performed in Finnish by Fredi.

Fredi was born in Mikkeli. In 1965 he recorded his first song, "Roskisdyykkarin Balladi" as Folk Fredi. A year later he dropped the Folk name and was simply known as Fredi. Internationally he represented his country at the Eurovision Song Contest 1967[2] in Vienna, Austria with the song "Varjoon - suojaan" ("Into the shadow--into shelter"), which received three points and finished 12th out of 17. Fredi returned to Eurovision in 1976[2] at The Hague, Netherlands, with the group Fredi & Friends. Their song "Pump-Pump" received 44 points, finishing 11th out of 18.

In Finland Fredi had more than 20 Top 10 hit singles, and achieved diamond status with many studio albums like Avaa sydämesi mulle (Open Your Heart to Me) and Rakkauslauluja (Lovesongs). In 1968, he recorded Finnish cover versions of Tom Jones's "Delilah" and Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" and five years later, David Bowie's "Starman" and Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". In 1977, he released his first Christmas album, containing covers of "Silent Night" and "White Christmas". In 1978 he released one of his most critically acclaimed albums Tänään Fredi (Today, Fredi). It contained hit singles "Syntinen yö" ("The sinful night"), and Finnish covers of the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive ("Elää mä sain") and Space's "Magic Fly" ("Se outoa on"). The album peaked at #5 in the Finnish Albums Chart and was certified gold. Fredi sold over 177,000 certified records, which places him among the 50 best-selling male soloists in Finland.[3]

In 2010, Fredi started presenting his own talk show, "Fredin Vieraana" ("Fredi's guests.") His shows included songs at the opening and closing of each episode, and interviews with Finnish musicians and singers such as Katri Helena and Titta Jokinen. Fredi was also the husband of the former mayor of Helsinki, Eva-Riitta Siitonen. They were married in 1969 and on 13 November 1970, Eva-Riitta gave birth to the late Hanna-Riikka Siitonen, who was a singer and actress. Fredi was also the stepfather of Petri, Eva-Riitta's son from a previous relationship.

Fredi died in April 2021, aged 78

His first ESC song was performed eighth on the night, following Sweden's Östen Warnerbring with "Som en dröm" and preceding Germany's Inge Brück with "Anouschka". At the close of voting, it had received 3 points, placing 12th in a field of 17.

The song is about Fredi's desire to escape from the hustle and bustle of life, to the shadow of anonymity. He remarks that he knows it will be lonely there, but that he feels that he will be happier regardless.

It was succeeded as Finnish representative at the 1968 Contest by Kristina Hautala with "Kun kello käy". Fredi returned to the Contest in 1976 with the song "Pump-Pump".

Lyrics:

Varjoon-suojaan

Varjoon alta polttavan auringon
Varjoon tieltä tuskien päästävä on
Suojaan alta hehkuvan taivahan
Suojaan luokse vihreän keitahan

Yllä auringon hohde, alla on polttava maa
Mielessä varjoisa kohde, jonne yksin kulkea saan

Varjoon alta polttavan auringon
Varjoon pian pois minun päästävä on
Suojaan alta hehkuvan taivahan
Suojaan alle lehdistön tuuhean

Varjoon valokeilojen julkeain
Varjoon tahdon seurasta kuuluisain
Suojaan luota polttavan rakkauden
Suojaan luokse kaipauksen hiljaisen

Rauhaton eloni on vain, kaiken nyt kestää mä saan
Jo mainetta kylliksi sain, rauhaan mä kaipailen vaan

Varjoon valokeiloista tahdon pois
Varjoon yksinäistä vaikk' siellä ois
Suojaan tahdon viimeinkin rauhaisaan
Silloin vasta onneni vihdoin saan



English:


To the shadow – to safety

Into the shadow from under the burning sun
I must get into the shadow from the street of pain
To safety from under the glowing sky
To safety, to a green oasis

Above is the shining sun, underneath is the burning ground
In the mind the shady resort, where I can go by myself

Into the shadow from under the burning sun
I must soon get away, into the shadow
To safety from under the glowing sky
To safety under bushy leaves

Into the shadow from the shameless spotlights
I want to get into the shadow, away from the company of the famous
To safety, away from the burning love
To safety of silent longing

My life is just restless, now I have to stand everything
I already got enough fame, rest is all I miss

I want to get into the shadow, away from the spotlights
Into the shadow, although it would be lonely there
I want to go to the peaceful safety, eventually
That's when I could finally find my happiness

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