| Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki | |
|---|---|
Rauli Somerjoki in 1984 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rauli Aarre Tapani Somerjoki |
| Also known as | Badding |
| Born | 30 August 1947 Somero, Finland |
| Origin | Somero, Finland |
| Died | 14 January 1987 (aged 39) Helsinki, Finland |
| Genres | Finnish rock, Schlager, rock and roll |
| Occupations | singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1966–1987 |
| Labels | Love Records, Johanna Kustannus, Minimusic, Dojo AAB-Tuotanto |
| Associated acts | M. A. Numminen, Suomen Talvisota 1939–1940, Agents |
Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki (born as Rauli Aarre Tapani Somerjoki) (30 August 1947, Somero - 14 January 1987, Helsinki) was a Finnish rock singer. His records were published on such labels as Love Records. His nickname Badding is derived from Paddington Bear.
Badding's most famous songs include "Fiilaten ja höyläten", "Paratiisi", "Bensaa suonissa", "Ikkunaprinsessa", "Tähdet, tähdet" and "Laivat".
Badding was born in Somero into a family of five children. He founded his first band, The Five Yes in 1963 and also worked in the group Suomen Talvisota 1939-1940. Together with M. A. Numminen, he caused some scandal with provocative songs like "Mitä nuoren aviomiehen tulee muistaa" and "Jenkka ulkosynnyttimistä".
Badding started his solo career in 1970. He competed in the Syksyn sävel song contest with "Ja rokki soi" written by Matti ja Teppo.
During his later career, Somerjoki worked with Agents. His last gig took place in Seinäjoki on 28 December 1986. During the fall, he had suffered many bouts of bronchitis, and in January 1987 he died in Helsinki of alcohol-related ailments. He was only 39 years of age.
Aki Kaurismäki has used Somerjoki's music in his films and published a biography of Somerjoki titled Badding: Rauli Somerjoen elämä ja laulut (1996) written by Heikki Metsämäki and Juha Miettinen. Somerjoki also appeared in the film The Worthless (Finnish: Arvottomat) by Mika Kaurismäki in 1982.
In 2000 Markku Pölönen directed the film Badding, starring Janne Reinikainen about Somerjoki's life. It is available on DVD, bundled with Pölönen's Onnen maa, a romantic comedy about Finnish tango.
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Several compilation albums and a tribute album have been also released.