Mikael Kaivanto
Heikki Silvennoinen’s life work is compared to entertainment legends like Vesa-Matti Loir and Spede Pasanen, writes Iltalehti editor Mikael Kaivanto.
One of Heikki Silvennoinen’s most iconic characters is Matti Näsä, whom almost every Finn knows. JOHN PALMÉ
Heikki Silvennoinen, who died of a long-term illness on Wednesday, had a huge meaning for Finns. It is shown by a wide range of participations from the fields of politics, entertainment and sports.
For example, from Finland’s political elite, the Minister of State Finance Riikka Purra (ps) and the Speaker of the Parliament Jussi Halla-aho and the chairman of the center, Antti Kaikkonen, fondly remembered the late Silventos.
Ilves from Tampere sports clubs said that they respect Silvennoinen’s memory. The club had close cooperation with a lynx in spirit and blood. Ilves legend Raimo Helminen also happened to visit Kummeli skits during his playing career. Helminen told Ilta-Sanom that he was shocked by Silvennoinen’s sudden passing.
Only thanks to the sketch series Kummel, Silvennoinen made people laugh with his legendary characters and evergreens – some even thought of his annoying jokes.
The sketches of Silvennoinen and Kummel are often perceived as Tampere’s own phenomenon of the 1990s and earlier generations, but I think the interpretation is wrong.
Since then, the iconic maunoahos, striped uniforms and one-ton banknotes have become a permanent part of our popular culture. Almost every Finn knows how to make a Kummeli hokema or combine internet memes into a series of sketches. Only they can do that Vesa-Matti to Loir, Pertti “Spede” Pasaseen and Up to Ruonansuu comparable entertainers.
At least one of Silvennoinen’s Kummeli characters even crossed international borders. Iltalehti reported several times about Janko’s Betoni sketch, which became an international meme. Among other things, the great football club FC Barcelona borrowed a business person who throws things on their own social media platform, when the club was again left without a goal in the match.
– It must be the certain lack of words and confrontation. Let’s maintain good customer service until the phone hangs up. Kaipa Jankon Betoni is also very suitable for sports work. Athletes today are so unhygienic in the media, Silvennoinen commented on the sketch in 2016.
In addition to sketch entertainment, Silvennoinen was a skilled blues guitarist, musician and actor. He was titled “Clapton of Kangasalan” after his childhood home. The musician Eric Clapton was his great role model.
Silvennoinen’s passing is certainly the end of an era, but the fruit of his work is passed down from generation to generation in, for example, the Internet meme bank.