Tango queen Heidi Pakarinen learned from her late father that you have to move forward in life one day at a time.
Heidi Pakarinen, 47, was crowned tango queen 10 years ago. The years have included ups and downs, which have taught the tango queen, above all, things about herself and life.
– On gig trips, I think about a lot of things and I feel that I have deepened and become wiser. I have also become more confident with myself, Pakarinen states thoughtfully.
Heidi Pakarinen put on the evening dress in which she was crowned tango queen 10 years ago. Inka Soveri
Public work in music has caused the fact that from time to time I have had to discuss matters of my private life in front of a large audience. Sometimes Pakarinen has even felt that it would be easier to leave the limelight, but the fire of performing is even greater.
– The fact that I’m known and people know what I can do professionally is quite enough for me, he says.
– Nowadays, I have the idea that I live a life through my work for all music lovers, but a private life only for myself and my loved ones.
Heidi Pakarinen just crowned in 2013. Kyösti Mäkimattila was crowned tango king. Matti Matikainen
Even though the tango queen prefers to keep more of her privacy, she opens up a little about her love life. Pakarinen says that he lives in a relationship. He seems happy, and above all in love.
– I haven’t talked about this anywhere, and I won’t talk about it any more. I don’t see it as necessary, and this is also how I want to protect my partner and his loved ones, Pakarinen emphasizes.
Losses
Pakarinen’s last year also contained sadness. He lost his older brother a year ago in February Henry’s. The sad news came unexpectedly, and Pakarinen did not know how to expect it.
Grief faced Pakarinen once again last summer, when his father’s health deteriorated.
Pakarinen’s father died in October at the age of 83. The recent loss makes Pakarinen break down in tears.
Even though Pakarinen knew that time was running out for his father, he cannot prepare in advance for dealing with grief.
– Father was in hospice care for a couple of weeks. We managed to go there to chat and thank him for everything we’ve been able to experience with him, Pakarinen recalls.
Pakarinen says that he calls his mother almost every day. – Sometimes he has to be reminded that there are so many things in the world that he cannot influence himself. There’s no point in worrying about things if you can’t influence them. Inka Soveri
Pakarinen remembers his father fondly.
– Even last weekend on the gig trip, I felt like I should call my father. He often got calls during gig trips, he says.
Pakarinen also received confirmation of his own life’s thought pattern from his father.
– You have to remember to live in the moment. You can’t speed up the passage of time either, so you have to live and breathe one moment at a time. One of Dad’s last sentences at the hospice appointment was “One day at a time and one moment at a time.” and then we sang the same tune together with the siblings, Pakarinen says.
Pakarinen wants to implement this instruction in his life.
Although last year contained a lot of sadness and difficult moments, Pakarinen does not feel that he is exhausted in the middle of everyday life.
– I wanted to be quiet in a different way. Fortunately, my work with music gives me enormous strength. Music is a calming and grounding channel for me, says Pakarinen gratefully.
Pakarinen’s parents divorced when he was six. – I have received more influences in life from my mother, but yes, I have Pakarinen’s character from my father, Pakarinen laughs warmly. Inka Soveri
Music in the blood
Pakarinen has two daughters with his ex-common-law wife, an opera singer Mika Pohjonen with. Maternal, Pearl and My heart the spaces are warm.
– You’re joking, how my own diamonds grow! The firstborn will already be an adult this year, that’s a big deal. It has been wonderful to watch the growth and development of both my daughters. What wonderful confidence and trust they have grown in, Pakarinen says warmly.
– I have positioned myself in such a way that when they move away from home at some point, a new phase of my life will begin. Then there are not so many connections to the everyday life of such a “family with children”, he continues.
Pakarinen’s dreams are related to work, for example. He would like to travel again to the birthplace of tango, Argentina, where he has already visited once before together with tango king Mäkimattila. Inka Soveri
Pakarinen says that he sees many traits of himself in his daughters. The common passion is also in music, and both daughters, like Pakarinen, have a good ear for music.
The tango queen wouldn’t stop her daughters if they wanted to make a career in the music world. Of course, Pakarinen has honestly told both of his children what working in the music world and in the public eye can be like.
– They make their own decisions in their lives, but I hope that I can be their support and safety. I trust my daughters and believe that they will make their own choices and lead a good life, she says.
Savolais pulsates
Having lived in Lahti for more than half of his life, Pakarinen’s heart and soul beats for Savoia. Pakarinen, who was born in Siilinjärvi and spent part of his life in Kuopio, is the so-called “Latta woman from Savoia”.
Being from Savo has also been useful in terms of career.
– When he has traveled around Finland and abroad, he has noticed that the attitude towards life is one of the greatest strengths of Savoland. We face others openly and know how to settle into every moment and situation. Adaptation and a certain kind of acceptance towards people is particularly beautiful in Savoland, Pakarinen opens.
Pakarinen reveals that the first time in the center of Lahti was even a “shock”.
– In Savo and, for example, Kuopio, when we meet, we look each other in the eye, smile and even say hello, even if we don’t even know each other! he continues with a laugh.
The sunny and smiling Pakarinen sometimes also gets comments about the openness brought by his savoir faire. Sometimes his smiling behavior is mistaken for flirting.
– Male and female artists are on completely different bases in how they are received and perceived. Female artists are subject to more questioning and skepticism, and unfortunately women have to work longer to get a place as a credible artist, Pakarinen says.
“Savona lattarinainen” is a term that describes Pakaris particularly well. Inka Soveri
Pakarinen has sometimes even been labeled a “vogger” at his gigs when he has made contact with people.
– I’ve never been a winker or a flirt, even though I smile. Liveliness and joy have always been in me.
– I love watching all people when I’m on stage, not just men. I’m not looking for, and I’m not looking for someone individually, I follow the dance and the feeling. I get looks there through music, but eye contact can also happen with a woman, he continues.
Despite the occasional gravel sounds, one thing is certain. The smile of Pakarinen from Savo does not freeze.
Makeup and hair: Maria Kiviaho. Stailoring: Henna Koste. Flower dress / Kaiko. Silver earrings / Marea Seize. Pink high heels / Mango. Pink-orange dress / Nouki. Colorful earrings / Karo Koru.