KAJ (comedy group)
 | A request that this article title be changed to KAJ (band) is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
KAJ | |
|---|---|
 KAJ at Melodifestivalen 2025 (left to right): Jakob Norrgård, Kevin Holmström, Axel Åhman | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Vörjeans |
| Origin | Vörå, Ostrobothnia, Finland |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members | |
| Website | www |
KAJ (Finland Swedish: [kɑjː] ⓘ) are a music and comedy group from Vörå in Ostrobothnia, Finland. The group is part of the Finland-Swedish cultural sphere and primarily performs in Swedish with lyrics in the Vörå dialect. The group consists of Kevin Holmström, Axel Åhman, and Jakob Norrgård, whose first name initials form the band's name (in itself a common first name in Swedish).[1]
KAJ's music spans multiple genres, including pop, rock, rap, opera, disco, and schlager, often incorporating humor and satire. The group also has a satirical rockabilly alter ego called Vörjeans, which parodies raggare subcultures.[2]
They are set to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with the song "Bara bada bastu".[3]
Background
[edit]
Axel Åhman and Jakob Norrgård first met through football in Vörå, where they became close friends.[4] Later, Kevin Holmström got to know Axel when they met at a motocross track in Röukas, Vörå, where they helped push Axel's stalled Suzuki out of the woods. Kevin and Jakob met at a school disco in Maxmo, as they both had Axel as a mutual friend.[5]
The trio later attended the same school, strengthening their friendship, and eventually formed KAJ in 2009.[6]
Musicals and awards
[edit]KAJ has produced two musicals at Wasa Theatre: Gambämark (2018) and Botnia Paradise (2021).[7]
In 2013, KAJ were the recipients of the inaugural Leif Sjöström prize awarded by Harry Schaumans stiftelse.[8][9] That same year, their song "Heimani i skick" won the award for Best Amateur Production in Film/TV/Video at the Finland-Swedish Nöjesgalan.[10] In 2014, KAJ were awarded the Svenska Natten medal for their promotion of Finland Swedish dialects.[11] In 2015, the group was awarded the title of Honorable Ostrobothnians of the Year.[12] In 2021, KAJ won the Ostrobothnian distinction for Rural Face of the Year, awarded by Aktion Österbotten and Österbottens förbund.[13] Following their Melodifestivalen win, KAJ were named the 2025 Sauna Promoter of the Year (Swedish: Årets bastufrämjare) by Svenska Bastuakademien, which is set to be awarded on 14 June.[14][15]
Chart performance
[edit]On 16 March 2025, KAJ's song "Bara bada bastu" reached number one on the Swedish radio chart Svensktoppen with 192 points, marking the group's first time topping the chart.[16] The song also topped Digilistan on 22 March 2025, after three weeks on the chart, climbing from second place the previous week.[17]
Melodifestivalen and Eurovision 2025
[edit]
In 2025, KAJ participated in Sweden's Melodifestivalen 2025 with the song "Bara bada bastu",[18] qualifying directly to the final.[19][20] They eventually won the final with 164 points, and are scheduled to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.[21] The entry will be the first entry sung in Swedish sent by Sweden since 1998.[22] The song reached extreme success globally, topping Spotify's global viral 50 chart.[23] The last time an entry was sung in Swedish at the Eurovision Song Contest was in 2012, with Finland-Swedish singer Pernilla Karlsson representing Finland with När jag blundar.[24] KAJ is said to have to change some of its lyrics according to Eurovision rules, because using the Finnish expletive perkele is prohibited.[25]
Band members
[edit]The members of KAJ were born in three different municipalities which have since merged to form Vörå.[26]
- Kevin Holmström (Finland Swedish: [ˈkevɪn ˈhɔlmstrøm] ⓘ, born 12 December 1993[27]) – vocals. From Komossa in the former municipality of Oravais.[26] Studied sound production and design for film and TV at Arcada University of Applied Sciences.[27] Lives in the Kallio district of Helsinki with his wife.[28] His cousins are cross-country skier Matias Strandvall and former professional footballer Sebastian Strandvall.[29]
- Axel Åhman (Finland Swedish: [ˈɑksɛl ˈɔːman] ⓘ, born 6 February 1993[27]) – vocals and accordion.[27] From Palvis in the former municipality of Old Vörå.[26] Is also a writer of short stories, children's books, and novels, having published four works since 2020.[30] Placed third in the 2017 Arvid Mörne competition for Finland-Swedish authors organised by Svenska folkskolans vänner.[30][31] Studied journalism at the University of Helsinki's Swedish School of Social Science and worked as a journalist for Vasabladet.[27][32] Lives in Vaasa with his wife after previously living in Helsinki.[27][33]
- Jakob Norrgård (Finland Swedish: [ˈjɑːkɔb ˈnɔr:ˌɡɔːrd] ⓘ, born 22 March 1993[27]) – vocals. From the former municipality of Maxmo.[26] Studied photography and editing for film and TV at Arcada University of Applied Sciences.[27] Was a radio presenter for Yle X3M in 2017.[32] Lives in Helsinki with his fiancée.[27][34]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| FIN [35] | ||
| Professionella pjasalappar |
|
— |
| Lokalproducerat pjas |
|
— |
| Kom ti byin |
|
— |
| Gambämark |
|
— |
| Born to Börn (as Vörjeans) |
|
— |
| Botnia Paradise |
|
— |
| Karar i arbeit |
|
32 |
Live albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| KAJ 10 (Live) |
|
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIN [35] |
EST Air. [36] |
NOR [37] |
SWE [38] | |||
| "Heimani i skick" | 2013 | — | * | — | — | Lokalproducerat pjas |
| "Jåo nåo e ja jåo YOLO ja nåo" | 2014 | —[A] | — | — | ||
| "Pa to ta na kako?" | 2015 | — | — | — | Kom ti byin | |
| "Taco hej (me gusta)" | — | — | — | |||
| "Paavos Barkbrö" (live) | 2017 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Volvoräägör" (as Vörjeans) |
2019 | — | — | — | Born to Börn | |
| "Text-TV" | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Vems pojk e do?" | — | — | — | |||
| "Rejpelts Miss Valborg" (as Vörjeans) |
2022 | — | — | — | ||
| "Håo Håo Vööbåo" (as Vörjeans) |
— | — | — | |||
| "Firmans man" | 2024 | — | — | — | —[B] | Karar i arbeit |
| "Dansgolv" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Bara bada bastu" | 2025 | 1 | 69 | 26 | 1 | TBA |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. "*" denotes that the chart did not exist at that time. | ||||||
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Jåo nåo e ja jåo YOLO ja nåo" did not enter the Official Finnish Charts, but peaked at No. 25 on the Official Finnish Download Chart.[39]
- ^ "Firmans man" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number three on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[40]
References
[edit]- ^ KAJ med i Melodifestivalen – utlovar dialekt och sauna-pop [KAJ in Melodifestivalen – promises dialect and sauna pop] (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "Sverige har fått KAJ-feber – Spotifysuccén efter Mellodebuten" [Sweden has caught KAJ fever – the Spotify hit after the Mellodebut]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 24 February 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "KAJ has won 'Melodifestivalen' and will represent Sweden in Basel". Eurovision Song Contest. 8 March 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ "Axel Åhman om barndomen och fotbollen" [Axel Åhman on childhood and football] (Podcast). Yle. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Hur KAJ blev KAJ" [How KAJ became KAJ] (in Swedish). Yle. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Kevin Holmström är Vegas vinterpratare" [Kevin Holmström is Vega's Winter Speaker] (in Swedish). Yle. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Recension: Botnia Paradise är som en läcker godispåse från taxfreebutiken, och ingen förälder stoppar dig och säger att "nu räcker det"" [Review: Botnia Paradise is like a delicious bag of sweets from the duty-free shop, and no parent will stop you and say 'that's enough'] (in Swedish). Yle. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "Sjöström-priset till Humorgruppen Kaj". Vasabladet (in Swedish). 16 October 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ "Humorgruppen Kaj är suverän". Hufvudstadsbladet (in Swedish). 16 October 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Mattfolk, Moa (12 December 2013). "Heimani i skick – prisbelönt humor" (in Swedish). Yle. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Vierinen, Jenna (6 November 2014). "Humorgruppen KAJ får medalj" (in Swedish). Yle. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ "KAJ utsedda till Årets österbottningar" [KAJ recognized as Ostrobothnians of the Year] (in Swedish). Yle. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ Sahl, Alexia (23 June 2021). "Österbottniska aktörer fick utmärkelser – Petalax är årets by" (in Swedish). Yle. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Iggström, Fanny (11 March 2025). "Kaj årets bastufrämjare – nu hoppas prisutdelarna på besök" (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ "Mello-vinnarna KAJ blir årets bastufrämjare 2025: "Slår allting" , 5 min 42 sek". Nyhetsmorgon. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ "Svensktoppen – March 16, 2025". Sveriges Radio. 16 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ "Digilistan – March 22, 2025". Sveriges Radio. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ "Favoriterna höll – Zelmerlöw och KAJ till final" [The favourites held – Zelmerlöw and KAJ to the final]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 22 February 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "KAJ går direkt till final: "Det känns osannolikt"" [KAJ goes straight to the final: 'It feels incredible']. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 22 September 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2025 – via Aftonbladet TV.
- ^ Falk, Simon (22 February 2025). "Melodifestivalen 2025: Måns Zelmerlöw and KAJ qualify from heat 4 in Malmö". Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ Falk, Simon (8 March 2025). "KAJ win Melodifestivalen 2025 and will represent Sweden at Eurovision with 'Bara Bada Bastu'". wiwibloggs. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ Matikainen, Jenny; Kangas, Laura (8 March 2025). "Suomalaisbändi KAJ lähtee Euroviisuihin – saunalaulu valloitti Ruotsin ja päihitti ennakkosuosikin". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ Ntinos, Fotios (11 March 2025). "Sweden: "Bara Bada Bastu" hits No. 1 on Spotify's Daily Global Viral Chart!". Eurovision Fun. Archived from the original on 11 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Yli-Ojanperä, Elina (16 March 2012). "När jag blundar – Pernilla Karlsson laulaa äidistään veljensä sanoin ja sävelin". Yle Luovat sisällöt ja media (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ Karttunen, Camilla (11 March 2025). "KAJ'n kappale rikkoo Euroviisujen sääntöjä – Tässä voi olla ratkaisu". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d Lüttge, Peter; Åhman, Erik; Fant, Izabella (2 March 2025). "I Vörå finns i dag bara stolta och lyckliga människor – följ med på en resa genom KAJ-land" (in Swedish). Yle. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Boo, Sofia (9 March 2025). "Det här är Kaj – vinnarna av Melodifestivalen 2025". Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ "Kevin Holmström: "Ingenting är definitivt för mig"". Kyrkpressen (in Swedish). 24 January 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Touru, Ville (9 March 2025). "Nämä tunnetut suomalaiset ovat KAJ:n tähden serkkuja". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ a b Popenoe Thor, Clara (11 March 2025). "A:et i Kaj kan mer än bara bada bastu". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ "Vinnarna i SFV:s Arvid Mörne-tävling 2017" (in Swedish). Svenska folkskolans vänner. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ a b Koivuranta, Riitta (10 March 2025). "Tämä kaikki KAJ:n jäsenistä tiedetään". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Lempinen, Jenna (10 March 2025). "Tämä kaikki KAJ-kolmikosta tiedetään – pitkiä parisuhteita ja yllättävät taustat". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Andrée, Benjamin (8 March 2025). "KAJ:s okända kärleksliv: "Mönster i gruppen"". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ a b "KAJ" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: Mar 20, 2025". TopHit. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
- ^ "Singel 2025 uke 12". VG-lista. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 9, 2025". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "Latauslista: 30/2014" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 12, 2025". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
External links
[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
