Uuekuueline Viljandi paadimees
A New Version of "The Boatman of Viljandi"

Summary/Abstract: Those interested in newer popmusic need not be introduced the song "The Boatman of Viljandi" sang by the band "Untsakad" - an innovated version of a wellknown folksong that has caused somewhat controversiary feelings in the listeners of the older generation. The song was in the radio tops of 1996 and in the TV show "The 7 Bold Ones" and it can also be found on the double CD of "Untsakad" "Päälinna laiv Von Krahlis" (1996). But now you can already acquaint with a newer version of the "The Boatman of Viljandi" sang-played by Üllar Meriste in the end of 1996. A couple of words about the author and how the song came to be. Üllar Meriste studied in the former Viljandi Culture School at the same time as Margus Põldsepp, the later founder of "Untsakad". He reformed "The Boatman of Viljandi" in the last year of his studies -1989. According to him, the older version of the song had seemed to oldfashioned to him and as a rocklover he had reformed the song accordingly. The song became popular in the whole school and as its creator left Viljandi after graduating the song was still sung there - in the campus corridors and at parties, at fist accompanied by a guitar. As folkmusic became more popular, also professional bands became more interested in "The Boatman of Viljandi". In the end of 1994, the band "Ummamuudu" wanted to own it and "Untsakad", too, asked and were ready to let the author himself sing in the song in the studio. Stories stayed stories till Margus Põldsepp himself changed the destiny of the song with a stern hand in 1995. Üllar Meriste thinks the arrangement done by "Untsakad" very pleasant and not too far away form teh original version. More questionable is the introductory part of the song imitating runo song accompanied by drumbeat but obviously this has not lowered teh value of the song.

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