Koop Arponen
Encyclopedia
Koop Juho Alexander Arponen (born 20 April 1984 in Lappeenranta
, Finland
) is a Finnish
singer and the winner of the fourth series
of the Idols
in 2008.
, Eastern Finland to a Finnish father and a Dutch
mother.
When he was two, his family moved to Belgium
and to England
a few years later where he attended Cheam High School
in Cheam
, Surrey
, between 1995 and 2002. He was elected as Head Boy of the School in 2001. At the age of five he started to play the piano
, but quit 6 years later. At the age of 16 he started to play it again and also started to compose music. While doing his national service in the Finnish Army, he learnt to play the guitar
.
In England he studied at the University of Hull Scarborough Campus
and graduated with a BA degree in Creative Music Technology with Business Management. After winning a karaoke contest, he won £1000 and bought some audio equipment. He also used to play in local pubs and clubs.
Arponen's father died in the summer of 2008 and after that he moved back to Finland
to his grandmother's, who lives in the village of Pihlajavesi in Keuruu
.
, Idols (Finland)
. He convinced the judges and the audience with his performances. Nevertheless, he wasn't actually the main choice candidate, as the 18-year old Pete Parkkonen was the favourite until he was dropped in the penultimate competition.
In the final, Arponen got 70,3 % of the votes. Anna Puustjärvi was second. The winner's song, Insomnia debuted at number one on the Official Finnish Album Chart.
After the victory he received media's interest in his mother's home country The Netherlands and his former place of residence, England.
In the spring of 2009 Arponen toured Finland with the semifinalists of that Idols-season.
His debut album New Town
was released on the 18th of March 2009, and entered the Official Finnish Album Chart at number one.
He donated his royalties from the song to the charity and Samsung also donated a percentage of the purchase price to the foundation.
Arponen's second album Bright Lights was released on the 24th of March 2010.
In early 2010 Arponen and two other musicians, James Lascelles and Dane Stefaniuk formed an acoustic three piece band called Flute of Shame. The group have already toured extensively in Finland and parts of Spain and Britain. They are currently working on new material, and their first album is due to be released in 2011.
Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta is a city and municipality that resides on the shore of the lake Saimaa in South-Eastern Finland, about from the Russian border. It belongs to the region of South Karelia. With approximately inhabitants Lappeenranta is the largest city in Finland...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) is a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
singer and the winner of the fourth series
Idols (Finland)
Idols is a Finnish reality-television singing competition that airs on MTV3 . It debuted in the summer of 2003, and went on to become one of the most popular shows on Finnish television...
of the Idols
Idols (Finland)
Idols is a Finnish reality-television singing competition that airs on MTV3 . It debuted in the summer of 2003, and went on to become one of the most popular shows on Finnish television...
in 2008.
Biography
Koop Arponen was born in LappeenrantaLappeenranta
Lappeenranta is a city and municipality that resides on the shore of the lake Saimaa in South-Eastern Finland, about from the Russian border. It belongs to the region of South Karelia. With approximately inhabitants Lappeenranta is the largest city in Finland...
, Eastern Finland to a Finnish father and a Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
mother.
When he was two, his family moved to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
a few years later where he attended Cheam High School
Cheam High School
Cheam High School is a mixed gender comprehensive school located in Cheam, Greater London, England. It consists of a lower school, for those aged between 11-16, and a sixth form for 17-18.The school holds dual Specialist Language College and Arts College status...
in Cheam
Cheam
Cheam is a large suburban village close to Sutton in the London Borough of Sutton, England, and is located close to the southern boundary between Greater London and Surrey. It is divided into two main areas: North Cheam and Cheam Village. North Cheam includes more retail shops and supermarkets,...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, between 1995 and 2002. He was elected as Head Boy of the School in 2001. At the age of five he started to play the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, but quit 6 years later. At the age of 16 he started to play it again and also started to compose music. While doing his national service in the Finnish Army, he learnt to play the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
.
In England he studied at the University of Hull Scarborough Campus
University of Hull Scarborough Campus
The University of Hull Scarborough Campus is a higher education institution in the North Yorkshire town of Scarborough in England, as well as a satellite campus of the University of Hull.-History:...
and graduated with a BA degree in Creative Music Technology with Business Management. After winning a karaoke contest, he won £1000 and bought some audio equipment. He also used to play in local pubs and clubs.
Arponen's father died in the summer of 2008 and after that he moved back to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
to his grandmother's, who lives in the village of Pihlajavesi in Keuruu
Keuruu
Keuruu is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region.The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
.
Idols
In August 2008 Arponen took part in the Finnish version of Pop IdolPop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
, Idols (Finland)
Idols (Finland)
Idols is a Finnish reality-television singing competition that airs on MTV3 . It debuted in the summer of 2003, and went on to become one of the most popular shows on Finnish television...
. He convinced the judges and the audience with his performances. Nevertheless, he wasn't actually the main choice candidate, as the 18-year old Pete Parkkonen was the favourite until he was dropped in the penultimate competition.
In the final, Arponen got 70,3 % of the votes. Anna Puustjärvi was second. The winner's song, Insomnia debuted at number one on the Official Finnish Album Chart.
After the victory he received media's interest in his mother's home country The Netherlands and his former place of residence, England.
In the spring of 2009 Arponen toured Finland with the semifinalists of that Idols-season.
His debut album New Town
New Town (Koop Arponen album)
New Town is the first album by Koop Arponen, the winner of the 2008 Finnish Idols competition.-Track listing:# Every Song I Hear – 03:56# Everything I’m Not – 04:05# Sweet Words And A Lonely Night Away – 03:33# Innocent Eyes – 3:53# Love Is Cool New Town is the first album by Koop Arponen, the...
was released on the 18th of March 2009, and entered the Official Finnish Album Chart at number one.
Career
In the spring and summer 2009 Arponen toured Finland extensively, and in October 2009 he released I Love It When I See You Smile, a song he wrote for the breast cancer charity foundation Pink Ribbon.He donated his royalties from the song to the charity and Samsung also donated a percentage of the purchase price to the foundation.
Arponen's second album Bright Lights was released on the 24th of March 2010.
In early 2010 Arponen and two other musicians, James Lascelles and Dane Stefaniuk formed an acoustic three piece band called Flute of Shame. The group have already toured extensively in Finland and parts of Spain and Britain. They are currently working on new material, and their first album is due to be released in 2011.
Albums
- New TownNew Town (Koop Arponen album)New Town is the first album by Koop Arponen, the winner of the 2008 Finnish Idols competition.-Track listing:# Every Song I Hear – 03:56# Everything I’m Not – 04:05# Sweet Words And A Lonely Night Away – 03:33# Innocent Eyes – 3:53# Love Is Cool New Town is the first album by Koop Arponen, the...
(2009) - Bright Lights
Singles
- Insomnia (2008)
- Every Song I Hear... (2009)
- Innocent Eyes (2009)
- I Love It When I See You Smile (2009)
- Cold (2010)