Flesh and blood

(säv./san. Erkki Vuokila)

My life has been just one big masquerade,

the lovers that I lied to, the enemies I made.

And how to end it is what I must now learn

before the time of reaching the point of no return.

‘Cause I am only flesh and blood and hope you see that too.

The times of my pretending they are through.

I am only flesh and blood and all I say is true,

but if I stumble, can I count on you?

I owe it all to you if I succeed,

you saw where I was going, you saw the change I need.

Its hard for you but mine is the hardest part,

>cause all the things Im doing they must come from my heart.

I know I’m only flesh and blood and hope that you are too.

The times of my pretending they are through.

I am only flesh and blood and all I say is true,

but if I stumble, can I count on you?

Can I count on you?

No I’m only flesh and blood and hope that you are too.

The times of my pretending they are through.

I am only flesh and blood and all I say is true,

but if I stumble, can I count on you?

If  I stumble, can I count on you?

HiSQ is a Finnish collective formed by legendary crossword puzzle creator Erkki Vuokila and singer Bablo. HiSQ stands for Hi Status Qualified – meaning the best possible outcome without limitations. The first single of this is a touching ballad ”Flesh and Blood”, interpretated by the unique Marko Hietala. HiSQ has no permanent singer but they always try to find just the right one for every song. It’s all about good music with no boundaries!

Erkki composes and writes the HiSQ songs. They may be old or brand new. ”Flesh and Blood” has a history of many centuries and phases. Now it felt good to introduce it to HiSQ pianist Mikko Mäkinen, who gave his finishing touches to the arrangement. Peter Engberg added the acoustic guitars. Bablo asked his namesake Marko Hietala to sing ”Flesh and Blood”. Hietala felt it resonated with his own life story.

Marko Hietala states:

”Hi people! Bablo and Erkki contacted me and told they had a song they would like me to sing for HiSQ. Here’s how it resonated in me. I’ve struggled with a few addictions in my life. The worst of them has been alcohol, which made me so impulsive, untrustworthy and reckless, that everything dear to me was about to break. And it was happening because of me. I needed to make a change and I did. But I also remember how my troubles made me blur the accusing voices and constant pain in my mind with booze. I was a chronic depressive alone on a highway to hell. And addicts are worthless enough for others to write them off without getting to know anything about their reasons. We all need to communicate how we feel and to hear the others. If we don’t, we’re cowards in our own field of battle. ’I’m only flesh and blood. Can I count on you?’ There it is!”

The Hi Status Qualified series will be grow with more songs in the upcoming months with new guest vocalists. Soulmates Erkki and Bablo are the ones who stear this HiSQ boat.

HiSQ – Flesh and Blood
ISRC: FIHIS-2200006
Erkki Vuokila – music, lyrics, idea
Marko Hietala – vocals
Mikko Mäkinen – production, arrangements, piano, programming
Peter Engberg – guitars
Janne Oinas – mixing
Markku Mäkelä – cover art, other imagery
Arto Pöllänen – video
Marko "Bablo" Junnilainen – label, idea
Ässä Records - Publishing