1. THE BEGINNING

    The APELSIN band was formed in 1974 in Tallinn, Estonia. Original membership consisted of Tõnu Aare, Jaan Arder, Ants Nuut, and Harry Kõrvits.

     

    The name of the group – APELSIN was “invented” by Tõnu Aare. In translation the name means the fruit orange. Indeed, during the Soviet times was orange available only once a year – some days before the New Year. Everybody liked it, both young and old. It is tasty, juicy, with yummy smell. It is beautiful and cheerful ... creates a nice mood for the party.

     

    The birthday of the Apelsin can be considered the 11th May 1974 - the band’s first occurrence in Mati Talvik’s popular television show "Saturday Evening". The day after Tõnu Aare was sent to the army to Siberia. He returned in the summer of 1975. Gunnar Kriik, Ivo Linna and Mati Nuude were added to the first string. Started the success, which has lasted until to the present day. Many thanks to the audience and the fans. Also we are grateful to all musicians and all other participants who have supported us for 40 years, have given their best.    

  2. The breakthrough in USSR

    By 1978 the band had been reached to complete high-end in Estonia, and started look for the new goals strive to. It was clear that the “Western” world was not allowed to dream about.

     

    The only choice was USSR, which was at that time a sixth of the planet. Luckily a good friend and colleague, Estonian singer Jaak Joala, had already achieved great popularity in the Soviet Union, and thanks to his recommendation Apelsin appeared in 1978 in USSR Central television in the popular show "Goluboi ogonjok" (light blue). It was a New Year's eves broadcast, seen by the entire Soviet Union. Apelsin presented a theatrical song "We love the opera." The performance hit the target, and from now all the doors in Russia were open.

     

    Now started a big concert tour, which lasted until 1989. Frequent television appearances, concerts in million cities: Moscow, Leningrad, Tashkent, Chelyabinsk, Odessa, Khabarovsk, Omsk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, etc..

     

    The concert program consisted of original works and humour, the using of acoustic instruments and the spoken text between the songs that were presented in Russian but in Estonian accent. For the first time in the history of the Soviet Union started to use the expression “Show Group”.

     

    The concerts were held in larger Ice halls for average of 4,000 people. And, as a rule, they were all sold out. All this lasted until 1989, when the Soviet Union fell apart. This period ran out.

  3. THE PREVIOUS QUINQUENNIUM 2009-2014

    This period includes both wins and losses. Great Jubilee Tour 35 (2009). Apelsin 35 DVD was launched in 2014 with concert, recorded in NOKIA Concert Hall on 26 October 2009.

    New LP was released in 2012, a CD named "Kauge Hüüd" with many brand new songs on it.

     

    But a huge loss - drum guy and long-time band mate Aleksander left this world.

    Not long after that - unexpected death of another colleague, the drum player Ivo Varts.

    07.24.2014 passed away one of the founding members of the band Jaan Arder.

     

    Time to give and time to take. Many good memories from all of them for a long time.    

  4. PRESENT DAY

    On the May, 11th 2014 the band Apelsin got  40 years of activities. It is clear that the line-up has changed over time, but fortunately the time has been merciful and Apelsin’s production has endured over the times.

    There is so much of material accumulated that many of the songs are just getting into the play-list.

    Current line-up of the band includes:

    Tõnu Aare (vocals, guitar, harmonica, bouzouki, balalaika, mandolin, banjo - the creator of most of the music, a founding member)

    Ants Nuut (trombone, vocals and yodel, tuba, baritone, trumpet, percussions, background vocals, whistling – also one of the founding members)

    Allan Jakobi (accordion, keyboards)

    Argo Toomel (bass guitar and double bass)

    Marek Lillemägi (drums, vocals, percussion)

    Toomas Viidas (bus driver, a security guard, adding sometimes also backing vocals and cowbell)

     

    As the anniversary year is underway, a jubilee tour “Apelsin 40” will be made in Estonia. Another DVD is planned to be issued with older hits. An instrumental CD is also put into the queue. New quinquennium has begun!

     

    Best regards,

    APELSIN

  5. PRODUCTION THROUGH THE YEARS

    The main asset of the group has been the own original production. Composers Tõnu Aare, Gunnar Kriik, Jaan Arder, Ivo Linna, Priit Pihlap. Lyrics: Ott Arder, Henno Käo, Priit Aimla, Jaan Arder, Tõnu Aare. The key issue has also been the original instrumental music. The band’s style has been guided by motto "Something For Everyone". 

  6. The most important music from the period 1975-1980

    Instrumentals

    by Tõnu Aare:

    Purjed (1975)

    Suupillilugu (1975)

    Igatsus (1976)

    Western (1976)

    Rahvamatk (1977)

    Hommik Keskturul (1976)

    Songs:

    Selvepoes (The Life Of The Nicker) (G. Kriik, T. Aare / G. Kriik) 1976

    Aeg ei peatu (T. Aare / O. Arder)  1977

    Tuukrilaul (T. Aare / O. Arder) 1977

    Edison (G. Kriik / O. Arder) 1977

    Järjekorra rock (I. Linna / O. Arder) 1977

    Raamid (G. Kriik / O. Arder) 1978

    Peeglid (G. Kriik / O. Arder) 1978

    Leierkast (G. Kriik / G. Kriik) 1978

    Lahkuminek (now alsoby name „Lastekodus“) (T. Aare / H. Käo) 1978

    Juhtum (T. Aare / O. Arder) 1978

    Illusioon (T. Aare / O. Arder) 1978

    Viimane auruvedur (I. Linna / O. Arder) 1979

    Korstnapühkija (J. Arder / O. Arder) 1979

    Original music for movies and cartoons

    „Maakera on ümmargune“ (Priit Pärn)

    „Tolmuimeja“ (Avo Paistik)

    Documental „Tallinna katused“ (Korstnapühkija)

  7. The most important music from the period 1980-1990

    Sügistuuled (T.Aare / O. Arder) 1982

    Juhhei (J. Arder / O. Arder) 1982

    Roolivelled (T. Aare / H. Käo) 1982

    Saab-saab (Vana Joe) (T. Aare / O. Arder) 1982

    Blues harp boogie (instumental) (T. Aare) 1982

    Tartu levi (T. Aare / T. Aare, O. Arder) 1982

    Külalised (G. Kriik / H. Käo) 1982

    Vastutuul tõusuteel (P. Pihlap / O. Arder) 1983

    111. kilomeeter (instumental) (T. Aare) 1984

    Torneus (instumental) (T. Aare) 1984

    Kassikontsert (T. Aare / H. Käo) 1984

    Jaaniöö, imedeöö (instumental) (T. Aare) 1984 

    Keskea rõõmud (instumental) (T. Aare) 1984

    Õunaraks (instumental) (T. Aare) 1984

    Õunaraks (T. Aare / H. Käo) 1984

    Virumaa polka (instumental) (T. Aare) 1984

    Matkalaul (Seljakotid selga) (T. Aare / H. Käo) 1987

    Laululilled (T.Aare / T. Aare, O. Arder) 1990

     

    Music for movie „Keskea rõõmud“ (Music: T. Aare)    

  8. The most important music from the period 1990-2000

    Jõulukaart (instrumental) (T. Aare) 1994

    Strato Special („Moosivaras“) (instrumental) (T. Aare) 1994

    My Guitar & Banjo (instrumental) (T. Aare) 1994

    Mootorratta lugu (T. Aare / T. Aare) 1999

    Sosisuised jõulud (J. Arder / O. Arder) 1999

    Jaaniöö, imede öö (T. Aare / O. Arder) 1999

    Apelsini boogie ( T. Aare / T. Aare) 1999

    Kambri blues (T. Aare / H. Käo) 1999

    Elulaevuke (T. Aare / O. Arder, J. Arder) 1999

    Tuul ja purjed (instrumental) (T. Aare) 1999    

  9. The most important music from the period 2000-2014

    Via Baltica (T. Aare / T. Aare) 2002

    Shake it (T. Aare / R. Fuller) 2009

    Andante (G. Kriik, T. Aare / O. Arder) 2012

    Kalamehe twist (instrumental) (T. Aare / V. Ojakäär) 2004

    Asi (T. Aare / T. Aare, H. Käo) 2012

    Kauge hüüd (instrumental T. Aare) 2012

    Kauge hüüd (T.Aare / H. Käo) 2012

    Kingseppmeistri lauluke (T. Aare / O. Arder) 2012

    Pihtimus (T. Aare / J. Arder) 2012

    Stress ja sokid (T. Aare / P. Liblik) 2012

    Kulbiviskaja rokk (T. Aare / H. Käo) 2012

    Keemia (J. Arder, A. Jakobi  / J. Arder) 2012

    Jõulust jaanipäevani (T. Aare / T. Aare)  2004

    Jõulust jaanipäevani (T. Aare / T. Aare) 2012