Gimmel (music group)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gimmel


Img_capt = Gimmel in 2003
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Finland
Genre = pop
Years_active = 2002–2004
Label = BMG
URL =
Associated acts =
Current_members = Jenni Vartiainen Susanna Korvala Ushma Karnani

Gimmel was a Finnish girl group.

In the Spring of 2002, a "Popstars" competition was held in Finland to find members to form a pop band. 454 young women participated in the singing tests. 25 girls made it to the final selection round. Members of the first Popstars band in Finland were "Jenni Vartiainen", "Susanna Korvala", "Ushma Karnani", and "Jonna Pirinen". After a few weeks arguments between the girls increased, and Jonna decided to leave the band. Ushma, Susanna, and Jenni continued. They decided to adopt the name "Gimmel".

The word Gimmel means a renaissance wedding ring that contains three parts. Once these parts joined together a groom, a bride, and a witness. They also symbolised an endless and firm relationship. Gimmel is the third letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and it also means the number three.

The word "gimmel" as applied to betrothal and marriage rings means "little twins" and derives from the Latin "Gemelli" for twins [ The Power of Love, Levi,Karen editor,1988,Diamond Information Centre, London] . This is the diminutive form of the Latin "gemini", familiar from the zodiac. An early gimmel band, consisting of two interlocked rings sculpted to form a single ring is to be found in the Victoria and Albert dated to 1350.Henry III of England met the Count of Gynes in 1202 and gave him a gimmel ring set with a ruby and two emeralds [Scarisbrick, Diana, Rings, Symbols of Wealth Power and Affection,1993, Abrams, NY)] .Martin Luther wed Catherine Bora in 1525 with a gimmel ring enscribed "Whom God has joined together, Let no man put asunder." [ The Power of Love, Levi,Karen editor,1988,Diamond Information Centre, London] Around 1600 the gimmel ring began to sometimes incorporate the clasped hands of the fede ring, and a third symbol, a heart was added, sometimes with a third shank. The hands holding the heart are found in the familiar claddagh ring. The Benjamin Zucker collection in the Walters Museum in Baltimore contains two elaborate gimmel rings incorporating small hidden enameled sculptural details visible only when the bands are separated. By the late 18th century multiple shanks of 5 or more were made, sometimes collected at the back by a pivot, so they hinged like a fan. There is no sense in which these rings necessarily had 3 hoops or shanks, and the implication from the Latin derivation is two, not three.

The first single they published was "Etsit muijaa seuraavaa", which was released on October 25, 2002. It sold gold in a few days and platinum in 1½ weeks. In its first week on the charts, the single rose to first in the Finnish singles chart and held that position for four weeks. Gimmel's first album "Lentoon" came out November 22, 2002 and just after it was published, it shot up to the number one spot in the official Finnish album chart and remained there for three weeks. In 2002, almost 85 000 copies of the album were sold, and it was the most sold album of the year.

Gimmel's second single "Roviolla" was released on January 27, 2003, and it got the third position in its first week in the charts. This single features a previously unpublished piece called "Tatuointi". Gimmel won in three categories in Emma-gaala 2003: best pop/rock-newcomers, the début album of the year, and the most sold album of the year.

In summer 2003, they released their second album called "Kaksi kertaa enemmän", and in the end of the year a music video "Harmaata lunta".

The band broke up on October 16 2004.

References