Leevi and the Leavings was a Finnish rock band that was active from 1978 to 2003. After the singer's death, the band broke up. Still living members of the band still play under the name Leavings-Orkesteri.
Leevi and the Leavings is one of the most popular bands in Finland to this day. Their most famous songs include "Pohjois-Karjala", "Teuvo, maanteiden kuningas", "Poika nimeltä Päivi" and "Itkisitkö onnesta?"
Their songs are very recognizable for both their sound and the lyrics. Most, if not all, of the band's songs are depressive in their subjects matter, many songs telling about car accident, prostitution, homophobia, racism and divorce.
Leevi and the Leavings' songs and music videos provide examples of:
- The Alcoholic: The main character of at least a dozen of their songs.
- Ballad of a Sex Worker: One of the band's most popular songs, "Rakkauden Työkalu" is sung to a prostitute named Helena. The songs is from the perspective of an unnamed client who insults Helena and tells her that she has to have sex with him because it's her job.
- Camp Gay: "Reino-boy" from the song Miesten Kesken is gay and is implied to be campy.
- Gayngst: The song Miesten Kesken tells about a gay man named Reino who is told to kill himself and he does so.
- Mistaken for Gay: In Syntisen Kaunis Mies, the singer is surprised that the man he's singing of turns out to be straight.
- Trans Tribulations: The song Poika Nimeltä Päivi tells about a trans man (at least formerly) named Päivi. In the song he recalls times he has been told that he'll end up in hell, and the nights of him laying awake in bed wondering who he is. Depending on how you interpret the song, the song might be Päivi's suicide letter.
