After a day off, Gyllene Tider arrived to Helsingborg. The weather forecast showed a 90% chance of rain from 11:00 to late night, so we were quite sure this would be a rainy gig. While waiting outside the venue, it stopped raining and after the gates opened and we got in, we still had some dry time, but it started raining heavily again. The speakers, microphones and cameras had to be covered and the audience put on their ponchos.
We were afraid the setlist would get shorter because of the bad weather. Uno Svenningsson started his support act session 15 minutes earlier than usual. It was still raining when he started, but during his performance, the clouds went away and then we thought OK, it would probably stay like this for 2 more hours. To have the least possible risk, after cleaning the stage from water and unwrapping the mics and cams, GT got on stage also 15 minutes earlier than usual, so the show started at 21:00.
Everyone on stage had a huge smile on their faces, they seemed to be in a very good mood.
The setlist remained the same as it was for the premiere gig in Halmstad, so song No. 7 was Chrissie, hur mår du? this time.
After the opening song, Gyllene Tider igen, Per greeted the crowd. He said Sofiero is close to their hearts, they had many beautiful moments here over the years.
After they played Juni, juli, augusti and Det hjärta som brinner, PG said they wanted to play a tribute to their favourite Dutch band. This time when Anders said Ekseption was damn good, Per said it’s Anders’s guilty pleasure. When Micke Syd’s George Baker Selection moment came, he started playing and singing „una paloma blanca” and to the rhythm he asked the audience to put their hands up in the air. The crowd was clapping their hands up in the air. Per said this has been ruining him in the past 30-40 years. Talking about Shocking Blue, MP started playing Venus, but of course, in the end they played Skicka ett vykort, älskling.
The next one was Gammal kärlek rostar aldrig and then came Flickorna på TV2 from the times before Internet, Netflix and HBO.
Before Chrissie, hur mår du?, Per sipped a bit from his ginger tea saying it’s a mix that Micke Syd prepares for him before every gig.
Puls and En sten vid en sjö i en skog came next, the day’s gym session, as Per said.
Before they played Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång, PG picked up a plec from his mic stand, but that was not for the acoustic guitar, so he put it back while saying „wrong plectrum” and picked up the red one for acoustic. When he mentioned Marie, that she was his new friend back then when he wrote this song, the crowd was cheering for her. So lovely to get this reaction at each concert.
The world’s most interesting instrument was brought to Per and yes, Tuffa tider was next on ukulele with Micke Syd in the front and Göran on melodica.
When Per started the band presentation, he said he introduces them so we know what their names are and because it’s fun for him. Micke Syd said „let’s see if you remember them”. After presenting the two wonderful ladies, Dea and Malin-My, Per said MP is Harplinge’s best guitar player by far. Göran was wearing the checkered shirt again (and a hat as well this time), so Per said he has good taste and picked his shirt after Per’s checkered guitars. Then came Anders and last but least Micke Syd. Micke asked the audience to cheer him more, it’s so great to come forward. He has been sitting in the back for more than 40 years. Haha. Micke introduced Per as Furet’s own Ronnie Peterson, sports car owner.
Micke got prepared for singing Min tjej och jag and he invited Dea and Malin-My to the front. His crowd-animation worked absolutely fine again. He knows how to do it. „I sing and you are waving.” He counted in „uno, dos, tres” before he started singing.
Kung av sand was the biggest highlight for me at the show. The audience was singing along this one the loudest. Then came Ljudet av ett annat hjärta and Ska vi älska, så ska vi älska till Buddy Holly, as well as the medley of (Kom så ska vi) Leva livet / (Dansar inte lika bra som) Sjömän / Tylö Sun.
When the band went off stage, the audience was clapping and screaming „en gång till, en gång till” (once more, once more). When they came back a few minutes later, Per thanked for it and said „you are absolutely amazing”. They played Billy. When the song ended, this time Micke Syd clasped his arms together, so that he didn’t start playing Det är över nu too early, like at the 2nd Halmstad gig. Haha.
Then came Gå & fiska! and the gang went off stage again. The audience started singing Sommartider very loudly.
När vi två blir en was very much welcomed by the crowd as the first song in the second encore. Then they were even happier about Sommartider.
Before playing the closing song, Per thanked the audience for a wonderful Monday evening. He said he hopes everyone will have a fantastic summer. He also said if we hear it anywhere that they said they quit, we shouldn’t believe it. The crowd was cheering.
När alla vännerna gått hem was the last song again. Micke Syd occupied his spot in the front on the left, while Dea came to the right side of the stage. At one point, Per let Dea sing a part of the song.
After they all took a bow, Per threw his remaining picks and Micke Syd ran back to his place for some drumsticks that he could throw to the audience.
Next stop is Malmö on Wednesday.
Setlist
1. Gyllene Tider igen
2. Juni, juli, augusti
3. Det hjärta som brinner
4. Skicka ett vykort, älskling
5. Gammal kärlek rostar aldrig
6. Flickorna på TV2
7. Chrissie, hur mår du?
8. (Hon vill ha) Puls
9. En sten vid en sjö i en skog
10. Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång
11. Tuffa tider
Band presentation
12. Min tjej och jag
13. Kung av sand
14. Ljudet av ett annat hjärta
15. Ska vi älska, så ska vi älska till Buddy Holly
16. (Kom så ska vi) Leva livet / (Dansar inte lika bra som) Sjömän / Tylö Sun medley
Encore 1
17. Billy
18. Det är över nu
19. Gå & fiska!
Encore 2
20. När vi två blir en
21. Sommartider
22. När alla vännerna gått hem
All photos in the article by Patrícia Peres
Per after the show:
Thanx for a truly amazing evening in Helsingborg. Third sold out show in a row and beautiful people everywhere! We’re blessed and honoured to attract crowds like this. Next stop: Malmo on Wednesday! See y’all there!