Interview

Brazilian Q&A with Per Gessle: Who knows, we might pop up in South America again

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In March 2011, the RoxetteBrasil.net website asked Brazilian Roxette fans what they would like to know about the band if they could ask. Among all the questions, we chose the best ones and here they are:

ROXETTE BRASIL: First of all, thank you so much for being in Brazil again! You have made a lot of our dreams come true. How does it feel to be in Brazil after 12 years? What are your best memories of our country? What do you think about the Brazilian fans?

We certainly love to play Brazil. South America has always had a special place in our hearts. Very generous, warm and loud people. We like that!

RXBRA: November 3, 2010 was a special day for us fans, because it was the day you announced the world tour. In that morning Brazilians put Roxette in the 3rd place on the Brazilian Twitter trending topics. This, plus the worldwide excitement, made Roxette the 9th most typed word in the world that unforgettable morning. Per, you are very active in Twitter: were you surprised regarding this fact?

I was. And still am. I’m not that super active on Twitter anymore. I spend more time on Facebook (Roxette Official) these days. But I’m very proud that so many people in Brazil are waving the Rox flag very high!!!

RXBRA: Per, after all these years, what still drives you to write fantastic songs?

Thanx. I do my best. I love my work. I have great people around me who takes the time to understand my ambitions and ideas. Without them I’m sure most of my songs would sound terrible!

RXBRA: You are singing and playing some songs for many years, so when you play them, do you really feel your music as before, as the 1st time (words, melodies, emotions)? I mean do you get moved or it is something little mechanic now? Which song do you get easily moved by when you play?

Songs like “It must have been lunch” or “Listen to your heart” are almost impossible to rehearse these days. But as soon as you have the crowd in front of you, you’re filled with lots of energy and emotions. I love playing all those old songs over and over again. They seem to mean so much for people all over the world. It’s the greatest reward you can get as a writer.

RXBRA: Talking about writing, you wrote 1995 hit “You don’t understand me” in collaboration with Desmond Child. How did this happen? A lot of fans want to know if you are interested in working (writing/singing) with other famous faces. And if so, who would it be?

Desmond and I started working when he was in Sweden doing something else. The songs we wrote were not intended for Rox but Marie fell in love with You don’t understand me the first time she heard it. She wanted to sing on the demo! And it suddenly became a Roxette song. No, I’m not really that interested in writing with other people. Never was actually. But maybe I should try???

RXBRA: You said once in a former Official Roxette Fanclub interview from 1994 that there was a big lack in your life (talking about Sleeping in my car song.) So, did you already make love in the back seat of your car?

Ayayay. No secrets revealed (anymore!). Sorry.

RXBRA: Now, talking about Charm School, Brazilians agree with Clarence when he said it was one of the best Roxette albums. How many songs did you record in the process? Any chance we get to know one or two non-used songs as the next b-sides? Which is your favorite track and Marie s?

There are three, maybe four more around. Don’t know if we’re gonna use them. Marie’s fave track is “No one makes it on her own”. Mine is “I’m glad you called”. And “Way Out” because it’s hard to write songs like that at my age!!

RXBRA: After 10 years, you are back on tour with Roxette. What do you think about so many young people in your concerts? It must feel good to know your music survived all these years, right? Many young Brazilians were on diapers when you sang ‘Hello, you fool, I love you’ for the first time and now they are here singing with you.

Yea, it feels fab!!! It’s like that all over the world. I guess the music we’re making is quite timeless. We were never interested in trends that pass after a few months. We’re very old fashioned in that sense. Maybe it pays off?

RXBRA: Roxette fans always talk about the fact the band doesn’t have a proper live concert registered on DVD. Are there any chances to have a DVD from this tour? Is there any chance of some old concert to be released as well? And also, we are looking forward to seeing you on Blu-Ray!!!

Yea, we’re working on this!!!! Stay tuned!

RXBRA: At Crash! Boom! Bang! documentary, in spite of it was in Swedish and we hardly understood it, you said that you talked to your bottles of wine. (Scene from Per in his wine cellar). Do you still talk with them?

Talking to them? What a great idea! Forgot about that!

RXBRA: Now, what can you tell us about the band’s future? We know the tour might expand till the next year but, after this, things still are up to Marie or now you are back for good? Do you intend to comeback to close the Tour in South America?

It looks like the tour will expand well into 2012. Who knows, we might pop up in South America again before long. We’d love that! No promises, though! Cheers, P.

Roxette Brasil Team: Thank you Per for your kind attention with us and with all Brazilian fans! We hardly can’t wait for that! We bet all fans from South America will sold out the stages once again to see you! So, we hope to see you very soon again!

Big thanks to Danyela Etchart of RoxetteBrasil.net for sending us this interview.

“The best band our fans have ever seen” has a word!

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We proudly present the Brazilian questionnaires that RoxetteBrasil.net did with all the band members during their stay in South America. All them responded promptly and personally commented their answers during the flights and hotels. A big hand to Dany Etchart who sent us this interview!

CHRISTOFFER LUNDQUIST

ROXETTE BRASIL: It is your first time in Brazil. What are your expectations?

Well I would admit since I don’t know much about Brazil, only from school, my expectations are very normal, warm climate, friendly people, different culture, etc. But already after two days I blow away by the friendliness, hospitality and warmth we’ve encountering. I love it here – already. And the audience reaction – wow…!!!

RXBRA: What are your biggest musical influences?

60’s and 70’s rock and pop music like The Beatles, The Who, Rolling Stones, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, etc etc. I seem to be especially close to music made between 1967 and 1973 for some reason, almost everything from that period seems to hit a chord with me. But I listen to lots of different music, classical music, I love opera, etc etc. There’s sooo much great music to discover.

RXBRA: How does it feel to be part of the Roxette world today?

Oh, it’s an honor, a privilege, an adventure, an education, and on a personal level it’s about doing fantastic things with your friends… it’s unbelievable really, what can I say?

RXBRA: How did you meet Per? (Was because of Brainpool) And Marie?

Yes, my band Brainpool was the first band Per signed to his Jimmy Fun label in 1994. And three months later we’re supporting Roxette on their “Crash! Boom Bang! Tour”. That’s how I met Per and Marie and on that tour I also became great friends with Clarence. Then Brainpool was asked to play on a couple of tracks on “World according to Gessle” and after that just stayed, I guess!

RXBRA: Soooo Christoffffffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerr, say something for Roxette Brasil website readers!

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO INCREDIBLE NICE, WELCOMING AND FRIENDLY TO US!!!!! I badly want to comeback to Brazil now, I love it so much here already! Thank you all!!!!

Read more

Sun City press conference: over 50,000 people saw Roxette in South Africa

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On news of the band returning to the country for a series of shows, fans quickly flocked to ticketing offices to make sure they got to see one of the world’s most loved bands on South African soil. The response was overwhelmingly positive, prompting organisers to add more dates to the tour. The result? Seven sold out shows in South Africa alone. Ahead of the show, the band’s Per Gessle said they really weren’t expecting such a response.

Watch an interview with Per Gessle

With the industry moving into a digital environment with fans downloading albums and using social media as a means to find out more about their favourite stars, Gessle says he too has embraced the new media craze.

I have a 13 year old son. If you told him I was interested in new media, he would probably laugh in your face. It all comes down to the fact that I always wanted to be in control of my music. I remember in the old days in the 80s when you had fan clubs. It was always terrible because there was always someone else running them. There was no money involved, nobody wanted to be involved. It’s just so easy using Facebook for instance. I have my iPhone and a take pictures. It’s just a fantastic thing for a fan to see that level of access.

More from the press conference

Per Gessle: We will keep performing as long as there are people who want to see us.

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Per Gessle, while his stay in South Africa, did a couple of interviews for Dubai press. Here’s another one.

We have done 19 shows so far and have many more to come. We will keep performing as long as there are people who want to see us. It is what we want to do, both for us and our fans.

Gessle laughed when asked about Dubai.

I’ve heard it’s pretty hot. That’s about it. I have friends who live there who are always asking us to visit, so it’ll be nice to see them. Although they want to take us to lots of very fancy restaurants, I’m just not sure we’re going to have the time. We can’t wait to experience something new.

There are still hundreds of people waiting to greet us at airports around the world. The support of people is unreal. They are what keep us going. Quite often I have ‘pinch me’ moments. Sometimes, 30 seconds before I walk on stage I have that moment when I can’t believe what is happening. How lucky we are.

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