Marie Fredriksson

Marie’s tour: Umeå, April 19th #19

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This fabulous tour came to an end yesteday April 19th in Umeå after two months of travelling and enjoying to the maximum.

Yesterday everything felt like more intense. Marie interacted with the fans more than ever and gave everything for the audience. The band played as if there was no tomorrow and we gave all our best to jump, dance, sing, clap and have fun. It was a very special ending to a very special tour.

The setlist remained the same, so the show started with a Så stilla så långsamt that felt slower and more beautiful than ever… and the fun then started with Kom villa hos mig. The few fans attending the show were spread here and there but we all stood up to the start of the song as if it had become already a nice interaction routine. The band loved that and rocked exceptionally. I couldn’t help crying to that, as this would be the last time we would do that.
Marie welcomed everybody and explained that it was the last concert of the tour and it was special to finish it in the North since they have been there very few times.
One could hear and feel in her voice that it would be an emotional last show.
The three acoustic songs were very beautiful, specially Så skimrande (yes, I just love this one, a very special song for me) brought me to tears again. B E A U T Y.
The audience started to melt a bit more into the show and joined the standing up fans with Efter stormen, which was a major big awesome pop party.
Chris and Jokke had much fun playing the guitars for Den sjunde vågen and went totally bananas together with Pelle at the end. Surjo had a great time during the whole show and moved here and there many times.
Everybody was standing when Marie came back to the stage to rock the house. Jokke and Chris killed us all with the smashing guitars!
And then suddenly the moment everybody had been somehow trying to avoid or speak about arrived. The first notes of Tro started to sound, all fans in the various rows held eachother and sang along. Marie had mentioned before the song started that the tour was now coming to an end and thanked the band and the crew for a fantastic tour and then the audience and fans who came to her concerts. She looked very touched and emotional. Astrid had organised flowers to give to Marie so we all got one or two and held them during the song and gave them to her afterwards. Micke and Chris took many of the flowers and gave them to Marie but Marie came to the edge of the stage to get the flowers of 3 of us as well. It felt like nobody wanted to leave!

After the concert we could say bye to Marie and the band at the hotel. Some people just were there to get something signed or take a picture but some of us just wanted to say thanks for the wonderful tour.
This time most of us stood in a line and first said hi to Pelle, Surjo, Chris and Jokke and then Marie and Micke walked by and thanked all of us (and we thanked them).
A perfect closing to a perfect last concert and tour!

Thank you!

PS: And today we had the chance to interview Pelle so stay tuned! Three interviews are on the way.

Articles

VK – Interview
VK – Review

 

Marie’s tour: Luleå, 18th April #18

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First things first: no changes in the setlist.

When we arrived in Luleå at noon it seemed that nobody lived in this town. The more surprised I was when we got to know that the Kulturhuset was actually sold out! How cool! No seats available. On the other hand – do you need a full arena when only us international fans are clapping or standing up to cheer Marie? That was at least my first thought when we stood up during Kom Vila Hos Mig. Nobody joined in and I was a bit afraid that someone from the back would throw eggs or tomatoes to make us sit again. It didn’t happen, of course, because the Luleå people know how to behave, but still – to stand during KVHM felt strange this time. Also because we were all smiling and the band was all smiles, too. It felt like we had made this secret agreement that we stand during KVHM and nothing and nobody will stop us from doing so. So we exchanged some smiles with the band members and took our seats during Bara För En Dag again.

At the beginning Marie started as always with Så Stilla Så Långsamt – this time it seemed she was a bit nervous or didn’t trust her voice enough. I thought that she might have a cold, but I don’t know if that’s it. I – however – have heard better versions on this tour, though. I must say that Luleå was my sixth show and the last I had attended was Göteborg, so I really missed a lot in the meantime.

Bara För En Dag was – as in all six shows I have seen – one of the best songs in the set. I love how Marie delivers the lyrics here, she feels so safe about this song that you can’t help but smile. This song grew a lot to me during this tour and I am happy that I gave it a second chance.

Nothing important happened during the next songs. Marie did a great job, the band was great, too, and maybe the only annoying thing was a really loud amp next to Micke’s piano during Ett Hus Vid Havet and the other ballads. All in all the Kulturens Hus didn’t offer the best acoustics, unfortunately.

As it happened many times before the audience cheered a lot when Sparvöga and Ännu doftar kärlek started. Those are THE songs for many Swedes while we wait for Ett Bord I Solen, Ett Hus Vid Havet or Mellan Sommar Och Höst. I still haven’t get used to the fact that you can hardly impress them with anything but they go crazy when they hear ÄDK. However, my impression also was that the band has slowed down the song. It sounded much slower than I remember it from my last show in Göteborg. The same goes for Om Du Såg Mig Nu. It has its own magic when it’s slower, no doubt about that – but it lost a a bit of its dynamic, too, especially ÄDK, but maybe nobody else cares and I am fine with it.

As many times before on this tour we tried to make people stand up again during Så Länge Det Lyser Mittemot which didn’t work. Good for us that Efter Stormen followed and EVERYONE in the room got on their feet – YAY! By the way: US, that’s around 15 international fans who made it to Norrbotten.

Thanks to Nina everyone stood again during Tro – what a finale! And I can’t really believe that this tour is supposed to be over in about 19 hours!

Marie is still full of energy and probably could go on forever, while we need some time to save up some money and and to work for more holidays! 😉

Judith’s review:

As I am trying to write down a summary about tonight’s show a lot of thoughts go through my head and I don’t know where to start.
One may think people here up north are colder and that as audience it may have been boring. I must say… not at all! It was a pleasant surprise to see and hear people clap from song two on. Still a bit shy to stand up that early but some did. And more and more towards the end. Efter Stormen was a biiiig party! Marie was welcomed by a standing audience after the short break … during which many people shouted ‘en gång till’ (which I didn’t hear at many shows before).

The front row was again full of fans from Uruguay, Spain, Austria and Germany, to mention a few. As Micke told us after the show, they were surprises to see us here… that far up north. What to say, of course! and it was worth it because the concert rocked big time and we had loooots of fun!!

Today I realised with more intensity – maybe because I am extra enjoying these last shows… always keeping in the back of my head that it’s over soon – with how much passion and respect the band play and perform Marie’s songs, every note, every chord that is played. And that the band is enjoying it the same way we do.

Marie left the audience mouth wide open once again with her performance. I found Så skimrande amazingly beautiful. And Ett bord i solen. And … I could go on. It’s hard to pick! Sometimes you sit there and you cannot believe it can be so beautiful and touching. Out of this world! It was great to see her all smiles when she realised the first row is full of familiar faces and interacted with the audience a lot.

As I mentioned before, Marie and Micke talked with the fans and afterwards we talked to a very happy band as well.

See you tomorrow! We will give our best and we will surely have a blast!

Setlist (no changes)

1. Så stilla så långsamt [1992 – DSR]
2. Kom vila hos mig [2013 – Nu!]
3. Bara för en dag [1987 – ES]
4. Det regnar igen [1992 – DSR]
5. Sista sommarens vals [2013 – Nu!]
6. Ber bara en gång [1996 – IETSV]
7. Sparvöga [1989 off the Swedish drama TV series]
8. Ett hus vid havet [1985 – DSV]
9. Ett bord i solen [2007 – TFT]
10. Så skimrande var aldrig havet [1990 off Taube compilation album]
11. Ännu doftar kärlek [1984 – HV]
12. Så länge det lyser mittemot [1992 – DSR]
13. Om du såg mig nu [1987 – ES]
14. Efter stormen [1987 – ES]
15. Den sjunde vågen [1985 – DSV]

16. Mellan sommar och höst [1992 – DSR]
17. Den bästa dagen [1985 – DSV]
18. Tro [1996 – IETSV]

Articles

NSD

Decibell

Marie’s tour: Uppsala audio bootleg

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After Norrköping audio and Göteborg and Halmstad video bootlegs, another audio bootleg showed up from Uppsala (19th March 2014). The sound is low, so turn up the volume to hear it better. Thanks a lot for sharing it, Bianca Martins Cappelletti from Roxette Brasil! In audio bootlegs I always enjoy the talking between the songs the most. Click here for the bootleg.

2 shows left from the tour, Friday in Luleå and Saturday in Umeå. Enjoy the concerts you all who are joining!

MF_Stockholm_20140408

Marie’s tour: Västerås, 12th April #17

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Yesterday Marie and the band rocked Västerås big time!

The first row was again mostly full of fans, but there were some also in the other rows, which probably helped to keep the mood happy and loud throughout the whole concert. Of course, the band was awesome and Marie was in a very good mood, so all this were the perfect ingredients that made the Swedes want to join the party. And they did already on song #2. After a few shows where we had to wait until towards the end to see some action, I was pretty surprised and felt so happy for the girl and boys on stage. They seemed to be happy with the response as well because they were all smiles, proud smiles.

Of course, Efter stormen was the song where really everybody (not only the fans) stood up and clapped and sang along, but you could see that in many other songs as well. Even the people at the balcony were standing and having fun, and Marie saw that and waved to them with a big smile. At some places we have seen skeptic or a bit angry faces when we stood up to some songs, but yesterday the audience seemed to like that. Like the 70-something ladies in the first row who had a blast; or the 4-6 Swedes that were sitting in row 2 who first looked shocked when we stood up but at the end thanked us in the first row for spreading the fun; or the two mid 50 ladies in the first row who were faster standing up than some of us!

The craziest rockiest song was Mellan sommar och höst. The audience was already standing up when Marie walked out to the stage again and everybody went wild with the amazing guitars and Marie’s rocky voice.

This concert was also the last one for many fans and Marie and band knew it, so they gave special attention to the ones on first row. Specially during Tro when everybody hugged and moved to the rythm of the song and many of us were all tears she gave those looks of hers to many of us. At the end, she also made sad faces to some of the fans she knew were saying goodbye to the tour yesterday night. It was not possible to  hold back the tears, it is actually also not possible as I am writing this now. It has been so special… the love tour 🙂

Some fans had prepared flowers and a card for Marie to thank her for the great tour. Many fans had signed it and Anne gave it to Chris at the end of the show. The fans who waited for Marie after the concert explained that Micke had thanked them for coming to the concerts and said that fans turned the tour to something completely different and special and he added that the reviews were all very good because of that.

By the way, Clarence was in the audience yesterday night.

So now it’s just 2 concerts left: Luleå and Umeå. Those who are going to the last shows will surely give our best and party until the end!

Setlist (no changes)

1. Så stilla så långsamt [1992 – DSR]
2. Kom vila hos mig [2013 – Nu!]
3. Bara för en dag [1987 – ES]
4. Det regnar igen [1992 – DSR]
5. Sista sommarens vals [2013 – Nu!]
6. Ber bara en gång [1996 – IETSV]
7. Sparvöga [1989 off the Swedish drama TV series]
8. Ett hus vid havet [1985 – DSV]
9. Ett bord i solen [2007 – TFT]
10. Så skimrande var aldrig havet [1990 off Taube compilation album]
11. Ännu doftar kärlek [1984 – HV]
12. Så länge det lyser mittemot [1992 – DSR]
13. Om du såg mig nu [1987 – ES]
14. Efter stormen [1987 – ES]
15. Den sjunde vågen [1985 – DSV]

16. Mellan sommar och höst [1992 – DSR]
17. Den bästa dagen [1985 – DSV]
18. Tro [1996 – IETSV]

Articles

VLT

Marie interviews before Gävle and Västerås concerts

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Gefle Dagblad (GD) & Vestmanlands Läns Tidning (VLT) did e-mail interviews with Marie before the concerts in Gävle and Västerås.

GD.seStefan Andersson from GD asked Marie about the tour and Marie said it’s been better than she ever dared to hope for. The special memory she will take with herself from the tour is the audience’s immense response. To the question which her most beloved song is now she replied “Sista sommarens vals”. The reporter asked her if she would perform “Sparvöga” och “Ännu doftar kärlek” if the audience would be crying out for them. She said they don’t even have to cry out for these songs.

GD asked Marie about how it is working so closely with Micke. Miss Effe said:

“Wonderful! We’ve been working together for so long now, both in the studio and live. He’s an awesome musician and songwriter.”

Regarding her plans for summer she informed she’ll go on vacation and have a rest. Recovery after the tour.

To the question when we will see Roxette again she replied soon, she hopes. Also mentions that her favourite song from The Look era is Dangerous, because it’s so great to perform it live.

She also said that it’s an honor that they are among the first ones in The Swedish Music Hall of Fame.

Regarding Gävle, she remembered Roxette performed there in Folkets Park, in 1987 and it was great one for them.

 

 

vlt.seSylvia Kadri from VLT asked Marie about how tough the tour is and if there are any tricks to get into shape before the concerts. Marie said they play mostly during the weekends so she recovers herself during the week. Walking, sleeping and eating well. And she gets an enormous energy from the band and the audience.

To the question how cancer changed her life Marie replied she takes everything easy and tries to avoid any kind of stress. She is grateful that she lives and feels joy in so many things that she previously took for granted. She said as an artist she changed like it takes longer time to write music, but her voice has matured and gotten a different depth. To the question what she is doing to keep herself healthy she replied she takes it easy. Eating, sleeping and spending time with family and friends are very important.

The reporter asked her what is inspiring her nowadays. Marie said the nature. She loves sitting in her garden and listening to the birds this time of the year.

Regarding what music she is listening to she said Joni Mitchell remains important in her life and Jimi Hendrix is always with her. Rufus Wainright is a new inspiration for Marie.

She didn’t want to talk about her big dream projects, but the future is more about resting than hectic tour life. Now she is looking very much forward to summer.