Aftonbladet

Marie Fredriksson chats with fans: “Successful because of my fans”

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In a 20 minutes chat on Aftonbladet Marie Fredriksson answered some questions today.

Most of the fans asked about her tour which starts in February. Rosa from Barcelona wanted to know if we can expect any surprises on the tour, but Marie didn’t reveal anything and said: “If I told you know, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”Luiz Gimenez asked how Marie feels about the fact that a lot of fans will come from Brazil to Sweden to see her shows. Marie replied she is also looking forward to the tour and seeing the fans again. A Russian fan wanted to know how many new songs Marie will play at her shows and Marie let us know that she plans to play at least two new songs. RXB admin Judith asked if they are already rehearsing and have prepared a setlist for the 2tour, but so far they are only thinking of several songs and haven’t started rehearsing yet.

RXB team member Patrícia asked about a rumour we have heard several times now – that Marie is working on a biography, but it seems it’s too early to tell about it since Marie couldn’t or didn’t want to say anything about a possible release date of this book. Later on, Evgeny Perekopskiy asked about a dream she has and which dream she wants to come true: “Maybe to release a book about my life in the future.”

Being asked about her favourite song on “Nu!”, Marie replied that it’s “Vad vore jag utan dig” (see our interview with Mikael Bolyos) which “means so much to me”. The main difference between “Nu!” and her previous albums? Easy question for Marie: “I have only written one song.”

Julia from St. Petersburg asked about Marie’s other passion – painting – and if she is planning another exhibition. But it is of course obvious that Marie is busy with other stuff: “I’d love to have another exhibition when I have the time.”

A user called Mia wanted to know about artists Marie likes or give her inspiration – Marie says it’s Rufus Wainwright and Veronica Maggio. Funniest answer: “My friend Pär.” Guess the question.. “Do you still have any connections with Halmstad?”

And the most touching answer comes with Miedy’s question “You always look so happy and in a good mood when you meet your fans. What’s your secret?” – I know that my success is because of you.

Miedy also asked about possible Roxette recordings, but Marie seems not to be involved so far as says: “Nothing new with Roxette, so far.”

 

 

 

 

Rockbjörnen: vote each day until the end of July!

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Rockbjörnen is a music prize in Sweden, divided into several categories, which is awarded annually by Aftonbladet. The prize was first awarded in 1979. Since 2010 they are focusing more on live performances.

 

Rockbjörnen history of Roxette, Marie Fredriksson, Per Gessle and Gyllene Tider:

1982

Swedish band of the year: Gyllene Tider

GT_Rockbjörnen_1982

1986

Swedish female artist of the year: Marie Fredriksson

1987

Swedish female artist of the year: Marie Fredriksson

Swedish album of the year: Marie Fredriksson – Efter stormen

1988

Swedish band of the year: Roxette

Swedish female artist of the year: Marie Fredriksson

Swedish album of the year: Roxette – Look Sharp

1989

Swedish band of the year: Roxette

Swedish female artist of the year: Marie Fredriksson

1991

Swedish band of the year: Roxette

Swedish album of the year: Roxette – Joyride

1992

Swedish band of the year: Roxette

Roxette_Rockbjörnen_1992

1996

Swedish song of the year: Gyllene Tider – Gå & fiska!

2003

Swedish male artist of the year: Per Gessle

Swedish album of the year: Per Gessle – Mazarin

Swedish song of the year: Per Gessle – Här kommer alla känslorna (på en och samma gång)

PG_Rockbjörnen_2003

2004

Swedish band of the year: Gyllene Tider

Swedish album of the year: Gyllene Tider – Finn 5 fel!

GT_Rockbjörnen_2004

 

To the question ”Which Rockbjörn is the most fun to get: Band of the year or Album of the year?” – in a chat in January, 2005 – Gyllene Tider replied:

Album of the year, because it is very difficult for an old band like us to make a relevant and popular album, which in addition is good.

 

Well, Dags att tänka på refrängen would deserve to be the Swedish album of the year, wouldn’t it? It’s a pity there is no ”Swedish album of the year” category anymore, but there is still space for your favourite song from the album. And you know who the Swedish live artists of the year are and which the Swedish live band of the year is, right? Gyllene Tider’s tour has not yet started (only 1 month left!), but you might already have a thought which should be the Concert of the year. So, c’mon guys & girls! Vote HERE until you drop (but at least until 28th July 😉 – each day)!

 

Here are the categories (it’s in Swedish, but here you have the English translation as well):

Årets kvinnliga liveartist = Female live artist of the year (it can only be Swedish)

Årets manliga liveartist = Male live artist of the year (it can only be Swedish)

Årets livegrupp = Live band of the year (it can only be Swedish)

Årets genombrott = Breakthrough artist of the year (it can only be Swedish)

Årets svenska låt = Swedish song of the year

Årets utländska låt = Foreign song of the year

Årets konsert (artist, plats) = Concert of the year (concerts only in Sweden are accepted)

Årets hårdrock / metal = Hard rock / metal artist of the year (either Swedish or foreign)

 

After filling it in, click on ”Nästa” (= ”Next”) and fill in your name (first name & surname), e-mail address, age (ålder) and if you are female (kvinna) or male (man). Reply to the control question, leave the tick at the first sentence (this way you won’t have to fill in the form again, as it saves your replies and you just have to click on voting the next time). If you want to receive info and offers from Aftonbladet, leave the second tick in, too. ”Tillbaka” means ”Back”, ”Rösta” means ”Vote”. That’s it. It’s much easier than it looks like. 😉

 

© All photos are from Aftonbladet’s archive.

 

 

 

It’s official: new Gyllene Tider album and tour!

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According to the latest HallandsPosten.se article we have the very first official confirmation of the coming Gyllene Tider tour around Sweden and a new album in 9 years from Mr Gessle himself. At this point 18 concerts are planned and the tour schedule will be announced on the 22nd of January. The new album called “Dags att tänka på refrängen” will consist of 12 songs and it is being recorded in Christoffer Lundquist’s studio in Scania. The title can be both translated as “It’s time to think about the chorus” but also it’s a Swedish idiom meaning “It’s time to start thinking about quitting or going home” according to native speakers at The Daily Roxette. It also seems like that the tour will be called “LIVE 2013 – Dags att tänka på refrängen”, but this is not confirmed yet.

UPDATE #1:

In Aftonbladet story – some concert places are revealed. The tour should start in Kalmar according to various sources and Gyllene Tider will play in Slottsskogsvallen in Gothenburg, instead of Ullevi stadium. Of course, GT home town Halmstad is also in the schedule.

Goran Fritzon in the Swedish Radio interview said that album is ready in 75% and that the tour will take off on July 5 in… Halmstad! This would make Aftonbladet rumours false.

UPDATE #2:

HN.se has published another story on the new album and tour. Gyllene Tider has recorded 12 songs in 10 days and they plan to record 2 more, though only 12 will make the album. All songs are newly written except an old pearl from 1978. It seems like Per agreed to do a tour with GT already in the summer 2012 after he knew when Roxette tour would be over. A big differance from “Fin Fem Fel” will be that all songs are written specially for this project, not as before when 1/3 tracks were “Mazarin” left-overs.

Per Gessle of Gyllene Tider talking about new album: “Album will include a lot of three-minute hits. Shorts songs, a lot of positive energy with guitar and Farfisa-organ in the centre. It sounds like Buzzcocks meeting Green Day after they partied with a little too much of Red Bull”. And for those who know Swedish proverbs, you shouldn’t read the album’s title as a farewell, according to Mr Gessle.

Clarence Öfwerman and Christoffer Lundquist are producers behind the album, but all guys are involved in the album making process.

CD, colour LP album and the first single are planned to be released in the spring time with no exact date at this point.

(c) Fredrik Etoal
(c) Fredrik Etoall

The photo shoot was done by Fredrik Etoall, the one responsible for the Roxette’s “Travelling” session. And here’s the promo video from the newly launched YouTube site

Don’t forget to follow Gyllene Tider on
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Chat with Per Gessle on Aftonbladet

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Per Gessle chatted with the readers of Aftonbladet.se yesterday afternoon. Here is the link to the full chat transcript.

And here some of the questions and answers summarized and translated into English (or not, since some were placed and answered in English):

Chefi: Any concerts in Sweden this year?

Per: No, they already played in Göteborg, Stockholm and Malmö last year, so time to take a little break. Nearest place: Copenhagen. (Except for the Orifame corporate show).

Aaryn: When are the USA tour dates being announced?

Per: Hi Aaryn. This month we hope. Some logistics have to be sorted out first, that’s it!

Mike: Chance to see Gyllene Tider on tour again?

Per: Sure! Just have to find the right time.

Beatriz: Per, I’ve been fan since I was a kid..I was in your last concerts (Madrid and Barcelona) in Spain, how does it feel to see that crowd screaming and jumping even without any kind of promotion? Cheers! Beatriz

Per: Hi Beatriz. We have the greatest fans on the planet! Without you guys this tour wouldn’t have been possible. Cheers!

Frida: Do you recognise the fans who go to many of your concerts?

Per: sure! Many belong to the “family”, some also come to different continents with us. It’s great to have them around.

Aftonbladet: Tanja has seen Roxette 43 times

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Christoffer Röstlund Jonsson of Aftonbladet has had a pleasure to talk with Tanja Overrath a moment before the Gothenburg concert on 24th July. Tanja comes from Germany and has seen Marie and Per exciting number of 43 times – including gigs with Gyllene Tider and Per Gessle as a solo performer. She has met with the duo about 40 times, but when Aftonbladet meets Tanya and her friends in Gothenburg it is the first time she does it official. Previously, she waited outside hotels and airports.

Nothing compares to my relationship with Roxette. Their music makes me happy. I got goosebumps the first time I received a letter from Per. It was 1993 and he answered me with two personal sentences and two guitar picks. A newer favorite memory is when Marie went up on stage during his solo concert in Stockholm on 10th May 2009. A magical moment and I couldn’t stop the tears.

My parents did not appreciate that I played truant to go to gigs when I was younger. Today, my partner, who is also my boss, is very understanding – he wants Mr. Gessle to invest in his hotel!”

(c) Tanja Overrath
(c) Tanja Overrath

Source: Aftonbladet, Aftonbladet blog

We bet there are people who have seen M&P more times than Tanja, but still – we do love read this kind of articles about fans who do nothing (almost 😉 but going on the Rox gigs.