single

Gyllene Tider is back with “Chans” – a new single to welcome summer

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Suddenly, Gyllene Tider is back again. The new single Chans is here as a sunny foretaste of the upcoming album Hux Flux and the summer tour.

Per Gessle, Mats “MP” Persson, Göran Fritzon, Anders Herrlin and Micke Syd Andersson reunited last summer in the Sweetspot Studio in Harplinge and when they were done they came out with eleven new Gyllene favourites.

The reunion started mostly by chance. In the winter of 2021, Gyllene Tider was in the middle of its Sleeping Beauty dream, which began after the farewell tour two years earlier. At the same time, Per was out on a solo acoustic tour, which had to be postponed when new corona restrictions hit. Then he bought a new guitar, played a fuzz chord, got a feeling and wrote some pop songs that screamed for Gyllene Tider.

The first example of that is Chans, which has a classic Gyllene Tider sound with Göran Fritzon’s Farfisa organ as a guide. And as if that wasn’t enough, it is accompanied by another genuine pop track: Sanna mina ord, also taken from Hux Flux.

But how did it happen that a bunch of new and catchy Gyllene Tider songs could pop up in the middle of a calm acoustic solo tour?

Per says:

It’s a bit typical of my temperament. When I’ve played too much acoustic I get the feeling that I just want to play power pop after a while. And a quick check with the rest of the band made it clear that everyone wanted to reevaluate the decision to call it quits.

I think the pandemic changed everything. After it, everyone longed for a little security again and it is easiest to find with friends and family, so starting to think about Gyllene Tider again was not that difficult. We realized we weren’t done yet. And once we decided to do another tour in 2023, I started writing.

Chans will be released on 31st March and is part of the upcoming album Hux Flux which will be released on 30th June. Once again, Gyllene Tider show that they are the band that takes the chance when it comes. Congrats, Sweden – summer 2023 came early this year!

The single will be available on all streaming platforms, as well as on 7″ vinyl. Pre-order Chans HERE!

Tracklist

A    Chans
B    Sanna mina ord

Stills are from the promo video including a little snippet from the new song.

Press release can be read in Swedish HERE.

Press photo of the band by Anders Roos.

PG Roxette’s Xmas single is out!

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PG Roxette released his debut album, Pop-Up Dynamo! on 28th October and now less than a month later, one month before Christmas he releases a surprise single with two Xmas songs. Wish You The Best For Xmas and Wishing On The Same Christmas Star are already available from today, 18th November on all streaming services. Listen to the single that also includes the instrumental version of both songs on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music or YouTube!

Physical release is on 25th November. You can order the ruby red 7” vinyl at Bengans, Ginza and some more Scandinavian online shops.

WISH YOU THE BEST FOR XMAS

Side A   Wish You The Best For Xmas
Side B   Wishing On The Same Christmas Star

Here is Per’s message upon the single release:

There’s a great tradition in pop music when it comes to christmas songs. My favourites remain the same; Wizzard’s “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” and Slade’s “Merry Xmas Everybody” are the stars on top of my christmas tree year after year. They’re hard to beat.

I wrote my very first christmas song in 1979 for my Swedish band, then I had another go in 1987 with Roxette. Maybe you know that one. It was called “It Must Have Been Love” and yes, the first version we released was actually a christmas song.

With PG Roxette I felt like keeping the tradition going. I wrote two songs, one uptempo and one ballad. They’re very different to each other.

First we have the uptempo one; “Wish You The Best For Xmas”. I thought it was a nice idea to do something a little bit more energetic than your ordinary christmas track. I came up with an idea this summer and the whole process went very fast.

I made a demo and sent it to Andreas Broberger who worked with Roxette on the “Good Karma” album as well as helping me out with some Mono Mind-tracks. His sounds and production style fit this song perfectly.

It felt like this song deserved a video so I got in touch with animator Mattias Gordon who did an amazing clip to it. I love the vibe he has created in the video.

Then we have the ballad. The melody to “Wishing On The Same Christmas Star” was born eight years ago in a song written for a musical that never happened.

It popped up in my head again when I thought of writing a christmas ballad.

It’s produced by Magnus Börjeson and Clarence Öfwerman who’s also responsible for the whole “Pop-Up Dynamo!” album. As you can hear it became a duet together with Helena Josefsson who is, as always, truly amazing to listen to.

There you go. Two christmas presents. From me to you.

Merry Christmas, folks!

/PG.

Mr. G shared this info related to the single in the RoxBlog interview:

I wrote the ballad first, eight years ago. It was called “Wishing On The Same Star” to begin with. It was written for a musical, but they didn’t use it. I liked the song and I thought maybe I should do a Christmas song. So I recorded a demo of it with a Christmas lyric. Then I didn’t use that either until now. Clarence and Magnus did the production and it sounded good, but it felt a little bit predictable to do this ballad Christmas thing. I felt like maybe I should write something really uptempo instead. So I wrote this really fast uptempo song. I did it in July this year. So the other song, “Wish You The Best For Xmas” is brand new. It’s produced by myself and Andreas Broberger, so it sounds a little different.

The video to it is cool too, but it’s different. It’s made by this guy Mattias Gordon, who did the “Being With You” video. It’s different style, but it’s animated and it’s a lot of Christmas people in it. He’s got this great technique. He is taking films of people and then he draws on the film, then just keeps the drawings and gets rid of the films. I’m in there and I’m playing the keyboards, but I’m just like… it’s just pencil. It’s funny and it’s cool.

Wish You The Best For Xmas

You
You’re sitting across the table having breakfast
Giving me that look that makes me smile
And I can’t hide it

We
We spend so many hours doing nothing
That’s the way I want it to stay for a while
And all the time

Hey
I’m missing you every day
I wish you were here with me
Keeping me company
Oh I wish you a very very merry merry merry xmas
I’m hoping you think of me
Dancing around the tree
Oh I wish you the best for xmas

I
I play that song you fancy without thinking
It’s silly and it’s simple but it’s true
I miss you

Yea
I’m missing you every day
I wish you were here with me
Keeping me company
Oh I wish you a very very merry merry merry xmas
I’m hoping you think of me
Dancing around the tree
Oh I wish you the best for xmas

Words + Music by Per Gessle
Published by Jimmy Fun Music

Produced by Andreas Broberger + Per Gessle
Recorded at Bridge & Mountain Paradise, Umeå + T&A Studio, Halmstad
Engineers: Andreas Broberger + M.P. Persson
Mixed by Andreas Broberger + Anton Ekström

Vocals: Per Gessle + Helena Josefsson
Programming + Synthesizers: Andreas Broberger
Guitars + Percussion: Per Gessle
Mandolin: M.P. Persson

Wishing On The Same Christmas Star

There’s a truth that’s been forever
It’s so clear, it’s in my heart
It makes the voices from the street
And that crazy christmas beat
Feel so near
It just feels so near

You and me we’re linked together
Like we were wishing on the same christmas star
Oh I hope until the end
You will always be my friend
So close
Like a whisper

I always knew this day eventually would come
I always knew this place is right where we belong

Oh I know we can climb higher
Yes, I know we’ve just begun
Let us both just seize the day
And let the beauty come our way
To celebrate
Christmas Day
This Christmas Day

Words + Music by Per Gessle
Published by Jimmy Fun Music

Produced by Magnus Börjeson + Clarence Öfwerman + Per Gessle
Co-produced by Christoffer Lundquist
Recorded at Farozon, Malmö + Aerosol Grey Machine, Vallarum + T&A Studio, Halmstad
Engineers: Magnus Börjeson + Christoffer Lundquist + M.P. Persson
Mixed by Ronny Lahti

Vocals: Per Gessle + Helena Josefsson
Programming + Synthesizers + Keyboards: Magnus Börjeson + Clarence Öfwerman
Synthesizers: Per Gessle
Guitars + Ondes Martenot: Christoffer Lundquist

 

Design by Pär Wickholm, Wickholm Formavd., Stockholm. Photo by Fredrik Etoall

Per Gessle wants to “keep Roxette’s legacy alive” – SpotOn News

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SpotOn News did an interview with Per Gessle about PG Roxette. Here you can find the original text in German.

The first single is here! Per Gessle takes off with his new band, PG Roxette. After Marie Fredriksson’s death in 2019, it was not easy for him to decide on the new project, as he explains in an interview.

Per Gessle (63) is back with his new band, PG Roxette. After the tragic death of singer Marie Fredriksson (1958-2019), the cult duo, Roxette was also history, but Gessle is now reviving their legacy with his new project. The single “The Loneliest Girl In The World” is released on June 3rd. It is the first taster of the upcoming September album “Pop-Up Dynamo!”. In an interview with the news agency SpotOn News, Per Gessle reveals how difficult it was for him to decide on the new band. With PG Roxette he wants to “keep the legacy of Roxette alive”.

SpotOn News: Title of the first single is “The Loneliest Girl In The World”. What is the song about?

Per Gessle: Well, that’s really up to you to decide. I never explain my lyrics. That’s the magic of songs, the lyrics mean something different to everyone. I don’t want to destroy that. Sometimes I hear a song that feels like it’s written about me and only me, a song that goes straight to my heart. I keep hearing the same thing from people listening to songs I’ve written. It’s amazing. That’s the power of music. So you have to interpret all my songs yourself, including “The Loneliest Girl In The World”. Maybe it’s about you?

SON: What role does Marie Fredriksson’s legacy play in PG Roxette?

PG: Well she was half of Roxette so she will always be there in spirit and in my heart. She was one of my best and oldest friends. After Marie passed away, I had two options for Roxette. One was to close the door and stop, the other was to keep going. I decided to keep going. I wrote almost every song Roxette ever recorded and it would have felt strange to turn my back on more than 30 years of my life. My goal for the future is to write more music and lyrics, make new recordings, play live and keep the Roxette legacy alive.

SON: Are you still in touch with Marie Fredriksson’s family? Did they support your decision on PG Roxette?

PG: Yes, I know them very well and of course they support what I do. Why shouldn’t they?

SON: What can fans expect from the new album?

PG: I wanted to make an uptempo album based on the sound that’s in my blood and DNA. That’s the sound of the late 80’s and early 90’s. But I wanted to give it a modern twist. I didn’t mean to sound too retro or nostalgic, but you can definitely hear the classic Roxette elements in it. I have a specific writing style that shines through. It’s always like that, no matter how hard I try to develop it.

Musically, I used the “classic” Roxette musicians: Jonas Isacsson on lead guitar, Clarence Öfwerman on keyboards, Magnus Börjeson on bass and Christoffer Lundquist on guitar. They still sound great. I love working with these guys. I’m sure you can hear that. We had so much fun making Pop-Up Dynamo! The production was in the hands of Clarence (who has produced all the Roxette albums since 1986!), Magnus and myself.

SON: How difficult was it for you to decide to continue with PG Roxette after Marie Fredriksson’s death?

PG: It’s been a tough few years in the Roxette camp. Not only has Marie passed away, we’ve also lost our original drummer, Pelle Alsing. That came out of the blue. It was a difficult decision because it’s impossible to replace Marie. And that was never my intention. But I still wanted to play my Roxette songs and keep the legacy alive. Of course, if Marie were here, she would have been a big part of all of this. But that’s not the case. It’s really sad, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I have to carry the Roxette torch myself.

SON: With PG Roxette you have two singers, Helena Josefsson and Dea Norberg on board. What do you appreciate about the two and how is your cooperation with them?

PG: PG Roxette is not based on the voices of Dea and Helena. I also have other female singers on the new PG Roxette album. And I do most of the singing myself. You’ll find out.

Helena and Dea are both fantastic. Both as people and as musicians. If you compare their voices, they sound very different. They have completely different styles. I like that. When mixed together, they almost sound like a “third” person. It was the same with Agnetha and Frida in ABBA. When you combined their voices, the result was very different vs. how they sounded individually.

Helena and Dea have toured a lot with Roxette, so we’ve all known each other for a long time. I’ve been working with Helena for more than twenty years now. Time flies when you’re having fun. I’m glad to have her around.

SON: Roxette’s last concert was in 2016. How do you feel now ahead of a tour with PG Roxette?

PG: Excited. Curious. Happy. Blessed.

SON: How happy are you to be back on stage with Roxette songs, among other things?

PG: If it happens, I’ll be a happy man. I look forward to meeting all the fans around the world. Roxette has some of the best fans out there. So many of them come to Sweden and follow and support my Swedish band and solo projects year after year. I can’t thank them enough.

SON: The pandemic has paralyzed the music and events industry. How did you survive the long lockdowns in the corona pandemic?

PG: Of course it was a psychological nightmare. Everyone has suffered. Last summer, after a year of isolation, I finally started to think positively and decided to play some small acoustic shows at Hotel Tylösand on the Swedish west coast. The restrictions allowed us a maximum of 500 seated guests (with plenty of space in between) and I was supposed to do two one-hour evenings. Before I knew it I had made ten! And that 60 minutes turned into a two-hour show. It was incredible to be back on stage.

So I expanded the whole thing into an acoustic tour in theatres and concert halls. Then new Covid restrictions came along and we had to postpone them. Finally we started again and in May this year it was over after 31 shows.

And of course I’ve spent much of the last two years writing and recording the PG Roxette album. I think I wrote about twenty songs before I chose the eleven that are on the album. I’ve been lucky.

Per Gessle breathes new life into Roxette

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Per Gessle gave a Zoom interview to TT News Agency in Sweden. You’ll find it in several Swedish newspapers now, e.g. in Borås Tidning.

After almost 30 years with Roxette, it’s time for a new chapter in the band’s history.

It actually results in two questions, says Per Gessle on a Zoom meeting. It’s possible to think about how and when or in what way and to find out if there is interest out there.

But if you go back to square one, the real question is: should I quit Roxette or should I continue?

For his part, he has come to the decision that feels right. With Marie Fredriksson’s blessing, Per Gessle continues to play Roxette’s songs and also releases new material.

The first single “The Loneliest Girl In The World” is released on Friday, 3rd June along with a new video. The song is the first taster from the upcoming album “Pop-Up Dynamo!”, which follows in September.

Big challenge

The idea was to write poppy uptempo songs, with an ’80s and ’90s feel, which turned out to be a big challenge.

It’s very difficult to write three chord songs at my age. When you have worked with music for several decades, you become too sophisticated in your writing. You know all the tricks and have found your style.

Per continues:

But when the chorus to “The Loneliest Girl In The World” was born, I felt “shit, this is a good chorus”. I was so happy when I wrote it.

Per Gessle emphasizes that the decision to start Roxette again was not something that “came about yesterday”.

I’ve tried to do it in a way that feels relevant. That’s why it felt important not to hire Belinda Carlisle or Annie Lennox or someone to replace Marie. It should be different, but still the same and that puzzle should be solved.

“30 years of my life”

TT: But why not just continue under the “Per Gessle” flag?

Because in the long run I want to tour and play my old Roxette songs. If I tour like Per Gessle, then I play my Per Gessle songs. It’s still almost 30 years of my life that I have given to Roxette and the songs are my little babies. This is a Roxette project, but to mark that it’s not the old Roxette, I have added PG.

And the craving for more Roxette seems to exist. Per Gessle points out that Roxette still means a lot to tons of people, which can be seen not least in the streaming statistics.

It would be stupid to turn your back on it. In my industry, you have to activate music all the time. You have to have people working towards Netflix and Hollywood. Look at Kate Bush who got a US No. 1 now with her song after “Stranger Things”. You have to be active and the one who can be most active when it comes to Roxette is me.

“The world’s biggest band”

TT: But why does it feel so important?

It’s my whole life. It started with Gyllene Tider and then Roxette. And Roxette was one of the world’s biggest bands for a couple of years. Everything I do today is based on Roxette’s success. Not continuing would feel like giving up and it would be such a defeat for me personally not to be able to complete my journey.

Hopefully, there will be a tour as well.

We are looking at getting a European tour together, but it’s tricky to find venues. I hope to know more about it soon.

PG Roxette – “The Loneliest Girl In The World” single is out!

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The long-awaited first PG Roxette single is finally out! It contains two songs, The Loneliest Girl In The World and Sunflower.

Video – directed by Fredrik Etoall – recorded for TLGITW is set to premiere at 3 pm CET on 3rd June on Roxette’s YouTube channel. You’ll be able to watch it HERE. Don’t miss it!

The Loneliest Girl In The World is the first taste from the upcoming album Pop-Up Dynamo!, which follows this September. TLGITW feels like a natural next step for Per Gessle. With exuberant energy, the sweetest of melodies and their trademark don’t-bore-us-get-to-the-chorus addictiveness, it’s a song that would fit comfortably into any era of Roxette’s hefty back catalogue. Whether you consider it to be the poppiest rock around or pop with a little rock edge, it’s unmistakably Roxette.

Mr. G tells:

I had so much fun making these recordings. I really tried to go back to the writing style I had in the early days of Roxette and it was a blast. Some of the songs are the best I’ve ever done. And to work with all my Roxette-friends once again was amazing. We stick together like glue.

Read the complete press release related to the PG Roxette project HERE!

Per says about Sunflower:

I wrote the song “Sunflower” a long time ago but finished it just in time for the PG Roxette project. And no, it will NOT be included on the new album. Only on this single.

So, as you see your only chance to have the song on a physical release is to get the limited edition 7″ vinyl single. You can order it at Bengans or Ginza. For the digital version click Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube (TLGITW, Sunflower) or other digital platforms!

Additional info from PG regarding Sunflower:

It was actually written in January 2002 (!) but I made a new demo in August 2020 which is the foundation of the recording that’s now being released. And, of course, the lyrics are new. The original version from 2002 only had the lyrics in the chorus.

The Loneliest Girl In The World

I once was the chosen lucky one
Born under the sun and the powers he’s got

I once was a weirdo on a bus
Thinking about us
About me, about you, he-hey

It feels like I’ve been climbing over mountains
Like I’ve been riding jumping diving
Just to find out where you might be hiding
The loneliest girl in the world, uh huh

I recall (call call) shadows being tall
Kissing by the wall oh I felt so secure

I recall wishing we could be
The breeze across the trees
Just for fun, being like one

It feels like I’ve been climbing over mountains
Like I’ve been riding jumping diving
Just to find out where you might be hiding
The loneliest girl in the world

It feels like I’ve been flying over treetops
Like I’ve been scanning all my teardrops
Just to find out where you might be full stop
The loneliest girl in the world

It feels like I’ve been climbing over mountains
Like I’ve been driving all the highways
Just to find out where on earth you might stay
The loneliest girl in the world

It feels like I’ve been rushing through the moonlight
Like I’ve been searching every website
Just to find out where you might be tonight
The loneliest girl in the world, oh yea

The loneliest girl in the world aaaaahh
Feels like I’ve been running jumping diving
Just to find out where you might be hiding
Why is there no song playing
For the loneliest girl in the world?

Words + Music by Per Gessle
© Jimmy Fun Music

Produced by Magnus Börjeson + Clarence Öfwerman + Per Gessle. Co-produced by Christoffer Lundquist.
Recorded at Farozon, Malmö + Aerosol Grey Machine, Vallarum + Tits & Ass, Halmstad
Engineers: Magnus Börjeson + Christoffer Lundquist + MP Persson
Mixed by Ronny Lahti at Denebi Studios, Stockholm
Played by Magnus Börjeson: Programming + synthesizers + bass guitar
Clarence Öfwerman: Programming + synthesizers
Christoffer Lundquist: Electric guitars + synthesizers
Per Gessle: Lead vocals
Helena Josefsson: Vocals

Sunflower

Been living on my own with just a fork and spoon
Keeping my mind tidy in my tidy room

All I
All I ever really wanted
All I ever really needed
Was a minute to find my space in the show oh oh
Then I suddenly got to know
I heard a voice singing high and low
And it sounded like a love song to me

I’m a sunflower rising to the sky
Sunflower
Yellow, big and bright
A sunflower growing very high
Would you like to touch me, baby?

I felt so out of place like a man stuck on the moon
But everything has changed this crazy afternoon

All I
All I ever really wanted
All I ever really needed
Was a minute to find my spot in the show oh oh
Then I suddenly got to know
I heard a voice singing to and fro
And it sounded like a love song to me

I’m a sunflower rising to the sky
Sunflower
Yellow, big and bright
A sunflower growing very high
Would you like to touch me, baby?
Would you like to touch me, baby?

Words + music: Per Gessle
© Jimmy Fun Music

Produced by Per Gessle
Recorded at Tits & Ass, Halmstad
Engineer: MP Persson
Mixed by MP Persson + Per Gessle at Tits & Ass, Halmstad
Played by Per Gessle: Guitars + bass + synthesizers + piano + dobro + lead vocals
MP Persson: Programming
Helena Josefsson: Lead vocals


Vinyl sleeve design by Pär Wickholm, Wickholm Formavd., Stockholm. Photo by Fredrik Etoall.