Tour

Smooth entrance during the Roxette tour? Vote now!

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roxette_goes_on_tour_2014The fact that Roxette goes on tour at the end of this year made all Roxers incredibly happy. There were rumours about it since long, but the time to announce some dates had just come last week. And the list of tour dates will be longer than just those 13 shows in Russia, Estonia and Lithuania, that’s for sure.

It might sound insane (oh no, it IS insane), but yes, discussions about queuing in front of venues and how to get to the front row already started… We are used to waiting tremendous amount of hours in front of venues and tons of us are used to run-run-run to the front row after the entrance is open. It’s really funny to read conversations on Facebook already now about how to organize the entrance by the fans themselves. We are fond of the numbering system, but what could we do with it, if there is no control over the lining up and when the doors are open, everyone is just running like hell? Should we ask local Roxers to be there at the venue early and ask the security guys to let us in some minutes earlier than the rest of the crowd? Or should we contact the local security team some days before the concert actually takes place? But they might not be used to any systems like this, so they wouldn’t care about the fans too much. What should we do then? I admit it: this is crazy to discuss it this early! And it’s half a year before the tour starts… We’re getting more and more fanatic it seems. 😉 At the same time, if something is going to be decided officially by the organizers, it needs a lot of time and negotiations to organize everything in advance for the whole tour. Wishful thinking it might be.

 

Atli (Show Security Sweden) at a Gyllene Tider concert in 2013
Atli (Show Security Sweden) at a Gyllene Tider concert in 2013

Since last year’s Gyllene Tider tour, where we experienced how calmed down and smooth the entrance could be if a well-prepared and cooperating security team is in charge, there is no discussion among Roxers about such things without mentioning Show Security Sweden. You might remember our article about them. The team did an outstanding job during the whole tour in Sweden, even at the biggest venue with the biggest crowd (Ullevi, Gothenburg). They paid attention to the numbering system, took control over the lining up and let us in only some minutes before the normal entrance. No running, no danger, no being nervous, just a smooth walk to the stage. Of course, they needed cooperating fans, but when you can see they absolutely know what they are doing and are fully in charge, plus their aim is the same as ours: to have a great concert experience without any troubles, then you can only wish they or a company with the same targets would be in charge at all of the future shows we attend. It was already nice to see them at Marie’s Stockholm concert. Why not having such system on Roxette’s tour? We know it’s almost impossible and maybe not the most effective to bring so many security guys from Sweden to all over the world, but maybe it would be enough to have a great team of supervisors like Atli or Malin, who can coordinate the local security teams. If I’m right, it was the same at the GT shows. We saw different faces among the security guys, so they surely worked together with local teams in different cities of Sweden. And it worked amazingly well.

 

We know it’s not our business who is chosen as security company, but it would be great if Live Nation would consider the possibility of implementing this working numbering system or something similar on the upcoming Roxette tour to make the entrance more secure and smooth and this way, the concert experience even better for both the band and the fans. Because as Micke Syd mentioned in the interview Judith did with him during the tour last year:

I think it’s just making the concert experience a lot better. We feel it too if you have been queuing for hours and then you are frustrated because of all the stress to get to the front row. If you are relieved of all that you can just relax and enjoy. And then we also have more fun.

So, how about a poll? Let your voice be heard and vote below! We are curious about your opinion. Voting is anonymous.

Would you like Management / Live Nation & a security team to organize a smooth entrance during the upcoming Roxette tour?

[poll id=”7″]

After you voted, you can share the poll on Facebook or on Twitter by one click to the share button below, so even more Roxers could vote and share their opinion. Thanx for your help in advance!

The RoxBlog Team

Miracles, thankfulness, a whole new world and much affection from both sides

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It’s over! 19 shows in 2 months – the solo tour of Marie Fredriksson is finished. But there are many things that feel neverending – all memories and feelings we shared on this tour stay forever. We were the first crowd that made people stand up in Luleå – at least that’s what they (the media) say.

Starting with the first show in Helsingborg mixed feelings are around – some say it was one of the best shows just because it happened, just because Marie was on stage, performing her own songs, some others missed her talking but very well knew that she seemed to be very nervous that night. In fact, Marie got more and more relaxed from show to show and it felt great to be part of that. We were there for her only, to support her and show the rest of the audience why we were there. Most of the people in the audience didn’t join our cheering and supporting and it felt like they even had problems clapping their hands. At the beginning of the tour we didn’t quite know how and if to stand up and how long. In the end we just did and nobody cared about the reactions of the Swedish people. And yes, in the end it was totally clear we would already stand up during “Kom Vila Hos Mig”, which was the second song of the set. Once, Jokke had told us that Marie feels much better when she knows we are there from the beginning and supporting her to the fullest and so it became like a secret agreement to stand up during the 2nd song. We never stopped it again since then, we kept it till the end. Sometimes we just shared a look with other fans, making a move to stand up and then we stood.

It’s hard to choose THE best show since everybody probably has their own favourite night, moment, memory – for me, in Jönköping Marie seemed to be very relaxed, talked a lot, cared less about everything else and just enjoyed herself (and maybe us). In Göteborg the audience was the loudest and the best – it was nice to see that it in fact IS possible to get people stand.

Malmö will be in the heads forever, just because Marie didn’t feel well and struggled with her leg. Oh, many would have loved to help her that night. But to see that she never gives up, never ever, that she is just going on, fighting, being strong – it shows a lot to everyone and provides a lot of strength to everyone. No, she didn’t want a chair, no, she didn’t want to stop, so she came back on socks after the break and gave her best.

These are the moments when suddenly it’s totally clear why she is such an inspiration for so many people. She is a fighter, always smiling, always going strong. And just, when everyone thought that she is somehow making it on her own (but of course with a lot of help and support of her husband!) she tells us to help her again when the next Roxette tour is on. So it happened after the last show in Umeå. First she promised that we see us soon again and then she said: “You have to help me again.” Ah, yes, we will, we so will, that’s what we try to do all the time and that’s exactly what is my personal story with Marie which I adore for 23 years now.

I remember the first show of the Night Of The Proms concerts in Antwerp. I sat in the audience, far away. The lights went down, Marie came up sitting on a stool, walking shyly to the microphone and sang. They started with  “Wish I could fly” and she must have had a little blackout back then. She repeated the first line of the song three times. I was shocked, it wasn’t the Marie I remembered. I was shocked for about 20 seconds and then it was totally clear: I wasn’t there for my own entertainment, I was there to support her and it made me buy so many tickets that I saw 16 shows in total in the end. The motivation is still the same – support, support, support, nothing else.

But back to this year, back to “Nu!” – we experienced a lot of miracles again, we got a lot of thankfulness of the band and found a whole new world ourselves. There was so much affection from both sides that it will keep us going until the next tour.

We heard a lot of wonderful new veIMG_9168rsions, Så stilla så långsamt, Bara för en dag or Den Sjunde Vågen – just to mention only a few. Every concert had its special moments. Every concert seemed to feature at least one crazy fan that decided maybe 10 hours before the show to come and support Marie, to never let this energy stop. Almost every concert brought some surprises – be it roses, lights, signs or just loud cheering. And every concert was a part of a true miracle.

If only Marie knew how many lifes she has saved throughout the years and how many lifes she turned to the better, she wouldn’t believe it. So it feels more than right to give something back, yes, exactly, to give something back. It feels good to know that it’s possible at all.

And there is one memory that stays forever – the little talk some fans had after the last show in Umeå. We finally realized that we never really thanked Micke for being the one in a million. We knew there wouldn’t be a chance to do so very soon and felt a bit sad. We said that we at least hope that he knows that we know what he is doing and the we very well appreciate it.

Last but not least we take all the wonderful memories of this tour with us – be it meetings (see mine in Umeå with Astrid), great concerts which can’t be forgotten, bad beers after the shows and a lot of nice people on the way.

23th November: Roxette show in Tallinn?

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As the Estonian site menu.err informs, Roxette will play in Tallinn at the 23th of November – this year! They write that Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson have played their last show in the Saku Arena in 2011 and quote Per Gessle’s Facebook posting after the show: 10256118_10151965941931396_4122063977327143267_n

“Oh, what a night it was! God, Tallinn exploded ! Great concert, a fantastic audience and a reception. Band hunted totally , Marie was in top form . Big thanks to everyone who made this night unforgettable . Would very much like coming back to Estonia . Every time.”

Futhermore, menu.err wrotes that the Swedish pop duo is doing another world tour “this year”. They also quote the organizers of the last show who say that they had no doubt to book Roxette again when they heard that they would do another tour again: “Our answer was definitely yes.”

Both Roxette concerts in Tallinn in 2001 and 2011 were very memorable and had an enthusiastic audience, the band got standing ovations and the audience sang along. “Roxette is a big Swedish pop brand, which guarantees a certain quality,” Live Nation Baltics promoter Eva Palm says.

So, obviously, Roxette will perform on 23th November in Tallinn, Saku Arena. Tickets are on sale already! The standing tickets cost 39 Euro.

So far, the management has not confirmed either the show in Tallinn or another Roxette tour.

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]

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