Per Gessle

Mr. G’s facebooking habits

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Roxette_Official_FBNo, I won’t write an article about Per’s tagging skills, but as lately (and earlier, too – usually when there is a tour break or no touring period) there were many posts / comments / questions about why Mr. G is posting on Facebook the way he is often doing it, I thought it would worth a poll to get to know what fans really think about it. Even yesterday – when one could have thought there might be some tiny news – after the release party of Sven Lindström’s ”Roxette – Den osannolika resan tur och retur” he rather reposted pics posted by fans on Roxette Official and old facebook videos from 2012 tour than posting e.g. a sentence (not mentioning a pic) about the book is available SOON at the nearest petrol stations. This soon is tomorrow by the way.

 

Whatever answer you choose below, one thing we can all agree on: no other artist dedicates as much time to keep in contact with and paying as much attention to his fans as Per. I know he knows how much we all appreciate it that it’s he himself who is handling all these social media sites. And of course, there is no offense at all, I’m just curious about what you all think, as this is also something which is kind of Per’s trademark – the re-re-re-repostings I mean – as I haven’t seen it yet from any other artist / brand on Facebook. At least not to this extreme. 😉

So, choose one from the below statements. The one that reflects your thoughts the most. Bear in mind that here we are talking about Per’s posts on Facebook: Roxette Official & Gyllene Tider. (Per Gessle Official & The Per Gessle Selection are not affected that much. Yet. 😉 ).

 

[poll id=”6″]

 

Anyway, the repostings always make me think about this interview with Per on TDR:

”TDR: Social media has become a big part of this tour. Do you enjoy the interaction? You have been doing it since the “Have A Nice Day” site’s “Ask Per” section.

PG: I  do, especially when we’re on the road as there is always an hour in the lounge at the airport and there is always so much time to do it so you might as well check out what people think. I think it’s really interesting to have this communication with people and they appreciate it. For me as a fan and I go to the Tom Petty site (laughs) which isn’t very active, but then they publish something and it’s “Wow! Check out that guitar!” So when you get some details like hanging out in the dressing rooms or pictures of… yesterday we went to this vineyard… I just think from the fans point of view it’s really cool.”

 

Is it the ”less is more” rule? Hm.

 

Per Gessle’s short message to all RoxetteBlog readers

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Today me and 5 friends met Per in Halmstad. He was very nice, stopped by when he saw us, all smiles, then parked his beautiful Ferrari on the side of the road and jumped out of it. We talked a bit and took some photos. Then, when he was about to leave, I asked him to send a message to all RoxetteBlog readers (sorry for my voice, as I wrote it in my report last night, I kind of lost it during the gig). So, he sent a message. It’s short, but pure Per. 😉

Thanx for always taking your time with us, fans, Per! Much appreciated.

 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-IMEcjxarM

 

 

 

Motivation is what drives Per Gessle

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Hallandsposten made a long and interesting interview with Per in the garden of his house in Sandhamn. From the interview it turns out that Halmstad is the place where Per can get energy. He also mentions that Åsa is the best wife in the world and Gabriel is as interested in computer games as he was in The Beatles and all other music at the same age as now Gabriel is.

According to the article, first it was the answering machine, then the tape recorder and mini-disc, but today Per Gessle‘s most important “instrument” to record and collect his ideas is his iPhone. Later he is saving all his files to computer, too. Per’s mobile is full of cryptic names of draft files that later might become hits. The working name of e.g. ”Singel” was ”Apelsin” (= Orange – this word appears in the lyrics). Talking about hits, there are more than 1000 Gessle songs registered at Stim (International Music Agency of Swedish Composers).

As Per says to Hallandsposten, in terms of percentage, the lyrics take much more time to write than music. It’s often verses, quotes or events he’s picking. For example, ”Tiden är en dåre med banjo” (= Time is a fool with a banjo) is a Charles Bukowski quote.

Regarding ”Anders och Mickes första band” Per says:

It was my way of showing that we are five in Gyllene Tider, not just me.

 

Of course, we all know Per likes playing with words, he’s creating awesome rhymes. He says to Hallandsposten that ”Det blir aldrig som man tänkt sej” is about disappointment and with the rhymes ”Du kunde knappast knäppa knappar och knyta knutar på en och samma gång – du stod på fyllan bakom hyllan som en Bob Dylan väntande på varm buljong” he could express exactly what he wanted.

Hallandsposten writes it was 37 years ago when Per got his first ever fan mail – from Katarina. He remembers the letter clearly and says if he writes a song he thinks is good and then anyone else likes it too, he’s proud. He says he always wanted to succeed with his art, so today he feels that there is nothing left to prove. Therefore, being No. 1 on the charts or commercial success are not that important anymore.

To Hallandsposten’s question regarding what is driving Per, he replied:

Motivation. If I would lose it, no more melodies or chords would come to my mind. I wouldn’t be so open to ideas and wouldn’t take down what is out there.

 

Hallandsposten also asked how Mr. G can manage all the things he is doing at the same time: music, hotel, wine and even handling several social media sites. Per says:

If it wasn’t me doing it, then someone else would. And then I still should check it. So why not doing it myself? After all, it’s fun.

 

 

Per Gessle_Hallandsposten_photo_by_Jari_Valitalo

 

Original article © Hallandsposten; GT photo © Jari Välitalo

Celestte Williams contributed to the article.

 

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.

 

 

 

Sommartider wines turn out to be as big hit as the song

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There was a great press launch of Per Gessle’s Sommartider wines on 8th May at Gondolen Gastronomi, in Stockholm. All wine journalists seem to be extremely positive about these 2 new items in The Per Gessle Selection.

 

Livets Goda:

 A wine that goddamn tastes exactly as it is called / sounds.

 

Allt om Mat:

I don’t like boxed wines and absolutely don’t like “celebrity wines” which tend to be praised for half shitty quality. To be honest, I thought that boxed wines with this kitschy name “Sommartider”, selected by Per Gessle, decorated with a few verses from the song and cute little flowers on the box could only be bad.

The wines don’t take you to another world, but they take you ashore. They’re good.

It will be this year’s hit.

 

Allt om Vin:

The vast majority of celebrity wines is of poorer quality than what you pay for. It is therefore an invigorating surprise that Per Gessle has chosen the opposite. The two boxed Sommartider wines are really worth their price (199 SEK/box).

 

SvD:

Considering Gessle’s solid interest in wine probably many think that boxed wines are not his mission in life. But in fact the wines are good.

This is an inspiring project for Per Gessle. Here he can combine his creativity with his interest in fine wines.

 

LEX Pop-Up:

The vast majority of celebrity wines are either of poor quality or overpriced. Or both! But there are exceptions. Thumbs up for Sommartider boxed wines.

 

You can find some other nice PG pix at the links pasted above. 😉 Don’t forget to check The Per Gessle Selection on Facebook for fresh pics / vids and news every now and then.

 

You can read more about Sommartider wines and where to order them in an earlier RXB article.

As Per informed the other day, wines are available in the ordinary assortment of Systembolaget at Eurostop in Halmstad. So, if you’re there in summer (or anytime), don’t forget to check and taste Sommartider. The boxes themselves are art and they will look good in any fan’s collection.

Update May 14th: The Wineagency, the company distributing Per’s wines, sent out a press release as well.