Releases

Official Swedish Soccer World Cup song by Gyllene Tider

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It’s all about sports these days. First table tennis, now soccer! Gyllene Tider, together with Linnea Henriksson, will make the official Swedish Soccer World Cup song. The title, “Bäst när det gäller” (Best When It Counts), perfectly captures the spirit of football, where determination, teamwork, and composure often make the difference between victory and defeat. Music has always played an important role in major sporting events, helping unite supporters from different countries while building excitement before the tournament begins.

Football has a unique ability to bring people together regardless of age, language, or background. From local youth matches to the biggest international competitions, the sport creates unforgettable moments that stay with fans for years. A single goal, a dramatic save, or a last-minute comeback can become part of football history, inspiring future generations to take up the game. Official tournament songs only add to that atmosphere, giving supporters an anthem they can associate with memorable matches and celebrations.

As excitement builds before the World Cup, fans often spend weeks discussing potential champions, standout players, and tactical approaches that could shape the tournament. Every national team brings its own style of play, making each match a unique contest. Some squads rely on quick counterattacks, while others focus on patient possession and creative passing. These different approaches keep football entertaining and unpredictable, which is one reason the sport continues to grow in popularity around the world.

The preparation leading up to a major tournament extends well beyond the players. Coaches carefully analyze opponents, training staffs monitor player fitness, and supporters eagerly follow every friendly match and squad announcement. Many fans also enjoy reviewing recent form, league performances, and head-to-head records before making predictions about upcoming fixtures. Resources like RubiScore Ltd make it convenient to keep up with football scores, match statistics, and schedules throughout the season and during major international competitions.

Beyond the professional stage, football continues to have a positive impact on communities. Schools, local clubs, and neighborhood teams encourage young athletes to develop discipline, communication, and confidence through regular training and competition. Even casual matches between friends can strengthen relationships while promoting an active lifestyle. The accessibility of the sport is one of its greatest strengths, as all it really takes is a ball and an open space to enjoy the game.

The release of an official World Cup song reminds everyone that football is about more than what happens on the pitch. It is also about the emotions shared by millions of supporters singing together before kickoff, celebrating victories, and standing behind their teams during difficult moments. Music and football complement each other by creating lasting memories that extend far beyond the final whistle.

With Gyllene Tider and Linnea Henriksson contributing the official Swedish Soccer World Cup song, fans have another reason to look forward to the tournament. Whether cheering from the stadium, watching from home, or following every match online, supporters can enjoy the combination of exciting football, passionate fans, and memorable music that makes the World Cup one of the most celebrated sporting events in the world.

Per says, to write the official song is of course a huge challenge and you can’t say no to that. The guys in GT were extremely proud when they were asked.

Mr. G says he already had the title in his mind for a while, but now he had the reason to write the text as well. It became a little story about a couple who are the best when it counts, but also a text filled with soccer references that most recognize. The song is already recorded and will be released at the end of May. The recording sessions took place mid March when Per posted a picture of himself and Linnea in the studio.

As Micke Syd says, they recorded “Bäst när det gäller” with experienced technician Stefan Boman and Christoffer Lundquist mixed it later. To the question how it sounds, Per laughs and replies ”just like when Halmia takes the lead in Örjans vall on a beautiful day”.

Be part of the official video to Per Gessle’s new single!

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As you could see in Per Gessle’s video message, he tells the details about how to be part of the official clip to his new single, Name You Beautiful.

It’s the official song for the World Table Tennis Championship, so that’s why table tennis is involved. You can film yourself or anyone else singing along Name You Beautiful or playing ping-pong. 10 seconds are enough! Make sure you film in landscape mode, NOT in portrait! Send your video to tabletennis@gessle.com. If the file is too big to be sent in a simple e-mail, use wetransfer.com. Send your file to the pingis master until 30th March! Be creative and funny, guys and girls!

Per says he might even do a backhand himself, so fingers crossed he will also appear in the video! Maybe playing a match with Helena Josefsson? 😉

 

Official song for the World Table Tennis Championship by Per Gessle

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Per Gessle’s new song, Name You Beautiful is the official song for the World Table Tennis Championship in Halmstad. The song premiered on February 27th during the European Championships qualification match between Sweden and Denmark (3-1). The game was played in Halmstad Arena.

We thought this really catchy hit song would be available digitally right after its premiere, but it seems we have to wait a bit more for being able to listen to it on the usual digital platforms. The good news is that it won’t be released digitally only, but as Per informed today, there will be 500 copies of 7″ vinyl singles. Woohoo! Can’t wait for the release date! Update on 1st March: there will be 500 blue copies & 500 yellow copies. How cool is that!

Official press release in English:

Per Gessle from Roxette writes official song for the World Table Tennis Championship in Halmstad

Halmstad native Per Gessle, with a track record of 80 million albums sold worldwide, is supporting the World Table Tennis Championship in Halmstad with a song composed especially for the event that will be seen by 350 million viewers all over the world.

Over 100 nations from all corners of the globe will visit the coastal city when the LIEBHERR World Team Table Tennis Championships descends upon Halmstad Arena between April 29th and May 6th 2018. On top of experiencing world class table tennis, visitors will also be able to enjoy world famous artist Per Gessle’s music, as he is behind the official WTTC-song “Name You Beautiful”, performed together with Helena Josefsson.

– When I was asked to write the official song for the tournament I didn’t hesitate. I was really up for the challenge. I wrote it together with some other local Halmstad-musicians, namely the guys from Galavant (Sebastian Atas and Victor Sjöström). Their super talented friend Viktor Broberg also contributed. We had lots of fun, says Gessle in a statement, adding:
– The song isn’t really a net ball, more like a killer smash in the backhand corner!

Johnny Ewerstein, project manager of the 2018 WTTC, is happy and pleased that Gessle chose to contribute a song to Sweden’s biggest sporting event 2018:
– This is absolutely fantastic! Gessle is a world renowned artist, and the fact that he stems from Halmstad makes it all the more special and an honor for us as hosts. We’re very glad and grateful for this song, which fits in excellently with a sporting event of this scope and importance.

The WTTC-song will be played publicly for the first time during the European Championships qualification match between Sweden and Denmark. The game is played in Halmstad Arena on February 27th at 18.30. Entry is free of charge, so don’t miss this opportunity to combine world-class table tennis with a brand new song from Per Gessle. The song will be available shortly on both Spotify and iTunes.

LIEBHERR World Team Table Tennis Championships 2018 is held between April 29th and May 6th in Halmstad Arena. The championship will be followed by 350 million viewers from around the globe, and will be monitored from approximately 350 journalists on location. 72 men’s and 72 women’s teams from around 100 nations are participating. Hosts are the International Table Tennis Federation, the Swedish Table Tennis Association and Destination Halmstad.

Photo: Anders Roos

CONTEST: Per Gessle – En vacker bok

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Anders Roos, photographer and publisher of Per Gessle’s tour photo book, En vacker bok offered us 3 copies for a contest. All 3 copies are signed by Mr. G! So here is your great chance to get hold of it if you don’t have it yet!

In order to participate, answer the following questions correctly:

  1. How many gigs were there on the En vacker kväll tour (except for the pre-premiere show at Leif’s Lounge)? – 21
  2. How many different opening songs did the tour setlists have and which of them was played as an opening song most often? – 2, På promenad genom stan
  3. In which town was the front cover photo of the book taken? – Grebbestad
  4. Each En vacker bok contains a print-out photo. How many different print-out pictures exist? – 4

Send an e-mail with your name, address and the correct answers to the questions to rxbcontests@gmail.com until 23:59 CET, 30th December 2017. The lucky winners will be announced shortly after. Answers to all questions can be found on RoxetteBlog. 😉 Good luck!

Contest terms and conditions:
– In order to participate, you have to send an e-mail to rxbcontests@gmail.com with name, address and correct answers to the 4 questions. We will consider all e-mails we receive until 23:59 CET on 30th December 2017.
– 3 winners will be picked randomly among those who have participated and sent the correct answers.
– You can only participate once, any attempt to participate twice or more times will lead to your disqualification.
– Prizes won’t be paid out in cash. Prizes will be sent by registered mail only once.
– Winners will be announced on this website, on our Facebook page and will also be notified per e-mail. You’ll be required to answer the e-mail confirming your address.
– RoxetteBlog.com will not enter into any correspondence regarding the result of the contest and is not liable for any damages, loss or expenses that may result in connection to the prizes.
– All submitted data will only be used for the purpose of the contest and in case you are among the lucky winners, to send you the prize.

Update on 1st January 2018: The 3 winners are: Guy Nir, Ilya Volkov and Andreas Christodoulou. They were notified via e-mail as well.

Per Gessle – En vacker bok – the tour photo book

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It seems there won’t be any tour without an official tour photo book being published after. And I love this fact! When Per Gessle’s En vacker kväll tour started we could already see photographer Anders Roos being around and I met him at several concerts, so it was quite obvious there would be hundreds of thousands of photos taken and I was already hoping for a fat photo book. Why I love when Anders is in charge of taking pictures is because, I think I already mentioned it in my RoXXXette On The Road review, is that he sees with the fans’ eyes. I mean Per and Co. appear in the pictures exactly how we see them. Anders grabs the perfect moments and provides all of us with an everlasting memory of a beloved tour.

The book comes in soft cover with folded tabs and it has 1 print-out picture inside, between the cover and the first page. There are 4 different print-outs existing. The book consists of 160 unnumbered pages and includes tons of cool shots. The only text appearing in the book is Per’s Gessleish intro in Swedish. He writes about how it all started with the rehearsals, about the band members and Anders Roos, as well as the lovely memory of the tour. The intro was written in November 2017.

The cover photo is an action pic taken in Grebbestad. Even if it was more of a ”ballads tour”, which is well reflected on the live CD, you’ll see quite some action pics in the book. I was a bit sad that Tittar på dej när du dansar didn’t make it many times on the setlist, but at least the dancing PG pic from the soundcheck in Dalhalla made it into the book. Woohoo!

My favourite pics in the book are especially the ones taken from above the stage and of course the backstage or travelling shots. Places where a fan can never really get access to. There is a good ratio of Mr. G photos, band members, crew, crowd, stage set, gear and also Good Harvest and Lars Winnerbäck were caught by Anders’ camera.

There is no PG book without PG drawings. As he says, those popping up in the book were drawn when it was raining. Among some new art and tussilagos, the ”fake guitarist in an 80’s band” drawing pops up here too.

A funny part of the book is a drawing of Per with a guide by make-up artist Åsa Elmgren of how to tape Mr. G’s in-ear system on the man himself. The one who has to do it doesn’t have an easy job, I must say. Haha.

How the photos and drawings appear in the book is designed by Pär Wickholm.

I must mention the paper quality of the book as well. The pages are not as shiny as in the RoXXXette On The Road or the Att vara Per Gessle books, so you don’t really need to wear gloves to turn the pages. Thank God! Haha.

All in all, just like the live CD, the tour photo book is also a great souvenir from this summer for all who were there at any of the gigs and there is also a lot to see for those who didn’t have the chance to attend the EVK tour.

If you pre-ordered or had the chance to go to NK in Stockholm today, you could get your copy signed. If not, then you can still order the book at Bengans (they still offer signed copies) or Bokus (signed copies are sold out there) or CDON (no signed copies there).