Releases

Per Gessle covers Pugh Rogefeldt’s “Vandrar i ett regn”

by

Swedish artist and songwriter Pugh Rogefeldt passed away on 1st May 2023. The day the sad news came out, Per remembered him like this:

He was a magnificent artist, songwriter, singer. My early teenage life was coloured in the most unlikely shades by Pugh’s magical songs, lyrics and imagination. The “Pughish” album was my favourite. I sat in the eighth row at Halmstad Theatre when the “Ett steg till” tour came to town and was completely mesmerized. One of the greatest moments in my career is when Pugh read the stanza “Mina damer och herrar, det är gyllene tider för rock’n’roll” so that we at Gyllene Tider could use his voice in the intro to the song “Gyllene Tider för rock’n’roll” in 1981. Many years later, in 2004, we had the honour of having him as a support act on GT’s 25th anniversary tour. He wanted me to help him put together his setlist for the tour. I was happy to do that. Amazing, when you think about it.

As a tribute, Per releases a single, Vandrar i ett regn, a cover of Pugh’s song. Mr. G recorded it in April 2023. He says:

“Vandrar i ett regn” was released on Pugh Rogefeldt’s live album “Ett steg till” in 1975. An album that – besides other places – was recorded at Halmstad Theatre in December 1974. I was then fifteen years old and there, of course. Since then I have always loved this song and now that I had the honor to be at a tribute gala for dear Pugh, it felt natural to record and release my own version.

I worked together with pure Halmstad musicians; MP from Gyllene Tider on mandolin, Gicken Johansson on bass and lap steel, Magnus Helgesson on drums and Linnea Olsson on vocals. As icing on the cake, Ola Gustafsson from Norrland has added his fine guitar loops here and there.

I know Pugh heard my version before he passed away and of course it feels fantastic and big. He was a unique artist with exciting and high ambitions where he did not always take the easiest path. Thanks Pugh.

In the June episode of Nordic Rox, the Pugh Rogefeldt special, PG mentioned that the backing vocals on the live recording of Vandrar i ett regn from the double LP, Ett steg till are half crazy. It’s typically Pugh as well. Mr. G says it’s an homage to the Doo Wop ’50s style of music.

The B side of the single is a so far unreleased version of “If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)”. Per says:

It’s basically the same backing track as “Om jag vetat då” from “En händig man”, but with new vocals and no girls around this time. Forgot about it, but found it in my files.

Mr. G will perform at the tribute concert for Pugh Rogefeldt at Cirkus in Stockholm on 18th October.

I’m very proud and grateful to be involved. Pugh has meant a lot to me and my generation. I understand that everyone wants to join. He was unique, a forerunner. I learned so much about how you can stretch languages. That’s what Pugh did. I learned that there are no rules and norms to follow. He was an amazing man. It will be wonderful to pay tribute to him.

Listen to the single on any streaming site (Spotify, Deezer, YouTube)! Pre-order the 7″ vinyl edition at Bengans, Ginza or some other Scandinavian webshop! The vinyl is out on 10th November.

A video to Vandrar i ett regn is also out soon!

CONTEST – Win the limited edition version of Marie Fredriksson’s biography in English!

by

It’s amazing that after all these years, Marie’s story is finally out in English too! 1984 Publishing, the US publishing company of the English edition of Marie’s biography, was kind enough to offer us 3 limited edition copies for a contest.

In order to participate, answer the following questions correctly:

  1. In how many languages has Marie’s biography been published before the English edition? – 7 (Swedish 2015, German 2016, Czech 2017, Spanish 2019, Hungarian 2020, Portuguese 2021, Russian 2022)
  2. Who wrote the foreword of the English edition? – Jonas Åkerlund
  3. Which song do you get as a bonus track on The Change if you buy the limited edition version and which year was that song originally released? – Sea of Love, 2020

You can find the answers to all questions on RoxBlog.

Send an e-mail with your name, address and the correct answers to the questions to roxblog.contest@gmail.com until 23:59 CET, 31st August 2023. The 3 lucky winners will be announced on 1st September 2023. Good luck!

UPDATE on 1st September: the three winners have been picked and informed via email about their winning. Thanx, everyone, for taking part! The winners are Martijn Poortvliet from the Netherlands, Agnieszka Gilewska from Poland and Arnaldo Suarez from Argentina! Congrats!

Contest terms and conditions:
– In order to participate, you have to send an e-mail to roxblog.contest@gmail.com with name, address and correct answers to the 3 questions. We will consider all e-mails we receive until 23:59 CET on 31st August 2023.
– 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.
– The 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 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.
– By taking part in the contest, personal data (first name, surname, e-mail address and address) will be collected. These data are needed in order to run the contest, particularly in order to match participation applications to their entries as well as to identify and notify the winners. This method of processing data is therefore required pursuant to Article 6 Paragraph 1 lit b of the GDPR to fulfil contractual obligations. The personal data collected will be processed and used by RoxetteBlog only to the extent that is required in order to run the contest. The personal data will be stored for the duration of the contest and – in order to process any claims relating to winnings and damages – for a maximum of 6 months afterwards and they will then be deleted. By participating, you agree to all above mentioned and your name being published on this website, as well as on our social media channels in case you win.

PG Roxette – “The Craziest Thing” single with “Just Perfect” as B side is out!

by

The Craziest Thing was originally released on PG Roxette’s debut album Pop-Up Dynamo! It was written by Per Gessle and Eddie Jonsson. In connection with the European Table Tennis Championship in Malmö 10th-17th September 2023, a new version of the song, The Craziest Thing (Lost Boy Remix) has been produced and it’s the official song of the EC.

Peter Johansson, project manager for the European Table Tennis Championship says:

It feels incredibly fun that Per Gessle is once again making a song for a major table tennis championship. It was a success last time in connection with the World Championship in Halmstad. This song is pompous and happy and will do perfectly in Malmö Arena. I’m also convinced that it will work excellently as a boost for our Swedish players in the hunt for the medals at home.

Per Gessle says:

I feel incredibly honored to once again be responsible for the official table tennis song in the context of the EC and WC. In 2018 it was the WC in jolly Halmstad and then it was “Name You Beautiful”, this time at the European Table Tennis Championship in Malmö my contribution is called “The Craziest Thing”. Filled with twisted energy and as effective and fast as a diagonal forehand smash.

The B side of the single is a previously unreleased song, Just Perfect. Per says:

“Just Perfect” was written in October 2014 for the “Pretty Woman”-musical. I was in touch with Jonathan Lawton (who wrote the script to PW, both movie + musical) and the basic idea was to create a “bookend” to “It Must Have Been Love”. “IMHBL” would appear at the end of the musical and “Just Perfect” in the beginning.

The lyrics told the story about the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles where some important parts of PW took place. Btw, Elvis Presley stayed at that particular hotel for six months during his heydays, hence the Elvis-reference in my lyric.

Jonathan loved the song but it all went nowhere when director Garry Marshall decided that Bryan Adams was going to write all the songs to the PW-musical instead. Not even “It Must Have Been Love” got included. Shit happens and no worries. Personally, I think Bryan did an amazing job with all his new stuff.

So here’s “Just Perfect”. I re-used the idea for the chorus in Roxette’s “This One” a few months later if it sounds familiar. That’s the way I am.

Listen to the single HERE and don’t forget to order the physical copy, a limited edition vinyl 7″ HERE!

The Craziest Thing (Lost Boy Remix)

I know you’re trying to please
You make me weak in the knees
When you come around, aha
I love hanging out with you
Love the things that you do
To find higher ground, aha
But baby, my mind is drifting
My focus keeps on shifting
Baby, my mind is drifting

In a certain light you tend to look just like her
It’s the craziest thing
In a certain light you tend to look just like her
It’s the weirdest thing

I know you want this to last
To make me wipe out the past
And go to Square One
I don’t know what to do
Hey, I haven’t got a clue
How to unblock the sun, aha
Got a reason my mind is drifting
The attention keeps on shifting
Got a reason my mind is drifting

In a certain light you tend to look just like her
It’s the craziest thing
In a certain light you tend to look just like her
It’s the weirdest thing

Words by Per Gessle
Music by Per Gessle + Eddie Jonsson
Published by Jimmy Fun Music
Original recording produced by Magnus Börjeson + Clarence Öfwerman + Per Gessle
Remix produced by Lost Boy at Lost Boy Studios, Umeå
Programming: Lost Boy
Vocals: Per Gessle + Helena Josefsson + Dea Norberg

Just Perfect

I wanna welcome you to treasure
Magnificent rooms of joy and pleasure
Where anything is possible
We’re workin’ so hard to make things happen
Elvis is gone but not forgotten
We’re still makin’ dreams wishable
And doable
Even things unthinkable
Can happen right here in this hotel
In gold with roses watching

This is perfect
Just perfect
It’s just perfect – oh oh oh
Just perfect – oh oh oh

We can be truly entertaining
Delightfully sharp and so persuading
Nothing less than wonderful
Offering pearls and shiny diamonds
Fine chandeliers and striking tables
We make your life so powerful
And colourful
Even things incredible
Will happen right here in this hotel
In gold with roses watching

This is perfect
Just perfect
It’s just perfect – oh oh oh
Just perfect – oh oh oh

Words + music by Per Gessle
Published by Jimmy Fun Music
Produced by Per Gessle
Recorded at Tits & Ass, Halmstad October 2014
Engineer: Mats Persson
Programming + keyboards: Per Gessle + Mats Persson
Vocals: Per Gessle

Marie Fredriksson’s biography published in English – official press release

by

Marie Fredriksson’s Final Memoir – Iconic Roxette Singer Documented Her Influential and Inspirational Life – Due From 1984 Publishing July 25, 2023

New York, NY – Marie Fredriksson’s final memoir, Listen to My Heart: Life, Love & Roxette, will see a worldwide English-language release from 1984 Publishing on July 25, 2023.

The 260-page hardcover is the fully candid and compelling life story of one of rock music’s most resilient lead singers. Given only a few months to live following a harrowing diagnosis in 2002 – Marie boldly forged ahead into a life with newfound courage and inspiration. She continued as both a solo singer and with Roxette, where she performed over 550 concerts to millions of fans, sold 75 million records, and released over 50 singles including several global hits. Stateside, the duo had four #1s with “Listen to Your Heart”, “It Must Have Been Love” (from the film Pretty Woman), “The Look” and “Joyride”. In all, Roxette is Sweden’s biggest music group – second only to ABBA.

Heart-wrenching yet winning, and told with exceptional energy and sincerity, Listen to My Heart sheds new and revelatory light on the life and work of one of our generation’s most talented and courageous artists. Marie passed away in the aftermath of her diagnosis in December, 2019.

Marie wrote her memoir in tandem with author Helena von Zweigbergk. Helena says:

I was so deeply moved by the enormous amount of love that Marie both gave and received over the years, and I know how much this release would have meant to her. It’s a book about strength, love, a remarkable career and a woman who gave life her all, each and every day.

Marie’s family continues:

We know Marie would have been very excited seeing her biography in so many different languages, reaching fans in so many countries. This English version makes her life story available to even more people in the world, keeping her legacy alive.

Filled with behind-the-scenes stories involving everyone from Tina Turner and Elton John to The Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra, Listen to My Heart also explores her humble family beginnings, an early tragedy in the sudden loss of Marie’s sister, her transition into the music industry as a solo artist, and the formation and challenges of being in one of the world’s most successful pop groups. All while trying to maintain a strong marriage and be a mother to two young children in the face of a life-altering illness.

A book foreword was penned by acclaimed director Jonas Åkerlund, Marie’s longtime friend and colleague. “Marie was my first true break in the industry,” says Åkerlund. “I’ll always be grateful for that—not only because of the projects that followed, but more because of the integrity, focus, and creative generosity that she taught me . . . this book is but one testament to the boundless creativity she exuded throughout her life.” Åkerlund directed Marie and Roxette in nearly twenty music videos and documentaries, and later worked with Madonna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and U2.

A limited special edition of the book will contain Marie’s celebrated English-language solo CD The Change (2004), its first physical release in North America, along with Marie’s final recording “Sea of Love” (2017) as a bonus track. Along with the newly remastered music, the limited edition hardcover will contain silver foil gilding and a blue satin ribbon marker.

Book cover photo is by Mattias Edwall, with additional design by Midnight Marauder. Marie Fredriksson created the artwork for The Change album cover.

Both physical editions (plus an ebook) will be available worldwide at local bookstores, plus on-line retailers including Bengans, Amazon.se, Amazon.co.uk, and many more. Store inquiries should be made to Ingram (Europe) and URP (record stores).

Cast of the Gyllene Tider movie

by

The feature film about Gyllene Tider tells the incredible story of the band from the countryside that, against all odds, managed to become the biggest in Sweden. And to this day, when Gyllene Tider tours, all tickets are sold out in no time. Now it is clear that the film will have its cinema premiere in distribution by Nordisk Film next summer. All five who got the coveted lead roles are also making their acting debut. Valdemar Wahlbeck portrays Per Gessle, Lancelot Hedman Graaf plays the role of Anders Herrlin, Phoenix Parnevik plays Micke Syd Andersson, Ville Löfgren plays Mats “MP” Persson and Xawier Kulas plays Göran Fritzon.

Per Gessle says:

I think it can be absolutely fantastic, because it really is an incredible and extremely unusual journey Gyllene Tider has made. Lots of laughter, lots of crying, lots of everything. Just like in a good pop song.

The film tells the absurd story behind the legendary Swedish band Gyllene Tider, which has become one of the biggest pop sensations of our time. Per is the school’s ambitious outsider in the high school in Halmstad who finds a community and friends for life through music with MP, Micke, Anders and Göran. Despite all setbacks, the band fights purposefully and in the early eighties has its big breakthrough with its effective choruses and passionate lyrics about life in a small town.

Ahead of Gyllene Tider’s big comeback tour this summer, it is now clear which five guys will get the honorable task of playing the main roles as Gyllene Tider.

Per says:

I was honestly hesitant at first. After all, most films like this are made only after you die and we are, as far as I know, still alive! But after talking long and often with everyone involved and reading the script, I’m super proud and happy about this project. The five guys chosen to play the five of us are all special in completely different ways. Exactly like us in the “original band”.

Valdemar Wahlbeck, 19, plays Per Gessle. He was born and raised in Halmstad as the son of comedian Peter Wahlbeck. Valdemar is a singer and dancer and studies at the Ballet Academy in Gothenburg. With his band Pipsvängen, he, like Per Gessle in the beginning, has played at various retirement homes. He has already recorded several songs with Per Gessle’s producers that acclaim Valdemar’s singing voice.

Valdemar says:

Imagine being born and raised in Halmstad and now getting to play one of this city’s biggest icons. Dad is from Halmstad, Per is from Halmstad, my teacher created the Gula Tidningen which is a Gyllene Tider parody. It feels like the circle is closed.

Phoenix Parnevik, 21, became known to all Swedish people through the reality series Parneviks on TV3. Now it’s his turn in the family to step into the limelight after studying acting in the US. Like his grandfather Bosse Parnevik, he is a good impersonator and is now practicing the Halland dialect for the role of Micke Syd Andersson.

Phoenix says:

It feels good to finally be able to show the Swedish people what I love and have been doing for so long in the USA. That my first role is a real person is really a dream.

Lancelot Hedman Graaf, 22, plays Anders Herrlin. Lancelot is already an established artist and has appeared in a number of television shows.

Lancelot says:

It feels great fun. Acting wasn’t something I thought I’d do but after the test shoot I related so much to the role and really just need to be myself. It’s fun to have new challenges.

The other two making their acting debut are Ville Löfgren, 17, from Karlshamn in the role of Mats “MP” Persson and Xawier Kulas, 16, from Halmstad plays Göran Fritzon. More roles will be presented later.

Nevis Productions is very happy to have gained the band’s trust and values their involvement in the film. The premiere takes place next summer in cinemas around the country through Nordisk Film.

Pia Norström, Nordisk Film marketing manager says:

We are extremely proud to present this film to cinema audiences. Gyllene Tider’s music means a lot to many Swedes and we want to give the audience a movie experience that will be just as strong.

The feature film about Gyllene Tider’s road to success is loosely based on the band’s history. It will be as much a feel-good film as a music party and an updated look at the early eighties.

Screenwriter and director is Per Simonsson (Svartsjön [Black Lake], Tjuvarnas jul [Christmas of Thieves], Selmas saga [Selma’s Saga]).

Per Simonsson says:

I listened to the first three records on constant repeat and thought that this is how the film should feel: the longing for love, community and daring to live life to the fullest.

The shooting of Gyllene Tider starts in August in Halmstad and the recording continues in Stockholm during autumn.

Producers at Nevis Productions are Moa Westeson, Cindy Hanson and Anni Faurbye Fernandez.

Photos by Fredrik Etoall

Our earlier article about the movie can be found HERE.