Per Gessle about Roxette: “Marie decided to go on with Roxette after Amsterdam”

German newspaper Aachner Zeitung published an article including some quotes of Per Gessle during the presentation of “Charm School” which took place in Cologne some weeks ago.

Per explains Marie’s illness was a big shock for him, and he took two important decisions after the first schock-phase. He decided he would not go on with Roxette without Marie, because “our interweaved voices had contributed to the big success of our songs.” And that it would be up to Marie to decide if she wanted to go on with Roxette or not.

His view on Roxette is that when they work together, “there is this magic in the air, this idea of easy to recognise but still meaningfull pop.” The new album is released when Roxette turns 25 years, “I think we can really affirm that our carrier has been a joyide.”

Marie didn’t join Per during this visit to Germany, “the reason is that she is unsure,” Per explains. He thinks that the music business can be sometimes merciless and that one has to function (100%), “and this is for such a sensible person as Marie hard to bear.”

Of course, we all agree that it is a miracle that a new studio album is being released next week. Per explained how and when Marie took the decision to go on with Roxette: it was at his Party Crasher Tour concert in Amsterdam, where Marie joined Per on stage to play two Roxette songs, “the audience cried of the emotion,” he adds showing goosebumps on his arm, “we were so touched about this reaction, that she decided that evening to go on with Roxette.”

He also tells that if there is anything they have learnt during the 25 years of Roxette, “then this must have been patience.”

EMI Germany starts new website for Roxette

Roxette’s “official German website” got just launched on www.roxette.de. The site basically features the same content as www.emimusic.de/roxette – where the domain was previously forwarded to – but is styled in line with the Charm School artwork. It embeds content from Roxette’s official Facebook page and runs a contest to win signed “She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio)” singles. EMI used www.roxette.de already in the past to launch special sites for the “Room Service” and “Hits!” releases.

First reviews to “Charm School”

New album is ‘out’ and we can read first reviews. Expressen’s journalist and old time Roxette reviewer Anders Nunstedt writes his review, gives 2/5 to the new album and sais that “Roxette’s comeback album is a clear return to the successful sound. Just a bit more boring. Without the former charm.”

He adds that “album is not bad, is rather twice as good as “Room Service”.” and concludes with note that “”Charm School” is a typical middle-of-the-road pop-up to 70 km/h, with no specific destination. Stable, but not adventurous. But then it sounded fun.”

There’s also two Czech reviews, both very possitive. See the links below:

Swedish
Expressen 2/5
Corren 4/5
UNT.SE (no rating)
Dagens Nyheter 3/5
Göteborgs Posten 2/5
SVD 1/6
Kristianstadsbladet 2/5
Västerbottens-Kuriren 2/5
Kulturbloggen 3/5
Aftonbladet 2/5
Musikindustrin (positive, putting critics into context)

Australian
The AU Review 6/10
Rave Magazine 3/5

Czech
t-music (no rating)
Rock & Pop 4/5

German
Plattentests 5/10
aerodynamite.tv 3/5
butjer 4.5/5
news.de (no rating)
Focus 8/10
laut.de 3/5
n-tv (no rating, but very positive)
cnet.de 6/10
monsters & critics (rating: “convincing”)
CD Starts 6/10

Greek
Music Bug 9/10

Italian
Debaser 3/5
Accordo.it (no rating)

Norwegian
varden.no 4/6
oslopuls 2/6

Venezuelan
El Tiempo (no rating)

If you find any “Charm School” review somewhere on the internet, don’t hesitate to post a link to the discussion under this article!

Two new shows in South Africa, sold-out Buenos Aires

After selling out four concerts in Cape Town and Sun City three months before the date the fifth one was added yesterday to the 2011 Roxette World Tour. The new date is The Superbowl in Sun City on Friday, May 13th. It means that not only Brazilian fans get to see Roxette five times this year 🙂

Update:

Due to a phenomenal response to ticket sales, there are now two extra concert dates released in SA on the 8th May at the Grand Arena, GrandWest Cape Town and 13th May at Superbowl, Sun City

Update no 2:
The first Argentinian date – Buenos Aires on April 4th – is (almost) sold out. Over 8,400 tickets were sold. The second BA show on April 5th went on sale in the last few days.

Tickets are available on Computicket.com

Thanks to Daniel Alvedahl for this information.