Release

PG Roxette’s Incognito EP is out!

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PG Roxette’s debut album, Pop-Up Dynamo! was released in October last year and now half year later, a new EP, Incognito with four songs is out. Read more about the EP and some words from Per in the press release we shared a couple of days ago HERE!

Tracklist

Side A

Incognito (Single Version)
Jelly Moon

Side B

When She Needed Me The Most
Incognito (Lost Boys Remix)

Listen to the EP on any streaming service (Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube, etc.) and don’t forget to order the limited edition 7” vinyl (Bengans)!

The official video to Incognito premieres at 15:00 CET on 28th April HERE!

Here are the lyrics for you to be able to sing along!

INCOGNITO

I gotta run
I’m going back to my place
To the centre of things to a setting
That brings me some more space

You wanna come?
It’s a game of now or never
No one will never know about it, we’re the only ones

Come on come on you got it
Come on come on you’ll love it
Come on come on you want it
Cos it’s so oh oh oh oh oh wow!

Get up and go
You go incognito nito
Wanna stay in mono oh no
You grab it all night all right

So get up and go
We go incognito nito
Baby, when we’re dancin’ so close
We grab it all night all right

Oh yea
You need this information
You just follow the lights
When you pass in the night by the station

You wanna come?
It’s a game to keep on playin’
No one will never know about it, we’re the chosen ones

Come on come on you got it
Come on come on you’ll love it
Come on come on you want it
Cos it’s so oh oh oh oh oh wow!

Get up and go
You go incognito nito
Wanna stay in mono oh no
You grab it all night all right

So get up and go
We go incognito nito
Baby, when we’re dancin’ so close
We grab it all night all right

Words by Per Gessle

Music by Per Gessle + David Guetta + Giorgio Tuinfort + Marcus van Wattum + Jason Evigan

Published by Jimmy Fun Music + What a Publishing Ltd + New Classic + Nicky Romero Music/BMG Talpa Music + Bad Robot Music/BMG Platinum Songs
Produced by Magnus Börjeson + Clarence Öfwerman + Per Gessle. Co-produced by Christoffer Lundquist
Recorded at Farozon, Malmö + Aerosol Grey Machine, Vallarum + T&A, Halmstad March + April 2021
Engineers: Magnus Börjeson (Farozon) + Christoffer Lundquist (AGM) + Mats Persson (T&A)
Mixed + mastered by Peppe Folliero at Musicology Studio, Naples, Italy

Vocals: Per Gessle + Helena Josefsson + Dea Norberg
Programming + synthesizers + electric guitars: Magnus Börjeson + Clarence Öfwerman
Electric guitar: Christoffer Lundquist

JELLY MOON

You try to crack the sky
You try to melt the earth
I’m not really sure
What that’s worth
What it’s worth

I’ve been hangin’ outside your door
I got my pretty face glued to the floor
There must be something you want me for
Real soon

Under the yellow moon
Jelly moon
Under the jelly moon

Well you got the means
The designer jeans
You could play it safe
And be for real
Stay for real

I keep hangin’ outside your door
If you try me you want me more
Hold your breath an’ count 2 3 4
Or you’re ruined

Under the yellow moon
Jelly moon
Under the jelly moon

I’ve been hangin’ outside your door
You know my head’n heart need you for
The tune

Under the yellow moon
Jelly moon
Under the jelly moon

Words by Per Gessle

Music by Per Gessle + Sebastian Atas

Published by Jimmy Fun Music + Kobalt Music
Produced by Magnus Börjeson + Per Gessle

Recorded at Farozon, Malmö + T&A, Halmstad Sep + Oct 2021
Engineers: Magnus Börjeson + Mats Persson
Mixed by Ronny Lahti

Vocals: Per Gessle + Helena Josefsson
Programming + synthesizers + bass: Magnus Börjeson

WHEN SHE NEEDED ME THE MOST

She was born one summer morning
I was a winter’s child
The sunset met the dawning
The balance met the wild

Hey that’s the way my love goes
I wasn’t there for her when she needed me the most
That’s the way that I chose
I wasn’t there for her when she needed me

Now I wish I’d done things better
And as a payment for my fine
I wrote this song, this letter
She’s always on my mind

Hey that’s the way my love goes
I wasn’t there for her when she needed me the most
That’s a chapter I closed
I wasn’t there for her when she needed me

Hey that’s the way my love goes
I wasn’t there for her when she needed me the most
That’s the way that I chose
I wasn’t there for her when she needed me

Hey that’s the way my life goes
I wasn’t there for her when she needed me the most
That’s the road that I closed
I was never there when she needed me the most

Words + music by Per Gessle

Published by Jimmy Fun Music
Produced by Andreas Broberger + Per Gessle
Recorded at Bridge & Mountain Paradise, Umeå + T&A, Halmstad Sep + Oct + Nov 2022
Engineers: Andreas Broberger + Mats Persson
Mixed by Andreas Broberger + Anton Ekström

Vocals: Per Gessle + Helena Josefsson + Malin-My Wall
Keyboards: Per Gessle
Programming + synthesizers: Andreas Broberger

INCOGNITO (LOST BOYS REMIX)

Remix by Andreas Broberger + Anton Ekström at Lost Boys Studios, Umeå January 2023

Design by Pär Wickholm, Wickholm Formavd., Stockholm

Photo by Important Pete

PG Roxette to release a 4-track EP

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Six months after the album Pop-Up Dynamo! now comes PG Roxette with a new EP with four songs which is the fruit of a series of exciting collaborations.

Per says:

The idea of PG Roxette is to manage the legacy of Roxette in different ways – partly to build on our classic sound, but also to test collaborations with new voices, artists, songwriters and producers who can add exciting ideas.

One example is Incognito, the first track on the new EP, and the result of a collaboration with star producers and songwriters David Guetta and Giorgio Tuinfort.

The first time I met David and Giorgio was in Stockholm in 2014 and since then we have been in contact a little from time to time and worked together. Mono Mind did “Save Me A Place”, which was number one for six weeks on the US dance chart a few years ago, while “You Hurt The One You Love The Most” made it onto “Pop-Up Dynamo!”.

I met Giorgio in Holland just before the pandemic broke out in February 2020, and then I heard some ideas that he and David Guetta were working on. I got stuck on a sketch with the working title “8th Storm”, which became the starting point for “Incognito”.

Clarence Öfwerman and Magnus Börjeson produced it and together with Dea Norberg and Helena Josefsson on vocals we made “Incognito” a bit magical in the studio. We recorded it for “Pop-Up Dynamo!”, but I thought it stood out a bit from the overall feel of the album and decided to save it. This past winter, Peppe Folliero and Giorgio Tuinfort made a brand new fantastic mix of the song and that became the starting point for this EP.

Per realized that he had two other songs with interesting collaborations that fit in. Jelly Moon was written with Sebastian Atas from Jubël and is a duet with Helena Josefsson, while When She Needed Me The Most is a production collaboration with Andreas Broberger, and among others, has Malin-My Wall on vocals. The EP ends with a remix of Incognito, made by the hot production team The Lost Boys from Umeå.

In short: four songs that pull PG Roxette in interesting new directions on a vinyl-scented EP that hits the stores on 28th April. Miss it at your own risk!

You can pre-order the limited edition vinyl 7″ HERE! You will be able to listen to the EP on all streaming sites this Friday!

PG Roxette’s Xmas single is out!

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PG Roxette released his debut album, Pop-Up Dynamo! on 28th October and now less than a month later, one month before Christmas he releases a surprise single with two Xmas songs. Wish You The Best For Xmas and Wishing On The Same Christmas Star are already available from today, 18th November on all streaming services. Listen to the single that also includes the instrumental version of both songs on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music or YouTube!

Physical release is on 25th November. You can order the ruby red 7” vinyl at Bengans, Ginza and some more Scandinavian online shops.

WISH YOU THE BEST FOR XMAS

Side A   Wish You The Best For Xmas
Side B   Wishing On The Same Christmas Star

Here is Per’s message upon the single release:

There’s a great tradition in pop music when it comes to christmas songs. My favourites remain the same; Wizzard’s “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” and Slade’s “Merry Xmas Everybody” are the stars on top of my christmas tree year after year. They’re hard to beat.

I wrote my very first christmas song in 1979 for my Swedish band, then I had another go in 1987 with Roxette. Maybe you know that one. It was called “It Must Have Been Love” and yes, the first version we released was actually a christmas song.

With PG Roxette I felt like keeping the tradition going. I wrote two songs, one uptempo and one ballad. They’re very different to each other.

First we have the uptempo one; “Wish You The Best For Xmas”. I thought it was a nice idea to do something a little bit more energetic than your ordinary christmas track. I came up with an idea this summer and the whole process went very fast.

I made a demo and sent it to Andreas Broberger who worked with Roxette on the “Good Karma” album as well as helping me out with some Mono Mind-tracks. His sounds and production style fit this song perfectly.

It felt like this song deserved a video so I got in touch with animator Mattias Gordon who did an amazing clip to it. I love the vibe he has created in the video.

Then we have the ballad. The melody to “Wishing On The Same Christmas Star” was born eight years ago in a song written for a musical that never happened.

It popped up in my head again when I thought of writing a christmas ballad.

It’s produced by Magnus Börjeson and Clarence Öfwerman who’s also responsible for the whole “Pop-Up Dynamo!” album. As you can hear it became a duet together with Helena Josefsson who is, as always, truly amazing to listen to.

There you go. Two christmas presents. From me to you.

Merry Christmas, folks!

/PG.

Mr. G shared this info related to the single in the RoxBlog interview:

I wrote the ballad first, eight years ago. It was called “Wishing On The Same Star” to begin with. It was written for a musical, but they didn’t use it. I liked the song and I thought maybe I should do a Christmas song. So I recorded a demo of it with a Christmas lyric. Then I didn’t use that either until now. Clarence and Magnus did the production and it sounded good, but it felt a little bit predictable to do this ballad Christmas thing. I felt like maybe I should write something really uptempo instead. So I wrote this really fast uptempo song. I did it in July this year. So the other song, “Wish You The Best For Xmas” is brand new. It’s produced by myself and Andreas Broberger, so it sounds a little different.

The video to it is cool too, but it’s different. It’s made by this guy Mattias Gordon, who did the “Being With You” video. It’s different style, but it’s animated and it’s a lot of Christmas people in it. He’s got this great technique. He is taking films of people and then he draws on the film, then just keeps the drawings and gets rid of the films. I’m in there and I’m playing the keyboards, but I’m just like… it’s just pencil. It’s funny and it’s cool.

Wish You The Best For Xmas

You
You’re sitting across the table having breakfast
Giving me that look that makes me smile
And I can’t hide it

We
We spend so many hours doing nothing
That’s the way I want it to stay for a while
And all the time

Hey
I’m missing you every day
I wish you were here with me
Keeping me company
Oh I wish you a very very merry merry merry xmas
I’m hoping you think of me
Dancing around the tree
Oh I wish you the best for xmas

I
I play that song you fancy without thinking
It’s silly and it’s simple but it’s true
I miss you

Yea
I’m missing you every day
I wish you were here with me
Keeping me company
Oh I wish you a very very merry merry merry xmas
I’m hoping you think of me
Dancing around the tree
Oh I wish you the best for xmas

Words + Music by Per Gessle
Published by Jimmy Fun Music

Produced by Andreas Broberger + Per Gessle
Recorded at Bridge & Mountain Paradise, Umeå + T&A Studio, Halmstad
Engineers: Andreas Broberger + M.P. Persson
Mixed by Andreas Broberger + Anton Ekström

Vocals: Per Gessle + Helena Josefsson
Programming + Synthesizers: Andreas Broberger
Guitars + Percussion: Per Gessle
Mandolin: M.P. Persson

Wishing On The Same Christmas Star

There’s a truth that’s been forever
It’s so clear, it’s in my heart
It makes the voices from the street
And that crazy christmas beat
Feel so near
It just feels so near

You and me we’re linked together
Like we were wishing on the same christmas star
Oh I hope until the end
You will always be my friend
So close
Like a whisper

I always knew this day eventually would come
I always knew this place is right where we belong

Oh I know we can climb higher
Yes, I know we’ve just begun
Let us both just seize the day
And let the beauty come our way
To celebrate
Christmas Day
This Christmas Day

Words + Music by Per Gessle
Published by Jimmy Fun Music

Produced by Magnus Börjeson + Clarence Öfwerman + Per Gessle
Co-produced by Christoffer Lundquist
Recorded at Farozon, Malmö + Aerosol Grey Machine, Vallarum + T&A Studio, Halmstad
Engineers: Magnus Börjeson + Christoffer Lundquist + M.P. Persson
Mixed by Ronny Lahti

Vocals: Per Gessle + Helena Josefsson
Programming + Synthesizers + Keyboards: Magnus Börjeson + Clarence Öfwerman
Synthesizers: Per Gessle
Guitars + Ondes Martenot: Christoffer Lundquist

 

Design by Pär Wickholm, Wickholm Formavd., Stockholm. Photo by Fredrik Etoall

PG Roxette’s second single is out!

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PG Roxette released his debut single, The Loneliest Girl In The World on 3rd June. The song was the first taste from the upcoming album, Pop-Up Dynamo!, which will come out on 28th October. Before we get to hear the debut album, Per decided to surprise us with a second single. Walking On Air is released today, 23rd September and just like the first single, it also contains another song that won’t be included on Pop-Up Dynamo! The vinyl single has two B-sides: Necessary and a remix of Walking On Air made by Bridge & Mountain.

You can order the 7” vinyl at Bengans, Ginza and some more Scandinavian online shops. The single is also available on all streaming services. Actually, on streaming it became a mini EP, because now all PG Roxette releases will appear under three “brands”: PG Roxette, Roxette and Per Gessle, to make sure anyone can find them easily. Listen to the EP on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music or YouTube!

Regarding the vinyl single availability Per says:

It’s up to the local Warner office to order it. If they don’t, you won’t find it in that particular country.

To the question if it was the original plan to release two singles before Pop-Up Dynamo! comes out PG replies:

Well, this album has been postponed a few times for various reasons; Covid – legal things – internal Warner reasons. It was finalized already in April 2021.

This spring we made a plan where “Loneliest Girl” became the first single. Then the album-release got delayed again because we couldn’t get any slot time making the vinyls. So we decided to go with a second single before the album comes out. There will be a lyric video popping up soon, too!

The lyric video is set to premiere at 12 pm CEST on 23rd September. Don’t miss it! You’ll be able to watch it HERE! The video was made by Ebba Gustafsson Ågren, based on filmed material and photos by Fredrik Etoall and Per Gessle.

Per tells about WOA:

“Walking On Air” was the very first song written for “Pop-Up Dynamo!” I got a request to write something for the “Top Gun: Maverick”-movie in the fall of 2019. So I wrote “WOA”.

It was actually written for a particular scene in the film where someone was going to dance on a beach (hence the lyrics “oh I’m sure you love to dance on the beach”). However, the movie people involved didn’t use the song. Maybe they didn’t like it as much as I did? Or maybe they took away the scene? I don’t know. I haven’t seen Top Gun yet.

So I kept it to myself and started writing more stuff in the same ’80s-’90s style that reminded me of “Look Sharp!” + “Joyride”. That’s how the whole new PG Roxette album came about.

It’s Helena and Dea combined that sing the lead vocals in the choruses. Helena is the driving force but Dea is overdubbing her and also sings harmony vocals. And they share the “wailing duties”. They have such different styles which I love to work with.

This is the sound, combined with my own voice, that shines through the whole new album. Together they create almost a “third persona”, it’s hard to say who’s who. A little bit like Agnetha + Frida in ABBA.

Btw, there is a version with Helena singing the verses. That’s how I wrote originally for the Top Gun-movie.

Mr. G shares some details about Necessary too:

“Necessary” was one of the songs I wrote for “Pop-Up Dynamo!” It’s one of only three recordings I did with Christoffer producing this time. And only one made the album! You’ll notice!

One of them was actually a different version of “Sunflower” that I didn’t like… I preferred my own version that’s on TLGITW single.

The rest of the album was produced by Magnus Börjeson + Clarence Öfwerman + myself. Christoffer came in late in this production to do some overdubs. Jonas joined us a couple of days as well. It’s basically the same people that did the Metallica-song who are involved.

Besides other Gessleish phrases, there is one that pops out in Necessary. Here is what Per has to tell about it:

Glad you like the “pop just like a bubble”-phrase. “Pop Like A Bubble” was actually the working title of the album!!!

There’s no doubt the new PG Roxette single Walking On Air is keeping the Roxette sound alive. The classic and familiar Roxette ingredients of a smart production with great hooks and a “don’t bore us, get to the chorus”-attitude shine through the entire song.

Per says:

There are millions of people out there who still love Roxette so of course I want to keep our music relevant. At first, I wasn’t sure which way to go but as time passed by it became clear that I want to continue this fantastic joyride. I want to keep the legacy of Roxette alive.

Tracklist (7” vinyl)

Side A

Walking On Air

Side B

Necessary
Walking On Air (Bridge & Mountain Remix)

 

Walking On Air

If you could stick around
No need to bother with the other side of town
Set the mood make it bright
I wanna go and be your Saturday night
Oh oh oh – it couldn’t get better
Yea yea yea – listen to what I say

Hey hey, my eyes just stop and stare
I got it good you got me walking on air
Every time you’re coming around
I wish you were here to stay
Hey hey, my eyes can’t look away
I got it good you got me walking on air
Every time you’re getting so near

Would you mind stick around
No need to bother with the glass on the ground
Summertime within reach
Oh I’m sure you love to dance on the beach
Oh oh oh – it couldn’t be better
Yea yea yea – listen to what I say

Hey hey, my eyes just stop and stare
I got it good you got me walking on air
Every time you’re coming around
I wish you were here to stay
Hey hey, my eyes can’t look away
I got it good you got me walking on air
Every time you’re getting so near
I’m walking on air

WORDS + MUSIC BY PER GESSLE

Necessary

When I walk
I tend to move sideways
When I talk
I only get halfway
Well, you pop just like a bubble
And I only want to keep good company

Oh oh oh oh
I’ve been up all night where I used to be
Oh oh oh oh
Hey I can’t believe my own memory
Oh oh oh oh tell me baby
What are you doing to me?
Is it really necessary?

When I call
It sounds like I’m praying
When I fall
All songs keep on playing yea

Oh oh oh oh
I’ve been up all night where I used to be
Oh oh oh oh
Hey I can’t believe my own history
Oh oh oh oh tell me baby
What are you doing to me?
Guess it’s really necessary

WORDS + MUSIC BY PER GESSLE

ROX RMX – Remixes From The Roxette Vaults

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Three separate digital releases of Roxette remixes popped up on 20th, 22nd and 24th June. Altogether 44 remixes are out under this project. Most of them were not available digitally before. Listen here to Vol. 1, Vol. 2 and Vol. 3!

Per Gessle says:

The remix saga of Roxette started early on. We released the “Dance Passion” album which contained remixes of a few songs from our debut album “Pearls Of Passion” in 1987. To tell the truth, I never listened to D.P. that much. And I’m pretty sure Marie didn’t listen to it at all. No, that album wasn’t really our cup of tea.

However, time went by and before long we found out about new amazing DJ’s, remixers and producers doing stunning stuff to original and great songs. We definitely wanted to be part of that journey! It’s very exciting to hear new interpretations of your own music, made by talented people coming in with new ideas from different angles.

Now, after 35+ years, it’s time for the collected works. The Roxette Remixes. ROX RMX.

I’ve put together three digital volumes of my favourite Roxette remixes created by big names, tiny names, on huge budgets and no budgets at all. It’s a pretty cool collection I’m very proud of.

I’m especially happy that we, against all odds, actually found the original masters to all these recordings. It’s been hidden in mirror balls and sweaty underwear, hahaha.

Since the time span is over 35 years you can easily hear the changes in pop. Some of the 80’s stuff suddenly sound very modern. And vice versa. Recent stuff can sound a bit dated already. But that’s the way it should be and what pop music is all about. Communication. Enjoy!

Tracklists

ROX RMX Vol. 1 (Remixes From The Roxette Vaults)

  1. Fading Like A Flower (Roxette + Galantis Remix)
  2. Stars (Almighty 12” Definitive Mix)
  3. Real Sugar (Shooting Star Treatment)
  4. The Centre Of The Heart (Is A Suburb To The Brain) (Stonebridge Club Mix Edit)
  5. The Look (Rapino 7” Remix)
  6. Why Don’t You Bring Me Flowers? (Addeboy vs. Cliff Remix)
  7. Wish I Could Fly (Stonebridge R&B Mix)
  8. Some Other Summer (Alexander Brown Remix)
  9. From A Distance (SingSing Version)
  10. Reveal (The Attic Remix)
  11. Crush On You (Almighty Club Mix)
  12. Dressed For Success (New Radio Mix)
  13. Milk And Toast And Honey (Active Dance Remix)
  14. The Rox Medley – A Remix Medley

ROX RMX Vol. 2 (Remixes From The Roxette Vaults)

  1. She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio) (Adam Rickfors Remix)
  2. Fading Like A Flower (Dancing DJs vs. Roxette)
  3. The Look (Big Red Mix)
  4. Stars (X-Treme Extended Mix)
  5. Knockin’ On Every Door (BomKrash 12” Remix)
  6. Speak To Me (Bassflow Remake)
  7. Dangerous (Power Mix – Short Version)
  8. Spending My Time (Electric Dance Remix)
  9. How Do You Do! (BomKrash US Mix)
  10. Opportunity Nox (Hard Act 2 Follow vs. Sharpshooter Extended Remix)
  11. Joyride (Magic Friend Mix)
  12. Wish I Could Fly (Todd Terry – Tee’s Radio Mix)
  13. Why Don’t You Bring Me Flowers? (Patrick Jordan Remix)
  14. Fireworks (Jesus Jones Remix)
  15. The Look (Head-Drum Mix)

ROX RMX Vol. 3 (Remixes From The Roxette Vaults)

  1. Stars (Almighty Radio Edit)
  2. The Look (Rapino Club Mix)
  3. She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio) (Adrian Lux Remix)
  4. Crush On You (Almighty 7 Radio Mix)
  5. Dressed For Success (Look Sharp! Mix)
  6. Milk And Toast And Honey (Shooting Star Treatment)
  7. Some Other Summer (TRXD Remix)
  8. Dangerous (Waste Of Vinyl 12” Mix)
  9. Fading Like A Flower (Dancing DJs vs. Roxette – Hardino Mix)
  10. The Centre Of The Heart (Is A Suburb To The Brain) (Yoga Remix)
  11. Wish I Could Fly (Stonebridge Club Mix)
  12. Reveal (Kleerup Remix)
  13. The Look (Chaps 1995 Remix)
  14. Stars (Almighty Dub)
  15. Chances (Dancehall version)