Sven Lindström

New fanbook about Roxette – “In a Wonderful Balloon”

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Maria Sörgjerd with help of several die-hard Roxette fans has written a book called “I en underbar ballong” (Swedish for: In a Wonderful Balloon) that will be released in December 2012. Here’s the short note that can be found on the Fenomena Förlag in both English and Swedish. The publication will be released in Swedish only.

Roxette has had a transformative and even vital impact on many lives all over the world. A proof of this is the subculture which centres around Roxette, on websites and at conserts. The author Maria Sörgjerd has spent the last two years writing a book with a popular scientific focus, based on the stories of the most dedicated Roxette fans. She has found out what it is that pushes these people to travel around the world, visit concert after concert.

What is it about the group Roxette that appeals to the fans? There are people who have moved to Sweden because the Roxette members – Per and Marie – live there. There are people who have learned Swedish thanks to Roxette. There are also examples of people who have crossed the line in their eagerness to be close to their idols, but for most fans music is a positive source of energy and a lifestyle.

An underlying message in the book is that music that we like can make us feel good, not just classical music but even something as “trivial” as pop songs about balloons. The stories told by the fans are connected to the scientific field of music psychology, with an easy going and funny tone. The book is easy to relate to with casual examples.

This project is not connected at any point with the official Roxette book being currently written by Sven Lindström, author of “Att vara Per Gessle” biography.

News about the upcoming Roxette biography

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As revealed some months ago, Swedish author Sven Lindström (“Att vara Per Gessle” in 2007) is preparing a new biography about Roxette. An interview with “Sydsvenskan” now confirmed the ongoing work. He visited Roxette at the South American tour and is now waiting for more interviews to complete the book for a likely release in 2013. Sven about the project:

It’s a pretty unlikely story, both about how they broke through, and how they came back a few years ago. There will also be an insight into the fans’ relationship to the band.

It is a dramatic story that this band has been through, and I think it will be quite surprising when you see the big picture. They have done a trip like no band in Sweden have done.

Source: Sydsvenskan | Thanks to Roxettecafé for digging this out!

English language Roxette book on the way?

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We were informed by several different sources that Sven Lindström, author of Per Gessle’s Swedish language biography released in 2007 called “Att vara Per Gessle” (To be Per Gessle) and co-host of Nordic Rox show on Sirius XM, was seen during Roxette’s Argentinian tour in Neuquen. It seems like this is the news many international fans waited for a very long time – rumour has it that he is currently writting an English language Roxette book.

Let’s keep fingers crossed for this to happen!

“Charm school” cover idea

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Per Gessle tells Sven Lindström in Nordic Rox Roxette Special why they did not do any photography session.

Pär Wickholm is a great Swedish designer. You leave vauge ideas on his desk and he comes up with 3, 4, 5 totally different concepts. Basiclly I said to him that we are not going to do any major photo session. We’re gonna collect pictures from here and there, favourite pictures, silly pictures, snapshots. I told Marie to collect 60 pictures and I collected 60 pictures and we just saw what would come up with them. After couple of weeks we decided that it’s good. I like it. It looks fresh and it reflects the album.

Thanks to Miedy Bishop for this information.

Sirius XM broadcasted the 100th episode of “Nordic Rox”

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NEW YORK – January 23, 2009 – SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that Per Gessle of the multi-platinum band Roxette and music journalist Sven Lindstrom will host a two-part special celebrating the 100th episode of Nordic Rox, SIRIUS XM’s exclusive Scandinavian music show. Nordic Rox airs weekly on Sunday nights at 8 pm on The Spectrum on SIRIUS channel 18 and XM channel 45.

“One hundred shows! Can’t believe it! We started out as rookies with this simple mission to bring Scandinavian pop and rock music to the U.S. It’s been a blast,” said Per Gessle. “We’ve had great response from listeners all over the country. The best thing, however, is to put these shows together. To dig out thatspecial track we just know is happening and demands a bigger audience than just the tiny local radio station in the north of Sweden. That, to me, is what it’s all about.”

“One of the original goals of creating Nordic Rox was to bring the most original and exciting English language music from the rich musical history of Scandinavia to SIRIUS XM subscribers,” said Scott Greenstein, SIRIUS XM Radio’s President and Chief Content Officer. “Per and his team have built the artistic bridge between the music of Scandinavia and the music fans of North America.”

The two-part special will spotlight the 50 best Swedish songs of all time. In addition, broadcast highlights will include Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist of The Hives and rising Swedish rock star Lisa Miskovsky as well as archival interviews featuring several of the recording artists from the list.

The first part of the Nordic Rox special will debut on Sunday, January 25 at 8 pm ET, with encore presentations on Wednesday, January 28 at 11 pm ET and Saturday, January 31 at 8 pm ET. Part two of theNordic Rox special will debut on Sunday, February 1 at 8 pm ET, with encore presentations on Wednesday, February 4 at 11 pm and Saturday, February 7 at 8 pm ET.

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PART 1 // PART 2

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Thanks to Majdy for recording the show and shirley for the press release.