Bibi said on August 24, 2005 16:07:

@ Max-Tob: I agree with you!!! There are more things about Marie and Per which I don’t like but I guess it’s better that I don’t enumerate them in this thread because I don’t wanna risk that your wonderfull thread is gonna be archived very quickly due to the censorship on TDR ... :D!

lonely_girl said on August 24, 2005 17:11:

’Concerning PER: - he never really looks at the audience when performing’

Can’t confirm that, really ;-) :-P

Roxreporter said on August 24, 2005 17:33:

Like someone said before, I also think it’s quite sad that Rox officially released 12 albums and 5 of them are compilations with only a few new songs or translations.

DBUTTC, Bladas En Espagnol, Rarities, The Ballad Hits, The Pop Hits, are all albums that repeat the originals: POP, LS, J, T, CBB, HAND, RS.

Bibi said on August 24, 2005 18:05:

>DBUTTC, Bladas En Espagnol, Rarities, The Ballad Hits, The Pop Hits, are all albums that repeat the originals: POP, LS, J, T, CBB, HAND, RS.<

Also on Tourism you can find some old songs like “The look” and “Joyride” and “So far away” and “IMHBL” in a different version...! Moreover don’t forget Marie’s Greatest Hits album, her CD-box, the GT Greatest Hits album, Konstpaus which also includes some tracks which have been previously released, the GT live album and the HAND version which includes the three Spanish tracks! Did I forget any albums which use old material again or in a different version?!

ally77 said on August 24, 2005 18:19:

>>

I am guessing you where asleep! Per Joyride tour, how I would pray to re-live that era.... WOW!!!

Zargo said on August 24, 2005 22:03:

To me, most critisisms of Roxette compilations are fairly non-sensical as there’s no popular artist out there that ain’t releasing plenty of them.

There always has to be compilations available, because casual CD buyers are always keen to get ’greatest hits’ CDs, not wade through individual albums...

And since ’Don’t Bore Us’ has been out of print in many places for several years, that popular option isn’t open to buyers any longer.

And of course record labels prefer to release brand new compilations so that hardcore fans (i.e. us) will also fork out for it, as well as these new general shoppers in stores... plus of course Roxette has released new material since 1995, so ’Don’t Bore Us’ is out of date.

Per and Marie have always been very generous with new tracks, lyrics, photos and liner notes on their ’greatest hits’ releases.

Sparvogamarie said on August 24, 2005 22:42:

Max-Tob: I agree with everything you said lol! Except that I don’t care if MF is feminine or not, doesn’t bother me. And I agree she wasn’t at her best during RS, but I have a strong feeling she was already becoming ill at that time. I noticed a few times she lost her balance on stage and when I look back, I think she already had her tumour.

I don’t see what is wrong with saying some things you don’t like about Roxette, we don’t have to sit here worshipping them all day long!

ally77 said on August 25, 2005 06:53:

I can honestly not think of anything, well I can but I won’t go there....

Sparvogamarie said on August 25, 2005 07:41:

I think there’s no problem with this topic as long as nobody starts making personal attacks on Marie and Per (or each other...!) Though I do find it hard to criticise Marie since she got ill. There’s something a bit tasteless about insulting a sick person. I don’t like Kylie Minogue but I don’t insult her anymore!

My biggest criticism for both of them is that they can both be extremely cold and unfriendly to fans *at times*. I have to say that Marie was very very kind 99% of the time...but you don’t want to be near her (or even in the same country) the other 1% when she’s in a bad mood. And some of the comments she’s made about fans eg “I’m pretending I’m acting in theatre when I meet them”, “No matter what they do, I’ll never let them in, never NEVER,” and worst of all “Get a life, do something else.”

Per...I’ve never seen him actually be mean to someone, but he’s never been especially friendly to me or my friends (except one time when he was off-his-face drunk, he was lovely that night). And I fully agree with Max-Tob that he doesn’t look at the audience! Though I did read that he said he’s very shy onstage so I suppose I can forgive him lol! He did finally give us a huge smile at the Göteborg concert when we chanted his name (we usually chanted for Marie so he looked very surprised when we cheered for him lol!)

Sascha said on August 25, 2005 10:22:

...and I think that’s a good thing for average buyers. I own many GH albums of bands where I’m not so sure to buy the normal albums.

Roxreporter said on August 25, 2005 13:30:

It’s true that “Tourism” also has songs from previous albums. But I don’t mind that one, it had twelve brand new ones too, witch is as good as a complete full CD.

I also wonder why some people say fans may not criticise Roxette. Of course they have given us lots of wonderfull music over the years. But this single topic is just about what we think they could have done different. Roxette know that fans are still crazy about them, otherwize we should not be on this forum anymore, they really don’t mind reading stuf we like less about their carreer. As long as it’s upbilding criticisme, and no cheep yelling at them.

So if one has no upbilding critics, they should leave this topic and read/reply some others.

Jud (moderator) said on August 25, 2005 19:34:

LOL Sparv, where did you hear those comments about fans that Marie made? I know the one about the “get a life” but not the others :D

ncurran said on August 25, 2005 23:09:

Per: 1. His dress sense. He’s looking a little better nowadays, but some of the clothes he has worn in the past have been awful. He’s got a much better figure these days, although sometimes it looks like he’s wearing make up.
2.His voice can be a little irritating sometimes, especially on tour
3. His hair. He’s nearly 50, he should get a hair cut.
4. He writes some great songs, but i hate the really “Per” songs like “Jefferson”, “Cooper”, etc

Marie:1. Not really a criticism, but i wish she wasnt as shy. I’ve met her a few times, and because I am quite shy aswell, its been quite hard to communicate with her compared to Per.
2. I wish she would try a different hairstyle aswell.
3. I wish she would have more motivation to work (by this I am referring to before her illness by the way. Nowadays, I wouldnt mind if she never wanted to record another album again, though of course I’d be disappointed)

Thats all I can think of now, i am sure there are more things though. And for those of you that are questioning our right to criticise them....get a life. I’m not 12 anymore, I dont idolise anyone, but i would still consider myself a fan. With anyone that you are close to, there are bound to be things you dont like about them....that’s life.

Max-Tob said on August 26, 2005 07:36:

LOL Sparvoga: I think that with or without that presumtive lift (it’s still presumtive, isn’t it? lol...tell me it is not a sure fact !! haha), Per has some womanish features...They must be inborn...

And yes, I do not see the reason for which we shouldn’t say the things we don’t like as long as we keep it un-scandalous and fair...It’s a forum for God’s sake...And we’re definitely here for a reason...

I would also say that I’ve noticed that both Per and Marie approach the audience with EXACTLY the same words, AAAALL the time...I mean...they are not very spontaneous when it comes to talking to their public...Per also say to his public that it’s a nice public...(oh, what a surprise for him!!)...I’ve seen singers that push the approaching-cliche aside and try to be more spontaneous...saying something REALLY related to that public...But I guess Per is too tensed on stage to be also imaginative LOL...so he’ll alwats prefer a standardized sentence...and Marie, well, Marie takes it as a part that she has to play properly...so she doesn’t really feel the need for changing “the script”...

Sparvogamarie said on August 26, 2005 11:14:

Well of course it’s never gonna be officially confirmed if Per had a facelift, but I saw him doing an interview for some awards thingy he was on last year, and I was thinking “He looks kinda weird....he looks like someone cut off his face and pulled it back and stapled it behind his head.” Then I thought about it and I was like “Hey...isn’t that called a FACELIFT???” In the same interview they showed a clip from the Mazarin tour, and he looked about 10 years older not to mention he had big lines under his eyes which are suddenly gone. Then I came on here and there was a whole topic about it!

I’ve been insulting Per a bit much, better balance it out with something about Marie. I hate that she’s had the same darn hairstyle for about 12 years. Sure it looks good on her but TIME FOR A CHANGE MARIE! I mean, she calls her album The Change, but I’m waiting for the change of hair. Longer, different colour, just not the same blond crewcut!!!!!!

coyboyusa said on August 26, 2005 12:27:

its amazing how ridiculously cruel some people can per. roxette isnt about image or dance numbers its about the songs and the songs are great. Marie could be bald and i’d still love her and per is great live. for all the critcism of per during the join the joyride tour, you have to remeber theyr were also promoting the album non stop along with touring it does get tiring. Marie during rs......well she was ill probably during the entire tour and never knew it so you can’t be critical of her and honestly i think they both sounded amazinf during the rs tour

pwbbounce (moderator) said on August 26, 2005 13:43:

There aren’t that many things I don’t like about Per or Marie. I don’t know them as people (I’ve never met them or even seen them in person!!), so I can’t comment on their personality.

Per does try to look a bit young. He lost a lot of weight in 2000/2001 which has left him with a few too many wrinkles, esp around the eyes.

I think Marie should try and grow her hair a little longer. No one has seen a recent picture of her though, so maybe it is a little longer though.

Nothing really different to what everyone else has said.

Cicci_ said on August 26, 2005 16:05:

I’ve never been thinking of the possibility of Per doing a facelift. Strange.
I’ve nothing to say about Per’s or Marie’s personalities since I’ve never met them. And I haven’t been listening that much to Roxette so it’s hard to say something about Marie...
There are many things I like about Per, and luckily only a few things i dislike. Since I don’t like that people comment how other people look or what they like, and I wont do that about Per either. But anyway...
- He always uses the same phrases when talking to, or thanking, the audience. I’ve only been to GT and no Rox-concerts, buit still...
- He’s got his special “moves” on stage which he’s had since the 80’s. Well, Per, we know them by now, sometimes you could change?
- When he sings live, he uses the same way of singing a song no matter when he sings it live. Maybe it’s not like on the album, but it’s like every other time we’ve heard it live...
I respect that Per might be shy, that it’s really hard to be on a stage in front of a giant audience, and that his routine makes him doing what he’s always done when he’s nervous. Still, that’s a few things I’m not fully contented with about Per. This message became long...

Sparvogamarie said on August 27, 2005 01:17:

Seriously, the people who can’t handle criticism of Marie and Per shouldn’t view this topic if it’s gonna upset them. You can tell by the title that there’s going to be negative comments inside, so don’t click on it! Start a new topic “Things we love about Per and Marie!” (Oooh I just gave myself an idea!) Marie doesn’t see this site and if Per does, I think he can handle a little criticism and would probably have a chuckle about it. I’d be the first one to complain if people really were making “cruel” comments, but honestly, complaining about their hair is hardly cruel.

girl7twenty7 said on August 27, 2005 21:52:

Very interesting topic, i’m happy we’ve already got two pages of polite discussion ;)
Reasonable criticism isn’t an insult. P&M are humans and not perfect like anyone of us. I haven’t met them so i don’t know exactly what kind of persons they are and can judge them only by what i’ve seen/heard/read.

ROXETTE
-“Recycling” use of the material. Quote: “Rox officially released 12 albums and 5 of them are compilations with only a few new songs or translations”.
This brings in below problems:
-Too much of GH albums. I understand it’s not about Roxette themselves, all the artists do so. I dislike at all the idea of “The Ballad/Pop hits”. If they wanted too much to separate ballads and uptempo, they’d better have released one 2cd set. But the way they did it, it’s looks like an open, shameless, blatant demand ’We want money!’ The tracklisting of the compilations “DBU” and “...hits” doesn’t vary much... I suspect there was something about the contract with EMI, i cannot imagine another good reason. The same is with the dvds.
-Spanish lyrics which are dreadful according to the Spanish-speakers. If i were on their place, i’d be more curious to get to know what i’d be singing about. English texts also could be checked by a native speaker without any harm to Per.

PER
Even if he feels like a young boy, he will never look as 20-30-years-old again no matter how hard he’ll try. I think he cares too much about his look, i’m afraid it can become (or already become???) a kind of obsession. Per, relax! I want people to recognize you without a caption “Per Gessle” in some 5-10 years!

MARIE
I agree with Max-Tob in everything about Marie except her feminity. I think she’s feminine enough. I also would like to see her with a different hairdo with longer hair. That must be some new style for her. I wished she’d never smoked, she’d have been healthier then, but anyway i’m happy she gave up smoking.

Cicci_ said on August 27, 2005 23:20:

@Sparvogamarie: No, of course commenting their hairdos or how they look isn’t cruel, and I’ve got nothing against other people who do it, I just don’t do it myself...

Have you ever thought about the fact that Per sings “hoping that you IS missing me too” in the “Spending my time” demo?
It’s rather cute actually ;-)

Max-Tob said on August 28, 2005 09:14:

@Sparv.: Marie is a very nice human being, but her personality is not very strong. And well, contradicting myself a bit, it’s HERE where we can find her very feminity...She was usually ruled by the men...DSR is her best album in my opinion. The only one that fully expresses her as a musician, really original, even though too gloomy (but this was the point back then, isn’t it?)...Still, do not forget that it was also inspired by a man...She told us what exactly happens when a woman like her gets ruled my the wrong man...

Per has a very strong personality, in spite of his hyper-care for his image. He’s like a montain. Can’t be moved. One needs a vulcano to move this man 2 cm to the left...
This is good and wrong at the same time. He needs to be got right, otherwise he can’t sleep. lol...

frisso said on August 29, 2005 11:39:

hmm it would be nice, marilyn manson and marie.
maybe she would be performing at festivals i go too.

Cicci_ said on August 29, 2005 14:12:

@Sparv
I think you’re darn right about Per interrupting Marie! I’ve only seen a few interviews with them together, but once you wrote it I fully agreed.
Perhaps that’s both Per’s and Marie’s fault, I mean, Per for interrupting but Marie for letting him interrupt. I’d go crazy! I suppose that’s how it can be with their co-writing/musicmaking too...

Sparvogamarie said on August 30, 2005 05:53:

Frisso: yeah MM and Marie would be a great combination lol. I’d pay to see that festival!

About interrupting: In the beginning I thought Per did it because Marie’s english wasn’t so great. I have some older interviews and MF would struggle for words and Per would finish the sentence. But I’ve seen Swedish interviews and he interrupts just as often. Besides Marie became quite good at english after about 90/91. I heard there is an interview where Marie tells Per to shut up, I don’t know if it really exists but it’s my holy grail LOL!

Cicci_ said on August 30, 2005 15:17:

@Sparv
PLEASE if you find it, put out a link!

@On a mission
Perhaps the problem is that Marie isn’t that good at telling people what she really thinks. Maybe I wouldn’t call her weak or so, but I think Per can be rather... dominant and perhaps even overwhelming sometimes.

LaMan said on August 30, 2005 20:47:

oam: very well said about disappearing, laziness etc.
’play to radio 2’ ? what´s that?

gyllene_tjej said on August 30, 2005 22:26:

I think this topic is really thought-provoking. although not meant to cause a storm in a teacup, it certainly does :D

What annoys me about Per at times is the fact that he tends to joke off the questions you hope to be answered seriously. Then, there’s too little communication between him and the audience. I am not only referring to maintaining eye contact ( which happens :D:D:D).

Marie: nothing really, or let it be the fact that during TV interviews she will switch off at times and turn to her manicure - if you know what I mean - always fiddling with something, or simply looking at her nails and stuff. This is pretty harmless, though :D

Alesvenska said on August 31, 2005 05:50:

What I really don’t understand, and I think this thread should be only and exclusively about their career, is that if the do have to release so many GH albums because of their record deal or whatever it is, why the hell they didn’t release the MTV unplugged, a Live album, since they sound so great live, a Remix album, a good B-sides album, a Live Dvd etc... and by the way I think they’re kinda lazy when it comes to go to the studio to record toqether, because in 20 years they could have released at least 2 more albums of new songs. But this is they way it is and has been and there is nothing to do about it but buying the albums that we really want to buy. So if it was up to me and I had had the skills that Per has to make good hit songs I would’ve seized more. Today I was listening to The Sweet Hello... and I realized how wonderful that song is, as many others that could make great impact in the charts, but for it to happen somebody has to be willing, and I think the threw the towel quite early.

on_a_mission said on August 31, 2005 14:09:

’play to radio 2’

I meant, that singles released are always the boring ones, that cater for a ’radio2’ (ie, uncool) audience. EMI do nothing to avert this and rox don’t seem to care.

isaksson said on September 4, 2005 08:39:

well i have met her at sevral times in sweden
but never found her in a bad mood and never found her being mean to me she never is mean and so get a life
and that,s on the dvd äntligen intervieuw

so really get a life

maja

realsuga said on September 5, 2005 14:57:

I must admit there’s little I could justifiably say in terms of constructive criticism of Per or Marie, altho reading the stuff that Sparv said about Marie I’d be terrified to approach her, lol.....even if she is one of my vocal heroines! But hey, everyone is allowed their ”off” days. I loved what Marie said at the start of the C!B!B! Tour documentary....she appreciates that fans meeting her means sooo much.

And Per had a face lift?? I thought he’d just lost weight! LOL......

I loved Marie’s look during HAND.....loved that edgy make-up and photography. Bit like Belinder Carlisle’s real album. But anyone who knows me knows HAND by far my fave Rox era!

I guess my only *gripe* would be there aren’t enough live! releases......am a sucker for the live! stuff. I must too loved-up when it cums to Roxette, lol And I love reading the liner notes in the G Hits releases.........they can keep releasin ’em as far as I’m concerned if there’s fresh liner-notes, tee......maybe I’m one of those fans who Marie thinks needs a life ;-)