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Aftonbladet Article
33 replies
Sparvogamarie said on May 29, 2006 07:48:
Kiwein kindly pointed out a link to a great article in Aftonbladet in the Bingolotto news thread, I thought I’d move it here so nobody misses it.
I’ll translate a bit because this is the most revealing interview I’ve read so far:
THANK GOD I’M ALIVE
Marie Fredriksson on life after a brain tumour
Marie has been seriously ill. Brain surgery has caused her difficulty with reading, and she can’t count.
But God knows she can sing. Soon she’ll release a new album. “There are computers that can count for me. I don’t care. I feel really good and I’m just glad to be alive.”
Imagine yourself in the situation: that you have a cancerous tumour in your brain, that you have an operation to remove the tumour, that you go on harsh medicines during a long and hard convalescence with the threat that you may die, that changes your outlook and behaviour, that additionally you are famous and known by all, and can’t be sick in peace. What would YOU have done?
Marie Fredriksson went and saw Rolling Stones at the Cirkus in Stockholm. Two hours of wild rock and roll at the highest volume one summer night 2003.
purplemedusa said on May 29, 2006 08:03:
Aw thanx MD!! Hope our Diva will have the biggest birthday bash on Wednesday!!!
Sparvogamarie said on May 29, 2006 08:06:
“I TOOK EVERYTHING FOR GRANTED”
She became sick autumn 2002. A beautiful day a few years later she was out on the other side, with a clear bill of health.
It was like getting a new life, a different life. It is also a different Marie today compared to before the disease. “Before I took everything for granted. Today I am so grateful to be alive. I enjou the time in a completely different way. Before I became sick I worked hysterically too much and toured around and travelled here and there. Now I take one day at a time,” she says and stresses every word strongly.
The happiness just to be alive is like a refrain in every conversation. “Every morning I wake up and think: Thank God I’m alive! Yes, and now I’m releasing an album also.
It’s called “My Best Friend”. 11 songs, 11 interpretations of 70’s giants in Swedish music like John Holm and Pugh Rogefeldt they have written 3 songs each. (There’s more boring stuff about them that I won’t translate)
On keyboard, also in the producers seat, is her husband Micke Bolyos.
“He is incredible. So strong. An amazing person, meeting him was the best thing that happened to me,” says Marie.
FELL IN LOVE IMMEDIATELY
They met in the beginning of the 90’s when Roxette found themselves in Sydney Australia. Micke Bolyos was on a trip around the world and turned up in a hotel since he was friends with the drummer Pelle Alsing.
“It just clicked. We met on a Monday and by Wednesday we were engaged. So fantastic and romantic. But then I had to go home to Sweden to record a solo album and Micke continued his trip. You meet the love of your life and then you have to separate after just a few days. But thank god for telephones. I promise, no one wants to know the phone bills we had during that time,” Marie says.
They married 1994 in Ö Ljungby, the little town in Skåne where Marie grew up. It was there you could clearly see where she would go as a world star. She rode a moped (?) and smoked before she was 15 and she worshiped Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin och Jimi Hendrix.
Sparvogamarie said on May 29, 2006 08:22:
No probs Purple. God this interview is long...my Swedish teacher would approve though. :/
GOT STRENGTH FROM THE MUSIC
“You were young and didn’t know which way to go in your life but so long as I had music I felt strong. There is an enormous power. I just longed to be in a band myself. Jimi was the biggest of all, to experience such music when you’re 10, it can change your life, it changed mine. Even today there is nothing that can match what he did. My parents didn’t get it, but I am still grateful to them, I got to listen to it turned up high holed up in the attic.
Marie is talkative and clear when she talks about her life, work and disease. But certain skills have been affected as a result of the brain surgery. “It is still hard to read and count, for the most part I can’t anymore. But what the f**k, there are computers that do that for you. And I get so much help from Micke and my children. Ok, once in a while I can feel like “F**k, I can’t do it, what is this? But it’s getting better. I just have to practice.”
THE CHILDREN TEASE
Marie Fredriksson laughs. “Sometimes they are mean to me, the kids test me, tease me a little and ask “What’s 5 plus that or that? But it doesn’t matter.”
One thing is for sure. What people want from Marie is not math skills. They want to hear her sing and her voice is as strong as before the illness.
“Yeah, and you better believe I’m grateful for that. I think I’ve gone down a little in key. I mean, if you asked me to sing IMHBL with a high key at the end, it would work, but I would cough afterwards. In general I have a voice with more depth, a voice that says more, a voice of a person who’s been through a lot, and I think you can hear that on my new album.”
Whew, finished. That was damn long. Anyway, what a great interview!
Sparvogamarie said on May 29, 2006 08:27:
I’m an idiot, forgot the link:
http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/kvinna/story/0,2789,831868,00.html
Thanks again to Kiwein for finding it.
Kiwein1 said on May 29, 2006 08:31:
I hope some people finally understand HOW ill she really has been!!
Sparvogamarie said on May 29, 2006 08:41:
Right Kiwein, I get so tired of the people who keep insisting that she go back to Roxette and tour again. But then, those people will probably still feel that way even when they read this because they think Marie is a robot who is only there to entertain them!
I’m really glad to get this interview, just today I was saying it’s really hard when you don’t know anything about what she has gone through. I personally found that the hardest thing, knowing she was suffering but not knowing what was happening. I don’t know, I took her whole illness so personally, maybe that makes me a crazy fan but I know a lot of others did too.
purplemedusa said on May 29, 2006 09:24:
Oh wow there’s MORE!!! Thanx again MD... really nice personal account from Marie - this women is so incredably strong; shed a little tear when i read about her & Micke’s meeting - just goes to show what TRULY mattter... not money, not worldwide fame, not talent but LOVE! Marie should seriously consider doing a biography... she’s been so much (half of which the public knows NOTHING about) and her story/stories/chapters would help so many other ppl who’s dealing with the same troubles!
Urm on second thought her music pretty much tell the tales of her soul!!!
Sparvogamarie said on May 29, 2006 09:50:
I love the story of how Micke and Marie met. Imagine being halfway around the world and meeting a guy who lives 20 minutes away from you! And engaged within 3 days, I had heard that but never knew if it was totally true. Friggin amazing. When I was in Sweden I went to an Australian football game, I was hoping to find a nice Aussie guy on the other side of the world just like Marie did hahaha! But no such luck ;) Eh well she was 32, I have a few more years left LOL!
regn said on May 29, 2006 11:16:
@ Sparvogamarie;Thanx so much !
it’s great to have this ’so personal’ interviews from P&M
yellowtigger said on May 29, 2006 14:05:
Fantastic Sparvöga!!!
Good work!!!!!!!!! :D
Thanx a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rox-Van said on May 29, 2006 17:05:
@sparvoga: is impossible not to agree with you, (I still feel badly .. for she and his interview) it is very hard what happened to him and he still has aftermath left ... (I insist I hope the fans realize this and value the life before the music).
Marie really love you!
Sparvogamarie said on May 30, 2006 02:52:
I’m glad you agree Rox-Van, sometimes it feels a little silly to be so worried about a popstar so I’m very happy when other fans feel the same. I feel like I waited almost 4 years for this interview, to finally hear it in her own words! How shocking that she still can’t read and count...she said that almost 2 years ago that she was learning again, but she still can’t do it. I guess that part of her brain is so damaged, maybe it’s not possible. She has a great attitude towards it, but how annoying if you just want to sit down and read a book or a newspaper, and you can’t!
Sascha said on May 30, 2006 07:11:
80 % of people never read anyway! ;-) Marie seems to be very cool with it, good for her.
purplemedusa said on May 30, 2006 07:35:
Hehehe MD, you know being in a foreign country and meeting the man of your dreams that happens to stay a few minutes away from you doesn’t seem like a fool-proof plan! LOL!
sweepi said on May 30, 2006 10:25:
Time becomes right when time is right. I’ve repeated this thought many times before. And time itself just came to show it. As time just became right for Marie and for her to open herself and share with everyone some more about what’s been through her life during the past times. And still again we’re being taught to always keep our hope and to never permit ourselves to lose it. Cos when the time becomes right, everyone collects their gains. Of all things, it was patience for what Marie has chosen to thank her fans the most, in her album “The Change”. And maybe that wasn’t a choice by coincidence alone, in the end... Yes, we too have suffered, alongside with Marie, we have shared of her pain and fear, and we have shared of the pain and fear raising from the uncertainty of not knowing. But over all and anything else, we were patient. We stayed patient. And now again, time just came to show that it pays to be patient. And who knows, if it won’t pay more, in future times? :) Just do as Marie never quitted doing: have faith and keep your hope always! And who knows what tomorrow may bring... :) Just give time to time and allow it to provide for life to happen as it must (while never forgetting to respect it as it comes). :) In the meantime? Just let you be inspired by the positive energy running in the air and let it flow... :)
Proud to be proud in silence as happiness keeps coming back to me.
Today is your day yet I’m one of those taking the best of gifts: a smiling heart.
Can you hear me say thank you? Silently I’ll keep saying it forever...
I think of you everyday, especially this morning of spring.
How can I tell you enough that I love you more than ever?
Oh thank God you’re alive. Oh thank God you’re alive.
So many days I spent not knowing time was heaven sent.
I never thought that life is a miracle. Now I know it’s meant to be.
In times of loneliness, I’ve been tasting fear of losing you.
But my heart is strong, I’m no fool.
I will always love you. I will always love you.
Just promise this one thing: DON’T WORRY! BE HAPPY! (Certainly then I’ll be too. :))
RobS said on May 30, 2006 12:33:
Thanks Marie for the translation. It’s nice to read that from Marie.
Love the story about how they both met, really sweet.
just_like_that said on May 30, 2006 12:57:
I agree, thanks for the translation. Kinda brings a tear to your eye!!
Rox-Van said on May 30, 2006 17:39:
@sparvoga: you are not the only one;) we think about the same form;) ... (really I thought that had overcome some things for example ’read’)...
ATLTK said on May 30, 2006 20:25:
now 2 days after it was published - when i´ve re ead it I understand hoow hard it must have been for her - not being able to read its fantastic that she have got over it and have done such a comeback go marie go we´re all proud of you
Sparvogamarie said on June 1, 2006 04:52:
Right Sweepi, I’m glad Marie finally found herself ready to talk about things. I’ve always understood why she wouldn’t want to, what a hard thing to talk about. The only thing I didn’t understand was the months and years of silence, leaving us to worry and never have a clue what was going on. I know some people disagree but I don’t think it would have killed anyone if Dimberg or Per could have released the occasional update to relieve us worried fans. I’ll always feel that way even though I’m thrilled she’s kind of “back” now.
Sparvogamarie said on June 2, 2006 04:36:
Burke: who said I only wanted good news? I think even bad news is better than nothing at all, your mind makes up worse things. Anyway that was her decision but boy did it cause a lot of anguish for some of us the past 4 years.
Grasi said on June 2, 2006 04:43:
It´s time for us to face the truth that maybe she didn´t know about her future, so how could she spread news about her if she wasn´t feeling good that time? When she was better, she left that message on FC site, she contacted the fans.. and later she released the album, and so...
By the way, thanks for the translation!! Great interview
Sparvogamarie said on June 2, 2006 06:30:
Well, we’ve had this discussion a million times so there’s nothing new to say about it, all I can say is that Kylie, Melissa etc all stayed in touch with their fans and they were in the same position, uncertain about the future, bla bla bla. Whatever, it’s over now and we can’t make Marie do anything, I only wished she realised how much fans care and that it meant something to her, more than thinking we are greedy jerks who only want new albums. Then again, if she came here she could be forgiven for having that opinion sometimes!
Burke said on June 2, 2006 08:59:
Actually, Kylie did not reveal that much of substantial information about her state of health. Besides, her illness was another story.
A cancerous brain tumor is a totally different thing. It changes the personality of a person, it changes (as we all know only too well) the outer appearance of a person. And most importantly: The chances to survive a *cancerous* brain tumor are really really REALLY slight. Given these circumstances, don’t you think you just want to be left alone rather than being forced to tell people you do not know: Oh well, I am feeling really, really bad at the moment and my future is more than uncertain?! Also, I wouldn’t have wanted Per or someone else to start telling details about my illness.
Sparvogamarie said on June 2, 2006 09:30:
For some strange reason I feel like singing Madonna songs “I’ve heard it all before, I’ve heard it all before...”
That’s the way I feel, and there’s a bunch of other people who feel the same but don’t dare to say it, which is why I started a private board for those of us that want to share our feelings without being made to feel guilty.
And Kylie did send messages to her fans, no she didn’t give out details BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT WE WANTED, WE JUST WANTED TO HEAR FROM HER and anyway I’m so over this same discussion and I’ll continue it at my site where I don’t get the guilttrips and I’ve finished ranting....now.
Sparvogamarie said on June 2, 2006 22:59:
Which is why I said I don’t want to discuss it anymore, cos I’ve heard it all before and said it all before and we get nowhere, so that comment didn’t really work, but it was a good try.
Sparvogamarie said on May 29, 2006 07:53:
“I WAS SWOLLEN”
“I went there, definitely. Even though it was a horribly hard time. I took a lot of cortisone and was swollen in my face and it was hard when people looked at me. But at the same time, it was just like this: I don’t give a shit! I got that far at least. I just didn’t care about that and went to see the Stones, because I love that bant. I released all the thoughts about my illness and did it.”
The chance of surviving brain cancer is fifty fifty. Russian roulette with 3 bullets in the gun. A person could lose the desire to go to a rockconcert, she could lose hope for life in general. But Marie Fredriksson never lost hope.
“I am strong” she says and laughs.