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PG in decrease, Tour attendance: 128 800...
53 replies
Robbie said on August 14, 2007 10:11:
As expected the EHM Tour sold a lot less, 4 times less, than the last one, the GT Tour in 2004.
At present I would consider this a so-so kindda flop.
But he will definitely sell under 100.000 next time if Cristoffer will have a major a role in this oldish kitsch which is EHM.
Can’t wait to see more studio news about Roxette!
abysmo said on August 14, 2007 10:51:
GT25 attendance was 497.000, but Mazarin attendance was 157.000. So 129.000 for En handig man probably isn’ t so big flop. EHM is still biggest tour in Sweden this summer.
But yes, I also miss more modern and update sound. Something with Roxette or something like TWATG and with Mikael Illbert and Jimmy Monell as a co-producers.
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Remco said on August 14, 2007 10:57:
I don’t think many people expected EHM to sell more then Mazarin. That is the only comparison you can make, comparing EHM with GT25 does not make any sense.
And I don’t think there are many people around who can convince 129.000 people to pay to hear him/her singing. At least, I can’t. Anybody who can should quickly go and book some venues for next summer ;-) ...
emilio said on August 14, 2007 13:39:
You could say you don’t like Christoffer, but this guy was the producers of one of the best scandinavian selling records of the decade, one of the best selling record of 2005 and probably the best selling record of this year. He couldn’t be so dumb...
Replying to this post i don’t think that the tour is a flop, Gessle can’t match the GT numbers... no one can, neither himself.
Halland said on August 14, 2007 13:49:
Of course you can’t compare GT 25 to Per. But this is just the point: Per solo is a nobody compared to GT or Roxette! I hope he’ll stop doing his solo stuff now because here in Sweden so many people are fed up with him... sorry, guys, he’s quite out...
Robbie said on August 14, 2007 17:05:
In my opinion there is not so much difference between Per Gessle and GT.
Gessle is Gessle whether it’s GT, SOAP or Rox. You cannot say this about the other GT members, I mean you cannot say Goran is Goran unless Per comes up and decides: yea we gonna record in Cristoffer’s studio and do some shows after. The same with Micke Syd (who’s sort of a jealous on Per, just check his website or the GT 25 DVD).
GT exists and survived because of Per Gessle in the first place!
He is the one responsible for the entire GT material. The other 4 members just have the freedom to play around with Per’s songs and in the end they do a sort of a mutual agreement on how things should sound and stuff.
Besides, each and every time Per goes on a solo tour he’s playing either with MP or Anders, so basically half of Gyllene is on stage at all times (including Rox as well).
Per Gessle’s loss of sales and audience it’s basically due to his releases, which are not that catchy and trendy anymore, the same oldish Cristoffer influenced tunes (Mazarin, F5F, Soap, EHM and Rox 2006).
daniel_alv said on August 14, 2007 18:12:
The audience is smaller now because people in Sweden thinks it’s a big difference between GT and PG. Gyllene Tider is a trademark for people that are very high ranked, and Gessle is not that popular, even if it is like you say that it is no big difference between them. Sweden wants to see Gyllene Tider live once in a while, but thy don’t want to see Gessle that often. It has nothing to do with Christoffers influence.
Icegirl said on August 14, 2007 19:19:
I think it was really sucessful, I don’t think you can ever compare concerts from different years because people change over the years....
Who cares about numbers, I think it was a great figure!
Rich-UK said on August 14, 2007 20:01:
Hi. In my opinion the weather was a really decisive factor in the number of people attending the EHM tour. The summer in Sweden (and most of northern Europe) has been really disappointing. I think that if it had been as sunny as 2003 then the EHM tour would have witnessed as many people as the Mazarin tour. That’s my honest opinion. It was dull all day for the Gothenburg concert so I think that it wasn’t a surprise that there were ’only’ 12,000 people. Had it been a glorious Saturday then I bet there would have been thousands more. It was raining at two of the other four concerts I attended and extremely cold and windy at one other. The weather aside, for me it was a magnificent tour and probably the best musical sound I’ve ever heard. The band were on top form and I feel so lucky to have seen concerts by myself, with a good friend, and with my Dad. Best wishes from Rich ;-)
tevensso (moderator) said on August 14, 2007 20:48:
You are REALLY looking for flops aren’t you? Well, this “flop” was after all the biggest tour in Sweden this year. Guess that makes it the biggest flop then, doesn’t it?
crashroxer said on August 14, 2007 21:45:
I also think this tour was a big success!!! Well done, Mr. Gessle :-)
Anyone knows how many people attend the Stockholm show last sunday ??
emilio said on August 15, 2007 01:58:
everytime i think as tevensso i feel tham i´m wrong... joke. If Gessle’s music were a Religion, he surely would be my god. Im an inconditional Fan! no matter he plays, i really like it! and i really love how cristoffer plays and jens and helena and mats and clearence.... long live to per
Robbie said on August 15, 2007 06:15:
@ daniel_alv
I cannot agree. MUSIC is which people are attracted to and not the name of the artist by itself in the first place.
On the GT 25 DVD for example, Per’s solo song “Har Kommer Alla Kanslorna” was the best performance. Because it’s such a good and emotional song that everybody, both Per and the audience were singing along in tears.
So in conclusion, just imagine this simplistic but realistic scenario: GT celebrates 25 years, yea of course the tour a big bang. The following year they realese a new but same style album, usual singles, the tour is ok, not that much of audience, but still they are coming cos we had great time last time. Next year another “same” album, another tour, but less audience, guarenteed.
The reason? Music. Not the show, not the MAN himself, simply just his music. His music is eroding with the years unless he puts up a menu with a different selection of garnishes on the table. At present since 2002: garnish = Cristoffer Lundquist.
@ tevensso
Yes, EHM Tour was the biggest Tour in Sweden, but at the same time it was smallest in the past decade for PG and related. The numbers are decreasing due to his music, I can’t stop emphasizing that.
Jud (moderator) said on August 15, 2007 07:55:
Englishmen like to blame the weather eh? :D
I still wonder what these “philosophical” discussions about flops and no flops are for. Who really cares? Are you bored?
Did you enjoy it? good for you! That was Per’s aim. You thought it was crap, then bad luck, you wasted your money. I really doubt Per will change his musicians and his (new?) style after reading this, we all remember what he said, if you don’t like it, don’t buy it ;-)
(guess who didn’t go to any of the shows ;-))
PS: And GT songs played by GT guys DO sound different (and better) than played by some other musician.
___________________________
Marie Fredriksson Online
Are you awake? - LiveEarth.org
pwbbounce (moderator) said on August 15, 2007 08:35:
@Tev - People will never be happy unless they’re moaning. I’m dreading the day if/when Roxette release a new album and people hear it for the first time. If there is one little thing that someone doesn’t like, it’ll be blown all out of context!
I didn’t get to see any of the shows, unfortunately, but I will be buying the DVD when it’s released!! Can’t wait to see it!!!!!!!!
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http://www.myspace.com/pwbbounce
Taschi said on August 15, 2007 10:34:
What you are talking about?
There were 140.000 Tickets availabe, 128.800 people have seen him, that’s 92%. What’s the hell going on? This is not a flop. It was again the biggest tour in Sweden. Everyone is only claiming about his tour sales, album sales... we can be happy, that we still have something about him. What”s about Roxette? Nothing so far...
So don’t claim the whole day and be happy...
Regards
Natascha
Rich-UK said on August 15, 2007 11:57:
@ Judith! Ha ha, well that’s true... even though I’m not English! ;-)
@ Robbie. I disagree with your conclusion. The tour was really succesful, and I don’t think that any blame is needed for a slight drop in attendance compared with Mazarin. I make an observation here. Right now it’s raining in Skåne and it’s very miserable for August. I think that if it had been a nicer summer then the tour could even have been more successful that Mazarin. So any decrease in numbers shouldn’t necessarily be taken as a decline in PG’s appeal/popularity, but could instead be interpreted a consequence of the bad weather. PG is still incredibly successful, solo or with GT, and if he does another summer tour in any form then I think that it will be another great success.
daniel_alv said on August 15, 2007 12:30:
@ Robbie: You are so wrong, the difference betweem Per solo tours and GT tour in audience is only because of the name, nothing else.
This tour also had a little less audience because of the weather. EHM has so far not done worse then mazarin did, they both were at 3 platinum at this point. They are both a success. And accually Mazarin sold more then F5F did. So Per may sell more records, but Gyllene Tider sell more concert tickets, and it has nothing to do with Christoffer, maybe it’s hard to understand how the Swedes think without living here? I know a lot of people that went to Gyllene Tider that never would buy a Roxette or Per record or never go to their concerts, and you know what? they don’t buy GT records either, they just want to see Gyllene Tider live because that is what you are supposed to do!
mixella1 said on August 15, 2007 16:21:
I came with my husband and my small two children to see him from Romania. I learn english becouse of him and his music inspired me to live better, to aspire to greater things. I especialy like the last two albums and i enjoyed very much the show. Imagine your self doing that at 48 years old. He was very very sexy and he was mouving on stage like a teenager. I want to move in Sweden . I love your music Per. Keep going. And Cristopher is doing a great job. People who has no knowlege about music shoud keep their mouth shut.
Icegirl said on August 15, 2007 19:23:
Ha Ha for once I am in agreement with some of you, this tour was not a flop, it was fantastic! Anyone who says it was a flop either is jealous they didn’t go or wants and dreams for a Roxette return bla bla bla – heard it all before kind of crap!
As for the weather, I had dry nights for them all; there was a slight bit of rain for Stockholm but it was not worth mentioning!
Roll on the next Gessle tour!
…. And Thomas I really should have said hello to you at the merchandising stand in Stockholm ;)
rox-kuryliw said on August 15, 2007 23:15:
Who cares just enjoy the concert and let per worry about attendance and record sales, as long as you enjoy :). Happy summer people. ow its raining again ! bloody weather lol.
dubacik said on August 16, 2007 05:29:
I have to agree with most of you that this tour had to be fantastic (also according to EHM.se)... I was only on Stockholm concert and I have to say it costed me a lot of money as I am from Slovakia and to make holiday in Sweden is pretty expensive - but it was definitely worth it. I think Pers fans over the world don’t care about the weather, they just booked the flights, hotel, buy the tickets and than just pray for nice weather (like my friends and me). And even when it’s raining, they are smiling in their hearts because of Per and the show. I really hope there will be another summer tour soon because I just can’t imagine - INGEN SOMMAR UTAN GESSLE!!!
Halland said on August 16, 2007 11:39:
“Anyone who says it was a flop either is jealous they didn’t go or wants and dreams for a Roxette return bla bla bla – heard it all before kind of crap!”
It’s you who’s writing crap here. I live in Halland, I could have gone to the concert - I even had the possibility to get free tickets because of.. well, someone I know. But I didn’t want to - Per solo is a waste of time for me. So I gave the tickets to my sister who was very happy about them. And I don’t dream of a Roxette comeback either - it sure would be great, but I don’t believe it. Roxette were over already before Marie’s illness.
I accept that people adore him and loved his solo stuff, so please accept that others don’t. Believe me, in Sweden there’re enough people who’re fed up with him and want to have a Gessle-break next summer (i.e. no solo, no GT, no Roxette!).
For people living abroad it may be different but in Sweden he’s everywhere: on TV, in the papers, in the radio. We’ve reached the point of “too much”.
Icegirl said on August 16, 2007 12:32:
But Halland, the simple answer is if you hate Gessle so much, then switch off, don’t listen, don’t buy and more importantly don’t take part in topics in public forums! No one is forcing those who don’t like his solo stuff to be active in public forums!
crashroxer said on August 16, 2007 12:54:
For me it was AMAZING!!! Gessle rocked my summer (-; The album is fantastic also the whole tour. He’s really the king of swedish music for me *yeah*
@Halland: And what are you doing here?
AURYTE said on August 16, 2007 12:57:
Well said Icegirl and crashroxer. I also enjoyed Per’s concert in Stockholm. It was absolutely fantastic, I truly enjoyed every minute of the concert :)
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Jag ska bygga mej en båt och segla tills det blir Per Gessle konsert :)
Halland said on August 16, 2007 14:11:
Well, I read the news, I like Marie a lot and I’m interested in general news about her and Per. I’m not saying that the EHM-album was bad or so, I have it and I like it, but do I have to camp in Per’s garden to be a good fan?! Of course you can always pretend that something’s good just to make it look nicer and I think this is what’s happening here. Of course you can blame the weather or you can say that it was the biggest tour in Sweden this year. But it was worse than Mazarin, this is a fact. I’m NOT comparing it to GT25 or any Rox concerts, I’m comparing it to his own solo tour 2003 when it was still a surprise for people to see him solo on stage.
Some years ago I had a phase when I hated pizza just because I had eaten too much of it the weeks before. So you CAN have enough of something you like. I don’t like the way how some people see things: You aren’t a real fan if you don’t go to the EHM-tour, you’re not a real fan if you don’t have every single released and so on. It was like the SOAP or Roxbox discussion some months ago; I just didn’t like the sound of SOAP and I won’t ever buy the Roxbox but this doesn’t mean I don’t like Per, Marie or their music. The world isn’t just black and white, they’re grey pieces in between.
onlywhenidream said on August 16, 2007 15:50:
I had a bloody brilliant time in Stockholm - even though the two craziest Swedish girls in the world came and started dancing like maniacs in front of us...though in the end they turned out funny. They looked a bit confused when John (JohnUK21) asked them if this was an ABBA concert... he he.
The music was great, the hoody was great. Marie was there (though I didn’t let her see me, else she would have wanted my autograph).
Helena was crazy, playing with her skirt like a crazed child - he he.
Jens is absolutely lovely, and I want to marry him immediately.
all in all, it was FAB. I don’t care what anyone else thinks, for me, it was a great concert and it wasn’t a flop.
:o)
Thanks Per!
crashroxer said on August 16, 2007 19:34:
@Halland: This tour is right now, the most successfull tour in sweden - for this year! That’s for sure. Well, the same with his “En Händig Man” album. We all know that there are lot’s of people who doesn’t like Per’s music. The same with Gyllene Tider, Roxette and Marie. (Ok...i love her (-; ) That’s so normal. For ME he did a brilliant album and a great show. So, keep cool. Fans came from all over the world to see PER GESSLE on stage this summer. Tell me another swedish act/group who has more success...
Icegirl said on August 16, 2007 20:05:
@ Thomas, I was tempted! :p
@ Crashroxer... well said, couldn’t have said it better! I still can’t get over how far some of those fans travelled, it was great speaking to people from places like Argentina!
dubacik said on August 17, 2007 05:58:
@Icegirl - you are totally right, I remember also the Argentinas fans from Stockholm concert.
I work for one swedish client and they thought that I am really crazy fan when I am travelling from Slovakia to Sweden to see one concert, but they were supporting me and thought that’s great Per has still this kind of fans....
Gachy said on August 17, 2007 08:24:
“The album is fantastic also the whole tour”.
I have played the whole “Scener” album tonight, after a long long time. I can’t understad how that album is so UNDERRATED. Have you played it recently? I can say I have not skipped any song. The arrangements are really magic... “En händig man” sounds so flat and boring if compared with that album... IMO, “EHM” was the worst album he ever released.
I think some people try to persuade themselves “EHM” was a great album, though I am sure 80% of that people have not played it much. But they can’t face the fact they didn’t like it, they HAVE to love it. So, Halland, I agree in many points with you. There’s still some kind of “competition” in order to see who’s the best fan here: who attended more concerts (now there’s a thread for it!), who buys more records, who owns more versions of the same single. That’s ok if you are in the adolescense (it’s like trading cards), but if you are 30 or even elder that looks a bit... silly (to say it in a polite way). I am almost 30 as well, and moved towards other things. I think there’s a certain age for everything, and it’s time for people to grown up a bit.
@Halland: And what are you doing here?
That’s a typical narrow-minded comment. It’s like “if you don’t agree with us, don’t share your point of view”. Why not? We all have a different point of view, and it doesn’t mean we are wrong or right.
That’s all I have to say.
Halland said on August 17, 2007 09:40:
@Gachy: “That’s a typical narrow-minded comment. It’s like “if you don’t agree with us, don’t share your point of view”. Why not? We all have a different point of view, and it doesn’t mean we are wrong or right.”
Exactly. Thanks for your understanding...! In knew there were some open-minded people here after all... ;-) I think all these people live beyond reality. Do you love your parents? I hope so! Anyway, do you agree with everything they’re doing? I doubt that. So, aren’t you good children then?! Like I said, I accept that others had fun and loved the show, so why on earth can people not accept that I decided for myself I didn’t want to go?!
Yes, the EHM was the biggest tour this summer in Sweden. This is how big firms make their losses seem positive. Just an example: If you had a shop, selling, for example, books, and you once sold a certain number some years ago. Now you sell less which is just a fact. Of course you can say that other shops sold even worse, so you’re the winner anyway. But it’s a fact that it’s a loss for you after all. Only that others are worse doesn’t mean you’re good.
Politicians talk like that when they’ve lost votes in an election: “Yes, it’s right that we lost 5 %, but the other parties lost even more!” A very convincing statement... :(((
ncurran said on August 17, 2007 09:54:
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I bought a ticket for the stockholm concert, but in the end I didnt go as I forgot it was on that date and booked a trip to Ireland to see my sister at the same time....and really seeing Per live is not important to me. If Marie was performing it would have been a different story :)
As for the EHM album, I bought it for collections sake, but have only listened to it once, and its possible that I wont listen to it again. It didnt really do anything for me, though that doesnt really say much as Per solo generally doesnt. Having said that, I think some of the songs on Mazarin were more “instant” and I liked at least 2 or 3 of them a lot. The same with SOAP...there was a lot I didnt like on it, but there were a few great songs. I LOVE “Hey Mr DJ” for example.
I don’t think anyone can say that the EHM tour is a flop though, as those kind of attendance figures are really impressive for a country the size of Sweden. I can also understand Halland’s point as well. There are loads of celebrities in the UK that are overexposed, and it doesnt take you long to get fed up of them, and I can imagine that it is like that for a lot of Swedes with Per! It might be an idea for him to have a break and disappear from the limelight, even until next year....though with Per I know that could be difficult, as he is a workoholic!
Kiwein1 said on August 17, 2007 10:43:
I really doubt Per is able to have a break - that really can be a problem in the future. I guess ppl had too much Gessle in the last years and the music isn’t even getting better (a bit worse even if I had to judge)..but he simply cannot stop and take things easy. I really enjoyed the Mazarin album but at the same time I am convinced that he did too much in the last four years.
Seeing three EHM shows I can say that I definitely had enough Gessle for the next years and I won’t attend any more shows - not only because I don’t really like his new music but also because he really isn’t able to do something NEW on stage. It’s always the same thing: changing clothes after 15 songs, play 4-5 uptempo songs in a row after 2/3 of the concert and throw plecs in the air..ok, it was nice in the beginning, I’ve seen that many times now - thank you, I had enough.
So, in the end I agree with Halland in nearly every point.
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www.marie-fredriksson.com
www.planet-roxette.com
Halland said on August 17, 2007 11:39:
@Kiwein1: I know what you mean. The story keeps repeating itself...
I really, really hope for a break. Not because of me not wanting to listen to him or so but for his own sake. I really think you should see the difference between foreign fans and the Swedish population (not the Swedish fans themselves, but the “normal” Svensson living next door). More and more of those general people say negative things about him. Of course you can be proud and say that you don’t care. Or you can blame them for being jelous (like a Swedish actress saying in an interview that, what she hates most about this summer, is not the weather but Per Gessle...). But there’s a general attitude in this country in this respect. So, I really hope for himself that he knows when to have a break; there’re so many stars in this world who don’t know this, they loose all respect in the media and amongst the people and in the end nobody cares for them. I hope this won’t happen.
Icegirl said on August 17, 2007 14:56:
I wonder how this topic would be if it was Marie who was doing a concert every couple of years the same as Per....
Halland said on August 17, 2007 16:00:
Maybe the same?! I think nobody has something against Per personally, it’s just that even things you like can bore you after a while. Yeah, I suppose it would be the same if Marie showed up every single summer with the same kind of things.
Gachy said on August 17, 2007 16:45:
Halland, could you drop me a private message or email? Check my profile, please!
See ya.
Jud (moderator) said on August 17, 2007 16:46:
Kiwein, next time Melissa tours in Germany (should possibly be next summer/year) go to see her, you’ll be surprised :D She makes no show like the other, changes setlist daily and even asks audience for a song to play “so what should I play now?”. She got suggestions from the audience and just picked up one, she just naturally answered to a request she hadn’t played that one for long, that she needed to cheat and look at the chords, but she just sang it!
She also listens and speaks to the audience, even in the middle of the songs. Never seen something like that before and I am planning to see all her shows in Germany next time (4-5 i guess).
___________________________
Marie Fredriksson Online
Are you awake? - LiveEarth.org
Kiwein1 said on August 17, 2007 17:04:
“Maybe the same?! I think nobody has something against Per personally, it’s just that even things you like can bore you after a while. Yeah, I suppose it would be the same if Marie showed up every single summer with the same kind of things.”
Fully agree with that!!
@Judith: Sounds a like a perfect concert to me! :-)
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www.marie-fredriksson.com
www.planet-roxette.com
coyboyusa said on August 18, 2007 21:04:
Roxette were over already before Marie’s illness.
I was staying out of this discussion because frankly i haven’t been much of a fan of pers solo work but the comment above is total crap. Roxette have been one of the few 80’s bands to survive 2 dramatic shifts in music trends and still have sales figures to back it up. I wonder as I am sure alot of people are what the future of roxette is now that emi has been sold. They are cost cutting like nobodys business, and I might be wrong but roxette’s contract comes due in 2010? I’d look forward to a new album probably because I am in withdrawl, and there’s a real prospect it would be their last. Per is suffering from overexposure in sweden.
Roxette-atic said on August 19, 2007 09:13:
I agree with Halland i some points, Per is EVERYWHERE here in sweden and En Händig Man is never as good as Mazarin ( but much better than SOAP, in my opinion, never liked that album... ). But the the only concert I was to this year,the one in Stockholm, was amazing and really fun, and thats the important thing for me:)
Per should take next summer off, maybe recording new Roxette-songs with Marie??:P ( yes, I dream of a Roxette comeback). However, anyone who compares Pers solo tours to GTs tours really dont understand how it is in sweden. In sweden, GT is more like a tradition than like a band doing a summer tour. Everyone, fans and non-fans goes to see GT. Simple as that.
abysmo said on August 19, 2007 11:30:
Roxette-atic said: Per should take next summer off, maybe recording new Roxette-songs with Marie??:P
Would be great. Let´s hope.
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dubacik said on August 20, 2007 04:45:
I think also that it would be great with some new Roxette studio album. But I am sure some of you agree with me that to release a new Roxette album includes also a big promotion at least in Europe and I think Marie is still not strong enough to do it. Even if I think Roxette don’t need any promotion, the album would sell excellent...
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Ingen sommar utan Gessle...
tomos85 said on September 12, 2007 13:20:
In Thursday’s edition of ’Göteborgs posten’ appeared an article on summer shows in Sweden this year.
’Difficult climate for summer turnes’
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/6166/zdjecia123vy6.th.jpg
There is nothing new or interesting in the article, but it’s just another example that Per was the most succesful artist in Sweden this summer. And no one should call this tour as a flop.
Rosina said on August 14, 2007 10:50:
Hi Robbie - This was a PG tour not GT. Did you attend any of the shows ? If so, I really don’t see the point on your comment. I cannot compare it with Mazarin tour because (unfortunately) I was not there but these three shows that I attended were very professional .. superb lights, sound/arrangements, outfits, what-a-band ! This is what matters to me. If Per does not care about playing for 2000 or 20000 people, why fans do ?