STOCKHOLM - Both Aftonbladet’s Per Bjurman and Expressen’s Anders Nunstedt give Roxette’s new single “Opportunity Nox” 4 out of 5 today. They are both notorious Roxette-bashers so these reviews are probably even better than they sound.

  “Seems all the angry Roxette fans were right and I was wrong. Roxette isn’t finished.” Bjurman states.

  While Bjurman describes “Nox” as the “…funnest, smartest, most attractive little pop tune…,” Nunstedt uses words like “…a sparkling hit…” and “…way better than anything up-tempo from ’Room Service…’”.

  Clear to The Daily Roxette is that they both truly like this. They both say this is the best song Roxette has put out since “Dangerous” (Bjurman) and “Joyride” (Nunstedt).

(Efra contributed to this article.)

• Aftonbladet’s review (In Swedish)
• Expressen’s review (In Swedish)

LONDON - It’s an event that rarely occurs in the UK and when it does, it typically happens with little or no publicity. But this time, not only is the UK getting a new Roxette CD… the record label appears to be willing to spend some money promoting it!

  British fans who are excitedly awaiting the release of Roxette’s “The Ballad Hits” tomorrow (Monday, February 3rd) were delighted this evening to witness a rare glimpse of prominent promotion.

  During the commercial break of one of the UK’s most popular TV shows, Coronation Street, a short commercial was aired announcing the release of the new album and indeed Roxette’s new single “A Thing About You.”

  The advertisement was repeated immediately after the program as well, mentioning that the album will be available from Tesco, HMV, Woolworths and Virgin.

STOCKHOLM - Aftonbladet reports today about the ceremony that took place yesterday in the Royal Palace of Stockholm, where Per and Marie received a medal from His Majesty, the King of Sweden.


  According to many of the other distinguished people that attended the ceremony yesterday, she was in a very good mood: “Marie was really fit, I didn’t get the impression that she was ill, she seemed happy and in a good mood,” tells the author and poet Kristina Lugn, who also got a medal.


  This was Marie’s first official appearance since a tumor was found in the back of her head, but this didn’t stress her at all, “Marie was in such a good mood, it wasn’t a big effort for her [to go to the ceremony]”, says Marie’s manager Marie Dimberg.


  A self-confident Marie tells Aftonbladet about the event, “it was such a nice day, I only look to the future now,” she tells Aftonbladet. “It is really great, both Per and myself feel very proud and honored.”


  Now Marie just wants to get back to normal life. Aftonbladet reports that she gets radiation treatment twice a week at the Karolinska hospital in Stockholm, as well as chemotherapy, to prevent the illness from spreading again.


  In addition to the medical treatment, she regularly visits the Karolinska’s psychologist, to get help in the mental part of the process.


  As we reported already yesterday, and denying the information that appeared in Expressen yesterday morning, no more tumors have been found in Marie’s body. “Marie is surely the one of us with the least cancer in her body, if you take into account how many times her body has been examined,” states Per.


  After the ceremony, Marie, who was there with her husband Micke Bolyos, went to Per and Åsa’s home to celebrate the medals. Afterwards, Marie and Micke returned to their home in Djursholm.


Click on the picture to enlarge

• Aftonbladet’s article (In Swedish)

STOCKHOLM -

Although there was a great deal of uncertainty as to whether or not Marie Fredriksson would be able to attend, it was both members of Roxette who arrived at the Royal Palace here this afternoon to receive medals from His Majesty, the King of Sweden.

  This morning the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet and tabloid Expressen reported that it was still uncertain if Marie would attend or not. “It will depend on the mood of the day,” had previously told Per to Aftonbladet, but in the end, she felt with the energy to attend the event and receive the Medal personally.


  Per and Marie both were beaming with pride as they stepped forward to be distinguished by the King. “Both [of them] are so honored and very proud to have received this medal,” explains Marie Dimberg, their manager.


  Aftonbladet also reports today that Marie feels better, “it is like night and day, she feels definetely better,” explains Per, but we have to bear in mind that “she didn’t get a cold, but a big knockout.” So Marie has to take her time to come back “Marie has to decide it for herself when she feels like coming back,” Per goes on telling, “there is no reason for her to stress.”


  It is for this reason that it is not sure what Roxette will do during this year. Previously the target was to work together this summer, but now Per reveals that the “The Pop Hits” release may be the last that the band does this year. “Under normal circumstances, we would have surely spent a couple of months in the spring to promote this album,” says Per, “but now I doubt it.” Besides that, there is no urge for Roxette to release a new album. “We are not in panic of having to make a new album,” Per states.


  On the other hand, Expressen reported this morning that a bump was found in Marie’s left breast. According to the tabloid’s source, they will apply a biopsy to this bump next week, but Dimberg already denied this piece of information in the press message we reported earlier today.

• Aftonbladet’s story (In Swedish)
• Expressen’s story (In Swedish)
• TV4’s report (Requires Real player)
• SVT’s article (In Swedish)

Per Gessle’s lawyers have certainly been busy lately. In two cases related to copyright infringement, decisions have been reached:

Gessle vs. Groove Coverage

  An agreement have been made by above parties which means that Groove Coverage will have to turn over 50% of their royalties and publishing income for their song “God Is A Girl” because of copyright infrigement of the Gessle-penned song “Jefferson.”

  “It’s something that the efficient ears on the Daily Roxette spotted some time ago,” credits Gessle’s manager, Marie Dimberg. A Daily Roxette discussion topic, started by TDR reader “jobarth,” pointed out the similarities.

Malmstedt vs. Gessle

  Malmstedt’s accusations against Per Gessle at the English court finally came to an end yesterday when yet another judge dismissed Malmstedt’s claim for appeal. “This is not over, there are other ways,” Malmstedt commented.

• Groove Coverage (“God Is A Girl” now featured on site’s title page)

FRANCE - Per Gessle’s collaboration with Swedish singer/songwriter Lisa Lindebergh resulted in a song called “Rainclouds” which received a French lyric and the title “Depuis La Nuit des Temps.”

  This song has been recorded by the French group “What For” and has just been released. “What For” are the French winners of the TV-show “Popstars,” and the song is included on their self-titled debut CD.

Lindebergh, who goes by the name “Lisa L,” is a TomBone/Jimmy Fun artist who in 2000 released her second album, “Sparkling,” on the Sony Music label. She is a busy songwriter and two of her recent songs appear on the
Peter Jöback album “Only When I Breathe.”

• Jimmy Fun’s Lisa L page (In Swedish)
• Sony’s Lisa L page (In Swedish)
• What For on Popstars (In French)

STOCKHOLM - “Due to the information in today’s Expressen we hereby deny the info given strongly,” says Marie through her manager Marie Dimberg. Swedish tabloid Expressen claims today, in short, that Marie is feeling terrible and probably has more tumors.

  “Marie’s surgery has gone well and she is feeling the way one is expected to feel after an ordeal like this. Since the surgery almost four months ago, she is very well and keeps on receiving normal after-treatment and rehabilitation.” Marie Dimberg says.

  Marie has several times asked to be left alone out of respect for her and her family. This has not been respected and it is extremely sad to be needed to repeat this plea, Marie continues through Ms. Dimberg.

  Both Per and Marie will attend the ceremony at the Royal Palace later today, to receive the King’s Medal of the Eighth Size with Royal Blue Ribbon.

STOCKHOLM - Next year Gyllene Tider turns 25. Today The Daily Roxette can reveal the group’s plans of a reunion, all according to Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet.

  The summer of ’96 one of the biggest successes ever in Sweden rolled out on the Swedish tour road. Gyllene Tider reunited under the name of “Återtåget.” Next year it can happen again. Aftonbladet reveals today that the members of Gyllene Tider discuss a reunion next summer. “I guess it’s time now, with the 25 year anniversary and all, it’s not at all written in stone, but we’ve talked about it. And 25 years is a nice thought,” says Per Gessle.

  In the end of last year the group met in Stockholm to discuss the future. “We decided to see each other again in a year. This is damn far into the future. But things that are making this look like a good idea is that we still are great friends and have a good time together,” says Per.
Despite the fact that Gyllene Tider disbanded in 1985, the group has gotten several requests for a reunion over the years.
“Yes it keeps popping up all the time, and we are offered incredible amounts. But that shouldn’t be the reason for a reunion,” Per claims.

  The plan for the anniversary is another summer tour. Just like at Återtåget the audience will be given all the classic hits. But moreover, there are plans of cutting a new single for the jubilee.

  “We don’t feel motivated enough to make a whole album, and pretend that Gyllene Tider is still living. Because it isn’t. We may record a single at best.” Per explains to Aftonbladet. What’s definite is that next year’s tour has a lot riding on it. Återtåget ’96 was a thunderous success all over Sweden.

  “That tour is still some sort of norm in Swedish tour life, nobody has beat the records yet. So if we are to do something new it has to feel special and good,” Per states.

Picture courtesy of EMI.

• Aftonbladet’s story (In Swedish)

STOCKHOLM - Here’s the interesting track listing for the upcoming “The Pop Hits” compilation CD. As Per Gessle told The Daily Roxette in our interview with him when “The Ballad Hits” was released, “Stupid” is indeed included as a bonus track. Furthermore, songs like “Little Miss Sorrow” and “Makin’ Love To You” (the titles of which were reported before) are included. The album will be released March 24th.

1. Opportunity Nox
2. The Look
3. Dressed for Success (Chris Lord-Alge mix)
4. Dangerous (single version)
5. Joyride (single version)
6. The Big L.
7. Church of Your Heart
8. How Do You Do!
9. Sleeping in My Car (single edit)
10. Run to You
11. June Afternoon
12. Stars
13. The Centre of the Heart
14. Real Sugar
15. Little Miss Sorrow

Bonus EP (Limited Edition):

1. Stupid
2. Makin’ Love to You
3. Better Off On Her Own
4. Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla (You Broke My Heart)

STOCKHOLM - The Tits&Ass demo version of “Breathe” will be included as the third track on the maxi-single version of “Opportunity Nox” when it is released on February 24th (EMI 7243 -5518972). The second track, as previously reported, is a live version of “Fading Like A Flower” recorded during a “Room Service” concert in Brussels, Belgium.

  The music video for “Opportunity Nox” is – as of today – still in production, and therefore not available to have been included on the maxi-single.