STOCKHOLM - Expressen has gotten hold of the three CDs that are played before and after each Gyllene Tider concert. It is a known fact that Per selects the pause music very carefully. Many of the songs are 60s rock (The Beatles, Small Faces), but there is also punk music by Ramones and new Swedish music by Raymond & Maria. Read more…

FALUN - Per Gessle must keep his voice in shape this summer because tens of thousands of people are waiting him to sing almost every night. Stress or flu could lead to a disaster. This time it’s even tougher than during the last summer’s “Mazarin” tour.

  “It was more fine-tuned and emotional. This is much more teenage screaming,” Per says. The key of the old Gyllene Tider songs were chosen 25 years in a lousy training place. “All the songs go in A. It’s not a good key, but that’s what they are,” says Per. “There are many songs on “Finn 5 fel!” that go quite high, too,” mentions Anders Herrlin.

  So far Per hasn’t had problems with his voice. Using an “in-ear” system helps him to keep the voice down because he can hear his own singing. But is there a secret weapon to keep the voice in shape?

  “No, there isn’t. I don’t sing higher notes. And I drink ginger tea,” says Per.

  “Ginger tea? Is that what you call it?” asks Micke “Syd”.

  “That’s right,” Per replies.

• Expressen article (in Swedish)

HELSINKI (UPDATED) - Finnish pop group Nerdee is going to present a Roxette cover song concert this Thursday evening. The band will play at Semifinal Club, Helsinki at 22.30 local time. The tickets cost 6 Euros and are only available at door.

  Nerdee has released two albums and several singles. The band’s line-up has changed many times since its formation in 1995, and only one of the members in the original group is still playing. Currently the band consists of five 23- to 25-year-old women.

  Update: The set list of the concert was “June Afternoon” (+ “Wild Thing”!), “Fading Like A Flower”, “Crash! Boom! Bang!”, “The Big L”, “It Must Have Been Love”, “Joyride”, “Listen To Your Heart”, “Sleeping In My Car” and “Spending My Time” as encore. Also added a picture from the concert, contributed by Mikko Hänninen.

• Nerdee (in Finnish)
• Semifinal

STOCKHOLM - Being recognized as somewhat of a Gyllene Tider “expert,” The Daily Roxette’s Thomas Evensson (tevensso) appeared on a Radio Stockholm show yesterday.

  With more than 300,000 listeners daily, the station is Stockholm’s biggest radio station. They had a Gyllene Tider special on a show called “Viktors vänner” (“Friends of Viktor”) as a warm-up before the second concert at the Stadium. Read more…

STOCKHOLM - Delayed a couple of weeks in production, the new karaoke DVD containing Gyllene Tider hit songs has finally been released. “Gyllene Tider Karaoke Hits!” features 12 tracks remixed by Anders Herrlin to remove the vocals:



01. Flickorna på TV2

02. (Kom så ska vi) Leva livet

03. När vi två blir en

04. Sommartider

05. (Hon vill ha) Puls

06. Flickan i en Cole Porter-sång

07. Gå & fiska!

08. Juni, juli, augusti

09. Kung av sand

10. Tuffa tider (För en drömmare)

11. En sten vid en sjö i en skog

12. När alla vännerna gått hem



  So far, you can only purchase the DVD via the tour merchandise stands, with profits on this item going to BRIS, a Swedish charity.

• BRIS

STOCKHOLM - Under clear skies, a capacity crowd of some 32,000 people have gathered in Stockholm’s Stadium to see Gyllene Tider’s triumphant return to the venue that was the highlight of the Återtåget tour in 1996. In a few minutes, the crowd will go wild as the opening strains of “En sten vid en sjö i en skog” are heard and the curtain with the 25th Anniversary cake emblazoned on it rips open to reveal Per and the band.

  It’s the biggest rock tour to ever hit Scandinavia. No other act – even the megastar international ones – have attracted such crowds, and none have had such a pervasive impact on an entire Swedish summer.

  Sure, Gyllene Tider was popular before. When the group met with their initial success, teenage girls screamed and fainted in the hysteria that surrounded the group. But to an extent unmatched before, the members of Gyllene Tider have become the favorite sons of an entire nation. “All of Sweden is Proud of You” read one poster being waved by a fan in the crowd.

  “I feel extremely lucky. We all feel unbelievably accepted by the Kingdom of Sweden,” says Per Gessle.

  For some, it’s a nostalgic trip down Memory Lane. The concert set list is full of songs that take Swedish adults back in time to when they themselves were teenagers. But at any concert on the tour, look at the mass of people nearest to the stage, and you’ll clearly understand that this music.. this band… is relevant to today’s teenagers and young adults. In fact, one of the most remarkable aspects of this tour is the demographics: GT’s appeal spans generations. Everyone in Sweden this summer, or so it seems, loves Gyllene Tider.

  Marie Dimberg, who is serving as the band’s manager, confirmed to The Daily Roxette that the the entire anniversary celebration had taken on a proportion far greater than what had originally been expected. “Oh my gosh!,” said Per, in English, to one Swedish reporter.

Read more…

NORRKÖPING - When The Daily Roxette arrived at the Norrköping arena early Tuesday evening, we – along with the local newspaper – were invited to photograph the “meet and greet” with, among others, two girls who were fans of GT who had come all the way from Italy. The “Golden Five” were in good spirits and looking forward to the gig. Micke “Syd” was told to keep the beat this concert, to which he replied “Why?!?”… jokingly as always.

  The weather this fine evening was perfect, and when Gyllene Tider took the stage a few minutes after 9pm, the world exploded. The show didn’t differ from the rest of the tour, material wise, but the performance was truly amazing! One could see that Per and his comrades enjoyed the show.

  “This is the best crowd we’ve had, and I mean it!” Per shouted to the 24,000 people present. It had been 23 years since Gyllene Tider last played Norrköping, so Micke “Syd” asked the audience if anyone had been there then. Almost all raised their hands. Micke replied “Anyone younger than 23 is lying!”

  As previously mentioned, the setlist didn’t differ much from the Halmstad gig, they added “(Dansar inte lika bra som) Sjömän,” and “Fån telefon” that were removed previously, but left out “Skicka ett vykort älsking”. The best songs in Norrköping would have to be “Ljudet av ett annat hjärta” and “Ska vi älska så ska vi älska till Buddy Holly” that really rocked the crowd! After the obligatory break, both Per and MP had changed their clothes, that is almost unheard of…

  All in all a great performance, and a wonderful night. The crowd, the media and Gyllene Tider all felt this was the best gig on the tour so far.

  Photos: Thomas Evensson/TDR

• Corren.se (In Swedish)
• NT.se (Pictures)
• NT.se (In Swedish)
• NT.se (In Swedish)

STOCKHOLM - Micke "Syd" Andersson will record a tour diary exclusively for Swedish Radio (SR) Channel P4. This diary will be broadcast at P4's program "Kalas" on Fridays between 19:03 and 00:00 CET.
  The first part of the diary could be heard already last Friday 16th. Did you miss it? No problem: the audio files are available at both Kalas' and Gyllene Tider's websites.
  In addition, Gyllene Tider will chat with their fans at Aftonbladet.se tomorrow July 21st at 18:00 CET.

• Kalas
• Gyllene Tider
• Aftonbladet

HALMSTAD (UPDATED) - The gates opened at 5 o’clock, Örjans vall was transformed into a huge carnival area, with GT-karaoke, food stands, beer stands and the merchandise stands, which featured loads of different things.

  At 7 The Latin Kings came out, were truly unnoticed by the audience, so they left after 25 minutes. Pugh Rogefeldt joined later and played most of his hits, but in the downpour most people only cared about the wetness…

  Gyllene Tider entered the stage a few minutes after 9, and then the rain was forgotten. The boys played for almost two hours. The show consisted of Per’s standard banter, with some additions from Micke “Syd”. Gyllene Tider played old material for the most part, the setlist is almost identical to the one from 1996. After only nine songs the audience cried for “Här kommer alla känslorna” so Per said sure, we’ll play that, and they did. While Per and MP performed the number the rest of the band left the stage. Micke “Syd” explains “It’s Per’s solo song, then he should perform it solo as well.” Per also tells that they had planned to play “Känslorna” but not at that point in the show, but since the audience demanded it they decided to go for it!

  The concert got raving reviews by Expressen’s Anders Nunstedt (5/5) and lukewarm reviews by Aftonbladet’s Per Bjurman (3/5). At this point TDR has not yet seen what Hallandsposten’s Jan-Owe Wikström has written about the show(s).

  Enjoy the setlist and the fact that the Thursday concert was performed in perfect weather and with an even better Gyllene Tider on stage… Read more…

HALMSTAD - As most of you might know, Gyllene Tider’s tour premiere is Wednesday, July 14th, in Halmstad.


  All the TDR team will be in place - Lars-Erik is on his way to Halmstad, Thomas and Visa are already there and this reporter leaves in a couple of hours - meaning we won’t be able to cover the premiere “live.” But we promise, of course, to come back to you with our own report about the premiere and great pictures!


  In the meantime, we recommend you read the following online newspapers on the 15th as they will surely have an article about the long-awaited night:




Aftonbladet
Expressen
Hallandsposten
Hallands Nyheter
Göteborgsposten




Have fun!