STOCKHOLM - Marie Fredriksson will be singing the title song for the upcoming sequel to last year's "Arn" movie. The song, "Där du andas (Where You Breathe)," is written by Niklas Strömstedt and Anders Glenmark. Marie was asked to record the song and she says "It was an easy choice to say yes, and of course, it is great to participate in such a big Swedish film."

"Arn – Tempelriddaren (Arn – The Knight Templar)" is a 2007 epic film based on Jan Guillou's trilogy about the fictional Swedish Knight Templar Arn Magnusson. The film was released in December 2007 and the sequel, "Arn – Riket vid vägens slut (Arn - The Kingdom at Road's End)," will be released August 22 , 2008. While the films are mostly in Swedish and most of the production was made in Sweden, they are a joint production between Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Germany. With a total budget of around US$30 million, it's the most expensive production in Scandinavian film history.

This song, as well as several others inspired by Arn, will be released on the album "Alla himlens änglar (All the Angels of Heaven)" on August 27. Anders Glenmark is the producer. The song will be released on July 23.

Other singers include Sonja Aldén, Uno Svenningsson, Helena Paparizou, Tommy Körberg and Fred Johansson. Composers include Anders Glenmark, Niklas Strömstedt, Mauro Scocco, Uno Svenningsson, Tomas Andersson Wij, Patrik Isaksson, Bobby Ljunggren and Eva Dahlgren.

Listen to a snippet at Expressen.

Additional reporting by "Strest" and Ted Holgersson.

Swedish heavy metal band Opeth have released their newest album "Watershed," featuring a cover of Marie Fredriksson's song "Den ständiga resan." Marie fans will be relieved to know that the cover version is instantly recognizable as Marie's song. Opeth have chosen to keep the original arrangement - the vocal is subdued, the melody is driven by acoustic guitar, and the song is punctuated with occasional splashes of electric guitar, just as in Marie's original. It wasn't certain that the song would make the album.

We just received the following message from Marie Fredriksson:

Tack till alla som skänkt mig tankar, ord och gåvor i samband med min 50-årsdag. Jag blir så varm och tacksam och glad över att ni finns. Tack också för allt stöd de senaste åren - nu ser jag med tillförsikt framåt!

Soliga hälsningar från Marie

And in English:

Thanks to everybody who has given me thoughts, words and gifts in connection with my 50th birthday. I am happy and grateful for all of you. I would also like to thank you for all your support over the last years - I am looking forward to the future with great excitement.

Sunny regards, Marie

Today, May 30, our lovely Marie Fredriksson turns 50. The Daily Roxette wishes her a happy birthday!

STOCKHOLM - Marie Fredriksson turns 50 May 30. Read her biography here at TDR and join us in celebrating her big big day!

Biography

Facts
Name: Gun-Marie Fredriksson Bolyos

Date of birth: May 30, 1958

Place of birth: Össjö

Starsign: Gemini

Family: Mikael Bolyos (husband), Inez Josefin (daughter), Oscar Mikael (son), Gösta (father, deceased in 1981), Inez (mother, deceased in 1998), Anna-Lisa (sister, deceased in 1966), Ulla-Britt (sister), Tina (sister), Sven-Arne (brother)

Home: Villa in Djursholm, Stockholm and a summerhouse in Haverdal, Halland

Bands: Renat, Strul, MaMas Barn, Marie Fredriksson Band, Spännande Ostar, Roxette

Swedish (solo) Grammy nominations:
“Female pop/rock artist of the year 1987″ (Efter stormen)
“Female pop/rock artist of the year 1992″ (Den ständiga resan)
“Songwriter of the year 1992″ (Den ständiga resan)
“Female pop/rock artist of the year 1996″ (I en tid som vår)

Swedish (solo) Grammy Awards:
“Female pop/rock artist of the year 1988″ (Den flygande holländaren)
“Artist of the year 1992″ (Den ständiga resan)

Please send your greetings to Marie!

Read more…

After some weeks working on it, Marie Fredriksson's new website is now online. The website features a news page, discography, biography, a gallery and a forum.

The company responsible for the design is Transmit/Receive, owned by David J. Elfström, who also manages Per Gessle's websites.

See you there!

STOCKHOLM - It seems Marie Fredriksson is working on a new site. Where her old site used to be is now an autograph and a message saying that a new site is in the works. There are logos of MaryJane Music, d&d management and T/R (TransmitReceive). T/R being the company that manages Per Gessle's sites.

On a side note: SCM is offering at their merchandise-shop.se Marie's new art book "Ett bord i solen" for 345 SEK (36.50 EUR, not including postage) as well as Marie's previous art book "After the Change" for 295 SEK (31.20 EUR, not including postage).

Thanks Mikael Bolyos for the book tip!

Marie Fredriksson's song "Den ständiga resan" has been covered by Swedish metal band Opeth for its latest album "Watershed." However, the song doesn't seem to make it to the album, according to Opeth's site.

Kostis contributed to this article.

STOCKHOLM - In an open hearted interview with TV4's Lasse Bengtsson Marie Fredriksson reveals that the tumor took away her sight on the right eye. "I bump into things all the time, it takes a long time to get used to," Marie says to Lasse. Marie also says that she finally got a clean bill of health last summer, and that's when everything changed, she became a new person. When the cancer was at its worst Marie almost didn't have the energy to get out of bed, let alone write! "The worst thing was that I didn't even want to sing. It's definitely a kick to be back." However, these last years the singing and writing have been secondary to her new art form - drawing. Marie says it's a world of difference. "I've been singing all my life, I did that part already. This is the total freedom."

This time around Marie has used colors in her drawings, but confides in Lasse that she's already sick of colors and that she constantly goes back to charcoal. "It's different day to day" she giggles.

When Lasse asks about Roxette Marie says she lives in the now, and enjoys that immensely, but also tells him that she and Per discuss possible Roxette projects constantly. She definitely thinks that Roxette will do something in the future. The doors are still not closed. "Maybe something smaller, I mean the stages were so huge and I ran across them! I was crazy back then" Marie says and laughs.

STOCKHOLM - Marie Fredriksson opened her second exhibition today - Ett bord i solen - at the same gallery as last time. The gallery formerly known as Dr Glas is now called So Stockholm and is located at Kungsträdgården in Stockholm. The exhibition will be open until February 17 and the gallery is open Monday thru Friday 11:00-17:30 and Saturday, Sunday 13:00-16:00.

Like last time there's a limited edition book (300 copies) sold exclusively at the gallery. The book contains six pictures of Marie and some text plus pictures of 37 pieces of art.

The vernissage was held yesterday, February 7 and the invitation was a very limited CD single with the song "Ett bord i solen." Many of the pieces were sold yesterday. Prices range, according to The Daily Roxette's source, from 20,000 kronor to more than 40,000 kronor. (Roughly 2000€ to 4000€.) This art is described as very similar to last time, only with the addition of colors.

Marie will appear on TV4's Nyhetsmorgon tomorrow morning at approximately 9:30.