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Great US article/review of Roxette :)

17 replies

Roxwriter said on January 10, 2007 04:48:

Previously I had posted a really nasty review of One Wish that I found online ..so now it's time for something different. I've always wanted to know what Roxette meant to the average American and their interpretation of them. Interesting review below....nothing about HITS or One Wish, looks a bit before that time.... but enjoy the read :) http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2006/07/06/the-centre-of... I’ve come to learn that I’m not the only person who holds "Ten Years Gone" close to their heart, who ranks it as their favorite Led Zeppelin track. Its magic is the weeping, almost acoustic guitar. It’s the mood. It doesn’t exist on the usual continuum, it’s not something you ever heard on the radio, just something you discovered on the third side of "Physical Graffiti". It was there for you. It took you away, to a mental place as distant as Kashmir. What if I were to tell you I’ve got a track with the same magic. And it’s by Roxette. I thought Roxette was an evanescent pop band, that wasn’t necessary to pay attention to until "Joyride". Which was a veritable CARNIVAL of sound. With drums akin to a nursery schooler banging as hard as he possibly could and a guitar like a buzzsaw. How could this music be made by SCANDINAVIANS?? In this pre-MP3 era, I had the label send me the CD. And you remember how it used to be, you didn’t only play the single, you had a belief that there might be something more on the disc. And, unless you remembered to hit single play on the CD player, it ran into the next tracks anyway. And that’s how I eventually discovered "Watercolours In The Rain". There are so many great songs on the "Joyride" album. Stuff like "Spending My Time" and "(Do You Get) Excited". But the apotheosis is "Watercolours In The Rain". It’s like Per Gessle listened to "Ten Years Gone" and came up with a tribute. Like he filtered the essence of Zeppelin and merged it with his own sound. It’s magical. It made Roxette a band I will always defend. But after "Joyride", Roxette was done in the U.S. They only made it here by accident anyway. Already stars in Sweden, an exchange student brought their record back to the U.S. and got a radio station to play it and they had a hit. Remember those days? And then came "Joyride". And then everybody running the company that broke them, EMI in America, was fired and Charles Koppelman now oversaw the label. And they weren’t a priority for Mr. Technotronic. And they disappeared. They had one album released under Charles’ watch, and that was it. But they carried on on the continent. But it used to be that the continent was a world away. Now that’s no longer the case. It started last night on Nordic Roc. They’ve got all these specialty shows on Sirius. And I wouldn’t have been interested in this one, wouldn’t have sought it out, except for the fact that the song coming out of my speakers was GOOD! And then there was a guy talking. You know that Scandinavian accent, so perfect, but clipped. And I realized, they were talking about Roxette. This was THE GUY FROM ROXETTE! It was like being in a time warp. As if we’d been separated at birth. How old was this guy now? Was he still alive? He was still making music in Sweden? Oh, what a fascinating country, so small, so cold, yet so advanced. And then Per announced a track. A synth sound started bubbling in my speakers. And then those repetitive, almost disco vocals and the expansive, all-encompassing ocean string synth that NOBODY uses anymore. Then the track broke down and Marie started to sing. It wasn’t revolutionary. It was like nothing I ever listen to. But there was no way I was going to switch the station. And then there was a CHANGE! That chorus, that STARTED the song, it came back, and then a RAFT of na-na’s. And then back to relative quietude. We believe only Americans can have talent. That foreigners are second-class citizens, that they can’t nail it. But this guy. He seems to be able to write catchy material, that makes you feel good all over, EFFORTLESSLY! I came home and fired up my P2P app. And eventually I found a chap in Sweden who had "The Centre Of The Heart". And the connection was FAST ENOUGH that I opened up his hard drive, to see what was inside. And what I saw was a PLETHORA of Swedish acts I’d never heard of. This wasn’t some lame American with acts in his library I disdained, had no interest in. This was peering into a whole new WORLD! This is the modern world. Where we’re all connected. Where we in America can get turned on to the world’s music, where we don’t only EXPORT our wares. It’s so exciting. And this is exactly what the powers-that-be hate, want to eviscerate. They want to keep the world big, they want no connections, they want to keep things the way they’ve always been, they don’t want to lose CONTROL! But they’ve already lost control, and that is a GOOD THING! Free people to explore and then not only do you have a happy society you make a ton more money. Because people want to own all this new stuff, A LOT OT IT! Not for a buck a track, maybe just the equivalent of a nickel or a dime. But imagine if the whole world were music crazy, think of the revenue POSSIBILITIES! But rather than harness new technology, the old farts with no knowledge of computers want to keep the music locked up, want to SUE to keep it locked up.

Roxwriter said on January 10, 2007 04:56:

My suggestion is that a yankee TDR member should find out who this dude is and what this site is about and direct their attention to TDR and other Roxette resources. He didn’t even know that Per was still active! lol

That’s one thing really missing online is a decent Roxette resource. No offence to TDR, it’s a BRILLIANT service, but its mainly for us hard core fans to get the lastest news. Roxette need a proper “wikipedia” style website that new users go to and can say “oh....they didn’t die? Have A Nice Day ey? Didn’t even know about that”.

Roxette really need an “idiots guide to Roxette” online that explains what happens post-CBB 1994. Inform them about “World According To Gessle”, Marie’s solo career and of course everything from HAND to One Wish. Nothing in depth or over the top, more like a bluffers guide to Roxette. Missed out on the last 10 years? Well spend 5 minutes here and become an expert :) That type of mentality.

It’s frustrating reading comments such as “Is Per still recording” and not being able to reply with a simple URL that directs someone to the world of Roxette and a quick history lesson.

Roxette.se is a joke, let’s be honest. Looks crap and reads crap.

Am I being ignorant here? Is there a fan site that can offer this kind of sevice to newbies and to old fans who forgot to stay on the joyride....?

Your thoughts?

Krischan said on January 10, 2007 06:19:

Nicely done. One has almost forgotten how magic it felt the first time listening to “Joyride” or any other new Rox song on the radio.

@RW: What about these RoxService sites?

AURYTE said on January 10, 2007 06:37:

It’s really an interesting article. I really hope that there are more persons in the US who think like this guy :) But instead of downloading Roxette stuff, they could buy it.

As for the website, I think, The Daily Roxette is the best option. It’s informative and it makes a newborn roxer or old roxers “who forgot to stay on the joyride” realise that Roxette and their members are active. But you can also try this website:

http://www.roxette20.eu/

PS Oops, it seems that Krischan was faster than me :P

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Det bor en ande i en flaske hos mej :)

Max-Tob said on January 10, 2007 09:25:

Lefsetz Letter is one of the best sites of music reviews. If not the best. And Lefsetz is usually VERY harsh when he reviews someone/something. I am pleased and surprised to see that he likes Gessle’s style. Yes, someone should send SOAP to him. That would be his kind of music, he won’t believe his ears. Lefsetz could be the guy that can make Roxette and Gessle known in the US once again (since every important artist reads his blog...at least this is what people say...Some even talk about Mick Jagger reading it)

Roxwriter said on January 10, 2007 09:31:

That’s really interesting Max-Tob.

Thanks for the insight. Was not aware of this.

Yes. You’re right. Someone should send him SOAP!

Hey you never know, it worked in 1989 :-p

Max-Tob said on January 10, 2007 09:43:

This Lefsetz is HUGE. Really. I read his reviews quite often but I must have skipped the roxette one. Sometimes I did wonder what it would be like if Lefsetz would write smth about rox. And here it is! Wow again. Here is the main page of the site, he reviews old music and new music, he’s fond of the 60’s and he definitely share the same music tastes with gessle:
http://lefsetz.com/wordpress//

He HAS to know about soap...

Roxwriter said on January 10, 2007 10:38:

Well we need to get Lars-Erik or another US fan onto this ;-)

Roxrider_USA said on January 10, 2007 15:44:

Hey!

I have e-maied him giving him a small update on the music side of Roxette and Per gessle.

Also, i have sent him Jo-Anna Says and One Wish so he can take a listen to them.

Here is the e-mail:

“Hello!

How are you?

Before i go on, my name is Carlos E and i live in the New York City metro area. Also, i would like to let you know that i’m a big fan of Roxette and related artists (Per Gessle, Marie Fredriksson, Son of A Plumber and Gyllene Tider).

Now, i would like to thank you for the really nice and truthfull review you posted on your site about Roxette and Per Gessle.
I read it when one member of TDR (The Daily Roxette) showed the TDR members your review. So, as a result, i decided to write to you to give you a small
update on the the Roxette and related world since i get the feeling from your review that you would appreciate it.

First, i want to let you know that Roxette is still making music. Last year in November, Roxette released their RoxBox (Roxbox: Roxette 86-06) in some European countries. The box set includes all of the hit songs,singles, many demos, and lots and lots of the songs ever released from most of their CDs. Also, the box set, includes all the Roxette videos that, of course, represent the singles released in the past.
Furthermore, Roxette has also released, in many countries, their lastest compilation album (A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs) which include 2 new songs, One Wish and Reveal. In fact, this compilation album,is going to be relased here in the US on January 16th (TUE), which is less then a week away from the date of this e-mail. As, it was reported on TDR, Per Gessle is supposed to be in
New York City this week to promote the compilation album.

Now, concerning Per Gessle, in late 2005 he stared the solo project called Son Of A Plumber and released the album called also called Son Of A Plumber. Per Gessle indicated that his album
is a tribute to the music he grew up with during his youth years. Therefore, the double CD album, has 60’s and 70’s style songs that celebrate those years, but of course with the unique touch that
only Per Gessle can add to his music. The touch that all Roxette and related fans have known for a long time but many non-fans and others, especially here in the US have forgotten or not discovered yet.
Still on the topic of the Son Of A Plumber project, Per Gessle has let TDR know that he will be trying to get “SOAP” (Son Of A Plumber) released here in the US. Trying to get a US deal to released SOAP here is
another reason for his US trip this week. Furthermore, last week, Per Gessle has also told TDR that in 2007, he will be working on a new swedish CD and also on the continuation of Son Of A Plumber, which
means that if he can get a US deal to release SOAP over here in the US, we will also get the second Son of A Plumebr cd that he wil be working on this year.

Well, this is pretty much the small update on the Roxette and related world. If you would be interested in following what goes on with Roxette and the related solo projects of its members,
please visit and become a member of The Daily Roxette, which is a free news and forum site for Roxette and related fans from all over the world. ( www2.dailyroxette.com ).

Once again, i would like to thank you for the great review you wrote on Roxette. Thanks!!!
Take care and rox on!

P.S.: I have attached to this e-mail the frist single off the SOAP album (Jo-Anna Says) and also the first single from the latest Roxette compilation album (One Wish). Enjoy!”

Let’s see if he ever replies to me saying something. If he does, i will let you guys know. :-)

Take care!
Carlos E., New York.

LittleSpooky said on January 10, 2007 18:38:

Nice read for this medicated little rat :o)

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Roxwriter said on January 10, 2007 22:01:

Nice work mate! :)

Please keep us posted with any updates.

Cheers.

Santi said on January 11, 2007 09:40:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but this sounds more like a “pro-internet file sharing article” that pro-Roxette. As I see it, the guy talks about Roxette to stress the importance of file sharing, and that he could hear something new of them thanks to internet file sharing.
That ok, Roxette is very cool, but as cool as a lot more music we don’t know because it’s from other countries and because of how the music market works we never get to listen to it on the radio.

Nice idea, lol

By the way, if you agree with him and want to discover new music, this online radio station features numerous good bands and songs from all over the world:
Zemia Radio on Live365 :P

Max-Tob said on January 11, 2007 10:16:

haha, santi is kinda right I guess; lefsetz is always talking about file sharing, but he does like roxette a bit anyway...
speaking about file sharing and music business and mainstream music, see one of the latest articles on Lefsetz Letter, called “The Changing Face of the Business”. very true article. gessle, have a reading!!!

eBay said on January 12, 2007 10:19:

What annoys me most about this review is the praise he has given Gessle for Watercolours in the Rain! Water.. being probably my all time favorite song was not written by Per but by Marie!! Idiot!

RobS said on January 14, 2007 12:50:

eBay if you check the Joyride booklet you’ll find that it says “words by Per Gessle” & “music by Marie Fredriksson”. And if I recall correctly, in The Making of Joyride, Marie says something along the lines of “that was a lyric that i was given by Per a long time ago before I dared to do anything with it.”

Even though I also see it as very much a Marie song it seems they are PG’s lyrics. And great lyrics they are :-)

Back on-topic, as Santi said, the article seems to be more about sharing and the benefits of it. Although the fact that there is abit about Roxette in their doesn’t mean we can’t expoit it. It will be interesting to see if Roxrider’s email gets a response.

gessle-addict said on January 14, 2007 16:31:

Watercolours in the rain was written by Per Gessle AND Marie Fredriksson, not only Marie ;)

roxtexanet said on January 14, 2007 16:43:

Well, I like this article a lot anyway because he sounds as excited about “The Centre of the Heart” as I think everybody should be the first time they hear it (-:

nusaderenda said on January 16, 2007 11:00:

It’s a nice article, but why are americans so surprised when people from other countries make something great? Do they think non-americans are born with less talent or intelligence, or what??