The Daily Roxette

Expected and longed for by many, the video to "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" has found its way to the masses finally. Per Gessle had re-recorded the song in conjunction with the soundtrack to the Jonas Åkerlund movie "Small Apartments" which was released in 2013. The reason for that was apparently that The Hollies wanted a lot of money for using their version in the movie, so Jonas asked Per if he could record it for him. Per has mentioned the existence of this video several times but it remained uncertain whether it would ever get published. So here it is now. Looking forward to your thoughts! (Video after the page turn)

With the brand new Roxette World Tour announced, I thought it was the right time to get into the spirit of this exciting time of year - sort of like anticipating what Santa might bring you for Christmas, so I decided to get in touch with my "inner-Rox-nerd". 

As we fast approach the launch in October, the tour has already drawn much speculation amongst the fans. From the band line up to ticket queuing systems to "please come to my country" and everything in between, but for myself, it's the set list that has always has been a source of fascination. In particular; the Opening Song!

I've always been intrigued as to how Roxette settle on the 20 or so songs they will perform live. Not just the songs they choose, but the actual order too. Per has previously explained that it takes a month or two before the band reaches a rhythm and the show develops a nice flow and it appears that getting the "flow" right can be a tricky process.

On the last tour, even as late as mid-2012, we saw "Spending My Time" moved from being one of the final songs to the fourth track replacing "Wish I Could Fly's" position. It is to be expected that the middle parts will switch and swap - but what has traditionally remained unchanged is the opening song.

So, what do we all think will be the song that launches the Roxette 2014/15 World Tour? Let's have a quick look back at the songs that have had the special honour of being the opening number in their previous tours.

- I Call Your Name (1987)
- Dressed for Success (1988)
- Dance Away (1988/89)
- Hotblooded (1991/92)
- Sleeping in my Car (1994/95)
- Crush on You (2001)
- Dressed for Success (2011/12)

There are many ways you can look at the role of the opening track.

Per Gessle has released a statement about the video for his cooperation with Heikki L, "You Don't Want Love."

Per Gessle appears as a guest solist on DJ Heikki's single "You Don't Want Love". Per added his touch to the song, laid his vocals in a studio in Sweden and that is the full extent on his involvement in this project. DJ Heikki is the artist, it's his single and it's him and his record label who are responsible in making the video. The finished video was presented to Per just the other day and he does not appreciate it at all. Therefore he has chosen not to post it on any of his Facebook- or Twitter pages. /Team PG (link)

Later he added this message:

HEIKKI L VIDEO UPDATE: Very strange and silly video indeed. I think Sony Finland should do the right thing and 
1. withdraw it 
2. make a new better one that we all could be proud of! /P. (link)

Judge it yourself, as long as it's available:

At least this reporter doesn't really get what's the big deal with the video. The first part of the video does look like a commercial for Sony, then it turns into softcore and finally there's a strange twist with everyone having a relationship with each other. The green smoke could interpreted as a drug reference, I guess.

But if something is very strange and silly, it's the video for "Salvation."

STOCKHOLM - A lot is happening around Per Gessle this time, with two new releases just last Friday. We were surprised by the release of a song called "You Don’t Want Love" by ‘Finnish producer Heikki L feat. Per Gessle’. The song is a dance record, something that sounds like it belongs in Europe’s charts but at the same time is nothing like what we’ve ever heard Per do before. On top of that, the second installment of the Per Gessle Archives was released on Spotify today. iTunes release in June. The Daily Roxette managed to get hold of the man himself for a short interview about these releases and things to come.

Last Friday, "You Don’t Want Love" by Finnish producer/DJ Heikki L was released exclusively on Spotify, over the weekend. The song sounds very fresh and seems to fit perfectly in today’s charts, but it’s very different from from we’ve heard from you recently. Could you share something with us how this collaboration came to be?

I know Patric Sarin a bit from way back. He sent me his and Heikki’s demo and asked if I wanted to sing on the real recording. I liked the song and the style a lot so I said YES!

In a short interview with Ilta-Sanomat, Heikki L speaks about his recent collaboration with Per Gessle, a song called "You Don't Want Love." Heikki L is a Finnish producer and DJ who has previously worked with artists like David Guetta, Tiësto and Armin van Buuren.

"Roxette is one of the best in pop music and I'm really excited to be able to work with one of the most famous singers of our time," Heikki L says in his press release.

Per is also excited about the cooperation: "As you know, I'm crazy about good songs, so when I got the demo and was requested to join, I couldn't resist the offer. I like the melody and the whole atmosphere of the song is irresistible. This is modern pop music spiced with a traditional twist. I am very proud to be part of this."

Spotify

http://open.spotify.com/album/3bytmKpvhlX4EPcGdVNJ

BILTHOVEN - The Per Gessle Archives - A demo lover's paradise!

In September, the Per Gessle Archives box set will be released in eleven volumes containing 10 CDs and a vinyl. The first two volumes will be released on iTunes in June and the first was made available on Spotify just today. This time, we decided not to do the traditional album review but I write a more personal article as a Per Gessle demo fanatic.

"Finally, it's here! Now THIS is what I love!". Those were my initial thoughts when the first album of the Per Gessle Archives was released. When I started listening to Roxette at the age of twelve, I started collecting singles and I soon discovered that for some reason I listened to the B-sides and demos at least as often as the singles and album tracks on Roxette, Gyllene Tider and solo records. Since then I've been collecting demos. I was pretty impressed with the collection I managed to gather and made my own compilation albums to play in my discman and later car.

According to a recent phone interview with Australian radio station KOFM, Roxette could be recording a new studio album shortly. In a fairly routine interview, Per mentions that he started writing new material for Roxette a few months ago and they will be heading to the studio in August to do some new material before rehearsals for the new tour begins in September. So could we see a brand new Roxette album out later in the year or early next year? Stay tuned.

PRESS RELEASE:

ROXETTE

RETURNING TO NEW ZEALAND IN 2015

THURSDAY MAY 15, 2014 - Live Nation is excited to announce that legendary Swedish pop-rockers ROXETTE are returning to New Zealand in February 2015 for their first ever concert performance.

At the height of their career in the late 80’s the duo visited New Zealand for a promotional visit, however they never performed. Then their 2012 concert was regrettably canceled due to illness however the band vowed to return to perform for their fans.

Roxette’s 2011-2012 World Tour that took them around the globe twice over, playing to more than 1.5 million people in 46 countries, Roxette - Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle - are ready to do it all again launching their Australasian tour in Auckland at Vector Arena on Saturday, February 7.

Tickets on sale 12noon Tuesday, May 27.

My Live Nation members can be amongst the first to secure tickets during the pre-sale beginning 12noon Wednesday May 21. Sign up at www.livenation.co.nz “We are beyond thrilled to finally have the opportunity to perform in New Zealand, a stunning country with beautiful fans who have remained some of our most loyal supporters over the last 25 years,” says Per Gessle. “Marie, the band and I are ready and raring to go with a brand new show full of our best hits and a few surprises”. One of Sweden’s finest exports, Roxette have a string of much loved hits under their belt including "Listen To Your Heart," "The Look," "How Do You Do!," "Spending My Time," "Joyride," "Dangerous," "Sleeping In My Car," "Dressed For Success," "It Must Have Been Love," "Almost Unreal" and many, many more.

Arguably one of the world’s most successful power-pop duos, Roxette this year celebrate the 25th anniversary of their juggernaut hit single The Look reaching #1 on the Billboard US Chart in 1989. This track kicked off one of music’s longest-running pop careers with the duo selling more than 75 million albums worldwide to date. The band topped the Australian singles charts three-times with smash hits "It Must Have Been Love," "Joyride" and "The Look," with five of their albums reaching the Top 10 on the Australian album charts.

The band’s come-back began in 2011 with the release of hit single "She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio)" lifted from the album Charm School. This, along with their sellout 2011-2012 World Tour, cemented the fact that Roxette were back bigger than ever, much to the joy of fans worldwide.

Roxette’s 2012 tour was a triumphant success, with the first arena shows selling out instantly, extra dates added and rave reviews from fans and media alike. “Unless you’d seen it for yourself, you can’t imagine the mass frenzy the return of Roxette caused,” said the Herald Sun in Australia. “Roxette’s is a back catalogue to die for,” said Life Music Media, while Tone Deaf raved “Every hit gets a big rock ending, every ballad sees several hundred lighters aloft and we love every moment of this trip back to the 90s.”

And so the Roxette joyride continues with their World Tour hitting New Zealand shores in 2015. Listen to your heart and come join it!

AUCKLAND / VECTOR ARENA / SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7

TICKETS ON SALE 12NOON TUESDAY MAY 27

My Live Nation Members pre-sale: 12noon Wednesday May 21 until 5pm Thursday May 22

More here.

According to Australian newspaper Herald Sun and New Zealand site UTR, Roxette will visit down under in February 2015. The tickets go for sale already this month, on May 27.

Herald Sun also reports that the opening act will be Boom Crash Opera.

Here are the dates announced so far:

February 7 -  Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
February 10 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
February 14 - Perth Arena Perth Arena, Australia
February 17 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia
February 20 - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
February 23 - WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Australia
February 27 - Qantas Credit Union Arena, Sydney, Australia

Additionally, Roxette will play two A Day on the Green shows, supported by Boom Crash Opera, Dragon and Eurogliders at Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley on February 21 and Bimbagden Winery in the Hunter Valley on February 28.

iTunes has (inadvertently?) released the tracklists of volumes 1 & 2 of The Per Gessle Archives and boy do they look yummy!

Demos & Other Fun Stuff! Vol. 1

1 Walk on, Lonely Eyes (T&A Demo – Dec 16, 1999) 3:17
2 Being with You (T&A Demo – Oct 22, 2004) 3:20
3 Loud Clothes (T&A Demo – Aug 30, 2002) 3:14
4 Cafe con Leche (AGM – Apr 25, 2007) 0:59
5 Fish in a Bowl (T&A Demo – Apr 30, 2000) 3:40
6 Hjärta av glas (T&A Demo – Apr 2, 2006) 2:59
* 7 Something in the System (T&A Demo – Jan 3, 2002) 2:58
8 Black Sails (Studio 38 Demo – Summer 1982) 2:42
9 Always the Last to Know (T&A Demo – Nov 21, 2004) 4:22
10 Den tunna linjen (T&A Demo – May 15, 2010) 2:35
11 A Girl Like You (T&A Demo – Sep 25, 2004) 3:07
12 Byter bara blickar (T&A Demo – Nov 21, 1997) 2:38
* 13 Lägg din hand i min om du har lust (Hamilton Demo – Jun 12, 1978) 2:15
* 14 Kyss från en främling (T&A Demo – Oct 18, 1999) 3:02
15 What’s She Like? (T&A Demo – Dec 3, 2010) 2:59
16 Before You Go to Sleep (T&A Demo – Nov 23, 1992) 3:06