“I take it easy” says Marie Fredriksson to Aftonbladet

Written by Judith on May 16, 2006 to Marie Fredriksson.

STOCKHOLM - Today Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet published an interview with Marie Fredriksson, in regard to her new album “Min bäste vän” and Roxette’s 20th Anniversary.

Marie explains that nowadays she takes things very easy and enjoys spring after a long dark winter, “Weather is so nice now, so I love to be outside, enjoy the sun and see everything blossom,” tells an enthusiastic Marie, “I don’t work every day, I take it easy. One day I may write, the other day I draw. But above all, I try to take it nice and slow.” Marie tells Aftonbladet reporter Jens Peterson that she has gotten over the illness and treatment and that she has learned to relax and not live under stress anymore.

The reason behind her new album is similar to Per’s story about Son of a Plumber. “I started to long for those old albums and started listening to them again. I re-discovered many favorite songs from that time. John Holm, Pugh Rogefeldt and the Hoola Bandoola Band.” Marie didn’t feel inspired to write something new herself, so she decided to make this album with covers. “We wanted to have 10-11 songs on the album, so it was hard to decide which songs were going to make it,” laughs Marie.

Marie also explains that she enjoys singing more than ever, “I have never felt so secure and calm when I sing. It is a gift I had since I was born, but now I’m not so stressed about it anymore. If I have to record [an album], then I’ll do it my way. It can take a long time or it can be fast, but it has to be under my conditions. I don’t compromise.”

And, of course, she still has place for drawing. “I enjoy it very much. It is totally different to recording an album. I always wanted to draw, but I never had the time for it. Suddenly it felt like I had to draw, like when I was young. The ideas come so naturally.” Marie started drawing with charcoal and last year made an exhibition of those drawings, but now she reveals that she has started to work with some colors and in bigger format. To the question if we’ll get to see these paintings soon, Marie answers, “Yes, I hope!”

Marie’s children think her art and music are fantastic. “It is great because they say what they think, what they like and what they don’t like. Oscar also draws and is very creative. Josse as well. It is fun that they are interested, listen and give their opinion about it.”

Regarding Roxette, Marie talks shortly about the new songs that she and Per will record this summer. “We will make one song for sure. Then we’ll see how it works, maybe we make one more.” But so far, no tour is in view. “No, I want to relax.”

Marie’s comments about the songs featured in the album:

“Sommaräng”, “Din bäste vän” and “Den öde stranden” by John Holm:

“John Holm has a big place in my heart. His lyrics are so pure and simple, they go straight to [your heart].

“Guldgruva”, “Här kommer natten” and “Aftonfalken” byPugh Rogefeldt:

I took the songs that I like the most. Many memories from my teenager years.

“Vem kan man lita på?” and “Man måste veta vad man önskar sig” by Mikael Wiehe (Hoola Bandoola):

“I liked Hoola Bandoola. I don’t wonder if the lyrics are right or left winged anymore.”

Update May 16: The album sleeve of “Min bäste vän” has been added.

Article in Aftonbladet

79 comments

wolves said on May 11, 2006 18:33:

GREAT INTERVIEW-VERY SWEET PICTURE!!!
MARIE LOOKS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!

hope of new roxette cd!!! i´m waiting a long,long time!!

I´m waiting of new pictures!!!!

lonely_girl said on May 11, 2006 18:34:

Thanx for giving an overview over the Aftonbladet interview!

Marie sounds really relaxed and calm. I’m so glad that she’s obviously fine again!

:-D

Judith (moderator) said on May 11, 2006 18:40:

it’s quite a full translation, left out the bla bla in between :) Hope you like it!

abysmo said on May 11, 2006 18:47:

Good work TDR, as always. Thanks Judith.
Marie looks simply great. If you compare this new pic with some pics on www.maryjane.se, you can see this change. It must have been very hard to her. She´s a warrior.
Hope that she and Mr. G enjoys their studio session and bring us more than only one new song.

sandyam said on May 11, 2006 18:47:

I sure do! It’s good to hear from Marie after a long period of time we had to do without her. And the picture is of course beautiful!

Rox-Van said on May 11, 2006 18:50:

Enthusiastic Marie, lovely interview!!!.

Wow Josse and Oskar are very creative, that good information.

” ... maybe we make one dwells(dwell).” It is the best news of the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-luv from roxvan, my dear Marie-

chrisjankunas said on May 11, 2006 19:07:

A truely wonderful picture. Just looked at maryjane.se and she looks so different ! I’m glad she has come through it. Cannot wait to hear her sing - Im glad she enjoys singing more than ever ! I will enjoy listening to it more than ever knowing that the world could have lost such a voice !

ThePopHits said on May 11, 2006 19:20:

I hope theres a brand-new Rox album (and tour) in 2007!

Nox1983 said on May 11, 2006 19:29:

Im sure they´ll record more songs...
Well, now at least, we know she is relax and not closed to record again...

pardek said on May 11, 2006 20:26:

Mariiiee!!! She’s finally back! She looks fantastic. Oh my god, I miss her so much; I hope one time she’ll be back on a Roxette tour stage.
Sure, 2 or more songs would be very nice ;-))

Sascha said on May 11, 2006 20:38:

Thanx very much, nice translation! Hope she enjoys the aerosol grey machine. :-)

crashroxer said on May 11, 2006 20:43:

WOW, she looks STUNNING!!!
It’s really really great to see her back again. She’s a DIVA!!!

Marie Rules!

joyrider said on May 11, 2006 21:08:

Do you want a new “arty” Marie desktop background?
Here you have, hope you like it:
http://flo.rootspace.net/mf1back-1024.jpg

DeLuk said on May 11, 2006 21:13:

I like it when you come around, you make me feel so very good.
I like it when I’m off the ground, just by havin’ you in the neighbourhood.
I like it when your eyes are laughing, oh baby I wanna hear you sing.
To see you smile is all I need. I really like it like, I love it like that.

substitute said on May 11, 2006 21:37:

OH MY GOD!!!!
SHE LOOKS AMAZING!!!!
I LOOOOOOOOVE YOU!!!

harriej said on May 11, 2006 22:18:

only 1 song is really a little for a anniversary....
Let’s hope there will be more.

rox-kuryliw said on May 11, 2006 22:29:

NOw this is a great piece to read. very positive :-). Fantastic picture , i hope thats cover also .

Roxwriter said on May 11, 2006 23:24:

One song for the new Rox20 compilation?

Yes, Marie needs to relax and take it easy. It must be very very hard to open your mouth and belt out a tune that Per will write for her and she will not produce.

Poor dear.

So the songs get written FOR HER and she’s required to throw in a few na-na-na’s and the woman now needs to take a walk in a meadow to recover from a stressful few hours in a recording session? So she can only handle one song? She can’t possibly manage.. geez...I dont know....two maybe? What a crock.

Pardon me if I don’t strum my violin, but spare me woman.

If she can sing other people’s lyrics on this new “inspired” covers album, then surely she can open her mouth and sing a few more songs that require little to no input from her other singing Per’s lyrics.

Bit rich. Bit moody. Bit lazy if you ask me. And then I read these fan comments kissing the woman’s feet. Rose-coloured glasses off for a second here folks, she ain’t the sweet innocent angel we’d like her to be.

What a grouch...

My 2 cents.

Rox-Van said on May 11, 2006 23:36:

@joyrider:thanks for sharing your wallpaper with us ;)

Mr_Floppy said on May 11, 2006 23:48:

“If I have to record [an album], then I’ll do it my way. It can take a long time or it can be fast, but it has to be under my conditions. I don’t compromise.”

Well, if this is her attitude towards recordings now then it’s no wonder if there will be only one new song. No compromises... urm, okay...

Roxwriter said on May 11, 2006 23:56:

@Mr Floppy.

Exactly my point. And yet check out this page. People are singing the praises of the wonderful Marie.

Dvia indeed....and not of the good kind.

roxtexanet said on May 12, 2006 00:06:

I’m glad to hear that she calls the shots. She’s earned it - she and Per have made EMI and a lot of other people A LOT of money, why shouldn’t she be able to work only when she feels like it?

Mr_Floppy said on May 12, 2006 00:15:

@ roxwriter

You know, I don’t blame her for that. Without a doubt she had a really hard time and now she can call herself lucky that she has the possibility to do whatever she wants to do. Other people don’t have this possibility at all, good for her but a bit sad though.

Alesvenska said on May 12, 2006 00:19:

Marie : I DO LOVE YOU! JAG ALSKAR DIG!

Fortius said on May 12, 2006 00:55:

Excelent!!! Great news just when I needed to read something good.

Tack Marie!!!!! You´re the Best.

Sparvogamarie said on May 12, 2006 04:17:

Roxwriter: I just choked on my chocolate milk.

Sire74 said on May 12, 2006 04:46:

Watch out, Per! Now Marie is the boss! :-)
She looks so fantastic again! I just love her! She deserves it to do what ever she wants to do!

Judith (moderator) said on May 12, 2006 04:55:

I suppose one has to go through what she has gone through to understand the way she sees life now. I don’t call it being lazy, I call it enjoying life at the maximum, and if it for her it means trying to avoid being away from home (tour, promo tour) for long periods of time, and being with her family and with herself as much as possible, then so be it - who hasn’t dreamt of having money enough to not having to wake up at 7, work 8-9 hours a day, and do what you please? ;)

She was the one who asked Per to record some new Roxette stuff for Rox20, which is a good sign :)

oukkirox said on May 12, 2006 04:59:

Yes. Take it Marie and summer is coming soon, i hope yóu go next year to turnee...Marie, im happy that you feel better .God pless you.

Roxwriter said on May 12, 2006 05:36:

@Sparvogamarie:

Chocolate milk at work? In front of the kiddies? That’s not a good example young lady ;-)

Go off in a field of tulips and draw me a chocolate cow, use only charcoal and take 7 months to do so by drawing one line every day.

Kapish?

;-p

“I take it easy” says Marie Fredriksson to Aftonbladet

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