LJUSDAL (SWEDEN) | LLEIDA (SPAIN) - Marie Fredriksson - Min bäste vän, EMI



The Daily Roxette’s two news editors, Thomas Evensson and Judith Seuma, share their comments on Marie Fredriksson’s new album “Min bäste vän,” in this review of an album where Marie covers some of her favorite songs from the late ’60s and early ’70s.


Thomas: These songs are all from the beginning of the ’70s, from before I listened to music. I know a few of them from radio, but mostly this is new material to me. Also the material is from the prog era, an era I’ve never cared for and which is mostly – if not totally – dead these days. I can imagine that Marie’s songs mean more to people older than me. Having said that, here we go!

Judith: Most of the songs are new to me as well, and even though I listened to the original tracks a couple of times before the album was released, that wasn’t enough to keep them in my mind and later be able to compare them. This means the songs don’t mean any era or have any political background to me and I can listen to them in a complete different level. I must add Marie has the gift to make hers any song she sings, listen to “Ännu doftar kärlek” or “Mot okända hav” – she puts so much feeling in them, and she makes such wonderful performances of these songs, that if you didn’t know she hadn’t written them herself, you would blindly think she did. And the same thought comes to my mind when I listen to many of the songs featured in this album. Last but not least, this album has all brightness and happiness “The Change” had of darkness.



Din bäste vän

Thomas: This time around Marie decided that she didn’t want to write her own material, so she picked songs that she loved when she was growing up. John Holm, a now-in-the-US emigrated Swede, was huge in the beginning of the ’70s. Din bäste vän is a nice track, Marie says the original was “much rockier” in the liner notes. Funnily enough the whole song is more or less programmed by Micke B, the only thing that’s “live” is Jokke Pettersson’s guitar. Jokke is Marie’s nephew by the way.

Judith: One of those tracks one could be mislead to think it is written by Marie. A little “Den standiga resan” and “I en tid som var” flair do the trick here.



Sommaräng

Thomas: this is another song written by John Holm, he has three songs on the album. The first (and only) time I heard this was in 1986 when Per Gessle played his favorite songs on a Swedish radio show. Marie’s version is very soft and I have to say, a good summer single. This track is also fully programmed by Micke. I like it.

Judith: The perfect song to listen to when laying by the beach or by the swimmingpool – where I am while writing this review. Just close your eyes, listen to the birds, Marie’s incredible voice, this calm tune, feel the breeze, listen to the water.. and fly.



Om jag vore arbetslös (If I Were a Carpenter), Tim Hardin, Swedish lyrics by Cornelis Vreesvijk.

Thomas: I really don’t like this, very repetitive and definitely not my cuppa tea. This song, by the way, is fully instrumented.

Judith: One of my favourite tracks – couldn’t be anyway else. Those rocky guitars, Marie making one of the fabulous vocal performance this album is full with – for I think I will regard this album as the one featuring Marie playing with her voice the most and excelling at it.



Guldgruva by Pugh (formerly Torbjörn) Rogefeldt.


Thomas: Harmonica played by Mats Ronander. I never could stand Pugh, and this is just as bad. This is a blues track. Terrible, but not the worst on the album.

Judith: Oh, how much I would love to listen to this song live! Marie comments in the booklet she dreams of recording a blues album. Where do I have to sing?



Ingen kommer undan politiken (Complainte Pour Ste. Catherine).

Thomas: I remember this from the radio when I was a kid, the original Swedish version of course. Sung by Marie Bergman, or should I say squeeled by her. I truly hated this and thought that Marie’s version would be as bad. I was wrong. I think this is a good version, and Bengan Jansson, the guy on the accordion is from Ljusdal! Marie claims this is a very political song, I can’t say myself, as I rarely listen to lyrics. (As I’m sure you all know by now!)

Judith: Whatever the lyrics are about, I consider the song playful, summery, bright. I love the instrumental arrangements.



Jag ger dej min morgon (I Give You The Morning).

Thomas: This is an all time classic in Sweden! Sung, written (lyrics) and made famous by late troubadour Fred Åkerström. Sadly I must say that Marie’s version doesn’t touch me.

Judith: Probably the song I like the least in this album, Marie’s performance is not bad, but she can do it better, doesn’t touch me either. The chorus repeats too often for my taste.



Aftonfalken.

Thomas: Another Pugh track. Still the same – weird. Pugh is mostly weird and was definitely in the beginning of the ’70s.

Judith: Another of those tracks I’d believe is Marie-penned. Great melancholic guitars, fantastic voice.



Man måste veta vad man önskar sej by Mikael Wiehe.

Thomas: Not a bad song at all, very summery.

Judith: Not much more to add, another playful bright song.

Vem kan man lita på?

Thomas: Magnus Uggla covered this many years ago, he was sued by Mikael Wiehe as he changed the name “Robert Zimmerman” to “Björn Afzelius.” This is a dreadful reggae version á la typical cover band. Not good.

Judith: Marie’s voice and performance is nice and funny. I’m not a big fan of reggae but I can live with it if Marie (or Gyllene Tider) are involved.



Den öde stranden

Thomas: the last John Holm track of the album. Recorded by Per Gessle on “Per Gessle” in 1983 and performed by Gyllene Tider during the 1996 tour. I have also heard John’s own version. Marie does it well, but a tad too slow for my taste. Still a good track. John’s songs are definitely among the best on this album.

Judith: This is one of the songs I already was familiar with, as you will all guess. Marie makes this slow version touch very deep inside. Full of feelings and one of those songs she makes hers.



Här kommer natten

Thomas: Pugh, or should I say ugh? One of the album’s two worst songs, if not the worst. Violent intro and then just weird. Pugh is in the habit of making up words, it seems to me. Ra-bi-da-bi-dabi-da…

Judith: Joey Tempest, Anders Glenmark and Patrik Isaksson covered this song a couple of years ago and - like Marie - they also decided to leave the song rather unchanged. But I must agree with Marie: a female voice singing this song makes it totally different. I love the power in her voice and Stefan’s guitars. One of the best tracks in the album.




Thomas: All in all, this is a nice cover album. It’s about a million times better than “The Change,” and I know you agree with me now, even though you wanted to kick my ass last time… he he! I give it three out of five.

Judith: An album to enjoy over and over again and which makes it to my Top 3 together with “Den standiga resan” and “I en tid som var”. I also enjoyed reading Marie’s comments to the songs which one can read on the booklet. In a way they make me see Marie through other eyes, on the same level as me, a music fan, and talks about her favorite artists the way I talk about mine.