“Marie is the star!”

Written by tevensso on October 24, 2009 to Live and Roxette. Source: Aftonbladet.

ANTWERP -

Yesterday Roxette played together as "Roxette" for the first time in over eight years (The "Room Service" tour, 2001) at Night of the Proms in Antwerp, Belgium. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reports that Marie was certainly the star of this bizarre evening. Roxette gets 3/5 for the concert, and probably would have gotten more hadn't they been so rusty the first song. "There's no doubt she's enjoying being part of Roxette again" Håkan Steen writes. It's very clear to Håkan that both Per and Marie want this more than anything, and more is to come. "Per twangs his guitar like he never took a break [he didn't! ed.] and it's very touching seeing Marie's smile in 'It Must Have Been Love' when she realizes they still have an audience and it wants to sing along!" Håkan continues mentioning that she doesn't move on stage like she used to and her voice is nervous, but warms up by all the love flowing from the numerous fans there.

Håkan's play by play comments:

Wish I Could Fly 2/5
The symphony orchestra opens with Hugo Alfvéns "Midsommarvaka." Then Per and Marie enters through the floor accompanied by huge cheers. This is however not Roxette's strongest song and the performance is rather shaky.

The Look 4/5
Ingenious, cool and almost gospel-like when the symphony orchestra jabs it up in the end.

It Must Have Been Love 3/5
"Let's slow it down a little, with a song that reminds us of Hollywood" says Per and starts the old classic acoustically. Confetti and sing along.

Joyride 3/5
This rocker actually gets a nice botox injection by the orchestra. The nerves have relaxed here and Per enjoys his rock poses and Marie plays air guitar.

Listen to Your Heart 4/5
The night's obvious climax. The.Best.Swedish.Powerballad.Ever is of course even better with tons of strings in the background. Marie lets her voice crack in all the right places and I even feel some goosebumps sneaking up on me.

227 comments

Tider12_ said on October 24, 2009 11:25:

They look sooooo great!!! Oh my God!! I hope they record a dvd!!!!!

the rain said on October 24, 2009 11:55:

It was very cool to watch the videos and I also hope that we get a DVD of it.
BERLIN at 2009-11-29 i come!

tomos85 said on October 24, 2009 12:42:

Over 105 pictures from yesterday’s concert;

http://roxetteblog.com/index.php/2009/10/antwerp-october-23/

ettexor said on October 24, 2009 14:40:

great Marie, you are always fantastic!!!
and congratulations Per!

Roxerally said on October 24, 2009 14:58:

Marie and Per looks fabulous up there on stage together and for a first show out of so many I think they did wonderful, the photos I see look so fabulous!

TheRoxettishFan said on October 24, 2009 15:04:

WoW! Congratulations from Brasil!
Marie is the best ever!

RoxAnna1978 said on October 24, 2009 15:25:

Congratulations on the first performance!! :)

Pascal said on October 24, 2009 15:49:

There’s new footage:

http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/mediatheek/programmas/journaal/2.7...

between 1:49 and 2:18

cslaci said on October 24, 2009 16:10:

WICF is not Roxette’s strongest song? What a bullshit... Why??? It’s one of the best songs...

pwbbounce (moderator) said on October 24, 2009 17:08:

The end of Listen To Your Heart is excellent. That last night is superb, gave me goosebumps!! :-)

ivankeepzroxin said on October 24, 2009 17:10:

Here I found a video of WICF enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE5QcFpc1lc

Judith (moderator) said on October 24, 2009 17:15:

of course she is the star :D She rocks big time!

___________________________
Marie Fredriksson Online
Be strong, speak true

fridapeeples said on October 24, 2009 18:03:

@csaci

I think he means only that it was not the strongest performance of their 5 songs at this concert. I don’t think he was saying anything about the song itself :-)

Roxreporter said on October 25, 2009 01:17:

I was at the 2nd prom concert tonight, and I must say I’m quite sad. I read all the positive stuf about the first one but I dindn’t expect this.

P&M came on stage and the audience went crazy, they both looked very great. But when marie started the 1st verse of WICF, she completely lost her lines. Here voice was very shaky and she kept on singing the wrong words and finaly she started mumbling. I noticed a lot of people went like “oh no”, I think I even saw Per thinking somethings went wrong.

My hopes were still high for part 2 were they performed the other 4 songs, but Marie was still very unsure. Her voice dropped out a couple of times.

In LTYH, all the modulations in the end are left away, so the song stays low, and still she couldn’t sing it. Also during The Look and Joyride, here lines sounded very thin and scared. Lots of people in my block that came especially for Roxette were very astonished. Nobody expected her to jump around, neither did I, but I dindn’t see this coming.

I hope she gets stronger more asure during the rest of the concerts.

Per and the band were in a good shape.

I really wanted to put a coowl review here, but as a super roxfan, I left antwerp with a sad feeling inside tonight. Anyone blowing me off for being honest, I also could have written, the performence was great, but it just wasn’t.

venomthefat said on October 25, 2009 02:53:

Well, finaly someone honest! My god, the performance of Wish I Could Fly was horrible!!! Marie is in a really bad shape, and its a shame indeed. Maybe it was a good idea to go on tour, to practice before performing in front of true fans...

But stop praising when there really isn’t any reason. Marie was awful...
Per was vibrant as always...

Roxwriter said on October 25, 2009 04:12:

Interesting feedback RoxReporter.

Per mentioned something on his Twitter about Marie is suffering from a bad throat.

”...Marie’s very happy despite bad throat (penicillin)...”

To recieve penicillin suggests it must be pretty bad.

Hmmm.. anyway, thanks for the update.

Kiwein1 said on October 25, 2009 07:07:

She really seems to have big problems with her voice. Per told us yesterday the she’s still on pencillin and it didn’t sound like it’s only a few pills....!

I felt very sorry for her...! WICF was scary but it wasn’t much better on friday, too. The song is - again - played at the wrong place and time on the show IMHO. There were moments when I thought somebody forced Marie to come on stage. She tried to sing parts of the songs with a deep voice but it didn’t work at all either. She clearly needs our support, it was so obvious. So we should start supporting her. ;-) There’s nothing else we can do! It’s good that there’s a 5-days-break now. I really hope she can recover and rock the Antwerp stage again!

——————————–
www.marie-fredriksson.com
www.planet-roxette.com

mammasdotter said on October 25, 2009 07:37:

Hi there!
The performance was great! I just have looked at WICF in YouTube after have read some disappointing comments... Wow, I am an old-old Rox fan and would have enjoyed ANY performance. This one was A GREAT ONE indeed, I didn’t noted anything was wrong, nervous or shaky, really not, A live performance is never 100% the same as a record, and this is the prettiest thing when the song gets a new sound and wording through this. I have really enjoyed to see and to listen to Marie&Per again on the stage. LIVE with the orchestra! Super! I don’t care what everyone can say but I liked it very much. M&P are both in a very good shape again, simply amazing, and the most important - they enjoy themselves what they do.
P.S. I also like Marie very much wearing glasses in some pictures, I find she is even prettier than before, a real Rox Lady. About Per - I have never expected a man could look so great in this age. Thank you, Roxette! You still keep on enjoying us!

Kiwein1 said on October 25, 2009 07:41:

Nice to hear something positive. I know some ppl who think like you. Well - it wasn’t “perfect” on friday either, but it was much better than yesterday. If they could perform like they did on friday I think that would pretty much be “enough” to make both themselves and everyone else happy. But still: yesterday’s performance was...no word for this. Since MF obviously couldn’t reach the high peaks she tried the deep ones - with the same (non)success. I just felt so sorry for her...! Let’s pray she gets better soon! I know she will.

——————————–
www.marie-fredriksson.com
www.planet-roxette.com

fridapeeples said on October 25, 2009 07:49:

Even though I am very saddened by the news of the 2nd show that I have heard so far, I also appreciate honesty. Having said that, I don’t feel that anybody reviewing opening night was being dishonest based on the videos I have seen so far.

I am sad firstly for Marie because there are a lot of expectations and the pressure must be huge -watching her struggle is not enjoyable, especially when she is TRYING SO HARD. I am also sad because i get the sense that some people are waiting for (and perhaps wanting) her to fail so that they can have the satisfaction of saying “I told you so.” I hope I am wrong. I realise that many Roxette fans have a natural preference for either Marie or Per. Personally speaking I have always related more to Marie. But over the years I have developed such a respect and love for Per because: 1) his obvious contribution to the band and his incredible songs that will remain here forever, and 2) his absolute devotion and loyalty to and his obvious love and respect for Marie. He has never given up hope and I admire him greatly today for it. And the fact is, Roxette IS (and ALWAYS will be) Marie Fredriksson AND Per Gessle.

This is not just about sounding perfect or being perfect or whatever. Roxette has never been PERFECT live. But they carry on doing what they love doing because they could not live if they didn’t. This is about overcoming human adversity and moving through it because life is precious. Sorry to rant, I just get a little upset when I hear unhelpful words describing Marie as “horrible” and “awful” while saying Per was “vibrant as always” as if he had never made mistakes.

God, I can even hear Marie poking fun at him in the credits for Live-Ism...”Per is very tall....he is...never singing in tune in Knockin On Every Door!”

***I realised writing this that there have been two more comments since I started! :-)
I am glad to hear positive felings too***

Peace xox

Krischan said on October 25, 2009 07:59:

@venomthefat: Luckily not everybody lacks as much tact as you do. Weren’t you one of the many to demand Marie to step back in public finally? And now you wonder?

Every brave move contains the possibility of failing.

pwbbounce (moderator) said on October 25, 2009 08:03:

If Marie is ill then the performance won’t be as good as normal. There is no reason to comment like some of the above. You want to support her, but then you continue to say she was, basically, rubbish. I don’t get it.

You moan when there is no Roxette. You now moan because Marie is ill. What will it take to please you guys??!! Roxette are back!!! And live on stage. Surely we can be positive about that?

I’m sure the 5 days break will do Marie good.

pwbbounce (moderator) said on October 25, 2009 08:05:

@Krischan - the word fail is VERY harsh...

pwbbounce (moderator) said on October 25, 2009 08:12:

I haven’t finished yet!

If I had just returned to the live stage from recovery from a serious illness, and read the words ’awful’, ’scared’, ’shaky’ and whatever else is above, I’d call it a day.

Luckily Marie doesn’t come here, so she might not get to hear about these comments from ’fans’

Kiwein1 said on October 25, 2009 08:14:

I strongly agree with you! :)
What made it hard was the thought that 50 people know she’s ill, but 15000 don’t know and wonder. That’s what made me feel so damn sad for her. I actually don’t even care how and what she sings. But I am quite sure she herself isn’t happy about it. You couldn’t even hear her in some parts. It can only get better, I am sure! She still rocks, that’s for sure.

——————————–
www.marie-fredriksson.com
www.planet-roxette.com

Kiwein1 said on October 25, 2009 08:18:

“If I had just returned to the live stage from recovery from a serious illness, and read the words ’awful’, ’scared’, ’shaky’ and whatever else is above, I’d call it a day.”

I really agree with you regarding insults and people moaning all the time but you haven’t been there so you actually don’t know how the performance was. You know that I love this woman and deeply respect her for what she’s doing but it really wasn’t a blast - to use other words. I so hope she gets better soon!!
So people - get your tickets and support Roxette. They need us!

——————————–
www.marie-fredriksson.com
www.planet-roxette.com

pwbbounce (moderator) said on October 25, 2009 08:33:

If I could afford it, I’d go. Unfortunately, the £500 for the 2 flights i’d need are a little to steep for me at the moment...

Like I said, the 5 days off will hopefully give Marie chance to recover from her throat illness.

mammasdotter said on October 25, 2009 08:35:

I am honest saying that I enjoyed it.
Maybe it was not the best performance ever but it was ok. Who knows what it is to stay in front of a big audience and to speak will understand the complicity of the moment. I do because it is a part of my job too. Sometimes it is easy, sometimes not. Once the simplest words disappear from my mind suddenly, once the bad throat,... how come? Friends, it’s never easy and everytime like the first time, believe me. For M&P is was the first time since many years and many things have happened still... To be honest is a very good thing but... Some of the comments are too sharp and out of place, sorry. Let’s support them and enjoy that they are back to us on the stage, it’s not an easy way back. Don’t you see how they are both happy about it??? I am too.

Roxreporter said on October 25, 2009 09:17:

Good morning everyone,

I hesitated posting my review last night, but I wanted to share how I felt about the show. I dindn’t know Marie was on medication right now though.
I tried to put it as it was, without writing down disrespectful phrases. So let’s keep on talking without calling it “awful” and stuff like that.

Marie not reaching high notes anymore is something she already dealded with for a long time. In 2001 they changed the tones for some songs already (like LTYH). When you’re past 40, it’s normal your voice drops down, many people deal with it (just listen to Jhon Bon Jovi’s latest records).

What ’scared’ me the most last night was Marie had lots of problems remembering the lyricks. The first verse in WYCF, she completely lost it, exept for the very first line. Also in LTYH she got in trouble in the 2nd or 3rd chorus. On the big screens, everyone saw she was in some trouble. She even left out a few lines, stopped singing, and picked it up a few lines after. She didn’t look happy too.

I also saw the youtube parts from friday, but it’s a very different reflection of the show, believe me.

And if it was just me... but last night, I saw lots of people shaking their head and feeling kinda sorry for her.

Form the bottom of heart, i hope most of the problems she had yesterday, were caused by her cold, so she’ll be better next week.

Judith (moderator) said on October 25, 2009 09:22:

As you said, it must be bad if she takes peniciline. A colleague of mine took this for 1 week and she explained she was the whole time TIRED, couldn’t get off the bed, and that her body was very week even a week after she stopped taking it. So if you put it all together, not the best conditions to be on a stage! Other artists cancel concerts when they have a little cold and affected voice..

Hope she can relax and get well soon. Marie you have all our support!

Venom, you want honesty? Here you have it: people like you, Venom, just make me wanna puke. Just the kind of .. person.. fridapeeples described in her post.

___________________________
Marie Fredriksson Online
Be strong, speak true

“Marie is the star!”

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227 comments

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