i found this on maryjane.se tonight
only noticed it now... marie's comments about the album
MARIE FREDRIKSSON THE CHANGE. (Mary Jane/Capitol)
Since Ännu doftar kärlek (1984), Sjunde vågen, Efter stormen and the enormous global success of Roxette, Marie has become on of our greatest and most loved artists.
The album Äntligen, produced in 2000 to recap on Marie's Swedish career, sold a total of 350,000 copies in Sweden alone! The Change is Marie's first studio album since I en Tid Som Vår, in 1996 and her first ever in English.
The past two years have brought important changes to the life of MarieFredriksson.
On 11 September 2002, Marie found out that she was seriously ill. A long period of operations, treatment and medication was to follow. Marie's life changed completely.
Marie and her husband, the producer and musician Mikael Bolyos, had been planning an album in English for a long time.
Before Marie was told of her illness and the changes in life that were to follow, recordings had started on a small scale. The concept and content of the record now took a completely new direction, resulting in the release of the album The Change.
Together with the guitarist Staffan Astner, drummer Nicci Notini, bass-player Peter Forss and sound technician Lennart Östlund, Marie and her husband Mikael found the style and attitude that pass through most of the album.
A sound that is electrically charged and grand, making the music powerful and dramatic. During the course of the recordings, an album full of vitality, love and belief in the future was created.
Today, Marie believes the recording and making of The Change's one of the most important and fun things she has ever done.
Writing the songs and spending time in the recording studio did in many ways have a positive effect on the process of healing.
"I really wanted to make this record, to share with others what I had been through - the struggle to get through another day and at the same time wanting desperately to live".
The sleeve of The Change shows Marie's drawings of herself throughout life as a teenager, a budding artist, happy and sad moments with Roxette, the illness and today.
Painting and drawing is part of Marie's life and something that she has kept going since her schooldays in Östra Ljungby. Illustrating herself at various times in life was therefore the most natural thing to do.
The career of Marie Fredriksson as an artist began towards the end of the 1970
Marie was then a member of the band Strul, touring with Skånska Theatre.
Strul shared rehearsal room with Gyllene Tider and so Marie got to know Per Gessle. When Strul split up, Marie continued as MaMas Barn, writing her own songs.
As an artist, Marie Fredriksson started to be taken seriously when her first solo album Het Vind came out in 1984.
The album includes one of Marie's most popular songs ever - Ännu doftar kärlek. The second solo album Den sjunde vågen was released two years later and became Marie's real breakthrough.
In 1986, Marie and Per Gessle set up Roxette and released the Swedish summer hit of the year with Neverending Love, Marie then released another solo album - Efter stormen, which together with the compilation album Äntligen, became her most successful records so far.
The global success story of Roxette had just begun. It would take five years before there was time for another solo project. Den ständiga resan, as a record about the downsides of the triumphant but continuous touring with Roxette.
The record reached Platinum sales and Marie was the Swedish Artist of the Year in 1992. Following further adventures with Roxette, the album I en tid som vår, as released in 1996 including among others the song Tro, that featured in Colin Nutley's film Sånt är livet.
Now, eight years later, Marie's sixth and probably most important album The Change's released.
A second chance " that is exactly what I feel when I wake up in the morning. I am so extremely grateful for every day of life".
MARIE'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE SONGS
THE CHANGE
The change . An obvious song to open with and a natural title for the album.
2ND CHANCE
My song of happiness. I wrote the text very quickly. It was just there. All pieces fell into place and after this song the writing became a joy.
ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS FEEL
This is Micke's song that he wrote a couple of years ago and one of my favourites. The entire composition is brash and loud (rock-n-roll) somemething I really love!
APRIL SNOW
I wrote this song some time ago, when good friends of mine decided to go their separate ways. You get inspired by many things in life, not just your own.
LOVE 2 LIVE
When we were on holiday in Miami, there was this guy playing in a bar. It happened to be Gary T, who was once with the same Swedish record company as Micke. Together, they finished the words to this song that Micke had already started.
MOTHER
Recording this song was very special " we only made one recording. I felt such strength at that moment in time. A feeling that would be impossible to recreate, impossible to sing again".
MANY TIMES
One of many songs on the album recorded live with the band in the studio. There was such energy . I love those recordings and I am glad we have found a way back to that.
ALL ABOUT YOU
This is actually a love song to me, written by Micke. Everyone ought to have a love song.
THE GOOD LIFE
Somehow, I feel that this classic is a key song for the album since it was the first song we recorded, initiating the entire project.
BAD MOON I
originally wrote this song for Roxette many years ago. It just did not seem right at the time, but I have always liked Bad Moon and have kept it until now.
A TABLE IN THE SUN
The final recording - about U-turns in life when dark becomes light. For me, a table in the sun is such a clear image of when life is good·
THE CHANGE ORCHESTRA
One of the most exhilarating experiences I have ever had singing with an entire symphonic orchestra· Very intense - and much thanks to the fantastic arrangement of Magnus Lindgren who also conducted the orchestra in the old EMI studio where we recorded.
