Fans of Swedish pop masters Roxette are in for a special treat next year: the group's late, celebrated singer Marie Fredriksson's memoirs will be published in America, alongside the release of a rare solo record.
Listen to My Heart: Life, Love & Roxette takes fans into the life and career of one of the most arresting figures of '80s and '90s pop. Co-written with Swedish writer Helena von Zweigbergk and published in her homeland in 2015 - four years before Fredriksson's passing at the age of 61 after nearly 20 years of complications from a brain tumor - the book tackles Marie's journey as an artist, mother and wife, as well as one half of the biggest Swedish musical export since ABBA. A new foreword has been written for this English edition by Jonas Akerlund - the director of Roxette's most iconic music videos, and later a collaborator with Madonna, U2, Metallica and Lady Gaga - while von Zweigbergk has also contributed a new afterword. The English printing comes courtesy of 1984 Publishing, who've delivered must-own books on everything from the zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead to two books of photography by Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, longtime drummer/archivist for "Weird Al" Yankovic.
In addition to standard hardcover and e-book editions, 1984 will also publish a limited edition which comes with the premiere U.S. release of The Change, Fredriksson's only English language solo album. Released in 2004, The Change was the two-year culmination of Marie's return to music after a brain tumor operation left her partially blind and unable to read or write. Working alongside husband Mikael Bolyos and a cast of talented musicians (including another Swedish music legend, producer Max Martin, who lent his harmonies to the Beatlesque single "2:nd Chance"), The Change was a No. 1 album in Fredriksson's homeland and a potent reminder of her unchanged pop gifts. The album has been newly remastered for this edition, with a poignant bonus track: "Sea of Love," a 2017 recording that would be Fredrikssen's last in the studio.
If "The Look," "Listen to Your Heart," "Dangerous," "It Must Have Been Love," "Joyride," or any handful of Roxette songs have gotten stuck in your head over the last 35 years, Listen to My Heart may become a must-add to your bookshelf. It will be released April 25, 2023 and can be pre-ordered below.
Marie Fredriksson with Helena von Zweigbergk, Listen to My Heart: Life, Love & Roxette (1984 Publishing, 2023)
Standard Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Limited Edition: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
The Change (originally released Amelia/Capitol 72438 63181 2 1 (EU), 2004 - reissued Amelia AMCD 1024, 2023)
- The Change
- 2:nd Chance
- All You Gotta Do is Feel
- April Snow
- Love 2 Live
- Mother
- Many Times
- All About You
- The Good Life (La belle vie)
- Bad Moon
- A Table in the Sun
- The Change - Orchestra
- Sea of Love (Amelia digital single AMS 999, 2020)
Larry Davis says
This is a nice but sad surprise...RIP Marie, but like ONJ, she was a fighter of cancer for years, which she ultimately lost...I do admit, I've primarily been into Roxette for Per Gessle (the male half), not her...Per was the brains & writer of their music and also co-lead singer...Roxette's powerpop style is his style, not her's, although they blended well...it's almost like she was hired or invited to contribute on Per's international project...but Marie was a wonderful singer in her own right & great harmonizer, & her own true style only comes across on her own solo work...and before Roxette, she was in a soui/punk band called Mamas Barn...I did meet Marie once briefly back in 2000, when Roxette was doing an in-store at the Virgin Megastore Times Square NYC during a US comeback...so I am happy to get this book & sole English solo album with the bonus track...I do wonder if the album art is included?? It's like a Marie self-portrait drawing...yes I know in her final years, she resorted to painting & drawing...this book will prob remind me of "Hear Me Out", the memoir by late Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding written during her battle with breast cancer that she lost in 2021 at a too-young 39...and yes 61 is too young as well, but Marie's talent & art/records will remain immortal...RIP Marie & Sarah...