Ace of Base is in your mind

Closer and closer

2008-04-10T12:16:00.007-05:00

The signs are all around us. The day is close at hand, my Acer friends.

Photo shoots, promo videos, a new website launch. All this can only mean one thing.

The album is coming.

In some Stockholm office, PR people are sitting around a meeting table drinking their Ramlösa and hashing out the best advertising plan. Calls are going out to the media. Graphics designers are InDesigning logos and promo posters. Printing orders are being rechecked and reconfirmed. The CD presses are warming up.

And we are the proud recipients of their effort. It's nearly the end of the wait as we know it.

Welcome to the future

2008-02-26T10:18:00.005-06:00

They weren't kidding when they said welcome to the future of Ace of Base! A world tour, a new website, a myspace page, new albums, fan input, newsletters and more. We're getting everything we ever asked for as fans. It's a beautiful thing.

As for me, I have no steady internet access at this point. Bad timing for me. I have so much I want to write about here, but haven't had the access nor the time to write. I'm hoping that will change in the next few weeks because there is so much happening at the moment.

Who would have thought after all those quiet years that we'd be bombarded with all these goodies? Not me! It's a good time to be an Acer!

OOOOH YEEEEAAAH!

2007-12-26T18:02:00.000-06:00

Several years ago, Swan and I spoke about creating a database of all the words ever used in AOB songs, but we never got around to it. Well, during the past month or so, I've been taking a minute here and there to collect the data for that. It's not finished yet, but it's getting there.

I've been bored out of my mind because it's tedious work. Yet, I eventually found some humor in it. One phrase in particular kept popping up in several songs and somewhere around 2 a.m. on a sleepless night, I figured out what to do with that two word phrase I couldn't get out of my head.

I present to you, "Oh Yeah"

Happy Nation as a mirror of war and a call for peace

2007-12-06T15:28:00.000-06:00

The shocking picture display shown in the live version of HN assaults our senses. Bombings, shootings, pollution, greed. We don't expect to see this type of footage at a pop concert. The images on the projection screen also run contrary to our ideas about the song. We expect positive images but do not find them. Instead, the band uses the footage to mirror what a nation at war looks like and it is anything but positive.

With this in mind, the second interpretation of HN must be that a happy nation is a nation of peace, not war. A warring nation tricks itself into thinking it is happy but in reality it is not. War brings sorrow to a nation, not happiness. Peace is desired and war should be avoided. This interpretation is the most widespread in Acerdom. Many fans subscribe to this idea as the reason for the intense images shown at the concert.

The HN presentation can be interpreted as having several objectives. One objective is to produce a sense of irony. A man named Siegfried Sassoon was a romantic poet. He wrote about flowers and sweet ideals. Then he was sent to war. His poems changed from romantic to nightmarish overnight. One poem called "Glory of Women" depicts women discussing the dashing and romantic deeds of men at war abroad. The women herald the duty and honor of soldiers fighting, while in the next line we hear of soldiers fleeing from battle. A soldier steps on the body of a dead enemy, burying the corpse deeper in the mud. As his boots trample the dead man, the soldier thinks about the dead man's mother sitting by a fire knitting socks for her son. The romantic and patriotic ideals that the women hold contradict the brutal experiences of the soldiers. HN live creates the same effect as Sassoon's poem. The romantic lyrics contradict the brutal live projections. This discord between sight and sound forces the audience to contemplate and reject the notion that war is honorable and romantic.

The visuals are also a way to show the absurdity of ideas present in fascism and other extreme belief systems, such as the idea of a "perfect man". Extreme ideas lead to extreme problems such as guns, bombs, war, and pollution. In a nation with extreme ideas, the voices that dissent are the ones who say "we've gone too far" The dissenters cry out, letting others know that the ideal way to live is through the pursuit of peace. They are the ones who lead the masses into realizing that a happy nation is not made through war, but instead is created through a road of peace.

One also wonders if the band is intentionally placing a political message in all of this. Could the oil derricks and nuclear plants plastered one after the other on the projection screen suggest the building feud between the United States and Iran? Is the band protesting the willful desire of many nations to wage war today? The footage of past conflicts mixed with a flying dove suggests this is a possibility.

Whether the derricks and nuclear plants are a political message or simply symbols of all-consuming greed and environmental destruction, the overlying theme still points to a need for peace. Each nation should strive for peace and it is only in peace that a nation can truly be happy.

Happy Nation as a Spiritual Nation

2007-12-05T18:52:00.000-06:00

My interpretation of "Happy Nation", which I have held for thirteen years, was thrown into a tailspin as I listened to the concert version in Copenhagen. I always felt the band was singing about different countries on Earth that were peaceful. After watching the live version, I did not know what to make of the presentation, lyrics, and projections. Curiously, the live version left me with three different interpretations of the song. I plan to write about all three interpretations here. Each view is somehow linked to the next one but each one stands on its own in a way.

My first interpretation: I believe that the "Happy Nation" that the band sings about is not physical in nature but is spiritual in nature.

November 23, 2007. Valby Hallen. Copenhagen, Denmark. The concert hall is dark, ominous. Suddenly, lights flicker and sounds blast from the speakers. Sirens, gunshots, bombs. And a wailing that is reminiscent of a funeral dirge reaches the audience. A lamentation at the highest level.

The opening conveys a sense of foreboding, fear, and uneasiness. Grainy projections flicker on the screen in a seemingly random pattern and we are reminded by a voice in the distance that man is in no position to rule alone. The projections become clearer. They show us what happens when man rules the world alone. We see helicopters attacking, troops marching, planes dropping bombs, fires, atomic explosions.

Complete destruction. Hell on Earth.

The band steps out of the darkness, solemn and serious. Dancers walk the length of the stage with marching steps, giving military salutes as they parade around. Jenny walks up to the microphone and begins singing, "Laudate omnes gentes laudate. Magnificat in secula. Et anima, mea laudate. Magnificat in secula."

And a slight change occurs. It is easy to miss if you are not watching closely.

The projections. They change.

They become holy.

A dove soars through a brightly shining light. A stone angel sits praying under a window. A hand holds a flower. A child walks through a field of wheat. A dove sits atop a barbed wire fence.

As the Latin choir concludes, the terrifying images of destruction and war return. Fear, pain, agony, and utter despair is presented to the audience frame by frame. Over and over again.

What are we to make of these images of terrifying pain and suffering as the band sings such positive words? Aren't they supposed to be singing about nations that are happy? How can these places ever be considered happy nations?

They can't.

No nation is happy and can never be happy because we hurt, injure, maim and kill. We cannot be perfect and cannot rule without trouble. We die but our negative ideas live on. The situation is dire and extremely fragile. Our human situation, our human condition, leads to death. But within the lyrics, we find that the situation we are in leads somewhere. It leads to "sweet salvation."

This idea of salvation that comes out of a difficult situation brings me to the conclusion that the happy nation they sing about is not a physical nation run by man. But a happy nation is a spiritual one built upon God's love for us.

As Jenny stands with her arms stretched out in a cross position, with the black and white projections flickering behind her, she nears the end of the song, "situation leads to sweet salvation. For the people, for the good, for mankind, brotherhood."

Finishing the performance, she repeats the Latin choir, "Laudate omnes gentes laudate. Magnificat in secula. Et anima, mea laudate. Magnificat in secula."

"Praise, all people praise. The most magnificent of all time. One spirit, I praise. The most magnificent of all time."

"Don't Turn Around" Transformed

2007-12-03T13:14:00.000-06:00

For me, "Don't Turn Around" has always been a sappy song about a woman who is stopped by her pride as she breaks up with her boyfriend. While her love leaves, she acts like it doesn't phase her, but in reality the listener knows that this isn't the case. The woman secretly cries about the end of the relationship but publicly acts as if nothing is wrong. Her pride keeps her from admitting that the relationship meant something to her.

But the new live version of "Don't Turn Around" provides a fresh perspective. "Don't Turn Around" is no longer a sappy reggae ballad between former lovers. The song is transformed into an "until we meet again" monologue from a daughter to her dying father. The mood shifts from sulky and moping to tender and quiet.

Listeners journey alongside the daughter, experiencing the same personal grief. The music begins quietly, builds up to an emotional farewell verse, drops down again, and finally finishes with solemn, contemplative tones, mimicking the grief process. The lyrics are raw, open, and honest. We listen in as she says goodbye to her father, 'I love you. I will miss you. But I'll be alright Pappa. You can go...and when you think about me, know that everything will be all right.'

She reassures both him and herself that everything will be fine. She tries to be strong for the sake of her father, but deep inside, she is falling apart. Emotions swirl under the surface but she refuses to let her father see how difficult the process is for her. Unlike the lover who does not show her emotions due to pride, the daughter does not show her emotions because she has abiding love for her father. She does not want him to be burdened by the weight of her despair.

The last few musical movements hint that the daughter will truly be ok. It will merely take some time. Her despair will diminish, but her longing, and her love, for her father will remain.

My respect for the song has grown fourfold.

Thanks for reading!

2007-12-03T13:13:00.001-06:00

I want to thank Lars who told me that I should write more in my blog. I have been wondering if anyone reads it and Lars confirmed in Copenhagen that people do read it and and enjoy it.

Ace of Base rediscovered the joy of playing live when they played NOTP in 2005 and now, after spending time with Acers in Copenhagen, I have rediscovered the joy of writing about topics that interest our fan community. So, "tak!" to Lars and all those people who enjoy reading these entries.

Believe, believe, believe... I get it already!

2007-05-21T21:25:00.000-05:00

Every AOB album since TB contains at least one phrase repeated in two different songs.

TB - "Like a prisoner of hope"
F - "like a catcher in the rye"
SOTN - "easy come, easy go"

The latest album, DC, continues the tradition. DC's repeated phrase is "believe in" (or if you prefer, "believe me").

BM - Believe me...
RTW - You got to believe me...

WDU - I believe in...
SD - I believe

HD - You better believe in... (also "believe me when" )
TJ - Always believe in...

Of the fourteen songs released, six contain the word "believe". That's nearly 45% of all the songs from one album.

What are we to make of the repeated use of the word? It could be used to connect the album together. It could be used to create a certain atmosphere for the record. It could even be an unconscious attempt by the writer to convince themselves and others of their words.

Whatever the reason for its frequent appearance, it's clear that idea of belief is an underlying theme within the work.

Jonas uses the phrases in three ways.

1. A way to express optimism in the face of negativity
BM - know that bad times will come but they will pass
RTW - you have to think positive, even if things are difficult

2. A desire to escape from the world and its stresses
WDU - I believe in escaping to a fantasy world (hard to interpret this one!)
SD - whatever you say, I'll go with it

3. A vehicle for giving advice
HD - believe what I say, because I've experienced it and I know it's true
TJ - always believe that the youth will succeed

When you break it down, one can believe in three different ways.

One can believe by having faith in someone or something.
One can believe by thinking something is true.
One can believe something by having an opinion.

We see all three of these definitions in the DC album.

Faith that things will get better is a part of BM and RTW.
The idea that something is true is a part of WDU and SD.
Opinions are expressed in HD and TJ.

I don't recall which demos were supposed to be on DC, but you better believe that many of those songs contain the word too!

Sten & Stanely

2007-05-01T18:38:00.000-05:00

Sten & Stanley is a music group from Sweden and they play dansband music. It's hard to explain what dansband music sounds like, but it's a bit like swing and country music mixed together. I've never heard of Sten & Stanley until today. They've been cranking out albums since 1963, so that tells that you I don't listen to dansband. (stenochstanley.se) The group released an album in 2001 called "Om bara jag får". Track #1 on that cd is called "Solen är din".

And what does this have to do with AOB? Well, "Solen är din" is listed in the ASCAP records as being written by Douglas Carr, Meja, and Jonas.

Yes, that Jonas.

(www.ascap.com/ace - search jonas berggren in writers)

I haven't had any luck finding the lyrics or a song snippet online. Anyone out there just happen to have a copy of this cd? Doubtful, but it can't hurt to ask!

Check is in the mail part 2

2007-04-23T01:28:00.000-05:00

Jessi just informed me that Ulf's name is also on the list of people who haven't picked up their checks from AFTRA. Does this mean Linn already picked up her check?!? ;o)

Trademark Search

2007-04-14T16:05:00.000-05:00

Ever heard of the Salinja AG Corporation based in SWITZERLAND? I hadn't either until I ran a trademark search on "Ace of Base" in the United States Patent and Trademark database. That company, Salinja AG, owns the rights to the name "Ace of Base". The company consists of one man, the band's lawyer, Per-Hans Berg. The trademark was filed in October 1994, which seems a bit late to trademark the name in the US. By that time, three songs had reached Billboard's top 10 and another one was climbing the charts. The good news is, the tradmark is still "live" in the system.

You can find some 74 pages of information and paperwork on the trademark at the US Patent and Trademarks website. You can even download them in PDF form if you wish. I was going to go through the records and pick out the parts that Acers might be interested in, but I haven't had time yet. If you're so inclined to do so yourself, you'll find the records at this address -

http://portal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow?SRCH=Y&isSubmitted=true&details=&SELECT=US+Serial+No&TEXT=74587300

I'll be making another post later on with my thoughts on this info.

The check is in the mail!

2007-04-10T16:55:00.000-05:00

I check Google once in a while for interesting and quirky AOB links. Today, I stumbled upon a list put out by AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) in February 2006.

Here is the link: http://www.aftra.com/locals/losangeles/UTLNAMESFeb06.pdf

This PDF is just a list with names of people who don't know they have money waiting for them in Los Angeles. AFTRA has not been able to track down these people, so their checks are being held for them. Check under Berggren, and you have two of the three listed there. Hey Jonas, Jenny, you have checks waiting for you in Los Angeles! Now, the tricky part will be showing them your social security number. Maybe a personnummer will do instead? ;o)

Being a fan

2007-01-11T23:30:00.000-06:00

Every now and then, I think about reasons people give for being fans of something. Why do people spend time searching for the tiniest bits of information about a subject and why do fans like us wait years for an album that is usually about 45 minutes in length? I'm sure everyone has their own reasons for being a fan of something, whether it's collecting stamps, skydiving from a plane, or listening to a Swedish pop group.

I also find it fascinating that we, as Acers, are so captivated by the music and the lives of the band members. We know about the band but we don't know them. I once had an eight hour conversation with three other fans about Ace of Base once. Think about that. Eight hours. You have to know a subject pretty well to keep the conversation going for that long. But why talk about one subject for eight hours to begin with?

What motivates us to search out information about the car Ulf drives? Why do we want to know about how Jonas spends his money? Why do we care about Linn's hobbies? Why do we discuss Jenny's family?

I can't possibly list all the reasons for being a fan, but I'll list some of the reasons that I'm a fan.
The band’s music is number one for me. It always has been that way, and I suspect that many other Acers will say the same. I enjoy listening to the melodies, harmonies, and lyrics that the band creates. Listening to a fresh song is like an adventure, a journey. I discover something new with each listen. When I learn the song, I enjoy the anticipation of hearing the melody again or waiting for the bridge to kick in. I also enjoy the familiarity of the song. I know all the words and can sing along with the chorus.

It's hard for me to say with certainty whether the music or the lyrics are the most enjoyable to me. Ace of Base's lyrics intrigue me because the words convey much more than most people realize. Most people look at the band's lyrics and automatically dismiss the gravity of the message because the lyrics are positive and the music is upbeat. I think that the majority of people, or at least most critics, feel that if song lyrics are dark, moody, and tragic then the music is deep and artistic. In other words, positive, upbeat lyrics are fun to listen to but they are merely fluff and contain no real message. I think Ace of Base's "Beautiful Morning" contradicts that idea. "Beautiful Morning" is a good example of a song that is positive and upbeat, while still sending a strong message. The lyrics urge us to look at the positive events in life, even though life is difficult. The band explores the idea that by focusing on the positive, even in the difficult times, you will be able to realize what's most important to you.

Memories play an important role for me as a fan. We spend a lot of time in our lives trying to "capture" and relive events in our lives. We take pictures. We record home video. We sit and talk about the past. We celebrate events that took place in the past, such as birthdays and anniversaries. Would you go see a movie if you knew you would not remember it the next day? What would be the point of watching a movie if you couldn’t remember what you just experienced? You would enjoy the movie while you were watching it, but what then? You could not talk about it or discuss it afterwards. You could not explain how you felt about the movie or talk about any part of the movie. You would take nothing away from it.

Memories are important to us. They help define our lives and our relationships with others around us. I’ve been a fan for nearly 13 years now and I’ve stored up a great bank of memories associated with being a fan. The band’s music reminds me of my years as a teenager and young adult. I remember great parties with "All That She Wants" and "Lucky Love" playing in the background. I recall listening to the band’s cds during some rough times. I also have many memories associated with meeting other fans and enjoying their company. I’ve been to Europe several over the past 13 years. I’ve gone to school there and worked there. I’ve taken vacations there. I’ve made new friends, taken part in new experiences, and learned a great deal about myself along the way. The memories from those trips and the people I met stay with me. Ace of Base’s music is connected to all of those memories.

A third great thing about being a fan is the treasure hunt that constantly takes place. It never ends. If you are a collector or enjoy auctions, then you understand the treasure hunt concept and the fun of it. Ever wonder how someone can get excited when they see a one-eyed teddy bear made in the 1940s? Ever wonder why they’d pay $100 for it? Yes, you've heard it before; "one man’s trash is another man’s treasure". You may not think that an Ace of Base Interview cd is really a treasure if you’re not a fan, but to those who enjoy the music, it is a treasure. The Interview cd is quite hard to find and if you have a copy, expect to get around $100 for it.

If you set your sights on something like a teddy bear or an Interview cd, you'll try to reach your goal. When you finally achieve the goal you’ve set, you’re happy about it. Maybe the whole purpose isn’t really about having the cd or the bear at all, but maybe the hunt itself is the point. It’s enjoyable. So, you set up another treasure hunt goal and go about trying to reaching it. It may not be a serious goal or a "let’s save the world" type of goal, but it’s something you can look forward to solving. Maybe it’s like a jigsaw puzzle or a sudoku puzzle. It’s fun to work through the puzzle and reach the end, but there is no productive purpose behind it.

There’s treasure that you know you can get relatively easily, such as cds, interviews, or posters and then there’s a different type of treasure. You know it’s out there, but you’re not quite sure where, when, or how you will find it. You could say it’s the buried treasure of being a fan. First, there are the small coins of some value but not a lot of value: little bits of info you can find using a search engine or by chatting with other fans. New information is always fun to find on a fan site. Demos have also been known to pop up from time to time. Demos are definitely buried treasure.

And then there are the gold bars, which could be classified into three categories: Albums, Concerts and Encounters (Get it? ACE? Har. Har.) I would say that these three are the three events that most Acers look forward to. Why? Each event is quite rare. Albums are released once every three years on average. Concerts don't happen too often either. I’ve been a fan since I was 12 years old and I was 24 when I attended my first Ace of Base concert. Encounter is the fancy name I made up for a simple event- a fan meeting one of the band members. Fans are able to meet the band members every now and then. Some fans have met the band in Sweden, while others have met the band during promo stops in different countries. The band members are friendly to us and give us a chance to meet them when we show up at different events, which is nice. I think many fans enjoy meeting the band because they get to interact with the people themselves. The band can easily be seen as a product in the form of cds, posters, and interviews, but when a fan meets them in person, the band becomes more than just a cd or a picture. They become real, living, breathing people. Obviously, fans know the band members are real, but to see them and to be able to interact with them, to be able to speak with the band about the music, is an entirely different experience than just enjoying the music.

I think the common theme that holds everything together is an investment. As fans, we have invested ourselves in the music and the band. We invest in many ways: time, money, emotions, memories, etc. So, maybe we spend time thinking about Ulf and his fast car because we might hope to have our own fast car one day. Maybe we want to know how Jonas spends his money because we have invested our own personal money in his talents. Maybe we invest time caring about Linn’s hobbies because we want to know more about her as a person. And maybe we invest time in discussing Jenny’s family because it allows us to think about our own (future) families.

Some fans have big investments, while other fans have small investments. No matter how much you choose to invest as a fan, being a fan of anything is always guaranteed fun.

What are your reasons for being a fan?

La La L'amour...

2006-12-21T00:44:00.000-06:00

I only listen to "L'amour" in December. It's an eight-year tradition. I first heard the song on December 13, 1998, so it reminds me of the winter months. And by restricting the time I listen to it, I'm able to "rediscover" it every year. The song's festive atmosphere fits the Christmas season perfectly.

"L'amour" is the only AOB song that features accordions (some may be thankful for that!) and the lyrical puns are irresistibly fun!

"We took in the sights (Versailles) at the great museum."
"We got us a good eyeful at the tower."
"And down at the river, we fell deep in love."

Bonus points to Jonas for alluding to several Paris landmarks without ever mentioning the name of the city itself (Some of the landmarks include the Seine river, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the museum at Versailles).

The French lyrics during the bridge also add a nice touch to the atmosphere. I don't speak much French. As a matter of fact, all I know is basically limited to two phrases, which happen to appear in Ace of Base lyrics: "Voulez-vous dancer avec moi se soir?" (Would you like to dance with me tonight?) from "Voulez-Vous Danser" and "Je ne regrette rien" (I regret nothing) from "L'amour". And when you think about it, those two phrases are all you really need for a short fling, erm, vacation in France.

"L'amour" is a catchy and playful tune. And every December, I look forward to rediscovering the song all over again.

Demo Dissection - Emmanuel

2006-12-11T23:38:00.000-06:00

Well, now I have more free time to post. I love it!

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is playing on my radio right now. Yes, Christmas is two weeks away. Stressed yet?? I have never really paid much attention to this traditional Christmas carol until now. (>Window's Media link to a sound clip of the song.)

The lyrics to this Christmas song are solemn, humble, and almost painful. The chorus cries out to God, "...O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel!". But, the music and song later reveals a hopeful and triumphant tone, "Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee!" God will fufill his promise. He will send a Savior to help.

Jenny's "Emmanuel" demo is similar in form. Emmanuel means "God With Us" (Incidentally, the feminine form of the name in Germany is Manuela). Jenny's demo contains a similar cry from the heart, "You...must cry Emmanuel! Emmanuel!" Her demo lyrics do not express the same hope that the Christmas carol lyrics express. Instead, her song explores several dimensions of the human condition - pain, doubt, and fear. In response to these conditions, the singer cries out to the only one who can save her, Emmanuel - "Dreams that you've dreamt turn to dust. You ain't got no one to trust. What shall we do with a drunken sailor? You are addicted and must cry Emmanuel."

It's hard to know if the demo is actually complete. Running only two minutes and forty-two seconds long, it's a bit short for most AOB songs. If the work would have made it past the demo stage, would Jenny have completed the song using a hopeful and redemptive sound? Few people know for certain. If we look at her other works, it's surely a possibility. Many of her songs contain elements of darkness and despair mixed with hope and triumph ("Ravine", "He Decides", "Experience Pearls", "Wait Here", etc). Even the titles from works that may appear on a future solo album point to a possible blend of darkness and light ("So Many Mountains", "A Little Hope").

Personally, I think "Wait Here" could be seen as a back-story and follow up to "Emmanuel".

In WH, the singer leaves to see "what's yet unkown" and sneaks out "without a word", but she knows that "somewhere angels heard." After leaving, the singer's dreams "turn to dust" and she has "no one to trust". She cries out for for peace. She cries out to God, "Cry Emmanuel!" And God's response is contained within the chorus of WH, "Find my peace in your misery...it's yours for eternity." I know that's REALLY stretching the meaning of both songs, but it's interesting to see how they can fit together. I suppose it's like an AOB lyrics mash-up. ;o)

Back to the two "Emmanuel" songs: Both songs use a creeping bassline and a deep, contemplative sound to convey the seriousness of the subject matter. Both songs create a solemn atmosphere. Both songs also cry out for a Savior and anticipate that the Savior they cry out for will help them.

Despite musical and lyrical differences, both songs work from the same premise, redemption. One song is a cry for world redemption, while the other is a cry for individual redemption.

2006-10-05T23:03:00.000-05:00

This blog has not been orphaned. It's still alive, I promise! Several topics have been bouncing around in my head since the last post in August. I haven't had any time since then to sit down and write out a coherent post on those topics, unfortunately. But, when I get more free time, I'll be updating!

Until then, Ace on fellow fans!

ETIR vs. EIR

2006-08-01T23:34:00.000-05:00

Stop! You are under arrest by the grammar police!

Word court is now in session.

As many Acers know, abbreviations are widely used in Acerdom. Abbreviations exist for songs, tv shows, cities, you name it! Even the band's name is abbreviated most of the time. These shortened forms are well known and their use is generally agreed upon. LL is "Lucky Love", DTA is "Don't Turn Around" and so on. It's pretty basic. There are a few abbreviations, however, that cause a little bit of 'controversy'. Well, it's no "stop the presses!" controversy but it's somewhere along the lines of "Ace of Base" versus "Ace Of Base", I suppose. The most controversial abbreviation I can think of would have to be ETIR, or if you will EIR. "Every Time It Rains" or "Everytime It Rains".

So, should it be ETIR or EIR? Believe it or not, "everytime" does not exist in the English language. Go ahead, look it up! Try and find it in a dictionary. You won't find it there. You will find "every time" however. So, if you want to be technical about your abbreviations, the correct form would then be ETIR. (Those of you who have a North American CS single can pull it out and look at the back. Arista printed "From their forthcoming album, EVERY TIME IT RAINS" in small print at the bottom.)

But, if you're not a language freak, and you've visted the BMI site (http://repertoire.bmi.com/), you know that the songwriters themselves have registered the song as "Everytime It Rains". It does happen to be the "legal title" of the song. This would definitely lend creedence to the EIR supporters.

But really, who gives a flying fig about the abbreviation? What we all know with certainty is that the song enchants us. Forget all this grammatical nonsense. Just listen to that Linn-infused ballad again and let it take you away. Let music take the lead.

Cheiron contributions

2006-07-25T21:42:00.000-05:00

It's undeniable that Denniz Pop and Max Martin created memorable beats and mega-hits. Many fans of several bands are fond of the Cheiron sound. A great respect exists for their work. But, the duo's contribution to the Ace of Base sound is overblown. Yes, Cheiron helped polish the band's work but they did not create the band, nor did they create their sound. If you've heard the demo of "All That She Wants", originally titled "Mr. Ace", you'll know that the demo is incredibly similar to the finished product. The Ace of Base sound was already in place before Cheiron even touched it. Cheiron merely polished a diamond until it sparkled as bright as it could. Cheiron didn't create or cut the diamond, they just assisted in the polishing process.

Knock-Knock!

2006-07-08T01:06:00.000-05:00

Who's there?
Sven!
Sven who?
Svenljunga Symphonic Band!

Say that five times fast.

Jakob and Jenny performed with the Svenljunga Symphonic Band a few months ago and the ensemble's website is reporting that a DVD of the gig is available. Of course, being the nutty fan I am, I e-mailed them to find the cost for 5 copies. (I need some copies for trading you know!) Unfortunately, they gave me some bad news when I e-mailed. The copies aren't for sale and are only available to members of the symphonic band. Well!! You'd think they might want to make money but something is keeping them from selling this DVD to the general public... Jenny! Yes, that's right, innocent little Jenny is keeping them from making a hefty profit off each and every Acer the world over.

Ok, ok, she's not personally keeping them from selling it. It's, it's... Well, it's the same Acer Hell we've been living for the past 16 years. Legal issues.

The quite informative representative for Svenljunga Symphonic Band had this to say, in translation -

"Guest artists were present, among them Jenny Berggren from Ase of Base (no, I didn't misspell that.. The guy who wrote me did), and because of a record contract, etc, we cannot sell the DVD to the general public."

Things that make you go "hmmmmm"

Swedish traditional music

2006-06-12T14:31:00.000-05:00

I turn on the radio, hearing a familiar tune drift into the surroundings, or at least what I think is a familiar tune. "An Ace of Base song!", I exclaim. No, actually, it wasn't. It was a Swedish folk song. Ever since that mix up in 1998, I held on to the belief that AOB's music contains elements of traditional Swedish music. Not being a musician, I cannot technially explain what elements make the connection. But, a few days ago, I read an interview with a Norwegian singer who is very well known, Sissel Kyrkebø. A paragraph from the interview, translated:

-Björn and Benny's songs are built upon folk music, as well as many of the Swedish hits with Ace of Base and Max Martin, she says. If you take those songs out of their pop surroundings and play them as folk music, you can feel the folk vibes. It is a part of us.

I haven't been hallucinating all these years! There really is a connection between AOB and folk music! Reading the words of a competent musician stating that fact makes me feel even more confident of my position. I've spent the last few days searching the internet for a list of elements that can be considered unique to Swedish folk music, or Nordic folk even, but have come up short. No straghtforward list for us non-musicians seems to exist! I have culled some ideas though.

Minor key seems pretty common.
3/4 time seems popular as well.
Many of the songs tend to repeat a section 2 or 3 times and then move on.
Melody seems important.

Of course, you can't pidgeonhole any type of music and say "every Nordic folk song contains these elements" or "every pop song sounds like this" but you can get an idea.

A great deal of Swedish folk music history is online and I find it interesting that a revival of the traditional forms blossomed in Sweden in the 60s and continued through the 80s, which puts it in line with the formative years for Ace of Base.

It's obvious that the band members enjoyed this type of music, at least the Berggrens did. They learned many older songs from relatives and Linn and Jenny sang many traditional songs in their choirs. Did their parents listen to it? I don't know. But, the Aces did sing "Vårvinda Friska" at Vina Del Mar and Linn did write Lapponia, which contains traditional elements. The untitled "Sång" Linn and Jenny sang at Liseberg in 1996 is very much in line with the "Nordic sound" as well.

Take a listen to this sound file from 1981 and tell me you can't hear AOB elements!

Folk och rackare - För redeliga män.

Strings, melody, vocal harmony. It's all there...

An Acer nightmare...

2006-06-06T22:44:00.000-05:00

Oh, it was awful! *snicker* Now I know what Acer nightmares are like...

In my dream, I was watching tv when a commercial starts advertising a talk show. The commercial shows their next guest, Jenny Berggren. The show is set to air in just a few minutes, so I run around looking for a tape to record the show. I find a tape, only to realize that it already contains AOB material on it. "Well, I can't record on that one", I think. Suddenly, three blank tapes appear beside me. I begin to open one, put it in the VCR, and press record. It records the first few minutes of commercials before the show starts and I decide that I want to start the tape all over again because I don't want to flip through five minutes of recorded commercials before getting to the show. I rewind the tape only to find that the tape busts in half and is ruined. So, I put in the second tape and it busts. At this point, the talk show is already on and Jenny is talking and it's not recording! Arrgh! So, I try the third tape. It starts recording the show and I breathe a sigh of relief, only suddenly, the VCR acts up by randomly flipping through all the channels. I scramble over to the tv and try to find the talk show again but cannot find it. It's nowhere to be found. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Then, I wake up. Back to reality and my Acer nightmare is over.

Scary! ;)

Yearly Acer celebrations

2006-05-25T01:21:00.000-05:00

The thing I love about the Acer community is the free flowing creativity. Everyone has an idea and many Acers try to bring these ideas to life. It makes for an exciting and innovative atmosphere. Take the new AOB Wikipedia page created by Y&P for example. Or how about the Ace News site that Tino began a little while back? There is a new archive site Story Meant to Last , courtesy of Swan and Mary. And let's not forget to thank Anja and Jessi for the new Jenny Berggren Source website. New ideas are constantly bubbling up and being realized on the message boards as well. How about the weekly Acer Interviews at TAB? And recently at THB, Mona suggested a calendar with Jenny-isms and André wanted to revive the March Madness competition from a few years back.

André's post made me wonder why we don't have many events or happenings that take place every year in the community? Other fan families have days they use to mark and celebrate the passing of each year. Why shouldn't we have a few ourselves? We already have the Secret Santa game during the Christmas season. We had March Madness before, which can be revived with a little bit of work. How about some other events? Any suggestions Acers?

Fun with word origins

2006-05-16T00:21:00.000-05:00

I buy reference books like there's no tomorrow and I picked up a word history book today for the low, low price of $2.25. Being an Acer, of course, Ace and Base have to be the first words I look up.

Ace: Came into use during Middle English. An 'ace' denoted the one on dice in Middle English; it comes via Old French from Latin as 'unity, a unit'. It is often ranked as the highest value in a suit of playing cards, and the associated worth and 'excellence' are transferred to many uses and contexts, e.g: he served an ace, a motorcycle ace, Ace! You've done it! it wasn't our intention to ace Phil out of a job (North American sense of 'outdo').

Can we ace Lasse out of a job?

Base: Came into use during Middle English. Base as the bottom or foundation of something comes from Old French, itself via Latin basis 'base, pedestal' from Greek. In English in the late 16th centure basis denoted a base or pedestal, reflecting the Latin. The Greek root means, literally 'stepping', therefore giving a notion of 'something on which one steps or stands'. Base is also an element of the adjective basic 'forming an essential foundation'.

We better thank the French for picking these words up from Latin, huh? Then, we'd have to thank the Normans for invading England and winning the Battle of Hastings. See, history is important. Without the influence, AOB could still be called CAD. The members would then be known as Cads and we'd be Caddies or Cadets. I think I'll stick with Ace and Acer. Thank you France! ;o)

Party tricks and odd dreams

2006-05-08T14:10:00.000-05:00

Well, only two final exams left and good riddance to this semester. I picked linguistics as my major last semester and hated it but it's growing on me. Why? Because I can fake a great Swedish accent now! Isn't that what every mother dreams for their child, being able to fake a Swedish accent? All that phonology really comes in handy. Don't laugh. Linguists make good money in Hollywood teaching actors foreign accents for movie roles. (Hollywood movie "New World"). There's a job they didn't tell you about in high school.

Not only do I have a great party trick that'll bore my guests to sleep, I can also figure out why AOB pronounce words as they do. You know, "eyes" pronounced as "ice" and "consequence" as "conseqvence". Fascinating informa..zzzzzzzz.

Speaking of sleep, I had a dream last night that a friend was going to interview Roxette but he fell asleep and didn't make it to the interview in time. So, I had to interview them. But, I didn't know it until they arrived at my house. My house was not so tidy and the interview room was full of AOB posters. No Roxette merchandise to be found anywhere. Anyway, I interviewed them and didn't record it or write down any answers. They left and my friend asked me for the interview info and I couldn't even remember anything I asked them. Maybe that means I should lay off the Swedish music for a day or two. NAHHHH!

Calgon take me away...

2006-04-10T23:50:00.000-05:00

I'm drowning in assignments! So begin the final weeks of my school semester...

Escapism. Yes, please. Ever notice how many AOB songs refer to that? Maybe the theme is just as common as love themes in the AOB song catalogue. Who knows. I don't have time to count them.

The Da Capo album is the magnum opus when it comes to Escapism -

"I believe in there's a world down under..."
"But you can't hear me in your dream. You're living in a dreamer's dream"
"Hiding away, running from reality. Who am I? Am I an actor in this game?"
"Try to forget what you're going through."

The album is laced with it. Decide yourself what that means and where it fits into the picture. DC also carries a heavy dose of yearning in both music and lyrics. It's more 'bitter' in a way I can't put my finger on.

Maybe I'll elaborate on those 'Da Capo themes' in a later post. For now, sleep calls.