and of course, the abba comparisons were endless. two guys, two girls -- one blonde, one brunette -- from sweden making catchy pop music. but their sounds were distinctly different. and like it or not, ace of base paved the way for an onslaught of scandanavian pop acts to emerge in the u.s. music scene in the '90s and early '00s, including the cardigans and robyn.
between 1992 and 2002, they produced four studio albums: happy nation/the sign (1992/1993), the bridge (1995), flowers/cruel summer (1998), and da capo (2002). because american music moguls felt europop doesn't often translate well stateside, their albums saw many incarnations with different titles, track listings, mixes, and single releases. but the changes weren't always for the better. for example, the song "life is a flower," the lead single off their third album, flowers (called cruel summer in the states), was the most-played song on european radio in 1998 and peaked at #5 on the u.k. charts. however, reps from arista, the band's american label, thought the song "too european" in nature and demanded it be re-recorded. the arrangement was changed, and so were the lyrics, and it was renamed "whenever you're near me." that version peaked at #76 on the billboard hot 100 and received little to no airplay in the u.s.
the bridge, their sophomore set, was the album with the fewest differences between its worldwide releases, and is undoubtedly their best. not only for its consistency, but because it's the only album with major songwriting contributions from all four members.
jonas berggren formed the band in 1987 with two friends, and employed his two sisters, linn and jenny, as the singers. when the two friends left, ulf ekberg joined. after struggling for several years to find their sound, an audience and secure a label, they finally achieved minor success in europe in 1992 with their singles "wheel of fortune" and "happy nation." but it was their third single, "all that she wants," that helped them to achieve international success. that was quickly followed by "the sign" -- the #1 song of 1994 in billboard's year-end charts -- "don't turn around," and "living in danger."
subsequent hits followed including "beautiful life," "lucky love," and the top 10 cover of bananarama's "cruel summer."
the band's direction changed with their third album when linn, the blonde and lead singer, decided to step back. critics said the sisters' voices sounded the same, but linn's was much stronger, richer, and had much more range. it was also the voice associated with nearly all of their international hits. jenny's voice was good, but when she took center stage, the songs without linn's support didn't pack as much punch. linn officially left the band in 2007.
the band's last studio album was in 2002. after a 6-year hiatus, they tried, as a trio, to stage an unsuccessful comeback. jenny left the band this past november. jonas and ulf will continue the band with two new singers.
you know, even when abba was at its peak in the mid- to late-70s, it wasn't so cool to like them. but here we are 30 years later and they're being inducted into the rock 'n' roll hall of fame. their music has been reevaluated and reassessed as essential pop music. perhaps the same will be true for ace of base in another two decades.
they're getting some recognition now. lady gaga's music has often been compared to ace of base's, and katy perry said she hopes her next album will sound like them. but i think the new rolling stone album guide (2004) says it best: "[their] seemingly benign Eurodisco thump was actually full of moody undertones; their plastic textures were pristine rather than antiseptic; their synthetic skank was surprisingly club-wise. and they wrote 'the sign,' the wisest, catchiest, most triumphant kiss-off since 'i will survive.'"
i saw the sign indeed.
the band's last studio album was in 2002. after a 6-year hiatus, they tried, as a trio, to stage an unsuccessful comeback. jenny left the band this past november. jonas and ulf will continue the band with two new singers.
you know, even when abba was at its peak in the mid- to late-70s, it wasn't so cool to like them. but here we are 30 years later and they're being inducted into the rock 'n' roll hall of fame. their music has been reevaluated and reassessed as essential pop music. perhaps the same will be true for ace of base in another two decades.
they're getting some recognition now. lady gaga's music has often been compared to ace of base's, and katy perry said she hopes her next album will sound like them. but i think the new rolling stone album guide (2004) says it best: "[their] seemingly benign Eurodisco thump was actually full of moody undertones; their plastic textures were pristine rather than antiseptic; their synthetic skank was surprisingly club-wise. and they wrote 'the sign,' the wisest, catchiest, most triumphant kiss-off since 'i will survive.'"
i saw the sign indeed.
- the sign - from the sign
- into the night of blue - b-side to single everytime it rains
- dr. sun - from flowers
- never gonna say i'm sorry - from the bridge
- all that she wants - from happy nation/the sign
- life is a flower - from flowers
- living in danger - from the sign
- beautiful life - from the bridge
- summer days - from da capo
- don't turn around - from the sign
* i posted a similar mash-up last month, but this one is much better!
