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21 December 2002

"Jag kommer hem igen till jul" is number 1 for the third week on the Swedish album charts.

Peter's TV special from 13 December will be repeated on 24 December on TV4 in Sweden.

Another TV special which is part of SVT's Solo series will be shown on SVT 2 on 21 December at 19:00 and repeated on 22 December at 10:45.

Peter will also be part of a 2002 highlights special of the TV show Allsång på Skansen to be shown on 26 December and repeated on 28 December on SVT 1 and SVT Europa.

An edited version of the second part of the ABBA Tribute Concert will be shown on 23 December on SVT1 and SVT Europa. Hopefully, Peter's stunning performance of "Eagle" will still be in it.

 Radio station P5 will be broadcasting an edited version of Peter's concert as performed at Berwaldhallen in Stockholm on 25 December at 14:00. A different edited version will be broadcast on P4 on 29 December at 11:00.

For those not in Sweden, it is possible to listen to Swedish radio over the web. Go to www.sr.se and then click on WEBBRADIO in the top left hand corner. A separate window opens. If it is your first time, you get to choose how you want to listen. You can choose from Real Player and Windows Media Player in the drop down box. If you tick the "spara" box then this choice will be saved for your next visit. Click OK.

On the next screen there is another drop down box which is where you can choose a radio station. Both P4 and P5 are available. Good luck.

Thanks to Tony Becker and Ann-Marie Carlstedt for the TV and radio information.

Expressen have interviewed Peter about being famous.

MY LIFE AS A STAR

What is the best thing about being a celebrity?

- I don't like the word "celebrity". It's strange. I don't see myself as a famous person. But I am recognised. And the best thing is that one gets to work with good musicians and other good artists.

What is the worst thing about being famous?

- I don't think of it that way. I try to live a normal life, travel on public transport and go to the office. That's important.

When was the last time you were recognised in the street?

- I think that I'm recognised every day. People look and I look back. Sometimes I say hi.

Have you been stalked by fans?

- No, none I have thought of in any case. Some come up and ask for autographs but I cannot remember ever being stalked.

When did you last meet a celebrity?

- I met a few when I lived in London. Once I went down to the supermarket where I lived. A girl stood next to me and tried to take my candy as I was picking it. I turned round and asked the jerk "What are you doing?".Then I saw it was Daryl Hannah. That was a little funny.

Do you like to shop?

- Yes, it's one of my biggest weaknesses. Usually lots of clothes and things for the home. And I shop a lot when I'm abroad.

What's the most expensive garment you've bought?

- I don't want to say. But it was a jacket and I bought it abroad.

The best thing you got for free for being a celebrity?

- I get things sometimes but nothing I use. I want to have things that are personal and which have their own memories. For example, I would never wear a shirt that someone sent me through the mail.

The best present you got from another celebrity?

- I can't remember getting anything... Flowers and champagne usually. The best thing is when colleagues hear of something and congratulate you when you've done well.

Craziest rumour which has been spread about you?

- I have no idea. I want to completely bury any rumours.

Which celebrity is the funniest?

- Pernilla Wahlgren is one of my best friends. She has a black sense of humour and when we get together we always end up laughing so much.

Tell us a secret about another celebrity.

- I would never talk about anyone else. And especially not to the media.

Interview by Hannah Sjöström. Translation by Grant Whittingham.

12 December 2002

click for larger image

After entering the charts at number 3, "Jag kommer hem igen till jul" has spent two weeks at the coveted number 1 spot. It is still selling very well and has passed the 80,000 mark. The album has been certified platinum. Aftonbladet interviewed Peter and a translation follows.

Congratulations Peter Jöback for being awarded a platinum disc for the Christmas album "Jag kommer hem igen till jul".

- Thanks. It's a great band playing on the album and great music. It's wonderful that the public appreciate it.

How many platinum discs have there been?

- This is the fifth one actually. It is unbelievably great when you have done something you really believe in and it goes well.

What do you wish for as a Christmas present more than a platinum disc?

- To have free time at Christmas and spend time with my family. To eat good food and talk about the year that has just passed.

Your Christmas album has sold well like your musical album. Do you think that your audience want to hear you in such a similar style?

- I just try to do what I like, the sort of thing I want to say. So perhaps it will be another pop song or perhaps a musical album or another Christmas album. We'll see.

Finally, what do you wish for most of all right now?

- I wish that the rest of the concerts on my Christmas tour are just as much fun and that the audience like them.

If you would like to see the TV ad for Peter's album, go to the Swedish version of the official site. Once you have selected the Swedish site, look at the first page in the bottom right hand corner in the box headed RINGSIGNALER. You will see two links for 'Modem' and 'Bredband' (broadband). Just pick whichever is appropriate for you. You will need Windows Media Player.

The concert tour is underway and the reviews have been very positive. Thanks to Gustav Sandberg for the following translations.

Aftonbladet:

click for larger image

4 out of 5
by Cecilia Lundblad

Peter Jöback has found his way home

Tommy Körberg and Christer Sjögren may as well throw in the towel. Peter Jöback's Christmas concert is the only one that can compete with Carola this year.

You can't help but surrender. Peter Jöback has found his way home this Christmas. After some good but not very successful attempts to become a pop star, Jöback seems to have found his niche. A niche where he can really make good use of his strong and beautiful voice without just being a musical star with pop ambitions. Because it is here he belongs, on stage, with oriental rugs, cushions and living candles, together with an orchestra of 15 people, led by Lars Halapi, who also produced the new album "Jag kommer hem igen till jul". Jöback has, this year, released something as unusual as a Christmas album that actually feels important. A perfect mix of personal feelings, classic Christmas songs and, most important of all, a bunch of newly written pop melodies with a tone and mood which suits him perfectly.

Right side of the border

On stage it's even better. The arrangements are grand, beautiful and moody to a point where it is almost too much, especially towards the end where he is joined by a choir of 12 people. But thanks to Halapi's perfect leadership the concert stays on the right side of the border and doesn't become an unbearable Christmas smooch-fest.

The magic gives you goose bumps

The newly written songs are of a very high standard. Both "Jag kommer hem igen till jul" and Mauro Scocco's "Viskar en bön" have a very clear Christmas theme without it becoming too much, and the Swedish version of Leonard Cohen's "Halleluja" as well as the Swedish version of Bob Dylan's "I believe in you", the latter with lyrics from Tomas Andersson Wij, works incredibly well. Jöback's Christmas saga is about the importance of family and traditions, spiced with some screamingly funny stories from both the Christmases he had as a child, as the one he celebrated by himself in London. Unusually personal from an artist who has kept his entire private life a secret, but if the truth should be told, I prefer the singer Jöback, because a comical vein, he sadly does not possess. But when he sings it's magical at times, and somewhere between "Guldet Blev till Sand" and "Getsemane" (from Jesus Christ Superstar) I actually got goose bumps. The only thing that could improve this Christmas concert is to skip some of the more well known Christmas songs. Because, seriously, who needs another version of "Ave Maria"?

Place: Västerås konserthus
Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Audience: Full (912)
Best: "Decembernatt (Halleluja)" and "Getsemane"
Worst: He should really work on the talking.

Expressen:

4 out of 5
by Klas Ericsson

Violins and seriousness in Jöback's Christmas show - and he reaches a range so wide it cuts right through you

Christmas concerts are always a bit castrated. Pine tree branches, northern lights, jingle bells and cosy songs about stars and God are usually not more than a velvety red waste of time. But Peter Jöback succeeds to add more than just some childish joy to the whole thing. Knowing how weak he always comes off on his albums this is almost a shocking difference! The string ensemble, Lasse Halapi on sparse guitar and the rest of the band peels away the sauciness and it works perfectly in everything from 'Ave Maria' to 'Guldet blev till sand'. Remaining is just Jöback's strength: his voice.

It is also possible to see what would be an interesting path for him to choose. Tomas Andersson-Wij's Dylan-rework "Jag tror på dig" is, in Jöback's hands, with support of Lasse Halapis finger tip guitar playing, a manically desperate gospel - as are "Decembernatt", the translation of Cohen's "Hallelujah". Whilst singing those songs he leaves that pastel coloured Niklas Strömstedt-land he's usually walking around in - and reaches a range that is so wide it cuts right through you. And that's exactly how you want him. A bit more deadly serious, a bit like Rickard Wolff on his underrated "Recital-91" album. Peter Jöback should throw the pop away. And yes - he kicks ass compared to Carola's Christmas show.

28 November 2002

"Jag kommer hem igen till jul" has entered the Swedish album charts at number 3. A great result. It has already been certified gold. Thanks to Ann-Marie for the information.

Peter will be signing copies of his album at Jakobsbergs Centrum on 14 December at 12:00pm. Thanks to Åse.

Peter was recently a guest at Mix Megapol radio station. Here are two photos taken in the studio. Click on them for a larger image. Thanks to Ann-Marie.

25 November 2002

"Jag kommer hem igen till jul" (I'm coming home again for Christmas) is now available in Sweden and by all reports, is selling well and attracting good reviews.

The tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. Viskar en bön [written by Mauro Scocco]
3. Ave Maria
4. Jag kommer hem igen till jul
5. Jul, jul strålande jul
6. Gläns över sjö och strand
7. Snön föll
8. Decembernatt (halleluja)
9. Guds frid I gode vise män
10. Marias sång
11. O helga natt
12. Jag tror på dig (duet with Eva Dahlgren)
13. Stilla natt
14. Varmt igen [written by Per Gessle]

"Jag tror på dig" is the Bob Dylan song "I Believe In You".

Peter will be signing copies of his album at Skivfyndet in Västra Frölunda on 29 November at 5pm and at Rox in Nordstan on 30 November at 12pm.

Peter will be appearing on Bingolotto on 30 November.

An extra concert in Stockholm has been added to the tour. It will be later in the evening on 10 December.

Peter has given an interview to QX Magazine. Here is a translation thanks to Gustav Sandberg and ABBAMAIL.

Peter Jöback is releasing a Christmas album (notching up HUGE advance orders by the stores). And in December he will go on a small Christmas tour (sold out in only a couple of days). No matter if he sings about gold turning into sand, pop-songs for the charts or Christmas songs about Jesus and Bethlehem he remains just as popular. We wondered why, and QX gave him a call.

- Is it really so? a shy Peter asked. Well, perhaps they feel that I really burn for what I do. It's so hard trying to analyze these things yourself. But I'm very happy people like what I'm doing.
I try not to repeat myself. I mean, after I recorded 'Personliga Val' it would have been so easy just to do another album in the same style. But it felt wrong to do that. I wanted to try something else. Lately I've learnt to live for the moment and enjoy everything that happens, I am somewhat of a seeker.

You have just released a Christmas album, don't you think there are just a few too many artists recording Christmas records?

-Yes, I feel the same way. No, people are going to say 'Hello! is he releasing a Christmas album now?'. But it wasn't my intention from the beginning for it to become a Christmas album I wanted to work with Lars Halapi, who'd been working on Sophie Zelmani's album. And we started talking about Christmas and Christmas albums and we had the same opinion about how a Christmas album should sound. I feel it's more of an album of feeling and emotions during winter, which Christmas is a part of.

The album is called 'I'm coming home for Christmas', have you been away for Christmas earlier?

- Yes, two years in a row I've celebrated Christmas in London. Two years age I celebrated with Swedish guys who were in London as well. We bout salmon and herring at the tax free shops and had a really cosy time. We were going to do the same thing last year, but they got stuck in traffic so I had to sit there by myself. It was a bit hard. I remember the salmon I had bought, it was rotten. And I was watching a documentary about Elton John on TV and felt that life sucked. All memories from earlier Christmases always comes back. I was in a relationship which ended around Christmas a couple of years ago and during Christmas those memories always comes back. On the album there's a song called 'Viskar en bön' to which Mauro Scocco has written the lyrics and it's about how it is to be alone during Christmas.
- But this year I will be with my family at home. My brother has just gotten a daughter so it's gonna be really fun.

Which Christmas albums to you listen to?
- I don't listen to many Christmas albums actually, but I like Family four's Christmas album, which Anders Burman produced and then there's two wonderful albums called Christmas Cocktails 1 and 2. On there there's some jazzier versions of Christmas songs, some "Hollywood-strings" and such. They're perfect for a Christmas get-together.

When do you think you should be listening to Christmas albums? When you decorate the tree, when you bake ginger bread cookies, when you're having a cosy time with your boyfriend at home?
- I don't know really, but when you're working around the house before Christmas it can be nice to be playing something in the background. But preferably you snuggle up in the couch, with glögg and just listen to the music!

Eva Dahlgren is singing a duett with you on one of the songs?
- Yes, I asked her if she wanted to sing a Bob Dylan-song with me, which Tomas Andersson Wij has written Swedish lyrics for. She wanted to and it was great fun and it turned out great.

I guess you recorded the album a while ago, how do you get into the Christmas spirit in the middle of the summer? It has to be hard to feel some "jingle bells" when it's hot and sunny outside?
-Yes, we were at Rommarö and it was 30 degrees hot outside. We started laughing when we were standing there singing Christmas songs, but we lit candles and tried to get in the mood. Then we jumped outside and bathed between songs...

You are going on a Christmas tour in December, how tired will you be with Christmas when it is finally Christmas Eve?
- Oh well, don't you see, I will fall asleep during Christmas porridge. But I'm looking forward to it so much, I don't see it could be a problem.

Is it hard to buy Christmas presents when you're a celebrity and people are looking and thinking "oh, Peter is buying a baking machine for mommie.."
- I never think that way, but now that you mention is...I'll just have to ask them to wrap it really fast (laughing). But I don't normally think about things like that. I am very common, I ride the subway and don't reflect over the fact that people recognise me.

Have you written your wish list yet?
- No, we stopped giving Christmas presents when I was 15 years old. We give each other boxes of chocolate instead. I don't know how many Aladdin-boxes we have at home during Christmas. And all you eat is that triple nut!

OK, but if you were to write a wish list today, what would be the first thing on the list?
- A course in Spanish I think. I really want to learn another language. Spanish and French. My mum and dad lived in Spain for a while, I even think I was made there..!(laughing)

By Anders Öhrman, QX
translated by Gustav Sandberg

9 November 2002

Peter's Christmas album has been put back by one week due to factory problems. It will now be out on 18 November. It can still be pre-ordered from www.skivhugget.com.

The official site lists 5 of the songs and gives you a chance to listen to about a minute and a half of each one. You will need to go to the Swedish version of the site and look under Musik-Album. The songs are:

There has been a big demand for tickets for Peter's Christmas concerts and extra concerts have been added in Västerås, Malmö and Göteborg. Here is the current list:

8 October 2002

On 11 November, Peter will release a new album of Christmas songs - in Swedish! The album is called "Jag kommer hem igen til jul" (I'm coming home again for Christmas) and will contain 13 songs. The album has been produced by Lasse Halapi and is a mixture of traditional and modern songs. The album contains such classics as Swedish versions of "Ave Maria" and "Silent Night". There are also songs written by Peter himself as well as Niklas Frisk/Andreas Mattson and Mauro Scocco/Peter Hallström. Per Gessle from Roxette has also contributed a song - his first written in Swedish since 1995. Some of the songs include choirs, including a children's choir.

The album can be pre-ordered from www.skivhugget.com.

Peter will be touring Sweden in December to promote the album. Tickets can now be booked for Peter Jöback Julkonsert (Christmas Concert) at www.ticnet.se.  The dates announced so far are:

24 August 2002

Picture from Aftonbladet.

Peter appeared at the ABBA Tribute concert last night. He performed one song, "Eagle", and joined in with the other performers with the chorus for "Thank You For The Music". He is pictured above with Charlotte Nilsson who also performed.

Peter will once again provide the Swedish voice for the title character in the movie "Stuart Little 2" just in Sweden.

"I Feel Good And I'm Worth It" is Record of the Month at www.abbamail.com.

7 July 2002

The Gallery page has been updated with pictures from Peter's recent appearance at Skansen. Thanks to Jan Bach.

Skivhugget is a Swedish online CD store. They have recently launched an English site and they have a Quicklink to Peter so that you can easily buy his CDs and CD singles. Check them out. We have always found them quick, reliable and reasonably priced. 

4 July 2002

It seems that Peter, along with the other Swedish performers, will perform at all three of the ABBA tribute concerts in August.

A new region 2 DVD is out in Sweden called "Det bästa från Allsång på Skansen". It is a compilation of appearances from the TV show Allsång på Skansen from last year and features an appearance from Peter.

The video clip for "Sinner" is available to watch as a streaming video on MTV Europe's site. Click here to view it.  Thanks to Amanda for this information. Of course, the video is also available on Peter's latest single in better quality.

26 June 2002

"She's Like A Butterfly" is now out in the Swedish shops. This is the tracklisting.

1. She's Like A Butterfly
2. Sinner (remix by Filterfokker)
3. Sinner (video)

Thanks to Ann-Marie for this information.

Peter has been announced as one of the artists appearing at the ABBA tribute concerts being held in Stockholm during August. There are three concerts but it is not known if Peter is appearing at all three concerts. The concerts are being held on 22, 23 and 24 August at Globen. There are reports that the concert will be broadcast on Swedish TV as well as around the world, including Australia and Japan.

11 June 2002

Here is the cover for "She's Like A Butterfly". This is the actual size and cannot be enlarged.

10 June 2002

The release date for "She's Like A Butterfly" is 24 June. An exact tracklisting is not known as yet.

Peter performed the following songs at Musik på Slottet on 3 June - "En gång i Stockholm", "Från Djursholm till Danvikstull" and "Beatrice Aurore". Thanks to Siv for the information.

Peter will appear at Skansen on 25 June to perform live for the TV show "Allsång på Skansen".

24 May 2002

Some more appearances on the Radio Rix Summer Festival Roadshow.

27 July - Karlstad
24 August - Stockholm

22 May 2002

The next single will be "She's Like A Butterfly". No release date has been set yet.

Interestingly, no one in our single poll voted for that song as the next single. The final results are:

1. Undress Me - 40%
2. Freeway - 24%
3. Heal - 19%
4. Northern Guy - 5%
5. I'm Gonna Do It - 5%
6. My Fatal Love - 2%
7. Crying On The Dancefloor - 2%
8. Time To Get Tacky - 2%

Upcoming appearances:

10 May 2002

The Swedish Cosmopolitan magazine has published a new picture of Peter (above). On the website, you can download the picture as your computer's wallpaper. Click here for the wallpaper.

"Sinner" is currently sitting at number 53 on the Swedish singles charts and the album is at number 37.

At the official site, Peter has said that planning is currently underway for the next single. There is no indication what that might be so we have included a fun poll for fans to vote. This poll has no connection with Peter's record company or management and is just for fun.

19 April 2002

Peter's album and single have been out for about a month now and unfortunately haven't been doing too well in the charts.

The album debuted at number 2 on the sales charts which is a good start but then dropped to number 15 the following week. It then went to number 16 and is currently sitting at number 17.

The single debuted at number 36 and then slipped to 43 and 52 before picking up slightly. It is currently at number 46. It may have suffered by being released only two days before the album and not containing anything different on it.

The Swedish critics have generally not been very kind but fans are ecstatic about the new album. It has been described as a much stronger album than the previous one. Hopefully interest from the general public will pick up soon.

Peter has been appearing on shows like Up North on MTV as well as the usual round of TV shows in Sweden.

There are more signings today in Norrköping and Linköping.

Sony in Norway have indicated that they will be releasing the album and single soon.

Peter will be appearing with other performers at a Stockholm musical tribute concert on 3 June 2002. Tickets and information can be found at www.ticnet.se. Thanks to Ann-Marie for this news.

The Discography and Biography pages have been updated.

25 March 2002

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet have made sound clips available for Peter's album. You will need Real Player.

Click here and then scroll to the bottom of the page. Under the heading "lyssna på skivan" you will see a list of songs. Just click on a song title to hear a snippet from the song. "Sinner" is the complete song.

19 March 2002

Thanks to Ann-Marie, I can reveal the tracklisting for the new album. Most of those who pre-ordered their copy received it today, ahead of the official release tomorrow.

She's Like A Butterfly
Sinner
Help Somebody
Freeway
My Fatal Love
Crying On The Dancefloor
This Is The Year
Heal
Northern Guy
Time To Get Tacky
Undress Me
I'm Gonna Do It
I Feel Good (And I'm Worth It)

The first six songs and the final song were previewed on Rix FM. "I'm Gonna Do It" was performed by Peter in his concerts last year.

18 March 2002

The single is out in Sweden today. It is getting plenty of airplay and the video is being played on ZTV. Peter appeared on the popular TV show Söndagsöppet yesterday and he performed "Sinner".

There will be record signings over the next week.

22 March - Gekås, Ullared - 2pm
23 March - Skivfyndet, V:a Frölunda - 12:30pm
23 March - Rocks, Nordstan (Göteborg) - 2pm
24 March - A6, Jönköping - 2pm
28 March - Mega Skivakademian, Stockholm

16 March 2002

Only two days to go before the release of the single and four days before the album.

The single will be a two track version with 

1. Sinner
2. This Is The Year (single version)

The following songs from the album have been previewed on www.rixfm.com so far.

1. She's Like A Butterfly
2. Sinner
3. Help Somebody
4. Freeway
5. My Fatal Love
6. Crying On The Dancefloor

12 March 2002

Every day this week, you can preview a track from Peter's new album on www.rixfm.com. The site is in Swedish but it's not too difficult to navigate.

On the first page as you go into the site, towards the bottom of the page, is a small banner with a picture of Peter. On the banner it says "Tjuvlyssna på Peter Jöbacks senaste album>>". Click on this.

On the next page, there is a picture of Peter. Just to the left of the picture you will see a song title in English. Just below that, in blue. will be a link which says "Tjuvlyssna här". Click on that link to listen to an extract from the song for that day. You will need Real Player to hear the extract.

Monday's song is "She's Like A Butterfly".  Tuesday's song is "Sinner".

Swedish gay magazine QX writes about Peter's album. They quote from the press release where Peter talks about the album:

- It's less about conformity and more about me, about who I am. There's a song on the new album called "Undress Me" which is about how you can hide yourself behind a role, about how people can meet a thousand times without getting to see who they are and then suddenly they get to meet someone who just sees through everything the same way.

- The album is also very much about me coming home to Stockholm. I lived in London for 18 months and worked an awful lot so I really didn't have time to meet people. I have played in musicals, and made a TV show and a restaurant show and a musical record and well, ... I like to keep busy with lots of things but I have tried to change my lifestyle a bit and get a grip on my life.

He reveals that the hard work has left its mark and that the music has helped him when things feel tough.

- I have felt down at times but have had the music to help me through it. And I want it to be heard, I really want to give the listeners something.

And one of the songs feels a little closer to his heart.

- I play piano on "This Is The Year" which is a ballad and an extremely vulnerable song. My brother is a pianist and I think that I play really badly, but I just did it and we took it as it came.

- It is like that with "I Feel Good And I'm Worth It". It is perhaps less polished than if someone else had done it. But it is more me.

If you live in Sweden, you can pre-order the album at www.skivhugget.se.

9 March 2002

The official site has reported that the album will now be in Swedish shops on 20 March, 5 days earlier than previously mentioned. Below is the cover for the album.

The single will still be out on 18 March. The link to listen to the song no longer works. Here is the single cover.

2 March 2002

New publicity shot. Click to see larger version.

The official site is reporting that the new single "Sinner" will be in the shops on 18 March 2002. It was released to radio yesterday.

"Sinner" is written by Orup/Dernulf/Becker and is produced by Stefan Olsson, Peter Cartriers and Alex Papaconstantinou.

If you want to hear the new single, click here. You will need Real Player to listen to the track.

The album "I Feel Good And I'm Worth It" will be in the shops on 25 March 2002.

9 February 2002

Aftonbladet has given away some advance information about Peter's new single and album.

The single will be called "Sinner" and should be out by the end of March. It is written by Orup.

The album will be called "I Feel Good And I'm Worth It" and is expected to be out at about the same time.

It is a more personal album and will attempt to reflect his own identity. It is refered to as soul-inspired pop. Aftonbladet describes it as a tougher style.

Peter has worked with such hitmakers as Orup, Niklas Frisk and Andreas Mattson.

Peter has written four songs by himself, co-written several others and even plays piano on the album.

Orup has contributed two or three songs. Mattson/Frisk have contributed about six. There are a number of producers - Peter Cartriers/Alex Papaconstantinou, Stefan Olsson/Peter Jöback and Andreas Mattson/Niklas Frisk.