A very nice article about Frida by Olle Berggren in Göteborgstidningen/iDAG from 20 July 1992 when she had just appeared on the Artister för Miljö single.
Frida is
still the best singer
In the
middle of the ABBA-revival Frida pops up again. She does it on a single with
Artister För Miljö. Here she once again proves her class. “The best Swedish
singer” according to iDAG’s Olle Berggren.
It’s now
close to ten years since Frida started the recording of her last (?) solo
album, “Shine”, with producer Steve Lillywhite in Paris.
But no singer worthy of taking over the legacy after Frida has
emerged on the female pop scene.
I’m
brutally reminded of this when a single from Artister För Miljö comes in the
mail.
By pure incident I let the CD continue to
play so the B-side comes through the speakers.
Frida does Julian Lennon’s
“environmental-political” contribution “Saltwater”.
Oh my God! Where have you been all these
years, Anni-Frid!?
SUDDENLY MOST OF the internationally commercial Swedish girl pop pales in comparison. One
single artist, who is also part of this environmental project, is Marie
Fredriksson. But only in the context of Roxette.
If Frida hadn’t been “generous” enough to
lend her voice to this songs, I would have kept on believing that the most
interesting voices were the the ones topping the charts now.
Eva Dahlgren and Lisa Nilsson.
Great vocalists in Swedish. But in
English? Dahlgren lost all her character on the English language album she
recently released. Then there is Louise Hoffsten. But she is
more of a R&B singer. Not a pop singer ready for an international career.
BUT THEN, THERE she is back again enchanting the listener. Frida, the best voice in
Swedish pop history. Not that “Saltwater”, in any way, is
powerfull enough to restart Frida’s career. Neither is it intended to do so.
But the songs shows what she has to give. On the polarized pop scene with rap and
and dance on one side, well produced pop music on the other there is room for a
46 year old vocalist. The timing is also a lot better than it
was when Frida started her (international) solo career with Phil Collins in the
producer chair. Back then ABBA was a sort of embarrassing
reminder of the 70s which wasn’t taken seriously by the more refined pop
circle. The group’s status has grown enormously during later years to reach its
peak during the summer of 1992. Right now ABBA are celebrated all over the
world and has reached the same position in pop history as the Beatles and the
Beach Boys. Erasure has released an EP with
ABBA-covers and U2 nowadays has “Dancing Queen” on their songlist when they are
touring. A collection of songs, maybe a CD-box, is planned for release this
fall and in August ABBA’s old classic “Dancing Queen” will be re-released as a
single all over Europe. A tribute album is being recorded right
now here in Sweden with 12 artists and groups, among them Army Of Lovers with
their version of “Hasta Mañana”.
SO, BJÖRN AND BENNY, now that you have finished writing songs for Josefin “Ainbusk”
Nilsson’s solo album, please have a look through your drafts and unreleased
songs. Maybe there is something that would be suitable for Frida. Yes, and even Per Gessle, who always have
been “over writing” songs might have some left over in his drawers at Torsgatan
in Halmstad. Then all you have to do is find the right
producer and some more song writers. Minor obstacles on the way to a come back.
“Saltwater” is a part of that plan. The next could be a whole album. Why not
call Richard Dashut, the man behind Fleetwood Mac and Lindsey Buckingham’s solo
album “Out Of The Cradle”.
Why wait?