Photo & © Maria Giulia Cecchini
Guest blogger: Kaelin Johansson
Helen in Uppsala. What can a girl say? True love. Went three-hour drive to see my idol, and it was so worth it! Every moment when she stood on the stage made me light up in a big smile and dance for all I was worth.
I don´t feel so good otherwise, but when I see Helen, then I´m just so happy. It’s weird, right? That a person can do so much with a smile and a voice from the sky. I laughed when Helen joked about the Ramlösa, I laughed even more when she said she doesn´t “saw everything in December”. I cried a little when she sjäng O Klang And Jubeltid, because it´s one of the songs that touch me most among BAO:s repertoire.
My singing lessons are largely devoted to singing everything from BAO to Chess and Kristina, and my piano is too full of their notes. I can not tell you enough how much Helen Sjöholm means to me musically, she has been my inspiration since I was a little girl and saw Kristina for the first time.
Being on a BAO concert is special. There is a special atmosphere that you will not find anywhere else. It´s fascinating to see all these older people overall, so happy, dancing, and even young faces found their way back to their roots.
I went with my dad, a former greasers, so even those can appreciate BAO’s music and find joy in it. Helen really lightened up our evening, I can not emphasize enough how good she was, her voice when she sang Kära Syster (Dear Sister), I shuddered. The joy of Nu Mår Jag Så Mycket Bättre (Now I Feel So Much Better) was amazing, Du är min man (You Are My Man) made everyone stand up and just scream (at least where I was), Helen’s dance moves and also the others’ performance was wonderful.
As Orsa girl who took music lessons by members of BAO I´ll be a little bit nostalgic too and cheer a little extra for the Orsa gang. And Benny Andersson… What can you say? You don´t find a more musical man. It was not quite Kristina, but it was still a amazing concert that I could see a hundred times.