Sundsvalls Tidning 101112
By: JANNE HALLMAN
STOCKHOLM (ST) When Helen Sjöholm makes a comeback with a new CD she makes it with cover versions of Billy Joel songs, with Swedish lyrics by Tomas Andersson Wij. Even as an actress, she likes ne…w interpretations: Right now she plays Poetissan in Lars Rudolfsson’s modernized version of Harry Martinson’s epic Aniara.
ST meets Marie Helen Sjöholm Granditsky in Stockholm, her home town for many years. She lives in a villa in the south suburb Sickla in Nacka. Close to her home is Dieselverkstaden – a place for different cultural expressions, with libraries, art exhibitions, a cafe and a stage for musical and theatrical performances.
We are sitting in the cafe and it hits me that Helen Sjöholm is like a cultural house – a chameleon that moves effortlessly between genres. The relatively newly-appointed 40-year-old (she was born July 10, 1970) can show a very impressive CV. From choral singing in Sundsvall, through the massive breakthrough in Kristina from Duvemala, to CD:s with folk songs and jazz, light-hearted musicals like Chess, Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady, and dramatic film roles in As it is in heaven and the next Simon and the oaks.
Not to mention her involvement in Benny Andersson’s Orchestra, where You are my man holds a record that probably will never be broken. The song was on the Swedish charts for more than five (!) years.
And now she is involved in the prestigious play Aniara, the official anniversary performance at the 50th anniversary of the City Theatre. Registration and processing of Lars Rudolfsson and new music by Andreas Kleerup, best known for pop songs with Robyn and Titiyo.
– We have worked intensively since early August, and it was enormously exciting, said Helen Sjöholm, who plays the blind Poetissan.
– But Lars is not saying it´s an adaptation but an edit, he has just left out pieces to create drama and find a common thread. And Andreas has done a fantastic job. The power of the music is that it´s suggestive and growing. He has captured something special from Martinsson there.
The show has received mixed reviews, but most of them who have seen the play has been touched by the story of the last survivors on earth, traveling on a spaceship to a better future. But the ship went off course and ends the journey toward death, lost in the universe’s infinity.
– You could say that Aniara is about a person’s life – from birth to death – even though they are on a ship in space. It will be very interesting talk afterwards, people are thinking for weeks about it.
It has also been very fun to work with acting legends as Sven Wollter, Claire Wikholm and Helge Skoog.
– But they are not legends in their roles, but part of the collective. Aniara is like a jazz improvisation – you have to keep track of all the other all the time.
What happened when you got the role?
– Lars asked me, says Helen. I have worked a lot with him earlier and he wanted me to be Poetissan. And if Lars asks me my answer will of course be yes. You know it will be an exciting journey, she says with a laugh.
While Helen Sjöholm rehearsed Aniara she has recorded his new album Euforia, where she sings songs by Billy Joel. Tomas Andersson Wij have made Swedish interpretations of songs selected by Helen, and then she has recorded them with a prominent collection of musicians, including Jojje Wadenius and Martin Östergren. Euforia is produced by the experienced Gunnar Nordén (Lisa Ekdahl, Richard Wolff, Cardigans).
The album, which will be released on Wednesday, is her first solo album since 2002, when she recorded “Visor”.
– It´s incredible! But I have done so much on stage that there was not time.
You didn´t think of recording an album with songs from different musicals?
– No, I don´t listen to that kind of music myself, so the urge to make such a CD was non-existent.
So, why Billy Joel?
– A coincidence. My husband David (Granditsky) transferred the songs to my iPod, including She’s always a woman, as I listened to so much when it arrived. So I went through everything Billy Joel made and started thinking, maybe this is something?
The record company liked the idea very much and when Tomas Andersson Wij proved to be interested in translating the songs it was clear.
– He is a favorite, as I listened to. He has done a brilliant job of getting the lyrics in the female perspective, Helen says.
On the disc is missing, however, Joel’s greatest hits Just the Way You Are, and above all Uptown girl.
– It didn´t feel up to date, I have heard it too much. It’s very selfish to choose the songs himself, but it would not become good. The ones I have chosen have spoken to me. I’m very happy and proud of my CD.
Now she will take it easy. Aniara will be played to the end of the year, and next year, Helen Sjöholm just do the tour with Euforia, and a short tour with BAB.
– This year I made three major projects: in addition Aniara and the album I recorded the movie Simon and the oaks. Now I’m eager to land a bit and recharge my batteries. It will be great.
But almost immediately, a disclaimer:
– So I say, but then it pops up something amazing. You should never say never.
Tour premiere are based in her home town Sundsvall, a conscious choice, although not a requirement. But Helen likes Sundsvall, which she visits several times a year. It will be fun to play there, she thinks.
– It will be a full concert, with the band and the songs from the album. Jojje has also released an album where I sing a song, so it will be something from that one too.
I guess you can not get away to play You’re my man?
– Well, I think I’m taking a break from that song, it belongs to BAO. Though I and Jojje would play in Skåne once, and then I had said in an interview that I would not sing it. The organizers came to me and asked if it was true. Here Helen construct a typical Scanian dialect: – If you don´t sing that song they will kill you! They will kill you!
It ended up that the song was played.