Norrköpings Tidningar 131028
By: Lisbeth Rosenback
The audience got to hear both “Du måste finnas” and “Du är min man”, but Helen Sjöholm is so much more than a musical artist and singer in BAO. That she showed at the concert in front of a crowded De Geer Hall on Sunday night.
Sjöholm moves effortlessly between folk songs and ballads, jazz and blues, pop and rock, and she interprets everything in the same skillfully way. To say that she belongs to the top tier of Swedish singers is no exaggeration. Additionally she has the ability to, without any bigger fuss, interpret each piece so that it becomes a story, a story that convinces and affects.
The concert featured both old and familiar songs, as well as new and rarely performed. Among the new things were a taste of the upcoming musical “Livet är en schlager”, while the British folk singer Judee Sill’s beautiful ”The Kiss” was one of the more rare gems.
A plunge into the Swedish song jewels has resulted in swinging versions of ”Vårvindar friska” and ”Här är Gudagott att vara”.
Sjöholm returned several times to Billy Joel, in Tomas Andersson Wij’s Swedish translations. The songs get a new dimension in her interpretations. Joni Mitchell is another favorite that Sjöholm highlights.
She brings four musicians, who accompany pliable, whistle, sing harmonies and support and complement Sjöholm’s nice voice. Everyone is extremely skilful, but Jojje Wadenius shines a little extra bit on guitar. The musicians also serve us some instrumental tracks.
With such a broad program, there is a risk that the whole feels a bit sprawling. There are abrupt shifts now and then. Like when a magical instrumental track from Peter Pan is followed by the swinging ”Veronica”, written by Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney. Or when ”Gabriella’s sång” * quickly turns into a rock ballad by Depeche Mode.
It’s not very often Sjöholm shows her comedic talent. But here it glimpses, both in fun small talk between songs and in the subtly sly encore “Kåta Maja”.
After the conclusion with “Du är min man” the audience gave her standing ovations.
Facts
Helen Sjöholm
Trams: 4
Musicians: Martin Östergren, Jojje Wadenius, Ulric Johansson and Tomas Bergquist.
Where: De Geer Hall
Audience: Crowded
* admin note: it was ”Du måste finnas”