QX December 2010
By: ANDERS ÖHRMAN
Right now she tops charts with her album “Euforia – Helen Sjöholm sings Billy Joel”. And in the new year she takes the album out on tour in Sweden. QX called a very cold Helen Sjöholm.
Winter cold winds howl… outside the window and it´s many degrees below zero, but inside heats Helen Sjöholm’s voice on the stereo. A voice which melts the most frozen fingers and toes. In her new album she interprets some of Billy Joel’s songs. An album that found its audience.
Three weeks in the top 10 and your album has already been certified gold, congratulations Helen!
– Oh, thank you! I just found out about it so tonight, the record company gives a dinner with the whole band, it will be really great to celebrate. It feels a bit unexpected that the CD has sold gold since record industry looks like it does today.
What was it that started this entire Billy Joel project?
– We were in the middle of moving house and picked up boxes and my husband David was about to transfer music files from his computer and suddenly I heard She’s Always a Woman from the speaker. Then the memories came back.
It was an old favorite?
– Yes, I had it in a playlist when I was 14 years old and I loved it very much. Then I continued to listen at Billy Joel´s songs.
Did you know any more songs with him before you started this project?
– Well, I knew a couple of songs like Uptown Girl, Tell her about it, New York State Of Mind and Just the way you are. I also recognized some other songs, but I didn´t know it was Billy Joel who made them.
The reaction seems quite common.
– Yes, many people say something like “Oh, is it Billy Joel who made it!”
Yes, and not Billy Idol!
– Haha, no, but I heard that it was actually someone who thought I made a cover album by Billy Idol songs. It would be something. Maybe in my next album …
The Swedish versions of the CD are written by Tomas Andersson Wij, what a guy…
– Yes, he is fantastic. He has a special language. It is both simple and poetic. I’m so glad he said yes to this.
Have you seen Billy?
– Oh no, (laughs) I don´t think he is very easily reached either.
Have you sent him the CD?
– No, not yet, but I want to raise the subject tonight, of course he must have it.
Then maybe he’ll call you one day…
– Yes, and yells “What the fuck have you done with my songs…”
And now you will go for a tour?
– Yes, it will be incredibly fun.Vi begin in January and continue through February.
What can we expect from the concert?
– It’s all very new material from the album, and a song which isn´t on the CD, we removed it at the last moment, The Entertainer, but it will work fine live. It will also be some flashbacks in the career. But it isn´t a best-of-tour.
Is there a song you feel you have to sing?
– No, I don´t think so. I try not to think so.
You are my man?
– No, then you have to go for a BAO-gig instead. Some songs simply don´t fit the band and the set I bring on the tour.
Do you enjoy touring?
– Yes, but it was a ong time since I toured. The last years I have mostly occurred in a single place in two or three seasons. As in “My Fair Lady” and now “Aniara”, which I play at Stockholm City Theatre. But it’ll be fun. I have toured before, and have seen the whole of Sweden.
You know Sweden?
– Well, I’m not an “On track” (Swedish TV-program) person, who knows about forests and cities and lakes, but I’ve seen a lot and played in many different places.
How do you feel about talking between the songs on a concert, is it nervous?
– No, not at all. I think it´s fun. I have started to think a bit on what to say, but it usually comes naturally when you put the song list together. Small talks between the songs is important, I know it very well myself when I go to a concert with someone I like, then I want him to talk a bit, to tell me about things.
I checked out which videos with you I could find on Youtube, and there is a clip from Carnegie Hall in New York where you sing “Du måste finnas” in English; “You have to be there”. And one of the comments says “I have never seen 2800 people jump out of their seats at the same time like after that song”. It seems to have been a magical moment.
– Jaaaa, it really was. I almost got a shock when I finished the song, I was not prepared for it. I was about to faint when the jubilation started, I will never forget it.
On February 14 QX organizes the Gay gala where the Homo of the Year among other things will be appointed, who is your Homo of the Year?
– Wow! It was no easy matter. I work with so many gay people who are so talented and good in every way. But I think my friend Karen may be my year’s gay. She realized quite late in life who she was and broke up from her previous life, and now she has a wife and two children. Courageous and impressive! I’m so happy for her!
HELEN SJÖHOLM
Name: Marie Helen Sjöholm Granditsky
Age: 40
Location: Nacka, Stockholm
Current: With new album “Euforia – Helen Sjöholm sings Billy Joel ”
New Year’s resolution: No, nothing official. I keep it to myself, so no one knows if I break it…