Strengnäs Tidning 110207
By: THERES FORSSÉN
In her breakthrough role as Kristina in the musical Kristina from Duvemåla gold turned into sand, but for Helen Sjöholm, it´s quite the opposite. Most of what she has done has been successful, and her most recent project has already turned into gold.
Helen Sjöholm, 40, is currently on tour and on Wednesday she visits Lokomotivet (The Locomotive, a concert hall) in Eskilstuna. The tour is founded in her latest album, Euforia – Helen Sjöholm sings Billy Joel, which contains selected parts of Billy Joel’s tunes in Swedish. The Swedish interpretations are made by Tomas Andersson Wij and the CD, released in November, has already sold gold.
How has the tour been so far?
– Above expectation! This is new material and then you never know how it will be. We also do a lot more than Billy Joel in the concert. We have mixed it up with some unexpected things and it has worked amazingly well. It makes me so happy that people are curious about new songs and not only want to hear old stuff.
If people are interested in Helen Sjöholm’s musical past, it´s more than understandable, as there are in fact impressive successes. After winning the Swedish people’s hearts in the role of Kristina in the musical Kristina from Duvemåla, accomplishments have lined up. Among other things Helen Sjöholm has been awarded the Golden Mask for her lead role in Chess and together with Benny Andersson’s Band, BAB, she was in the Swedish charts the longest of all contributions ever with the song Du är min man (You are my man). She has also played in the Swedish Oscar grant in 2004, Så som i himmelen (As it is in Heaven). There she sang Gabriella’s song, which is one of the songs that has stayed most weeks on the Swedish charts.
Does everything you touch turn into gold when it comes to music?
– No, it’s not like that. I have been privileged to be able to choose with my gut for a long time. This way, I’ve been able to burn for the things I do, which often makes it successful. But this Billy Joel-CD has been received very differently, I’ve got everything from “absolutely brilliant” to deuces. But yes, I can see that I’ve been in a lot of projects that have become very successful.
I spoke to Lasse Holm last year and he said he dreams about having you in Diggiloo (a Swedish summer show). How about that?
– It’s really flattering, but I don´t think I will fit in it. I’m not that kind of pop music- or summer entertainment artist. You should never say never, but I rather feel attracted by another kind of repertoire.
You have also said in previous interviews that you will never take part in the Eurovision Song Contest?
– As I said; you should say never, but I don´t think I ever will. I don´t feel comfortable in such a context where you have three minutes to give your maximum. I´m really a long-distance runner.