Västerbottens Folkblad 110413
By: NICLAS HOLMLUND
UMEÅ. Helen Sjöholm will enjoy tonight’s appearance in Umeå a lot. Together with her nine musicians she is on tour; “Euforia” where she interprets songs by Billy Joel.
– It feels sad that the tour is about to end because it worked so amazingly well for us, Sjöholm says.
Last fall, the album “Euforia – Helen Sjöholm sings Billy Joel” was released: Helen Sjöholm’s first album since “Visor” in 2002. – Since I’ve done so many other things than releasing albums and touring, it´s extra fun to be able to get out and meet new audiences now, says Sjöholm, who lives in Stockholm but has her roots outside Sundsvall. In addition to Billy Joel’s songs in new versions, the audience will hear interpretations of Nick Cave and Elvis Costello.
Great songs
For many people Helen Sjöholm is perhaps most well-known from the movie “As it is in heaven” and the song “Gabriella’s Song” is also performed during the tour.
– It’s fun to mix old and new songs with songs from the album, says Sjöholm, who thinks the songs grow when she performs them with her nine musician band.
Therefore she’s is going to enjoy the last gigs on the tour, in Umeå tonight and tomorrow in Luleå.
– It was nearly five years ago I stood on stage in Umeå, so it feels like it’s about time. I have time to visit my cousin and maybe take a walk along the river, but then we roll on, says the 40-year-old.
That the new album would be filled with Billy Joel interpretations were otherwise not obvious. Sjöholm is not an old fan, but discovered the songs a few years ago.
– But when I started listening, I discovered more and more. He has written fantastic melodic songs that I really wanted to sing, explains Sjöholm, who got in touch with Tomas Andersson Wij to ask if he wanted to translate the songs into Swedish.
– I have always admired his style of writing, and the fact that he wanted to join the project was an important piece of the puzzle that fell into place so that this CD would come to life, Sjöholm says.
Great movie role
She is very satisfied with Andersson Wij’s work and says that she would like to work with him again if time and facilities are available. Time is usually in short supply. The great singer and actress Sjöholm is often engaged in different contexts. Last fall, she played in “Aniara” at Stockholm’s City Theatre and in December of this year the film “Simon and the oaks” has premiere, in which Sjöholm plays Simon’s mother. In addition to her film roles Sjöholm also has provided her voice for various cartoon characters.
– I think it’s fun to try different things. You always learn something and develop. In the animated movies it has been useful to be musical, because you need a good sense of timing in dubbing, Sjöholm says.
The next major musical project is a summer tour with Benny Andersson’s orchestra, including an appearance in Örnsköldsvik, July 21.