Photo and © Tina Schuster
This winter, more specifically between 27/11 – 12/19, Helen has starred in Stjärnklart; a lavish company show that gave its first two performances at the Stockholm Concert Hall in 1986. This year, apart from Stockholm, also Norrköping, Malmö and Gothenburg could enjoy the show.
In Stockholm we were 10 Helen supporters who had the privilege to see the show together on Saturday, November 30. We met in the Concert Hall foyer just before 7pm, where the tickets were handed out, and after that we took our seats in the front row of 2nd balcony, admittedly quite far from the stage, but with a clear view. And what a professional show we were treated to! Neither the lighting, sound nor choreography left anything to be desired. The participants, in addition to Helen, included Martin Stenmarck, Charlotte Perrelli, Petra Marklund and Magnus Carlson. Compere and conductor was Anders Berglund. The program we were treated to went as follows:
ACT 1
New York Medley:
On Broadway
New York – Helen Sjöholm
Manhattan – Petra Marklund
I’m an Englishman in New York – Magnus Carlson
Downtown – Charlotte Perrelli
YMCA – the guys
Dancing in the street – Martin Stenmarck, while the others danced
It’s up to you New York, New York
Anders Berglund performs, rapping, a presentation of the participating artists
Kärlekens tunga – Petra Marklund
Touch me – Magnus Carlson
The girl – Charlotte Perrelli
Everybody’s changing – Martin Stenmarck
Gabriellas sång – Helen Sjöholm
Buenos Aires – Charlotte Perrelli
Don’t cry for me Argentina – Charlotte Perrelli
Unchained Melody (Ghost) – Martin Stenmarck & Magnus Carlson + guest from the audience
Vi passar så bra isär (Glaset i örat) – Helen Sjöholm & Martin Stenmarck
Runaway – Magnus Carlson
Cry for you – Petra Marklund
This girl is on fire – Charlotte Perrelli
River (Joni Mitchell) – Petra Marklund
Musical Medley:
I wanna rock, Don’t stop believing (Rock of Ages), The final Ccountdown – Martin Stenmarck
Beyond the sun and moon (Hjälp sökes!) – Helen Sjöholm
Defying Gravity (Wicked) – Helen Sjöholm
There’s no business like show business
A Chorus Line
Anything Goes
Anything you can do I can do better (Annie Get Your Gun)
Greased lightnin’ (Grease)
Big spender (Sweet Charity)
All that jazz (Chicago)
I am what I am (La Cage Aux Folles)
Mamma Mia!
You can’t stop the beat (Hairspray)
ACT 2
Synth Medley, among other songs an extract from Du måste finnas (You Have To Be There)
Man with a mission, Little sister, My life would suck without you – Martin Stenmarck
Homage to Monica Zetterlund:
Sakta vi gå genom stan – Charlotte Perrelli
Monicas vals – Petra Marklund
Var blev ni av, ljuva drömmar – Helen Sjöholm
Den sista jäntan – Helen Sjöholm
Gröna små äpplen – Charlotte Perrelli
Trubbel – Petra Marklund
Vad en liten gumma kan gno – tjejerna
Bedårande sommarvals – tjejerna
Jag ber dig – Magnus Carlson
Burning down the house – Petra Marklund & Magnus Carlson
Kåta Maja – Helen Sjöholm
How do you keep the music playing – Martin Stenmark & Charlotte Perrelli
Love on top – Charlotte Perelli
Dancing in the dark – Martin Stenmarck & Magnus Carlson
Helen runs onstage and starts singing Du är min man
Händerna mot himlen – Petra Marklund
Fix you – Helen Sjöholm & Magnus Carlson
Decemberfåglar – Martin Stenmarck
Hero – Charlotte Perrelli
From now on (Från och med du, Oscar Linnros ) – Magnus Carlson
Helen runs onstage and starts singing Du är min man
Mikrofonkåt – Petra Marklund
Sjumilakliv – Martin Stenmarck
Du är min man – Helen Sjöholm
Earth, Wind & Fire 70’s Medley:
September
Let’s groove
Boogie wonderland (also as encore)
It was fantastic to see and hear Helen in new songs and new constellations! One of the absolute highlights was when she sang Defying Gravity from Wicked.
Helen made a long several costume changes during the evening: In the initial New York medley she wore a long black dress coat, with a belt and pants underneath. In Gabriellas sång she had a long blue velvet dress and in Denne man har beslutat att följa mig hem inatt, a sheer black knee-length dress with a matching bow in her hair. The song was done as a comic duet with Martin Stenmarck, and at the end, just before they ran off the stage together, Magnus Carlson came in with roses which he reached out to Helen, who had her back to him and did not see him. Continuation of this would follow in the second act. In Bortom sol och måne, which slid over into Defying Gravity, Helen wore a cerise sleeveless long gown, and later in the musical medley she appeared in tailcoat, black pants, silver vest and a hat.
In Homage to Monica Zetterlund she had a period characteristic straight blue silk dress. In Kåta Maja, which as it should be was presented as the delicate, educational ballad that it is, she of course had the one and only choice of the national costume. In Fix You, the duet with Magnus Carlson, she wore a turquoise silk top to black slacks.
Dressed in the summery dress with large roses on Helen on two occasions rushed in and tried to sing Du är min man, first to Magnus Carlson, and then to one of the band members. But she was interrupted by both Magnus and Anders, and had to slouch off again, before she finally managed to carry the song through on the third attempt.
In the finale she had a bias cut green extravagant glitter dress that fitted like a glove. Also worth noting was that we actually got to see Helen dancing in this show, how often does that happen!?
On December 19 the tour ended at Waterfront in Stockholm, and Kristina and I were there. We had really not had enough of this amazing show after the first visit. The program was – in principle – the same as above. The song orde had possibly been reversed in some cases. The only difference was that the show started later, and consequently ended later, not until midnight, so Kristina had to rush to her train, and I myself hurried down into the subway to get home and catch a few hours of sleep before the next day of work.
The audience was also more glittery dressed at the tour finale – and more drunk! Especially the gang of guys sitting behind us who holloed high about everything. In particular Petra Marklund, but also about Helen’s Kåta Maja, which they guffawed to and lived the part of. Also downstairs in the stalls talk was quite frequent, which was a shame because it interfered in the quieter ballads.
We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to see Stjärnklart twice, and deeply impressed by the elaborate show and super professional performance! Perfect and amazing, and it is to be hoped that there will be more times!