Dagens Nyheter 110131
By: PO TIDHOLM
Helen Sjöholm’s concert – which she will be touring Sweden with during February – has a simple goal: it wants us to rejoice that we are human beings, sentient human beings with the length of the ladder and access to the emotions. A life-affirming culture, one might say. It sounds doubtful, right? But quality can justify almost anything, and who calls for artistic integrity when text and music strikes each member of the audience right in the heart. I quickly forget my reservations.
Tonhallen in Sundsvall, is Helen Sjöholm’s natural starting point, here she sang in the choir as a teenager before she moved south and eventually had her break through in “Kristina from Duvemala”.
The audience is warm and enthusiastic, Helen Sjöholm is present, nurturing and secure and the band large and professional. Jojje Wadenius on guitar, André Ferrari on drums and besides rhythm guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, and also a string quartet. All of them play so light and airy, dynamic and tight.
Helen Sjöholm’s concert is based around her latest album where she choses to sing new versions of Billy Joel songs. It’s not as strange as it may seem, Billy Joel is working in an American genre, which sometimes acts as a bridge between musical and pop tradition. It fits Sjöholm like a glove. Tomas Andersson Wijs translations are very successful.
But there is also time for interpretations of folk songs, Shakespeare, music by Nick Cave and Elvis Costello and a long, insanely well-rehearsed 80’s medley which is based on songs to tell us about Helen Sjöholm’s teen years. Everything isn´t tasteful, but on the other hand the concert is probably meant to be a smorgasbord, with something for everyone. And I find it hard to believe that anyone will be disappointed. Better musical entertainment than this one might not be heard in Sweden this year.