Norrbottens-Kuriren 110415
By: ROLF NILSÉN
MUSIC + + + +
Helen Sjöholm sings Billy Joel and some other songs.
House of Culture / Grand Hall
Thursday, April 14
I have to leave the almost completely sold out Great Hall, just when Helen Sjöholm is finely duetting with the wary ace-guitarist “Jojje” Wadenius; Where the Wild Roses Grow by Nick Cave is coming to an end. The damned press time, you know. No technology, no matter how new it is, can overcome it.
But at least I had time to consume about one hour and forty minutes of quality music performed by the girl with THAT great voice and with THAT equally great smile, Helen Sjöholm, who ends her tour, dedicated to songs by Billy Joel and a few others, right here in Lulea, this evening.
Surrounded only by quality musicians, besides Wadenius including on the night 40-year old, even slightly undisciplined audience singing acclaimed, pianist Martin Östergren, and violinist Hanna Helgegren, Billy Joel’s songs were performed (in a nice smooth translation by Tomas Andersson Wij, such as Euforia (the name of her latest album as well, full of such songs, please buy it!), She´s Always A Woman, The River Of Dreams and probably some others too, that I missed.
But it´s with naked, unprotected expression, together with an unpretentious charm that Helen Sjöholm ensures this splendid final show. Along with the Billy Joel songs she is offering some real thrilling stuff from Harry Martinson’s Aniara opera, a Shakespeare sonnet and I Almost Had A Weakness by Elvis Costello (along with a female and deeply skilled string quartet), etc.
Incredibly beautiful. Thunderous quality. Another brilliant night at the House of Culture.