{"id":5569,"date":"2014-08-30T19:17:30","date_gmt":"2014-08-30T17:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/helensjoholm.nu\/_eng\/?page_id=5569"},"modified":"2022-03-15T15:28:10","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T13:28:10","slug":"now-life-will-be-a-hit-song","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/helensjoholm.nu\/_eng\/press-clips\/interviews-2014\/now-life-will-be-a-hit-song\/","title":{"rendered":"Now life will be a hit song"},"content":{"rendered":"

QX magazine September 2014<\/strong>
\nBy: P\u00c4R JONASSON<\/p>\n

These are excerpts from the article<\/em><\/p>\n

On September 11, the musical “Life is a hit song” premieres – written and directed by Jonas Gardell, music by Frederik Kempe, costumes designed by Christer Lindarw, Peter J\u00f6back as transvestite Candy Darling and a story that revolves around the Swedish Eurovision Song Contest, it may well be the world\u2019s so far most \u201cgayish\u201d musical.<\/strong>
\n – Considering many of those working both on and behind the stage [are gay] this makes for a wonderful little queen parade, Jonas Gardell says and adds:<\/strong>
\n – I hope we\u2019ll get to park ourselves on stage during the next QX-gala!<\/strong>
\n QX had an exclusive meeting with Jonas and some other of the musical\u2019s \u201cmain characters\u201d behind the scenes at Circus during a busy rehearsal day just a few weeks before the premiere.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jonas Gardell says he\u2019s not nervous about the premiere.
\nAren\u2019t you<\/strong> nervous about the reviews either?<\/strong>
\n– Them I\u2019m obviously nervous about, the reviewers are beyond my control. If I get bad reviews when I think I\u2019ve created a good show I\u2019ll of course get sad. I can only do the best, most beautiful, most touching and funny I can. Given what this costs we\u2019ll sincerely hope that we get good reviews. This is terribly expensive!<\/p>\n

Jonas says that the musical \u201cLife is a hit song\u201d is not largely based on the movie and he has written a new script.<\/p>\n

– For me, \u201cLife is a hit song\u201d is a story and a fantasy I\u2019ve had. The movie is Susanne Bier\u2019s interpretation of it, so I went back to my original story when I wrote the script. My ambition was that it would be so good that there really was no need for anything to be sung.
\nJonas set out to write \u201cLife is a hit song\u201d four years ago and almost simultaneously began to fill the roles.
\n– Everyone I wanted have accepted. And because this in large parts is a funny piece I have also chosen to involve comedy actors in guiding roles, such as Johan Glans playing Mona\u2019s husband Bosse, and the pop diva Sabina is portrayed by Frida Westerdahl.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve<\/strong> mixed musical artists who don\u2019t have much acting experience with actors who are not always that experienced singers – has meant any difficulties?<\/strong>
\n– No, not except that it of course requires a hell lot of courage of someone like Johan Glans to stand on stage and sing next to Helen Sj\u00f6holm and Peter J\u00f6back. The mixture allows us to be really fun instead of pretend funny that most musicals are. And even if the play\u2019s Mona would not take a single note, I still would have wanted Helen Sj\u00f6holm in the role, she\u2019s that good.<\/p>\n

Was Peter never hesitant to play a transvestite?<\/strong>
\n– You have to ask Peter about that, but if I remember correctly it was the other way around, that he had sought an opportunity to play such a role. One thing that is important to point out is that when I wrote the screenplay there was not yet a major trans-awareness, not even within the LGBT movement. Candy is possibly a transgender, but I would rather call her a cross-border person. In the play I will refrain from defining precisely what Candy is, and besides the play is set 13 years ago when the terminology on these issues was another.
\nJonas knew at once that the role of cerebral palsy David would not be done by an actor who pretended to have the handicap; the play\u2019s message is precisely that everyone should be included. Jonas Helgesson who plays David has cerebral palsy himself.
\n– Jonas is incredibly charming and talented and one of the most intelligent people I\u2019ve met in my life.<\/p>\n

What is the biggest<\/strong> difference between the movie and the musical?<\/strong>
\n– The musical is both more funny and much sadder. Also, Candy Darling\u2019s role is more developed, which is also true for several other characters.<\/p>\n

Fredrik Kempe, composer<\/span>
\nWhat<\/strong> do you need to consider when writing music for a musical?<\/strong>
\n– Who\u2019s singing it? What character does he or she have? In what context should the song be, what sense should it convey?
\nHow has your<\/strong> collaboration with Jonas played out exactly?<\/strong>
\n– In some cases I\u2019ve gotten a complete lyric from Jonas which I have set to music, and in other cases I have written the music first and then Jonas has written the lyric afterwards. We have not sat together and written.
\nWhich song<\/strong> do you think will be the big hit?<\/strong>
\n– There are probably a few, including the duet N\u00e4r jag faller<\/em>, Som skapta f\u00f6r varann<\/em> and also the title song Livet \u00e4r en schlager<\/em> that opens the performance.
\nCertainly there will be a CD?<\/strong>
\n– Yes, it\u2019s almost completed. It has been a little difficult for the artists to find time to record, so it might not be quite ready for the premiere. Every minute is scheduled until then.
\nDo you think you\u2019ll<\/strong> ever manage to persuade Helen Sj\u00f6holm to take part in the Swedish ESC with one of your songs?<\/strong>
\n– No, I unfortunately don\u2019t think so. I have tried, ha ha. I actually asked Helen back in 2004 if she wanted to do Finally<\/em>, since it was a tribute to Bj\u00f6rn and Benny. Instead I got to sing it myself which was a pity because Helen would probably have won with it.<\/p>\n

Christer Lindarw, costume designer<\/span>
\nHow<\/strong> free hands have you been given?<\/strong>
\n– Jonas has naturally told me about the different characters but then he\u2019s given me very free hands. Two-thirds of the clothes hanging in here he has not even seen, so I might get hauled over the coals next week when we\u2019ll rehearse with costumes for the first time, ha ha.
\nWhose<\/strong> clothes did you put the most effort into?<\/strong>
\n– Candy Darling is of course important, but also Mona and the diva Sabina, and then there\u2019s a celebrity party with gala clothes where the whole cast takes part. So sure, I have been allowed to flourish a bit, but mostly they have everyday clothing.
\nHave<\/strong> the participants voiced any protests regarding the clothes?<\/strong>
\n– It\u2019s always more difficult when you have to dress ordinary girls who are not in drag because they are usually a little hypersensitive against high heels. Us drag artists love high heels (laughs)<\/em>.
\nHow<\/strong> do you think Peter J\u00f6back fits as a woman?<\/strong>
\n– We did a trial makeup for him already this spring and I was very surprised that he was as good-looking as he was. I thought that maybe he\u2019d have a little too rough features, but he was really cute! Peter has pretty eyes, nice lips and a slender body.
\nHow does he handle walking in high heels<\/strong>?<\/strong>
\n– He has been practicing for a couple of weeks now, so it gets better and better. I have only given him a few little tips like that you shouldn\u2019t kneel but straighten your legs. It will certainly be great in the end.<\/p>\n

Helen and Peter<\/span>
\nPeter<\/strong>, how did you get the offer to play Candy Darling?<\/strong>
\n– I was there when Jonas and Mark were married in 2012 and Helen sang a newly written song, Som skapta f\u00f6r varann<\/em>, by Fredrik Kempe. Afterwards I asked Jonas \u2018What is this thing?\u2019. He told me that he was writing this musical and I immediately responded \u201cthink of me\u201d.
\nWhen Peter a short time later did the \u201cPhantom of the Opera\u201d in London Jonas and Fredrik went there and played the songs in his hotel room and asked if he wanted to do the role of Candy Darling.
\n– It was a role I immediately was super excited to do, for personal reasons, among others. It was a story I wanted to tell. Moreover, I liked the music so much. And then they told me that Helen would be in it, which made it even greater.<\/p>\n

Have you had<\/strong> any benefits of your own Swedish Eurovision experiences in the work with \u201cLife is a hit song\u201d?<\/strong>
\n– No, but instead I have benefited greatly from my life experiences and my own story. I had a half-brother who did Candy\u2019s journey when he was young, who tried to kill himself and then was hospitalized for many years before he finally died. It\u2019s a huge family grief and something I myself did not learn anything about until quite late in my life. When I was a child I got a totally different story told, perhaps partly because my parents were afraid that I would face the same fate. For me the role of Candy therefore means a lot, I\u2019m doing this in honor of my half-brother. I have told Jonas about this, so some of the scenes are a bit inspired by my brother\u2019s fate.<\/p>\n

Helen,<\/strong> did you have any concerns regarding your participation in the show?<\/strong>
\n– As has been said I sang Som skapta f\u00f6r varann<\/em> at Jonas and Mark\u2019s wedding and knew already then what was going on. But it was when I read Jonas\u2019 script that I got really eager to be in, it\u2019s an incredibly good script. Already two years ago Jonas gathered all protagonists for a first read-through, and then he said \u201cyou are my dream ensemble\u201d and all of us who were there then are here now and playing.<\/p>\n

Peter,<\/strong> you haven\u2019t<\/strong> performed as a drag or played a woman before?<\/strong>
\n– No. Like many boys I liked to dress up in a dress when I was little, but I\u2019ve never had any desire to become a girl. And it is fun to live out ones feminine side, because we all probably have a such within us. By the way I had planned to go as Candy in this year\u2019s Pride parade, but was advised against it because we were not quite done with the character. Me and a guy in the ensemble, Joel, were thinking of going out as women on an ordinary evening here in Stockholm, I want to experience how you are treated and looked at as a transgender person.<\/p>\n

Do you find it<\/strong> difficult to play a woman?<\/strong>
\n– I\u2019ve decided not to overdo it and for example not alter my voice that much. It must feel genuine and not become a parody. I want to feel that \u201cthis could have been me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Helen<\/strong>, have you found your \u201cinner Mona\u201d?<\/strong>
\n– Sure Mona and I have similarities, but even more differences. You need to find an authenticity in the character and in this case it\u2019s strongly associated with Mona\u2019s and Candy\u2019s shared history. They have had a tough upbringing but always resorted to one another. As siblings they are willing to do anything for each other but also compete to be seen. Mona is a \u201cdoer\u201d who hasn\u2019t had many spare seconds to dream and think, instead she has put all her energy on her family. The Eurovision interest is a way to daydream and handle the everyday drudgery. To Mona this thing with the Swedish Eurovision is just a game until it suddenly rings and it\u2019s serious.<\/p>\n

Is<\/strong> there anything you are nervous about before the premiere?<\/strong>
\nHelen:<\/strong> Like, everything! But the feeling in the group makes me a little calmer, it\u2019s an amazing gang! It\u2019s incredibly rewarding that we come from so many different directions.
\nPeter<\/strong>:<\/strong> I hope that this jumbo jet will be able to land, you need to have trust in the process. Of course you\u2019ve wavered at times but it\u2019s probably quite natural.<\/p>\n

What is it like<\/strong> for the two of you to work together again so many years and experiences later?<\/strong>
\nHelen:<\/strong> That we worked so intensly together with \u201cKristina fr\u00e5n Duvem\u00e5la\u201d makes it almost feel like we\u2019re related. To be working together again is of course great fun and in addition to see how Peter has developed and how he works today.<\/p>\n

Helen,<\/strong> you\u2019ve had this question before – but this is as close to the Swedish Eurovision you will ever come?
\n<\/strong>– Yes, but you should never say never. I probably wouldn\u2019t do a good job there. I\u2019m a long distance type and need a little journey with my audience to get to my right. Three minutes is too little.<\/p>\n

Will there be<\/strong> more Swedish Eurovision for you then Peter?<\/strong>
\n– I\u2019m a revenge-man and think the ESC is fun, but if one is to be a realist maybe I\u2019m too old to be able to win. Though I\u2019d really love to be in the Eurovision!
\nHelen:<\/strong> Maybe we should participate as our characters Candy Darling and Mona Berglund and sing a duet?
\nPeter<\/strong>:<\/strong> Let\u2019s do that! A real Chips* type song like Bra vibrationer<\/em>**.<\/p>\n

We take that as a promise.<\/p>\n

* Swedish 80\u2019s pop group
\n** Swedish ESC entry 1985<\/p>\n

Back<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

QX magazine September 2014 By: P\u00c4R JONASSON These are excerpts from the article On September 11, the musical “Life is a hit song” premieres – Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":5121,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5569","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helensjoholm.nu\/_eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helensjoholm.nu\/_eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helensjoholm.nu\/_eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helensjoholm.nu\/_eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helensjoholm.nu\/_eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5569"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/helensjoholm.nu\/_eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5569\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helensjoholm.nu\/_eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helensjoholm.nu\/_eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}