Maybe a lot of orgers still remember this swedish pop band from the mid-90's, but it's curious how the mainstream public has forgotten them, despite several killer singles published between 1994 and 1998; it's hard to hear anything of them on the radio anymore ("The Sign" being the exception), but even that mega-hit does not get the same airplay as, let's say, "Wannabe" or "Don't speak"...

In my eyes, they were "the perfect" mainstream pop band for that time: a sound built with acid house, disco and late-80's dub, singles that were as catchy as any pop classic of the 80's and two vocalist that were charismatic (and beautiful) enough for mainstream pop...The Sign, All That She Wants, Beautiful Life, Happy Nation, Living in Danger, Don't Turn Around, Life is a Flower, ahhh, good times...

Also, I've been always intrigued by Linn Bergrenn's antics (the blond singer ): she somehow lost her mind during the late 90's and became the european female version of Brian Wilson: reclusive, shy as hell, unsmiling, and with a knack for storming the stage with no apparent reason ... wtf??

I've heard that they recently tried to make a comeback as a trio or something, but I gotta admit that I didn't paid attention to them anymore after the 90's...





[Edited 2/19/10 14:19pm]

I like them as far as 90's nostalgia goes but nothing more than that.

hell no. I don't think I ever liked anything about them except their videos and clothes. they were tryna be some ABBA knockoffs I think.

DesireeNevermind said:

If you like the videos, then you must like the songs, otherwise it makes little sense, at least for me

JoeTyler said:

I've always wondered why Linn was blurred in that photo that way.

that said, I liked their 1st two albums, but after that the only thing I've enjoyed from them was their remake of Cruel Summer.

JoeTyler said:

No. I like videos for their artistry not the songs. There are plenty crap videos as well that I don't like but the songs are hot.

i do.

i saw the sign.... hehehe good old days

PricelessHo said:

I love Ace of Base. I agree, the perfect pop band, great knack for catchy, cool dance pop. Should have been bigger. Strange for me I like their albums after the Sign, which sold a gazillion copies, much more - especially Cruel Summer (as it's called in the US).That was their poorest selling album over here. Their last one, Da Capo wasn't even released.

The story about that photo (and others like it) on the artwork for Cruel Summer/Flowers: According to the Ace of Base website back in 1999, they were trying to faze Linn out as the front person for the band, and establish the dark-haired female. Part of the plan, I guess, was for photos to put Linn in the background, faded. Isn't that bizarre?

fms said:

Bizarre indeed; I guess Linn didn't want to be a popstar after all, she got tired of the show business in less than five years...

fms said:

thanks for the explanation. it is a bizarre way to handle it! they could've just placed her on the side, or keep her in the back, but minus the blurring coz its just shady!

They were good, but they will always be the 90's version of ABBA

Not really. Just "All That She Wants".

From that strange era of music when every other song sounded like "Girl I'm Gonna Make You Sweat" by Inner Circle

See also Peter Andre, China Black...

I like them as a '90s nostalgia trip. 'All That She Wants' was great and everything they did after that that sounded like 'All That She Wants' was great too: 'Wheel Of Fortune', 'Happy Nation', 'The Sign', 'Don't Turn Around' 'Living In Danger' and (to a lesser extent) 'Life Is A Flower'. Then they tried to change their style and they were crap... well 'Beautiful Life' was OK but still... Oh and their cover of 'Cruel Summer' was horrible
[Edited 2/20/10 16:55pm]

they are kinda nostalgic to me remind me of growning up in the 90's, not a bad Kareoke jam either

They weren't bad songs but compared to Abba, very weak. I liked "The Sign" a bit, but never got into their later stuff. I found "Cruel Summer" kind of interesting when it came out and become a surprise hit.

I've heard about Linn. the blonde singer, that she chose to fade out because she was being stalked and it really freaked her out. I would imagine it was more her choice because they others almost could not have gotten away with that, could they?