Helena´s second solo album is on its way.

In May I gave up posting here. Nobody seems to keep on writing about Helena and "les mouches", so today I have decided to write a new article. There are some things to write about from May.

Let's begin with TODAY. This is the marvelous message we can read at helenajosefsson's official website:

"Welcome to helenajosefsson.com. Helena´s second solo album is on its way. The site is being updated. Moohhoohaaahaaa ..."

So things are going to happen very soon.

Picture by Sandy Mouche, September 2010

Sandy Mouche's boys (and girl) have been recording a new album this summer 2010 in Per Blomgren's home studio. They even wrote a blog about it: http://sandymouche.tumblr.com/. According to the band, they are "in the proccess of recording new songs" and getting ready for a new gig.

Sandy Mouche guys and girl added: "We're currently recording new material and intend to put up some samples here. Stay put for updates!"

Meanwhile, other "friends", Per Gessle, Clarence Öfwerman and Christoffer Lundquist, have been touring and recording with Marie Fredriksson as Roxette. This time, with Pelle Alsing (drums) and Malin Ekstrand (backup vocals). Maybe you remember Malin because she took part in Helena Josefsson's Dynamo solo tour some years ago.

Helena said goodbye to P, C and C last 18th June 2010 at Princess Victoria and Daniel's wedding in Stockholm. Roxette played "The look" with Marie Fredriksson on the stage.

Sadly, Helena Josefsson didn’t have a microphone in the beginning of the song so it was a sad goodbye to the "plumbers".

Finally, Helena takes part in the last single of Arash, "Broken angel".

According to Arash’s facebook, the song was recorded in May 2010 and will be the new single for his upcoming album in 2011.


So good things are going to happen very very soon. And "Le Journal des Mouches" wants to be there, don't you? Keep up with Helena and "les mouches".

Alberto Fuente (aka Lantartida), - LJdM

PS: I am not sure if this article means the come-back of LJdM. I said goodbye six months ago. I don't promise to update this blog usually. Help is still needed. I am sure you can do it better than myself. Does anyone want to write articles or publish his/her opinion in this blog? Thank you in advance.

• Updated January 2011: The second album of Helena Josefsson will be released in February 2011. You can find more news in the official websites and in Roxetteblog - HJ.

• Goodbye, Mouches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
  
  History: Main sources: helenajosefsson.com; RoxetteBlog; Updated: 8.11.2010: New picture;

Goodbye, Mouches

Yes, this could be the last article of this blog, unless a new editor or new writers want it to be alive. Does anyone offer himself/herself as a volunteer? Le Journal des Mouches' editor and creator transfers the blog.

Picture by Alberto Fuente

Some days ago, I was in Sandy, Bedfordshire, UK. Well, at least my train and my camera were there, I just continued to London King Cross Station. It's not much for an article indeed, but I didn't want to give up this blog forever without any "goodbye post".

Obviously, this station made me think about Sandy Mouche and Helena Josefsson. As Adela Toplean told me in her blog "Sandy Mouche are – almost – back and Helena herself has made quite a good and danceable album which is (almost) out." Almost back, almost out, ... It explains why this blog has been "almost" a Journal. ;D

Three hundred people (well almost 300, lol) seem to have watched Sandy Mouche's last gig online and we have just got a few comments from the band on Facebook.

• "Är i studion och spelar in en av de nya låtarna." - 11.03.2010
• "Ännu en torsdagkväll i studion med inspelning - härligt!" - 18.03.2010
• "Har varit i studion. En låt färdiginspelad nu..." - 25.03.2010

I am improving my English not far from Sandy, Bedfordshire, so my Swedish is not very good yet, but Google translator is marvelous and let us imagine that the band has been spending March Thursday's evenings at Per Blomgren home studio, recording new songs.

Meanwhile, Helena Josefsson celebrated her 32th birthday last month and received some congratulation message in her guestbook. She briefly answered: "I just want to say thank you for all the birthday-greetings :o)!! I wish you all a happy Easter!".

Easter was over and we (we?: the few readers of this blog and its editor) have been waiting for something new from "Sandy Mouche Camp". Aren't we? I hope the wind could give us more new songs and no more Eyjafjallajökull's ashes.


By the way, in London, I walked by On The Beat, 22 Hanway Street, near Tottenham Court Road Tube Station. It is the record shop that appeared in "Son of a Plumber" album. I could not help thinking about the new plans of Gessle, Lundquist and Öfwerman with Roxette. The new Rox album will be released in 2011, but Roxette will play live this summer. I am happy Marie is back but I miss the sound of "Per Gessle Solo Band", with Chris, Clarence and Helena. I didn't like the last songs of Roxette. IMHO, One wish and Reveal were poor quality and lacked the breath of fresh air that meant "Mazarin" or "Son of a Plumber".

I hope Gessle would decide to record again a personal album without the pressure of what Roxette fans are waiting for. Maybe in 2012, after the Rox fever, P, C & C could join again to record an album in Swedish together. And Helena should be there, of course.

I also miss Brainpool, the band of Christoffer Lundquist, David Birde and Jens Jansson. They recorded new songs in January for their rock opera, Junk, that could be premiered in Stockholm and London very soon. Last 22th April, David and Jens were the DJ's in Kick-Start, in Malmö.

I have decided to stop . The idea of a blog began with the Helena Josefsson's Official Forum. in June 2007, just some months after other of my favourite sites closed (Junk Musik website). I loved Helena Josefsson's forum but I needed more space to write about Helena and "The Mouches". I have tried to do a compilation of news of the story of Helena, Sandy Mouche and Per Gessle's solo band between 1997 and 2010. More or less, this compilation looks like I wanted it to look like 3 years ago. But there is no need to continue with a blog when there is not much to write about. I want to thank you for being patient with an unexperienced blogger that had made so many mistakes (I have always tried to solve them. Sorry anyway).

Maybe I will write again in this blog, maybe not. The only thing I know is that I have more important things to do right now and that writing here without readers is not funny anymore. If you have read this blog and find it useful to understand Helena Josefsson's music, just write a comment, please, anonymous if you prefer. If someone wants to tell me something or somebody wants to become the new LJdM's editor, write me an e-mail: lantartida(at)yahoo(dot)es. It's free! :D

Goodbye and good luck, mouches.

Alberto Fuente (aka Lantartida), - LJdM

HJ: "Kyss mig" - "One song from the new album"

The new song of Helena Josefsson is called “Kyss mig” (Kiss me). The video was directed by Cecilia Nordlund (Cilihili) and you can spot Helena’s husband Martin in one of the main roles.


According to Helena herself, there will be more informations on the song and even English translation of the lyrics. It could be the beginning of an album in Swedish. This is the crew of the video featuring in the credits:

• "Director: Cecilia Nordlund; Photography: Thomas Busk, Thomas Romlöv; Costume designer / Stylist: Dyvecke Berg; Make up: Sasha Panic, Dyvecke Berg, Johanna Knutsson; Rekvisita: Linda Ceccon; Grip: Pelle Bevmo, Jonas ?
• Actors - Sagonymf: Helena Josefsson; Prince: Martin Josefsson; Nymphs: Emelie Persson, Johanna Knutsson, Monica ?; Dancers: Carola Guilheim, Anja Berndin; Catering: Lina ?
• Thanks to: Thomas Bekker; Gunnar Berg i Rörum; Gustav Nilsson"

LJdM

Everything is fine! Just a bit baggy under the eyes but having as much fun as possible! I would really like to sing a lot more and have a lot more concerts and I hope one day I will have a break-thru so it can happen! I do my best anyway :o) In the meantime I try to follow my heart and do music and videos that give me and hopefully someone else some joy or inspiration.

I am no good at keeping secrets :o) If I have a surprise I just get so happy and I tell about it too early :o)

One song from the new album! This song is called Kyss Mej! (Kiss me!) The video is directed by Cecilia Nordlund (Cilihili). I was having a lot of fun, both writing the song and making the video, actually it was one of the funniest experiences I´ve had. More info and translation soon :o) I hope you enjoy it!

Have a great time!

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Comments by fans:

It’s quite unusual for Helena – she’s rapping there. I’m not a fan of her as a person, but as the artist I give her my big wow and take a bow. I find this what she’s been doing through the last few years as the amazing example of good music. In other words – would love to be on this concert, but don’t feel like meeting her afterwards.

Tomasz Wysocki, from Warsaw, Poland
- RoxetteBlog.com

Very nice song and amazing video!! You sing as brilliant as always, but the music is too much pop.... Can't wait to listen to the whole album, I believe you'd do it perfectly!!!! Thanks a lot and have a splendid Spring!!)))

Ilya Volkov -(a.k.a. Kreecher)

History:

• Main sources: helenajosefsson.com; helenajosefsson.com - Guestbook; RoxetteBlog; HJ Youtube Channel;

Helena Josefsson and her plans for 2010

Some of our few readers could be asking themselves about Helena Josefsson. She is busy like always. Helena answered to a message from Kamila Aleksandrowicz in the Guestbook of the Official website. Read it below. The picture of Charles-Didrik was taken by his aunt Sofia Josefsson.

LJdM

I have been busy, studying in Copenhagen, to become an opticitian like my younger sister! I want to work part-time with it along with music, because as a parent I want to give my family more possibilities. And studying takes a lot of time :) But it is fun to learn new stuff! On top of this we live at my mother´s place because of a large renovation of our flat which is really needed.

About my second album I don´t know, who or when it could be released... But the good part is I am working on more music videos for it with friends, and we have started rehearsing with Sandy Mouche which I enjoy more than ever! Just for fun, like when we first begun playing together. And I am planning for a show with my friend Malin Nilsson the magician.

PS: Help Haiti people by purchasing my music on CDbaby
If you buy music from me, my band Sandy Mouche or anyone through the site CDbaby 1 USDollar will go to helping Haiti survivors of 12th January earthquake.

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

History:

• Main sources: helenajosefsson.com - Guestbook; Sofia Josefsson's blog

LJdM - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

2009 has been a good year in many ways. We got a new album by P, C & C ("Party Crasher"), with Helena Josefsson, the spring tour with Martinique and Helena's new single in Swedish. However we are still waiting for Helena's new album.

Le Journal des Mouches will be back in January 2010. We just want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy these days with your family and friends!

LJdM

I want to be home to spend Christmas with my little family :o) I hope you will have a wonderful christmas! Helena!

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Toodiloo all Roxers! 2009 turned out to be a killer year after all! My small but heartwarming Party Crasher Tour around Europe in the spring was followed by the huge and glorious Rox comeback at the Night of the Proms. Thanks everyone for your support (appreciated!) and for those loud voices in the front row (interesting!).

Also, we started recording a new Rox-album on the road. So far so good but there are, of course, lots more to be done. And for next year we have even more mighty plans. Will let you know what’s goin’ on in Roxville before long. But for now we wish y’all a great xmas och a extraordinarily swell new year. See ya around the corner. Cheers.

Per Gessle

The DollyCamp (IX): En afton med Michael Jackson

Last December 10th, 2009, the director Jessica Nettelbladt was in FilmCentrum Syd, Malmö, showing sequences from her documentary "Dollykollot" (The DollyCamp), which is currently being cut, and talked about recording this film in Malmö, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Berlin, New York, Nashville, Dollywood and Iceland. The plot of this documentary is simple: four singers and a music producer (Nina Persson, Cecilia Nordlund, Lotta Wenglén, Helena Josefsson, and Gudrun Hauksdottir), met through a tribute to Dolly Parton and become close friends.

Picture by Sofia Josefsson

Debaser Malmö payed homage to Michael Jackson on December 25th, 2009.

Picture by Johan Bävman (sydsvenskan.se)

• Fre 25 Dec Inne: 19-03
• 135 kr + förköpsavgift. Biljetter finns hos Tickster, Skivlagret och hos Folk och Rock.

Forrest & Crispian, Paulina, Asha Ali, Vivian Buczek, Jonas Drejholt and Helena Josefsson took part in the concert. It also features the usual Aftonorkestern, usually with Magnus Sveningsson (Righteous Boy, The Cardigans) on bass, Nathan Larson on guitar and Patrik Bartosch (Eggstone) on keyboards. There is also a show "En afton med Michael Jackson" in Debaser Medis in Stockholm booked for tomorrow December 26th, but Helena will not play there.





Do you want some reviews from the concert? According to Håkan Engström, from sydsvenskan.se, "fast nothing could beat Helena Josefsson tonight". Emma Sonesson (aka BiLLY), administrator of the HJ Fanclub Portal, wrote: "Yesterday was a nice concert :D but I couldn't take a pic! :(".

"En afton med ..." is a project by Debaser Malmö, SVT and Monbio. Visit: www.enafton.com. "En afton med Michael Jackson" (A night with M.J.) is the last show of this project after three years of homages, including nights with Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie or Depeche Mode. Artists like Nina Persson, Tingsek or Titiyo have been doing really good covers of their idols' hits. Helena Josefsson was also in "En afton med Dusty Springfield" (December 2007) and in "En afton med Blondie" (February 2008). Some of the shows were recorded for the documentary "The DollyCamp".

LJdM

Helena Josefsson - Beat It


Helena Josefsson - Ain't No Sunshine

I was in love with Michael Jackson as a young teenager and still love his music and dancing. It will be fun! I have seen Michael Jackson twice, the Dangerous tour and the History tour. And I was so in love with him as a girl, making drawings of him, sending him letters that I wrote in gold :o) I will enjoy singing his music. I think he was amazing, cause he had the voice, the composing talent, the amazing rhythm-feel not to mention his moves!

It is exciting to sing his songs and I will try to do it properly even though it can never be as good as he did it. I will sing Beat it and Ain´t no sunshine with my own Swedish lyrics on them. I was thinking of Dirty Diana at first but someone else got it before me :o) I think my favourite songs are Human Nature, Beat it and Dirty Diana.

I will not play in Debaser Medis, and I haven´t been asked to. It´s good ´cause I want to be home to spend Christmas with my little family :o) I hope you will have a wonderful christmas! Helena!

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Picture by Sofia Josefsson

Picture by Sofia Josefsson

Picture by Sofia Josefsson

Picture by Sofia Josefsson

Incomprehensible and terribly sad. A master left us. We will never experience anyone like Michael Jackson again.

Per Gessle

History:

• Main sources: Debaser Malmö - Kalender; helenajosefsson.com - News; helenajosefsson.com - Gigs; helenajosefsson.com - Guestbook; En afton med ... Michael Jackson; Twitter; sydsvenskan.se
• Related articles: "A night with Dusty Springfield" (LJdM, 28.12.2007); "En afton med Blondie" (LJdM, 27.02.2008); Vokalisternas och glittrets afton(sydsvenskan.se; 26.12.2009)
• Links from: HJ Official Forum - Waiting for Helena's second solo album; THJ Society - Wall; RoxetteBlog
• Originally published in LJdM: 08.12.2009.
  
• Updated: (1) 2009.12.09: LJdM published this gig the day before helenajosefsson.com did it. Helena confirmed it and answered some of our questions in her guestbook. (2) 2010.01.11: Videos added from Youtube, uploaded by CinnamonWeaver and Fred200008. (3) 2010.01.28: I added more pictures by Sofia Josefsson.
  

Sandy Mouche hides the head in the sand (V): Sommardis - Lions julsoaré

From time to time, Helena Josefsson and Martin Josefsson sing and play in churches, usually with the pianist Christoffer Andersson. They used the name "Sommardis" before for this trio and it is a good opportunity to see some of Sandy Mouche's members together.

It is Christmas time, good time for another concert. December 5, 2009, they have played with the trumpetist Roger Johansson (Kävlinge Golfklubb's greenkeeper) and a children's choir, in "Lions julsoaré" in Korsbacka church, Kävlinge, Skäne. The concert was arranged by Lions Club Kävlinge, a charitable secular organization.

Erik Johansson, a Swedish fan, was there and was able to buy a CD with Helena and Martin music for her friend Johanna Molander, moderator in HJ Official Forum and HJ Fanclub Portal. Helena and Martin played songs as "Hallelujah", "Pie Jesu" and "Time to say goodbye".

Artists:
Helena and Martin Josefsson, singers
Christoffer Andersson*, piano
Roger Johansson, trumpet
Lucia from Korsbackaskolan and the church's children choir.
Tickets: 150 kr. Under 12 y.o. free.
Buy tickets at: Hellbergs Bokhandel, Kärvlinge
All the money will go to Världens barn / Children of the World.
Place: Korsbacka kyrka.
Time: 16.00 - 2009/12/05

(*Updated: Finally, Christoffer Andersson could not play this time. Martin's brother played the piano)

LJdM

Korsbacka kyrka 16.00 2009/12/05

Christmas concert! Candlelight and children´s choir guaranteed!

Martinique and me sing beautiful Christmas songs, and the children´s choir sings too in a "Luciatåg"!

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Helena & Martin - "Hallelujah"


Helena & Martin - "Pie Jesu"


Helena & Martin - "Time to say gooodbye"

Malin Nilsson & Helena Josefsson, magic and music (II): November in Malmö

For two nights, Malin Nilsson has played her magic show at Teater 23 in Malmö, 13 and 14 November. The show is a mix of magic and music and includes Helena Josefsson's songs. Emma Sonesson (aka BiLLY), administrator of the HJ Fanclub Portal, wrote in her blog: "I was there with Erik and Johanna. We watched a funny magic show. Helena Josefsson was a guest but it was actually very funny, I've never been to anything like that before. Thank you Helena :)".

Photo by Lars Brundin

Malin has summarized the shows in her blog.

"I am lucky. I have got the best friends in the world. Some were in the audience. Otheres were waiting behind Variety Vauduvill’s red velvet curtain waiting to hear their names in the loudspeakers. Before the opening Sweden’s foremost spoken word poet Emil Jensen had said in the paper he writes for that the variety will be a chance to see ”the best singer and the best magician together on the same stage. Everything could happen. And probably will.” And it did. Emil, you were right as usual. The gallery at my website will soon be updated with photos taken by Karl Larsson at bitsize.se . But at the time being our good friend and photographer Lars Brundin has put some of his great shots in his Face Book gallery, check them out here: Lars Brundin's facebook gallery. Untill next time."

Photo by Lars Brundin

We recognize some of the pretty suits that Helena Josefsson's has worn with Sandy Mouche last years.

Malin kindly answered to LJdM's questions in her blog:

"It was amazing! It can’t be described in words. As you might suspect Helena Josefsson was a great success, introducing her to my audience was one of the best things I have done on stage. I love her visual sense and creating magic to her tunes was an amazing process that has just begun … I am new in the blog sphere and haven’t gone ‘official’ with my blog yet, but it is nice to see that you found your way here anyway. Keep in touch."

Photo by Lars Brundin

Helena Josefsson singing 'Ghosts' - Photo by Lars Brundin

We are sure Malin and Helena's fans are waiting for more shows next spring 2010. Meanwhile, if you are in the United States, try to follow Malin Nilsson's shows. It's worth it.

LJdM

I sang two new songs in Swedish and Ghosts and Waterlily Love (while Malin made a rose disappear!)

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Malin Nilsson & Helena Josefsson, magic and music (I): an exciting fusion

According to her own website, Helena Josefsson will take part in a Magic show with her friend Malin Nilsson in November 2009 and in Spring 2010.

Both Helena and Malin were interviewed by Yvonne Erlandsson in Skånskan.se. The cooperation started when Malin Nilsson was invited by Sandy Mouche at KB in Malmö some years ago in a gig of Helena Josefsson’s band. Helena “wanted someone who created a fabulous atmosphere and Malin fitted exactly”. Malin is used to music in her performances. Malin loves Helena’s music and says “it’s so cool that Helena could think so much in pictures”. “We both want to do something new, something bigger than ourselves. Art, that’s why you get up in the morning”, says Malin. According to Yvonne Erlandson, Helena began to study for becoming optician but gave up because she needed to be musician to feel alive.

As it is said in Malmö Lokaltidningen, Malin Nilsson is going to work in the United States (New York and Los Angeles) this winter. In Spring 2010, Malin and Helena will join again for some gigs together. You can follow Malin's stories in her blog.

The duo combines pop and magic and will premiere at Teater 23 in Malmö, 13 and 14 November, and will continue in March. The singer and actor Emil Jensen says to Efterarbetet.etc.se that it was an opportunity to see the best magician and the best singer together: "Bästa sångerskan och bästa trollkarlen på en och samma scen. Allt borde kunna hända. Och kommer nog att göra det."

LJdM

I am playing with my friend Malin Nilsson, who is a magician (www.malinnilsson.se) and I will be a guest at her show in November!

Malin & Vänner / Malin and Friends

Malin Nilsson (magician),
Helena Josefsson (singer) and Hans-Inge Magnusson (piano).
Guests: Thorsten Andreasen, Jonas Södergren and Helena Kågemark

Fre 13 nov kl. 20:00

Plats: Teater 23, Djäknegatan 7, Malmö
Arrangör: Trollkonst: Stage Art & Production
Onumrerat.
Tillgängliga biljetter: 88 (av 140)

Lör 14 nov kl. 20:00
Plats: Teater 23, Djäknegatan 7, Malmö
Arrangör: Trollkonst: Stage Art & Production
Onumrerat.
Tillgängliga biljetter: 91 (av 140)

Håll dig uppdaterad på www.trollkonst.com

Biljetter www.kulturcentralen.nu

And in spring we will make our very own show, with her magic tricks and my popmusic in an exciting fusion! It is so much fun and it is a dream coming true to me.... When we rehearse dwith the pianist Hans-Inge Magnusson I felt like we were a band.

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Helena's new single in Swedish (V): Fen & Jag

I have recorded a song and made a video with my family and friends, it is called “Fen & jag”!

While waiting for my second solo album to get released, I have made this song together with Martinique and Per Blomgren from my band Sandy Mouche in Per's garage studio, just for the fun of it and to give something to you who wait patiently! I wrote it and they produced it for me.

It is about how I met a fairy one day who said she could give me a new life, to live my life all over again, so I could erase my mistakes and get released from the sadness I have gone through. But my answer to her is, that I now understand that all the tears and the laughter would lead me to where I am today, and I don´t want to change a thing. It was all worth it. Now that I have managed to get a child and my own, new family. When the vocals were recorded, my baby boy was sitting on the floor playing. You can actually hear him in the song, too! At 1.17!

The new single “Fen & jag” has a cute cover made by Martinique and you can download it at CDBaby.com. Unfortunately my homepage is dead at the moment, but just wait a couple of days and it will be back!

This song is not on the album, it is just a present for you! And some amusement for myself, because I needed to have a little fun instead of just waiting. The video crew is my sisters Sofia Josefsson (photography) and Carolina Josefsson (assistant) and my friends Annette Lindqvist (script) and Jens Jansson (cut)! Recorded in Skanör, on the very south edge of Sweden.

Helena Josefsson - H.J.

Comments from the fans:

Per Gessle posted on his Twitter the lastest Helena Josefsson’s video called “Fen & Jag”. Suprisingly, her official website is no longer available, so we know nothing about the release dates. I really like the song, though I expected the second album would be in English as the first one was. But this time she decided to record sthg in Swedish. Sounds fresh, interesting and much Helen-ish!

Tomas Wysocki, from Warsaw, Poland
- tomos85 MySpace

Hej Helena, I've just seen your new video. It looks so lovely in comparison to those clips which we get from MTV. The sea, sand and you having fun on the beach without unnecessary nudity or strange dancing figures. Love it. It's a pity that I don't understand the lyrics but still I'm glad to hear you singing in your native tongue. As far as I can remember once I asked you if you would ever consider singing in Swedish and here's my reply. :) Nice treat after a hard working weekend of mine. Thanks.

Kamila Aleksandrowicz,
from Białystok, Poland

What a great new song. :) Greets, Heike.

Heike Lohrengel - HJ Official Forum

Köpte den där redan för några dagar se =) Blev lite förvånad när jag hittade den att köpa.

Erik Johansson, from Stockholm, SE (aka slowmove)
GT Inofficiellt Forum

Have already downloaded the song from CDBaby a couple of hours ago. The cover is great, can't wait to listen to the whole album!!! Wow, how cool!!!! Your new song is fantastic, amazing, SPEACHLESS!!!!!! ))) Thank you very very much for keeping on, working, dreaming, shearing! All the warmest regards for this October weekend to you, M. & CD! Kram, Ilya.

Ilya Volkov -(a.k.a. Kreecher)- Roxette House

I love your new song! Martinique did a great cover! I have also seen the video on youtube. Nice beach there! Many hugs,

Nicole Breuer - HJ Official Forum