Listen to My Heart (Limited Edition) - by Marie Fredriksson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

LIMITED COLLECTOR'S EDITION that includes Marie's 2004 English-language solo album The Change on CD--previously unreleased in any physical format in North America--as well as bonus track "Sea of Love" (2017), the last song that Marie recorded. This edition also contains foil gilded page edges and a satin ribbon marker.

Listen to My Heart is a completely candid and passionate, heartbreaking yet often witty life story of one of rock music's most resilient lead singers, Marie Fredriksson from Roxette ("It Must Have Been Love," "Listen to Your Heart," "The Look," "Joyride").

Given only a few months to live following a harrowing diagnosis in 2002, Marie boldly forged ahead into a life with newfound courage and inspiration. She continued as both a solo singer and with Roxette, where she performed over 550 concerts, sold 75 million records, and released over 50 singles including several global hits. In all, Roxette is Sweden's biggest music group--second only to ABBA.

Filled with behind-the-scenes stories involving everyone from Tina Turner and Elton John to The Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra, Listen to My Heart also explores her humble family beginnings, an early tragedy in the sudden loss of Marie's sister, her transition into the music industry as a solo artist, and the formation and challenges of being in one of the world's most successful pop groups. All while trying to maintain a stable marriage and being a mother to two young children in the face of a life-altering illness. Marie passed away in the aftermath of her diagnosis in December, 2019.

Heart-wrenching yet winning, and told with exceptional energy and sincerity, Listen to My Heart sheds new and revelatory light on the life and work of one of our generation's most talented and courageous artists.

Contains a foreword by Marie's longtime friend, director Jonas Akerlund (Madonna, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, U2) and over 100 personal photographs, live and backstage shots, and memorabilia images.

Review Quotes

"Singer-songwriter Marie Fredriksson (1958-2019) offers a heartbreakingly candid recollection of her early life, pop career [including many years with Roxette], and struggle with illness in this posthumous memoir. Fredriksson more than delivers on her stated mission to 'share her moments of transcendence and offer consolation to those full of doubt' by cataloging her favorite performances and refusing to let her diagnosis overshadow her career. Anecdotes about celebrities from Elton John to Frank Sinatra are just the cherry on top. Pop music fans will treasure this." -- Publishers Weekly

"Fredriksson's frustration at being discounted in the men-dominated music industry and her attempts to find alternative lifesaving treatments makes for an engaging read. Most poignant is her vulnerability as she opens her closets and photo albums that showcase a life well lived." -- Library Journal

About the Author

Marie Fredriksson was a Swedish singer, songwriter, pianist and painter, who was best known internationally as the lead vocalist of pop rock duo Roxette, which she formed in 1986 with Per Gessle. The duo achieved international success beginning in the late 1980s with the albums Look Sharp! and Joyride, and had multiple hits on the Billboard Hot 100 including four number ones--the most for any Swedish act. Select hits include "Listen to Your Heart," "It Must Have Been Love" (from the film Pretty Woman), "The Look," and "Joyride."

Helena von Zweigbergk is one of Sweden's most talented and respected authors. She's also a journalist and has been a regular presenter of The Scouts, a Swedish radio series on contemporary culture and trends, since 1988. Some of her selected previous novels include Out of the Mouth of the Volcano (2008), Things You Just Say (2009), and The Heart Beats On (2013).

Jonas Akerlund is a Swedish film director, screenwriter, and music video director who collaborated with Marie Fredriksson and Roxette nearly 20 times. His video for Madonna's single "Ray of Light" won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video and a record five awards at the 1998 Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year. Subsequently he won two more Grammy Awards--for concert films of Madonna and Paul McCartney--and has directed Lady Gaga, Beyonce, U2, and Metallica in multiple music videos.