TV4 on Thursday - complications and fun

Thursday was a strange day of waiting .... we were waiting for a time and location to follow Jenny through her TV appearances. But since we didn't get any information when we had to me somewhere we went to TV4 since we had found out the address by then. We knew that Jenny had put us on a list. German (always in time) as we are we went there quite early, but that was our luck, since we ended up in a traffic jam and seemed to be stuck forever plus the fact that our GPS sent us a long way ... We knew that "Förkväll" would start at 5 pm and arrived just in time at the TV station, which means 4.45 pm. I went to the guard and told them that we are there to meet up with Jenny. She looked at us and said which Jenny. I told her Jenny Berggren and that she is supposed to be at "Förkväll". The woman gave me a strange look and said "I'm sorry but this show is not recorded here.". I just though: 'Damnit, wrong place again.' I asked her where the other location was situated, but she just called someone else and asked if Jenny was in. Another woman was waving with a piece of paper and said there are names on. But the first woman just ignored her. I asked again where the other location was, if they could give us the address. She just said it was a hotel in the city center.

In between she got the information that Jenny had left the building just before we arrived. I asked again if they had the address and this time the second woman made a try to ask after our names I told her those and she said, but you are here on the paper. Damnit I thought again, we could have sorted this out minutes ago. Again I asked for the address but the only info was the name of the hotel and that it was close to the central station. Since this wouldn't lead anywhere, we just left and drove to the city center. We were looking for the main street, but just in one of the tunnels our GPS died, all odds seemed to be against us.

We finally found the city, caught the closest garage and ran to the hotel. Sara asked a man after the way and he seemed to want into the same direction, so we just followed him. We finally arrived, this seemed to take forever. We basically ran into the lobby of this very nobel hotel. This time it was Sara's turn to ask for Jenny. And guess what he just picked up the phone and asked "Who shall I say is here?". I told him my name and he made a call, which basically was "I have a Jessica here can someone get her?" - For me it sounded like: "Little Jessica want's to be picked up from the playground."

We were told to wait for someone to pick us up and then she came. Mollie - so nice and sweet and energetic. While she was leading us to the elevator again, we got again the question if we were Jenny's choir lol this seems to become a tradition. Didn't know my appearance with Jenny was on national TV ;)

Anyway when we came up, Jenny was sitting there waiting for her time to be in the show. She looked fabulous and said she was waiting for us. A lot of young people were running around - this TV show seems to be done by people between 18-25 at least the ones which are taking care of the processes. We were amazed how tiny everything is and how the tiny space was filled with technical equipment and screens everywhere. Even on the toilet lol.

Jenny told us where the food was and was asking why we were so late and if we got the information we needed. I told her the whole story about how we got there. She told us, that she has had other plans for us and that she is sorry that we didn't get all the info and had so much trouble. Jenny wouldn't be on show before 6 pm so we had some time to talk. She asked us how we liked the album so far. Mollie joined us and suddenly she and Sara discussed books and where Sara was from etc. I don't really remember what we talked about with Jenny, there was just so much trouble with people passing by. The only thing that I found amazing was the fact that the actual studio of "Förkväll" was a bar all the other days.

Then it was time for Jenny. She went inside and we moved to another room to watch the show. There we had some food. When we were standing there for some time suddenly a man was standing next to us and I just thought I know him from somewhere in TV. But it has been quite a while since I watched Swedish TV. I'm still good with names, so I knew that he was called Hans and was searching for his last name in my brain :)

It wasn't hard I just had to take a look at the schedule and there it was, Hans Falén. Sure lol. We watched some more of the show, which soon was over. We were waiting for Jenny to come out when suddenly one of those girls said we could come into the studio. So we were sneaking around and finally reached the studio. There the guests of the shows were standing and having some food. Jenny was talking to the hosts of the show.

This was great, we were sneaking around, taking pictures, filming etc. We had so much fun.

When I was standing there with Anja the man from before came straight to us, reaching his hand out for us and presenting himself, asking for our names and told us how fun it was that we were there lol.

Then the bar was recreated and we left the studio again. Since Jenny had to wait for a car she asked us to go into the lobby and sit there. But the lobby was so crowded that we had to find somewhere else to sit. We just went to the 2nd floor and got seated there.

Again we were discussing Jenny's new album "My Story" and the songs. I told her that I don't have a special favorite song by then and she asked "Do you have to have one?". I told her that it depends on my mood usually, so this will change from day to day and she was fine with that answer.

We accompanied Jenny who was still waiting for the car to pic her up and were walking through the streets with her. She was about to go directly back this night to Gothenburg while we would spend another night in Stockholm. So when the car arrived we got to say hello to Simon, Terese and Staffan, wished them a save trip home and went back to our car to get back to our hostel ah prison lol ...

busy day for Jenny while we had fun

And there was my problem again .... smalltalk ... it was so calm in that cab that you could hear every single noise. Sara did seem not to know what to say either ... and I had still no clue. Jenny was humming ... singing along with Alicia Keys. While I tried to get a clue of where we came from and where we are going. Jenny apologized again for the fact that she had so much to do that she simply had forgotten to tell people to let us see the recording. She told us about the interviews she is gonna do.

Then finally Sara was back. She asked about Jenny's restaurant recommendations, about places in general she could recommend and so we ended up in a guided Stockholm tour with Jenny. She suggested that we could take a look at the city while she was being interviewed.

Then we arrived. We got off the cab. Jenny said something like which floor she was on and in which building. She said that she has to arrange to get us there. She repeated the floor and the building and while she was going to the entrance she said .... "or you just follow me up". So we did. When we came in we saw an old elevator, which looked tiny from the outside. So I thought that we won't fit in all. So I said I'm gonna take the stairs since I'm living on the 7th floor and used to walk those just for fun after long days sitting at the office. When I was running upstairs I realized that someone was behind me .... it took me sort of 1 floor to really get that also Sara and Anja were taking the stairs. But in that moment I arrived already ... just in time to open the elevator for Jenny with her suitcase.

The office we went to looked like a normal apartment from the outside but behind those doors was a huge office. We were led directly into something like a break room with a kitchen, behind that was sort of a conference room where 2 journalists were already impatiently waiting. So Jenny got in there quick.

The interview lasted about 30 minutes. I felt myself like a small child who came with her mom to the job .... I was wondering were my painting book and my crayons were while Sara and Anja were reading papers. I watched the interview .... well I couldn't hear anything but it was still interesting to see the expressions of the faces and Jenny moving ... showing something with her hands etc. While we were waiting some more journalists came along .... the ones for the next interview. They had to wait outside. After quite some time Jenny and the 2 journalists from the current interview came out to go out with her to take pictures. I have no idea how long it took. It felt like 15 minutes but it can also have been 5 only...

Then Jenny came back. She asked us if we wanted to drink something and started to prepare a coffee. I told her I would love to have a coffee. She tried to get the machine work, when one of her advisor women came with the next interviewer. Jenny went out for the next photo session while that woman continued the coffee which ended up at the journalist who was waiting at the other table.

Jenny showed up right after that. This time we could really follow the interview. At least the 2 of us who know Swedish :) It was really interesting. But Jenny did well I think ... now we just have to wait and see what they make out of it since the critics are not too good so far. But it seems to be some kind of sports to write negative about anything that has to do with Ace of Base.

The interview lasted another 30 minutes and when it was done Jenny grabbed a chair and took a seat between Anja and me. Along with herself she brought a huge sandwich and a kiwi fruit. She said that it is impossible for her to eat it all on her own and asked if we were hungry. Since I just had eaten breakfast I realized in that moment how hungry I actually was. And so were the others. Even if we weren't we really hadn't much of a choice. Because suddenly Jenny was standing with a huge knife next to me .... no one would have dared to disagree.

And suddenly again I had that song in my head .... it was humming "Let us break bread together on our knees .... let us break bread together on our knees ... when I fall down on my knees with my face to the rising sun .... oh Lord have mercy on me". I told Jenny that I had to think of that already the last time they were sharing their sandwiches with us in Götene.

So we ate our food and were talking about all and nothing. I love sitting there and talking relaxed. I told Jenny that besides the fact I gotta work on Monday again that I joined a Church choir some months back and that we are gonna perform a musical with another choir and stuff like that. When we had finished our eating we did a videoclip for Sara's blog and Jenny showed us a game with toothpicks that she was actually playing with Savage Garden once. So we had our fun until Jenny had to do another interview for a radio channel.

When she had finished that she came out of the room again and told us that the office was about to close and that we had to leave. We were standing in front of the elevator which still was so tiny from the outside and Jenny jumped in. Sara took the stairs and then I realized that Anja was already in the elevator. I took a look inside and it was huge. So even I with my big back pack would fit in. Anja was responsible for the buttons this time .... but she failed and so we ended up on the wrong floor again, meeting Sara on her way downstairs.

Jenny was about to wait for the car that was gonna pick her up. When we said good bye she was excusing again for the mess at Expressen. I asked her where it is possible to buy the album when she pulled out 3 copies and gave them to us. That made us very happy. Another hug from her and we were on our way back to our hostel.

On the way back Anja checked the booklet for pictures and found surprisingly our names on the thank list. That is the best thing Jenny could ever do to us. She is great we love her and her craziness that can cheer one up, even if life hurts :)

btw. our car was still there and we didn't get a parking fine so good ending of this day at least :)

emotions all the way ...

What a day .... woke up this morning and nothing really seemed better than yesterday ... then I remembered that I should check Jenny Berggren's website ... it's finally up :) When my Macbook said it's usual "pling" even Sara woke up and grabbed her computer ... Anja needed more sleep. so there we were, checking the new website, listening to the song clips. If you haven't visited the site, you should definitely do it www.jennyberggren.com :)

When Anja was awake we started to get ready. We should show up at Expressen's office around 12:45 to see Jenny and her staff perform. As typical Germans we were there around 12:30. I told the guard that we were there to meet Jenny and first she thought she was working there. I was rather confused ... she didn't know who Jenny Berggren is lol. She told us to go upstairs so I was heading the elevator and didn't even realize that the girls didn't follow me. Somehow the door was blocked. Anja was making strange moves to show me that I should go to the door again so that it moves. Then some other people came and told us that the girls should ask the guard once again to open the door. Then it finally worked. We jumped into the elevator and went up to Expressen's offices. A guy called Christian was waiting for us at the door and asked us to follow him.

While we were going after him he asked if we were the girls to do the backing vocals. As always when somebody is asking me directly I didn't even think one second and told him we were there to watch the recordings. Sara was saying while we were still being led through those uncountable corridors that I should have said we were the choir lol. To late I told her. Christian asked us where we came from and while I was answering Germany and the US I thought maybe he asked which paper we are from since we had all our equipment with us, which could easily be mixed up with a portable TV set :)

He asked us to take a seat, told us that Jenny was still on the way so there we sat. Simon came out and said hello. He told us that Jenny was somewhere. We found out later that she probably was getting Terese and Elin.

Then they arrived. While Jenny was storming into the studio where the recording should take place Terese was hugging us and said hello, presented her friend Elin who was also singing with them. She told us that Elin is gonna sing on Terese's upcoming album and that they are gonna perform "Give Me The Faith" and "Gotta Go". Then it was time to go into that room to do the rehearsals. So we were sitting there waiting to be called to see something ... waiting ... people were passing by ... more people .... people getting coffee ... people talking on the phone etc. I was surprised how calm this huge filled with people office was. Thinking of the office i work in with 6 people including me. Sometimes you can't hear yourself thinking ...

We listened to the rehearsals of Gotta Go ... Give Me The Faith, Gotta Go Again, Give Me The Faith ... part of Gotta Go .. some Give Me The Faith again. I remember taking a look at Sara's watch. It was 1:10 by then ... but the read light wasn't on ... we were wondering what is going on. Then we heard Gotta Go again .... this time no one came out of that room or got in and by that time we realized that this must be the recording ... but we weren't sure. Then it was calm again ... and then we heard Give The Faith again. After that some more silence. Suddenly the door was opened and Simon, Staffan and Elin came out waving at us and storming into another direction. We were still sitting there waiting what is going to happen next.

Jenny seemed to be doing another small interview then she came out and asked us if we have had a chance to see it, we told her no. She seemed confused and told us that she has to do some more interviews and that is why she has to leave now. She said we should get in contact with the others to get the information about the interview. We were just looking at Jenny, while she was going along the corridor and suddenly she was turning around and said or do you want to come with me? Sure we wanted, so we grabbed our stuff and ran after her, since she was in a hurry.

The guy that had met us in the beginning was leading us out again. We tried to squeeze ourselves into the elevator but nothing happened. I found out that we had forgotten to hit the button... but I took the wrong one... It was like a comedy when we jumped out of the elevator found out that it was the wrong level and jumped in again. The elevator stopped on another level and we just said "full" lol

When we came outside a cab was already waiting for Jenny. I was just thinking about the car we had and that I just had paid a parking ticket until 3 ... it was around 2 by then. But anyway. Jenny said "jump in" and so we did...

www.JENNYBERGGREN.COM

Jenny just released her own website today. So if you haven't visited it, check it :)

... oh it hurts ...

... what hurts more, to feel ignored or to get finally an answer even if it's not the answer you were hoping for? I've been waiting for an answer the past weeks and even if I deep within me knew the answer possibly already I was still hoping for a positive feedback...

today I went to church and had a long talk with God about that topic and tada I got the answer today ... and it hurts ... this in whole just doesn't make any sense ... for me.

well I thought about it the past weeks and thought it might have another meaning far behind it maybe something that would never have been said if it wasn't for that reason ... I just don't know, I'm confused. My little world just fell apart today...

Pictures from Karlstad

Yesterday we had a small trip through the city center, as you can see on the pictures the weather was beautiful:

Goodbye Karlstad - back to Gothenburg

Today was more or less a touring day and we will have 2 in i row. We left Karlstad today and went back to Gothenburg. On the way we stopped at IKEA since I had to make an important buy for my family, so that was the best to do it on the way.

The weather was rather bad today ... it's grey outside and doesn't really look like you wanna go out and spend some time outside. So we just had a small tour through the city and bought some food. Now we are back at the hostel again and relax before we will start our new trip tomorrow. Looking forward to go to Stockholm.

Currently waiting for Sara to come over :)

Karlstad day 2 - Jenny live

As mentioned started today early ... woke up at 6:30 and it was the first night since days that I sort of slept through. I had totally forgotten that this is gonna be a breakfast occasion so we of course ate before church.

We arrived at the Church around 8:00 am, but no one was in sight. So we were waiting some more time in the car. When some people started gathering we joined them. Sara continued her interviews which is always funny to watch. I find it amazing how easily Americans get to know people and I'm always wondering if I just met the talkactive Americans so far, if this a e the stiff German people who find that interesting or if it is that I don't easily get to know people ... I'm just not that mingeling person and I suck at small talk :) It's so different when I know people, but you have to come there first.

So by the time the gates opened Sara had spoken to half of the people outside and I had discovered Jenny inside just seeing her legs :) since the location where the concert took place was kind off in the basement at least from the outside. So we went in and found a place to hang our jackets. After that we went into the Church where Jenny and Jakob were talking to other people and were just about to go backstage.

When Jenny saw us she was waving and coming over to us giving us a hug. She asked how we are and told us that she was glad to see us again. She asked Sara about how her research and interviews are going and told us that she had arranged so that we could be there without to pay for the breakfast. Then Jenny took a look at my huge backpack and turned me around. I was wondering what she did but she just lifted it and took it off my shoulders. Then we were talking about Jakob's play and how funny it was. She told us that she would have to work a bit which means talking to people since that is what she is there for and that we should have some breakfast and enjoy ourselves. So off we went everyone in his direction. Sara who knew of course that this would be a breakfast ate something while Anja and I had just a juice and 2 Polly dark each :)

After the breakfast it was Jenny's and Jakob's turn. Jenny did a great lecture as always, she had those 2 people in stage again one that is the famous one and one who is playing her best friend and for the 10 time we could laugh about that one since it is always funny. They were performing "Aldrig Ensam" - one of my all time favorite cover versions from Jenny, "I Turn To You", "Hjälp Mig Jesus", "Give Me The Faith", "Moonshadow" and "Välsignelsen". Jenny sang also again "Jag lyfter ögon mot himmelen".

They got standing ovations so "Välsignelsen" was the encore. When the show has ended Jenny went to sign books and I was running outside since the car park had expired and we didn't want to risk a parking fine again. When I came in again I started to pack my equipment together. Jenny came from backstage talking to some women who wanted a signature in their books. I saw that Jenny was looking for a pen so I gave her mine and she was just smiling at me that I knew what she was looking for.

While Jenny went to sign books Anja and I were chatting with Jakob and Sara was interviewing more people. We had prepared a book for him to give him some present since he is always so nice with us. So we gave the photobook to him and were laughing at pictures inside. I had to go to the toilet then since I was about to explode while Anja and now also Sara were talking with Jakob about several things I don't have a clue about :) When I came back Jakob was just about to leave. When passing me he told me how glad he was we were there and that we will see each other again while we are in Sweden.

We got our stuff together and walked upstairs. We were waiting in the entrance to say bye to Jenny and I was waiting for my pen. Jenny was still signing books and talking to people and we were talking about the show and Sara's interviews. When Jenny was done she grabbed some candy and followed a women who wanted to talk to her in private. When she passed me she turned around again and put the candy in my hand. I was just laughing since this was so Jenny - that funny woman. We continued our talk and switched to candy and suddenly we were talking about lacorice and how odd Sara found it tasted. In this moment Jenny joined us so a small chat about candy happened again and then Sara asked if Jenny would like to leave a message for her fans out there. Of course she wanted, which you can see on Sara's blog. Then Jakob asked if we would like to listen to some of the songs and if we had headphones. I told him that I had headphones but then he had a better idea. We went down into the main church again and he plugged his phone on the stereo. He asked which song we wanted to listen to. "Here I Am" Jenny suggested laughing and I replyed a "No thank you". Anja decided for "Going Home" so we had this one first. It was great to sit in the church with the great accoustic and listen to Jenny's pop songs. After that we listened to "Spend This Night", "Air of Love", "Dying To Stay Alive"and "Natural Superstar". All songs were very fresh and had a cool Jenny sound. Which is supposed to mean that you could hear that they were somehow fitting together while being totally different. If the rest of the album is- and I'm convinced it is - fitting in as well, she did a really great piece of music, which will be on my CD player for months and drive my neighbours insane :)

While we were listening to the last song Jenny was taking a seat next to us asking us what we think. She told us that she had to leave soon but still she took some more time to talk with us about music and the coming things that will happen to promote her album. But then they had to leave and Sara also had to catch her bus back to Gothenburg while we would spend another night in Karlstad to have a look at the city and explore it.

So we were waving a last time at Jenny and Jakob and went back to our car so that Sara won't miss her bus.

Karlstad day 1 - Evigt Ung

So yesterday's plan was to go to Karlstad in the first place to see Jenny and Jakob perform at women's breakfast and if you are already in Karlstad and a show is up where Jakob is one of the main actors then you of course book also this show. So we did. We met Sara at the hostel, since the one she wanted to stay at was full.

So we just put our stuff in the room, got dressed and headed to the "Spineriet" a part of the opera where the play took place. It was really great I can tell and I think everyone should see it. It has so many aspects like how we treat old people, if there is a life after death, what old people feel and what happens if their mind isn't aging in the same speed as the body :) It was a lot of music playd and some songs, just as Nirvana's "Smells Like Teenspirit" became a totally different meaning with another arrangement. A full report about the play is available at Sara's blog. After the play we got to meet Jakob and took some nice pictures with him as old "Herr Petrén" :)

After the play we went back to our hostel since the next morning would start early with a breakfast at Church and a concert with Jenny :)

Noise in the morning

We up half an hour ago, didn't sleep that well in the night but now they started to work in the property. I read that they renew the effluent pipes, but do they really have to start at 8 in the morning? In a hostel? Well I'm awake but I'm sure Anja would have appreciated a little more sleep :)

Back again

... on this blog and tada - in Sweden. Haven't been blogging for a while, since my life is still a mess and I don't think people wanna read my complaints all the time :) It's getting boring. So now I'm back because I'm experiencing a life beyond my job again.

So yesterday I spent another day in Oberhausen, because from today on I'm off from work. My day yesterday started at 4 am and ended at 11 pm, which is loooooooong lol Anja was already at my place when I arrived because we had arranged that she had my keys. We went to bed sort of right after I arrived since today would be exciting.

We went to Gothenburg :) I was sorta nervous since I got a new backpack, which is HUGE to get all my technical equipment with me. So I was a little worried that I wouldn't get through the security check so easily. But everything went well, they caught Anja who's backpack is half the size of mine.

We had a lot of time left until our flight was boarded. Finally on board I had trouble to fit my backpack in the bin :) because of it's size and weight lol So finally the flight started. We were chatting and reading and watching until the food lady came around (I have no clue what those people are called other than stewardess) I ordered a tea and a tomato juice .... and what shall I tell you ... right in the moment when she gave me the tea she somehow hit under the tea so that half of the drink spilled on Anja and me. The good thing was that I had a paper on my knees so a lot of the tea went on the paper, the rest on my and Anja's jeans. We were totally covered with tea ... and it was hot. The stewardess got me some ice to cool my hand since it also was spilled over my hand which got red because of the heat. The stewardess excused herself like 100 times and came back after a while with 2 small bottles of champaign. I didn't care about the champaign since I don't like to drink it anyway :)

When we had landed the stewardess excused herself a last time and we went to the car rental to get our car. I have to mention that my wish of the day was a VW Golf. If I had known that before my wish would have been different for sure ... so be aware of what you asking for is always nice to have in mind :) This time the Golf is blue metallic :)

Arrived in Gothenburg we checked in ... started to get settled in our room. We went shopping for food, met one of my dear friends and went back to the hostel. Oh we had also already a nice walk though the autumn-Slottskogen, which looks so very beautiful in the autumn sun.

When we were back at the hostel Sara came over. I haven't met Sara in a year and the 3 of us had a lot to catch up :) Btw. if you haven't you really have to read her blog GOTTA GO TO GOTHENBURG it's very entertaining and she has a great style of writing :)

Tomorrow we will go to Karlstad and meet with Sara there. We've got tickets for "Evigt Ung" (Forver Young) a musical and this is gonna be fun...

So Gotta Go to Karlstad :)

Keep you posted

/Jessi