Online Encyclopedia
Ace of Base
Ace of Base are a Swedish pop band composed of Jonas Berggren (Joker), Ulf Ekberg (Buddha), Linn Berggren and Jenny Berggren ; the three Berggrens are siblings. Their sound has been described as 'pop reggae' and is often compared to ABBA and Aqua.
History
In 1987, Jonas Berggren, as well as his two friends Johnny Lindén and Nicklas Tränk formed a group. Jonas' sisters, Jenny and Malin, joined as singers. Their band went throught several names; 'Kallinin Prospect' (a street in Moscow), 'CAD' (Computer Aided Disco), and 'Tech-Noir' (French for "black technology'; named for a nightclub in The Terminator). In late 1989, Johnny & Nicklas left the group, and in 1990, Ulf Ekberg joined and they changed their name to Ace of Base. Jenny explained once that the reason was "no one could pronounce the name of the group and nobody could remember it".
In 1990 they signed with Mega Records and released Wheel Of Fortune. After several attempts, the song was eventually a Scandinavian hit and the band signed a pan-European distribution deal with Metronome. All That She Wants, produced by the legendary Denniz PoP then became a hit single all over the world.
The months that followed saw the band propel themselves to worldwide fame. More hits followed such as The Sign, which went on to spend six weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for a Grammy.
The band's image was tarnished by revelations that Ulf used to be a member of a neo-Nazi group in Sweden. He has long relinquished and rejected these ties.
In 1995, their second album The Bridge sold a respectable five million copies but it seemed clear that with music tastes rapidly changing, the hype about the band died down, much to the relief of blonde singer Linn who decided to hand over power to her sister Jenny for their third album Flowers which was released in 1998.
Their U.S. comeback with Cruel Summer proved short-lived, but in Europe, Life Is A Flower was one of the most played records on radio that year. A greatest hits compilation was released at the end of the 90s before the band started work on album number 4.
Ace of Base have released dozens of singles worldwide. In the United States, they have had seven Billboard Top 40 hits and two platinum albums.
The band remain together today but have chosen to step out of the limelight. Da Capo was released in 2002 and whilst well received by fans, it didn't trouble many charts. They are about to re-enter the studio in order to record a fifth album which will be released in 2005.
Discography
Album tracks vary by country. Songs that do not appear in all countries are noted as 'limited release'.
Albums
Ce Soir
Released sometime between 1987 and 1990 when they were still called 'Tech-Noir'
- Beauty Queen
- Care for Me (Instrumental)
- Don't Leave Me Now (Rap Mix)
- Eskimo Girl (Unconscious Mix)
- Femme Fatale (Humpty Remix)
- Hear Me Calling
- Hey, Bart!
- Roxy Carmichael's Love
- Subordinate Lifestyle
- Tech Noir 'Ce Soir' (Mix)
- Texturous Thoughts
- Tlaltelolco Muerto
- The Strike
- Young and Proud
Happy Nation [The Sign]
Released September 25, 1993, 23 million copies sold
- All That She Wants
- All That She Wants (Banghra Version)
- Dancer In A Daydream
- Don't Turn Around
- Fashion Party [limited release]
- Happy Nation
- Happy Nation (Remix) [limited release]
- Hear Me Calling [limited release]
- Living In Danger
- My Mind (Mindless Mix)
- The Sign
- Voulez-Vous Danser
- Waiting For Magic (Total Remix 7")
- Wheel Of Fortune
- Young And Proud
The Bridge
Released September 25, 1995, 5 million copies sold
- Angel Eyes
- Beautiful Life
- Blooming 18
- Edge Of Heaven
- Experience Pearls
- Just 'N' Image
- Lucky Love [limited release]
- Lucky Love (Acoustic Version)
- My Déjà Vu
- Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry
- Perfect World
- Que Sera
- Ravine
- Strange Ways
- Wave Wet Sand
- Whispers In Blindness
- You And I [limited release]
Flowers [Cruel Summer]
Released September 26, 1998
- Adventures In Paradise
- Always Have, Always Will
- Captain Nemo [limited release]
- Cecilia
- Cruel Summer
- Cruel Summer (Big Bonus Mix) [limited release]
- Cruel Summer (Blazin' Rhythm Remix) [limited release]
- Don't Go Away
- Donnie
- Dr. Sun [limited release]
- Everytime it Rains [limited release]
- He Decides
- I Pray [limited release]
- Into the Night of Blue [limited release]
- Life Is A Flower
- Tokyo Girl
- Travel To Romantis
- Whenever You're Near Me [limited release; rewrite of 'Life Is A Flower']
Singles of the 90s [Greatest Hits]
Released September 25, 2000
- All That She Wants
- Always Have, Always Will
- Beautiful Life
- Beautiful Life (Junior Vasquez Mix) [limited release]
- C'est La Vie (Always 21)
- Cruel Summer
- Don't Turn Around
- Everytime It Rains
- Hallo Hallo [limited release]
- Happy Nation [limited release]
- Life Is A Flower
- Living In Danger [limited release]
- Love In December [limited release]
- Lucky Love [limited release]
- Lucky Love (Acoustic Version) [limited release]
- Lucky Love (Frankie Knuckles Mix) [limited release]
- Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry [limited release]
- The Sign
- Wheel Of Fortune [limited release]
Da Capo
Released September 30, 2002
- Beautiful Morning
- Beautiful Morning (Groove Radio Edit) [limited release]
- Change With The Light
- Da Capo
- Don't Stop [limited release]
- Hey Darling
- Ordinary Day
- Remember The Words
- Show Me Love
- Summer Days [limited release]
- The Juvenile
- Unspeakable
- What's The Name Of The Game
- Wonderful Life
- World Down Under
Collection [Platinum & Gold Collection]
Remastered recordings released October 7, 2002
- All That She Wants
- Angel Eyes [limited release]
- Beautiful Life
- Cecilia [limited release]
- Cruel Summer
- Dancer in a Daydream [limited release]
- Don't Turn Around [limited release]
- Donnie [limited release]
- Edge of Heaven [limited release]
- Everytime It Rains
- Happy Nation
- Living In Danger [limited release]
- Lucky Love
- My Deja Vu [limited release]
- Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry
- The Sign [limited release]
- Tokyo Girl [limited release]
- Travel to Romantis [limited release]
- Voulez-Vous Danser [limited release]
- Waiting for Magic [limited release]
- Wheel Of Fortune [limited release]
- Whenever You're Near Me [limited release]
- Young and Proud [limited release]
Singles
Tracks listed are for maxi-singles.
All That She Wants (1992)
- 12" Version
- Banghra Version
- Extended Single/Dub
- Single Version
Always Have, Always Will (December 1999)
Angel Eyes(1998)
Beautiful Life (November 1995)
- 12" Extended Version
- Junior's Circuit Bump Mix
- Lenny B's House of Joy Club Mix
- Single Version
- Uno Clio Mix
- Vission Lorimer Club Mix
Beautiful Morning (2002)
C'est La Vie (1999)
Cecilia (Autumn 1998)
Cruel Summer (Spring 1998)
- Album Version
- Hani Num Club Mix
- Hani Radio Mix
- KLM Club Mix
- KLM Radio Mix
Don't Turn Around (Summer 1994)
Donnie (1998)
Everytime It Rains (February 1999)
Hallo Hallo (February 2000)
Happy Nation (1993)
Life is a Flower (February 1998)
- Extended Version
- Milk Long Edit
- Original Version
- Soul Poets Night Club Mix
Living In Danger (Autumn 1994)
- D-House Mix
- New Buddha Version
- Old School Mix
- Single Edit
Love In December (2000)
Lucky Love (November 1995)
- Acoustic Version
- Amadin Mix
- Armand's British Nites Mix
- Frankie Knuckles Classic Club Mix
- Lenny B's Club Mix
- Vission Lorimer Funkified Mix
My Déjà Vu (1996)
Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry (August 1996)
- Album Version
- Lenny B's Club Mix
- Lenny B's Organi-c House Mix
- Sweetbox Extended Mix
The Juvenile (January 20, 2003)
The Sign (January 1, 1994)
Tokyo Girl (1998)
Travel To Romantis (August 1998)
Unspeakable (January 10, 2003)
- Don't Stop
- Junk&Function/M12 Radio Mix
- Fairlite Radio Mix
- Filur Radio Mix
- Radio Edit
Waiting For Magic (1993)
Wheel of Fortune (1992)
Whenever You're Near Me (August 1998)
External links
- http://www.aceofbase.com
- http://www.aceofbase.org
- http://www.aceofbase.co.uk
- All "Ace of Base" Lyrics http://lyrics.activelyrics.com/A/ace%20of%20base/index.html
- http://www.geocities.com/aobland/