Ace of Base is a
Swedish pop band that consists 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 six 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 has 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 sixth album which will be released in 2005.
Achievements
Throughout their relatively short time recording and performing together, Ace of Base set a number of world records and other achievements. The following is a partial list.
Ace of Base released the world's highest selling debut album of all time, according to the
Guinness Book of World Records, 1997 edition. Their
1993 release
The Sign/
Happy Nation sold an estimated 23 million copies.
Four of the group's singles have received gold or platinum certification by the
RIAA in the United States. These are:
All That She Wants -
Gold RIAA certification (over 500,000 units sold) awarded 10/26/93.
Platinum RIAA certification (over 1,000,000 copies sold) awarded 11/12/1993.
The Sign -
Gold RIAA certification awarded 2/23/94.
Platinum RIAA certification, awarded 4/06/94.
Don't Turn Around -
Gold RIAA certification, awarded 6/29/94.
Cruel Summer -
Gold RIAA certification, awarded 9/1/98.
Two of the band's albums received multi-platinum certication in the United States:
The Sign (10 RIAA platinum certifications = diamond) awarded 5/21/02
The Bridge (2 RIAA platinum certifications) awarded 5/21/02
In addition, "The Sign Home Video Collection" was also certified gold. The band also received three Grammy nominations, two American Music Awards, and two Billboard Music
Awards for "Best-Selling Album" and "Best-Selling Single".
In Europe, Ace of Base won awards for
Best Selling Scandinavian Artist at the
1995,
1996, and
1997 World Music Awards in
Monaco. They performed at each of these events.
In
1998 the band's single "Life is a Flower" was the most heavily played radio single of the year worldwide, despite the fact it was never released in the Americas.
In
2002 The Sign was certified diamond by the
RIAA. Although Arista Records in the United States no longer releases new Ace of Base albums, both
The Sign and
The Bridge albums continue to be hot properties for the Arista/BMG label.
As of 2005, the band are recording a new album with the intention of releasing it some time during 2006. Jenny will also be releasing a solo album and one as part of a new band called Arose.
Platinum and Gold Awards for 'Happy Nation/The Sign'
Argentina: 4 times platinum (160,000+ units sold) (for 'The Sign')
Australia: 1 platinum (70,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')
Austria: 1 platinum (30,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')
Belgium: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')
Brazil: 1 gold (for 'The Sign')
Canada: 1 diamond (1,000,000+ units sold) (for 'The Sign')
Chile: 1 platinum (for 'The Sign')
China: 1 platinum (for 'Happy Nation')
Czech Republic: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')
Denmark: 4 times platinum (160,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')
Finland: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')
France: 1 diamond (1,000,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')
Germany: 3 times platinum (900,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')
India: 1 platinum (200,000(?)+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')
Indonesia: 4 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')
Ireland: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')
Italy: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')
Greece: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')
Hong Kong: 1 platinum (for 'Happy Nation')
Japan: 4 times platinum (for 'The Sign')
Korea: 7 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')
Mexico: 3 times platinum (450,000+ units sold) (for 'The Sign')
Netherlands: 2 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')
New Zealand: 3 times platinum (45,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')
Norway: 2 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')
Portugal: 1 platinum (for 'Happy Nation')
Singapore: 3 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')
Spain: 1 platinum (for 'Happy Nation')
Sweden: 2 times platinum (for 'Happy Nation')
Switzerland: 2 times platinum (80,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')
South Africa: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')
Thailand: 1 gold (for 'Happy Nation')
United Kingdom: 2 times platinum (600,000+ units sold) (for 'Happy Nation')
United States: 1 diamond (10,000,000+ units sold) (for 'The Sign')
Platinum and Gold Awards for 'The Bridge' :
Canada: 2 times platinum (200,000+ units sold)
Finland: 1 platinum
France: 1 platinum (300,000+ units sold)
Germany: 1 gold (300,000+ units sold)
India: 1 gold (100,000(?)+ units sold)
Indonesia: 1 platinum
Hong Kong: 2 times platinum
Japan: 1 platinum
Korea: 3 times platinum
Malaysia: 1 gold
Mexico: 1 platinum (150,000+ units sold)
New Zealand: 1 platinum (15,000+ units sold)
Philippines: 2 times platinum
Poland: 1 gold
Spain: 1 gold
Sweden: 1 platinum
Switzerland: 1 platinum (40,000+ units sold)
Taiwan: 2 times platinum
United States: 2 times platinum (2,000,000+ units sold)
Platinum and Gold Awards for 'Flowers/Cruel Summer' :
Canada: 1 gold (50,000+ units sold) (for 'Cruel Summer')
Denmark: 1 gold (20,000+ units sold) (for 'Flowers')
Japan: 2 times platinum (for 'Flowers')
Korea: 1 platinum (for 'Flowers')
Sweden: 1 gold (for 'Flowers')
Switzerland: 1 platinum (40,000+ units sold) (for 'Flowers')
Platinum and Gold Awards for 'Singles of the Nineties' :
Denmark: 1 gold (20,000+ units sold)
The music
From early on, Ace of Base drew inspiration from the growing European club scene. Their earliest performances were in small clubs in
Gothenburg and their first recordings were simple reproductions of their live performances. Their first recording sessions took place in a basement converted into a studio (hence the name).
Later recordings, including those of
Happy Nation and
The Bridge, took advantage of professional facilities in both Gothenburg and
Stockholm.
The last track prepared during
The Bridge era, "You and I", was recorded at Jonas' newly-completed studio, The Barn. Many later recordings, including those for
Flowers and the six tracks recorded in
1999, also were prepared and mixed at The Barn.
The band's fifth released album,
Da Capo, was recorded at studios in Stockholm.
The band members were strongly influenced by club music. Most of their early songs, including "All That She Wants" and "Happy Nation" were club-friendly tracks inspired by the growth of the club scene across Europe.
Later, more thoughtful studio recordings gradually replaced the "Euro-punk" sound. "Lucky Love" was the band's attempt at an acoustic sound. "Angel Eyes" and "Edge of Heaven" became sophisticated pop ballads. "Beautiful Life" was a blend of American Gospel music and the band's earlier club sound. Jonas admitted a strong influence of
Whigfield in "You and I".
Ace of Base continually experimented with new sounds. For example, their
Flowers album was the first to introduce a Motown flavor into Scandinavian music. Tracks with retro themes from this album include "Always Have, Always Will", "Cecilia" and "Donnie". A blend of salsa and reggae can be heard on European releases such as "Cruel Summer", "No Good Lover", and "Doctor Sun".
Individually, the four Aces drew further inspiration from different sources. This effect is most noticeable in
The Bridge, with each band member contributing 1/4th of the album.
In Ace of Base's later music, the pace of the songs tends to be moderate, with more of the interest sometimes coming from the melody and the orchestration rather than the rhythm.
"C'est la Vie (Always 21)" (1999) is a good example of this style. Their earlier songs were often a bit faster paced. The band has abruptly changed styles of music on several occasions. There had already been a clear trend towards progressively greater complexity both in technique and style, and for the most part an abandonment of the group's early club sound.
Trivia
Discography
Main Article: Discography of Ace of Base
Album tracks vary by country. Songs that do not appear in all countries are noted as 'limited release'.
1993: HAPPY NATION UK: #21 (#1 re-entry) Album Sales 24 million
1993: All That She Wants - #1 (UK)
1993: Wheel of Fortune - #20 (UK)
1994: The Sign - #2 (UK)
1994: Don't Turn Around - #5 (UK)
1994: Happy Nation - #40 (UK)
1995: Living In Danger - #18 (UK)
1995:""THE BRIDGE" Album Sales 6 million
1995: Lucky Love - #20 (UK)
1996: Beautiful Life - #15 (UK)
1998: Life Is A Flower - #5 (UK)
1998: FLOWERS UK: #15 Album Sales 3 million
1998: Cruel Summer - #8 (UK)
1998: Always Have Always Will - #12 (UK)
1999: Everytime It Rains - #22 (UK)
1999: "SINGLES OF THE 90's"/"GREATEST HITS" (US 2000)
1999: C'est La Vie
2002: DA CAPO Album Sales 250,000
2002: Beautiful Morning - #14 (Sweden), 38 (Germany)
2002: Unspeakable - #49 (Sweden), #97 (Germany)
Studio Albums
Ce Soir
Supposedly released sometime between 1987 and 1990 when they were still called 'Tech-Noir'. The evidence for this album's existence seems somewhat controversial: no clips of any of the songs on this album have ever surfaced (clips of 'Hear Me Calling' come from the 'Happy Nation' album, not 'Ce Soir', and clips of 'Young and Proud' don't match the supposed tracklist length for the 'Ce Soir' album).
BANDMEMBERS:
Jonas Berggren
Nicklas Trank
Johnny Linden
Malin Berggren
Jenny Berggren
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
Released in Europe as Happy Nation
in 1992; released (with differing tracklisting) in the Americas as The Sign
September 25, 1993; re-released in the Old World (with new tracklisting) at the end of 1993 as
Happy Nation U.S. Version. 24 million copies sold (as of 5/21/02).
All That She Wants
All That She Wants (Banghra Version)
Dancer In A Daydream
Dimension of Depth release
Don't Turn Around
Fashion Party release
Happy Nation
Happy Nation (Remix) release
Hear Me Calling release
Just Chaos (Munchhausen) release
Living In Danger
My Mind (Mindless Mix)
The Sign
Voulez-Vous Danser
Waiting For Magic release
Waiting For Magic (Total Remix 7")
Wheel Of Fortune
Young And Proud
The band's only album released worldwide with only minor modifications; album released September 25, 1995, 6 million copies sold (as of 5/21/02).
Angel Eyes
Beautiful Life
Blooming 18
Edge Of Heaven
Experience Pearls
Just 'N' Image
Lucky Love 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 release
Released in Europe, Asia, and Africa as Flowers
, Spring, 1998; In the Americas the album was released as
Cruel Summer with major modifications to the tracklisting in summer of 1998. Australia, Britain, and Japan received hybrid versions of the two albums. 3 million copies were sold.
Adventures In Paradise
Always Have, Always Will
Captain Nemo release
Cecilia
Cruel Summer
Cruel Summer (Big Bonus Mix) release
Cruel Summer (Blazin' Rhythm Remix) release
Don't Go Away
Donnie
Dr. Sun release
Everytime it Rains release
He Decides
I Pray release
Into the Night of Blue release
Life Is A Flower release
Tokyo Girl
Travel To Romantis
Whenever You're Near Me release; rewrite of 'Life Is A Flower'
Released Autumn, 1999 in Europe; a compilation, creatively called Greatest Hits, was released in the States instead. The U.S. compilation, released in Spring of 2000, contained no new songs and introduced track errors.
All That She Wants
Always Have, Always Will
Beautiful Life
Beautiful Life (Junior Vasquez Mix) release
C'est La Vie (Always 21)
Cruel Summer
Don't Turn Around
Everytime It Rains
Hallo Hallo release
Happy Nation release
Life Is A Flower
Living In Danger release
Love In December release
Lucky Love release
Lucky Love (Acoustic Version) release
Lucky Love (Frankie Knuckles Mix) release
Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry release
The Sign
Wheel Of Fortune release
Released September 30, 2002 in Europe and Japan.
Beautiful Morning
Beautiful Morning (Groove Radio Edit) release
Change With The Light
Da Capo
Don't Stop release
Hey Darling
Ordinary Day
Remember The Words
Show Me Love
Summer Days release
The Juvenile
Unspeakable
What's The Name Of The Game
Wonderful Life
World Down Under
Compilations
Remastered recordings released October 7, 2002
All That She Wants
Angel Eyes release
Beautiful Life
Cecilia release
Cruel Summer
Dancer in a Daydream release
Don't Turn Around release
Donnie release
Edge of Heaven release
Everytime It Rains
Happy Nation
Living In Danger release
Lucky Love
My Deja Vu release
Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry
The Sign release
Tokyo Girl release
Travel to Romantis release
Voulez-Vous Danser release
Waiting for Magic release
Wheel Of Fortune release
Whenever You're Near Me release
Young and Proud release
See also
Best selling music artists
External links
http://www.aceofbase.com
http://www.aceofbase.co.uk
http://www.aceofbase.nl
http://www.aceofbase.com.fr
http://www.aceboards.com
http://www.aceisland.de
http://www.acedays.com
http://www.aceofbase.org
http://www.ace-of-base.de
http://www.acerdom.de
http://mister-ace.com
