'TEARS FOR FEARS' FEATURES PER SORENSEN: I WILL
PERFORM TILL I'M 140!
[PHOTO
-Sorensen is featured in the Big Dome concerts of Tears For
Fears (below)]
MANILA,
AUGUST 13, 2012 (PHILSTAR)
FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo - Due in Manila to promote his new album and to
open for Tears for Fears on Aug. 10 and 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum is Per
Sorensen, the Norwegian singer and songwriter who is best known as the vocalist
of the New Wave-synthpop band Fra Lippo Lippi. (Tears For Fears will have
another show at the Waterfront Hotel 7 Casino in Cebu on Aug. 12.)
Sorensen was widely credited for the shift in music of Fra Lippo Lippi from
goth rock/post-punk to a piano-laden combination of New Wave and light jazz.
Although Fra Lippo Lippi stopped recording in the early '90s, it performed in
Manila in 2000 where it had scored numerous hits and established a tremendous
following after its debut concert in 1988.
Aside from Fra Lippo Lippi, Sorensen has also worked with Trine Rein. His
first solo album, Vage, was released in Norway on Sept. 28, 2011, and was
completely in Norwegian. His latest album Master of Illusion includes the
singles Later, Beauty and Madness, Fire and Rain, and Loneliness.
Sorensen's last visit to the Philippines was in February last year during a
five-date, five-city tour that covered Ormoc City, Tacloban City, Baguio City,
Cebu City and Manila.
In an e-mail interview, Sorensen provides some insights on his musical career
and his forthcoming performance.
Per, as its vocalist, you were credited for the significant shift in music
and style of Fra Lippo Lippi from goth-rock/post-punk to a piano-laden mix of
New Wave and light jazz, as shown in the group's second album, Small Mercies.
What provided you the inspiration to create the songs and albums that propelled
Fra Lippo Lippi to the top of the music world in the 1980s?
"I was asked to do the vocals for Fra Lippo Lippi's second album Small
Mercies in the autumn of 1983, I believe it was. Everything had been recorded
except for the vocals. I did my best and got the job. So, I didn't write any of
the songs for Small Mercies. That came later when we decided to record another
album, which was to be called Songs.
"I came from the songwriting tradition of The Beatles, Carole King, Burt
Bacharach, Stevie Wonder and Elton John, to name a few of my favorites. All my
compositions prior to FLL were inspired by my music heroes. Also, Marvin Gaye,
Earth, Wind & Fire and groups like Steely Dan gave a young man a lot to
think about when it came to writing music. I dug Weather Report, The Rolling
Stones, Genesis, Led Zeppelin and Chick Corea when I was 15-16 years old. A real
melting pot!
"I had to use my musical skills to make my style blend into FLL style. I have
always loved good, melodic pop music, and tried to take FLL a step further up
the road, I guess. Where do the songs come from? I have no idea. That's the
beauty of it."
The song Everytime I See You was one of the top hits of Fra Lippo Lippi
that captivated millions worldwide with its enchanting melody and beautiful
lyrics. Could you tell us the story behind this song?
"After having signed with Virgin Records in London on the basis of the
already recorded album Songs, they wanted us to re-record the album and throw in
another single. We didn't have any, so Rune thought it was a good idea to use
the track A Small Mercy of the album Small Mercies once more. It was his song,
and it clearly lacked a chorus. I wrote the chorus in the studio (Polar,
Stockholm) and that was it, really. We had Everytime I See You!"
For the past 25 years, Fra Lippo Lippi has enjoyed a huge following among
Filipino music lovers, as indicated by the success of its several tours here in
the past, starting in 1988 when its debut concert series sold out six times over
two weekends. To what do you attribute the popularity of the band among local
fans?
"There was a particular radio station in Manila whose name I can't recall.
They plugged our songs on a heavy rotation and other stations followed. I think
many Filipinos love our melancholy style. I don't know what else to say,
really."
Aside from its sold-out shows, the Philippines has also figured
prominently in several career milestones of Fra Lippo Lippi, which released some
of its albums and compilations here in 1990, 1995 and 1997. With your upcoming
concert here as a solo performer, what can Filipino fans expect from Per
Sorensen?
"This time I have a new album out, which is called Master Of Imperfection.
Beauty And Madness, Later and Will I Recognize plus my version of James Taylor's
Fire And Rain are all on the album. So are six new songs I am really proud of.
"I will open for Tears For Fears, so there will be a limited version of a Per
Sorensen-gig. But, I will do three songs from my new album, in addition to some
FLL highlights."
Now that you have gone solo, how do you assess the impact on your career
of your association with Fra Lippo Lippi as its vocalist? How long do you intend
to go on singing, recording and performing?
"I was lucky to be asked to join the band, and glad for the kickstart it gave
my career. I know I'm good, both as a singer, performer, piano player and
composer, and so do a million other musicians. I was there when it all happened
for FLL. Luckily.
"I hope to do this as long as I have my health. I love it so much, it means
everything to me and gives me so much joy. I want to continue 'till I'm 140.
Then I'll die on stage."
Could you rank the countries where your music has been widely accepted
next to or as much as the Philippines? Why do you think your music has
penetrated these markets and not say the US or other major music markets?
"We have done well in Norway, Sweden, France, Japan, The Netherlands, Italy,
and Argentina. In that running order, I believe. Others will know more about
these things than me, though.
"We almost had America after Light And Shade, when Virgin USA dropped us
after having signed a big British act. It felt absolutely horrible."
What is a typical day like for you in Norway? Do you hangout with another
popular Norwegian group A-HA? What are they like?
"I get up at 6:30 to make breakfast for my two sons and my wife and let Lucy
(our dog) out. A nice cup of coffee, the newspaper, breakfast and off to run in
the woods with Lucy every other day. I teach music to kids, both in school and
in my home. I teach music to a band where the members are mentally disabled,
which I love doing. I also give classes in songwriting.
"I enjoy a side project called Snowbound; a quartet doing Steely Dan, Stevie
Wonder, Lee Ritenour and others in our own style. Great fun!
"And then, I write music. Not all the time, but in between other activities.
Also, I enjoy reading novels and biographies. And crosswords…
"I haven't met A-HA since 1986. I have worked a little with Paul's wife,
Lauren. She's great."
Aside from coming here to perform since 1988, what other reasons make you
want to keep coming back to Manila for?
"This is my job, and this time it's promo for the new album. Plus, I like
meeting old friends and making new ones. I appreciate to travel, to visit other
countries, other cultures. It's such a privilege to perform in front of
thousands of people, and at the same time communicate with the musicians as well
as with the audience. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?"
(Tears For Fears Live In Manila 2012! is presented by Ovation Productions
in cooperation with Chase, 2nd Avenue and Jack TV with the special participation
of Philippine Airlines and Manulife. It is also supported by The Philippine
STAR, History Channel, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, Monster Radio RX 93.1,
Inquirer.net, Mellow 94.7, 97.9 Home Radio, Radio High 105.9, Philstar.com, RJ
100.3 FM, ABS-CBN and OptimaSignsolutions. Tickets to the Smart Araneta Coliseum
concerts are priced at P7,500, P5,500, P4,500, P2,500, P1,500 and P700. For
inquiries, call Ticketnet at 911-5555. Ticket prices for the Waterfront Hotel
and Casino-Cebu show are P6,500, P5,500, P3,500, P2,500, P2,000 and P1,000. For
inquiries, call 232-6888 or 0917-6228705.)
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE
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