INTERVIEW: ACE.OF.BASE | SIGNED PHOTO GIVEAWAY

Ace.of.Base & Mr. Will-W.

In the late '80s Ulf Ekberg and siblings Jonas, Linn and Jenny Berggren embarked on a collaboration which leave a significant imprint in the world of Pop Music. Göteborg, the second largest City in Sweden, wasn't exactly a hotbed of international talent then, but who knew that this quartet Ace of Base would conquer the world with their 1993 stateside debut, The Sign (alternative title: Happy Nation)? Singles from that Disc went on to top the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40 Chart with three Reggae/Dance Pop singles successively in 1993: All That She Wants, The Sign and Don't Turn Around. By 1995, the Band was nominated for a pair of Grammy Awards, including coveted Best New Artist, plus several Billboard and American Music Awards.

"They jokingly called our music Chinese Reggae", Frontman Ulf tells me after what surprisingly was their first full-length concert ever in Toronto last night on the Canadian National Exhibition’s Bandshell Stage. At 40 years of age, he is tanned, clearly attractive still and full of energy riding on the high of a well-received performance. Sipping from a cup filled from a Steam Whistle dispenser he admits, "To this day I still don't know what Chinese Reggae really means. I think because Chinese Music is melodic more than rhythmic, that’s what they meant because our songs have both those elements in them". He refers to what has become Ace of Base’s signature Sound, an accidental product of both hard work and a chance collaboration with a neighbouring Reggae band in their earlier days.

ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 30 PASSES TO THE QUEER BEER FESTIVAL AND SEE ACE OF BASE LIVE!

Ace of Base

Remember back in May I announced that Swedish Pop legends Ace of Base would be performing at the Queer Beer Festival here in Toronto?  Well, the time is approaching rapidly and together Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven, the Queer Beer Festival and DPPR want to offer you a chance to win 1 of 30 Passes to attend the festivities!

To be held at Canadian National Exhibition - Bandshell Park between the hours of 4-10 PM on Thursday, August 4, 2011, the Queer Beer Festival is a new addition to Toronto's Festival of Beer, and the first of its kind in North America celebrating Diversity.

The Event is for those aged 19+ with identification and you can expect to find over 120 brands of Beer available, lots of amazing Food and Live Music!  Your Passes not only allow you access to the fun, but you'll also get a Commemorative Cup.

To enter to win, please leave a comment below with the correct answer to the following question below before Friday, July 29, 2011:

LADY GAGA - BORN THIS WAY REVIEW

At long last we are gifted with the eagerly-awaited return from The Mother of Pop herself, Lady Gaga - not that she ever really was away.  Born this Way is a 14-track Opus, equally Runway-inspired as it is made for the Dance Floor.  And over the course of the past three years those of us who were early supporters of hers have been rewarded handsomely by our investment of faith, seeing no other star shine as brightly as hers.  Make no mistake about it, Lady Gaga is a Phenomenon and an Icon in all senses of the word.

Born This Way shows an astonishing amount of growth from Gaga's 2008 debut The Fame.  Gone are the days of singing about "riding on Disco Sticks" and "doin' it for the Fame". By golly, she's famous.  She's really famous.  Musically, vocally and lyrically, Gaga has progressed as an Artist, striking that fine balance between Pop Art and a level of accessibility which even your ten-year old Niece gets.  A now-Gaga is '90s-obsessed and fixated on Biblical metaphors, in addition to the concepts of Social Justice and Self Acceptance.

This hour-long Set starts off on a brilliant note - a first Techno-Rock contribution from Fernando Garibay complete with Bongos and Organs.  Marry the Night takes you to the Chapel in high gear before fully taking flight late with a Pat Benatar-like Breakdown and Vamp which elevates the listener into a higher state of consciousness  - the Album's Title Track, yet another Garibay production.    

Government Hooker is a dark, edgy romp which sounds like something played over a Video Montage  between costume changes on her The Monster Ball Tour.  Industrial, New Wave and with a Hook which melodically takes a cue from Jefferson Airplane's Somebody to Love, this number definitely is among the Cream of the Crop on the Disc.  Myself not having gone "gaga" (yes her name can be used as a verb also) over RedOne production Judas, its context is understood better after hearing the Album fully.  It serves as a part of a recurring motif - dark, bitter Verses set against the sweet fluffiness of fun Choruses.

Americano with its Flamenco flare delivers more of that passione we heard on prior Single Alejandro, although much more festive and in the spirit of Boney M. and Santa Esmerelda. An ode to Gay Rights, musically it seems out-of-context from the rest of Born this Way, although we will need to see this Garibay production set to stage in all its visual glory to see where Gaga is going with this. 

ACE OF BASE HEADLINING QUEER BEER FESTIVAL IN TORONTO

Ace of Base

The Festival of Beer already in its 17th year, is trying something new this year in launching the first-ever Queer Beer Festival, taking place on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at the Canadian National Exhibition, Bandshell Park. And guess who’s headlining? ACE OF BASE!!!

Having sold in excess of 30 million records worldwide, the Swedish Super-group will be making a rare appearance in the City, fronted by sexy new Vocalists Clara and Julia.  And yes, the Group responsible for smashes like All that She Wants and Beautiful Life are responsible for influencing the sounds of many a Pop Princess of today -  Lady Gaga and Katy Perry included.  They will be among several local Queer Acts and DJs appearing at the Festival.

The Queer Beer Festival is a celebration of the love for Beer in all its varieties among the Queer and Trans communities. There will be over 100 Food and Beer Vendors on-site serving deliciousness like Poutine to authentic BBQ; there also will be several Vegetarian options too.