Smash Hits, January 1996

Q: What do Africa and Iceland have in common?
A: Ace of Base

    Well, at least according to Ulf Ekberg of Swedish pop sensations Ace of Base -the '90's answer to ABBA who went on to sell more than 19 million copies of their "Happy Nation" album worldwide (which incidentally put them in the Guiness Book of World Records for best selling dedut album!).

    But the Scandanavian foursome aren't quite comfortable with their success. "All this wasn't my plan," says the Berggrens' blonde sister, Malin. "For me, this is too big, especially with the success in America. It doesn't look like it, but it costs a lot of psychic energy to push yourself to success on this level. We have to push forward, but I just can't, I want to push backwards. The guys wanted success (one half of Ace of Base, brother Jonas and Ulf Ekberg), but not like this; it's too big for all of us. Europe is a big market, we can live on it very well. It would be good to be able to go to America and be left alone."

    "When you're 11 or eight, you want to become a princess, to become famous, to be beautiful, to do 30 things at the same time, so many exotic things, but once you grow older, you find that it's impossible. Then suddenly it works and it's, 'Oh how can I do it from here?' There is no high school education in being famous. I could quit this and I would still continue singing in the bathtub or the shower because I feel good about myself when I sing, but not at this level. I am my music, I am what I sing. I liked a lower level or no level at all, like a church choir."

    When asked if she's a little melancholic, she answers: "I live two lives, one very rich and one very poor. This is the poor life." Pull out your hankies, girls!

    Fact: Malin Berggren is scared of flying! "When the plane goes down, I can't breathe, talk, speak or move," she says. "They said flying lessons might help, so I went to an airport, but I threw up." Sick!


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