Jonas Berggren

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Jonas Berggren
JonasBerggren.jpg
Jonas Berggren in Finland, 2008
Background information
Birth nameJonas Petter Berggren
Also known asJoker
Born (1967-03-21) 21 March 1967 (age 56)
Gothenburg, Sweden
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Voice, guitar, keyboards
Years active1987–present

Jonas Petter Berggren (born 21 March 1967) is a Swedish musician and singer-songwriter and record producer, also known as Joker. He started writing songs when he was seven, and continues to write for the Swedish band Ace of Base, which he is a founding member of, as well as other bands. He was born in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Jonas Petter Berggren was the first child of three siblings; his younger sisters are Linn and Jenny. Jonas was born with a cleft lip, undergoing three surgeries within his first year. He became interested in music when he was 10, after his father started teaching him to play the guitar. [1]

Career

As the founding member of Ace of Base, Berggren has written all of their biggest hits, including "All That She Wants", "The Sign", and "Beautiful Life". He also plays the guitar and keyboards. [2] Working under the artist name of "Joker" (or, in some later works, JP), Berggren nowadays also has his own studio, called The Barn. The former female members of Ace of Base, Linn and Jenny Berggren, are his sisters. He also worked with DJ Bobo, Army of Lovers, E-Type and Meja. [3]

Jonas was also the producer and composer for the album Pride by Swedish pop group Yaki-Da, in 1995.

Writing for Ace of Base

Berggren has contributed to writing all Ace of Base's material, except the following:

Personal life

He married Norwegian hairdresser Birthe Haugland on 12 July 2000 whom he met during a cruise in Norway in the summer of 1996. Together they have four children: Julia, born in 1999, Gabriel, born in 2001, Amanda, born in 2006, and Molly, born in 2008. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ace of Base</span> Swedish pop group

Ace of Base is a Swedish pop group, formed in 1987, originally consisting of siblings Jonas, Linn, and Jenny Berggren, with Ulf Ekberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linn Berggren</span> Swedish singer-songwriter

Malin Sofia Katarina Berggren is a Swedish singer-songwriter, best known as a former member of the pop music band Ace of Base. Having been interested and involved in music since her childhood, she formed the band in 1987, along with her sister Jenny, her brother Jonas and their friend Ulf Ekberg. Before forming Ace of Base, Malin sang in her church's choir. She was born in Gothenburg, Sweden.

<i>The Bridge</i> (Ace of Base album) 1995 studio album by Ace of Base

The Bridge is the second album by Swedish pop music group Ace of Base. It was composed during 1994 and 1995, and released in Europe on 30 October 1995. It is the only Ace of Base album to feature sizable writing, production, vocal, and harmony contributions by all four band members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulf Ekberg</span> Swedish musician

Ulf Gunnar Ekberg, also known as Buddha, is a Swedish musician, best known as a founding member of the pop group Ace of Base, along with siblings Jonas Berggren, Linn Berggren and Jenny Berggren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenny Berggren</span> Musical artist

Jenny Cecilia Petrén,, professionally known as Jenny Berggren and Jenny from Ace of Base is a Swedish mezzo-soprano singer and former lead singer in the Swedish pop band Ace of Base. Since 1995, she has also been writing songs and performing solo. In 2010, she released her debut album My Story.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sign (song)</span> 1993 single by Ace of Base

"The Sign" is a song by Swedish group Ace of Base from their first North American studio album, The Sign (1993), and their re-released debut studio album, Happy Nation (1992), titled Happy Nation . The song was released by Arista and Mega as a single in Europe on 1 November 1993 and the US on 14 December 1993. It was written by band member Jonas Berggren, who also produced the song with Denniz Pop and Douglas Carr. "The Sign" is a techno-reggae, Europop, and pop ballad with lyrics describing a couple contemplating the state of their relationship.

<i>Cruel Summer</i> (Ace of Base album) 1998 studio album (reissue) by Ace of Base

Cruel Summer is a 1998 album by Swedish pop group Ace of Base, released as the band's third album in North America on 14 July 1998 and in Japan on 25 August 1998 by Arista Records. Flowers was the group's third album worldwide, but Arista Records decided to release a different version of the album in North America, Japan, and Latin America, retitled Cruel Summer. This version of the album featured the new track "Everytime It Rains" and many new versions of songs that were first featured on Flowers. As executive producer, Clive Davis enlisted collaborators including production team Cutfather & Joe and songwriter Billy Steinberg. While primarily a pop album, Cruel Summer explores the genres of euro disco, Motown, and dance.

<i>Da Capo</i> (Ace of Base album) 2002 studio album by Ace of Base

Da Capo is the fourth studio album released by Swedish pop group Ace of Base. It was released in 2002 in Europe and Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always Have, Always Will (Ace of Base song)</span> 1998 single by Ace of Base

"Always Have Always Will" is a 1998 song by Swedish pop band Ace of Base. Heavily inspired by the Motown sound of the mid-1960s, the intro samples the intros from the Supremes track "Where Did Our Love Go" and the Four Tops track "I Can't Help Myself ". It was co-written by Jonas Berggren with Mike Chapman. The song was originally titled "Killer on the Rampage" and contained different lyrics. When the song was pitched as a potential song for the upcoming Flowers/Cruel Summer album, Arista records liked the melody; however, requested that the lyrics be rewritten.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everytime It Rains</span> 1999 single by Ace of Base

Originally written for Annie Lennox, "Everytime It Rains" is the fourth single released from Swedish band Ace of Base's album Flowers in the UK, featured on a re-release of the album. The song was written by Rick Nowels, Billy Steinberg and Maria Vidal. The single peaked at number 22 in the UK in April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry</span> 1996 single by Ace of Base

"Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry" is a song by Swedish band Ace of Base, released as a single on 11 March 1996. It was the third single taken from the band's second album, The Bridge (1995). In Europe, the song peaked at number six in Hungary, number 12 in Denmark and number 17 in Finland. In the US, it reached number six on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. And in Canada, it peaked at number 53 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All That She Wants</span> 1992 single by Ace of Base

"All That She Wants" is a song by Swedish group Ace of Base. It was released in Scandinavia in August 1992 by Mega Records as the second single from the group's first studio album, Happy Nation (1992), and in the following year, it was released as the first single from the 1993 album The Sign in North America. Produced by Denniz Pop with group members Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg, the drum beat was inspired by the Kayo song "Another Mother". Berggren and Ekberg also wrote the lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheel of Fortune (Ace of Base song)</span> 1992 single by Ace of Base

"Wheel of Fortune" is a song by Swedish pop group Ace of Base, released as their first single from the debut album, Happy Nation (1992). The song was first serviced to Danish radio in early 1992, through Mega Records, but failed to pick up much support. When re-promoted for a third time and released in stores on 29 June 1992, it entered the official Danish singles chart at number six, before later peaking at number two. It wasn't released elsewhere in Europe until 1993, following the success of their second single, "All That She Wants".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happy Nation (song)</span> 1992 single by Ace of Base

"Happy Nation" is a song recorded by Swedish group Ace of Base from their debut album with the same name (1992). It was first released in Scandinavia in December 1992 and later released twice in the UK. The first appearance was in October 1993, when it peaked at number 42, it reentered the chart twelve months later at number 40. "Happy Nation" reached number-one on the singles charts of Denmark, Finland, France and Israel in 1993 and 1994. Its music video was directed by Matt Broadley. In 2008, the song was remade by Ace of Base for a remix kit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waiting for Magic</span> 1993 single by Ace of Base

"Waiting for Magic" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group Ace of Base from their debut album, Happy Nation (1992). It was released in Scandinavia in April 1993 as the fourth single from the album. The song reached number one in Israel, and the top-10 in both Denmark and Finland. The original version of the song appears only on the original release of Happy Nation. On the album's re-release and The Sign (1993), it was replaced with its remix. No music video was produced for "Waiting for Magic", but it was promoted through a number of live performances, including one at the Miss Universe Denmark pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living in Danger</span> 1994 single by Ace of Base

"Living in Danger" is a song recorded by Swedish group Ace of Base. It was released in October 1994 by Arista and Mega as the seventh and final single from the group's debut album, Happy Nation and fourth single from their American debut release, The Sign (1993). Written by bandmembers Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg, the single peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in December 1994. On the US Cash Box Top 100, it peaked at number ten. The single later reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1995. Its music video was directed by Matt Broadley and filmed in Stockholm, Sweden. Ace of Base performed the song on the first ever MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin, Germany in 1994. Q Magazine included "Living in Danger" in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.

<i>The Golden Ratio</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Ace of Base

The Golden Ratio is the fifth studio album by Swedish pop music group Ace of Base. It was recorded in early 2009 through mid-2010. It is the only album to feature two new vocalists: Clara Hagman and Julia Williamson. Production on this album initially began with former band member and lead vocalist, Jenny Berggren in which the resulting sessions were shelved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Saw You Dancing</span> 1994 single by Yaki-Da

"I Saw You Dancing" is a song by Swedish group Yaki-Da. It was released in 1994, as the lead single from their first studio album, Pride (1995), and is written and produced by Jonas Berggren from Ace of Base. The song was a top 10 hit in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Israel, Malaysia, Norway and on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Me Love (Yaki-Da song)</span> 1994 single by Yaki-Da

"Show Me Love" is a 1994 song by the Swedish duo Yaki-Da, released as the first single from their first album, Pride (1995). It was written by Jonas Berggren from Ace of Base, who also produced it, and was a top 20 hit in both Denmark and Norway, peaking at number 15 and 16. An accompanying music video was also filmed to promote the single, with Yaki-Da performing in an old mansion. The song was later re-recorded by Berggren's own band, Ace of Base, for its 2002 album Da Capo.

Malin is a Swedish form of the feminine given name Magdalene. Notable people with the name include:

References

  1. "Jonas Berggren". Ace of Base Planet. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Biography: Ace of Base". AMG . Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  3. Steffen Hung. "Jonas Berggren". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  4. "ace of base - www.aceisland.de". Archived from the original on 6 April 2009.