BAG - Producer
DENNIZ POP - Producer
BILLY STEINBERG - Lyricist
ZAL - Arranger, Producer
PER ADEBRATT - Arranger, Producer
TOMMY EKMAN - Arranger, Producer
Ace of Base's sequel to their multi-platinum debut The Sign sounds like
the same record on the surface. There are the same bouncy Euro-pop
beats, ingratiatingly catchy melodies, and shiny production. However,
underneath that gloss is an improved sense of songwriting. Ace of Base
still might not be innovators, but they don't need to be. Instead, they
turn out tightly constructed pop songs that are better written than
they appear songs like the hit "Beautiful Life" would sound good in
different arrangements or if they were performed acoustically. And the
songs on The Bridge are, overall, better than the ones on The Sign. Ace
of Base might not be able to replicate the phenomenal success of their
debut, but they have managed to deliver an album that is just as
satisfying.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All-Music Guide
...the real genius of Ace Of Base lies not with perky singing or
mindlessly exuberant rhythm tracks, but with the ability to make
melancholy sound so damned appealing....the songs that travel across
THE BRIDGE are far more sophisticated than their pop pedigree would
suggest...
Spin (2/96)
Nachdem Ace Of Base mit "Happy Nation" das erfolgreichste Debt Album
aller Zeiten hingelegt hatten, war dies der lang erwartete Nachfolger,
der von den Verkaufszahlen aber lange nicht an das Erstlingswerk heran
kam. Das ist mir allerdings v�lig
unverst�dlich. Mir gef�lt
diese CD bedeutend besser. Befanden sich auf "Happy Nation" doch
ziemlich viele eher mittelpr�htige Lieder, so ist
hier jeder Song gut. Die Songs sind auch vom Sound her wesentlich
unterschiedlicher, als beim Debt. Wer sich davon berzeugen will, sollte
nur "Edge Of Heaven", "Angel Eyes" und "Que Sera"
anh�en. Einfach Klasse. Den mangelnden Erfolg kann
ich mir h�hsten durch die miesen Videos
erkl�en, ber die CDs ja heutzutage vorwiegend
verkauft werden. Das hat diese tolle CD wirklich nicht verdient. Eine
gute Idee finde ich auch das Booklet. Zu jedem Song hat hier der
jeweilige Komponist einen kleinen Text zur Entstehung verfasst. Dieser
CD sollte man wirklich eine Chance geben.
With their debut, the Swedish pop band Ace Of Base created the
guiltiest of pleasures. It was pop music that made no pretentious
statements and was free of the diva attitude. Their habit-forming
singles sounded very similar, and though the album had more depth than
"The Sign," "All That She Wants" and "Don't Turn Around," it didn't
matter. People still bought the thing in droves. Ace Of Base has
developed a sound that works quite well for them, and they continue to
mine the rich vein of reggae-tinged pop on The Bridge, with great
results.
In many ways, The Bridge is an extension of The Sign: the singles
are quite obvious and their simple melodies will have you humming them
incessantly. The Bridge is also like their debut in that some of the
best songs here are buried album tracks, never to be heard by the
casual radio audience.
If there is any justice, "Beautiful Life" will make people
realize how good Ace Of Base is again. With its keyboard intro it draws
the listener in, and a the throbbing beat and simple chorus make it
hard to resist. A song like this won't change your life, but it may
make you forget your problems for three minutes and 40 seconds.
"Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry" is unmistakably Ace Of Base. It's all
here: the reggae beat, the wispy keyboards, the nonsensical lyrics.
Life is good.
But The Bridge is more than The Sign, redux. Songs like "Whispers
In Blindness," "Lucky Love" and "Wave Wet Sand" prove the band is
moving forward, yet not straying too far from what made their songs so
much fun in the first place. "Whispers In Blindness" sounds more like
Madonna 's "Justify My Love" than "Don't Turn Around."
The great irony here is that four years ago the radio was filled
with these "tunes for teens, made by machines," only to be replaced
with Nirvana- and Pearl Jam-worshipping guitar rock. Just as hearing a
real guitar was a revolutionary breath of fresh air then, hearing
straight-ahead poppy dance music is refreshing now. It would be easy to
dismiss Ace Of Base as disposable pop, but that would be missing the
point. Twenty years ago, ABBA
I know that I'm not the first one
You have love in your path before me
But when your lips touched my lips
it felt like I was kissing destiny
Angel eyes with your angel eyes
Will you always be there to hold me
Angel eyes I'm satisfied
I don't want to hear your story
'Cause I can see the things
I really want to see
I'm in love
I believe in what I'm feeling
I'd give everything up just for you
Love is devoted to those who see
that the last dance, you dance with the truth
Angel eyes with your angel eyes
Will you always be there to hold me
Angel eyes I'm satisfied
I don't want to hear your story
'Cause I can see the things
I really want to see
In your eyes
Angel eyes just want you here to hold me
Angel eyes...
Beautiful Life
You can do what you want just seize the day
What you're doing tomorrow's gonna
come your way
Don't you ever consider giving up,
you will find, oooh
It's a beautiful life, oooh
It's a beautiful life, oooh
It's a beautiful life, oooh
I just wanna be here beside you
And stay until the break of dawn
Take a walk in the park when you feel down
There's so many things there
that's gonna lift you up
See the nature in bloom a laughing child
Such a dream, oooh
It's a beautiful life, oooh...
I just wanna be here beside you
I just wanna be here beside you
and stay until the break of dawn
You're looking for somewhere to belong
You're standing all alone
for someone to guide you on your way
Now and forever
It's a beautiful life, oooh...
I just wanna be anybody
We're living in different ways
It's a beautiful life
I'm gonna take you to a place I've never been
before o yeah
It's a beautiful life
I'm gonna take you in my arms and fly away
with you tonight
It's a beautiful life, oooh...
Blooming 18
Reality reality reality is always
You tattooed yourself what a piece of art
You've already broken your mother's heart
When I was your age working my ass off
Your generation's soft
Reality is always such a drag
For barely blooming eighteens
The barely blooming eighteen
Wants to know
What's keeping her from searching
You cannot pierce that and
you're dressed too tight
Got a lot to learn about wrong and right
So dye you hair, dad's gonna wash it out
Come on wash out your mouth
Reality is always such a drag
For barely blooming eighteens
The barely blooming eighteen
Wants to know
What's hiding in the shadow
Reality reality reality is always
Reality is always...
Edge of Heaven
Fire! I can see it burning so brightly
Fire! I can feel it calling out to me
And as the sun goes down
It starts to paint a picture
of an ancient town
So far away, across the endless sea
Lead me to the light
And take me to the edge of heaven
I'm standing in the night
Looking for the edge of heaven
We'll be touching the edge of heaven
Time
Close your eyes see dreams of tomorrow
Time
The wheels are turning till eternity
And as the darkness comes
I start to see a picture
of a lonely man
So clearly now reaching out for me
Lead me to the light...
And sail the endless sea
so lead me to the light
and take me to the edge of heaven
The edge of heaven is near
We'll sail the endless sea
Experience Pearls
Give me all your tears
Let me turn them into pearls
Let me turn all the tears
that you've cried into pearls
Hand them to me - I'm gonna keep,
keep them for you.
I want to hold you,
I want to kiss you.
I want to mend what is broken.
Love me the way that you loved her - please
Cause now I'm giving it all -
And so I've made up my mind - I'm gonna be
yours this time - I'm gonna give what I've got,
and get your love in return.
And so I've made up my mind - I'm gonna be
yours this time - I'm gonna teach you to trust
and learn how to burn -
Experience pearls
Pearls of experience
When sand strikes up in your eyes
I will cover your face.
I'll plant your desert with roses,
and I'm gonna keep, keep them for you.
And so I've made up my mind...
I'll wear your pearls more precious than silver
I'll wear your pearls so close to my skin.
I'd tear myself apart just to get you -
And so I've made up my mind...
And so I've made up my mind...
Just 'N' Image
I'm driving through the night
I'm driving through the rain
The engine roars I'm on my way
Away from Mr. Pain
My eyes keep seeing what
My mind wants to forget
Those sequences they
Rock 'n' Roll inside my head
Over and over and over again
I concentrate harder and harder and then
You are just an image
(that I can't see)
You are not for real
You turn into a picture of somebody
Someone I don't know
Someone I don't feel
(...just an...)
The wolves cry out tonight
I see your broken line
The sun will rise without
A love without a smile
I always think about
the way you had to leave
I close my eyes
Cause I was with you
By that time
Faster and faster and faster-ahead
as if you were waiting
for my down the way
I have never seen you
lying on a floor
Crying needing more
(...just an...)
Lucky Love
Life is a paradise, oh yeah
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven I know
I know 'cause I've been there with you tonight
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven I know
I know 'cause I've been there with you tonight
I believe life could be paradise once again
And the love we thought we lost is sleeping within
Close you eyes, it's something for you
Lucky love...
I'm a prisoner of hope I know
We are young and we are old,
we're falling like leaves
And your heart so full of soul
It makes me believe
Once again it's something for you
Lucky love...
A bridge over time is what she needs
to see the light
To see the light
Lucky love...Lucky love
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven
Lucky love...Lucky love
Lucky love belongs in teenage heaven,
oh yeah
Lucky love...
I'm a prisoner of hope I know
My Dé jà Vu
My dé jà vu...you're my obsession
my dé jà vu everything is up to you
If you do want me you know where to search
We'll get the magic back again
My dé jà vu everything is up to you
If you do want me you know where to search
I wanna see you dancing naked
I wanna see you touch the moon
But when I try to reach your fingers
You just vanish into air
I wanna feel you with my senses
'Cause I'm almost sure the texture
of your skin
is gonna tell me who you are
My dé jà vu you're my obsession
My dé jà vu it's always you
My dé jà vu...
I wanna hold you like I used to
I wanna feel you in my blood
I wonder why I do confess this
To myself all the time
I know the time is working against us
But I'll long for you the rest of my whole life
Like a prisoner of hope
My dé jà vu you're my obsession
My dé jà vu it's always you
I have tried to get to know you
To get you off my mind
It feels like going back in time
And snap, I see your figure once again
My dé jà vu everything is up to you
If you do want me you know where to search
My dé jà vu you're my obsession
My dé jà vu it's always you
My dé jà vu you're my obsession...
Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry
I'm never gonna say I'm sorry,
I'm a clown for everyone
I'm never gonna let you down,
I'm always here like a sun
I'm a looser, that is a fact for sure
I'm happy even if you don't want
To invite me out for a dance tonight
I'm not normal, I know, I don't care
I'm never gonna say...
I'm always here like a sun, I'm always here
Like a ghost I follow your steps so true
You don't have to bribe me or fill me up
Give me just a minute to shine with you
I will make you so happy, make you laugh
I'm never gonna say I'm sorry for
the essence of my soul
There's so many ways to change my life
'Cause I want to...oh
I'm like a clown, I'm fun for everyone...
I'm never gonna say I'm sorry...
Perfect World
They say the time has come for us
to start again
I believe that's true
They say the time has come for us
to make amends
And I believe that too
Why tell me why
is it all so hard to find
I pray each day
For a perfect world
Where children are laughing
Lovers romancing
Time stands still
A perfect world
There's nothing to cry for
No one to die for
Wonderful
In a perfect world
Our father's father says that
things were better then
How easy they forgot
On every page in every book of history
a thousand tears were shed
There's hope in our hearts
and love in our eyes
Day after day I keep searching
Why tell me why
is it all so hard to find
I pray each day
For a perfect world...
Show me the way I'm to understand
that you prove to myself that I'm a man
and you love, but you can't look from above
Travel cross the seven seas to be with you
Passion and desire will see me through
The road that I must travel will wind and curl
You're all I ever needed in a perfect world
Que Sera
They call to her from across the street
But they don't know her name
She's in the wrong place at the wrong time
Who's to blame
She wonders how to change
the life she's living
She wonders if she'll ever get away
As far as I can see, the writing's on the wall
There's no return, we live, we learn
The game goes on and on and
Que sera
I like you but I don't
Really want to take you home
Que sera
It's a lonely life
Living on my own
Que sera
What's it gonna be, what's it gonna be
She left her home when she was seventeen
Simply disappeared in the rain
Those were bad times so it was high time
She knows she'd do it again
She wonders how
she's gonna make a living
She wonders if she'll make it through the day
As far as I can see, I've seen it all before
A lonely girl in a big bad world
The game goes on and on and
Que sera...
Ravine
Have you heard, have you heard -
About this girl who was ripped up
by her roots
Have you heard, what she learned?
Like humility - you win when you lose
I have learned - I have learned
The most horrifying nights have an end
I was hurt, I was lost.
In the dark I found a way to a friend
I am standing here in my ravine.
Once again I see a piece of the sky
And my joy'll never be denied
'Cause I was meant to be here -
The only place on earth
Where you are near - where you are near
Was a flower, so frail -
And I let the trees grow wild around me.
Grew so high, hid the sky -
Shaded everything I needed to see
Then one night, someone came
Took a knife an ripped me up by my roots
Tossed astray, far away.
In my darkest night I started to pray
I am standing...
Why do you, why do you ask
Why I'm not blaming my god?
I'll tell you, I'll tell you what -
He was the only one there
I am standing...
Strange Ways
I've got strange ways
but it won't take long my friend
I'm telling you someday baby
I'll be gone
I've got strange ways but
it won't take long my friend
I'm telling you someday baby
I'll be back
Again I've got no one
but it won't take long my friend
I'm telling you someday baby
I'll be gone (I'm telling you someday
I'll be gone)
God bless you for being
by my side when I fell through
You could hear me you've got
Internet gateways through my world
God bless you I'm feeling all the
force you're closing in
Take it easy
You dock at my side when
I'm on fire
I've got strange ways...
Sometimes I lose it (I lose)
Don't know where I'm going (don't know)
But I do hope you follow
all the way
God bless you for being
by my side when I fell through
You could hear me
You've got Internet gateways
through my world
You don't know it
You're turning all this stone into a heart
I can see you
As you're fighting the fire
When I burn
I've got (I'm telling you someday baby
I'll be gone/back)
Wave Wet Sand
You are as reliable as a painting
in wave wet sand.
Look in your eyes and I can't see a thing,
That usually means attratction to me
I've read all the books about love I could find,
And I've found not one, no,
not one word about mine -
'Cause you are reliable as a painting
in wave wet sand
You're coming and you're going:
Like the water you never end.
'Cause you are reliable as a painting
in wave wet sand
And I am just another piece of an island
in reach for your hands
...feel my doubts when you are in my arms.
Darling: If you know that it's love
and not charm
You must tell me so or go elsewhere to hunt.
'Cause you are...
Your love...
I am just another piece of an island
I can't close my ears when I hear that you call.
I don't want to fear every tear that could fall:
I'll go on my own, and pass people with doubts.
My goal is to find just a piece of your love.
Your love is - your love is like the water
You are like the water.
You are like the water.
You, you are my shore, and you know
you are my shore.
'Cause you are reliable like a painting...
I am just another piece of an island...
Whispers in Blindness
Darlin you were looking good
when you came to me
and asked for a dance
And I said "we can dance"
Felt like a queen
Swedish summernights are hot
and the trees can talk
We lay on the grass
So easily, so blessed
Whispers in blindness
And I didn't hold you back
I'm talking about it babe
cause you've been teasing me
I'm talking about it
cause you are bad right through
Stay with me and I shall want
no other love
Stay with me another love another lie
Stay with me and I shall want
no other love
you were talking so sweet
But you were touching
and teasing
I can hear the soft bells ring
through a thousand years
they call out to me
They say it's only once in a life we love
Now I've had the honour too
You were holding my hand
You were kissing my skin
Stay with me
Trees are whispering
Only once my dear
You and I
Oh yeah yeah...
You make me come alive
Att palla p�on etc.
'Cause my eyes can see the why
You make me come alive
Someone maybe try to lay hurt on you
I will hunt them down and blow them away
And the city prays at our feet tonight
You and I were only animals
Live and die like burning candles yeah
You and I diggin' a dirty groove
'Cause we've got none to prove
And nothing left to lose
You and I we're like a perfect team
You and I live in an orange dream
You and I we're up against the wall
We got to beat them all
To be invincible...yeah
Will I ever be on my own again
Baby you got eyes that shine in the dark
Let the beat go on in the world tonite
You and I...
Att palla p�on, ooh yeah yeah...
'Cause my eyes can see the why
Groove cause we've got none to prove
You and I don't care what people say
You and I are living day to day
Never die our love's immortalized
I'm hypersensitized
You make me come alive
You and I...