Lena Philipsson talks Per Gessle, success, hopes & fears of post Marie Fredriksson Roxette 2025 tour

Lena Philipsson discusses the unexpected invitation that led to her joining Per Gessle onstage with Roxette—and the responsibility of singing songs made famous by the incomparable Marie Fredriksson.

One of Sweden’s most celebrated performers, Lena looks back on growing up in the small town of Vetlanda, overcoming intense shyness, writing songs and building a career spanning nearly four decades.

She explains how Per Gessle wrote the lyrics to the song that gave her a major breakthrough, why Eurovision became such an important platform and how the quiet, private Lena transforms when she walks onto a stage.

Lena also reveals how a recording session and dinner with Per led to what he described as a “crazy question.” She discusses the fear of appearing before audiences who may not know her, the demands of Roxette’s remarkable songs and why she knows she can never—and should never try to—be Marie.

Watch the accompanying Per Gessle interview here:
https://youtu.be/h-MyOxGmyQA

CHAPTERS

00:00 Lena Philipsson and the Roxette challenge
01:12 Lena joins the interview
01:40 Growing up in small-town Sweden
04:32 Discovering songwriting and the piano
06:00 The painfully shy young performer
10:52 Creating an entire world onstage
14:22 The Per Gessle song that changed Lena’s career
18:08 Eurovision, ambition and credibility
21:18 The private Lena and her stage persona
24:54 Her long musical connection with Per
25:40 Singing Marie Fredriksson’s songs
27:15 Recording with Per in Halmstad
29:09 The unexpected Roxette invitation
29:46 Why Lena could never say no
30:00 Facing audiences who may not know her
32:43 Why someone had to sing these songs
33:34 Lena’s favourite Roxette songs
36:04 The vocal demands of the Roxette catalogue
37:39 Finding her chemistry with Per
38:01 Remembering Marie Fredriksson
40:00 Lena’s plans beyond Roxette
41:39 Could Roxette introduce her to the world?
43:40 The possibility of new Roxette music

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