Jenny Berggren facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jenny Berggren
Berggren in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Jenny Cecilia Berggren
Born	(1972-05-19) 19 May 1972 (age 53)
Origin	Västra Götalands län, Gothenburg, Sweden
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Ipono/Universal Sweden
Associated acts	Ace of Base

Jenny Cecilia Petrén (born 19 May 1972), known as Jenny Berggren, is a Swedish singer. She was a lead singer in the famous pop band Ace of Base. Since 1995, Jenny has also written her own songs and performed by herself. In 2010, she released her first solo album, My Story.

Jenny Berggren's Life and Music Career

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Jenny Berggren was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, on May 19, 1972. She is the youngest of three children. Her father, Göran Berggren, worked with X-rays, and her mother was Birgitta Berggren. Jenny grew up in a Christian family in the suburbs of Gothenburg.

All three Berggren children took music lessons. Jenny and her older sister, Malin, learned to play the violin. Jenny also studied classical music and sang in her church choir with Malin. She even trained to become a teacher.

Joining Ace of Base

In the late 1980s, Jenny and her siblings, along with their friend Ulf Ekberg, started a techno band called Tech Noir. This group later became the well-known pop band, Ace of Base. Even though Jenny was studying to be a teacher, she still loved music. She sang background vocals for a symphonic rock band called Masque. At the same time, she was also getting ready to sing for Ace of Base.

Jenny put her teaching plans on hold when Ace of Base signed with a Danish record company called Mega Records. Their first album became a huge hit, selling over 30 million copies around the world!

Jenny's Role in the Band

At first, Jenny and her sister Linn shared the lead singing duties equally. However, the record company chose singles where Linn sang most of the main parts. In the early years, Jenny and Linn did not have a big role in writing the band's songs.

Later, Jenny started writing songs for the band's album, The Bridge. One song, "Ravine", was about a difficult incident that happened in April 1994. Jenny also wrote "Wave Wet Sand" and "Experience Pearls". She continued to write songs for all of Ace of Base's future albums. When Linn started to step back from the spotlight, Jenny took on a bigger singing role. This began with the song "Life Is a Flower" in 1998.

Ace of Base: Reunions and Changes

Berggren in 2008

Ace of Base took a break in 2003 and 2004. During this time, Jenny performed solo at Christian shows with her husband. She also released an album as a singer with a Swedish group called Arose.

From 2007 to 2009, Jenny, Jonas, and Ulf performed concerts in Europe and Asia. They also recorded new songs for a fifth album. However, they did not get a record deal for these songs. So, Jenny decided to work on her own solo music. In 2009, she announced that she was making new songs for a solo album.

New Singers and Name Changes

Later, Ulf and Jonas brought in two new female singers, Clara Hagman and Julia Williamson. Fans wondered if this new group would still be called Ace of Base. Jonas and Jenny both said that this new group would use a different name. However, this new lineup later used a slightly changed name: "Ace.of.Base". Ulf said that the dots were just for style.

Jenny has often said that she never officially left the band. She believes that all four original members still own the Ace of Base brand. Jonas later confirmed that Jenny never said "I quit." He explained that the record company canceled her contract because they wanted a new lead singer. Jenny said that she was not allowed to help write songs for the band's album. She also said that she would not go back to Ace of Base right now without apologies.

In 2016, Jenny stated that the original band would not get back together to make music. She said, "We're finished working together, but we're not finished being family together."

Jenny's Solo Career

In late 2009, Jenny Berggren published her autobiography, Vinna hela världen. This book sold out quickly in Sweden. An English version, To Win the World, was planned but has not been released yet.

On New Year's Day 2010, Jenny gave her fans a free song called "Free Me" on her new website. In May 2010, she released her first solo single, "Here I Am". This song reached number 14 on the Swedish music charts. On September 15, 2010, she released her second single, "Gotta Go". Her first solo album, My Story, came out on October 13, 2010.

In 2011, Jenny took part in the Danish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. She performed her song "Let Your Heart Be Mine". She did not make it to the final round of the competition.

In 2015, Jenny appeared on the Swedish TV show Så mycket bättre.

Personal Life

Jenny Berggren continues to help various charities. She often performs at Christian concerts and sings in churches.

On September 18, 2004, Jenny married her longtime boyfriend, Jakob Petrén. Jakob is a Swedish pianist. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Jenny and her family live in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Music Releases

Albums

Singles

Songs Jenny Berggren Sang For Ace of Base

Jenny sang lead or background vocals for almost all original Ace of Base songs. Here are the songs she did not sing on:

• "All That She Wants" (Malin Berggren, Jonas Berggren, and Ulf Ekberg sang)
• "Happy Nation" (Malin Berggren, Jonas Berggren, and Ulf Ekberg sang)
• "Dimension of Depth" (This was an instrumental song, meaning no singing)
• "Dancer in a Daydream" (Only Malin Berggren sang)
• "Strange Ways" (Euro version, only Malin Berggren sang)
• "Everytime It Rains" (Only Malin Berggren sang)

Songs Jenny Berggren Wrote

Jenny helped write music and lyrics for many songs.

Ace of Base Songs

• "Hear Me Calling" (with Jonas Berggren, Malin Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
• "Ravine"
• "Wave Wet Sand"
• "Experience Pearls"
• "He Decides"
• "Love in December" (with Jonas Berggren, Malin Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
• "Beautiful Morning" (with Malin Berggren and Jonas Berggren)
• "Change With the Light" (with Malin Berggren, Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
• "What's the Name of the Game" (with Malin Berggren, Jonas Berggren, Ekberg, Harry Sommerdahl and Jonas von der Burg)
• "Pole Position" (with Jonas Berggren, Malin Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
• "Moment of Magic" (with Jonas Berggren, Malin Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
• "Memories Forever" (with Jonas Berggren, Malin Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
• "Immanuel"
• "Stay With Me"
• "Wish You Were Mine" (with Jonas Berggren, Ulf Ekberg and Jakob Petrén)
• "Couldn't Care Less" (with Jonas Berggren, Ulf Ekberg and Jakob Petrén)

Solo Songs

• "Air of Love"
• "Beat of My Heart"
• "Dying to Stay Alive"
• "Free Me"
• "Give Me the Faith"
• "Going Home"
• "Gotta Go"
• "Here I Am"
• "Natural Superstar"
• "Numb"
• "Spend This Night"

See also

In Spanish: Jenny Berggren para niños