Linn Berggren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Linn Berggren
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Berggren in 2002
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Malin Sofia Katarina Berggren |
| Also known as | Linn |
| Born | 31 October 1970 |
| Origin | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1987–2007 |
| Associated acts | Ace of Base |
Malin Sofia Katarina Berggren, born on October 31, 1970, is a Swedish singer and songwriter. She is most famous for being a member of the pop band Ace of Base. From a young age, Linn, as she is known, loved music. She sang in her church choir before starting Ace of Base in 1987. She formed the band with her sister Jenny, her brother Jonas, and their friend Ulf Ekberg. Linn was born in Gothenburg, Sweden.
In 1990, when Ace of Base signed with Mega Records, Linn decided to pause her plans to become a teacher. In 1997, she shared that she wanted to sing, but not necessarily be a famous singer. Around that time, she started to step away from the public eye. Her last public appearance was in 2002. Her brother Jonas has said that Linn has been living a quiet life since then.
Contents
Linn Berggren and Ace of Base
Becoming a Lead Singer (1992–1996)
When Ace of Base released their first album, Linn was the main singer on most of their hit songs. She was often the focus in the band's music videos. However, on some songs like "The Sign", she shared singing parts with her sister Jenny. Linn also helped write some of the band's early songs. For example, she helped change "All That She Wants" from a happy-sounding song to a more serious one.
In 1994, a scary event happened. A girl broke into the Berggren family home, looking for Linn. Linn was not there, but the girl attacked Jenny and their mother with a knife. This event deeply affected Linn.
When the band's second album, The Bridge, came out, Jenny started to sing more lead parts. Linn also wrote and produced more songs for this album. After the album was finished, it was reported that Linn had some problems with her voice.
By late 1995, Linn began to feel uncomfortable with how famous the band had become. She said she didn't want to be in the music business for too long. In 1996, she explained that the success, especially in America, was too much for her. She also had a strong fear of flying, which made touring very difficult. In 1995 alone, the band took 179 flights for promotions. Linn started to think about traveling by train or car instead. In 1996, she left a tour in Asia early. Her last performance as a main singer was for "Beautiful Life" at the World Music Awards in May 1996.
Stepping Back (1997–2003)
In 1997, there were talks about Linn releasing a solo song called "Lapponia." This song was about the Sápmi culture and was meant to be part of a documentary. However, the song was never officially released.
From 1997 onwards, Linn often performed in the background at Ace of Base concerts, usually playing keyboards. In her last TV interview in 1997, she said she wanted to try being less in the spotlight, like Jenny. Sometimes, she would perform in the background to avoid wearing heavy makeup for TV shows. In July 1997, the band performed for Princess Victoria's 20th birthday. Linn mostly played keyboards, but she did sing a song without music before the main show.
When the albums Flowers and Cruel Summer were released in 1998, early photos showed Linn equally with her bandmates. However, many later photos in the album booklets showed her looking unhappy or blurred. Jonas, her brother, said that a record company's demand for Linn to sing "Everytime It Rains" in 1998 was a turning point for her. Linn's singing parts on these albums were also fewer than before.
In music videos starting with "Life is a Flower", Linn's appearances became much shorter. She no longer pretended to sing her parts and sometimes her image was blurred or barely there. She even walked off the set of the "Cruel Summer" music video. Linn rarely gave interviews with the band during this time, and the band often performed as a trio.
The band's managers gave different reasons for Linn's behavior. They said she had voice problems or a fear of flying. However, she also missed events in cities like Gothenburg where she wouldn't have needed to fly. The other band members said Linn was always a shy person and preferred Jenny to be the main focus. Ulf Ekberg once said Linn had a "camera phobia." The knife attack in 1994 might have also made her less willing to appear in public. In 2007, Ulf said Linn simply did not want to be part of the band's activities anymore.
In the "C'est la Vie (Always 21)" music video from 1999, Linn looked happier and more involved. However, she still didn't pretend to sing her parts, and her screen time was less than the others. The band started promoting themselves mostly as a duo with Jenny and Ulf. In 2002, Linn helped write three songs for the album Da Capo. But she sang on fewer than half of the album's songs. Her last public appearance was in September 2002 for a German TV show, where she mimed playing keyboards. Her final appearance with Ace of Base was in the "Unspeakable" music video, filmed in December 2002. This video showed her in close-up shots for the first time since 1996. Linn has not been photographed since that year.
Leaving the Band (2004–2007)
In 2005, Jenny mentioned that Linn might want to return to the spotlight, but Linn remained out of public view. Linn did not join the band for 15 concerts in Belgium in late 2005. However, she did record backing vocals for a song called "High Life" for Jenny's other band, Arose, in 2006. It was also mentioned that Ace of Base had recorded six new songs with both Linn and Jenny singing. Some of these songs were later released in 2015 on the album Hidden Gems.
On November 30, 2007, Ulf Ekberg announced that Malin Berggren had officially left the band. She would not be on their new album. The band had already been performing mostly as a trio for ten years before her departure. Jenny confirmed Linn's departure, saying, "She hasn't been part of Ace of Base for several years." Ulf added that Linn "had no craving to be famous." The remaining band members promised Linn they would never ask her to rejoin. Linn's picture was removed from the band's official website but was put back when Hidden Gems was released.
Linn's Personal Life
Linn is very good with languages. Her main language is Swedish, but she also speaks fluent English and German. She can also speak Spanish, Russian, and French. Unlike the other band members, Linn keeps her personal life very private. Her brother Jonas confirmed in 2015 that he still sees Linn often. He said she is enjoying a peaceful life and has no interest in fame or returning to music.
Linn's Contributions to Ace of Base
Singing Roles
Linn sang on almost all original Ace of Base songs. Some songs where she did not sing lead include:
- Fashion Party (Jenny, Ulf, & Jonas)
- My Mind (Jenny & Ulf)
- Dimension of Depth (instrumental)
- Ravine (Jenny)
- Experience Pearls (Jenny)
- Wave Wet Sand (Jenny)
- Mercy Mercy (Jenny)
- I Pray (Jenny & Ulf)
- Donnie (US version) (Jenny)
- Don't Go Away (Jenny)
- Unspeakable (Jenny)
- Beautiful Morning (Jenny)
- Remember the Words (Jenny)
- World Down Under (Jenny)
- Wonderful Life (Jenny)
- What's The Name of The Game (Jenny)
- Show Me Love (Jenny)
- The Juvenile (Jenny)
Writing Songs
Linn helped write these Ace of Base songs:
- Hear Me Calling (with Jonas & Jenny Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
- Strange Ways
- Whispers In Blindness (her father, Göran Berggren, played flute on this song)
- Just N Image
- Lapponia (demo)
- Love in December (with Jonas & Jenny Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
- Beautiful Morning (with Jenny & Jonas Berggren)
- Change With the Light (with Jenny & Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
- What's the Name of the Game (with Jenny & Jonas Berggren, Harry Sommerdahl, and Jonas von der Burg)
- Pole Position (with Jonas & Jenny Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
- Moment of Magic (with Jonas & Jenny Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
- Memories Forever (with Jonas & Jenny Berggren and Ulf Ekberg)
Producing Songs
Linn helped produce these Ace of Base songs:
- Strange Ways
- Whispers In Blindness
- Just N Image
- Lapponia
Other Contributions
- She performed at Princess Victoria's 20th birthday on July 14, 1997.
Images for kids
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Berggren in 2002
See also
In Spanish: Linn Berggren para niños
