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Movie song ticket to fame for Sweden's Staffan
By Vivian Yang |
May 10, 2009, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SWEDISH singer Staffan Olsson (pictured below), better known as his stage name Bosson, first gained nationwide fame in his early 20s when he played an imitation of American pop icon Michael Jackson in a popular domestic TV show.
He drew global attention after his "One In A Million" featured in Donald Petrie's 2000 comedy "Miss Congeniality," starring Sandra Bullock and Benjamin Bratt.
"One In A Million," the title of Bosson's second namesake album, was later nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture and became a big hit in Asia and Europe in 2001.
Its huge success subsequently took Bosson to a broader stage - he worked with a constellation of music artists including Australian diva Kylie Minogue and American siren Britney Spears in their world tour concerts.
He released his third album "Rockstar" in 2003 and the fourth "Future's Gone Tomorrow, Life Is Here Today" in 2007.
The 34-year-old musician recently visited town for the Shanghai International Creative Industries Summit 2009, an event involving discussion, communication and cooperation among international music industry insiders.
Q: What does music mean to you?
A: Music means everything. I just can't imagine what and how my life would be without it. It is the most indispensable way for me to express and communicate with the world.
Q: How did you start your music career?
A: I began to play piano and guitar in my teens. After graduation from three years of economics, I simply found it a waste of time as I had no interest in it. So I focused on music and I gradually learnt to sing and write a song through years of study and practice. I released my first album "The Right Time" in 1999 after an award-winning performance in a popular Swedish TV show.
Q: What was your major breakthrough?
A: My big break came when the single "One In A Million" was selected as a major soundtrack for "Miss Congeniality" and was subsequently nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture in 2001. With the song becoming a global smash hit in the following couple of years, I traveled extensively from Europe to America and Asia and had exciting collaborations with international music artists.
Q: Who has most impressed you over the past few years?
A: Britney Spears. I played an opening act during her 2000 tour and she is such an intelligent yet diligent songstress that can easily move you with her powerful songs.
Q: What's your musical style?
A: Well, I think my music largely falls into the pop genre. But I also try to inject some new elements and fresh touches. Jazz, blues, hip-hop and rock & roll, all music styles can be mixed into one production. But above all, a clean, sweet and pleasant melody has always been my first priority.
Q: How do you usually get inspired to write songs?
A: I often draw inspiration from books, movies, stories and my own experience. I believe my lyrics carry a certain message or contain a certain meaning to the audience. I usually come up with a tune first then try to work out a story and turn it into lyrics that will go well with the song. In this way, singing a song is more like telling a story about love, friendship, dreams and other things in our life.
Q: Are you currently involved in any new project?
A: Yes. I'm actually working on my fifth album which is slated to be released at the end of this year. I don't want to rush only to make sure that people won't forget me. That's not the way I have been doing my music. Whenever you're going to release an album, you have to guarantee it has a quality or standard to stand out. That's how your music can be played timeless.
Q: Do you have any comments on China's contemporary music?
A: China's music industry has been fueled by a bunch of real talents who have amazing voices, great knowledge and endless passion. During my visit, I've seen a group of local artists who can play really nice music. All they need is a bigger platform to display their music talent to the world.
He drew global attention after his "One In A Million" featured in Donald Petrie's 2000 comedy "Miss Congeniality," starring Sandra Bullock and Benjamin Bratt.
"One In A Million," the title of Bosson's second namesake album, was later nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture and became a big hit in Asia and Europe in 2001.
Its huge success subsequently took Bosson to a broader stage - he worked with a constellation of music artists including Australian diva Kylie Minogue and American siren Britney Spears in their world tour concerts.
He released his third album "Rockstar" in 2003 and the fourth "Future's Gone Tomorrow, Life Is Here Today" in 2007.
The 34-year-old musician recently visited town for the Shanghai International Creative Industries Summit 2009, an event involving discussion, communication and cooperation among international music industry insiders.
Q: What does music mean to you?
A: Music means everything. I just can't imagine what and how my life would be without it. It is the most indispensable way for me to express and communicate with the world.
Q: How did you start your music career?
A: I began to play piano and guitar in my teens. After graduation from three years of economics, I simply found it a waste of time as I had no interest in it. So I focused on music and I gradually learnt to sing and write a song through years of study and practice. I released my first album "The Right Time" in 1999 after an award-winning performance in a popular Swedish TV show.
Q: What was your major breakthrough?
A: My big break came when the single "One In A Million" was selected as a major soundtrack for "Miss Congeniality" and was subsequently nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture in 2001. With the song becoming a global smash hit in the following couple of years, I traveled extensively from Europe to America and Asia and had exciting collaborations with international music artists.
Q: Who has most impressed you over the past few years?
A: Britney Spears. I played an opening act during her 2000 tour and she is such an intelligent yet diligent songstress that can easily move you with her powerful songs.
Q: What's your musical style?
A: Well, I think my music largely falls into the pop genre. But I also try to inject some new elements and fresh touches. Jazz, blues, hip-hop and rock & roll, all music styles can be mixed into one production. But above all, a clean, sweet and pleasant melody has always been my first priority.
Q: How do you usually get inspired to write songs?
A: I often draw inspiration from books, movies, stories and my own experience. I believe my lyrics carry a certain message or contain a certain meaning to the audience. I usually come up with a tune first then try to work out a story and turn it into lyrics that will go well with the song. In this way, singing a song is more like telling a story about love, friendship, dreams and other things in our life.
Q: Are you currently involved in any new project?
A: Yes. I'm actually working on my fifth album which is slated to be released at the end of this year. I don't want to rush only to make sure that people won't forget me. That's not the way I have been doing my music. Whenever you're going to release an album, you have to guarantee it has a quality or standard to stand out. That's how your music can be played timeless.
Q: Do you have any comments on China's contemporary music?
A: China's music industry has been fueled by a bunch of real talents who have amazing voices, great knowledge and endless passion. During my visit, I've seen a group of local artists who can play really nice music. All they need is a bigger platform to display their music talent to the world.
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