Bubbles (band)

Bubbles/Bless
Origin Sweden
Genres Pop, teen pop, dance, bubblegum pop, Europop
Instruments Singing
Years active 2000–2010
Website Bubbles / Bless
Members Caroline Ljungström
Hannah Steffenburg
Jenny Andersén
Patricia Joxelius
Sandra Joxelius

Bubbles was a Swedish pop girl group, also known as Bless. The group's original lineup consisted of lead singer Mari Caroline Ljungström (born 26 June 1987), twin sisters Patricia and Sandra Joxelius (born 7 April 1987), Jenny (Yenny) Andersén (born 10 October 1988), and Hannah Steffenburg (born 14 April 1988).

History

Beginning

The five girls of Bubbles met while attending dance classes a few years back. After a while their dance teacher, who is also a well known TV show host, was discussing young talents with a few friends and music producers. The producers were looking for a young band with star quality, and she told them about those five charming talented dance girls. Their charm, talent and enthusiasm led producer and songwriter team of John Ballard and Alban Herlitz to approach the girls and their families and ask a simple question: ”Would you like to make a record with us?”

The girls did some singing with the internationally successful Tuff Studios (Ace of Base) and everyone was overwhelmed with their singing qualities. They had spotted a five girl strong team with both choreographing and singing skills – and they had star quality too.

Early success

Bubbles' first single, "Happy Girl", peaked at #6 in the Swedish charts, and was very popular among children. It stayed in the charts for 26 weeks, longer than any other single that year. The girls supported Swedish mega-star Markoolio on his tour throughout the summer of year 2000 and finished it off with a stunning performance at the Globe Arena, Stockholm, in front of 14,000 screaming fans. More than 500,000 people attended the successful summer tour. The follow-up "Rock The World" reached the #2 spot and gold status (close to platinum before deleted in order to increase album sales) and is counted one of the really big hits the year of 2000.

Summer 2001 Bubbles performed with eight of their own hit songs at the summer gala tour - ABSOLUTE KIDZ TOUR together with Sweden's most popular artists. Despite them being youngest, Bubbles got the best reviews of all performing artists on stage from the critics in the papers. In January 2001 Bubbles appeared on the biggest national TV charity gala competing in a pop festival against a number of Sweden's most respected artists - and winning with the new Swedish song "Regnbågens Barn" (Children of the Rainbow). The winning track was released on a double-A-side single together with ”I'll Be There” reaching #7 Sales Chart, even without a video. The single also reached gold status.

By then Bubbles were very popular in the Netherlands where their debut CD album Rock The World also made it to gold status. They are mostly popular in Sweden although one of their songs was included in the motion picture Ice Age. Their first major hit was "Happy Girl" which got to #6 on Swedish charts. Although it was also released in Australia as a single and on a compilation, it failed to chart. Their second single, "Rock the World", managed to get up to #2 in the Swedish charts. They also went on tour between 2000 and 2004 with some big turnouts.

International success and Eurovision Song Contest

During the fall the record company in Germany wanted Bubbles to start gaining fans in their country too. During Christmas 2001 they recorded a duet version of their hit single "X-mas Time" changing title to "It's Christmas Time"; The duet partner was the American born star Kathy Kelly (from the Kelly Family) Bubbles+Kathy performed at the biggest German TV shows and galas. In France Bubbles alone performed at the biggest TVshows alongside artists such as Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz och Henri Salvador.

February 2002 Bubbles recorded the hit single "Somewhere" to the 20th Century Fox animated world success film Ice Age. In their home country Sweden Bubbles managed to be #1 for several weeks at the most popular Top10 TV show "Voxpop in competition with many worldwide artists.

2nd Album, "Inbetween" During spring 2002 Bubbles recorded the album "Inbetween". (Between childhood and adulthood.) Between was very successful and made Bubbles world wide stars. The video for "Round n Round" was filmed in Amsterdam/The Netherlands at the end of summer 2002. Their second album Inbetween was very much delayed due to trouble between record companies and was finally released on 4 November 2002.

2003 kicked off with thunder and lightning when Bubbles made their really big media breakthrough by making it to the Eurovision Song Contest final of Sweden with the hit single "TKO (Knock You Out)". Covers, centerfolds and headlines in the papers and in TV everyday for several weeks made them well known to all nine million Swedes despite age and interest, for sure.

For the first time since their debut single, focus was now on Sweden only during spring and summer. The largest Bubbles tour ever began on 18 May and ended on 30 September, making more than 120,000 fans and families happy in 35 concerts all over the country.

Second attempt at Eurovision Song Contest; Bless; 4°th unreleased album and breakup : 2004–2010

On 28 August the long-awaited third album Bless was released. Bless was a lot more mature compared to the other albums and songs released by Bubbles, along with Bubbles' maturing voices.

The album was followed by the single release of "Hit The Floor" which reached #4 in the sales Charts in December.

During spring 2004 Bubbles chose to compete a second consecutive year in the most popular TV show of all - Swedish finals for Eurovision Song Contest. Participating last year was a complete success, so when Bubbles was offered the cool song "Blow The Spot" they couldn't turn it down. "Blow The Spot" was written and produced by internationally successful RedFlyMusic/TwinProduction who has worked with Mary J. Blige, Kylie Minogue, Jamirouquai, S Club Junior, Sophie Ellis Bextor, and more.

Bubbles made huge headlines and billboards making the most out of their performance doing the slick but groovy production of discofunky Blow The Spot. The song reached semifinal, but in the sales chart it showed great result reaching a stunning #2.

Their latest release as of 31 May 2006 is "You Dog Me Out" which is from their upcoming 4th album. It has been announced on their official site that they are expecting the album to be released in Spring 2008. In an interview on 18 August 2007 Bubbles is working hard at their current album. Lina en Jessi from "BubblesFansite" are interviewing Hannah en Patricia and they told them "Calling out", "Turn up" en "Soul shaker" are their favourites. However the 4th album is taking more time then expected. In spring 2008 the 13th single is not coming out, because of this Caroline Ljungström left the group to try a solocarreer. She started her own band, the Obs. More than one years later, there is still little progress in it. The reason for all this delay is the fact that the girls are now very busy with working, studying and their social life.

In early 2009, the band announced a yet-to-be released single, but a few days later the article is removed from the website. At the beginning of 2010 the manager announced that Bubbles are not coming back.

Discography

Singles

Year Single Chart peak Other Notes
Sweden
2000 "(I'm a) Happy Girl" 6
"Rock the World" 2
"X-Mas Time" 12
"My Boyfriend" 25
2001 "Regnbågens Barn/I'll Be There" 7
2002 "Somewhere" 10 Included on the Ice Age soundtrack.
"Round N Round" 30
2003 "TKO (Knock You Out)" 7 Melodifestivalen 2003 entry, finished 9th in final.
"Hit the Floor" 4
2004 "Blow the Spot" 2 Melodifestivalen 2004 entry, didn't reach the final.
2006 "You Dog Me Out" —

Albums

Year Title
2001 Rock the World
2001 Rock The World, 2nd Edition
2002 Inbetween
2003 Bless

External links

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