"Where'd ya go Pop Culture Chick #6, the chick from the 90's group, Roxette...Marie Fredriksson?"

The chick from Roxette had two assets - she could sing and she was hot. She pranced around barefoot, singing her Swedish ass off as if she were subtly saying, "While I concentrate on getting these English lyrics correctly, I will be trying to seduce you from on stage. Yes?" She did (get the words right). And she did (seduce me - or at least make a 22-year-old Jeff Ircink want to sleep with her). I loved all their songs - "It Must Have Been Love" (from Pretty Woman), "Listen to Your Heart", "The Look" and "Dangerous." From 1986 through the early 1990's, Roxette had 6 top 10 US hits, and were considered royalty in the native Sweden. Still are.

Then on September 11, 2002 (notice the day), Marie fainted in her bathroom after jogging, hitting her head and receiving a concussion. Scans showed she had a malignant brain tumor. Given a 50/50 chance of surviving surgery, the tumor was successfully removed. After chemo and radiation, she's been given a clean bill of health. But it wasn't without some loss. Marie had some permanent damage to her brain - losing the ability to read and count - lost the vision in her right eye, and some loss of movement in her right side. In January 2003, Roxette were awarded the 'Royal Medal with Blue Ribbon' by King of Sweden Carl Gustaf XVI, one of the first public appearances Marie made since her surgery.

Roxette has never stopped performing. Just not as often. Marie sings with her husband and one of her new passions is painting - she has had exhibits around the world. I feel her pain, as we both have suffered loss of sight in one eye, and other injuries that have deeply affected us. I feel a kinship with those who are visually impaired. I can't explain it.

Here's a video of Marie singing live in December 2008. And if you'd like to get a little nostalgic, this video is Roxette singing "Listen to Your Heart" from 1989 (live). In case you had no clue, Marie is 49. I didn't mention her Roxette partner, Per Gessle, as this post series is about Pop Culture CHICKS - not guys. But he's doing well, too.