The Swedish pop-duo "Katz" was formed in January, 1985. The line-up was Gunilla Katarina Backman (birth 18.06.1965) and Harriette Johnson (1963), both born in Stockholm (Sweden) and graduated at the conservatory of Adolf Fredriks. Both of them have also studied ballet at the Academy of Stockholm. Before Katz, Harriette had performed as a dancer on stage and television, but had also sung vocals in many other Swedish bands. Gunilla made her debut on stage as an actress in The Sound of Music. In 1983 she played Snowwhite in a Swedish pantomimian theatre.
In 1985 she met the legendary Stockholm record producer Billy Butt who co-produced Katz' debut album. Swedish disco group Secret Service also contributed songs to the album (Visions of You, Loving You Is All I Know).
After Katz, Nilla turned solo and teamed up with Italian producer Fred Ventura of Time Records who wrote two songs for her: "New Day" & "Even If You Say". In the 90s, she and Fred were members of a house group called "Active" ("No Way Out", "Side By Side").
Gunilla is a very active stage actress nowadays. She has played in Sound of Music, Les Miserables, West Side Story, Elvira Madigan, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon, Chess and most recently a musical about Greta Garbo.
Katz released only one album in Sweden in 1986. The album was entitled "Female Of The Species" (Little Big Apple Records) and featured 11 songs plus a Swedish version of the single "Visions Of You" called "Bilder Av Dig".
The following year a USSR pressing of the LP was released on Soviet music label Melodiya. and took part in 3 international music festivals in Bulgaria, Turkey and former Czechoslovakia.
INTERVIEW 2008 WITH HARRIETTE BROMAN (former JOHNSON):
Hi Harriette, very nice to hear from you! this is amazing :)
Hi! Gunilla told me to search on our former group Katz. She told me that I could find things on the internet but I did not believe her until now :)
I'd like to ask you a few questions about Katz, if you don't mind.
Can you tell, how did you and Gunilla meet? Through a famous singer in Sweden called Carola Häggqvist who was performed in many eurovision song contest. I did the choreography to her tour in 1984 ant a lot of tv-shows. She was friends with Gunilla since school. I was a choreographer at Swedish television at that time.
How was Katz born? We worked with the famous Carola and other famous artists at tv. It was producer Billy Butt, who found us..
Why did Katz only release one album? It seems there were several known songwriters & producers (Ola Hakansson, Billy Butt, Anders Hansson etc.) behind Katz, but not much promotion was done.
We did not get along with the producer Billy Butt. So he released us from the contract and we moved to London.
I know Gunilla went to pursue a solo career after Katz, and became very successful in her theatre thing. What about you? What are you doing nowadays?
I was singing with a group called Cream Girls, then I took acting classes at a famous school - Calle Flygare. After that I did not proceed in the music industry. I bought a training center and then I became successful in that industry. Now I have sold my companies and starting in a new branch - Spa and Medical Spa. I am also been writíng on a book and will hopefully release it in 2009.
Gunilla have released her new album in Spring 2008 and is touring around in Sweden. She moved back from London two years ago and have become very successful here in Sweden. We are still good friends.
I live in half of my time in Stockholm and half of my time in Barcelona.
Gunilla has her website at www.gunillabackman.com
LYRICS:
State Of Emergency
Woke up this morning, your arms still held me tight. It felt so good, I knew this must be right. What have you done? I'm losing my control. I'm so confused. You put the fire in my soul.
Your love so tender. You caress me with your eyes. Ready to surrender. A voice deep within me cries.
State of emergency, What have you done to me. State of emergency. I can see the warning light.
Deep in my heart and soul. I'm sending S.O.S. State of emergency. Is there any help for me
The hands of time. ??? loves me still. So soft in silence. ??? emotion is our will. Deep in our hearts, our minds were just as one. That's where i realised i need you. A life has just begun.
One Touch Too Much
I feel temptation reaching out and touching me, something strange is in the air. I feel like thousand eyes tonight are watching, Giving me a hard constant. These guilty feelings are because of you. I can't believe the things i want to do
When we touch, one touch too much one look of desire. One touch too much both hands into the fire. One touch (one touch). One touch, one touch
I try to stay away but you keep haunting me. I feel your voice when i'm alone. Reaching out your silent fingers, touching me. I feel your dream right to the bone. I have the situation in control. Your magic pulled me and then i let go
Single Girl
I don't wanna be a single girl. Walking home all alone. I don't wanna waste the time or day. Waiting for someone to phone. I don't wanna be a single girl. Looking for a rainbow's end. I don't wanna be a poor young fool. So come on, won't you be my friend
I don't believe in fairytales anymore. I don't believe a handsome prince will walk through my door. I'm tired of waiting for a dream to come true. Now i just really want to spend the night with you. Of baby baby, tell me what to do
I don't wanna be a single girl. Running scared from the moon. I don't wanna watch the sun go down. Sitting here in my room. I don't wanna be a single girl. Never having any fun. So i guess tonight's the night. Cause baby, i know you're the one
Loving You Is All I Know
Thoughts are flying, radio's on. And the night is nearly gone. Hard to love, hard to care. hard to wait for someone alone. Will he ever show, who can tell me. Will he ever know, can't you tell me. Cause every little thing i do is a part of you
Loving you is all i know, loving you has set my dreams to grow, no matter what i'm doing, no matter what i'm going, it's you
When we meet it's just hello, even though i think you know, why can't i speak right out and give you the smile that i show. Will he ever show, who can tell me. Will he ever know, can't you tell me. Cause every little thing i do is a part of you
What Goes On In Your Mind
I don't know what i'm gonna do. It, what i think of you, is true. They say you're running around with every woman in town. I think the may be right. About two rendez-vous's at night. Cause when the telephone rings at a quarter to ten and then you run
What goes on in your mind. What goes on in your mind in the night. What goes on in your mind, say yeah. What goes on in your mind. What goes on in your mind in the night. What goes on in your mind, say yeah
I gave my best to you. But you did know what to do, with the love i gave. You just threw it away. You must think that i'm a fool. I don't know what i saw in you. You keep running around, but what you need is right here, back home
What goes on...
Say what's on your mind. I can make it fine. What goes on in your mind. Tell me, tell me. Say say say what goes on in your mind
Playing With Fire
I can't tell what you gotta do. It's a red-hot situation. Warm embrace that feels so cold. Only after my confusion. Warm in the winter, cold in the summer. My temperature is out of control.
Don't wanna live my life this way. Can we make some kind of desicion. Will you staying, will you be leavin', which every way i'm gonna lose. Can't live with you, can't live without you. But somehow i gotta choose,
It's like playing, playing with fire, It's like playing, playing with fire. Can't you play a round with me, i need somebody to set me free. It's like playing, playing with fire
I'm not sure what you gotta do. When the devil's looking through your eyes, When i think i know who you really are, putting on another disguise. Calm when i'm angry, cold when i'm burning. Nothing's ever right for you. Fire has gone that burn's so bright, just to keep our love alive. Will you staying, will you be leavin', which every way i'm gonna lose. I Can't live with you, can't live without you. But somehow i gotta choose.
total visits:
last update: 18.03.2010 contact: mtonumaa @ gmail.com
