Ace of Base

Ace of Base Is a Swedish pop group who scored a string of international hits in the early-to-mid 1990s. They’re best known for their upbeat reggae-tinged dance-pop songs, including “The Sign”, which was the biggest hit of 1994, according to The Billboard US chart.

The group’s core lineup consisted of producers Ulf “Buddha” Ekberg and Jonas “Joker” Berggren, along with singers Malin “Linn” Berggren and Jenny Berggren (the three Berggrens are siblings). In the early ’90s, their debut single “Wheel of Fortune” became a hit in Scandinavia, which led to the group connecting with producer Denniz Pop (who would later spawn the careers Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and Max Martin).

After the group’s 1992 debut Happy Nation became an international hit (going on to sell 21 million copies), it was re-released in North America in 1993 as The Sign. Three singles from the album became top five pop hits in the US, including “All That She Wants” (#2), “Don’t Turn Around” (#4), and “The Sign” (#1 for six weeks). The Sign went on to sell over 10 million copies.

The group’s 1995 album The Bridge sold 7 million copies worldwide, including 2 million in the US. The album’s most successful single was “Beautiful Life,” which topped the US Dance chart and reached #15 on the Hot 100.

Following the formal departure of singer Linn in 2007, the band performed a series of concerts as a trio in Europe and Asia between 2007 and 2009. Jenny Berggren said in November 2009 that she would be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the band to focus on a solo career. In 2009, Jonas and Ulf recruited two new female vocalists, Clara Hagman and Julia Williamson, and released The Golden Ratio in September 2010.

In 2012, it was confirmed that Clara Hagman and Julia Williamson had left the group. The group released the compilation Hidden Gems, featuring previously unreleased tracks and deep cuts. The band is currently on hiatus indefinitely, with the members publicly stating that a reunion is unlikely.