View source for Ace of Base

{{Short description|Swedish pop group}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Ace of Base
| image             = Ace of Base Members 1992-2007.jpg
| caption           = The founding members of Ace of Base<br />(from left) Jonas "Joker" Berggren, Jenny Berggren, Malin "Linn" Berggren, and Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg
| image_size        = 
| landscape         = yes
| origin            = [[Gothenburg]], Sweden
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Dance-pop]]<ref>{{cite news |first= Erin K. |last= Thompson |title= An Incomplete History of Swedish Pop Geniuses |date= 13 October 2010 |newspaper= [[Seattle Weekly]] |url= http://www.seattleweekly.com/2010-10-13/music/an-incomplete-history-of-swedish-pop-geniuses/ |access-date= 1 July 2015 |archive-date= July 2, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150702101100/http://www.seattleweekly.com/2010-10-13/music/an-incomplete-history-of-swedish-pop-geniuses/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first= Anne |last= Breitwieser |title= Singular sensations of the '90s |date= 16 November 2006 |journal= [[Vox (magazine)|Vox]] |url= http://archive.voxmagazine.com/stories/2006/11/16/singular-sensations-90s/print-story/ |access-date= 1 July 2015 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150702072445/http://archive.voxmagazine.com/stories/2006/11/16/singular-sensations-90s/print-story/ |archive-date= July 2, 2015 |df= mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="S3">{{cite web |title= Dance! Dance! Dance! |work= Side3 |date= 22 September 2011 |publisher= [[Nettavisen]] |url= http://www.side3.no/dance-dance-dance/3234902.html |access-date= 12 November 2016 |language= no |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140407083703/http://www.side3.no/dance-dance-dance/3234902.html |archive-date= April 7, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name="BS">{{cite journal |first= Jens |last= Bauszus |title= Sogar Britney Spears wurde in Stockholm entdeckt |journal= [[Focus (German magazine)|Focus]] |url= http://www.focus.de/kultur/musik/tid-25334/schwedens-neuester-popexport-tove-styrke-warum-uns-die-schweden-musikalisch-so-ueberlegen-sind-auch-britney-spears-wurde-in-stockholm-entdeckt_aid_726793.html |date= 28 March 2012 |access-date= 12 November 2016 |language= de |archive-date= July 30, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200730142533/https://www.focus.de/kultur/musik/tid-25334/schwedens-neuester-popexport-tove-styrke-warum-uns-die-schweden-musikalisch-so-ueberlegen-sind-auch-britney-spears-wurde-in-stockholm-entdeckt_aid_726793.html |url-status= live }}</ref>|[[Europop]]<ref name="Europop">{{cite web |title= Pop/Rock » Europop » Euro-Pop |url= http://www.allmusic.com/style/euro-pop-ma0000004446 |publisher= AllMusic. All Media Network |access-date= 12 November 2016 |archive-date= August 31, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140831161614/http://www.allmusic.com/style/euro-pop-ma0000004446 |url-status= live }}</ref>|[[reggae-pop]]}}
| years_active      = 1987–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Edel-Mega Records|Mega]]|[[Barclay Records|Barclay]]|Metronome|[[Arista Records|Arista]]|[[BMG Rights Management|BMG]]|[[Polydor Records|Polydor]]|[[Universal Music Group|Universal]]|[[Playground Music Scandinavia|Playground]]}}
| website           = {{URL|aceofbase.com}}
| current_members   = * [[Jonas Berggren]]
* [[Ulf Ekberg]]
| past_members      = * [[Linn Berggren]]
* [[Jenny Berggren]]
* [[Clara Mae|Clara Hagman]]
* Julia Williamson
}}

'''Ace of Base''' is a [[Popular music in Sweden|Swedish pop]] group formed in 1987, originally consisting of siblings [[Jonas Berggren|Jonas]], [[Linn Berggren|Linn]], and [[Jenny Berggren]], with [[Ulf Ekberg]].

They achieved worldwide success following the release of their debut album, ''[[Happy Nation]]'', in 1992. Later re-issued as ''[[The Sign (Ace of Base album)|The Sign]]'', it was certified nine times platinum in the United States<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=tblTop100&action |title=Top 100 Albums |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] |access-date=October 18, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018210719/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=tblTop100&action |archive-date=October 18, 2015 }}</ref> and was the best-selling album of 1994. One of the most successful debut albums of all time, it was the first to produce three No.&nbsp;1 singles on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Mainstream Top 40]] chart: "[[All That She Wants]]", "[[The Sign (song)|The Sign]]" and "[[Don't Turn Around]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268121/lady-gaga-makes-mainstream-top-40-history |title=Lady GaGa Makes Mainstream Top 40 History |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=July 13, 2009 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=October 18, 2010 |archive-date=July 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704063547/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268121/lady-gaga-makes-mainstream-top-40-history |url-status=live }}</ref>

The group continued to score hit singles throughout the 1990s, with songs such as "[[Beautiful Life (Ace of Base song)|Beautiful Life]]", "[[Lucky Love]]", "[[Cruel Summer (Bananarama song)#Ace of Base version|Cruel Summer]]", and "[[Life Is a Flower]]". They have sold 30 million copies of their first four studio albums, making them the third most successful Swedish group of all time, behind [[ABBA]] and [[Roxette]].

Despite being largely inactive since 2012, the group has never officially disbanded. In the last decade, they have released several demo tracks, first via their Facebook page and later, in 2015, on the compilation album ''[[Hidden Gems (Ace of Base album)|Hidden Gems]]''. A follow-up titled ''Hidden Gems, Vol. 2'' was included in the 2020 box set ''[[All That She Wants: The Classic Collection]]''. Jenny Berggren continues to perform the group's hits in solo concerts around the world.

== History ==
=== 1987–1992: Formation ===
In 1987, after several years as part of a [[new wave music|new wave]] and [[punk music|punk]] [[cover band]] called G Konrad (named after Hungarian author [[György Konrád]]), Jonas Berggren formed a band with two friends, Johnny Lindén and Niklas Tränk, for a school project; his sisters Linn and Jenny later joined as vocalists. The new band went through several names: [[New Arbat Avenue]], after an avenue in Moscow; CAD (Computer-Aided Disco); and Tech-Noir, which is French for ''black technology,'' inspired by a nightclub in the film ''[[The Terminator]]''.<ref name=secret>{{Cite news | url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/ace-of-bases-secret-nazi-past/ | title=Ace of Base's Secret Nazi Past | first=Benjamin | last=Shapiro | work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] | date=April 24, 2013 | access-date=September 12, 2021 | archive-date=August 26, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826110625/http://noisey.vice.com/blog/ace-of-bases-secret-nazi-past | url-status=live }}</ref> They toured the clubs of Sweden with original material, creating [[techno]] inspired by 1980s [[Italo disco]] and [[house music]].

Johnny left the group in 1989, and Niklas made his departure known by failing to turn up to a gig at Bältespännarparken in [[Gothenburg]] on 4 August 1990, instead attending a [[Rolling Stones]] concert across town. Jonas asked his friend Ulf Ekberg to stand in for Niklas. Inspired by a Jamaican [[reggae]] band who resided in a studio next door to theirs, they experimented with a [[Reggae fusion|fusion of reggae and pop]] – dubbed "China reggae" by their Jamaican friends – which became the band's trademark sound.<ref name="interview">{{Cite news | url=https://renownedforsound.com/interview-ace-of-base/ | title=Interview: Ace of Base | first=Brendon | last=Veevers | work=[[Renowned for Sound]]}}</ref>

After responding to an ad in the paper ''[[Göteborgs-Posten]]'', the new quartet started working in the studio with record producer [[John Ballard (record producer)|John Ballard]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://shows.acast.com/eurovisionlegends/episodes/john-ballard | title=Eurovision Legends Podcast - John Ballard  | publisher=Eurovision Legends | date=January 12, 2022}}</ref> and decided to adopt a new name to make a fresh start, as well as to avoid confusion with another band with the same name (Tech Noir) who were attracting bad reviews. Linn said: "No one could pronounce the name of the group and nobody could remember it." They settled on Ace of Base in early 1991, after Ulf was inspired by the [[Motörhead]] song "[[Ace of Spades (song)|Ace of Spades]]".<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/leonoraepstein/13-things-you-didnt-know-about-ace-of-base | title=13 Things You Didn't Know About Ace Of Base | first=Leonora | last=Epstein | work=[[BuzzFeed]] | date=March 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name="where">{{Cite web |date=October 8, 2015 |title=Where Are They Now: Ace of Base |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/now-ace-base/story?id=34316125 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-date=October 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008203528/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/now-ace-base/story?id=34316125 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a 2018 interview, Ulf explained: "I was hungover, watching MTV and I saw Motörhead's video for their song 'Ace of Spades'. I liked the name and I thought I'd play around with those words. [...] Then I thought of our studio and how it's our base".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://marcandrew.ca/chitchat/aceofbase/ |title=25 years later Ace of Base revisits the origin of their name | first=Marc | last=Andrew | date=April 30, 2018}}</ref>

The group continued performing in the clubs of Gothenburg but struggled to gain recognition, partly due to the local preference for [[heavy metal music]] over techno. They sent out demo cassettes to numerous record companies, but all received refusals. In May 1991, Jonas and Ulf traveled to various record companies in Stockholm, including [[Polar Music]], which requested that they record more songs first, and SweMix, which expressed interest but did not have the capacity to work with them until autumn.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://aceofbase.com/the-odyssey/ | title=THE ODYSSEY | work=Ace of Base | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011072226/https://aceofbase.com/the-odyssey/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In July, Klas Lunding at Telegram Records arranged for the group to record a new version of "[[Wheel of Fortune (Ace of Base song)|Wheel of Fortune]]" in their newly renovated Decibel Studio, but did not offer them a recording contract. Jonas recounts: <blockquote>When it had just been finished, [[Martin Dodd]] (Head of A&R at independent [[Denmark|Danish]] label Mega Records) called and shouted: "Do not sign anything, do not sign anything!" They wanted everything from us, while Telegram only wanted the reggae songs and no up-tempos. We had already recorded a single with Telegram, but hadn't signed anything. Klas is not the fastest in the world, so to speak{{spnd}}and that was perhaps lucky for us. So Mega bought the master tape from Klas for 34,000 SEK.<ref name=where/><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/when-ace-of-base-rode-the-wheel-of-fortune/articleshow/63581803.cms | title=When Ace of Base rode the wheel of fortune | first=P | last=Mahalakshmi | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=April 2, 2018 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=February 25, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225055424/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/when-ace-of-base-rode-the-wheel-of-fortune/articleshow/63581803.cms | url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

"Wheel of Fortune" was serviced to radio and nightclubs in Sweden in early 1992, reaching Gothenburg's local Jockeytoppen chart in March, which led to an invitation to perform on the music television channel [[ZTV (Sweden)|ZTV]].<ref>{{Cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syudi1mbbeg | title=Ace of Base - Wheel of Fortune Ztvnyttlive, Sweden 1992 | via=[[YouTube]] | date=November 23, 2014}}</ref> However, the record failed to gain traction in Sweden, prompting Mega to shift focus to Denmark. After servicing the single to media three times, it was finally released commercially at the end of June 1992, entering the Danish singles chart at No. 6 before rising to No. 2.<ref name=thestory>{{Cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMBwFC1roEw | title=Ace of Base - "The Story" (Documentary) [Part 1 of 5] | via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

=== 1992–1994: International success and ''Happy Nation''/''The Sign'' ===
{{Main|Happy Nation|The Sign (Ace of Base album)|l2=The Sign}}

Following the success of "Wheel of Fortune" in Denmark, the group continued to work on new music. After hearing Kayo's "Another Mother" in a record store – a top 20 hit in Sweden in 1990 – Jonas and Ulf decided that it was the exact sound they wanted to create.

In early 1992, they sent producer Denniz PoP a demo tape that included a song titled "Mr. Ace". Initially, he was not particularly impressed, but the tape became stuck in the cassette player of his car. As a result, he had to listen to it repeatedly and gradually realized the song's potential. Although he had lost the band's contact details, when they called him a few months later, he invited them to his SweMix studio to re-record the song in July 1992.<ref name=mrpop>{{cite magazine | url=https://slate.com/culture/2015/10/denniz-pop-max-martin-and-cheiron-studios-the-man-who-invented-modern-pop.html | title=Mr. Pop | last=Seabrook | first=John | magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] | date=14 October 2015 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008203640/https://slate.com/culture/2015/10/denniz-pop-max-martin-and-cheiron-studios-the-man-who-invented-modern-pop.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The song was eventually titled "[[All That She Wants]]" and, upon its release at the end of August, it quickly ascended to No. 1 on the Danish chart, while the previous single remained at No. 2. Eager to release an [[LP album|LP]] for the Christmas market, Mega Records pressured the band for an album, which was recorded and mixed in just a few weeks.<ref name=ones>{{Cite news | url=https://www.stereogum.com/2177528/the-number-ones-ace-of-bases-the-sign/columns/the-number-ones/| title=The Number Ones: Ace Of Base's "The Sign" | work=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref>

The album, ''[[Happy Nation]]'', was released on 2 November 1992, in Denmark, and its success generated interest throughout Europe. A pan-European license was signed with [[PolyGram|Metronome/PolyGram]] (now [[Universal Music]]), but the American division declined to pursue the band. Within a few months, "All That She Wants" reached No. 3 in Sweden and spent eight weeks at No. 1 in Germany. In various European countries, "[[Happy Nation (song)|Happy Nation]]" and "[[Waiting for Magic]]" were released as additional singles following the album's release.

In May 1993, "All That She Wants" solidified its European success by topping the charts for three weeks in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-chart-flashback-1993-ace-of-bases-all-that-she-wants-becomes-their-first-and-only-uk-number-1__19177/ | title=Official Chart Flashback 1993: Ace Of Base's All That She Wants becomes their first (and only) UK Number 1 | first=Rob | last=Copsey | work=[[Official Charts Company]] | date=18 May 2017 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008203528/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-chart-flashback-1993-ace-of-bases-all-that-she-wants-becomes-their-first-and-only-uk-number-1__19177/ | url-status=live }}</ref> However, despite [[Edel-Mega Records|Mega Records]]'s efforts to secure a distribution deal in the United States, the response was always the same: "This band will never work in the States."<ref name=mrpop/> Eventually, [[Clive Davis]], founder of [[Arista Records]], heard the song playing on the radio whilst on vacation on his yacht, and rushed to sign a licence with Mega for the Americas.<ref name=timing>{{Cite news |url=https://www.avclub.com/good-timing-turned-ace-of-base-s-the-sign-into-the-luck-1823004434 |title=Good timing turned Ace Of Base's The Sign into the luckiest hit of the '90s | first=Annie | last=Zaleski | work=[[The A.V. Club]] | date=February 19, 2018}}</ref> In October and November 1993, "All That She Wants" reached No. 2 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]],<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/biggest-number-2-hot-100-hits-all-time-1235026339/ | title=The Biggest No. 2 Hot 100 Hits of All Time | first=Trevor | last=Anderson | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date=February 2, 2023 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=March 16, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316054639/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/biggest-number-2-hot-100-hits-all-time-1235026339/ | url-status=live }}</ref> as well as in Australia.

The group had already started work on a second album, with the working title of ''The Sign'', named after one of the new tracks they had written. However, concerned about the sales of import copies of ''Happy Nation'', Davis decided to modify the track list of the original LP by adding three new tracks and re-titling it ''[[The Sign (Ace of Base album)|The Sign]]''. Released in the US on 23 November 1993, the album remained in the top three of the ''Billboard'' Top 200 for 26 consecutive weeks and was nominated for ''Best Pop Album'' at the 1995 [[Grammy Awards]]. The updated album was released in Europe as ''[[Happy Nation (US Version)]]''. Collectively, the various versions of the album reached the No. 1 position in at least 14 countries and sold over 21 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling debut albums of all time.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ws-vAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA736 | title=Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 1: Media, Industry, Society | isbn=9781847144737 | last1=Shepherd | first1=John | last2=Horn | first2=David | last3=Laing | first3=Dave | last4=Oliver | first4=Paul | last5=Wicke | first5=Peter | publisher=A&C Black | date=March 6, 2003 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008201552/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ws-vAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA736#v=onepage&q&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/5-good-reasons-never-to-revisit-the-90s-770592 | title=5 Good Reasons Never To Revisit The 90s | work=[[NME]] | date=May 9, 2012 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008203529/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/5-good-reasons-never-to-revisit-the-90s-770592 | url-status=live }}</ref> It was also one of the best-selling albums of 1994.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/05/arts/the-pop-life-591095.html | title=The Pop Life | first=Jon | last=Pareles | authorlink=Jon Pareles | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=January 5, 1995 | url-access=limited | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=March 21, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321224026/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/05/arts/the-pop-life-591095.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

The second U.S. single was the album's title track, "[[The Sign (Ace of Base song)|The Sign]]", released on 14 December. It proved to be even more successful than the first single, spending six weeks at No. 1 and becoming the best-selling single of 1994. The song also achieved significant international success, peaking at No. 2 in both the UK and Sweden, and reaching No. 1 in Germany; in Australia, it topped the charts for four weeks.<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/ace-of-base-the-sign-this-week-in-billboard-chart-history-1994/ | title=This Week in Billboard Chart History: In 1994, Ace of Base Saw 'The Sign' at No. 1 on the Hot 100 | first=GARY | last=TRUST | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date=March 11, 2019 | url-access=subscription}}</ref> At the request of Clive Davis, the group's next single was "[[Don't Turn Around]]".<ref name="ones" /> This song had previously been released by [[Tina Turner]] as the B-side of her single "[[Typical Male]]" (1986) and had reached No. 1 in the UK for [[Aswad]] in 1988. The cover version achieved top 5 placements in the US, UK, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Promotion for the album concluded with the final single release, "[[Living in Danger]]", which also became a top 40 hit internationally and was performed in front of the [[Brandenburg Gate]] at the first-ever [[MTV Europe Music Awards]] in [[Berlin]] in November 1994.<ref>{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBDkH2zNaDY | title=Ace of Base - Living in Danger (Live on MTV Europe Music Awards, 1994) | via=[[YouTube]] | date=September 20, 2023 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011072223/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBDkH2zNaDY | url-status=live }}</ref>

The band became embroiled in controversy when, on 27 March 1993, the Swedish newspaper ''[[Expressen]]'' reported that Ulf had been a member of a [[skinhead]] gang during his teenage years, prior to his association with Ace of Base. Linn commented in 1993, "Ulf gave all that up long ago, and my family had nothing to do with any of that in the first place."<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-20-ca-58879-story.html | title=Just Don't Mention You-Know-Who: Ace of Base is a Swedish pop vocal group with two men and two women—but don't ask them about ABBA | first=Dennis | last=Hunt | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=November 20, 1993 | url-access=limited}}</ref> In 2013, the story resurfaced in a report by ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'', which referenced an unauthorized CD released in 1998 titled ''Uffe Was a Nazi!'', containing songs with racist content purportedly recorded by Ulf's former band, "Commit Suiside".<ref name=secret/> Ulf was described as "a drug and alcohol-abusing teenager, when he was a member of a [[neo-Nazi]] skinhead gang".<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/07/nostalgia_fact_check_how_does.html | title=How Does Ace of Base's The Sign Hold Up? | first=Amos | last=Barshad | work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] | date=July 7, 2011}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[E!]]'', Ulf stated, "I have always been deeply regretful of that period in my life, as I strive to bring happiness to people, and during that period, I did not live up to that standard. [...] I'm truly deeply sorry for any hurt and disappointment this has caused for our fans, and I really hope that we clearly have stated that Ace of Base never shared any of these opinions and strongly oppose all extremist opinions on both the right and left wing."<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.eonline.com/news/411700/ace-of-base-s-ulf-ekberg-speaks-out-about-alleged-past-nazi-ties | title=Ace of Base's Ulf Ekberg Speaks Out About Alleged Past Nazi Ties | first1=HOLLY | last1=PASSALAQUA | first2=ALEXIS L. | last2=LOINAZ | work=[[E!]] | date=April 25, 2013}}</ref>

In April 1994, an obsessed German fan broke into the Berggren family home, brandishing a knife.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6119019 |title=Ace of Base-stjärnan om glamourens baksida | last=Luttu | first=Linnea | work=[[Sveriges Radio]] | date=March 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a33050/ace-of-base-the-sign-oral-history-15207369/ | title=Remembering the Song: Recording "The Sign" Was Anything But Romantic | first=Jenny | last=Berggren | authorlink=Jenny Berggren | work=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] | date=March 12, 2013}}</ref> After managing to restrain her, the band decided they needed bodyguards. Recalling the attack in a 2016 interview, Jenny said:

<blockquote>"She woke me up with a knife to my throat. She broke into my parents’ house when I was staying there after two years away. I woke up and she was standing over me with the knife. I was terrified. That was the darker side of fame. I remember just after I was attacked I found out that we were Number 1 in the United States. All I could think was that I almost got killed. Everyone was like, 'wow, let's have a huge party'. I didn't want a party. I was broken."<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/knife-attack-survivor-jenny-berggren-8124182 | title=Knife attacker survivor Jenny Berggren talks fame and her days in Ace of Base | work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] | first=Rebecca | last=Graham | date=June 6, 2016}}</ref></blockquote>

=== 1995–1997: ''The Bridge'' ===
{{Main|The Bridge (Ace of Base album)|l1=The Bridge}}
Following the substantial success of their debut album, the group was offered the opportunity to perform at [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City|New York]] and asked to represent brands such as [[Pepsi]] and [[Reebok]] in promotional campaigns. However, after two years of traveling the world to promote their first album, the band was too exhausted to accept any of these offers.<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/ace-of-base-hidden-gems-jonas-berggren-6502291/ | title=Ace of Base Founder Discusses 'New' Album, Shares the Stories Behind the Band's 5 Biggest Hits | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date=March 16, 2015 | access-date=June 28, 2020 | archive-date=September 29, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929130657/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6502291/ace-of-base-hidden-gems-jonas-berggren | url-status=live }}</ref> Simultaneously, their various record companies worldwide were demanding a second album promptly. To expedite the process, instead of Jonas and Ulf writing most of the album, each member was encouraged to submit their own tracks for consideration.

Ultimately, 17 tracks were selected for the second album, titled ''[[The Bridge (Ace of Base album)|The Bridge]]''. This album marked a significant shift in sound; alongside the reggae and dance styles that had propelled the group to fame, it featured more experimental tracks and several ballads. The lead single, "[[Lucky Love]]," was a mainstream pop record that premiered in August 1995 at the [[1995 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships in Athletics]] in Gothenburg. It debuted at No. 1 in Sweden upon its release in October, becoming their first chart-topper in their homeland. Additionally, it was a top 20 hit across Europe, peaking at No. 1 in Finland, No. 2 in Denmark, No. 13 in Germany, and No. 20 in the United Kingdom.

Arista Records instead opted for the more up-tempo track "[[Beautiful Life (Ace of Base song)|Beautiful Life]]" as the first single in the US, where it peaked at No. 15 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming the first American and UK hit for its co-producer [[Max Martin]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/max-martin-the-man-behind-your-favourite-hits__10519/ | title=Max Martin: The man behind your favourite hits | work=[[Official Charts Company]] | date=22 August 2015}}</ref> It was released as the second single from the album in most countries, also reaching No. 15 in the UK and charting in at least 17 countries. An alternative acoustic mix of "Lucky Love" was chosen as the second U.S. single, peaking at No. 30. "[[Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry]]" was released as the third single from the album and achieved moderate success in Europe, but failed to chart on the Hot 100 in the US. ''The Bridge'' was certified platinum in 14 countries, although it did not match the sales of the group's debut album. In February 1996, the band performed at the [[Viña del Mar International Song Festival]] in [[Chile]], headlining alongside [[2 Unlimited]].

After touring Asia and Australasia in April 1996, the group temporarily withdrew from the limelight, scrapping plans to release either "My Déjà Vu" or "Edge of Heaven" as singles. They re-emerged only in 1997 for an April performance at the [[World Music Awards]] and a July concert celebrating the 20th birthday of [[Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden|Princess Victoria of Sweden]].

=== 1998–2000: ''Flowers'' / ''Cruel Summer,'' ''Singles of the 90s'', and ''Greatest Hits'' ===
{{Main|Flowers (Ace of Base album)|Cruel Summer (Ace of Base album)|l1=Flowers|l2=Cruel Summer}}
Having felt rushed to record a second album, the group were given as much time as they need to produce their third, with much of it being recorded in Jonas's own studio, The Barn. Declaring it their best album yet, the group titled it ''[[Flowers (Ace of Base album)|Flowers]]'' because they believed that the songs, wildly different in style, including [[Motown]] and [[Gospel music|gospel]] influences, resembled a varied bouquet of flowers.<ref name=flowersbook>''Flowers'' album booklet. [[Edel-Mega Records]] (1998)</ref>

In live performances in support of the album, Linn relinquished lead vocal duties to sister Jenny, and on many promotional photos, Linn's face was blurred.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=[[Platinum & Gold Collection (Ace of Base album)|Platinum & Gold Collection]] | date=6 May 2003 | first=Bill | last=Pitzonka | type=Compact disc booklet |publisher=[[Arista Records|Arista]]}}</ref> Fans were reassured that Linn was happy with her new backing role in the group, and many reasons were given for her decision, including her having damaged her voice, her aerophobia deterring her from international travel, dealing with [[Depression (mood)|depression]], and her dislike of fame.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.grunge.com/1169575/where-are-the-members-of-ace-of-base-now/ | title=WHERE ARE THE MEMBERS OF ACE OF BASE NOW? | first=BRIAN | last=MYERS | work=Grunge | date=January 17, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/ace-of-base-singer-buries-traumatic-past-ng-ya-111271 | title=Ace of Base singer buries traumatic past | first=Ben | last=O'Shea | work=[[The West Australian]] | date=June 28, 2016 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008203529/https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/ace-of-base-singer-buries-traumatic-past-ng-ya-111271 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr0iCO5JBmw | title=Why Malin Berggren left Ace of Base ? | via=[[YouTube]] | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008203623/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr0iCO5JBmw | url-status=live }}</ref> Her vocal contributions to the album itself were also diminished, though she still appeared on the majority of the tracks.<ref name=flowersbook/>

{{Quote box
| quote = Linn has relinquished the role of front vocalist and delegated her singing duties to sister Jenny. Linn has had recurrent problems with her voice since album II, ''The Bridge'', and would not be able to withstand the rigors of touring. As it represents a significant change, the band has decided to concentrate all visual attention on
Jenny for the time being.
| source = — Ace of Base website, 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aceofbase.net/info/faq.htm |title=Ace of Base FAQ |access-date=April 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000408221541/http://www.aceofbase.net/info/faq.htm |archive-date=April 8, 2000 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 25em
| salign = right
}}

The album's lead single, "[[Life Is a Flower]]", was released in mainland Europe in April 1998, and became the most-played track on European radio of the year.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} It reached the top 5 in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Hungary and in the UK, where it was certified silver. The album followed in June, hitting the top 20 in at least a dozen countries. The group's British label [[London Records]] had requested the band record the 1983 hit "[[Cruel Summer (Bananarama song)|Cruel Summer]]" by [[Bananarama]] and it was selected as the second European single. Deciding that "Life Is a Flower" was "too European in nature", Clive Davis pushed "Cruel Summer" as the lead single for the United States, and it brought Ace of Base back into the U.S. Top 10 for the first time in four years, being certified gold. The album was also renamed ''[[Cruel Summer (Ace of Base album)|Cruel Summer]]'' and featured a different track list from the European release. For this version of the album, Davis persuaded a reluctant Linn to record the Billy Steinberg-penned ballad "[[Everytime It Rains]]". "Life Is a Flower" was re-recorded as "[[Whenever You're Near Me]]" and chosen as the second single from ''Cruel Summer'', peaking at No. 76. "[[Travel to Romantis]]" and "[[Always Have Always Will|Always Have, Always Will]]" were further singles in Europe whilst "Everytime It Rains" was issued as a single in the UK along with a repackaged edition of ''Flowers''.

The group returned to the studio in 1999, writing several tracks together as a quartet for the first time and recording enough demo tracks for consideration for a fourth studio album. Ulf later revealed that they had hoped to release a track called "Pole Position" as the lead single, with a music video featuring the [[Formula One]] champion driver [[Jacques Villeneuve]].<ref>{{Cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4tpkCgONUA | title=Ace of Base - Pole Position (Commentary) [13 of 16] | via=[[YouTube]] | date=March 12, 2015 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/g4tpkCgONUA | archive-date=2021-12-12 | url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Several of the tracks recorded for the scrapped studio album were eventually released in demo form by Jonas via Facebook in 2011.

In November 1999, Mega Records released the best-of album ''[[Singles of the 90s]]'', a compilation of 13 singles and 3 new songs. A new single taken from it, "[[C'est La Vie (Always 21)]]", was a modest chart hit in Sweden, Finland, Germany and Switzerland, and topped the charts in Spain. "[[Hallo Hallo (Ace of Base song)|Hallo Hallo]]" followed as the second single in parts of Europe, but only found minor success.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/singles-of-the-90s-mw0000741752 | title=Singles of the 90s Review | first=Jose F. | last=Promis | work=[[AllMusic]] | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=July 16, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716001035/https://www.allmusic.com/album/singles-of-the-90s-mw0000741752 | url-status=live }}</ref> Arista Records fulfilled the group's four-album contract in the Americas by releasing ''[[Greatest Hits (2000 Ace of Base album)|Greatest Hits]]'' in March 2000. A new dance mix of "[[Everytime It Rains]]", previously included on ''[[Cruel Summer (Ace of Base album)|Cruel Summer]]'', was released as a radio single to promote the album. Both the single and album failed to chart in the USA.

=== 2002–2003: ''Da Capo'' ===
{{Main|Da Capo (Ace of Base album)|l1=Da Capo}}
[[File:Skl2003.jpg|thumb|upright|Linn after a performance in 2002]]
After a lengthy absence from the pop scene, a new single titled "[[Beautiful Morning]]" was released to radio in Europe in July 2002. Polydor Records announced that it was their fastest-added track to radio playlists for the year, eventually reaching No. 38 in Germany<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://chart-history.net/wp-content/uploads/arch-ace-of-base.pdf | title=Chart - History Singles | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008204044/https://chart-history.net/wp-content/uploads/arch-ace-of-base.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> and No. 14 in Sweden upon its commercial release in September.

After several delays, Ace of Base finally released their fourth studio album, ''[[Da Capo (Ace of Base album)|Da Capo]]'', on September 30, 2002, in Europe, and in Japan through [[Toshiba EMI]] with a different cover and three bonus tracks. The album received only a soft release in the United Kingdom and was not released in the Americas.<ref name=ones/> The title comes from the musical term ''da capo'', which translates as "back to the beginning", as the sound of the album was meant to be a return to the group's early blend of reggae and europop.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/da-capo-mw0000457620 | title=Da Capo Review | first=Jon | last=O'Brien | publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> Although the album charted across much of Europe, it was not as successful as previous releases. Only Jenny and Ulf went on a promotional tour of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, Poland and Austria. Jonas chose to forego promotional activities because "it was better to be two then" and led to "less questions" about Linn's lack of participation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yes! You know on for example Da Capo I couldnt do much promo... | url=https://www.facebook.com/aceofbase/posts/166938763340380?comment_id=166941436673446 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/131371283564350/166938763340380 | archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited |last=Berggren| first=Jonas |date=10 November 2010 |publisher=Facebook |access-date=7 June 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Linn attended only one performance in Germany, which was her last public appearance.<ref>{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcBvEWmvbXA | title=Ace of Base - Beautiful Morning (SKL Show) 2002 | via=[[YouTube]] | date=September 5, 2012 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/QcBvEWmvbXA | archive-date=2021-12-12 | url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

"[[The Juvenile]]" was chosen as the album's second single in Germany and was featured in a Christmas campaign by TV channel [[RTL Television]]. The song is a rewritten version of a track originally submitted for the [[James Bond]] film ''[[GoldenEye]]'' in 1995. However, Clive Davis advised the band that it was not the best move for them at the time, leading to its withdrawal from consideration.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/lost-bond-themes/ | title=Licence Denied: The Bond Themes You Didn't Get To Hear | first=Owen | last=Williams | work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] | date=August 20, 2019}}</ref> In Scandinavia, [[Edel-Mega]] released "[[Unspeakable (song)|Unspeakable]]" as the second single; however, its poor chart performance resulted in the premature end of the album's promotion.

=== 2003–2009: Hiatus and reunion ===
The group remained out of the spotlight throughout 2003 and 2004. During this time, Jenny performed solo live performances in several Christian shows with her husband, Jakob Petrén, and released an album as a vocalist with the Swedish group Arose.

In 2005, several songs featuring vocals by both Jenny and Linn were recorded with producer Tommy Ekman, including "Would You Believe" and "Make My Day". Jonas and Ulf later explained that the group did not have the energy to finish the project, though the tracks that were recorded eventually surfaced.<ref>{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OeTmeKNt2E | title=Ace of Base - Make My Day (Commentary) [5 of 16] | date=March 8, 2015 | via=[[YouTube]] | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/7OeTmeKNt2E | archive-date=2021-12-12 | url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> At the end of 2005, the group reunited, without Linn, for several live performances at the [[Night of the Proms]] in Belgium, alongside other artists such as [[Donna Summer]].<ref>{{Cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVjZzbDmKt4 | title=Ace of Base - The Sign & All That She Wants (Night Of The Proms, Belgium 2005) | via=[[YouTube]] | date=September 7, 2012}}</ref>[[Image:Aob tour.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Jonas, Jenny, and Ulf performing in [[Saint Petersburg]], 2007.|Jonas, Jenny and Ulf during a concert in [[Saint Petersburg]], 2007.]]
Ace of Base reunited as a trio to perform their first full-length concert since 1996 in [[Yekaterinburg]], Russia, on 15 November 2007. They embarked on a world tour called ''Ace of Base - Redefined!'', which continued throughout 2008 and 2009. The set list included several new versions of their greatest hits. Jenny confirmed Linn's permanent departure from the group, saying "She hasn't been part of Ace of Base for several years" in ''[[Se og Hør (Denmark)|Se & Hør]]'' magazine.<ref name="SeHor">{{cite journal |last=Olausen |first=Tonny |date=November 2007 |title=Vi Elsker Danmark [We Love Denmark] |journal=Se & Hør |pages=20–21}}</ref> Ulf later explained in an interview "She left the band and we promised her to never even ask to come back. She's done with entertainment industry. It's understandable. It's brutal from the inside, it was not for her. She has no craving to be famous, she loved her fans, but the fame factor was not for her."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Where Are They Now: Ace of Base |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/now-ace-base/story?id=34316125 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref> While touring, the group performed a brand new song called "Sparks From A Fire".<ref>{{cite web |author=AcerStan |date=June 15, 2008 |title=New song performed at Rock Under Broen |url=http://aceboards.com/topic/6706/New-song-performed-at-Rock-Under-Broen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202231834/http://aceboards.com/topic/6706/New-song-performed-at-Rock-Under-Broen |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |access-date=October 18, 2010 |publisher=The Ace Boards}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=October 6, 2008 |title=Ace of Base - Sparks From A Fire (Live in Vantaa) |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCOyvBHCXZU |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/QCOyvBHCXZU |archive-date=2021-12-12 |access-date=October 18, 2010 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The group collaborated with Jenny's husband, Jakob, to record material for a new studio album, which was intended to include seven new songs and seven remakes of old hits.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=http://darikradio.bg/ace-of-base-idvat-v-balgariia.html#parent=search |title=Ace of Base come to Bulgaria |date=18 April 2008 |medium=radio interview |access-date=9 October 2016 |quote=The album will contain 7 remakes and 7 new songs. The reason why we decided on those remakes is that most of our hits are now 20 years old. Back then we really enjoyed electro music, BUT, electro music was not what the record companies liked and when finally we released our first album the songs were more or less pop-reggae, which we also liked.}}</ref> However, this album did not see a release and a new compilation, ''[[Greatest Hits (2008 Ace of Base album)|Greatest Hits]]'', was released on 12 November 2008, instead.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ulf's Letter Part 1 |url=http://www.aceofbase.com/blog/more/4pwPsA9sdGPALV1/ulfs-letter-part-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216021023/http://www.aceofbase.com/blog/more/4pwPsA9sdGPALV1/ulfs-letter-part-1 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |quote=We have done a few remakes of our biggest hits and three of those will be released on different AoB Greatest Hits albums. WOF 2009 and Don't Turn Around 2009 being the two first followed by The Sign 2009. We never wanted another Greatest Hits to be released but we had no choice being the last obligation in the contract. This has also changed our original New album release plan.}}</ref> Five re-recorded songs were released from the album in various forms: "Lucky Love 2009", "Don't Turn Around 2009", "The Sign (Freedom Bunch Mix)" and "Wheel of Fortune 2009", which was released worldwide on 24 October 2008, as a digital single.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bandsintown.com/a/50225-ace-of-base | title=Ace of Base | work=[[Bandsintown]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3MzN3bNZ8I | title=Wheel of fortune 2009: by Ace of Base | via=[[YouTube]] | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011072223/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3MzN3bNZ8I | url-status=live }}</ref> A fifth reworking, "Happy Nation 2009", was released separately as a remix kit. A remake of "All That She Wants" was also recorded and featured guest vocals by [[Britney Spears]] that stemmed from her own 2007 cover of the song. This remake was never officially released, but leaked online in June 2016.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://tetu.com/2016/06/03/britney-spears-reprend-all-that-she-wants-duo-ace-of-base/ | title=Quand Britney Spears reprenait All That She Wants avec Ace of Base | trans-title=When Britney Spears covered “All That She Wants” with Ace of Base | last=Lacroix | first=JÉRÉMIE | work=[[Têtu]] | date=June 3, 2016 | language=fr}}</ref> Three of the new tracks recorded in this period ("Sparks From A Fire", "The Mask" and "Wish You Were Mine") were posted on YouTube in 2017.

=== 2009–2012: New members, ''The Golden Ratio'', and ''Ace Thursdays'' ===
{{Main|The Golden Ratio (album)|l1=The Golden Ratio}}
[[File:Ace Of Base Toronto 2010 (modified).JPG|thumb|Ace of Base performing during a fan meeting in Toronto, Canada (2010).]]
In August 2009, in an interview with [[Digital Spy]], Ulf mentioned adding another singer to the group alongside Jenny, explaining: "We're just deciding now whether to add a fourth member to the group again or to bring it out under a new name. At the moment, we think it would be stronger with two female singers, so it's a little technical problem to solve."<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a169975/whatever-happened-to-ace-of-base/ | title=Whatever happened to... Ace of Base? | first=David | last=Balls | work=[[Digital Spy]] | date=August 10, 2009}}</ref> During this time, Ulf and Jonas began recording songs with singer Julia Williamson, whom they met through [[Martin Dodd]], who had originally signed the group to Mega Records.<ref name=scandipopinterview/> Meanwhile, a new remix of "Cruel Summer" by Rico Bernasconi charted at No. 69 in Germany.

Jenny published her autobiography ''Vinna hela Världen'' in Sweden in September and announced that she was recording a solo album, which materialized in October 2010 as ''[[My Story (Jenny Berggren album)|My Story]]''. In November 2009, Jenny confirmed via Twitter that she would not be involved with the upcoming album,<ref>{{cite tweet | number=6206340746 | user=jennyberggren| title=We didn't get a record out as three.... | date=November 30, 2009}}</ref> but later clarified that she had not left, saying that "other constellations will have other names".<ref>{{cite tweet |number=7238010706 | user=jennyberggren| title=As agreed with my brother Jonas: "Ace... | date=December 31, 2009}}</ref> In a 2010 interview with [[Aftonbladet]], Jenny claimed "They didn't want to be with me", and that she was not allowed to participate in songwriting.<ref name="mig">{{Cite web | url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/a/G10EdB/de-ville-inte-ha-med-mig | title="De ville inte ha med mig" | trans-title="They didn't want me with them" | first=Ninna | last=Prague | work=[[Aftonbladet]] | date=October 17, 2010}}</ref> Jonas and Ulf then said in an interview with Scandipop that Jenny wasn't happy with plans to introduce a new member, and while she never formally quit the group, they felt that they had no choice but to proceed without her.<ref name="scandipopinterview">{{Cite web | url=https://scandipop.co.uk/the-ace-of-base-interview/ | title=The Ace of Base Interview | work=Scandipop.co.uk | date=November 2010 | archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724223823/https://www.scandipop.co.uk/the-ace-of-base-interview/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Two new singers were revealed in February 2010:<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2010 |title=Names of the new girls |url=https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/aobfr/names-of-the-new-girls-t8379.html}}</ref> [[Clara Hagman]], a contestant from [[Idol 2009 (Sweden)|Idol 2009]] who Ulf met whilst appearing as a guest judge on the show; and Julia Williamson.<ref name="scandipopinterview" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Alex |date=September 7, 2010 |title=Ace of Base announce new album. Seriously. |url=https://consequence.net/2010/09/ace-of-base-announce-new-album-seriously/ |work=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2010 |title=Official message by.... JONAS !! |url=https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/aobfr/official-message-by-jonas-t8385.html |access-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628204320/https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/aobfr/official-message-by-jonas-t8385.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Barkhorn |first=Eleanor |date=July 14, 2010 |title=Ace of Base Returns ... Sort Of |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/07/ace-of-base-returns-sort-of/59732/ |url-access=limited |work=[[The Atlantic]] |access-date=October 8, 2023 |archive-date=October 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011072223/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/07/ace-of-base-returns-sort-of/59732/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The new quartet maintained the original band name, but it was stylized as "Ace.of.Base" on the artwork of single and album releases.<ref name="mig" /> In July 2010, a track called "Mr. Replay" appeared on a Polish promo compilation for DJs, becoming the first release from the new line-up.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=DJ Promotion CD Pool Pop 126 |medium=compact disc |date=2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.idolator.com/5565082/the-sign-that-the-90s-are-back-the-return-of-ace-of-base | title=The Sign That The 90s Are Back—The Return Of Ace Of Base | first=Becky | last=Bain | website=Idolator.com | date=July 14, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=August 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The first official single from the line-up, "[[All for You (Ace of Base song)|All for You]]", was premiered on radio station Antenne AC on July 22, and was released on CD and download on September 10, debuting at No. 38 in Germany. The album ''[[The Golden Ratio (album)|The Golden Ratio]]'' followed on September 24, entering the German album charts at No. 20. In Sweden, the album failed to chart, backed only by a radio release of the album's title track "The Golden Ratio" in October, followed by a performance of "Southern California" on Bingolotto in April 2011. An acoustic version of the album was being considered but never materialized.<ref>{{citation |url-access=limited |title=Ace of Base Facebook - Hi!! We are talking about making an {{sic|nolink=y|accoustic}}...| publisher=Facebook | url=https://www.facebook.com/aceofbase/posts/125829447473278 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/131371283564350/125829447473278 | archive-date=2022-02-26 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> No further singles were released in support of the album.

In March 2011, Jonas began releasing previously unreleased material to fans via the band's official Facebook page and the website ReverbNation on a semi-regular basis, in events they referred to as "Ace Thursdays".<ref name=interview/> Writing sessions for new material took place throughout the same year,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/aceofbase/posts/182058945169365 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/131371283564350/182058945169365 | archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited | title=First writing session on Skype today... |last=Berggren | first=Jonas | via=[[Facebook]] | date=February 15, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/aceofbase/posts/126841570717581 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/131371283564350/126841570717581 | archive-date=2022-02-26 | url-access=limited | title=Another writing session in the studio... | last=Ekberg | first=Ulf | via=[[Facebook]] | date=February 3, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> but following the group's tour of Canada and Brazil in 2011, new music was put on hold.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/tv/a/ddr18q/nya-tjejerna-hatades-nar-de-bytte-ut-jenny-i-ace-of-base | title=Nya tjejerna hatades när de bytte ut Jenny i Ace of Base | trans-title=New girls were hated when they replaced Jenny Ace of Base | first=Andreas | last=Hansson | work=[[Aftonbladet]] | language=sv | date=November 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/ace-of-base-5bd6bf24.html | title=Ace of Base Concert Setlists & Tour Dates | publisher=Setlist.fm}}</ref>

=== 2012–present: Departures, ''Hidden Gems'' and 30th anniversary ===
''Ace Thursdays'' continued throughout 2012, but were discontinued in May 2013. In November 2012, Jenny was quoted as saying, "The rest of the band are doing other things. ... We're just wishing each other luck at this stage. I have a dream that we'll get back together, so I don't want to bang anyone on the head".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.timeoutabudhabi.com/music/36694-go-west-and-ace-of-base-in-dubai | title=We speak to Mixtape Rewind '80s and '90s festival headliners | last=Garratt | first=Rob | work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] | date=November 6, 2012 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008204048/https://www.timeoutabudhabi.com/music/36694-go-west-and-ace-of-base-in-dubai | url-status=live }}</ref> Jenny began touring as "Jenny from Ace of Base" alongside popular [[Eurodance]] acts from the decade.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://nfldherald.com/aqua-jenny-from-ace-of-base-vengaboys-more-bring-90s-nostalgia-electric-circus-tour-to-st-johns/ | title=Aqua, Jenny from Ace of Base, Vengaboys & More bring 90's Nostalgia Electric Circus Tour to St. John's | first=Dillon | last=Collins | work=[[Newfoundland Herald]] | date=December 4, 2019}}</ref>

In January 2014, Julia announced that she had left the group in 2012. She later confirmed that Clara had also left, saying "I never really left the group, one day I just didn't hear anything from them and it's the same with Clara. Like it went up in smoke; really strange".<ref name="reunite">{{Cite news |last=Pochin |first=Courtney |date=September 20, 2023 |title='90s chart-toppers Ace of Base now - fading from fame and why they won't reunite |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/90s-chart-toppers-ace-base-30987504 |work=[[Daily Mirror]]}}</ref> Clara has since released several solo singles, and has collaborated with various EDM producers such as [[KREAM]] and [[R3hab]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/clara-mae-im-not-her-video-8031050/ | title=Clara Mae Steps Out of the Songwriter Shadows with Poppy 'I'm Not Her': Exclusive | first=Kat | last=Bein | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date=November 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.idolator.com/7678531/clara-mae-acoustic-i-forgot-premiere | title=Clara Mae Stuns With A Stripped Performance Of "I Forgot": Premiere | first=Mike | last=Nied | work=Idolator | date=April 20, 2018 }}{{dead link|date=August 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

A remix [[Extended Play|EP]] was released in July 2014, featuring new remixes of "All That She Wants".<ref>{{citation | url=https://www.amazon.com/All-That-She-Wants-Remixed/dp/B00KZLV968/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1406021433&sr=1-1&keywords=ace+of+base+all+that+she+wants |access-date=July 26, 2014|title=Amazon.com: All That She Wants (Remixed)}}</ref><ref>{{Citation| url=https://www.facebook.com/aceofbase/photos/a.796020320432773.1073741827.131371283564350/796020303766108/?type=1 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/131371283564350/796020303766108 |archive-date=2022-02-26 | url-access=limited |access-date=October 18, 2014 | title=Ace of Base Facebook - All That She Wants Remixed}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In December 2014 and January 2015, remastered versions of their first four studio albums, in both European and American editions, were released digitally. This was followed in March by ''[[Hidden Gems (Ace of Base album)|Hidden Gems]]'', a compilation album consisting entirely of demos and b-sides.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/de/album/hidden-gems-bonus-track-edition/960208641 | title=Ace of Base: Hidden Gems | date=March 6, 2015 | publisher=apple | access-date=January 28, 2015 | archive-date=August 6, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806210803/https://itunes.apple.com/de/album/hidden-gems-bonus-track-edition/id960208641 | url-status=live }}</ref> "[[Would You Believe (Ace of Base song)|Would You Believe]]", one of the last tracks recorded by the original quartet in 2005, was released as a promotional single.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00TJQ2KRW/ref=s9_simh_gw_p340_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1DBPR3N1HBV974S38W3S&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=455353807&pf_rd_i=301128 | title=Would You Believe: Ace of Base: MP3 Downloads | location=Germany | date=February 27, 2015 | access-date=March 2, 2015 | publisher=Amazon.de | archive-date=October 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008202753/https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00TJQ2KRW/ref=s9_simh_gw_p340_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1DBPR3N1HBV974S38W3S&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=455353807&pf_rd_i=301128 | url-status=live }}</ref> The band filmed a multi-part documentary titled "The Story" at Google Headquarters that was posted on [[YouTube]] in March 2015.<ref name=thestory/> It also aired on Swedish television.

In a 2015 interview with ABC News, Ulf remarked on the possibility of a future reunion, stating, "With the right elements in the next few years, I don't think it's impossible";<ref name="whereare">{{Cite magazine |last=GREENE |first=ANDY |date=August 8, 2013 |title=Where Are They Now? 1994's Biggest Pop Acts |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/where-are-they-now-1994s-biggest-pop-acts-21592/ace-of-base-33460/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> however, in July 2016, Jenny remarked: "We won't re-form. [...] We're finished working together but we're not finished being family together. We have a lot of fun plans in the future but no musical plans".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/tours/ace-of-bases-jenny-berggren/news-story/a338dc69892e9e8a658692b929d3c321 | title=Seeing Ace of Base's Jenny Berggren is the closest you'll get to a return tour | last=Adams | first=Cameron | work=[[news.com.au]] | date=July 6, 2016}}</ref> In 2018, Jonas said a potential reunion had been discussed, but noted "We always got the same question "where is Malin?". I am still writing music, maybe one song each fortnight or something. It's a lot of fun, like therapy. And maybe if we do a reunion... I have songs for it!"<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://consequence.net/2018/06/ace-of-base-kyle-meredith/ | title=Ace of Base Reflects on the 25th Anniversary of the Sign | first=Regan | last=Bexler | work=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] | date=June 13, 2018 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011072223/https://consequence.net/2018/06/ace-of-base-kyle-meredith/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, [[Demon Music Group]] began releasing new compilations of the band's material in the United Kingdom. The first of these releases was ''[[Greatest Hits (2008 Ace of Base album)|Ace of Base – Gold]]'', which charted at No. 59 in the UK, marking the group's first return to the UK charts in 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.demonmusicgroup.co.uk/catalogue/releases/ace-of-base-gold/ | title=Ace Of Base – Gold | website=[[Demon Music Group]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28824/ace-of-base/ | title=Ace of Base | website=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref> To mark the group's 30th anniversary, a 12-disc box set called ''[[All That She Wants: The Classic Collection]]'' was released in July 2020. The set includes expanded versions of the group's original four studio albums and ''Hidden Gems'', ''Hidden Gems, Vol. 2'' (a new follow-up to the original ''Hidden Gems''), an EP containing previously unreleased remixes of "Edge Of Heaven", and a DVD containing all of the group's music videos. Included among the 195 tracks are previously unreleased demos from the original line-up's final recording sessions in 2008 and live recordings of the group's first gig at Bältespännarparken in 1990. There is also a 4 LP coloured [[Phonograph record|vinyl]] version of the box set, which only includes the four studio albums.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/ace-of-base-all-that-she-wants-the-classic-collection-11cddvd-box/ | title=Ace of Base / All That She Wants: The Classic Collection 11CD+DVD box | website=SuperDeluxeEdition.com | date=May 7, 2020 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=December 8, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208213614/https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/ace-of-base-all-that-she-wants-the-classic-collection-11cddvd-box/ | url-status=live }}</ref> ''Hidden Gems, Vol. 2'' was released digitally in August 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://genius.com/albums/Ace-of-base/Hidden-gems-vol-2 | title=Hidden Gems, Vol. 2 by Ace of Base | work=[[Genius (company)|Genius.com]] | date=August 28, 2020}}</ref><ref name="heute">{{cite news | url=https://www.focus.de/kultur/kino_tv/was-wurde-eigentlich-aus-ace-of-base_id_12599270.html | title=Sie sangen "All That She Wants": Das machen die 90er-Stars Ace of Base heute | trans-title=They sang "All That She Wants": That's what 90s stars Ace of Base are doing today | work=[[Focus (German magazine)|Focus]] | date=October 30, 2020 | language=de}}</ref>

In 2020, Playground Records began releasing standalone digital singles which feature new remixes of the group's tracks. In November 2021, a remix EP was released for the album track "Dancer in a Daydream" which first appeared on ''Happy Nation'' in 1992. The EP features remixes by producer Trace Adam and was released alongside a new video with previously unseen footage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/ace-of-base-trace-adam-dancer-in-a-daydream-remix/|title=Ace of Base share new Trace Adam 'Dancer in a Daydream' remix|work=Retro Pop Magazine|date=21 November 2021|access-date=January 25, 2022|archive-date=April 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403221019/https://retropopmagazine.com/ace-of-base-trace-adam-dancer-in-a-daydream-remix/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 28 April 2023, the group released a 26-compact disc singles box set, ''[[Beautiful Life: The Singles]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/ace-of-base-beautiful-life-the-singles/|title=Ace of Base / Beautiful Life: The Singles|website=Super Deluxe Edition|date=13 February 2023|access-date=March 2, 2023|archive-date=October 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004092641/https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/ace-of-base-beautiful-life-the-singles/|url-status=live}}</ref> A three-part documentary series, ''[[All That She Wants (TV series)|All That She Wants]]'', produced by [[Viaplay]], was announced on 21 November 2023. The series premiered in April 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/ace-of-base-viaplay-documentary-1235629950/|title=Swedish Pop Group Ace Of Base To Be Profiled In Viaplay Documentary Series|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=21 November 2023|access-date=November 21, 2023|archive-date=December 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224002548/https://deadline.com/2023/11/ace-of-base-viaplay-documentary-1235629950/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmtopp.se/nyhet/ace-of-base-dokumentaren-all-that-she-wants-slapps-i-maj|title=Ace of Base-dokumentären "All That She Wants" släpps i maj|website=Filmtopp|date=30 January 2024|language=sv}}</ref>

The group was inducted into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame in September 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theneedledrop.com/news/ace-of-base-refused-and-more-inducted-into-swedish-music-hall-of-fame|title=Ace of Base, Refused, and more inducted into Swedish Music Hall of Fame|website=The Needle Drop|date=24 September 2024}}</ref>

The first-ever double vinyl release of the group's sophomore album ''The Bridge'' was announced on 30 October 2025, to commentate the album's 30th anniversary. It is expected to be released on 30 January 2026.<ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=officialaceofbase |postid=DQbo-cJCP27 |title=officialaceofbase |date=30 October 2025}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
{{multiple image
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| image1 = Lady Gaga Toronto Film Festival 2017 (cropped 3).jpg
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| footer = Musicians including Lady Gaga (''left'') and Katy Perry (''right'') have cited Ace of Base as influences
}}

Several musicians and singers have been influenced by Ace of Base. [[Lady Gaga]] has said her album ''[[The Fame Monster]]'' was influenced by the "super pop melodies of the 90s" by acts such as Ace of Base.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lady-gaga-talks-fame-monster-freakishness-266589/ | title=Lady Gaga Talks "Fame Monster," Freakishness | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date=November 25, 2009}}</ref> The song "[[Alejandro (song)|Alejandro]]" in particular has been heavily compared to Ace of Base's version of "Don't Turn Around"; Paul Lester from [[BBC]] commented that "[Alejandro] moves at an Ace of Base pace",<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/fbd3/ |title=Lady Gaga The Fame Monster Review | last=Lester |first=Paul | work=[[BBC News]] | date=November 20, 2009}}</ref> and Sal Cinquemani from ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' described the song as a homage to them;<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster/ | title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster | last=Cinquemani | first=Sal | magazine=[[Slant Magazine]] | date=November 18, 2009 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=September 27, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927052507/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster/1916 | url-status=live }}</ref> The song "[[Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)]]" from ''[[The Fame]]'' has also been linked to the band; [[Alexis Petridis]] from ''[[The Guardian]]'' noted that the song "is the first song in a long time that warrants comparison to the œuvre of Ace of Base".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jan/09/lady-gaga-the-fame | title=Lady GaGa: The Fame: Review | first=Alexis | last=Petridis | author-link=Alexis Petridis | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=October 23, 2008 | access-date=December 13, 2016 | archive-date=July 23, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723104714/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/09/lady-gaga-the-fame | url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Katy Perry]] said she wanted her third studio album, ''[[Teenage Dream (Katy Perry album)|Teenage Dream]]'', to sound like "The Sign".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/ktdryg/katy-perry-wants-to-make-new-music-her-fans-can-roller-skate-to | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812223130/https://www.mtv.com/news/ktdryg/katy-perry-wants-to-make-new-music-her-fans-can-roller-skate-to | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 12, 2022 | title=Katy Perry Wants To Make New Music Her Fans Can 'Roller-Skate To' | first=Jocelyn | last=Vena | work=[[MTV News]] | date=September 23, 2009}}</ref> In 2010, Perry said of the album: "It's what I said I wanted earlier....We nailed it: It's roller-skating! It's '90s! It's Ace of Base! It's [[Cyndi Lauper]]! It's like all these colors and more".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/bbdq8p/katy-perry-on-new-lp-we-nailed-it | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415191700/https://www.mtv.com/news/bbdq8p/katy-perry-on-new-lp-we-nailed-it | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 15, 2023 | title=Katy Perry On New LP: 'We Nailed It!' | first=Jocelyn | last=Vena | work=[[MTV News]] | date=March 29, 2010}}</ref> [[Robyn]] said she was inspired by Ace of Base for her song "[[Dancehall Queen (Robyn song)|Dancehall Queen]]", which was produced by [[Diplo (DJ)|Diplo]] and [[Klas Åhlund]] for her fifth studio album ''[[Body Talk Pt. 1]]'', saying: "We were just having fun with that kind of genre music. And the idea of making this song came out of that discussion. It was fun".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.stereogum.com/292372/progress-report-robyn/interviews/progress-report/ |title=Progress Report: Robyn | last=Suarez | first=Jessica | work=[[Stereogum]] | date=May 10, 2010}}</ref>

Some of [[Clean Bandit]]'s tracks have been compared to the band, notably their 2016 UK No. 1 single "[[Rockabye (song)|Rockabye]]". Band members have named them as an influence in interviews.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/clean-bandits-grace-chatto-on-new-single-higher-life-after-lockdown | title=Clean Bandit's Grace Chatto On New Single "Higher" & Life After Lockdown | first=Sam | last=Ramsden | work=[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]] | date=February 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.musicweek.com/interviews/read/hitmakers-grace-chatto-on-clean-bandit-s-rockabye/081485 | title=Hitmakers: Grace Chatto on Clean Bandit's Rockabye | first=Sarah | last=Thomas | work=[[Music Week]] | date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> [[Tegan and Sara]]'s song "[[Closer (Tegan and Sara song)|Closer]]" was inspired by the band's music.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/track-by-track_tegan_and_saras_heartthrob_part_one | last=Trunick | first=Austin | title=Track-by-Track: Tegan and Sara's Heartthrob Part One | work=[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]] | date=January 21, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214020814/http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/track-by-track_tegan_and_saras_heartthrob_part_one |archive-date=February 14, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> Robert Alfons of Canadian synthpop group [[Trust (Canadian band)|Trust]] said he was influenced by the synthesizers used by Ace of Base.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thetribune.ca/a-e/in-synth-we-trust-interview-with-robert-alfons/ | title=In synth we Trust: interview with Robert Alfons | first=Diana | last=Wright | work=[[The McGill Tribune]] | date=March 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trust-robert-alfons_b_2249409 | title=Trust -- An Interview With Robert Alfons | first=J.L. | last=Sirisuk | work=[[HuffPost]] | date=December 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.timeout.com/barcelona/music/interview-with-trust | title=Interview with Trust | work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] | date=May 31, 2013 | access-date=October 8, 2023 | archive-date=October 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008204051/https://www.timeout.com/barcelona/music/interview-with-trust | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Yeasayer]] and [[Twin Shadow]] have both also cited Ace of Base as an influence.<ref name="timing" /><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.musicomh.com/features/interviews/yeasayer-2 | title=MUSIC INTERVIEWS - Yeasayer: "It's not putting human love and emotions on this pedestal of unreality" – Interview | first=Hannah Forbes | last=Black | work=[[MusicOMH]] | date=August 3, 2010}}</ref>

In 1995, a cover of "The Sign" was featured in the American sitcom ''[[Full House]]'' in the [[Full House season 8|final season]] episode "We Got the Beat". In the episode, [[Jodie Sweetin]] in character as [[List of Full House and Fuller House characters|Stephanie Tanner]] performs the song with her fictional band Girl Talk.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephanie Tanner singing Ace of Base is peak Nineties Full House |url=https://www.metv.com/stories/stephanie-tanner-singing-ace-of-base-is-peak-nineties-full-house |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Me-TV Network |language=en}}</ref> Indie rock band [[The Mountain Goats]] included a cover of "The Sign" by Ace of Base on their 1995 EP ''Songs For Peter Hughes''.<ref name="Annotated MountainGoats">{{cite web |title=Annotated - Songs for Peter Hughes |url=https://www.annotatedtmg.org/peter.html#thesign |website=The Annotated Mountain Goats}}</ref> The group has continued to play versions of it at live shows.<ref name="Mountain Goats Zoop">{{cite web |title=Mountain Goats - Zoop 2007 Concert |url=https://archive.org/details/tmg2007-06-17.Zoop/2-18_The_Sign_06-17-07.mp3 |access-date=13 April 2024 |website=The Internet Archive|date=June 17, 2007 }}</ref> [[Beck]] had plans to cover an Ace of Base album as part of his [[Beck's Record Club]] project in 2009, but this never came to fruition.<ref>{{cite news |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=July 13, 2009 |title=Interviews: Beck |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/7675-interview-beck/ |work=[[Pitchfork Media]]}}</ref> "The Sign" was covered by fictional a cappella group [[the Barden Bellas]] in the 2012 film ''[[Pitch Perfect]]'' and appears on the [[Pitch Perfect (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] for the movie.<ref>{{Citation |title=Pitch Perfect [Original Motion Picture Soundtr... {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/pitch-perfect-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0002420103 |access-date=2024-08-10 |language=en}}</ref> The 2019 single "[[Liar (Camila Cabello song)|Liar]]" by Cuban pop singer [[Camila Cabello]] interpolates the melody of "All That She Wants".<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/lyrics/camila-cabello-liar-lyrics-8530433/ | title=Here Are the Lyrics to Camila Cabello's 'Liar' | first=Heran | last=Mamo | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date=September 18, 2019}}</ref>

==Band members==

=== Current ===

* [[Jonas Berggren]] – keyboards, guitars, vocals, programming, production <small>(1987–present)</small>
* [[Ulf Ekberg]]  – keyboards, vocals, programming, production <small>(1987–present)</small>

=== Former ===
* [[Linn Berggren]] – vocals, keyboards <small>(1987–2007)</small>
* [[Jenny Berggren]] – vocals <small>(1987–2009)</small>
* [[Clara Mae|Clara Hagman]] – vocals <small>(2009–2012)</small>
* Julia Williamson – vocals <small>(2009–2012)</small>

Despite her status as a former member, Jenny Berggren has stated in numerous interviews that she has never left the band and has further stated that all four original members are still members of the Ace of Base brand by agreement and legal documents.

== Awards and nominations ==
* 1992 Music Television Award – Best Pop Act
* 1992 Music Television Award – Best New Act
* 1993 Popcorn Music Awards – Best Album: ''Happy Nation'' 
* 1993 Popcorn Music Awards – Best Song & Video: ''All That She Wants'' 
* 1993 Swedish [[Grammis]] – Best Pop Group<ref name="Grammy Sweden 1990">{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/100428-lc-vinnare-genom-%C3%A5ren.pdf |title=Grammy Sweden 1990 |publisher=ifpi |access-date=November 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811154651/http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/100428-lc-vinnare-genom-%C3%A5ren.pdf |archive-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>
* 1993 Swedish [[Grammis]] – TV audience price<ref name="Grammy Sweden 1990"/>
* 1993 Bronze [[Bravo (magazine)|BRAVO]] Otto (Germany) – Best Rock/Pop Group<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.bravo-archiv.de/auswahl.php?link=ottosieger1993.php |title=Bravo magazine archive–Otto awards 1993 |magazine=[[Bravo (magazine)|BRAVO]] |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718204352/http://www.bravo-archiv.de/auswahl.php?link=ottosieger1993.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1993 Swedish Dance Music Awards – Best Breakthrough Artist
* [[1994 MTV Europe Music Awards]] – [[MTV Europe Music Award for Best Cover|Best Cover]] (Nominee)
* 1994 American Music Award – Favorite Band, Duo or Group – Pop / Rock
* 1994 American Music Award – Favorite New Artist – Pop / Rock
* 1994 Billboard Music Award – Number One Single
* 1994 Billboard Music Award – Top New Artist
* 1994 Billboard Music Award – Artist of the Year
* 1994 Peleg Music Award of Excellence – Best New Artist
* 1994 World Music Award – World's Best-Selling Scandinavian Recording Artists of the Year
* 1994 Echo (Germany) – Group of the Year<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.echopop.de/der_echo/die_preistraeger?eid=12 |title=Echo Preisträger |publisher=Echo |access-date=November 16, 2010 |archive-date=July 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705155914/http://www.echopop.de/der_echo/die_preistraeger?eid=12 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>
* 1994 Swedish Dance Music Awards – Best Swedish Dance Artist
* 1994 Swedish Dance Music Awards – Best Swedish Dance Album (nominee)
* 1994 OKEJ Magazine Award 
* 1994 Visionary Award 
* 1995 Grammy Awards – Best Pop Album for ''[[The Sign (Ace of Base album)|The Sign]]'' (nominee)
* 1995 Grammy Awards – Best New Artist (nominee)
* 1995 Grammy Awards – Best Vocal Performance By a Group or Duo for ''[[The Sign (song)|The Sign]]'' (nominee)
* 1995 World Music Award – World's Best-Selling Scandinavian Recording Artists of the Year
* 1995 Juno Awards – International Album of the Year for ''The Sign'' (nominee)
* 1995 Swedish Dance Music Awards – Best Swedish Dance Artist (nominee)
* 1996 European Award For Dance Music
* 1996 World Music Award – World's Best-Selling Scandinavian Recording Artists of the Year
* 1997 World Music Award – World's Best-Selling Scandinavian Recording Artists of the Year
* 1998 Midem Fono Award – Most Played Song of the Year – ''Life Is a Flower''
* 1999 RSH Gold for Cruel Summer
* 2007 BMI Award for over 3 million performances of ''The Sign'' on US TV and radio
* 2011 Scandipop Award – Best group album 
* 2016 BMI Award for over 4 million performances of ''The Sign'' on US TV and radio<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/535579 | title=BMI Awards | publisher=BMI | access-date=February 1, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205140059/http://bmi.com/news/entry/535579 | archive-date=February 5, 2010 | url-status=dead | df=mdy}}</ref>
* 2021 BMI Award for over 5 million performances of ''The Sign'' on US TV and radio<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/bmi-2021-london-awards | title=BMI Celebrates its 2021 London Award Winners | date=October 11, 2021 | access-date=October 13, 2021 | archive-date=October 11, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011182226/https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/bmi-2021-london-awards | url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2024 Swedish Music Hall of Fame – inducted
* 2025 BMI Award for over 6 million performances of The Sign on US tv and radio

== Discography ==
{{main|Ace of Base discography}}
{{see also|List of songs recorded by Ace of Base}}

'''Studio albums'''
*''[[Happy Nation]]'' / ''[[The Sign (Ace of Base album)|The Sign]]'' (1992/1993)
*''[[The Bridge (Ace of Base album)|The Bridge]]'' (1995)
*''[[Flowers (Ace of Base album)|Flowers]]'' / ''[[Cruel Summer (Ace of Base album)|Cruel Summer]]'' (1998)
*''[[Da Capo (Ace of Base album)|Da Capo]]'' (2002) 
*''[[The Golden Ratio (album)|The Golden Ratio]]'' (2010)

== See also ==
*[[Swedish pop music]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
<!-- Per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
* {{Official website}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=0000495338|pure_url=yes}} Ace of Base] on [[AllMusic]]
* {{IMDb name}}

{{Ace of Base}}
{{American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group}}
{{Billboard Year-End number one singles 1980–1999}}
{{Billboard Year-End number one albums 1990–2009}}
{{World Music Award for Best Selling Scandinavian Artist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1990 establishments in Sweden]]
[[Category:Ace of Base| ]]
[[Category:Arista Records artists]]
[[Category:English-language musical groups from Sweden]]
[[Category:Europop groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1990]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Gothenburg]]
[[Category:Playground Music Scandinavia artists]]
[[Category:Reggae fusion groups]]
[[Category:Sibling musical groups]]
[[Category:Swedish co-ed groups]]
[[Category:Swedish Eurodance groups]]
[[Category:Swedish pop music groups]]
[[Category:World Music Awards winners]]
[[Category:Female-fronted musical groups]]
[[Category:1990s establishments in Gothenburg and Bohus County]]
[[Category:Mixed-gender bands]]
[[Category:Swedish musical groups]]