ABBA
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Before ABBA
Before ABBAAndersson was a member of the Swedish rock/pop band Hep Stars who were very popular in Sweden during the 1960s. The band was modeled after various US and UK groups such as Herman's Hermits, The Who and The Rolling Stones. The Hep Stars had a huge following, especially among teenage girls. Meanwhile Björn Ulvaeus was fronting a skiffle group called the Hootenanny Singers whose sound was softer and more easy-listening than the Hep Stars. The singers crossed paths sometimes and they decided to write songs together. One of these, "Isn't It Easy To Say," became a hit for the Hep Stars and Björn sometimes guested with the band on tour. It was even suggested that the two bands merge but this never happened. Stig Anderson, manager of the Hootenanny Singers and founder of Polar Music, saw more potential in Benny and Björn working together and encouraged them to write more songs and create an album which was eventually called Lycka ("Happiness") when released on the Polar label.
Agnetha Fältskog was ABBA's youngest member and a pop phenomenon in her own right who wrote and performed Swedish hits while in her teens and had also played Mary Magdalene in the Swedish production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Agnetha was noted by critics and songwriters as an accomplished composer but she considered it hard work, writing and performing light pop songs in the Schlager style, recording covers of hit songs and touring Swedish folkparks, the main "live circuit" at that time. Inevitably she bumped into the Hootenanny Singers on their folkpark tours, meeting and eventually falling in love with Björn. Their marriage in 1971 was the Swedish celebrity wedding of the year and drew much publicity.
Housewife Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad was a part-time cabaret singer who decided to enter a talent competition and won. Sweden was changing over from driving on the left side of the road to the right and a series of spectacular shows was being aired to encourage people to stay off the roads on the night of the switchover. Invited to appear on TV that evening with her winning song, Frida's musical career took off. She met Benny Andersson on the wonted folkpark tour. They became lovers and Benny invited Anni-Frid to sing backing vocals with Agnetha on the Lycka album (the two women were uncredited for this work).
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ABBA ABBA gained worldwide attention when they won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Waterloo", which became a major hit reaching number one in the UK and Australia and number six in the USA. Over the next decade the Swedish group, comprising Agnetha Faltskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, went on to release a string of hit singles and albums worldwide and became one of the most successful groups in pop music history. After ABBA disbanded in 1983, Agnetha and Frida released some solo albums and Benny and Björn continued composing and producing and writing musicals including "Chess".
Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA
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Bjorn again
THE ARRIVAL OF BJORN AGAIN
Agnetha Falstart, Frida Longstokin, Benny Anderwear and Björn Volvo-us surfaced in 1989 after their helicopter and a giant glittery platform shoe from outer space collided leaving them stranded on a deserted island. Fortunately, not long afterwards, they were rescued and taken to the nearby safe shores of Melbourne Australia not knowing anything of their past or who they were as the crash had left them with almost total amnesia but for some beautiful melodies running around inside their heads.
Despite comprehensive medical attention none of them could permanently regain their memory despite the occasional flashback. It seemed the only way they could find out exactly who they were would be to team up with Rutger Sonofagunn on bass and Ola Drumkitt on drums and set off in search of their past and to perform the catchy songs and preach good fashion sense, style, love and kindness, all of which they felt was lacking these days.
For a while everyone mistook them for the Swedish Supergroup ABBA since they looked, sounded and behaved so much like them, but of course they were not ABBA - they were BJÖRN AGAIN. Björn Again first heard from ABBA back in 1990 when they received a telegram from Björn Ulvaeus presented to them in snowy Gothenburg while on their first tour of Sweden. It read:
"The best of luck. Anyone who looks like me ought to have a successful career!"
And in February 1999 Benny Andersson stated live on London's Capital Radio:
"Fans had better make the most out of Björn Again because that's the closest they are going to get to seeing ABBA. ABBA will never reform!"
Björn Again have gone to become one of the most popular acts in the universe and are currently in their 15th year, having performed over 3000 live shows in over 60 countries world-wide. They are without doubt one of the most entertaining live rock shows to ever grace the stage. DON'T TAKE A CHANCE on anyone else!
BJÖRN AGAIN ARE:
plus their powerhouse rhythm section:
AFTER ABBA
After ABBA's domination of the world music scene from the mid 70s to the early 80s a lengthy period of inactivity as a group in 1983 signalled the end although surprisingly "ABBA" never officially released a statement that they had broken up. Consequently ABBA's final studio album was "The Visitors" in 1981 and last singles were "Under Attack" in 1982 and "Thank You For the Music" in 1983. Also worth noting is that in their whole career "ABBA" only toured for a total of ten months with most members often stating that they preferred writing and recording to touring.
Before the 'break-up' in 1983 Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus had already been collaborating with Tim Rice on a new musical entitled "Chess" which went on to become a major hit in London's West End and yielded the successful double album of the same name that spawned two hit singles including the number one "I Know Him So Well" by Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson. In 1982 Frida Lyngstad released the successful solo album "Something's Going On" produced by Phil Collins who also played and sung on the album and in 1983 Agnetha Faltskog released her own solo hit album "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" produced by Mike Chapman.
Frida continued her solo career and in 1984 she released her album "Shine" a moderate success, however became disillusioned with the music business and decided to retire, only a couple of years later to return with a song "As Long As I Have You" a duet with Ratata and a Swedish chart hit. Her involvement with environmental issues has continued to grow from strength to strength, becoming involved with the organisation "Det Naturliga Steget". A single to raise funds for the cause "Anglamark/Saltwater" became a top 10 hit in Sweden. In August 1992 Frida married Ruzzo Reuss, a German Prince. He sadly died in October 1999 after a short illness. In 1996 the album "Djupa Andetag", a number 1 hit album in Sweden, marked Frida's return to the music world and September 2001 saw Frida become a charity fund raiser selling personal and ABBA related items at her own auction with monies going towards a specialised home for children in Misery, Switzerland. It also marks Frida's return to Sweden making the Country her home once more
Agnetha released a further two albums "Eyes Of A Woman" and "I Stand Alone" both moderately successful, but in 1988 she chose to lead a quiet life, away from the hussle and bussle of the music business and the media. Having already divorced Björn Ulvaeus in 1979 she married again in 1990 to Tomas Sonnenfeld, a Swedish surgeon, but the marriage ended in 1993. In Sweden a "Greatest Hits"double album entitled "My Love My Life" was released and became a top 30 hit. As a result of the rumours that Agnetha had become a recluse, which she constantly denies, a book entitled "Agnetha Faltskog - Som Jag Ar" written by Brita Ahman was released that same year, 1996. An English version of the book "As I am" ABBA Before and Beyond" was released the following year. In 1998 Polar Music released the album "Agnetha Faltskog - That's Me - The Greatest Hits" containing the previously unreleased track "The Queen of Hearts", a song recorded in 1981. Unfortunately Agnetha hit the headlines earlier this year with a reported stalker, a matter dealt with through the Swedish Courts that led to Agnetha testifying and the stalker being deported. Today Agnetha lives in Ekerö, just outside Stockholm with her son Christian (from Björn) where she continues to write songs and oversee other business interests. She has already recorded a number of songs in the studio but any plans to release an album have been put on hold for the moment. Whether Agnetha decides to return is a decision she can only make for herself.
In 1981 Benny married Mona Norklit, having divorced Frida earlier that year and also in that year Björn married Lena Kallersjö. Both couples live today in Stockholm. Since 1983 Benny and Björn have continued to work together, writing and producing for artists including Gemini, Josefin Nilsson, Tommy Korberg and Kalle Moreaus. Benny and Björn also had another major hit on their hands - the musical "Kristina Fran Duvemala" which premiered in Malmo Sweden in October 1995 and went on to the Cirkus Theatre, Stockholm. An English translation of the musical is now underway. And the musical "Chess" will also premiere for the first time in Stockholm. Sweden in February 2002. In addition Benny Andersson has released three successful solo albums "Klinga Mina Klockor", "November 1989" with the latest hitting the top of the Swedish charts called "Orkestra" He has also collaborated with Orsa Spellman and the Ainbusk Singers in a writing/production capacity.
In 2001 ABBA are even more popular than in their heyday. In fact "ABBA Gold" remains in the UK chart today as one of the longest running chart albums of all time (It's original release being in 1992). Apart from the studio albums being re-released in new formats, a new double CD Collection is due for release on 15th October 2001 entitled "ABBA The Definitive Collection", and another hit album for the fab foursome. The musical "Mamma Mia!" premiered at the Prince Edward Theatre in London on 6th April 1999 and is now breaking box office records. Benny and Björn's creative input into this musical has turned the show into a smash hit and a cast album is now available. The show premiered in Canada in 2000. A theatre tour of "Mamma Mia!" is making it's way around the USA with a Broadway premiere scheduled for later this year and the musical is playing to packed houses in Australia. So life couldn't be any busier for Benny and Björn.
Rumours still surface about a reunion from the "Fab Four" and Björn recently confirmed to me that "ABBA" will never reform.
ome one of the most successful acts of its type ever. You will simply have the "TIME OF YOUR LIFE".
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2005 ABBA MANIA gaat door Het nieuwe jaar begon net als het oude was geeindigt. De ABBA MANIA koorts brande in december nog eens met volle kracht. Toen de artiesten in december voor het eerst in Moskou een show op het podium speelden gingen de 7000 mensen uit hun dak!
Zelfs het beroemde vakblad „Musikmarkt“ schreef er een enthousiast artikel over. Na de jaarswisseling gaat het „positiefe waanzin“door. Niet alleen dat ABBA MANIA op hun lopende Tour elke dag in uitverkochte zalen optreden (o.a. enkele phantastische shows in zwitserland) en ook 3 keer de „Kölnarena“ met elke keer 8000 mensen uit hebben verkocht. Het was weer een mega-party. |
De succes in Keulen bewoog de artiesten hun fans niet teleur te stellen en nog eens terug te Komen. Wegens de grote navraag gaan ze vrijdag 11.3.05 een extra show spelen in de„Köln-Arena“. Bovendien gaat het ook dit jaar verder met de grootste Abba-party van de wereld.
Op 13.8. gaat ABBA MANIA voor de tweede keer in de Waldbühne / Berlin, het mekka voor de fans uit binnen & buitenland optreden. |
ALBUMS
ABBA weather
Can they do better than ABBA?
Links:
http://www.abbasite.com (original website)
