ABBA is made up of two divorced couples who refused to speak let alone make music together for over 35 years. After all this time, they finally decided to reunite! But wait, there is a twist! They made a recent announcement that they will reunite and tour the globe as avatars! They are making music history for sure! Read on to find out everything you need to know about ABBA:
Formed in 1971
The band came together by chance in Stockholm in 1971! Benny Anderson’s and Bjorn Ulvaeus’s musical groups met on a bus on the way to a party.
Met On A Bus
Outfits Were Tax Deductable
ABBA’s style and outfits were chosen intentionally to avoid taxes. Under the Swedish system, clothes that were not used for “daily wear” were tax deductible. This influenced ABBA’s costume and the band has spoken publically about this being part of their fashion decision making. Too funny!
Avoiding Taxes
Anni-Frid Lyngstad Isn’t Swedish
Most people think the entire band is Swedish. Mostly, but not Anni-Frid Lyngstad. She was actually born in Norway and her father is German.
Anni Frid Lyngstad
Eurovision
Winning Eurovision launched the band to superstar status. Many don’t know this but their debut album was actually released before Eurovision. It is entitled “Ring Ring” and was released in 1973. They won Eurovision with the song “Waterloo” in 1974.
Eurovision
Same Name As Seafood
The band’s name is an acronym of the band’s first initials. Their names are Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn, and Anni making ABBA. The name is actually shared with a Swedish seafood. This caused a little problem but luckily in 1974, the seafood company agreed to share the name with the band.
Swedish Seafood
Lasse Hallstrom
Did you know nearly all ABBA’s videos were directed by Lasse Hallstrom? He went on to direct major films like “Cider House Rules” but he started his career by directing ABBA’s videos.
Lasse Hallstrom
Divorce
The band was formed of two married couples: Agnetha and Bjorn and Annie-Lynd and Benny. Unfortunately, both marriages ended in divorce. The band tried to continue together after, but it was too awkward!
Two Married Couples
Gold Is The 2nd Best Selling Album
Gold is a great album and is also the second best selling album ever in the history of the UK! It is only surpassed by Queen’s “Greatest Hits” album.
Gold
Austrailian TV Special
This is nearly unbelievable! ABBA’s 1976 TV special got better ratings than the landing on the moon!
Austrailian Tour
The Ladies Got Along
It was rumored in the tabloids the band’s two female members didn’t get along. This is actually not true! Lyngstad stated, “A lot has been written about how Agnetha and I fought and quarreled with each other. There is absolutely no truth in that.” Lyngstad said they did compete a little but it only served to make both of them better performers and it didn’t interfere with their working or personal relationship.
Ladies Of ABBA
The Lion King
ABBA was approached to work on the soundtrack of The Lion King by the soundtrack’s lyricist, Tim Rice. The band’s schedule and the soundtracks didn’t work out so the work went to Elton John.
Elton John
Reunion?
The group has pledged publicly to not reunite for 35 years, but just recently they made a shocking announcement. The band in an official press release stated they wrote and recorded 2 new songs! In the official public announcement the band said, ” We all felt that, after some 35 years, it could be fun to join forces again and go into the recording studio.” They went on to state, “So we did. And it was like time had stood still and we had only been away on a short holiday. An extremely joyful experience!” The name of one song is “I Still Have Faith In You.”
Reunion
3rd In Sales
ABBA is one of the best selling bands in history! They have sold over 400 million albums making them 3rd to only The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Wow!
3rd To The Beatles
Hipsters
The group faced some resistance during their rise to fame in the early 70s. Many “hipsters” at the time thought they were “too commercial” and didn’t feel like they produced “real music.”
Too Commercial
Socialist Bullies
ABBA refused to speak about politics, and this further alienated Swedish “hipster” or “prog” circles. During this era all Swedish bands were expected to spread the “socialist doctrine” and they got criticized heavily, especially by left-wing movement members about it.
Socialist Bullies
Virtual ABBA
ABBA decided to finally reunite after 35 years and recently released 2 brand new songs! The songs will be a part of a “Virtual ABBA” experience. The band is collaborating with “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller to appear as virtual avatar’s in a 2 hour long TV special that will feature their greatest hits and 2 new songs. It is set to be on television this December. How cool!
Virtual ABBA
Virtual ABBA World Tour
As we mentioned, ABBA has virtual avatar’s set to make their debut on a BBC/NBC 2 hour long television special. It was recently announced the avatars will also go on a world tour following the TV special!
Virtual ABBA World Tour
Anni-Frid’s New Song
Just last month, Anni-Frid announced she is releasing a Spanish language version of the band’s song “Andante, Andante.” She collaborated with Cuban-American trumpeter Arturo Sandoval for the song. It will appear on his next album which is entitled “Ultimate Duets.”
New Song
Writing Process
ABBA had a unique writing process. They weren’t focused on the anything except writing songs they “wanted to hear.” The group was together for several months in the studio for each album. They are self-described perfectionists.
Perfectionists
In It For The Music
ABBA didn’t record music for the money, they did it for the music! They refused to tour regularly and lived in Sweden where they paid 85% income tax. They also split up when they were probably the most profitable.
In It For The Music
All About The Music
Especially for Bjorn and Benny, the most important thing to the band was the music. Lyrics were second. They wrote the music first and then added lyrics which is different than most bands. They believe “real bands” focus on the music.
All About The Music
Stig Anderson’s Role
Stig Anderson was ABBA’s manager and considered as ABBA’s fifth member. It was his creative business decisions that helped them achieve such mass success.
Stig Anderson
Stig’s Lyrics
Did you know that the band’s manager, Stig Anderson, wrote lyrics for several of their biggest hits? Bjorn justified this to people who said they were not “real musicians” by stating, “How words sound is more important than what they mean.” He added that “The lyrics are just another instrument.”
Stig Anderson Wrote Lyrics
Muppet Show
ABBA’s song, “Take a Chance on Me,” appeared in episode 403 of The Muppet Show. The original song was released in 1978 as their second single from their fifth album.
Muppet Show
US Billboard Charts
ABBA didn’t put much effort into their popularity in America. They actually only had one number 1 single, and 4 top 10 hits overall there.
US Billboard Charts
Royal Wedding
ABBA was asked at the Swedish royal wedding to perform a new song. They chose “Dancing Queen.” They were criticized for not creating a new original song specifically for the wedding. Oh well!
Swedish Royal Wedding
Not Quite An Overnight Sensation
This is pretty interesting! All 4 ABBA members had successful careers before they joined forces. While many think they were an overnight success, that is not the case. They spent over a decade in the music industry before they became a well-known band.
Not An Overnight Sensation
Emotional Brunette
Frida actually broke out in tears when the band first played her the instrumental version of “Dancing Queen.” It moved her!
Dancing Queen
Teen Sensation
Agneta was actually a teen sensation before she joined ABBA in Sweden. She was considered a socialite due to the prestige of her family and had a successful solo career.
Teen Sensation
Porn Film??
Did you think the entire time that ABBA is all bread and butter? They aren’t! This is a surprising and mostly unknown fact. Bjorn and Benny composed the music for a softcore Swedish film. One of the songs became a huge hit in Japan!
Soft Core Film