Guest
One of the most beloved musical groups of all time, ABBA also claims the title of one of the best-selling groups in history. Members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with album sales worldwide numbering in the hundreds of millions, the quartet dominated the pop scene for most of the 1970s and into the 80s. The continuing popularity of their music and its growing influence kept them in the spotlight until an incredible reunion, after a 40-year break, brought them back to the top of the charts. Though their story is quite intricate and spans several decades, here are ten key moments associated with ABBA. The Formation of ABBA By the mid-1960s, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus had already established themselves in their native Sweden. Keyboardist Benny played in the band Hep Stars, and guitarist/vocalist Björn in The Hootenanny Singers. The manager of The Hootenanny Singers, Stig Anderson, realized the potential of this team early on. Then Benny met Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and they quickly became a couple. In 1969, Björn met singer Agnetha Fältskog; they married in 1971. Soon all four were working together. In 1972, the quartet, performing under the name Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid, released the song “People Need Love.“ First Album Fifty years ago, they released their album “Ring Ring,“ still as Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid. However, Stig Anderson knew this name wouldn't stick. By combining the first letters of each performer's name, he came up with the pseudonym by which they would always be known: ABBA. The song “Ring Ring“ became a hit across Europe, laying the foundation for their future success. Eurovision After unsuccessful attempts to represent Sweden at Eurovision, ABBA presented their glam-rock-inspired melody, which compared a broken romantic relationship to a famous battle: “Waterloo.“ The incredibly catchy melody led them to victory at Eurovision on April 6, 1974. Napoleon might have failed at Waterloo, but for ABBA, it was the successful beginning of their own Swedish invasion. 1975 ABBA's 1975 self-titled album made them major stars not only in Europe but also in the USA, Japan, and Australia. In the USA, it produced three Top 40 hits: “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do,“ “SOS,“ and “Mamma Mia.“ This record truly epitomized ABBA's sound, which has a lot going for it. Dancing Queen Over the next two years, ABBA continued to release hits, but their best song: “Dancing Queen.“ The song “Dancing Queen“ is undoubtedly ABBA's signature song. It has demonstrated incredible cultural resilience and continues to receive praise. Take a Chance on Me After “Dancing Queen,“ ABBA's biggest hit in America was the 1978 song “Take a Chance on Me.“ Proving that inspiration can come from anywhere, Björn explained that the rhythm of the song came from sounds he repeated to keep pace while running. The group harmoniously performed the chorus, and the ladies alternated verse parts. Revival in the 90s If the 80s saw ABBA becoming the subject of jokes on various TV shows in America, the next decade was much kinder. In the 1990s, interest in the band was revived. In 1992, Benny and Björn performed “Dancing Queen“ on stage with U2 at the Irish band's concert in Stockholm. “Dancing Queen“ returned to the charts in several countries, and the compilation album sold 30 million copies worldwide. Mamma Mia Musical The revival of interest was also boosted by the active use of ABBA's songs in films. In 1994, two Australian films, “Muriel's Wedding“ and “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,“ significantly increased their box office thanks to the inclusion of ABBA melodies. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Their induction speech was presented by Barry and Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees. Anni-Frid and Benny attended the induction ceremony (Agnetha avoided flying at the time, and Björn cited family obligations). Comeback Never say never. In January 2016, the four members of ABBA appeared together in public for the first time in decades at the opening of Mamma Mia! The Party, a themed restaurant in Stockholm next to the ABBA Museum. At a private party in June, celebrating the first meeting of Benny and Björn 50 years prior, Anni-Frid and Agnetha sang ABBA's “The Way That Old Friends Do“ in honor of Benny; Benny and Björn joined them on stage at the end of the song, and it became international news. By October, manager Simon Fuller announced that ABBA would reunite to record new music, which would eventually become ABBA Voyage. ABBA Voyage is a virtual residency with “ABBAtars“ (digital avatars of the young band members created through motion capture by Industrial Light and Magic), performing in a specially built theater.
