ABBA are a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972. Widely considered one of the greatest musical groups of all time, they became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music from 1974 to 1983, with 48 hit singles worldwide.
Swedish supergroup ABBA have released their first studio album ‘Voyage’ in 40 years on Friday, Nov 5. But it is rather unlikely there will be anything else beyond this venture in the future. And naturally, this comes as a huge disappointment for their fans worldwide, who may be inclined to imagine that a collaboration as a group, or even a reunion for that matter, might just happen – as if by magic.
Indeed the enchantment of their music still endures, nearly 40 years after the group split up in December 1982.
ABBA are a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972. The group’s name is an acronym of the first letters of their first names – Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, two married couples respectively.
Widely considered one of the greatest musical groups of all time, they became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music, topping the charts worldwide from 1974 to 1983, and have achieved 48 hit singles.
Bjorn Ulvaeus, one half of the band’s song-writing duo who, with Benny Andersson, was responsible mega-hits like “Dancing Queen”, “Waterloo” and “Money, Money, Money” says “I think the other three will say ‘this was the last time’,”
“I’m not saying never. There is always some open door somewhere. I hate to say this is it … I’m just saying I don’t think we will record anymore.”
Formed in 1972, ABBA have sold more than 385 million albums since their first hit “Waterloo,” topping the charts across the world until their break-up in the early 1980s. ABBA Gold, a compilation of greatest hits originally released in 1992, recently passed its 1000th week on the UK Album Chart.
“Voyage” is the first album with fresh songs since “The Visitors” in 1981, released just before the band split. For years, rumours would pop up every now and then that ABBA would get back together to perform. But the members turned down many offers, including one reported $1 billion package to tour again.
“In that case, it was for health reasons … for reasons beyond money, just for well-being,” Ulvaeus told Reuters in an interview prior to the release of “Voyage”.
The new album sprang up from a project to launch a new ABBA concert show – also called Voyage – featuring digital representations of the four band members created by motion-capture technology.
“It was the avatars – now spelt as ‘ABBA-tars’ to give it that distinctive feel and touch – that made it. It was kind of a natural thing to do to give these people something new to sing,” Ulvaeus said.
Formed in 1972, ABBA have sold more than 385 million albums since their first hit “Waterloo,” topping the charts across the world until their break-up in the early 1980s. “Voyage” is the first album with fresh songs since “The Visitors” in 1981, released just before the band split.
“So we recorded 3-4 songs and then we thought why not record a couple more? And suddenly we had, you know, an album on the horizon.”
“Voyage” contains 10 songs, all previously unpublished material apart from “Just a Notion,” which was first recorded in 1978.
Ulvaeus says he and Benny have not tried to bring the music up to date and that the album would probably appeal mostly to old ABBA fans. “You can certainly feel that it’s 40 years on. I think there is a depth in the voices, and the music, and the lyrics,” he said.
The band has not lost it’s golden touch with the two new comeback singles released so far – “Don’t Shut Me Down” and “I Still Have Faith in You” – top 10 hits on the European digital charts, according to Billboard Media.
From May next year, fans will be able to catch the four ABBA-tars – accompanied by a live band – singing a selection of old hits and songs from the new album at a purpose-built ABBA Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
While the digital show could run and run, ABBA themselves – all now in their 70s – may call it a day.
“What we would like to leave with is a good album, some new, good music. I hope that’s what we leave with,” Ulvaeus says.
“The avatars are taking over now.”
ABBA was the first group from a non-English-speaking country to achieve consistent success in the charts of English-speaking countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.They are the best-selling Swedish band of all time and one of the best-selling bands originating in continental Europe.
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