ABBA: All your questions answered 🎶
Here we go again!
Who isn't a fan of ABBA? The foursome have played a huge part in kitchen dances around the world since the 1970s. Add on ABBA's success with their musical and Mamma Mia films, colourful personal lives and an incredible amount of style and it's no wonder the fascination with the band is so strong.
With the excitement around their ABBA Voyage concert, rumours of a potential reunion, and the 50th anniversary of their Eurovision win, let's take a look back at ABBA's incredible career. We've got all your burning questions answered...
How did ABBA start?
ABBA were formed in Stockholm in 1972 and made up of Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid (Freida). The band met as two sets of couples and, on holiday in Cyprus in 1970, performed an inproptu cabaret performance to UN soldiers on the island.
All four members were musically talented, with Benny previously being in the band Hep Stars who were billed as the Swedish Beatles. When Bjorn was a teenager, he fronted popular Swedish pop-folk band Hooternanny Singers and it was here Bjorn crossed paths with Benny as both bands toured the country.
Agnetha sang with a dance band in the 60s, as well as having solo success in Sweden. It was during her solo career that Agnetha met Bjorn and they were married in July 1971.
As for Anni-Frid, the Norwegian born performer sang from the age of 13. In 1967, Anni-Frid won a competition with the prize being a recording contract with EMI and the chance to perform on live TV. Anni-Frid first met her future ABBA band members in 1969 and the group officially got together in the early 70s.
Did ABBA win Eurovision?
They did! To this day, ABBA are the most successful Eurovision act ever.
ABBA entered the 1974 version of the Eurovision Song Contest with the now iconic song Waterloo, but did you know the band had been rejected previously for the 1973 contest? The band tried to represent Sweden the year previously but were rejected so set out to make sure they achieved success in 1974. Inspired by the British glam-rock scene, 'Waterloo' was born.
WATCH: ABBA perform Eurovision winner "Waterloo"
After the band won, 'Waterloo' topped the charts in countries including the UK and West Germany (as it was known at the time) and ABBA toured Europe including dates in Denmark and Austria. In the UK, the follow up singles to "Waterloo" didn't do brilliantly and many thought the band were just a one-hit wonder. But in 1975, "SOS" caught the attention of British music fans and "Mamma Mia" was released the same year which cemented them as a force to be reckoned with.
Saturday 6th April 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of ABBA's incredible Eurovision win.
How did ABBA become famous?
Scroll through our ABBA career timeline below...
Career beginnings: How did ABBA meet?
Each member of ABBA was already a musician by the time they came to meet. Benny and Björn's paths had crossed in their former bands, Benny met Anni-Frid at Melodifestivalen 1969 - the national annual festival to select Sweden's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Björn and Agnetha met whilst filming a Swedish TV special in May 1969, and once Benny and Björn began working more frequently together, their wives got involved too... And the rest is history.
The couples went on holiday together in 1970, and gave an impromptu group performance to United Nations soldiers - this gave them the inspiration to start making music together. Benny and Björn submitted songs to be considered for Melodifestivalen on their manager Stig Anderson's advice, and after two rejections for the 1971 contest, their song 'Säg det med en sång' ('Say It with a Song') came third, and became a national hit sang by Lena Anderson.
1973: Official naming, Eurovision attempt and debut album
They submitted a third song to Melodifestivalen, 'Ring Ring', which came third in the contest, and released their debut album of the same name. At this time, they were still credited as Björn Benny & Agnetha Frida, and manager Stig then christened the band ABBA, using the first letters of their first names. Submitting 'Waterloo' to Melodifestivalen for a fourth time proved to be a winner - not only at the festival but at the Eurovision Song Contest too.
1974: ABBA win Eurovision with 'Waterloo'
Beating off all the competition, ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, which subsequently launched their career internationally. 'Waterloo' peaked in the charts of countries all around the world, including the UK, and their second album also called 'Waterloo' was released, featuring single 'Honey Honey'.
Later in 1974, the band embarked on their first major tour, which wasn't as successful as they'd hoped, and released third album ABBA in 1975 - spawning singles 'Mamma Mia', 'SOS' and 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do'. It peaked at Number 1 in Sweden, and got to Number 13 in the UK.
ABBA's Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were half of ABBA, one of the biggest pop acts ever and one of the best-selling groups of all time. They released hits including 'Mamma Mia', 'Dancing Queen' and 'Waterloo'.
The group made a spectacular return to music in 2021 with the release of their final album 'Voyage', and their world-renowned concert experience - titled ABBA Voyage - which features digital recreations, or avatars, of theirselves which have certainly wowed fans.
1979: Agnetha and Björn's divorce plus sixth album ‘Voulez-Vous’
Sadly, Agnetha and Björn called time on their marriage in 1979. Although fans began to panic that this could spell the end of ABBA, the former couple remained amicable and the band released their sixth album 'Voulez-Vous' in April that year, featuring songs 'Chiquitita', 'Does Your Mother Know' and 'I Have a Dream'. They released their second compilation album 'Greatest Hits Vol. 2', which also had brand new song 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)'.
They went on tour again in September 1979, with six sold out nights at London's Wembley, and in 1980 travelled to Japan where they had a strong fanbase for some further concerts. ABBA scored their eighth Number 1 UK single in 1980 with 'The Winner Takes It All', which is widely thought to be about Agnetha and Björn's split, but they've both categorically denied this. It appeared on the band's seventh album 'Super Trouper', released the same year.
1981: Anni-Frid and Benny divorce, and ABBA release their eighth and final album
Sadly, Anni-Frid and Benny's marriage lasted only two years longer than their bandmates', and they divorced in February 1981. That year, both men in the band remarried, and they released their eighth and final album, 'The Visitors'. It featured songs 'When All Is Said and Done', 'One of Us' and 'Slipping Through My Fingers', and the album as a whole dealt with the themes of relationships ending but in an optimistic way.
1982: Final performance and unofficial split
The band tentatively began work on a ninth album in 1982, but the recording sessions did not pan out as they'd hoped, and only three songs were recorded. After a break, they returned to the studio with a new idea - releasing a compilation album of all their singles from throughout the years. Entitled 'The Singles: The First Ten Years', it was released in November 1982, and the following month saw the band's final ever performance which was transmitted to the UK and shown on TV through a live link from Stockholm.
Although an official split was never announced, the band is thought to have unofficially broken up after this performance. Agnetha and Anni-Frid enjoyed solo success, and Benny and Björn continued to write music together - eventually working with lyricist Tim Rice for musical project Chess. They also created Abbacadabra, a children's musical which appeared on French TV featuring 14 ABBA songs. ABBA reunited in 1986, recording a video of themselves performing an acoustic song in tribute to their manager, Stig Anderson, for a Swedish TV show in honour of him.
1999: Mamma Mia! The Musical opens
A jukebox musical based on ABBA songs premiered in 1999 entitled Mamma Mia!, featuring some of the band's biggest hits over the years like 'Super Trouper', 'Lay All Your Love on Me', 'Dancing Queen', 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', 'Take a Chance on Me', 'Thank You for the Music', 'Money, Money, Money', 'The Winner Takes It All', 'Voulez-Vous', 'SOS' and 'Mamma Mia'. Produced by Judy Craymer, it is the seventh longest-running show in West End history and ninth in Broadway history.
2008: Reunion at the Mamma Mia! film premiere
In 2008, a film of the Mamma Mia! musical was released, starring Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters and Christine Baranski among others, and was hugely successful. Based on the musical of the same name, the film became the fifth highest-grossing film of 2008, and was the fastest-selling DVD of all time in the UK.
All four members of ABBA turned up to the film premiere in London, being only the second time that each of them had been together since their unofficial split in 1982.
2010: ABBAWORLD exhibition
The ABBAWORLD exhibition opened at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London in January 2010. Fans could walk through 25 rooms with 'interactive and audiovisual activities' as well as 20 costumes worn by the group including their iconic outfits from the 1974 Eurovision win, and was "approved and fully supported" by all four of the band's members. There were rooms which allowed fans to get on stage with 3D holograms of the band, an ABBA quiz and visitors could even film themselves to be included in an ABBA music video.
2016: ABBATAR tour announced
In 2016, ABBA announced via a statement on their website that they would be going ahead with a virtual tour, saying, 'The decision to go ahead with the exciting Abba avatar tour project had an unexpected consequence. We all felt that, after some 35 years, it could be fun to join forces again and go into the recording studio. 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 four of them will apparently appear as computer generated versions of their younger selves from the 70s. Although the crew were reportedly supposed to begin work on the tour in 2020, everything has been delayed due to the global pandemic.
2018: Release of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
After the success of the first film, it was no surprise that a sequel was made! Following the life of Donna Sheridan as a young woman and how she came to meet the three potential fathers of her daughter, Sophie, this film had more creative license than the first as it was not based on anything. The soundtrack album hit the Number 1 spot on the UK albums chart and has been certified Platinum. Judy Craymer has also spoken out about a potential third film, making it a trilogy... Watch this space!
2020: Björn confirms the new music is still on the way
Although progress was delayed due to the global pandemic, Björn confirmed that new music was still on the way. Speaking to journalist Geoff Lloyd, Björn apparently confirmed that five new songs will be released very soon, as Geoff spoke out on his podcast, "I got to spend an hour with Björn Ulveaus from ABBA via Zoom. They've recorded five new songs. They should have been out at the end of last year.
"They're going to these holograms out on tour. Because of technical difficulties and the pandemic, it's delayed things. But he promised me that the new ABBA music will be out in 2021." It's understood that one of the songs is called, 'I Still Have Faith in You', and the other 'Don't Shut Me Down'.
2021: ABBA announce 'ABBA Voyage' album
On 2nd September 2021, it was announced that ABBA were officially releasing new music in 2021. Released on 5th November, their latest album is called 'Voyage', and the tracks 'I Still Have Faith in You' and 'Don't Shut Me Down' were released in the lead up to the full album coming out.
2021: ABBA 'Voyage' is announced with virtual tour
The group also announced that ABBA would be heading on a virtual tour hosted at a custom-built venue in London, starting in May 2022. The show sees digital versions of ABBA as their 1977 selves, called ABBAtars perform their greatest hits.
2022: BRIT Award nomination
In 2022 ABBA were nominated for the International Group Award at The BRIT Awards, marking their first nomination at the ceremony in 45 years.
This was their second nomination at The BRITs, as they were also put forward for International Album in 1977.
2023: ABBA Voyage extended to 2024
The opening night for 'ABBA Voyage' took place on 26th May 2022, and in May 2023 tickets went on sale up until May 2024!
On the opening night back in 2022, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, and Agnetha Faltskog appeared all together in public for the first time since the Mamma Mia! premiere in 2008.
Speaking about watching his 1977 self perform as a digital ABBA-tar, Bjorn said: "It was a special moment for me and my entire family who are coming over to watch. Many are too young to have seen me on stage. It was very emotionally charged to say the least."
2024: ABBA documentary announced
A documentary celebrating 50 years since ABBA's iconic Eurovision Song Contest win is set to come to BBC One and iPlayer. Titled ABBA: Against The Odds, the documentary will tell the story of ABBA's incredible rise to fame and will air in May.
Were ABBA big in America?
After ABBA's Eurovision success, ABBA tried to break into America. 'Waterloo' peaked at Number 6 in the Billboard 100 charts and the band visited the States, appearing on TV shows and doing as much promotion as possible. Despite high praise from music journalists, the band's American release of their album entitled 'Waterloo' only made the top 200.
Much like the UK, it was ABBA's release of 'SOS' in 1975 that gained them more attention in America. ABBA toured North America and Canada in the late 70s, selling out many shows to a dedicated fanbase. However, compared to the band's success elsewhere, ABBA didn't have a huge impact on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and it was only 'Dancing Queen' which gained the top spot.
What are the best ABBA songs?
ABBA songs such as 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme', 'Dancing Queen', 'Mamma Mia' and 'Super Trouper' are iconic pop songs even today.
If you fancy doing ABBA at karaoke, you've got your pick of tracks like classics 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', 'Fernando' and 'The Winner Takes It All' but when it comes down to ABBA's best song, it's a purely personal opinion.
WATCH: ABBA 'Dancing Queen' music video
Are ABBA's songs featured on a video game?
ABBA's songs have been featured in a number of video games over the years. In October 2022, Let's Sing presents ABBA was released, featuring a number of the band's biggest hits. The band announced the news with the video, and a short video showing some part of the game, where players sing along to 'Waterloo'.
Will there be an ABBA biopic?
Not yet there won't, however Björn Ulvaeus did reveal to us in an interview what it would take to get ABBA to agree to a biopic. He told Mark Goodier: "I think our story is boring, yes it is.... Two couples. No, we've been approached obviously, you know many times, somehow we always say no. But who knows, someone comes up with a great idea of doing it maybe, some great talent, some talented writers, some talented director, who knows!"
Do ABBA have a Christmas album?
For many years, 'Happy New Year' was the closest ABBA came to a Christmas song, meant originally for a musical about New Year's Eve written by Benny and Bjorn.
While ABBA may have sang some classic Christmas tracks wrote by others, ABBA never released a Christmas album but many associate the track 'I Have A Dream' with Christmas time.
In 2021 however, their 'Voyage' album came out on 5th November and included the track 'Little Things'. The accompanying music video is very Christmassy, and the song is about the joy of Christmas and spending time with family.
Are ABBA still performing?
ABBA once said they'd never perform live together again, however they did plan a virtual tour in 2019/20. The band are now officially on a virtual tour with their ABBA Voyage show.
In 2023, Agnetha released her new single 'Where Do We Go From Here?', which was her first solo music in 10 years. She also announced the upcoming release of 'A+', a reimagined version of her 2013 album 'A'. 'A+' was released on 13th October.
Then, on 29th September Agnetha released 'I Should've Followed You Home (A+)' with Gary Barlow, a reimagined version of her 2013 song, which was performed on Children in Need.
Are ABBA getting back together?
ABBA announced a reunion back in 2018 after a 35-year break. The band got back together to work on some new songs for Bjorn and Benny's show, heading into the studio to record two new tracks including the gorgeous 'I Have Faith In You'.
The band then took the world by storm on 2nd September 2021 as they announced that they were officially releasing a brand new album called 'Voyage', which came out on 5th November 2021. They later confirmed that this album and their upcoming concerts were to be their last together.
Despite fans speculating over whether the band could reunite to mark 50 years since their Eurovision win, Benny shut down the rumours in an interview with BBC Newsnight. He said: I don’t want to. And if I don’t want to, the others won’t. It’s the same for all four of us – (if) someone says, ‘no’ – it’s a no."
ABBA's album 'Voyage'
ABBA announced some very exciting news on 2nd September 2021, taking to their YouTube livestream, named ABBA Voyage. The band announced that they were releasing a new album named 'Voyage' on 5th November, with two tracks - 'I Still Have Faith In You' and 'Don't Shut Me Down' - coming out beforehand.
ABBA 'Voyage' tracklist
- 'I Still Have Faith In You'
- 'When You Danced With Me'
- 'Little Things'
- 'Don't Shut Me Down'
- 'Just A Notion'
- 'I Can Be That Woman'
- 'Keep An Eye On Dan'
- 'Bumblebee'
- 'No Doubt About It'
- 'Ode To Freedom'
What is the meaning behind ABBA's 'No Doubt About It'?
ABBA's Anni-Frid Lyngstad, better known as Frida, took to Instagram to talk about their track 'No Doubt About It'. She said: "'No Doubt About It' could be about me and my beloved one, but if you look upon any relationship with some sense of humour, you will certainly come out of it with a smile - until next time!!😀❤️"
'ABBA Voyage' virtual tour
As well as revealing the release date for their new album in 2021, the band also announced that they were embarking on a virtual hologram concert experience throughout 2022.
Hosted in a purpose-built stadium in London, the show sees virtual ABBA-tars capture 1977 versions of the group and take to the stage to perform their biggest hits.
In the lead up to the concert starting, photos were shared of the life-like digital performers. Director of 'ABBA Voyage' Baillie Walsh said of the show: "We are taking it back in time and we are recreating the energy of 1979 but in today's world".
Björn Ulvaeus
Agnetha Fältskog
Benny Andersson
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Watch the trailer for 'ABBA Voyage':
After kicking off the concert experience with a huge premiere, which saw the group all back together in public for the first time in 14 years, ABBA did a livestream to talk through how the concert came to life and show some unseen footage from the premiere.
Watch the 'ABBA Voyage' livestream:
What is 'ABBA Gold'?
'ABBA Gold' is a greatest hits album originally released in 1992. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, ABBA announced they were releasing a special edition on picture disc vinyl, gold vinyl and cassette.
Why did ABBA separate?
ABBA separated in 1982 and rumours were rife about tensions amongst the couples. In an interview years later, Bjorn confirmed that there were "many factors" to the split including the divorces between members. Although the separation of the band was only supposed to be temporary, Benny and Bjorn went on to work with Tim Rice on Mamma Mia and the band didn't reform until their 2018 studio recordings.
WATCH: ABBA in "The Last Video"
Which ABBA songs are in Mamma Mia?
Surprisingly, quite a lot - considering the musical is set around ABBA songs. You will, of course, find 'Mamma Mia' alongside other ABBA classics in Mamma Mia the musical, including 'Dancing Queen', 'Super Trouper', 'Does Your Mother Know', 'Take A Chance On Me' and 'Thank You For The Music'.
2018 saw the release of the musical's sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which featured even more of the band's classics, including 'Knowing Me Knowing You' and 'Andante Andante'.
Rumours of a potential third Mamma Mia film have been circulating, with the musical's creator revealing that a third movie may be 'in it's earliest stages.'
Do ABBA have children?
Agnetha and Bjorn have two children called Peter Christian and Linda. Bjorn later went on to have two more children, daughters Emma and Anna.
Anni-Frid has one son and one daughter. Anni-Frid's daughter Ann Lise-Lotte sadly died in a car crash in New York in 1998 aged just 30.
Before ABBA success, Benny had two children with his then partner Christina. Son Peter was born in 1963 and daughter Helene followed in 1965. In 1982, Benny became a father to son Ludvig with his Swedish TV presenter partner Mona Norklit.
Have ABBA won any BRIT Awards?
Although ABBA have never won a BRIT Award, the group have been nominated on two occasions. Once in 1977 for International Album and most recently in 2022 for International Group.
What do ABBA look like now?
Despite being in their 70s, ABBA look phenomenal still. Although the band don't make a huge amount of public appearances and no longer wear metallic spandex jumpsuits, they're still recognisable as the band we've known and loved for decades.
You can hear ABBA on the Greatest Hits Radio playlist!
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