ABBA ©BelgaImage
On April 6, 1974, the pop group Abba won the 19th Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton (United Kingdom) with the song “Waterloo”. Björn, Benny, Agnetha, and Anni-Frid (Frida), whose band name bears their initials, won the hearts of the audience with their colorful glittering jackets and their conductor dressed as Napoleon. This title taken from the eponymous opus has sold more than 6 million copies. It was the start of a real international frenzy, followed by a series of other hits (“Mamma Mia”, “Dancing Queen”, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”, “Money money money”…), which the whole world is still humming, five decades later. For a total of 9 studio albums, two live albums and 50 singles, Abba remains one of the groups that have sold the most records after the Beatles, with 400 million records sold worldwide. Jean-Marie Potiez, official French-speaking biographer of Abba and curator of the current exhibition Abba 1974-2024, From Waterloo to the worldwas 13 when he saw Abba win Eurovision on TV, The evening that changed my life… This is the title of his latest work, an autobiographical story, published by Olaa.
How was the quartet formed?
The four already had solo careers in Sweden. Björn had a folk group in the 60s (Hootenanny Singers), an early boy band that was very successful. Benny was in a rock group (Hep Stars) which was also very successful, and alternated between records and tours. During a tour in 1966, the two groups crossed paths during a concert. Björn and Benny will get to know each other and meet up later that night after the concert. They have the same conception of the profession and the same musical affinities. One day, they made a song together. It was the beginning of a great friendship and musical collaboration. Agnetha is a very popular singer in Sweden, and Frida is a jazz singer. Both recorded their first 45 rpm in 1967. In 1969, Björn met his future wife Agnetha, during the recording of a television show, a month apart where Benny met Frida. In 1970, the four tried their first cabaret show, but it didn’t work out right away. It was not until 1972 and a first 45 rpm in English that it worked in Sweden and outside Scandinavian countries. In 1973, they entered the Swedish selection for Eurovision with “Ring Ring” but were unsuccessful. At the end of 1973, they were asked to do Eurovision. They adopted this acronym Abba as their group name and presented their title “Waterloo”.
It wasn’t the first song proposed…
Indeed, the first was “Hasta Mañana”, which is on the album Waterloo. It’s a ballad in the style of the songs that were presented at the time at Eurovision, sung by Agnetha, while Frida does the backing vocals. They hesitated between this song and a more rock track like “Waterloo”. And I think they did well to opt for the second, because they wouldn’t have won with the first: it was less original.
There is a before and after Abba in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.
How has Abba marked the history of Eurovision?
With “Waterloo”, Abba made history, shook up the style of Eurovision because the group had an original glam rock style, a very Anglo-Saxon musical style from the early 70s. It was a rock a not very theatrical with extravagant costumes, like Elton John… There is a before and after Abba in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, which was starting to hum. Until now, the artists who won were dressed in three-piece suits, in long dresses, and sang beautiful ballads like Vicky Leandros, Séverine, Anne-Marie David… It was also the first time that a group and that the Sweden won Eurovision.
Why a song about Waterloo?
In the early years, it was the group’s manager who found the song titles. They had to be short and easily remembered, to be understood in several languages. Björn and Benny gave him a cassette with the music from “Waterloo”. He first looked for a name in a cookbook, he found the title “Honey Pie” sounding and amusing, but he was unable to write a text… He then looked in a encyclopedia, and he came across the name “Waterloo”. He thought it sounded good. However, the song does not tell the story of the battle but a love story, a girl who says: “I have to face the facts, I am like Napoleon who had to go to Waterloo, I surrender to you, I love you”. And as often, it was Björn who finished the song.
What then made the group successful?
There was both image and sound. Sound is music, very beautiful melodies. Björn and Benny had an incredible talent for writing songs, beautiful melodies, beautiful arrangements, for making the words ring with the music. And then there were the voices of Agnetha, soprano, and Frida, mezzo-soprano, who, when they sang together, formed the third voice: a single voice immediately recognizable, as in the choruses of “Dancing Queen”.
Why did the group mark musical history?
Their songs are well done and timeless. During the 80s, Abba became dated. The group was no longer played on the radio. From 1992, there will be the Abba revival with the compilation Abba Gold, sold 32 million copies. It’s a global phenomenon that’s coming back. It’s the nostalgia of the 70s in the music, the costumes, the colors… It’s cinema with the film Muriel, And Mad Priscilla of the Desert. Later, it’s the musical with Mamma Mia!, which is still played around the world today, and which gave rise to two films. Groups also cover their songs. A museum has opened in Stockholm, and an exhibition, of which I am curator, is underway at the Waterloo Battlefield.
Later, the group will disband…
At the end of 1982, the quartet decided to take a break. The two couples have divorced, Björn and Benny have a project for a new musical Chess. Frida recorded an album with Phil Collins. Agnetha wants to do some cinema and has a solo album project. Professionally, their paths will no longer cross until 2018, where there will be the project of new songs with the release of the album Journey in 2021.
Is it still possible to see them in concert?
A show has been playing since 2022 at the Abba Arena in London, in a hall built especially for this concert, under the supervision of Benny and Björn. Ten musicians play live, while the four Abba are on stage, singing, dancing in the form of digital avatars. It’s a very beautiful show, with extraordinary light shows, of which Benny’s son, Ludvig Andersson, is one of the co-producers.
What have they become ?
Benny (77) and Björn (79) continue to work together. Björn writes the lyrics for the songs of Benny’s group BAO (Benny Anderssons Orkester), who still composes and has just recorded a new album with his 18 musicians which will be released at the end of the summer. The band will perform at Cirkus in Stockholm in June. Björn is also president of Cisac, which defends the interests of artists. The Abba Museum largely belongs to him, he has also invested in a spa hotel in his hometown in Sweden, and owns the Cirkus performance hall. Agnetha (74 years old) released an album (HAS) in 2013, which it will re-release in 2023 with new orchestrations. She lives near Stockholm with her animals, she takes care of her grandchildren, she has a rather quiet life away from the media. Frida (78 years old) lives between Switzerland and England, with her partner Henry Smith. She travels a lot, she sometimes makes appearances in the audience at the Abba Arena, she is close to her fans. She has had health problems (back, ankle, etc.) and now walks with a cane.
A documentary will also be released about them…
It is directed by James Rogan and co-produced by many television channels including France Télévisions. I saw it. It lasts 1h30. It is very interesting, because it is the members of the group who speak in voice-over and tell a lot about the behind the scenes after their victory, the ups and downs, because everything was not rosy. There are anecdotes, and lots of archive images…
Do you think we will be surprised to see them on the Eurovision stage in Sweden on the occasion of this anniversary?
No, they won’t come on stage, that’s for sure. I think there will still be a short film to thank the Eurovision audience. This anniversary is important, I think they can’t miss a message.
What do you think of Mustii’s song?
I really like it, I think he has a chance of winning.
