Popular Music Essential Information & explanations, latest on
ABBA.
ABBA
ABBA (although an abbreviation, the name is more often written as Abba) was a Swedish pop music group, the most successful one from their native country and second only to The Beatles in total worldwide sales. The group was formed around 1970 by Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad and the name ABBA incorporates their first initials. They became widely known when they won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo". Abba split up in 1982.
Table of contents showTocToggle("show","hide")
1 Pre-History
2 The Early Years
3 Eurovision and after
4 Rise and Fall
5 Fashion and Videos
6 Albums
7 After Abba
8 Trivia
9 See also
10 See also
11 External link
12 Singles chart positions for UK, US, Germany and Netherlands
Pre-History
Benny Andersson was a member of the Hep Stars, a Swedish rock/pop band who were very popular in their native country during the 1960s. The band was modeled after various US and UK groups of the time, such as Herman's Hermits, The Who and the Rolling Stones, and had a huge following, particularly among teenage girls. At the same time, Björn Ulvaeus fronted a skiffle group, the Hootenanny Singers, with an altogether softer and more easy-listening sound than the Hep Stars. Nevertheless, the singers' paths crossed on a number of occasions, and eventually the two found a lot in common and decided to write songs together. One of these, a track called "Isn't It Easy To Say", became a big hit for the Hep Stars, and Björn sometimes guested with the band on tour. It was even suggested that the two bands merged, but in the end this never happened. Instead, the Hep Stars manager, Stig Anderson, saw more potential in Benny and Björn working together, and encouraged them to write more songs and create an album together, eventually called Lycka (happiness) when released.
In the meantime, Agnetha Fältskog was a pop phenomenon in her own right, singing light pop songs in the Shlager style, as well as cover versions of hits from groups of the day. As a result, Agnetha went on a tour of the Swedish folkparks, which was the main "live circuit" at that time. It was only a matter of time before she bumped into the Hep Stars on their folkpark tours, and so she met and fell in love with Björn. They married in 1971, in what was the Swedish celebrity wedding of the year, with huge publicity. The final piece of what was to become Abba was provided by housewife Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad, who worked as a cabaret singer part time. She decided to enter a talent competition, which she won. On that particular night, Sweden changed over from driving on the left of the road to the right, and the TV companies put on a series of "big" shows to encourage people to stay off the roads. As a result, Frida was invited to appear on TV with her winning song. The TV exposure brought her to the attention of a wide public for the first time, and so her musical career took off.
Again, it wasn't long before Frida crossed paths with Benny Andersson, and the two found they got on very well. The songwriters asked the girls to provide some backing vocals for the Lycka album, but at this stage the men were still taking the lead vocal parts, and the Abba sound had yet to be discovered.
The Early Years
By the early 1970s, even though Björn and Agnetha were married, they both pursued their own separate musical careers. However, Stig was very ambitious and was determined to break into the mainstream international market - a feat never before achieved by a Swedish pop act. As a result he encouraged Björn and Benny to write a song for the Eurovision Song Contest for the 1972 year, which was performed by Lena Anderson. The song, "Say It With a Song", came third in the contest, but was a huge hit in a number of countries, which convinced Stig he was on the right track.
Björn and Benny persevered with creating hit songs, experimenting with new sounds and vocal arrangements, and started to have some success in Japan. One of the songs they came up with was "People Need Love", featuring guest vocals by the girls that were given much greater prominence than previously. Everyone involved felt that it was a very good and new sound, and Stig decided to try releasing it as a single. The record was credited to "Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid". The song was a moderate hit, but enough to convince them that they were on to something.
The following year, the group decided to have another crack at Eurovision, this time with the song "Ring, Ring". For this one, the studio work was handled by Michael B. Tretow, who was permitted to try some experiments to come up with a Phil Spector-like "wall of sound". The result was the wholly new Abba Sound. For the contest, Stig arranged an English translation of the lyrics by Neil Sedaka, and they felt it was a sure-fire winner. Sadly, it wasn't - it came in third yet again. Nevertheless the proto-group decided to put out an album titled Ring Ring, and again it carried the awkward naming of "Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida". The album did well and the Ring Ring single was a huge hit in many parts of Europe - but Stig felt that the true breakthrough would only be to have a UK or US hit. About this time, Stig started to refer to the group privately and publicly as "Abba", having grown fed up with the unwieldy names. This was done as a joke at first, as Abba is the name of a well-known fish canning company in Sweden. However, since the fish canners were more or less unknown outside Sweden, Stig felt the name was OK in internatioonal markets, and so it stuck.
Eurovision and after
In 1974, they decided to try Eurovision once more, and were inspired by the growing glam rock scene in the UK, and tracks such as Wizzard's "See My Baby Jive". As a result, they started work on "Waterloo", an unashamedly glam-style pop track, again utilising the wall of sound approach mastered by Michael B. Tretow. This time they were far better prepared for the contest, and already had an album's worth of material released by the time of the show, held in Brighton, England. This time there was no mistake - the song won hands down and catapulted the group into the British consciousness for the first time. This time they had a catchy name - Abba - and people could buy a whole album (Waterloo) straight away.
The song was a UK hit, the group's first number one. It also was the first to be released in the US, where it did moderately well. However, the momentum seemed hard to maintain, and follow-up singles did nowhere near as well, partly because the group were overstretched and unable to promote these convincingly in any one territory, and partly because the songs were perhaps not as strong. It wasn't until "S.O.S", a song originally written for one of Agnetha's solo projects, that Abba scored another UK number one. This time it consolidated the band's UK presence, no longer were they dismissed as a one-hit wonder.
Things really took off in 1975, with every single release charting solidly, and yielding several more number one hits, including "Mamma Mia". The band even released the somewhat hubristically titled Greatest Hits at this time. However, the best was yet to come, with the 1976 album, Arrival. This album was polished more highly than any so far, and represented a new level of accomplishment in both songwriting and studio work. Hit after hit flowed from the album - "Money, Money, Money", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "Fernando", and the huge hit, "Dancing Queen". By this time, Abba were massive in both the UK and Australia, but still with only moderate recognition in the US.
By this time, the Abba sound was synonymous with European pop, and started to be widely copied by groups such as Brotherhood of Man, and later, Bucks Fizz. It was felt that it was necessary to copy Abba's sound and two girl, two boy approach in order to win Eurovision, and as Brotherhood of Man won in 1976, and Bucks Fizz in 1981 it seems they had a point. Abba meanwhile were not standing still, and followed up Arrival with the more complex 1977 release, Abba - The Album, released to coincide with the feature film of their Australian tour, Abba - The Movie. This album was, if anything, even more polished than Arrival, but was less well received by the critics. However, the hits continued to flow—"Take a Chance On Me", "Thank You For the Music" and "Name of the Game" were all chart toppers.
Rise and Fall
By 1978, Abba were megastars. They built a new state of the art studio in Stockholm, and it was in demand from numerous other bands - Led Zeppelin's In Through the Out Door was recorded there, for example. The single "Summer Night City" topped the charts, and set the stage for Abba's foray into the disco sound, with the album Voulez-Vous. This release started to mark the beginning of Abba's decline in Europe, while getting them considerably more attention in the US. Hits still came - "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (A Man After Midnight)", "Voulez-Vous", "Chiquitita" and "I Have a Dream" all were taken from this album, but in the light of Punk and New Wave in the UK, many felt that Abba were past their prime and were looking for something new.
Abba toured the US in 1979, with huge audiences, but the US breakthrough was perhaps too little, too late. The next release, Super Trouper (1980), again achieved respectable sales but it started to sound as if the group themselves were running out of ideas. It is ironic that this, and the final album, The Visitors (1981) show a songwriting maturity and depth of feeling that is distinctly lacking on their earlier recordings.
Despite a feeling that Abba were in decline, the band were still achieving huge audiences into the early 1980s, and might have continued indefinitely if it wasn't for the fact that on a personal level, the married members of the group were falling apart. For a while it was possible to keep personal and professional lives separate, and it was under this arrangement that the last two albums were recorded. However, the songs of the time - such as "Winner Takes it All" and "One Of Us" - give a glimpse of the personal difficulties the group's members were facing. In time, it was unsustainable, and the band decided to finally split in 1982. The Visitors was to be the last "proper" album the group recorded, though there have been many compilations, re-releases and a live album put out by the record companies since.
Fashion and Videos
Abba were well known for their colourful costumes (the epitome of 1970s fashion), and also for the videos which accompanied some of their biggest hits -- these being among the earliest examples of the genre. All of Abba's videos were directed by Lasse Hallström, who also directed a feature-length film about the group, Abba - The Movie. Abba chose to make them because they were often touring and could not appear in all the countries where the song was likely to be a hit. Some of these videos became classics. For example, the video of "Knowing Me, Knowing You" was satirised on the BBC comedy show, Not the Nine O'Clock News, as "Super Dooper". The title Knowing Me, Knowing You was also borrowed for a spoof chat show on BBC radio and television, starring Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge, who always entered the studio shouting "Aha!", this being the next word in the lyrics of the original song.
Albums
(omitting reissues):
- Ring Ring (1973)
- Waterloo (1974)
- ABBA (1975)
- Greatest Hits (1975)
- Arrival (1976)
- Abba - The Album (1977)
- Voulez-Vous (1979)
- Greatest Hits Vol 2. (1979)
- Super Trouper (1980)
- The Visitors (1981)
- The Singles (1982)
- Live (1986)
After Abba
Björn and Benny wrote the music for the West End show, Chess, in partnership with lyricist Tim Rice. This opened in 1984 in London, and ran for three years. Björn and Benny had often expressed a wish to write a musical, inspired by the successes of Andrew Lloyd-Webber throughout the 70s. Their first effort was part of the Abba stage show for 1977, the so called "mini-musical", The Girl with The Golden Hair. Excerpts from this can be seen as part of Abba - The Movie. Some of the songs also feature on The Album. Björn and Benny followed Chess with Kristina från Duvemåla, a musical co-written with Lars Rudolfsson and based on the work of Swedish novelist Vilhelm Moberg. Mamma Mia, a musical based around Abba's songs, premiered in London in the late 1990s.ongs.
Both Agnetha and Frida went on to have some solo success after Abba split - Frida with the Phil Collins produced album Something's Going On, and Agnetha returning to her solo career with Wrap Your Arms Around Me. Both were moderately successful. Both persevered with further releases in the 80s, but eventually decided to retire. Agnetha subsequently became very private and reclusive, refusing to give interviews.
Abba experienced a resurgence in the 1990s after being largely forgotten during the 80s. To some extent this was in an ironic way - fondly remembered for being so bad they were good; yet for others it was the recognition that while Abba were frequently dismissed by the critics during their heyday as a lightweight pop act, and sneered at by punk and new wave musicians, in fact they were masters of their art - the three minute pop song - something very few others can claim to have been as successful at. Björn and Benny were finally recognised in 2001 with an Ivor Novello Award for their songwriting. Many former punk and New Wave artistes have since admitted a fondness and respect for Abba they were unwilling to own up to in their early year
Trivia
- The sound track of the successful Australian film Muriel's Wedding (1994) contained several Abba songs, which were featured prominently in the movie, first when the two female leads lip-sync "Waterloo" and secondly when the wedding features an orchestral arrangement of "Dancing Queen."
- The Abba tribute group Bjorn Again became so successful that as of 2002 there are three Bjorn Agains performing in various parts of the world.
- A Swedish band, the A-Teens, started their career in pop music borrowing Abba's arrangement of two men and two women. The Swedish teenagers launched their careers with an album containing only Abba covers.
- Techno and house remakes of many original Abba hits were released under the name Abbacadabra.
- And a Broadway (originally West End) musical, Mamma Mia, whose music is all Abba songs, was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical in 2002.
- In 2000, Abba were reported to have turned down an offer of approximately one billion dollars to do a reunion tour.
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.
See also
See also
External link
Vocal Group Hall of Fame page on ABBA
Singles chart positions for UK, US, Germany and Netherlands
UKUSAGERMANYNETHERLANDS
Date
Pos
Wks
Date
Pos
Wks
Date
Pos
Wks
Date
Pos
Wks
01
"Ring Ring" (1)
13.07.1974
32
5 wks
23.06.1973
5
8 wks
02
"Waterloo"
20.04.1974
1
9 wks
22.06.1974
6
12 wks
1
13.04.1974
2
14 wks
03
"Honey Honey"
12.10.1974
27
4 wks
21.12.1974
16
6 wks
04
"I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do"
12.07.1975
38
6 wks
27.03.1976
15
8 wks
22.03.1975
3
10 wks
05
"S.O.S."
20.09.1975
6
10 wks
11.10.1975
15
8 wks
1
14.06.1975
2
10 wks
06
"Mamma Mia"
13.12.1975
1
14 wks
19.06.1976
32
4 wks
1
06.12.1975
13
7 wks
07
"Fernando"
27.03.1976
1
15 wks
25.09.1976
13
11 wks
1
20.03.1976
1
12 wks
08
"Dancing Queen"
21.08.1976
1
15 wks
22.01.1977
1
15 wks
1
14.08.1976
1
15 wks
09
"Money Money Money"
20.11.1976
3
12 wks
56
1
13.11.1976
1
12 wks
10
"Knowing Me Knowing You"
26.02.1977
1
13 wks
04.06.1977
14
10 wks
1
26.02.1977
3
7 wks
11
"The Name Of The Game"
22.10.1977
1
12 wks
28.01.1978
12
9 wks
29.10.1977
2
9 wks
12
"Take A Chance On Me"
04.02.1978
1
10 wks
06.05.1978
3
14 wks
28.01.1978
2
9 wks
13
"Eagle" (2)
20.05.1978
4
9 wks
14
"Summer Night City"
16.09.1978
5
9 wks
16.09.1978
5
9 wks
15
"Chiquitita"
03.02.1979
2
9 wks
08.12.1979
29
14 wks
27.01.1979
1
13 wks
16
"Does Your Mother Know"
05.05.1979
4
9 wks
09.06.1979
19
10 wks
12.05.1979
4
8 wks
17
"Voulez-Vous" (3)
14.07.1979
3
11 wks
64
21.07.1979
4
9 wks
18
"Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)"
20.10.1979
3
11 wks
27.10.1979
2
9 wks
19
"I Have A Dream"
15.12.1979
2
10 wks
15.12.1979
1
11 wks
20
"The Winner Takes It All"
02.08.1980
1
10 wks
27.12.1980
8
16 wks
02.08.1980
1
14 wks
21
"Super Trouper"
15.11.1980
1
12 wks
45
1
15.11.1980
1
10 wks
22
"Lay All Your Love On Me"
18.07.1981
7
7 wks
23
"One Of Us"
12.12.1981
3
10 wks
1
12.12.1981
1
9 wks
24
"Head Over Heels"
20.02.1982
25
7 wks
20.02.1982
4
6 wks
25
"When All Is Said And Done"
06.02.1982
27
8 wks
20.02.1982
4
6 wks
26
"The Day Before You Came"
23.10.1982
32
6 wks
30.10.1982
3
7 wks
27
"Under Attack"
11.12.1982
26
8 wks
11.12.1982
5
6 wks
28
"Thank You For The Music"
12.11.1983
33
6 wks
12.05.1984
38
3 wks
"Dancing Queen" (4)
05.09.1992
16
5 wks
26.09.1992
15
5 wks
</table>
(1) "Ring ring" was originally released in the Netherlands under the band name Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida
(2) "Eagle" was released in the Netherlands as a double A-side single together with "Thank you for the music"
(3) "Voulez-vous" was released in the UK as a double A-side single together with "Angeleyes"
(4) "Dancing queen" in 1992 was a re-issue of the 1976 version of the song to promote their ABBA - Gold compilation
The above article is adapted from from Wikipedia All Wikipedia article text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging by Brennan Manning
WILEY IAS 2004 : Interpretation and Application of International Accounting and Financial Reporting Standards by Barry J. Epstein
Final Cut Pro 4 On the Spot : Timesaving Tips and Shortcuts from the Pros by Richard Harrington
Cellular and Molecular Immunology by Abul K. Abbas
Heritage: Civilization and the Jews by Abba Solomon Eban
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: A Textbook for Beginning Arabic, Part One by Kristen Brustad
Alif Baa: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds by Kristen Brustad
Developing Spatial Data Infrastructures: From Concept to Reality by Ian Williamson
Grid Computing: A Practical Guide to Technology and Applications (Programming Series) by Ahmar Abbas
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: A Textbook for Arabic, Part Two by Kristen Brustad
Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum al-cArabiyya: Audio CDs (4) to Accompany Al-Kitaab Part One by Kristen Brustad
Medical Immunology by Tristram G. Parslow
Lost Wisdom: Rethinking Modernity in Iran by Abbas Milani
Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease by Vinay Kumar
Into Abba's Arms (AACC Library) by Sandra D. Wilson
Bibliographic Resources
Updates and comments at Essential Facts blog
Are you interested in Feng Shui?
Price Theory Resources
World Class Photographers
Some philosophical movements
Top PDF and eBook Downloads
|
|
Interesting Links
Sports
Kitchen Knowledge
Hollywood Icons
Flowers & gardening
Mythology
Philosophy
Politics
Retirement
Accounting & Finance
Automobiles
Marketing
Psychology
Country Music
Popular Music
Rock & Roll
Academic Subjects
Ancient Greeks
Art & Design
Biology
Biology & Biologists
California
Cats & Dogs
Ethics
Legal Topics
Linguistics
Logic
The Greats
Architectural Dates & Places
* Mathematics & Mathematicians
Medical Update d06
Investments
Transportation
Mathematics
Brilliant Mathematicians
Classic Authors
Fear No Exams
Nexus
Characters & countries
Computers + 2
Science & Computers
Quantum Theory
Home, Site-Map
|