Agnetha,Benny, Björnand Anni-Frid. The chart-topping Swedish supergroup have continued to be influential and capture hearts well passed their time. Beyond the glitter and voluntary mullets, there’s more to learn about ABBA than meets the eye.
ABBA were not always known as ABBA
The name ABBA comes from the first initials of the four members – Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They were not always a household name, however. When they first formed, they were named “Festfolk”, which is Swedish for “party people”. It was also similar to fästfolk, the 1970s Swedish slang wordfor “engaged couples” - perfect since they paired off together, and, in the end, ironic since ABBA didn’t last long once both couples had split up.
One of the member’s fathers was a Nazi
Anni-Frid Lyngstad was, in fact, not Swedish like the rest of her band-mates, but born in Norway. Throughout her childhood she was known as one of the
(or "German bastards") because her father, Alfred Haase, was one of the many German soldiers that had a relationship with a Norwegian female to "enrich" the Aryan gene pool.
Tyskerbarnas were often given up for forced adoption, and some were experimented on through LSD usage at a young age and died. Anni-Frid was ostracised and branded a traitor against the Allies, and was forced to move to Sweden with her grandmother following the death of her mother before she turned two.
ABBA did not get into Eurovision that easily
In 1974, ABBA were the Swedish representatives for Eurovision and won the competition.However, it was not always that easy for the pop sensation to get to perform at the song contest. In 1973, they competed in Melodifestivalen, Sweden’s qualifying process to deciding their national representative. They performed their song “Ring Ring” but only came third. Although it didn't do so well in the contest,
, which was recorded in both English and Swedish,ended up being a major hit - although not in Australia until its re-release in 1976.
When ABBA toured Australia, there was a bomb threat at one of their concerts
ABBA were huge down under. Source: AAP
In 1977, ABBA performed in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth as part of their world tour. Tickets were $9 each (considered expensive compared to the $3.50 cost of seeing AC/DC) and they performed two shows a day.
Future-promoter Michael Chugg was the tour manager and
a policeman approaching him backstage on March 10saying, “Someone’s called and said they’ve put a bomb in the arena." This occurred during the first of two shows the band were performing that night. Chugg had to pause the concert midway through and evacuate the audience within three minutes. After a 45-minute investigation, it was confirmed to be a hoax and ABBA continued with the performance.
ABBA was paid in oil commodities from the Soviet Union
In the late 1970s, ABBA
rather than the actual embargoed currency - a smart move and a lucrative deal made my their management. During the 70s, ABBA became one of Sweden’s highest exports, second only to Volvo.
Those crazy costumes were all a part of a tax strategy
Some of the band's costumes on display at the ABBA: The Museum in Stockholm. Source: Getty
Those sequins, platform heels and cut-out jumpsuits weren’t all the rage in 1970s and early '80s - and ABBA had no hopes of starting trends with their stage outfits. In fact, they used their colourful costumes as a tax write-off.During the time ABBA was active, the Swedish Tax Code allowed costumes to be tax deductible if they couldn’t possibly be worn on the street.
In ABBA: The Official Photo Book, Björn Ulvaeus writes: "In my honest opinion we looked like nuts in those years. Nobody can have been as badly dressed on stage as we were."
ABBA is making a comeback – in virtual reality form
ABBA have always refused to regroup, despite offers of millions of dollars to go back on tour. Instead,
they will be launching a new virtual reality project in 2017. Simon Fuller, known for managing Spice Girls to fame, said, “We are exploring a new technological world that will allow us to create new forms of entertainment and content we couldn’t have previously imagined."
The project has been described as a “time machine” and will capture the essence of ABBA - who they were and still are.
Watch ABBA: In Concert Friday 12 May at 9:30pm on SBS.
More on the Guide
The ABBA Christmas Party is the gift you never knew you wantedAccidentally Kitsch: Australia and Eurovision
FAQs
Before ABBA was known as ABBA they were known as 'Festfolk' – the Party People. In 1974, when ABBA won Eurovision with Waterloo, the UK gave them 'nul points'. ABBA was actually the first act from Sweden to win the Eurovision Song Contest. This was done on April 6th, 1974 with the song “Waterloo.”
What are interesting facts about ABBA? ›
Before ABBA was known as ABBA they were known as 'Festfolk' – the Party People. In 1974, when ABBA won Eurovision with Waterloo, the UK gave them 'nul points'. ABBA was actually the first act from Sweden to win the Eurovision Song Contest. This was done on April 6th, 1974 with the song “Waterloo.”
Which members of ABBA smoked? ›
Frida with Benny back in 1971 at a release party of the cigarette brand Bond.......yep, those 70's, when smoking was still “hip” and as we all know, all four ABBA members used to smoke....
What do you need to know about the group ABBA? ›
Founded in Stockholm in 1972, ABBA consists of two former couples, Agnetha Ase Fältskog and Björn Kristian Ulvaeus as well as Göran Bror Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid “Frida” Synni Lyngstad. Although the group never actually disbanded, their music career as ABBA ended when the two couples split up in 1980-1982.
How tall were the ABBA girls? ›
Agnetha is 5'8” and Björn is 5'9”. Frida is 5'8” and Benny is 5'10”.
What makes ABBA so unique? ›
The trio often recorded each element of any given song separately. Channels were gained up and pitch shifted after the fact, resulting in that unique sparkle many have tried to replicate. Starting with the most distinct element of any ABBA piece, the pristine and expertly mixed vocals.
Why is God called ABBA? ›
Abba, a colloquial form of address used by little Jewish children toward their fathers and best translated “Papa” or “Daddy,” opened the possibility of undreamed-of, unheard-of intimacy with God. In any other great world religion it is unthinkable to address almighty God as “Abba.”
Who in ABBA lost a child? ›
The year before, on January 13, 1998, Frida's daughter Ann Lise-Lotte Fredriksson Casper died.
Who is the richest member of ABBA? ›
It may surprise you to know, but Anni-Frid Lingstad is actually the richest member of ABBA, worth around 39 billion Íkr (300 million USD). So in short, while Agnetha and Frida were important to the band's overall sound, their contribution to the band overall was very little.
Which member of ABBA was stalked? ›
A former lover-turned-obsessive stalker of ABBA star Agnetha Faltskog, who was served with a restraining order and deported back to his native Holland 24 years ago, has been spotted back on Swedish soil.
"Frida and I are still friends and I'm still a member of ABBA. We are still good friends, but we are not married anymore." Their divorce reportedly came quickly, after Benny told Frida that he had met someone else. That person was TV producer Mona Norklit, whom he married later in 1981.
What are ABBA fans called? ›
Then more recently, "Abba Gold" and the "Mamma Mia!" franchise introduced younger generations – sometimes referred to as "Goldies" and "Mouldies" – to Abba's music. Goldies and Mouldies have found their own ways of expressing Abba fandom.
What song made ABBA famous? ›
ABBA was also the name of a Swedish canned fish company; fortunately, they agreed to lending their name to a pop group. The Eurovision Song Contest on April 6, 1974 turned out to be the most famous moment in ABBA history, when the group won the international juries over with 'Waterloo'.
Who was the best looking ABBA girl? ›
Well in terms of “conventional” feminine beauty it was Agnetha. She was troubled though. She suffered from phobias and mental health problems. For example, when Abba were on tour she travelled by bus because she had a phobia of air travel.
Did ABBA ladies get along? ›
"A lot has been written about how Agnetha and I fought and quarrelled with each other. There is absolutely no truth in that," Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 63, said about rumours concerning her relationship with Agnetha Faltskog, 58. The two spoke to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet in an article published Friday.
Who was the better singer in ABBA? ›
People can prefer Agnetha for her tonal quality and pure pop sound, but really when you are considering the best singer/vocalist technically it's Frida.
How did ABBA get its name? ›
"ABBA" is an acronym formed from the first letters of each group member's first name: Agnetha, Björn, Benny, Anni-Frid, although there has never been any official confirmation of who each letter in the sequence refers to.
How many of ABBA are still alive? ›
All four members of ABBA—Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad—are still alive. They reunited in 2021 to release new music and plan a virtual concert experience, showing they remain active in their music careers.
