Formed on November 1, 1970,Swedish group ABBA conquered the recording industry in just a few years. Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad have composed the legendary quartetremember Nostalgia. It is with hits such as Mama Mia, Waterloo And Dancing Queen that ABBA won the hearts of the public. In 1974, the Swedish group with 400 million albums sold won the prestigious Eurovision contest, entering the country’s history a little further. On May 11, 2024, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the group’s victory and, by chance or fate, the final of the 2024 edition will take place that same day, in Sweden, at the Malmö Arena.
In 2018, the members of ABBA announced that they were working together again, giving fans hope for their possible reunion. At the time, they had returned to the studio and had recorded two unreleased songsaccording to West France. “We found it funny after 35 years of separation to get together in the studio. And that’s what we did. It was as if time had stopped and that we had just separated for a short vacation”they said at the time. If they had the physique of young first-timers in the 1970s, when they were in their twenties, the four singers, aged 73 to 78, have changed physically. Find out what they look like right now.
ABBA: a legendary group that still attracts crowds
On the occasion of the Eurovision 2024 final and the golden jubilee of ABBA’s victory in the singing competition, the city of Malmö has decided to honor its heroes with ABBA World. In the city center, visitors will be able to find different stands dedicated to the Swedish group: between the outfits that the members wore during their victory, stage costumes and gold records, fans will be amazed. Unfortunately, if they hope to find ABBA on stage at the Malmö Arena this evening of May 11, they risk quickly becoming disillusioned. Benny Andersson, member of ABBA, spoke on this subject during his participation in the news program Newsnight, broadcast on May 25, 2023 on the BBC: “I do not want [reformer ABBA]. And if I don’t want it, others won’t. It’s the same for all four. If one says no, then it’s no.”.
However, Eurovision fans can console themselves, Loreen, double Eurovision winner for Sweden, is present in Malmö for the final which will be held this evening. A true fan of ABBA, she also confided to our colleagues at BFMTV about ABBA that the group had “influenced the music industry”. “Even today, it sounds fresh. Musicians like them, who play with real instruments, live longer, they live forever!” Thus, after more than fifty years of existence, ABBA’s popularity has not weakened. Hats off to the artists!
Article written in collaboration with 6Medias
Photo credits: Olle Lindeborg/AP/SIPA