Welcome to ABBA – THE NEWS!
Welcome to this ABBA News site. It’s not all about news, news, news here, but it’s the most important thing! I’ll be trying to bring you up to date with every ABBA news item there is from all over the world.
Every week we’ll show you a special ABBA or solo photo and we’ll also be taking a little ABBA history lesson every week when we’re going back to those ten magic ABBA years. Every month there’ll be a review of one of the ABBA or solo records.
More is planned, so stay tuned!
Hopefully you will enjoy this site and don’t hesitate to comment or to add news stories to this site. You can mail me at visitor1982@hotmail.com If you do add a news story to this site you will be credited of course!

Marnix ten Brinke

In this new weekly feature we will show you one of the many ABBA (and solo) photo’s who were published somewhere and sometime on this world.

This time a photo from 1979. ABBA was on tour in the USA and Europe and occasionally family members would tag along. On this picture you can see Agnetha with her and Bjxf6rn’s daughter Linda, also on this picture is Bjxf6rn’s girlfriend Lena Kallersjxf6. Apparently Agnetha and Lena could get along quite well…

(This picture was taken from the wonderful ABBA Picture Gallery.)

In this new feature we will have a look at those ten ABBA years. What was ABBA doing this week in 1981 or 1974? Did they travel for promotion? Were they on tour? Or were they recording for a new album? You will find it out in this feature!

This week in… 1976

It was in this week, 29 years ago, that ABBA released their most famous single ever: Dancing Queen!
The song was already recorded the summer before in 1975, at the same time as Fernando and another demo called I Want You (parts of it would later surface in Does Your Mother Know). When it was time to release a new single in early 1976 ABBA wanted Dancing Queen to be the next single. Even Frida remembered that she cried when Benny brought the backingtrack to their house to let Frida hear it. However Stig Anderson thought that Fernando should be released first and therefor it took another 5 months before the public could finally obtain a copy of Dancing Queen. The song was already familiar to the public, since ABBA had performed it on an Australian and a German TV show and, more importantly, ABBA performed Dancing Queen at the wedding reception for the Swedish king and queen. Incorrectly, people thought that Dancing Queen was especially written for that occasion.
When released (with That’s Me as a B-side) it became ABBA’s biggest hit to date. It stormed to number one almost everywhere. Even the USA couldn’t resist Dancing Queen, although it took some time before ABBA had their first and only US number one hit. It finally peaked at number one for one week in April 1977.
These days Dancing Queen is the song that is associated mostly with ABBA and today people continue to dance to the beat of the tambourine on dancefloors around the world

In this new weekly feature we will show you one of the many ABBA (and solo) photo’s who were published somewhere and sometime on this world.

This time a picture from 1986. As you can see, Frida was blonde before. This photo was taken at a Chess premiere in London in May 1986. Frida was blonde for a very short time during the eighties.
(Thanks to ABBA Picture Gallery for the photo.)

ABBA – The (In)Complete Studio Recordings

A little more information about the boxset. Whilst recordings like Just Like That and Just A Notion will not be included on the boxset because Bjxf6rn & Benny don’t want to, it is now also known that Hovas Vittne and Sxe5ng Till Gxf6rel will also not be included because Bjxf6rn & Benny don’t want to.

(Personal comment: It seems Bjxf6rn & Benny don’t want a lot of things!)

ABBA – The Movie released on DVD in September

According to several ABBA sites, ABBA – The Movie will be released on DVD on the 22nd of September this year.
There is no info about extras yet.

ABBA costumes on display in Stockholm

Universal posted the following on the official ABBA Site:

June 8 sees the CD release of the Swedish version of the Mamma Mia! musical. To celebrate the release, the NK department store in central Stockholm has staged an exhibition of costumes from the Mamma Mia! stage show. Original ABBA costumes are also exhibited: the costumes seen in the video for Mamma Mia, along with the famous cat costumes, as worn by Agnetha and Frida in many photographs and on several television programmes in 1975.

On Friday, June 10 between 4 and 5 pm, and on Saturday, June 11 between 12 and 12.45 am, Swedish cast members Reuben Sallmander, Gunilla Backman, Sussie Eriksson, Charlott Strandberg and Nina Lundseie will be signing the Swedish Mamma Mia! cast CD.

Dutch radio listeners vote for favourite musical songs

Dutch Radio 2 listeners have voted for their favourite Dutch musical songs ever. 7 songs from the Dutch Mamma Mia were included. Here’s the full list:

Musical Top 50

1 Elisabeth – Mijn Leven Is Van Mij 1999
2 Phantom Of The Opera – Het Spook Van De Opera 1993
3 Drie Musketiers – Ik Ben Een Vrouw 2003
4 Joe – Inspiratie 1997
5 Aida – Gezegend Nubixeb 2001
6 Mamma Mia – t Glipt Me Door M’n Vingers (Slipping Through My Fingers) 2003
7 Mamma Mia – Mamma Mia 2003
8 Evita – Huil Niet Om Mij Argentina 1995
9 Mamma Mia – De Winnaar Krijgt De Macht (The Winner Takes It All) 2003
10 Elisabeth Er Valt – Een Zwarte Schaduw 1999
11 Tsjechov – Vanmorgen Vloog Ze Nog (versie met Robert Long) 1988
12 Cats – Herinnering 1987
13 Lion – King Alles Ademt En Leeft 2004
14 Miss Saigon – De Laatste Nacht 1996
15 Miss Saigon – Waarom God? 1996
16 Lion King – Voel Je Hoe De Liefde Groeit 2004
17 Mamma Mia – Weet Je Moeder Dat (Does Your Mother Know) 2003
18 Misxe9rables, Les – Nog xe9xe9n dag 1991
19 Hamelen – Kunt U Mij De Weg Naar Hamelen Vertellen, Meneer 2003
20 Axefda – Verwarrend Bestaan 2001
21 En Nu Naar Bed – Vluchten Kan Niet Meer 1971
22 Anatevka – Als Ik Toch Eens Rijk Was (versie met Lex Goudsmit) 1966
23 Lion King – Zij Leven Voort 2004
24 Phantom Of The Opera – Melodiexebn Van De Nacht 1993
25 Chicago – De Musical – Tralie Tango 1999
26 Axefda – Ergens In De Sterren 2001
27 West Side Story – Maria 1996
28 Misxe9rables, Les – Hoor Je Het Zingen Op De Straat? 1991
29 Lion King – Hakuna Matata 2004
30 Drie Musketiers – Mannen 2003
31 Drie Musketiers – Alles 2003
32 Axefda – Vergeet Hem 2001
33 Rent – Seizoenen Van Liefde 2000
34 Aida – Mijn Pakkie An 2001
35 Mamma Mia – Dank Je Voor De Liedjes (Thank You For The Music) 2003
36 Phantom Of The Opera – Denk Aan Mij 1993
37 Heerlijk Duurt Het Langst – Op Een Mooie Pinksterdag (versie met Leen Jongewaard & Andrxe9 vd Heuvel 1965
38 Misxe9rables, Les – Mijn Droom 1991
39 Elisabeth – Schepen In De Nacht 1999
40 Sound Of Music – Do, Re, Mi (versie met Maaike Widdershoven) 2002
41 Miss Saigon – Bui Doi 1996
42 Mamma Mia – Een Van Ons (One Of Us) 2003
43 Phantom Of The Opera – Kon Ik Nog Maar Even Bij Je Zijn 1993
44 Tsjechov – Vanmorgen Vloog Ze Nog (versie met Boudewijn De Groot) 1991
45 Misxe9rables, Les – Heel Alleen 1991
46 Mamma Mia Ik Heb Een Droom (I Have A Dream) 2003
47 Sound Of Music – Edelweiss (versie met Maaike Widdershoven & Hugo Haenen) 2002
48 Crazy For You – Ik Voel Ritme 2004
49 Miss Saigon – En Weer 1996
50 Annie – De Musical – Morgen 1997

Rumours about ABBA reunion for Live Aid

Britain is talking about an ABBA reunion again. According to several British media ABBA is considering to appear on Live Aid, a charity concert by Bob Geldof. Bjxf6rn has said that he will ask the others to do something, perhaps on film to sing a song or to show some kind of message.
Live Aid was a big succes in 1985. ABBA did not appear in 1985. It seems extremely unlikely that ABBA will reform for Live Aid, or for any other happening for that matter.
Bjxf6rn’s comments have also not been confirmed by anyone. The Live Aid concert will be held in early July.

Agnetha has had enough?

ABBA On Speaking Terms has ‘revealed’ that according to a close source Agnetha has decided to stop recording new music. The site claims that Agnetha was working on a new album, written by herself. Apparently she finds it too stressfull and it takes too much energy, according to a source close to Agnetha.
Although nothing has been said officially, so we can not be sure about it, ABBA On Speaking Terms were in fact the first people who revealed in 2002 that Agnetha was recording again, despite denials from Agnetha’s manager.
Time will tell if ABBA On Speaking Terms is right about their ‘leadsinger’ from ABBA… Meanwhile the other ‘leadsinger’ from ABBA, Frida, is apparently thinking about recording a new album in the future, according to unconfirmed rumours.

Mamma Mia! for Moscow?

There are plans to stage the most succesfull musical of this moment, Mamma Mia!, in the Russian captial.
There has been interest from Russia since 2002. Shanghai in China will also be one of the next stops for the ABBA hit musical.

Another new feature, this time a monthly review feature. We will have look at many ABBA and solo releases over the years. Don’t hesitate to comment!

This time we will review Frida’s solo album from 1975 Ensam.

Frida Ensam is one of three Frida solo albums that has been remastered and re-released by Universal Music Sweden. For me it was actually the first time that I heard any of the songs and that included Frida’s version of Fernando.
Ensam proves what a great singer Frida is. Her own version of Fernando has more warmth and feeling and I actually prefer this version over ABBA’s version. I like the part at the end where Frida continues to sing one word a bit longer compared to ABBA’s version.
Another great track is Jag Ar Mej Sjxe4lv Nu. This one has some great funky guitar stuff on it.
Som En Sparv sounds melancholic and has some great backing vocals. But not much is happening, so it’s get a bit boring at the end.
Vill Du Lxe5na En Man sounds funny and has some great piano played by Benny.
Liv Pxe5 Mars is a David Bowie song, but it suits Frida as well. It’s a very dramatic song, especially with all those violins. The chorus reminds me of some stuff she has done on some material in 1982 and 1984, with her ‘shouting’ voice.
My favourite song on Ensam is Syrtaki. The backing vocals are very ABBA-ish. The Greek melody is very uplifting. It’s the happiest song on the album. And those ‘lalala’s’ are irresistable!
Aldrig Mej is another song with great backing vocals. It’s clear who is the producer here. ABBA also spend a lot of time on the backing vocals. The song itself is nice.
Guld Och Grxf6na Anger is the famous Wall Street Shuffle song. It’s one of the better songs on the album.
Ett Liv I Solen doesn’t do much for me. Although Frida sounds great on this one, there isn’t much happening.
Benny’s favourite band The Beach Boys are also present on this one. Wouldn’t It Be Nice is now called Skulle De’va’skxf6nt. It’s a happy tune and sounds quite different compared to the original.
Var Ar Min Clown was the original closing song on the album it’s a very dramatic song and is indeed the perfect way to close an album.
The bonustracks are two of Frida’s greatest songs she has recorded. Man Vill Ju Leva Lite Dessemellan sounds like it belongs on an ABBA album and that isn’t a bad thing! Ska Man Skrattar Eller Grxe4ta isn’t an early version of Should I laugh Or Cry, but is another Italian cover.
As a whole this album is a showcase for Frida’s wonderful voice. She was able to do things with her voice here on this album, to experiment. Things that wouldn’t have suited on ABBA albums. Ensam proves for once and for all that Frida wasn’t just ‘the other one’, she was/is a ‘great one’!

Benny gets an award and 30.000 kronor!

Aftonbladet reports today that yesterday Benny got an award for his music and 30.000 kronor by the SKAP (an organisation for popular music in Sweden). It was an unexpected prize for Benny as he thought he was there (Grand Hotel in Stockholm) to hand over a prize to someone else. The two son’s of Benny (Peter and Ludvig) performed 2 Hep Stars hits. Frida was there as well, with her former singing partner Lasse Berghagen.

For the full Swedish article, click on this link.

In this new weekly feature we will show you one of the many ABBA (and solo) photo’s who were published somewhere and sometime on this world.

This time a photo from 1979, during the 1979 tour. Agnetha hated touring? Well, not on this photo!
This photo was taken from the wonderful ABBA Picture Gallery. Take a look!