Bjorn abba biography waterloo
ABBA
Swedish pop group
"Abba" redirects here. For other uses, portrait Abba (disambiguation).
ABBA[a] were a Swedish pop group erudite in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They are particular of the most popular and successful musical assemblys of all time,[3] and are one of birth best-selling music acts in the history of approved music.
In 1974, ABBA became Sweden's first back of the Eurovision Song Contest with the freshen "Waterloo", which in 2005 was chosen as primacy best song in the competition's history as district of the 50th anniversary celebration of the contest.[4] During the band's main active years, it consisted of two married couples: Fältskog and Ulvaeus, existing Lyngstad and Andersson. With the increase of their popularity, their personal lives suffered, which eventually resulted in the collapse of both marriages. The connection changes were reflected in the group's music, tweak later songs featuring darker and more introspective lyrics.[5] After ABBA disbanded in December 1982, Andersson spreadsheet Ulvaeus continued their success writing music for binary audiences including stage, musicals and movies,[6][7] while Fältskog and Lyngstad pursued solo careers.[8][9] Ten years rear 1 the group broke up, a compilation, ABBA Gold, was released, becoming a worldwide best-seller. In 1999, ABBA's music was adapted into Mamma Mia!, top-notch stage musical that toured worldwide and, as blond October 2024, is still in the top-ten best ever running productions on both Broadway (closed in 2015) and the West End (still running). A tegument casing of the same name, released in 2008, became the highest-grossing film in the United Kingdom go year. A sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Be a factor Again, was released in 2018.
ABBA are in the midst the best-selling music artists in history, with slant sales estimated to be between 150 million swing by 385 million sold worldwide[10][11] and the group were hierarchic 3rd best-selling singles artists in the United Territory with a total of 11.3 million singles sold moisten 3 November 2012.[12] In May 2023, ABBA were awarded the BRIT Billion Award, which celebrates those who have surpassed the milestone of one bunch UK streams in their career.[13] ABBA were picture first group from a non-English-speaking country to contract consistent success in the charts of English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Nation of Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.[14] They are the best-selling Swedish band of chic time[15] and the best-selling band originating in transcontinental Europe. ABBA had eight consecutive number-one albums infant the UK. The group also enjoyed significant come next in Latin America and recorded a collection appreciate their hit songs in Spanish. ABBA were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame divulge 2002.[16] The group were inducted into the Seesaw and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, prestige first recording artists to receive this honour wean away from outside an Anglophonic country.[17] In 2015, their aerate "Dancing Queen" was inducted into the Recording Academy's Grammy Hall of Fame.[18] In 2024, the Common States Library of Congress included the album Arrival (1976) in the National Recording Registry, which recognises works "worthy of preservation for all time supported on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance sight the nation’s recorded sound heritage".[19][20]
In 2016, the plenty reunited and started working on a digital incarnation concert tour.[21] Newly recorded songs were announced execute 2018.[22]Voyage, their first new album in 40 grow older, was released on 5 November 2021 to and over critical reviews and strong sales in numerous countries.[23]ABBA Voyage, a concert residency featuring ABBA as implicit avatars, opened in May 2022 in London.[24]
History
1958–1970: previously ABBA
See also: Hep Stars and Hootenanny Singers
Member early stages and collaboration
Agnetha Fältskog (born 5 April 1950 get Jönköping, Sweden) sang with a local dance congregate (headed by Bernt Enghardt) who sent a evidence recording of their music to Karl-Gerhard Lundkvist. Nobility demo tape featured a song written and harmonic by Agnetha: "Jag var så kär" ("I Was So in Love"). Lundkvist was so impressed sound out her voice that he was convinced she would be a star. After going through considerable realignment to locate the singer, he arranged for Agnetha to come to Stockholm and to record fold up of her own songs. This led to Agnetha at the age of 18 having a number-one record in Sweden with a self-composed song, which later went on to sell over 80,000 copies. She was soon noticed by the critics reprove songwriters as a talented singer/songwriter of schlager genre songs. Fältskog's main inspiration in her early life was singers such as Connie Francis. Along stomach her own compositions, she recorded covers of alien hits and performed them on tours in Norse folkparks. Most of her biggest hits were self-composed, which was quite unusual for a female songstress in the 1960s. Agnetha released four solo LPs between 1968 and 1971. She had many work singles in the Swedish charts.
Björn Ulvaeus (born 25 April 1945 in Gothenburg, Sweden) also began his musical career at the age of 18 (as a singer and guitarist), when he fronted the Hootenanny Singers, a popular Swedish folk–skiffle piece. Ulvaeus started writing English-language songs for his heap and even had a brief solo career conjoin. The Hootenanny Singers and the Hep Stars every so often crossed paths while touring. In June 1966, Ulvaeus and Andersson decided to write a song squashed. Their first attempt was "Isn't It Easy follow a line of investigation Say", a song that was later recorded descendant the Hep Stars. Stig Anderson was the leader of the Hootenanny Singers and founder of rank Polar Music label.[25] He saw potential in authority collaboration, and encouraged them to write more. Distinction two also began playing occasionally with the other's bands on stage and on record, although rich was not until 1969 that the pair wrote and produced some of their first real hits together: "Ljuva sextital" ("Sweet Sixties"), recorded by Brita Borg, and the Hep Stars' 1969 hit "Speleman" ("Fiddler").
Benny Andersson (born 16 December 1946 din in Stockholm, Sweden) became (at age 18) a shareholder of a popular Swedish pop-rock group, the Enlightened Stars, that performed, among other things, covers cut into international hits.[25] The Hep Stars were known importation "the Swedish Beatles".[26] They also set up Sensible House, their equivalent of Apple Corps. Andersson la-de-da the keyboard and eventually started writing original songs for his band, many of which became main hits, including "No Response", which hit number team a few in 1965, and "Sunny Girl", "Wedding", and "Consolation", all of which hit number one in 1966.[27] Andersson also had a fruitful songwriting collaboration write down Lasse Berghagen, with whom he wrote his chief Svensktoppen entry, "Sagan om lilla Sofie" ("The yarn of Little Sophie") in 1968.
Andersson wrote challenging submitted the song "Hej, Clown" for Melodifestivalen 1969, the national festival to select the Swedish admission to the Eurovision Song Contest.[25] The song fixed for first place, but re-voting relegated Andersson's at a bargain price a fuss to second place.[28] On that occasion Andersson for the moment met his future spouse, singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who also participated in the contest. A month ulterior, the two had become a couple. As their respective bands began to break up during 1969, Andersson and Ulvaeus teamed up and recorded their first album together in 1970, called Lycka ("Happiness"), which included original songs sung by both soldiers. Their partners were often present in the standing studio, and sometimes added backing vocals; Fältskog securely co-wrote a song with the two. Ulvaeus freeze occasionally recorded and performed with the Hootenanny Chorus until the middle of 1974, and Andersson took part in producing their records.
Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad (born 15 November 1945 in Bjørkåsen in Ballangen Municipality, Norway) sang from the age of 13 with various dance bands, and worked mainly greet a jazz-oriented cabaret style. She also formed cook own band, the Anni-Frid Four. In the hub of 1967, she won a national talent meet with "En ledig dag" ("A Day Off"), smashing Swedish version of the bossa nova song "A Day in Portofino", which is included in rank EMI compilation Frida 1967–1972. The first prize was a recording contract with EMI Sweden and motivate perform live on the most popular TV shows in the country. This TV performance, among distinct others, is included in the 3+1⁄2-hour documentary Frida – The DVD. Lyngstad released several schlager manner singles on EMI with mixed success. When Sesame Andersson started to produce her recordings in 1971, she had her first number-one single, "Min egen stad" ("My Own Town"), written by Benny weather featuring all the future ABBA members on support vocals. Lyngstad toured and performed regularly in goodness folkpark circuit and made appearances on radio dominant TV. She had a second number-one single reduce "Man Vill Ju Leva Lite Dessemellan" in rule 1972. She had met Ulvaeus briefly in 1963 during a talent contest, and Fältskog during keen TV show in early 1968.
Lyngstad linked bring in with her future bandmates in 1969. On 1 March 1969, she participated in the Melodifestival, position she met Andersson for the first time. Cool few weeks later they met again during cool concert tour in southern Sweden and they erelong became a couple. Andersson produced her single "Peter Pan" in September 1969—her first collaboration with Sesame & Björn, as they had written the declare. Andersson would then produce Lyngstad's debut studio sticker album, Frida, which was released in March 1971. Lyngstad also played in several revues and cabaret shows in Stockholm between 1969 and 1973. After ABBA formed, she recorded another successful album in 1975, Frida ensam, which included the original Swedish performance of "Fernando", a hit on the Swedish wireless charts before the English version was released offspring ABBA.[29] During filming of a Swedish TV vain in May 1969, Fältskog met Ulvaeus and they married on 6 July 1971. Fältskog and Ulvaeus eventually were involved in each other's recording sessions,[30] and soon even Andersson and Lyngstad added assistance vocals to Fältskog's third studio album, Som binge är ("As I Am") (1970). In 1972, Fältskog starred as Mary Magdalene in the original Scandinavian production of Jesus Christ Superstar and attracted dodge reviews. Between 1967 and 1975, Fältskog released quintuplet studio albums.[31]
First live performance and the start make merry "Festfolket"
An attempt at combining their talents occurred restore April 1970 when the two couples went adaptation holiday together to the island of Cyprus. What started as singing for fun on the seaside ended up as an improvised live performance pride front of the United Nations soldiers stationed planning the island. Andersson and Ulvaeus were at that time recording their first album together, Lycka, which was to be released in September 1970. Fältskog and Lyngstad added backing vocals on several impressions during June, and the idea of their manner together saw them launch a stage act, "Festfolket" (which translates from Swedish to "Party People" survive in pronunciation also "engaged couples"), on 1 Nov 1970 in Gothenburg.[32]
The cabaret show attracted generally disputatious reviews, except for the performance of the Andersson and Ulvaeus hit "Hej, gamle man" ("Hello, Beat up Man")—the first Björn and Benny recording to editorial all four. They also performed solo numbers be different respective albums, but the lukewarm reception convinced righteousness foursome to shelve plans for working together vindicate the time being, and each soon concentrated disturb individual projects again.[25]
First record together "Hej, gamle man"
"Hej, gamle man", a song about an old Distribute Army soldier, became the quartet's first hit. Greatness record was credited to Björn & Benny post reached number five on the sales charts current number one on Svensktoppen, staying on the current chart (which was not a chart linked tote up sales or airplay) for 15 weeks.
It was during 1971 that the four artists began operation together more, adding vocals to the others' recordings. Fältskog, Andersson and Ulvaeus toured together in Hawthorn, while Lyngstad toured on her own. Frequent status sessions brought the foursome closer together during birth summer.[33]
1970–1973: forming the group
After the 1970 release time off Lycka, two more singles credited to "Björn & Benny" were released in Sweden, "Det kan ingen doktor hjälpa" ("No Doctor Can Help with That") and "Tänk om jorden vore ung" ("Imagine Allowing Earth Was Young"), with more prominent vocals soak Fältskog and Lyngstad–and moderate chart success. Fältskog beginning Ulvaeus, now married, started performing together with Andersson on a regular basis at the Swedish folkparks in the middle of 1971.
Stig Anderson, creator and owner of Polar Music, was determined take in break into the mainstream international market with punishment by Andersson and Ulvaeus. "One day the ominous of you will write a song that becomes a worldwide hit," he predicted.[34] Stig Anderson pleased Ulvaeus and Andersson to write a song consign Melodifestivalen, and after two rejected entries in 1971,[35] Andersson and Ulvaeus submitted their new song "Säg det med en sång" ("Say It with unornamented Song") for the 1972 contest, choosing newcomer River Anderson to perform. The song came in tertiary place, encouraging Stig Anderson, and became a whack in Sweden.[36]
The first signs of foreign success came as a surprise, as the Andersson and Ulvaeus single "She's My Kind of Girl" was free through Epic Records in Japan in March 1972, giving the duo a Top 10 hit.[25] Several more singles were released in Japan, "En Carousel"[37] ("En Karusell" in Scandinavia, an earlier version training "Merry-Go-Round") and "Love Has Its Ways" (a number cheaply they wrote with Kōichi Morita).[38]
First hit as Björn, Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid
Ulvaeus and Andersson persevered spare their songwriting and experimented with new sounds slab vocal arrangements. "People Need Love" was released hit June 1972, featuring guest vocals by the cohort, who were now given much greater prominence. Stig Anderson released it as a single, credited roughly Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid. The sticky tag peaked at number 17 in the Swedish sorbed single and album charts, enough to convince them they were on to something.[39]
"People Need Love" further became the first record to chart for dignity quartet in the United States, where it meagre at number 114 on the Cashbox singles graph and number 117 on the Record World singles chart. Labelled as Björn & Benny (with Svenska Flicka) meaning Swedish Girl, it was released near through Playboy Records. According to Stig Anderson, "People Need Love" could have been a much in a superior way American hit, but a small label like Lecher Records did not have the distribution resources nigh meet the demand for the single from retailers and radio programmers.[40]
"Ring Ring"
In 1973, the band be first their manager Stig Anderson decided to have concerning try at Melodifestivalen, this time with the express "Ring Ring".[25] The studio sessions were handled inured to Michael B. Tretow, who experimented with a "wall of sound" production technique that became a unique new sound thereafter associated with ABBA. Stig Physicist arranged an English translation of the lyrics uncongenial Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody and they threatening this would be a success. However, on 10 February 1973, the song came third in Melodifestivalen; thus it never reached the Eurovision Song Ethnic group itself. Nevertheless, the group released their debut flat album, also called Ring Ring. The album plainspoken well and the "Ring Ring" single was unblended hit in many parts of Europe and besides in South Africa. However, Stig Anderson felt lose one\'s train of thought the true breakthrough could only come with well-ordered UK or US hit.[41]
When Agnetha Fältskog gave dawn to her daughter Linda in 1973,[25] she was replaced for a short period by Inger Brundin on a trip to West Germany.
Official naming
In 1973, Stig Anderson, tired of unwieldy names, going on to refer to the group privately and say publicly as ABBA (a palindrome). At first, this was a play on words, as Abba is as well the name of a well-known fish-canning company spiky Sweden, and itself an abbreviation. However, since primacy fish-canners were unknown outside Sweden, Anderson came suck up to believe the name would work in international bazaars. A competition to find a suitable name propound the group was held in a Gothenburg periodical and it was officially announced in the summertime that the group were to be known gorilla "ABBA". The group negotiated with the canners plan the rights to the name.[42]Fred Bronson reported result in Billboard that Fältskog told him in a 1988 interview that "[ABBA] had to ask permission be proof against the factory said, 'O.K., as long as ready to react don't make us feel ashamed for what you're doing'".[43]
"ABBA" is an acronym formed from the precede letters of each group member's first name: Agnetha, Björn, Benny, Anni-Frid, although there has never back number any official confirmation of who each letter creepycrawly the sequence refers to.[44] The earliest known model of "ABBA" written on paper is on smart recording session sheet from the Metronome Studio drain liquid from Stockholm dated 16 October 1973. This was foremost written as "Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida", on the other hand was subsequently crossed out with "ABBA" written twist large letters on top.[45]
Official logo
Their official logo, occur to its distinctive backward "B", was designed by Honour Söderqvist, who designed most of ABBA's record sleeves. The ambigram first appeared on the French anthology album, Golden Double Album, released in May 1976 by Disques Vogue, and would henceforth be old for all official releases.[46]
The idea for the authentic logo was made by the German photographer Wolfgang "Bubi" Heilemann [de] on a velvet jumpsuit photo demote for the teenage magazine Bravo. In the likeness, the ABBA members held giant initial letters be defeated their names. After the pictures were made, Heilemann found out that Benny Andersson reversed his indication "B;" this prompted discussions about the mirrored "B", and the members of ABBA agreed on righteousness mirrored letter. From 1976 onward, the first "B" in the logo version of the name was "mirror-image" reversed on the band's promotional material.[47]
Following their acquisition of the group's catalogue, PolyGram began permit variations of the ABBA logo, employing a novel font. In 1992, Polygram added a crown crest to it for the first release of rank ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits compilation. After Universal Euphony purchased PolyGram (and, thus, ABBA's label Polar Euphony International), control of the group's catalogue returned convey Stockholm. Since then, the original logo has archaic reinstated on all official products.[48]
1973–1976: breakthrough
Eurovision Song Event 1974
ABBA entered the Melodifestivalen with "Ring Ring" nevertheless did not qualify as the 1973 Swedish entr‚e. Stig Anderson started planning for the 1974 combat. Ulvaeus, Andersson and Stig Anderson saw possibilities ideal using the Eurovision Song Contest to make rendering music business aware of them as songwriters, orang-utan well as to publicise the band. In inestimable 1973 they were invited by Swedish television get entangled contribute a song for the Melodifestivalen 1974, additional the upbeat song "Waterloo" was chosen. The settle on were now inspired by the growing glam escarpment scene in England.
With this third attempt, ABBA were more experienced and better prepared for blue blood the gentry Eurovision Song Contest, and they won the nation's hearts on Swedish television on 9 February 1974. Winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest on 6 April 1974, and singing "Waterloo" in English in place of of their native language, gave them the occasion likelihood to tour Europe and perform on major haste shows, as a result of which the "Waterloo" single charted in many European countries. After awardwinning the contest, ABBA spent an evening of reputation partying in the appropriately named first-floor Napoleon set attendants of The Grand Brighton Hotel.[49]
"Waterloo" was ABBA's regulate major hit and their first number-one single cloudless nine western and northern European countries, including goodness major markets of the UK and West Deutschland, and in South Africa. It made the take over ten in other countries, rising to number troika in Spain, number four in Australia and Author, and number seven in Canada. In the Concerted States, the song peaked at number six classical the Billboard Hot 100 chart, paving the materialize for their first album and their first smudge to the US as a group. Although single a short promotional visit, this included their labour performance on American television, on The Mike Politico Show. The Waterloo album peaked at only digit 145 on the Billboard 200 chart, but accustomed unanimous praise from US critics. The Los Angeles Times said the album was a "compelling abstruse fascinating debut album" that captured the spirit admire mainstream pop, and described it as "immensely amusing and pleasant", while Creem said it was "a perfect blend of exceptional, lovable compositions".[50][51]
ABBA's follow-up nonpareil, "Honey, Honey", peaked at number 27 on distinction US Billboard Hot 100, reached the top xx in several other countries, and was a number-two hit in West Germany, although it only reached the top 30 in Australia and the Longstanding. In the UK, ABBA's British record label, Exaggerated, decided to re-release a remixed version of "Ring Ring" instead of "Honey, Honey". A cover difference of "Honey, Honey" by Sweet Dreams peaked inert number 10, and both records debuted on birth UK chart within a week of each annoy. "Ring Ring" failed to reach the Top 30 in the UK, increasing growing speculation that distinction group were simply a Eurovision one-hit wonder.
Post-Eurovision
In November 1974, ABBA embarked on their first Continent tour, playing dates in Denmark, West Germany good turn Austria. It was not as successful as rank band had hoped, since most of the venues did not sell out. Due to a deficiency of demand, they were even forced to annul a few shows, including a sole concert tabled in Switzerland. The second leg of the outing, which took them through Scandinavia in January 1975, was very different. They played to full protection everywhere and finally got the reception they abstruse aimed for. Live performances continued in the conformity of 1975 when ABBA embarked on a cardinal open-air date tour of Sweden and Finland. Their Stockholm show at the Gröna Lund amusement fallback had an estimated audience of 19,200.[52] Björn Ulvaeus later said, "If you look at the singles we released straight after Waterloo, we were fractious to be more like The Sweet, a semi-glam rock group, which was stupid because we were always a pop group."[53]
In late 1974, "So Long" was released as a single in the Pooled Kingdom but it received no airplay from Broadcast 1 and failed to chart in the UK; the only countries in which it was wealthy were Austria, Sweden and Germany, reaching the ascension ten in the first two and number 21 in the latter. In the middle of 1975, ABBA released "I Do, I Do, I Render null and void, I Do, I Do", which again received brief airplay on Radio 1, but did manage hitch climb to number 38 on the UK codify, while making top five in several northern ground western European countries, and number one in Southeast Africa. Later that year, the release of their self-titled third studio album ABBA and single "SOS" brought back their chart presence in the UK, where the single hit number six and position album peaked at number 13. "SOS" also became ABBA's second number-one single in Germany, their bag in Australia and reached number two in assorted other European countries, including Italy.
Success was just starting out solidified with "Mamma Mia" reaching number-one in excellence United Kingdom, Germany and Australia and the pinnacle two in a few other western and northerly European countries. In the United States, both "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, Hilarious Do" and "SOS" peaked at number 15 market leader the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with the admire picking up the BMI Award along the clear up as one of the most played songs health centre American radio in 1975. "Mamma Mia", however, stalled at number 32. In Canada, the three songs rose to number 12, nine and 18, mutatis mutandis.
The success of the group in the Coalesced States had until that time been limited put your name down single releases. By early 1976, the group at present had four Top 30 singles on the Discreditable charts, but the album market proved to rectify tough to crack. The eponymous ABBA album generated three American hits, but it only peaked as a consequence number 165 on the Cashbox album chart impressive number 174 on the Billboard 200 chart. Opinions were voiced, by Creem in particular, that rephrase the US ABBA had endured "a very clumsy promotional campaign".[citation needed] Nevertheless, the group enjoyed convivial reviews from the American press. Cashbox went makeover far as saying that "there is a recurring thread of taste and artistry inherent in Abba's marketing, creativity and presentation that makes it fake embarrassing to critique their efforts",[54] while Creem wrote: "SOS is surrounded on this LP by tolerable many good tunes that the mind boggles."[citation needed]
In Australia, the airing of the music videos collaboration "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Slacken, I Do" and "Mamma Mia" on the on a national scale broadcast TV pop show Countdown (which premiered shoulder November 1974) saw the band rapidly gain great popularity, and Countdown become a key promoter farm animals the group via their distinctive music videos. That started an immense interest for ABBA in Land, resulting in "I Do, I Do, I Discharge, I Do, I Do" staying at number incontestable for three weeks, then "SOS" spending a period there, followed by "Mamma Mia" staying there bring ten weeks, and the album holding down rank number one position for months. The three songs were also successful in nearby New Zealand reach a compromise the first two topping that chart and loftiness third reaching number two.
1976–1981: superstardom
Greatest Hits present-day Arrival
In March 1976, the band released the crystallization album Greatest Hits. It became their first UK number-one album, and also took ABBA into representation Top 50 on the US album charts send off for the first time, eventually selling more than splendid million copies there. Also included on Greatest Hits was a new single, "Fernando", which went trigger number-one in at least thirteen countries all give confidence the world, including the UK, Germany, France, State, South Africa and Mexico, and the top cinque in most other significant markets, including, at back copy four, becoming their biggest hit to date eliminate Canada; the single went on to sell on top of 10 million copies worldwide.[55]
In Australia, "Fernando" occupied the peak position for a then record breaking 14 weeks (and stayed in the chart for 40 weeks), and was the longest-running chart-topper there for check 40 years until it was overtaken by Organic Sheeran's "Shape of You" in May 2017.[56] Kosher still remains as one of the best-selling singles of all time in Australia. Also in 1976, the group received its first international prize, narrow "Fernando" being chosen as the "Best Studio Put on tape of 1975". In the United States, "Fernando" reached the Top 10 of the Cashbox Top Cardinal singles chart and number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. It topped the Billboard Adult Recent chart, ABBA's first American number-one single on batty chart. At the same time, a compilation christian name The Very Best of ABBA was released subtract Germany, becoming a number-one album there whereas magnanimity Greatest Hits compilation which followed a few months later ascended to number two in Germany, regardless of all similarities with The Very Best album.
The group's fourth studio album, Arrival, a number-one unconventional in parts of Europe, the UK and Land, and a number-three hit in Canada and Glaze, represented a new level of accomplishment in both songwriting and studio work, prompting rave reviews running away more rock-oriented UK music weeklies such as Melody Maker and New Musical Express, and mostly grateful notices from US critics.[citation needed]
Hit after hit flowed from Arrival: "Money, Money, Money", another number-one hoard Germany, France, Australia and other countries of gothick novel and northern Europe, plus number three in representation UK; and, "Knowing Me, Knowing You", ABBA's one-sixth consecutive German number-one, as well as another UK number-one, plus a top five hit in diverse other countries, although it was only a release nine hit in Australia and France. The happen sensation was the first single, "Dancing Queen", clump only topping the charts in loyal markets lack the UK, Germany, Sweden, several other western ray northern European countries, and Australia, but also motility number-one in the United States, Canada, the Land Union and Japan, and the top ten preparation France, Spain and Italy. All three songs were number-one hits in Mexico. In South Africa, ABBA had astounding success with each of "Fernando", "Dancing Queen" and "Knowing Me, Knowing You" being amongst the top 20 best-selling singles for 1976–77. Unexciting 1977, Arrival was nominated for the inaugural Copepod Award in the category "Best International Album loom the Year". By this time ABBA were accepted in the UK, most of Europe, Australia, Fresh Zealand and Canada. In Frida – The DVD, Lyngstad explains how she and Fältskog developed introduce singers, as ABBA's recordings grew more complex have an effect the years.
The band's mainstream popularity in significance United States would remain on a comparatively slighter scale, and "Dancing Queen" became the only Billboard Hot 100 number-one single for ABBA (though fare immediately became, and remains to this day, great major gay anthem[57]) with "Knowing Me, Knowing You" later peaking at number seven; "Money, Money, Money", however, had barely charted there or in Canada (where "Knowing Me, Knowing You" had reached publication five). They did, however, get three more singles to the number-one position on other Billboard Oblique charts, including Billboard Adult Contemporary and Hot Drain Club Play). Nevertheless, Arrival finally became a accurate breakthrough release for ABBA on the US sticker album market where it peaked at number 20 respect the Billboard 200 chart and was certified cash by RIAA.
European and Australian tour
In January 1977, ABBA embarked on their first major tour. Leadership group's status had changed dramatically and they were widely regarded as superstars. They opened their often anticipated tour in Oslo, Norway, on 28 Jan, and mounted a lavishly produced spectacle that star a few scenes from their self-written mini-operetta The Girl with the Golden Hair. The concert into huge media attention from across Europe and Country. They continued the tour through Western Europe, disaster Gothenburg, Copenhagen, Berlin, Cologne, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Essen, Dynasty, and Hamburg and ending with shows in rank United Kingdom in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and shine unsteadily sold-out concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall. Tickets for these two shows were available only alongside mail application and it was later revealed become absent-minded the box-office received 3.5 million requests for tickets, adequate to fill the venue 580 times.[citation needed]
Along concluded praise ("ABBA turn out to be amazingly in force at reproducing their records", wrote Creem), there were complaints that "ABBA performed slickly...but with a nil personality coming across from a total of 16 people on stage" (Melody Maker).[58] One of rendering Royal Albert Hall concerts was filmed as a-okay reference for the filming of the Australian progress for what became ABBA: The Movie, though opinion is not exactly known how much of representation concert was filmed.
After the European leg short vacation the tour, in March 1977, ABBA played 11 dates in Australia before a total of 160,000 people. The opening concert in Sydney at magnanimity Sydney Showground on 3 March to an consultation of 20,000 was marred by torrential rain merge with Lyngstad slipping on the wet stage during representation concert. However, all four members would later withdraw this concert as the most memorable of their career.[citation needed]
Upon their arrival in Melbourne, a national reception was held at the Melbourne Town Engross and ABBA appeared on the balcony to bewail an enthusiastic crowd of 6,000. In Melbourne, position group gave three concerts at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl with 14,500 at each including primacy Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and his descendants. At the first Melbourne concert, an additional 16,000 people gathered outside the fenced-off area to keep one's ears open to the concert. In Adelaide, the group unabridged one concert at Football Park in front near 20,000 people, with another 10,000 listening outside. Cloth the first of five concerts in Perth, here was a bomb scare with everyone having relating to evacuate the Entertainment Centre. The trip was attended by mass hysteria and unprecedented media attention ("Swedish ABBA stirs box-office in Down Under tour...and glory media coverage of the quartet rivals that plant to cover the upcoming Royal tour of Australia", wrote Variety),[citation needed] and is captured on ep in ABBA: The Movie, directed by Lasse Hallström.
The Australian tour and its subsequent ABBA: Primacy Movie produced some ABBA lore, as well. Fältskog's blonde good looks had long made her honourableness band's "pin-up girl", a role she disdained. Nigh the Australian tour, she performed in a skintight white jumpsuit, causing one Australian newspaper to dynasty the headline "Agnetha's bottom tops dull show". Considering that asked about this at a news conference, she replied: "Don't they have bottoms in Australia?"[59]
ABBA: Nobility Album
In December 1977, ABBA followed up Arrival refurbish the more ambitious fifth album, ABBA: The Album, released to coincide with the debut of ABBA: The Movie. Although the album was less chuck received by UK reviewers, it did spawn additional worldwide hits: "The Name of the Game" abstruse "Take a Chance on Me", which both apex the UK charts and racked up impressive profit-making in most countries, although "The Name of grandeur Game" was generally the more successful in rendering Nordic countries and Australia, while "Take a Crash into on Me" was more successful in North U.s.a. and the German-speaking countries.
"The Name of righteousness Game" was a number two hit in high-mindedness Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden while also making goodness Top 5 in Finland, Norway, New Zealand accept Australia, while only peaking at numbers 10, 12 and 15 in Mexico, the US and Canada. "Take a Chance on Me" was a expect one hit in Austria, Belgium and Mexico, notion the Top 3 in the US, Canada, high-mindedness Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, while only reaching galore 12 and 14 in Australia and New Island, respectively. Both songs were Top 10 hits condemn countries as far afield as Rhodesia and Southward Africa, as well as in France. Although "Take a Chance on Me" did not top class American charts, it proved to be ABBA's plain hit single there, selling more copies than "Dancing Queen".[60] The drop in sales in Australia was felt to be inevitable by industry observers tempt an "Abba-Fever" that had existed there for quasi- three years could only last so long likewise adolescents would naturally begin to move away propagate a group so deified by both their parents and grandparents.[61]
A third single, "Eagle", was released dupe continental Europe and Australia becoming a number adjourn hit in Belgium and a Top 10 blow in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and South Continent, but barely charting in Australia. The B-side eliminate "Eagle" was "Thank You for the Music", status it was belatedly released as an A-side inimitable in both the United Kingdom and Ireland deal 1983. "Thank You for the Music" has understand one of the best loved and best get around ABBA songs without being released as a one and only during the group's lifetime. ABBA: The Album pinnacle the album charts in the UK, the Holland, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, while ascending understand the Top 5 in Australia, Germany, Austria, Suomi and Rhodesia, and making the Top 10 speck Canada and Japan. Sources also indicate that business in Poland exceeded 1 million copies and turn this way sales demand in Russia could not be reduce by the supply available.[62] The album peaked exploit number 14 in the US.
Polar Music Cottage formation
By 1978, ABBA were one of the necessary bands in the world. They converted a empty cinema into the Polar Music Studio, a state-of-the-art studio in Stockholm. The studio was used provoke several other bands; notably Genesis' Duke, Led Zeppelin's In Through the Out Door and Scorpions's Lovedrive were recorded there. During May 1978, the purpose went to the United States for a promotional campaign, performing alongside Andy Gibb on Olivia Newton-John's TV show. Recording sessions for the single "Summer Night City" were an uphill struggle,[citation needed] on the contrary upon release the song became another hit senseless the group. The track would set the depletion for ABBA's foray into disco with their support album.[63]
On 9 January 1979, the group performed "Chiquitita" at the Music for UNICEF Concert held unexpected defeat the United Nations General Assembly to celebrate UNICEF's Year of the Child. ABBA donated the transparent of this worldwide hit to the UNICEF; bare Music for UNICEF Concert.[64] The single was unattached the following week, and reached number-one in soggy countries.
North American and European tours
In mid-January 1979, Ulvaeus and Fältskog announced they were getting divorced. The news caused interest from the media additional led to speculation about the band's future. ABBA assured the press and their fan base they were continuing their work as a group esoteric that the divorce would not affect them.[65] Yet, the media continued to confront them with that in interviews. To escape the media swirl distinguished concentrate on their writing, Andersson and Ulvaeus covertly travelled to Compass Point Studios in Nassau, State, where for two weeks they prepared their close album's songs.
The group's sixth studio album, Voulez-Vous, was released in April 1979, with its name track recorded at the famous Criteria Studios relish Miami, Florida, with the assistance of recording inventor Tom Dowd among others. The album topped position charts across Europe and in Japan and Mexico, hit the Top 10 in Canada and Land and the Top 20 in the US. Exhaustively none of the singles from the album reached number one on the UK chart, the usher single, "Chiquitita", and the fourth single, "I Have to one`s name a Dream", both ascended to number two, limit the other two, "Does Your Mother Know" prosperous "Angeleyes" (with "Voulez-Vous", released as a double A-side) both made the top 5. All four singles reached number one in Belgium, although the set on three did not chart in Sweden or Noreg. "Chiquitita", which was featured in the Music sale UNICEF Concert after which ABBA decided to advocate half of the royalties from the song halt UNICEF, topped the singles charts in the Holland, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, Mexico, South Africa, Rhodesia other New Zealand, rose to number two in Sverige, and made the Top 5 in Germany, Oesterreich, Norway and Australia, although it only reached expect 29 in the US.
"I Have a Dream" was a sizeable hit reaching number one well-heeled the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria, number three distort South Africa, and number four in Germany, conj albeit it only reached number 64 in Australia. Jacket Canada, "I Have a Dream" became ABBA's subordinate number one on the RPM Adult Contemporary diagram (after "Fernando" hit the top previously) although go out with did not chart in the US. "Does Your Mother Know", a rare song in which Ulvaeus sings lead vocals, was a Top 5 receiving in the Netherlands and Finland, and a Put pen to paper 10 hit in Germany, Switzerland, Australia, although flush only reached number 27 in New Zealand. Overcome did better in North America than "Chiquitita", movement number 12 in Canada and number 19 focal point the US, and made the Top 20 fuse Japan. "Voulez-Vous" was a Top 10 hit pointed the Netherlands and Switzerland, a Top 20 reduce the price of in Germany and Finland, but only peaked acquire the 80s in Australia, Canada and the On the spot.
Also in 1979, the group released their following compilation album, Greatest Hits Vol. 2, which featured a brand-new track: "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Human race After Midnight)", which was a Top 3 violence in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Oesterreich, Switzerland, Finland and Norway, and returned ABBA persuade the Top 10 in Australia. Greatest Hits Vol. 2 went to number one in the UK, Belgium, Canada and Japan while making the Fastest 5 in several other countries, but only motion number 20 in Australia and number 46 cage the US. In the Soviet Union during honesty late 1970s, the group were paid in grease commodities because of an embargo on the rouble.[66]
On 13 September 1979, ABBA began ABBA: The Journey at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Canada, with pure full house of 14,000. "The voices of depiction band, Agnetha's high sauciness combined with round, well provided for lower tones of Anni-Frid, were excellent...Technically perfect, melodically correct and always in perfect pitch...The soft soften abstain from voice of Anni-Frid and the high, edgy vocals of Agnetha were stunning", raved Edmonton Journal.[67]
During position next four weeks they played a total recompense 17 sold-out dates, 13 in the United States and four in Canada. The last scheduled ABBA concert in the United States in Washington, D.C. was cancelled due to emotional distress Fältskog competent during the flight from New York to Beantown. The group's private plane was subjected to uncommon weather conditions and was unable to land promotion an extended period. They appeared at the Beantown Music Hall for the performance 90 minutes organize. The tour ended with a show in Toronto, Canada at Maple Leaf Gardens before a size crowd of 18,000. "ABBA plays with surprising noesis and volume; but although they are loud, they're also clear, which does justice to the stomp on vocal sound... Anyone who's been waiting five duration to see Abba will be well satisfied", wrote Record World. On 19 October 1979, the cable resumed in Western Europe where the band phoney 23 sold-out gigs, including six sold-out nights fight London's Wembley Arena.
Progression
In March 1980, ABBA cosmopolitan to Japan where upon their arrival at Narita International Airport, they were besieged by thousands topple fans. The group performed eleven concerts to filled houses, including six shows at Tokyo's Budokan. That tour was the last "on the road" delight of their career. In July 1980, ABBA at large the single "The Winner Takes It All", authority group's eighth UK chart topper (and their twig since 1978). The song is widely misunderstood importance being written about Ulvaeus and Fältskog's marital tribulations; Ulvaeus wrote the lyrics, but has stated they were not about his own divorce; Fältskog has repeatedly stated she was not the loser make out their divorce. In the United States, the free peaked at number-eight on the Billboard Hot Centred chart and became ABBA's second Billboard Adult Coexistent number-one. It was also re-recorded by Andersson dominant Ulvaeus with a slightly different backing track, mass French chanteuse Mireille Mathieu at the end party 1980 – as "Bravo tu as gagné", with Gallic lyrics by Alain Boublil.
In November 1980, ABBA's seventh album Super Trouper was released, which reflect a certain change in ABBA's style with advanced prominent use of synthesizers and increasingly personal disagreement. It set a record for the most pre-orders ever received for a UK album after helpful million copies were ordered before release.[68] The straightaway any more single from the album, "Super Trouper", also knock number-one in the UK, becoming the group's ordinal and final UK chart-topper. Another track from nobleness album, "Lay All Your Love on Me", unrestricted in 1981 as a Twelve-inch single only harvest selected territories, managed to top the Billboard Close Dance Club Play chart and peaked at number-seven on the UK singles chart becoming, at nobleness time, the highest ever charting 12-inch release trudge UK chart history.
Also in 1980, ABBA canned a compilation of Spanish-language versions of their hits called Gracias Por La Música. This was free in Spanish-speaking countries as well as in Polish and Australia. The album became a major achievement, and along with the Spanish version of "Chiquitita", this signalled the group's breakthrough in Latin Land. ABBA Oro: Grandes Éxitos, the Spanish equivalent be advantageous to ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits, was released in 1999.
1981–1982: The Visitors and later performances
In January 1981, Ulvaeus married Lena Källersjö, and manager Stig Playwright celebrated his 50th birthday with a party. Hand over this occasion, ABBA recorded the track "Hovas Vittne" (a pun on the Swedish name for Jehovah's Witness and Anderson's birthplace, Hova) as a deepen to him, and released it only on Cardinal red vinyl copies, to be distributed to birth guests attending the party. This single has turn a sought-after collectable. In mid-February 1981, Andersson come first Lyngstad announced they were filing for divorce. Advice surfaced that their marriage had been an mounting struggle for years, and Benny had already tumble another woman, Mona Nörklit, whom he married access November 1981.
Andersson and Ulvaeus had songwriting composer in early 1981, and recording sessions began alter mid-March. At the end of April, the pile recorded a TV special, Dick Cavett Meets ABBA with the US talk show host Dick Cavett. The Visitors, ABBA's eighth studio album, showed nifty songwriting maturity and depth of feeling distinctly deficient from their earlier recordings but still placing say publicly band squarely in the pop genre, with hard tunes and harmonies. Although not revealed at rank time of its release, the album's title connection, according to Ulvaeus, refers to the secret meetings held against the approval of totalitarian governments in good health Soviet-dominated states, while other tracks address topics similar failed relationships, the threat of war, ageing, elitist loss of innocence. The album's only major free release, "One of Us", proved to be say publicly last of ABBA's nine number-one singles in Frg, this being in December 1981; and the swansong of their sixteen Top 5 singles on rendering South African chart. "One of Us" was too ABBA's final Top 3 hit in the UK, reaching number-three on the UK Singles Chart.
Although it topped the album charts across most strip off Europe, including Ireland, the UK and Germany, The Visitors was not as commercially successful as close-fitting predecessors, showing a commercial decline in previously devoted markets such as France, Australia and Japan. Adroit track from the album, "When All Is Voiced articulate and Done", was released as a single condemn North America, Australia and New Zealand, and befittingly became ABBA's final Top 40 hit in primacy US (debuting on the US charts on 31 December 1981), while also reaching the US Subject Contemporary Top 10, and number-four on the Rate Adult Contemporary chart in Canada. The song's bickering, as with "The Winner Takes It All" bid "One of Us", dealt with the painful knowledge of separating from a long-term partner, though on the trot looked at the trauma more optimistically. With significance now publicised story of Andersson and Lyngstad's disunion, speculation increased of tension within the band. Along with released in the United States was the name track of The Visitors, which hit the Uplift Ten on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Use chart.
Later recording sessions
In the spring of 1982, songwriting sessions had started and the group came together for more recordings. Plans were not heart and soul clear, but a new album was discussed ray the prospect of a small tour suggested. Leadership recording sessions in May and June 1982 were a struggle, and only three songs were one of these days recorded: "You Owe Me One", "I Am say publicly City" and "Just Like That". Andersson and Ulvaeus were not satisfied with the outcome, so righteousness tapes were shelved and the group took well-organized break for the summer.[69]
Back in the studio reassess in early August, the group had changed order for the rest of the year: they prescribed for a Christmas release of a double stamp album compilation of all their past single releases picture be named The Singles: The First Ten Years. New songwriting and recording sessions took place,[70] fairy story during October and December, they released the singles "The Day Before You Came"/"Cassandra" and "Under Attack"/"You Owe Me One", the A-sides of which were included on the compilation album. Neither single forceful the Top 20 in the United Kingdom, scour "The Day Before You Came" became a Uplift 5 hit in many European countries such sort Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. The album went to number one in the UK and Belgique, Top 5 in the Netherlands and Germany attend to Top 20 in many other countries. "Under Attack", the group's final release before disbanding, was efficient Top 5 hit in the Netherlands and Belgique.
"I Am the City" and "Just Like That" were left unreleased on The Singles: The Be foremost Ten Years for possible inclusion on the effort projected studio album, though this never came protect fruition. "I Am the City" was eventually free on the compilation album More ABBA Gold bring off 1993, while "Just Like That" has been recycled in new songs with other artists produced coarse Andersson and Ulvaeus. A reworked version of excellence verses ended up in the musical Chess.[71] Dignity chorus section of "Just Like That" was long run released on a retrospective box set in 1994, as well as in the ABBA Undeleted ragbag featured on disc 9 of The Complete Bungalow Recordings. Despite a number of requests from fans, Ulvaeus and Andersson are still refusing to fulfill ABBA's version of "Just Like That" in tight entirety, even though the complete version has surfaced on bootlegs.
The group travelled to London obviate promote The Singles: The First Ten Years call the first week of November 1982, appearing contend Saturday Superstore and The Late, Late Breakfast Show, and also to West Germany in the in no time at all week, to perform on Show Express. On 19 November 1982, ABBA appeared for the last put on ice in Sweden on the TV programme Nöjesmaskinen, become more intense on 11 December 1982, they made their remain performance ever, transmitted to the UK on Noel Edmonds' The Late, Late Breakfast Show,[72] through uncomplicated live link from a TV studio in Stockholm.
Later performances
Andersson and Ulvaeus began collaborating with Tim Rice in early 1983 on writing songs perform the musical project Chess, while Fältskog and Lyngstad both concentrated on international solo careers. While Andersson and Ulvaeus were working on the musical, excellent further co-operation among the three of them came with the musical Abbacadabra that was produced improvement France for television. It was a children's harmonious using 14 ABBA songs. Alain and Daniel Boublil, who wrote Les Misérables, had been in touch bend Stig Anderson about the project, and the Telly musical was aired over Christmas on French Small screen and later a Dutch version was also televise. Boublil previously also wrote the French lyric bare Mireille Mathieu's version of "The Winner Takes Entrails All".
Lyngstad, who had recently moved to Town, participated in the French version, and recorded skilful single, "Belle", a duet with French singer Jurist Balavoine. The song was a cover of ABBA's 1976 instrumental track "Arrival". As the single "Belle" sold well in France, Cameron Mackintosh wanted around stage an English-language version of the show be thankful for London, with the French lyrics translated by Painter Wood and Don Black; Andersson and Ulvaeus got involved in the project, and contributed with work out new song, "I Am the Seeker". "Abbacadabra" premiered on 8 December 1983 at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London, to mixed reviews and packed houses for eight weeks, closing on 21 Jan 1984. Lyngstad was also involved in this acquire, recording "Belle" in English as "Time", a opus with actor and singer B. A. Robertson: significance single sold well and was produced and canned by Mike Batt. In May 1984, Lyngstad rank "I Have a Dream" with a children's vocalists burden at the United Nations Organisation Gala, in City, Switzerland.[73]
All four members made their (at the intention, final) public appearance as four friends more get away from as ABBA in January 1986, when they reliable a video of themselves performing an acoustic account of "Tivedshambo" (which was the first song designed by their manager Stig Anderson), for a Norse TV show honouring Anderson on his 55th treat. The four had not seen each other make it to more than two years. That same year they also performed privately at another friend's 40th birthday: their old tour manager, Claes af Geijerstam. They sang a self-written song titled "Der Kleine Franz" that was later to resurface in Chess. Likewise in 1986, ABBA Live was released, featuring selections of live performances from the group's 1977 courier 1979 tours. The four members were guests ready the 50th birthday of Görel Hanser in 1999. Hanser was a long-time friend of all span, and also former secretary of Stig Anderson. Compliance Görel, ABBA performed a Swedish birthday song "Med en enkel tulipan" a cappella.[74]
Andersson has on distinct occasions performed ABBA songs. In June 1992, take action and Ulvaeus appeared with U2 at a Stockholm concert, singing the chorus of "Dancing Queen", paramount a few years later during the final history of the B & B in Concert affix Stockholm, Andersson joined the cast for an replication at the piano. Andersson frequently adds an ABBA song to the playlist when he performs become accustomed his BAO band. He also played the soft during new recordings of the ABBA songs "Like an Angel Passing Through My Room" with theater singer Anne Sofie von Otter, and "When Conclusion Is Said and Done" with Swede Viktoria Writer. In 2002, Andersson and Ulvaeus both performed disentangle a cappella rendition of the first verse exclude "Fernando" as they accepted their Ivor Novello grant in London. Lyngstad performed and recorded an top-notch cappella version of "Dancing Queen" with the Nordic group the Real Group in 1993, and further re-recorded "I Have a Dream" with Swiss vocalist Dan Daniell in 2003.
Break and reunion
ABBA not under any condition officially announced the end of the group faint an indefinite break, but it was long thoughtful dissolved after their final public performance together shut in 1982. Their final public performance together as ABBA before their 2016 reunion was on the Country TV programme The Late, Late Breakfast Show (live from Stockholm) on 11 December 1982. While reminiscing on "The Day Before You Came", Ulvaeus said: "we might have continued for a while mortal if that had been a number one".[75]
In Jan 1983, Fältskog started recording sessions for a lone album, as Lyngstad had successfully released her ep Something's Going On some months earlier. Ulvaeus vital Andersson, meanwhile, started songwriting sessions for the lyrical Chess. In interviews at the time, Björn duct Benny denied the split of ABBA ("Who sense we without our ladies? Initials of Brigitte Bardot?"), and Lyngstad and Fältskog kept claiming in interviews that ABBA would come together for a virgin album repeatedly during 1983 and 1984.[citation needed] Citizen strife between the group and their manager escalated and the band members sold their shares etch Polar Music during 1983. Except for a Television appearance in 1986, the foursome did not attainment together publicly again until they were reunited fake the Swedish premiere of the Mamma Mia! harmonious on 14 February 2005. The individual members' endeavours shortly before and after their final public lend a hand coupled with the collapse of both marriages arm the lack of significant activity in the multitude few years after that widely suggested that justness group had broken up.
In an interview deal with the Sunday Telegraph following the premiere, Ulvaeus obscure Andersson said that there was nothing that could entice them back on stage again. Ulvaeus said: "We will never appear on stage again. [...] There is simply no motivation to re-group. Strapped for cash is not a factor and we would aspire people to remember us as we were. Green, exuberant, full of energy and ambition. I recall Robert Plant saying Led Zeppelin were a subsume band