ABBA Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Swedish pop group ABBA has been given the honors of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Along with the Stooges, Genesis, The Hollies and Jimmy Buffet. Some people grumbled and wondered why ABBA? ABBA’s music and song writing inspired a Broadway musical that inspired a movie enough said. Anni Frid Prinzessin and Benny Anderson(ex husband and wife) were present to accept the awards. There were hopes for an ABBA reunion but once again it was for naught. When first approached about a reunion in 2000 they decline a 1 billion US dollar deal that would consist of 100 concert reunion tour. In 2008 they did all appear at the premiere of Mamma Mia the movie in Stockholm Sweden. When asked again if there will ever be a reunion Bjorn Ulvaeous replied no, that they wanted to be remembered as they were in their heyday. Gotta respect that to know this group is about the music not about the money.

　ABBA the Beginning

ABBA was created using the first letters of the band member’s names which are Anni Frid Lyngstad, Benny Anderson, Bjorn Ulvaeous, and Agnetha Falkstrom. They were originally calling themselves Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Anni. Benny and Bjorn were already a group and then in spring of 1969 they met the two girls who not only would be their wives but the other part of ABBA. When entering the Eurovision contest once again in 1974 (they entered previous year and got third) they changed their name to ABBA and won with their song contest hit Waterloo and thus ABBA was born. They broke up in 1981 due to with fame taking a toll on their relationships ending in rumored bitter divorces. You could tell too in the change of their music especially in Winner takes it all and Under Attack which was on their last Album the Visitors.

ABBA Memories

While I was not really born yet when ABBA was popular it was in 1980 near their end of their career we some how had gotten one of their Albums by mistake. It was their 1980 Album Super Trouper. Being half Swedish and finding out they were from Sweden they were someone I could related to. I grew up on strong Swedish traditions as well from my Mothers side so I latched on to them. Being biracial and from two cultures I often wondered where I belonged for there was no one really around like me. I had the pale skin yet I had this curly kinky hair. Why did I not look like my other siblings? Growing up with my Mother only and her strong Swedish heritage and being in taught the old Swedish prayers and saying it before dinner every night, as well as being St. Lucia Fest every Christmas I leaned more toward my Swedish side. I came though to realize I was neither black nor white I was me. ABBA’s music some how got me through that tough time. Music has no color, music is universal no matter where you come from. Swedish blood is strong in me too though for if I listen to a song from an unknown artist to me at least, and I like them, well later I find out oh they are from Sweden or some Scandinavian place. We all go of course no wonder I like them. I have practically adored every Swedish/Scandinavian group that’s crossed over to the US charts. I remember listening to ABBA on the stereo record player with the head phones on and staring at the album cover listening and singing along. I was hooked and I thought Agnetha was beautiful. Then my mother would kindly tell me to shut up for I was singing too loudly and probably off key. ABBA got a bit of a revival in the 1990’s with movie like Muriel’s Wedding and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. This started an ABBA revival as I then discovered ABBA’s long music history and bought all their albums on cassette (had not upgraded to CD’s yet) and listened to them endlessly and once again loving their music still.

So I say ABBA thank you for the music!

ABBA ALBUMS

RING RING-1973

WATERLOO-1974 (Eurovision winner song)

ABBA-ABBA-1975 (I was born)

ABBA-The ALBUM- 1977

ABBA-ARRIVAL- 1976

VOULEZ VOUS- 1979

SUPER TROUPER- 1980 (I discover ABBA at age 5)

VISITORS -1981 (Last Album)