Mikory's ABBA-blog

Oscar Night!

I love to watch the Oscars. I know, it can be very loooooong and sometimes boring. Allthough I must say that they have been speeding things up quite a bit in later years.

Back in the dark age when I was young, we never got to see the Oscars here in Sweden. But that's different now. Swedish films and Swedish moviemakers have been nominated and actually won every now and then. For example Lasse Hallström's movie "My Life As A Dog" was nominated for best picture. Lasse Hallström was of course the director of "ABBA - The Movie". On a sad note regarding Lasse Hallström, his former wife Malou Hallström, who alsow worked on the ABBA movie was found dead in a hotel in Stockholm last week. It's still not decided wheter it's a crime or a suicide. And then, of course, there's Ingmar Bergman who has been nominated - and won - a lot of times.

I have another favourite that has managed to get the golden statue. Barbra Streisand for example who got an Oscar for best Actress for her role as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" in 1969. Seven years later she got an Oscar for best song in a movie "Evergreen" from the movie "A Star Is Born". But when she presented her masterpiece "Yentl" which she adapted, starred in and directed she was snubbed by the Academy. I read to my joy that "Yentl" will be released on DVD in July this year! It's 22 years since it had it's premiere, and I and many with me was waiting for a 20th Birthday release of that movie. But I guess there has been some delays. I hope it's packed with extra material and never-before-seen photge.

The two Swedish movies Agnetha and Anni-Frid acted in were not exactly Oscar material... but Agnetha was very good in "Raskenstam" in 1983. She had a much bigger role than I expected her to have. Frida only had a small role in the quite depressing realistic Swedish drama movie "Gå På Vattnet Om Du Kan". But, hey, you can't be the  best at everything, can you?

I look forward to sitting up late, here it starts a long time after midnight and goes on all through the night. It's become a tradition for me to watch it. I have loved Billy Crystal as the host for many years. And I'm one of the few who enjoyed David Letterman hosting the Oscars. Most people hated it. I will never forget his idea of how to introduce Oprah Winfrey to Uma Thurman: "- Oprah! - Uma!" Hilarious! Tonight it will be comedian Chris Rock who will be hosting, could be good.
So Happy Oscar to all of you - ABBA-fans and others.

Genealogy

My father has recently started a genealogy project, something he really enjoys. In his work he got hold of two searchable archives of the Swedish population at 1970 and 1980. Being the ABBA-nerd I am I of course immediately made searches for the four members. Here's what I found:

Agnetha
Born 5 April 1950 in Jönköpings Kristina (Jönköpings län, Småland). She is listed as Fältskog, Åse Agneta (look - no "h"!). Her address in 1970 was Bokgatan 10, 552 45 Jönköping and in 1980 she lived at Jupitervägen 12 A, 181 63 Lidingö.

Björn
Born 25 April 1945 in Lundby (Göteborgs och Bohus län, Västergötland). He is listed as Ulvaeus, Björn Kristian. His address in 1970 was c/o Larsson, Backvägen 5 III, 171 35 Solna and in 1980 he lived at Björkuddsstranden 6, 181 64 Lidingö. Who was this mysterious Larsson he was living with in 1970? I remember he had a 'official' girlfriend before Agnetha, where they living together? Does anyone know?

Benny
Born 16 December 1946 in Matteus (Stockholms stad, Uppland). He is listed as Andersson, Göran Bror Benny. His address in 1970 was Gamla Lundagatan 4 V, 117 26 Stockholm and in 1980 he lived at Södra Kungsvägen 241, 181 62 Lidingö.

Anni-Frid
Born 15 November 1945 (no place given, I guess because she was born in Norway). She is listed as Fredriksson, Anni-Frid (no mentioning of her second name Synni). Her address in 1970 was Västeråsvägen 13, 623 23 Eskilstuna. In 1980 she is listed as Lyngstad, Anni-Frid living at Södra Kungsvägen 241, 181 62 Lidingö.

So it's now official... I'm 40!

Eeek! I turned fourty (40!) yesterday.  The horror, the disgrace etc etc. No actually, being 40 suits me fine. If I hadn't been born 40 years ago, if I had been born later, I would have missed so much of ABBA when it was actually happening! So for that I'm grateful that I was only 9 when ABBA came along with Waterloo in 1974. That I was the perfect age of 12 in 1977 when Arrival was released so I could enjoy dancing to "Dancing Queen" with my little school mates at the school disco.

Anyway, I had a great day. Thanks to all of you who acknowledged my birthday. I had a nice celebration with the family. But the celebrations aren't over yet. I have two more really good things to look forward to: Greg and Pat's belated birthday gift which will arrive any day. Greg and Pat are in Australia and I am in Sweden so sometimes it takes a while for stuff to arrive. The second thing is that a group of close friends (I have known some of them from kindergarten) are throwing a big party for me on 12 March!

I found it appropriate to have a good listen to the complete Waterloo album today (after writing about my fascination with that "era"). Sure some of the songs are a bit corny, but I like Suzy-Hang-Around, My Mama Said and even King Kong Song. They made me smile today, so they must be good.

Well it's time to go to bed after this long awaited day. I'm not stopping by the mirror to see if there are any more grey hairs or new wrinkles there.

Why do I love the Waterloo era?

I don't know why I love the Waterloo era. Or maybe I do. Let me first explain what I mean with loving Waterloo. For me the pictures of ABBA wearing the Waterloo outfits (the ones they wore when they won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974) is really ABBA. I know there are better looks, I mean things like Frida's perm, Agnetha's outfit that makes her body look like an "s" from the side, Björn being quite overweight at this time should all make me choose some other look or era as my favourite. But I can't. For the last 31 years I keep coming back to these pictures. I'm not a record collector, but I do collect the records where ABBA wore the Waterloo outfits. I was thrilled to see the costumes at the ABBA Exhibition here in Stockholm a couple of years ago. If I see any thing from this era on eBay or anywhere else I just instantly want it. I guess the real explanation is that was how they looked when I fell in love with them, with ABBA, the group. So this is why I have started a Waterloo picture gallery. If you have any pictures from that time, please send them to me. And at the same time I'd like to know what era is ABBA for you?

My thoughts on "The Sun Will Shine Again"

As most of you know Frida made a guest appearance on Jon Lord's new album last year. The song is called "The Sun Will Shine Again" and the lyrics are written by Sam Brown. Frida has been really busy and appeared on a number of different TV-shows, especially in Germany. She also appeared with Jon Lord on stage on his tour.

Some ABBA-fans have said that they don't like it at all. I feel differently about it. I think it's a beautiful song, and the lyrics seem to have a very personal significance for Frida. But beyond that I think it also shows what a fantastic, warm voice Frida still has. It's all there, the soft warm timbre combined with the real strength that we all know and love. You can order Jon Lord's CD here.
The song also meant a lot to me and others who have gone difficult times and easily can relate to the beautiful lyrics:

Inside my mind
The world is watching over
My every move,
Still I am here alone
Uncried tears,
they will only fuel my fears -
Now it sees they're falling
And I feel release . . .  an inner peace
And realize
The sun will shine again

Though this time
Feels like it's never ending
Time will help and heal
These moments will pass
So raise your head, and take up your heart
Hold it closely to you
And the tears and pain will fall away
Like blossom snow
You will know
That you can be your own best friend
The sun will shine again

Only you can know
How unravelled you'd become
Hold on tight
And let it go ...
The sun will shine again

Frida interview from 1998

- Pleasure for me in my life means doing something important, for my family, my friends and other people. Not doing nothing, says Frida.  

We meet her at the Santa Ponsas golf court in Mallorca. She is not here to play golf herself this day, even though that is a big hobby of hers.   No, she is really working hard. She and her husband Ruzzo are hosting a golf tournament for two days.

I get a chance to talk to Frida in one of the small golf cars. We have a little conversation about life, love and most of all Mentor. The last   being the reason for her to be here. The golf tournament is part of Mentor's annual meeting in Mallorca. The reason for being in Mallorca this time is a project here on the island. Together with Queen Silvia, the Duke of  Luxembourg, the business man George Soros, Queen Noor and others Frida is part of this foundation which contributes with support to different projects in the world working for preventing drug use.
- Education is a big part of this. We want to create cooperation between parents, teachers and people who work with the young, Frida explains. She   talks with passion about the foundation and the inspiring work. Why? After just releasing a new CD two years ago - after 12 years - she could deserve to take some time off, and just do nothing?
- To do something good is important. It's my way of enjoying life.

We all know her life well: ABBA, world fame, touring, a place in the sun (sometimes), separation (also in her private life), moving, silence and a new love and security. Now she finally feels at home in this turbulent life she says:
- I am me. I like myself. If you want to lead a full life it takes years to get to know yourself and accept all the things you are, the things youlike and the things you're not so fond of. She has spent a lot of time thinking about this.
- Everyone has many facets to their personality within and identity   lies in every form of outgoing motion that has something to do with work, family, friends and other things. But in a deeper sense identity to me   is what you see in yourself and who you realise you are eventually. That   changes the whole life through, the older you get and it depends what happens in your life. You don't stand still if you don't want to, she says seriously.

Then she smiles, says hi to some golfers passing by. "Hi! How's it going today? The weather's a little better! Great!"

Her husband Ruzzo stands a little bit away discussing golf rules with some of the golfers. They are deeply involved in each others work. Here it's him contributing with his golf skills to make the annual meeting of Mentor even better.
- It's natural that we help each other, she says. We have a very good relation built on strong and solid basic love. We have been through a lot together. And it doesn't matter wheter you're rich or poor, or don't use drugs. There are so many other things that can bring sorrow in one's life. The tragic accident that took Frida's daughter away from her is nothing she wants to - or is able to - discuss yet. Just the mentioning of it hurts her and she definitely doesn't want to talk about in public.
- He is a wonderful man, she says about Ruzzo. Not just for me. I think most people who gets to know him likes him very, very much.
He is both handsome - and - very nice. A prince - and she is a princess. At official gatherings and dinners etc her full name is used: Princess Anni-Frid Reuss.
- I have a prince who is one of the most normal men there is, she says and laughs. We do not live with any titles in our day to day life. We live in the country with our dog and Ruzzo has his work as a golf course architect, which takes most of his time during spring and summer. But titles like   these can come in handy, she realises that. Like for instance when it comes to organising things like the work for Mentor.

On CD she is just Frida. It was her big desire to work again that made her come back after twelve years of musical silence. During those years she has been involved in a lot of other things like her family and the environmental work. But there was always a desire to sing.
- I wanted to work with my voice again. The way I have for so many years   and it's just not something that you can stop doing. There was a void that needed to be filled.

To say that bad fortune would bring out the best, a geniality of some sort for performers, poets and actors is something Frida does not believe in.
- All humans have sorrow in their lives and we have to go through it, work through sadness and losses. It can create positive thoughts and be a foundation for creativity during a period of time. But to have success in life as a human being you have to acknowledge all parts of your life. And there is so many other things apart from creativity. I myself am pedantic  so I like to have control over everything I do and that includes all aspects of my life.

Back home in Sweden, in Trosa where Frida's son Hasse lives, there is a recording studio which both Hasse and Ruzzo has created. It's build with a futuristic vision of multimedia. The connection to Sweden is strong, with her son in Trosa and the place where she works. Ruzzo has children and a home in southern Sweden. And they have their friends there.
- Apart from going to Sweden we don't travel very much. Ruzzo has his work in Switzerland and we don't come here to Mallorca as often as I would like, she tells us and hurries off to continue working. She has to prepare a speech for the price ceremony and other things for the meeting next day. She likes it. She is happy as a business woman. Wants to feel needed and usefull.
- Give something back of all the things I have received in life.

Svensk Damtidning 23 July 1998

"I have been terribly ashamed of my parents"

This article was published in Hänt Extra 1 February 2005:

Today is Linda Ulvaeus, 31, a star on her own. At the moment she is playing Honey in "Who's afraid of Virginia Wolf" at Lorensbergsteatern in Gothenburg. But having two of the most famous Swedes, the two pop icons Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog, has affected her life. Sometimes the kids at her school taunted her by singing ABBA-songs.
- It upset me terribly. And let me tell you, if 'normal' kids are embarrassed of their parents, I have been terribly ashamed of mine. Between the age of 13 and 17 she suffered from bulimia and her teens were troubled.
- I was quite the wild kid and it felt like I didn't belong anywhere. I started hanging with a bad crowd.

MOVED TO THE COUNTRY
What saved her was a pony, named Mr. Jimson and moving to the countryside. Later on she became interested in acting. Half way through the acting programme at Dramatiska Institutet in Stockholm she realised that she was pregnant.
- Yes, there I was doing my ballet classes being eight months pregnant. But in the end the pregnancy was welcome. Linda took a break from her education and stayed home with her daughter, Tilda, who is three years old today. Tilda's father is Jens Ekengren, a "completely normal guy in a suit who works at Vodafone". Linda met him at the local videostore at Ekerö 11 years ago. They have been a couple ever since. But Linda remembers that Jens first meeting with the "in-laws" was a sensitive affair for all involved. [Why? What happened? Micke's remark.] But today Linda is secure and safe and when she is going through something difficult she has her own method of curing anxiety:
- Driving the tractor is a very good therapy. It's a very concrete way to shake off your problems and worries.

The Expressen article about Agnetha

This article was published in Swedish tabloid Expressen on 14 February 2005.

AGNETHA FLED
FROM THE REUNION
This was the night when ABBA was supposed to reunite for the first time in many years. But when the curtain went up for "Mamma Mia!" Agnetha sat alone, Frida sat alone and Björn & Benny sat together. And afterwards Agnetha fled surrounded by guards.
– Oh, Agnetha was here? Well good for her, it must be the first time [she's seen the musical], says her ex-husband Björn Ulvaeus to Expressen.

ABBA ended 23 years ago and the four members Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus have not shown themselves together for 19 years. The last time all four were together was at Görel Hanser's 50th birthday in 1999. Last night the musical "Mamma Mia!" opened at Cirkus in Stockholm. Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were invited. As Expressen revealed last week Agnetha had accepted and was coming even though she was hesitant to go out in public.

SELDOM OUT ON HER OWN
Agnetha Fältskog, 54, lives alone in her house on Ekerö outside of Stockholm and seldom goes out alone without a body guard. One reason is Gert van der Graaf, a 39 year old Dutch man who had a relationship with Agnetha in the late nineties. He is obsessed with Agnetha, he bought a house next to hers, he has been peeping through her windows and he has written numerous letters to her. He has been punished for violating the restraining order.

AGNETHA CAME - BUT THERE WAS NO REAL REUNION
She arrived with her bodyguard David Maloney and she really made an effort to look relaxed and happy as she walked down the red carpet. But immediately inside she hid in a room next to the stage and did not take her seat until the lights were out. During the show she had three bodyguards around her so noone could get close to her.

"MAMMA MIA"
Agnetha Fältskog was seated to the right in the theatre, about 50 metres from Anni-Frid, who was seated to the left, while Björn and Benny sat at the back. Agnetha was dressed in a black sequined dress, she was seen singing along in songs like "Waterloo" and "Mamma Mia".

SCARED OF THE CAMERA
Immediately after the show Agnetha displayed her famous shyness. A man in the audience pointed his mobile phone/digital camera at her to take a picture and she immediately lifted her hands to protect her face. As the curtain was coming down she quickly escaped, protected by her bodyguards, to a waiting limousine. Björn Ulvaeus didn't get a chance to talk to her. Benny Andersson said [on the red carpet]:
- I don't know if the girls will be here. I don't keep track of them, I haven't kept track of them for many years. I haven't seen Agnetha in a long time, but I see Frida every now and then.

by Tommy Schönsted

I love old magazine articles

One of my favourite things with collecting ABBA stuff is when I find really old magazines that has articles about the four ABBA members. The older the magazine the more exciting do I think it is. I bought this little gem from a fellow Swede on www.ebay.com  It was a copy of Swedish weekly magazine "Allers" from 15 July 1973. It featured a cute little article about Agnetha and Björn and their first child, baby Linda Elin. Here's my translation:

Who does Linda Elin take after, Agnetha or Björn?
Ring, Ring!
  We ring the doorbell to the Ulvaeus family home in Vallentuna, outside of Stockholm.
It is Agnetha who answers the door.
- Hello and welcome! I assume you want to see the little "miracle"? She has 'overslept' by an hour, so we are running a little behind.
- Of course we want to see the baby, that's why we came.

It was the 23rd of February (1973) when Linda Elin came in to this world. She was so welcome.
- For over four years have we been trying to get pregnant. So no wonder we are really excited now, says Agnetha as a very proud mother.
Björn, who is out in the kitchen preparing a bottle for the baby, is no less happy.
- I took part during the whole delivery and it was the most fantastic thing I have ever experienced.
Even though some months have passed since Linda was born, he is still touched about this fantastic experience.

Agnetha and Björn say that they will raise their daughter with common sense and lots of love.
- We are hoping we will be able to give her a stable home. To have a mother and father who like each other very much is probably one of the most important things for any child. We think that can go a long way.
- But of course, says Björn, we will bring Linda up to be independent as soon as possible. We will try not to be too overprotective. It's important that she learns that there's a consequence to every deed. This "blame-someone-else-mentality" that is so popular now is not a good thing. Sure, it's easy enough to put the blame for bad things that happen on the school system, the parents, society and so on every time something goes wrong.

It wouldn't be too surprising if Linda turns out to be musically talented. If she would want to become a performer when she grows up, would you let her?
- Of course, we want her to be able to do what she wants to do. If she is talented enough, then I don't have anything against it. As long as she is not trying to use her parents fame. If she makes it on her own then it would be fine.
Agnetha doesn't share Björn's opinion.
- I would rather see that she gets a good and proper education when she grows up. Being an artist is such an unreliable situation to live in. Before you know it, your popularity dies and what do you do then? You need to have some skills you can fall back on.

So, well, who does Linda look more like, you or Björn?
Before Agnetha gets a chance to answer Björn says:
- Linda is created in my image. She has my eyes, my nose and my mouth. Sometimes I'm not even sure Agnetha is the mother.
- HA! says Agnetha.
After this little domestic dispute we leave the question about who Linda looks more like to our readers. Who do you think she looks more like?

ABBA's "non-reunion" and re-issues of Frida's back catalogue

Last Saturday, the 12th of February, the musical "Mamma Mia!" opened here in Sweden. The anticipation was very high; would the four former members of ABBA attend, and if so, would they get up on stage together?

A lot of fans and members of the press were gathered outside of Cirkus on Djurgården in Stockholm. And yes, all of them, Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad came. But they didn't arrive together. Frida, Benny and Björn were interviewed  and they didn't seem to know that all four of them would attend the show. Agnetha, who had, in my opinion, several things to prove by attending. First, that she is not the recluse Garbo-like woman she has been pointed out to be. Her former friend and co-writer of her autobiography "Som Jag Är", Brita Åhman, has sold the "working material" to a British TV-company. Agnetha is terrified that a lot more of what she talked to Brita Åhman about will come out in a documentary than what she agreed to publish in her book. Not long ago, in December last year, Agnetha suddenly agreed to do an interview with Lasse Bengtsson, famours TV4 news profile here in Sweden. She talked about her worries and tried to convince the audience and herself of how 'normal' (whatever that is) she is. Secondly, she had to attend this opening night, since she didn't attend the 30th anniversary of ABBA's victory in the Eurovision/the 5th anniversary of "Mamma Mia!" in London last year. She had agreed to be there, but at the last minute she said no.

I have thought a lot about this, and I must say I feel sorry for Agnetha. The harder she tries to stay away from the media, the more hunted she gets. On the opening night last Saturday it happened again. She rushed her way in to the theatre, didn't talk to the press or the fans - and when it was all over, people started to try take pictures of her with their mobile phones/cameras. And it looked like she was about to have a panic attack. She was quickly escorted out by her bodyguards and disappeared in the waiting limousine. She should do what Frida did and has done almost all the time since ABBA split up. She arrives, she talks to the press and she signs autographs for her fans. And noone bothers her. I have a terrible feeling that after what happened Saturday (see the pictures here of how scared Agnetha looks) this was definitely the last time we saw Agnetha in public. What a shame.

About the musical, I can only say that I have never liked it, I've only seen it once in London, and I just can't stand listen to ABBA's music being performed by any other people than Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid. That's it. I know MILLIONS of people love it, but I don't. And now, Niklas Strömstedt, Swedish singer/songwriter has translated the well-known songs into Swedish (together with Björn) - which makes it even more unappealing to me. But as I said, maybe it's just me.

Some good news too. Universal has announced that Frida's three albums "Frida Ensam", "Something's Going On" and "Shine" will be remastered and re-issued and released in May 2005. Can't wait for that. Later this year the same thing will happen to Agnetha's two Polar Music albums "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" and "Eyes Of A Woman".