ABBA

One of the most iconic and successful pop groups in music history.

ABBA was formed in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972.

The group's name is an acronym of the members' first names: Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

The group's original lineup consisted of two couples:

Agnetha Fältskog was married to Björn Ulvaeus, while Benny Andersson was married to Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

ABBA was known for their catchy pop tunes, harmonious vocals, and elaborate production values.

Their music often featured a blend of pop, rock, and disco elements.

The group's distinctive fashion sense, with their flamboyant costumes and memorable stage presence, also contributed to their iconic image.

## ABBA history

### 1966 - 1974

The origins of ABBA date back to 1966, when keyboardist and vocalist Benny Andersson, a onetime member of the popular beat outfit the Hep Stars, first teamed with guitarist and vocalist Bjorn Ulvaeus, the leader of the folk-rock unit the Hootenanny Singers.

The two performers began composing songs together and handling session and production work for Polar Music/Union Songs, a publishing company owned by Stig Anderson, himself a prolific songwriter throughout the '50s and '60s.

At the same time, both Andersson and Ulvaeus worked on projects with their respective girlfriends:

Ulvaeus had become involved with vocalist Agnetha Faltskog, a performer with a recent number one Swedish hit, "I Was So in Love," under her belt, while Andersson began seeing Anni-Frid Lyngstad, a one-time jazz singer who rose to fame by winning a national talent contest.

In 1971, Faltskog ventured into theatrical work, accepting the role of Mary Magdalene in a Swedish production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar; her cover of the musical's "Don't Know How to Love Him" became a significant hit.

The following year, the duo of Andersson and Ulvaeus scored a massive international hit with "People Need Love," which featured Faltskog and Lyngstad on backing vocals.

The record's success earned them an invitation to enter the Swedish leg of the 1973 Eurovision song contest, where, under the unwieldy name of Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida, they submitted "Ring Ring," which proved extremely popular with audiences but placed only third in the judges' ballots.

The next year, renamed ABBA submitted the single "Waterloo," and became the first Swedish act to win the Eurovision competition.

### 1975 - 1982

In 1975, however, ABBA issued "S.O.S.," a smash not only in America and Britain but also in non-English speaking countries such as Spain, Germany and the Benelux nations, where the group's success was fairly unprecedented.

A string of hits followed, including "Mamma Mia," "Fernando," and "Dancing Queen" (ABBA's sole U.S. chart-topper), further honing their lush, buoyant sound; by the spring of 1976, they were already in position to issue their first Greatest Hits collection.

ABBA's popularity continued in 1977, when both "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "The Name of the Game" dominated airwaves.

The group also starred in the feature film ABBA: The Movie, which was released in 1978.

That year Andersson and Lyngstad married, as had Ulvaeus and Faltskog in 1971, although the latter couple separated a few months later;

In fact, romantic suffering was the subject of many songs on the quartet's next LP, 1979's Voulez-Vous.

Shortly after the release of 1980s Super Trouper, Andersson and Lyngstad divorced as well, further straining the group dynamic.

The Visitors, issued the following year, was the final LP of new ABBA material of that era, and the foursome officially disbanded after the December 1982 release of their single "Under Attack."

## 21st Century

Though ABBA disbanded in 1982, they remained in the pop culture consciousness for decades to follow thanks to popular compilations, licensing, and the success of Mamma Mia!, musical that was adapted for the big screen in 2008.

As both a stage and film production, Mamma Mia! was a massive hit -- the movie spawned a sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again -- attracting new audiences who were born long after the group's split. ABBA unexpectedly returned to activity in the late 2000s, a comeback that culminated with the 2021 release of Voyage, their first album in 40 years.

### 2022. ABBA Voyage virtual concert experience

The smash-hit ABBA Voyage virtual concert residency has created a new model for ageing legends .

One of the most expensive productions in music history, the £140m (€164m) show has brought the Swedish group – Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – back to the stage in avatar form, supported by a 10-piece live band.

The four members of ABBA spent five weeks being filmed by 160 cameras for motion capture as they performed the 22 songs that make up the show’s 95-minute runtime.

ABBA Arena is designed to fit 1,650 seats and space for a standing audience of 1,350.

According to statistics, the residency has already generated upwards of €140m in sales after selling over 1.5 million tickets, achieving a 99% occupancy rate with an average ticket price of around £85 (€100).

## Discography

1. Ring Ring (1973)
	* Notable Tracks: "Ring Ring," "Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)," "Nina, Pretty Ballerina"
2. Waterloo (1974)
	* Notable Tracks: "Waterloo," "Honey, Honey," "Dancing Queen"
3. ABBA (1975)
	* Notable Tracks: "Mamma Mia," "SOS," "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do"
4. Arrival (1976)
	* Notable Tracks: "Dancing Queen," "Money, Money, Money," "Knowing Me, Knowing You"
5. ABBA: The Album (1977)
	* Notable Tracks: "Take a Chance on Me," "The Name of the Game," "Thank You for the Music"
6. Voulez-Vous (1979)
	* Notable Tracks: "Chiquitita," "Voulez-Vous," "I Have a Dream"
7. Super Trouper (1980)
	* Notable Tracks: "Super Trouper," "The Winner Takes It All," "Lay All Your Love on Me"
8. The Visitors (1981)
	* Notable Tracks: "One of Us," "When All Is Said and Done," "The Visitors (Crackin' Up)"
9. Voyage (2021)
	* Notable Tracks: "I Still Have Faith in You," "Don't Shut Me Down," "Just a Notion"

ABBA's studio albums spanned from their debut in 1973 with "Ring Ring" to their comeback album "Voyage" released in 2021, marking their first studio album in nearly four decades. Each album contributed to their iconic status in the world of pop music.