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June 2004
Wanted for new fan section on ABBA features site the following
Pictures of
All ABBA
Fan collections
Commemorative items
Displays
Private pictures and videos
Autographs
Signed items
Meeting members
Tickets
Programmes
News cuttings
Etc.
Please email to the following
Please send in your pics as this is a new and exciting section being added to this site !
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“The Definitive Collection¡¯¡¯
(Universal Music)
Keyboardist/vocalist Benny Andersson and guitarist/vocalist Bjorn Ulvaeus, along with girlfriends Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Flatskog won third place at the 1973 Eurovision Contest for “Ring Ring.¡¯¡¯ After the foursome cleverly jumbled together an acronym of their first names, they returned the following year with “Waterloo¡¯¡¯ to top the Eurovision contest. With exuberant, energetic, sugary sounds, ABBA became an international sensation, becoming the greatest commercial success of their time. Strained by divorce, however, the band disbanded after the release of “Under Attack¡¯¡¯ in 1982.
The Swedish polyphony celebrates their 30 th anniversary with a compilation of past recordings rather than a comeback tour, fearing the latter may disillusion fans. ABBA¡¯s consideration for their fans pays off. “The Definitive Collection,¡¯¡¯ 2CD+1DVD with 5 bonus tracks, is a complete package of all their perennial hits along with Korean translations for each song. In addition to the three songs mentioned above, it includes “Mamma Mia,¡¯¡¯ “Dancing Queen,¡¯¡¯ “Take A Chance On Me,¡¯¡¯ “Voulez-Vous,¡¯¡¯ “The Winner Takes It All,¡¯¡¯ “S.O.S.,¡¯¡¯ and “Thank You For The Music.¡¯¡¯ After three decades of nonstop hits, it is finally our turn to thank the four for their sublime music.
-Kim Hee-sun
15/06/04:
Agnetha’s midweek position is…
A dissapointing #35
14/06/04:
When buying Agnetha’s single only buy 3 at any one time. If you have a large amount only the first three scans count to chart sales, this is to prevent chart rigging !
Not in UK ? – You can STILL contribute to Agnetha on the chart !
If you live outside the UK but still want to contribute to Agnetha on the charts then you can. Remember online sales only count IF you have a UK address. Here in the UK “When You Walk In The Room” single will be released. We are offering to send 10 people (not in UK) their own copy of the single, this way it contributes to Agnetha in the chart. The conditions are below:
1. You must live outside the UK
2. You must be able to pay for all items and the postage
3. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PAY BY PAYPAL
4. Serious buyers only !
Give us a mail now to get your name on the list !
The list is slowly filling but we have lots more space !
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LIST
Make Agnetha a Top 10 UK summer hit !
Agnetha single arrives in the UK
!4th June, Agnetha’s new single “When You Walk In The Room” was released in the UK. Two versions are available; CD1 and CD2. Here are the tracklists:
UK CD2:
1. When You Walk In The Room – Original version (3:35)
2. When You Walk In The Room – SoundFactory Radio Edit (3:46)
3. When You Walk In The Room – SoundFactory Club Anthem (8:42)
4. When You Walk In The Room – SoundFactory Dub Instrumental (8:39)
5. When You Walk In The Room – Almighty Mix (6:34)
6. When You Walk In The Room – Almighty Dub (6:32)
7. When You Walk In The Room – Video
UK CD1:
1. When You Walk In The Room – Original version (3:35)
2. When You Walk In The Room – Radio Version (3:18)
There is not one remix I haven’t enjoyed here. There are two more remixes: Almighty Radio edit (3:16) and SoundFactory
Dark Dub 10:20. (More on this here).
The “Radio version” from CD1 is excellent. It is similar to the original but is covered in guitars rather than strings as much, it almost reminds me of a closer 60’s style arrangment, for anyone who has heard the searchers version it may remind you of this.. The Soundfactory Radio edit is great. Not too long, not too short a real club anthem. The Almighty mixes seem to have completley replaced the backing track, another dance anthem. Personaly I prefer ardio edits of remixes.
I was dissaponted though that the spines of both singles are black! So they dont add to my shelf of colors ! >: o (
For more pics of the CD’s and stills from the CD-Rom Click Here !
13/06/04:
According to ABBA Intermezzo Warner has confirmed a DVD release of Agnetha’s TV special for the Autum.
HMV.co.uk once again reccomend Agnetha’s single. That means she will be placed twice in the store under new releases. (once in singles section and again in store)
Remember if you’re not in the UK but want to help Agnetha on the chart Click Here !
12/06/04:
The Faltskog Needs You campaign seems to be working. Even the BBC have something Agnetha. TOTP2 site is showing both Agnetha’s videos in full at their site:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp2/video/
Remember to give them posotive feedback for it !
Here’s what they say about the vids:
AGNETHA FALTSKOG
‘IF I EVER THOUGHT YOU’D CHANGE YOUR MIND’
First single from Agnetha’s cover project ‘My Colouring Book’. Doesn’t look like she went over the lines at all. Impressive!
AGNETHA FALTSKOG
‘WHEN YOU WALK IN THE ROOM’
This is the ‘Colouring Book’ version of Ag’s cover of the Searchers classic, not that we could tell the difference, shot as it is on the same set as ‘If I…’ Enjoy!
Meanwhile at ABBAFest today “When You Walk In The Room” video was shown aswell as “Past, Present and Future”
THE BUZZ!
Mamma Mia! a hit in HK
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By Tee Hun Ching
GIMME! Gimme! Gimme!
The Hong Kong audience just couldn’t seem to get enough of Mamma Mia!, the musical woven from 22 Abba hits.
By the end of its opening night on Thursday, the near-capacity crowd at the 1,700-seat Hong Kong Cultural Centre was up on its feet, dancing and clapping to three chart-toppers from the 1970s Swedish pop group – Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen and Waterloo.
Ms Louise Withers, 42, the associate producer of the musical, expects the same warm reception when the Australasian production opens in Singapore on Sept 21 for up to 11 weeks.
The Straits Times is the presenter for that leg.
‘I can’t wait to go to Singapore. I have no worries that the people there won’t love or understand it,’ she told Life!.
More than 18 million people have caught the show since it premiered in London in April 1999, and total box-office receipts have surpassed US$750 million (S$1.3 billion).
It has also spawned 11 simultaneous productions in more than 70 cities in countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States.
Japan and Korea stage their own versions using local casts.
The Australasian production made its debut in 2001 and will end its run in Melbourne in June next year.
The Hong Kong run is the first time an English-speaking cast of the musical is performing in a country where the language is not widely spoken, said Ms Withers, thus subtitles are accompanying the nine-week show.
Concerns that cultural differences may dilute its humour and appeal were put to rest when the 32-member cast was given a standing ovation at a preview the night before the opening gala.
‘We were sort of holding our breath to see if they would love and laugh at it as in the rest of the world,’ she added.
It is not hard, really, to fall for this musical that is brimming with unbridled fun, infectious energy and humour that often borders on naughty.
The simple plot tells of a 20-year-old girl, Sophie, who invites three of her mother Donna’s old flames to her own wedding on a Greek island in a bid to find out who her father is.
To crank up the fun, Donna also invites two long-time girl pals, and the sisterhood scales new heights when the trio recreate their hilarious disco diva act in shimmering sequinned lycra outfits and silver platform boots.
Everyone in the cast pulls his own weight so much so that the two actresses who play Donna’s girlfriends – one a stocky tomboy and the other a seductress of Amazonian proportions – threaten to steal the show whenever they pop up.
The musical does not pretend to be anything other than a light-hearted tale of romantic intrigue that aims to entertain.
But backed by snazzy choreography and often witty dialogue, it transcends being a mere frothy production to register as a clever effort with undercurrents of nostalgia.
The Abba tracks are woven in so seamlessly that you could well be misled into thinking that these timeless songs were written for the story.
And sung with gusto, and sometimes pathos, in the context of bitter-sweet memories of lost love, you discover emotional layers to these catchy tunes you never knew existed.
The experience is so enjoyable that you readily overlook the no-frills set that comprises primarily of two curved slabs of cream walls with blue doors.
Thank you, indeed, for the music.
Agnetha in Australia’s Daily Telegraph
This is the Cameron Adams interview that first appeared in Melbourne Herald Sun about a week ago.
Click here for the interview !
ABBA In Concert has been released in the US. Some online stores show the booklet cover as the front cover.
Here is a US review:
Classic 1980 ABBA IN CONCERT Film Debuts on DVD, Newly Remastered for Surround Sound and With Three Added Performances and Other Bonuses
LOS ANGELES, June 11 /PRNewswire/ — When ABBA embarked on its 1979 concert tour of North America and Europe, the group was both at the height of its popularity — it was the most commercially successful pop group of the ’70s (more than 100 million records sold worldwide) — and near the end of its run (with only one more Top 10 to come). Those two elements alone make the DVD debut of ABBA IN CONCERT (Hip-O/UMe), released June 8, 2004, so very special.
Originally broadcast on worldwide television in 1980 and subsequently issued on VHS, ABBA IN CONCERT has been digitally remastered for this DVD edition in vision and sound (DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound as well as Dolby Digital Stereo are available). The home video has also been expanded with three bonus performances from the tour that were not included in the original film: “The Way Old Friends Do” (a version previously unreleased on video), “I Have A Dream” (the complete, unedited version) and “Thank You For The Music” (a new edited version never broadcast or released on video).
Added for the DVD as well are the “Mamma Mia!” 5th Anniversary trailer, a picture gallery of the original tour program and new interviews filmed with two key people behind the scenes — director Urban Lasson and ABBA’s promoter and tour producer Thomas Johansson. In addition, the package includes a 28-page booklet with numerous photos and an essay by ABBA guru Carl Magnus Palm.
ABBA IN CONCERT vividly captures ABBA’s triumphant journey across two continents, only the second major tour by the group. In intimate backstage scenes the group confronts the American touring circuit — traveling, rehearsing, relaxing, and preparing for their show. The film then moves to London and an unforgettable concert at Wembley Arena, where ABBA delivers hit after hit, including “Waterloo,” “Take A Chance On Me,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Chiquitita” and “Dancing Queen.” The quartet also performs “Eagle,” “Voulez-Vous,” “I Have A Dream,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight),” “Summer Night City,” “Does Your Mother Know” and “Hole In Your Soul.”
In 1973, Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Ani-Frid Lyngstad won the Eurovision competition with “Waterloo,” a Top 20 U.S. hit. But ABBA truly arrived with 1976’s ARRIVAL and its disco era gold-certified anthem “Dancing Queen,” the group’s only #1 hit, and the Top 20 “Knowing Me, Knowing You.” 1977’s THE ALBUM featured the #3 gold “Take A Chance On Me.” VOULEZ-VOUS followed in 1979 with the Top 40 “Chiquitita.”
Married couples Agnetha and Bjorn, Benny and Ani-Frid then divorced and ABBA officially disbanded in 1982. Today, more than two decades later, the ABBA phenomenon doesn’t merely endure but, with such successes as the musical “Mamma Mia!,” continues to grow.
11/06/04:
Agnetha climbs album chart in Sweden
Agnetha’s album: “My Colouring Book” is still selling well this week. It has this week moved 2 places from number 5 to number 3. In it’s Swedish chart history it has never been lower than position 6 sice debuting at number 1. It’s climb can be accounted for by the screening of a T.V special “Agnetha” in which Agnetha gives an in depth interview. It is hoped that the new single “When You Walk In The Room” will boost the sales again and maybe see it back at the top of the chart.
Meanwhile Agnetha’s single “If I Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind” drops four places to number 29. It’s highest position was number 2 in Sweden.
Prince Charles visits Abba show
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Charles and Camilla with Abba’s Bjorn and Anni-Frid
The Prince of Wales took his companion Camilla Parker Bowles to a royal gala performance of the musical Mamma Mia!
The hit show, which is celebrating five years in the West End, is based around Abba pop songs.
After the performance, which raised £100,000 for the Prince’s Trust, Charles confessed he “knew every word”.
The prince met the show’s creator, Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus, and one of the group’s other stars, Anni-Frid Prinzessin Reuss.
Charles reportedly danced the night away on his 50th birthday to hits from Abba at a party at Highgrove.
“It’s got what you call the feel-good-factor” – Camilla Parker Bowles
Backstage, he told the cast: “I knew every single word. It certainly dates me.”
Meanwhile Mrs Parker Bowles told them: “It’s got what you call the feel-good-factor – you come away feeling good.”
The prince officially reopened the Prince of Wales Theatre, which has undergone a 10-month £7.5m restoration by its owner Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
Mamma Mia! is currently playing in eight countries. It is estimated that 17m people worldwide have seen the show.
Since it premiered in the UK at London’s Prince Edward Theatre more than 2,000 performances have been watched by over three million people, grossing in excess of £105m.
It includes Abba hits like Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You, Take A Chance On Me and Gimme Gimme Gimme.
10/06/04:
Bjorn and Frida attend Mamma Mia! special
Tonight a special charity performance of Mamma Mia! was held.
The performance has raised £100,000 for the Princes Trust. It was a very special event as this marked the first night that the show made the move from the Prince Edward Theatre to the newly refurbished Prince Of Wales Theatre.
There were some very special guests including Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles and Frida and Bjorn from ABBA. It was reported that all members were invited but only Frida and Bjorn showed, FRida looked absoloubtley sensational with a new hair style. Below are some pictures and an article all about the night:
For full size images visit www.gettyimages.com
Mamma Mia! it’s Charles and Camilla
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By Tony Jones, PA News
The Prince of Wales stepped out tonight with Camilla Parker Bowles for a performance of the hit musical Mamma Mia!
The couple were cheered by hundreds of onlookers as they arrived at the Prince of Wales Theatre for the Royal Gala charity event in the heart of London’s West End.
The performance has raised £100,000 for the Princes Trust and three celebrity ambassadors for the organisation added a touch of glamour to the evening.
Colin Salmon � tipped to become the first black actor to play James Bond � attended, as did comedienne Helen Lederer and veteran Coronation Street actress Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt.
Camilla wore a light blue and green dress with a matching scarf while the Prince was dressed in a smart dinner jacket and smiled and waved at the crowds before entering the theatre.
Charles reportedly danced the night away on his 50th birthday to hits from Abba while holding a celebration at Highgrove.
Two members of the Seventies supergroup � on whose songs Mamma Mia! is based � were introduced to Charles and Camilla.
Bjorn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Prinzessin Reuss chatted with the couple for a few minutes before the performance began.
The Prince officially reopened the West End theatre, which has undergone a 10-month £7.5million restoration by its owner Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
He also unveiled a glass sculpture of the theatre created by Ian Byrne.
Mamma Mia! is celebrating its fifth anniversary and at the moment is playing in eight countries. It is estimated that 17 million people worldwide have seen the show.
Since it premiered in the UK at London’s Prince Edward Theatre more than 2,000 performances have been watched by over three million people, grossing in excess of £105million.
Abba have sold millions of albums worldwide following their victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with their song Waterloo. They split in 1982.
The show features some of their best known songs, including Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You, Take A Chance On Me and Gimme Gimme Gimme!
Following tonight’s performance Charles and Camilla were due to meet the show’s cast.
09/06/04:
“My Colouring Book” Japan release date
The album is set for release in Japan on August 4th. There is no word on a single yet.
Mamma Mia! in Spain, in Spanish
It has been confirmed that MAMMA MIA! is to open in Spain – in Spanish. The musical will premiere at the Lope de Vega Theatre in Madrid this November. Auditions are taking place in Madrid this week. The story, written by Catherine Johnson, will be translated into Spanish by Juan Martinez Moreno and the lyrics of the songs by Albert Mas-Griera.
Agnetha TV special a success in Sweden
“Agnetha” was the number 1 television show last week in Sweden with 1,350,000 viewers which is about 1/7 of the Swedish population. The special and the single release are expected to push the album higher in the charts.
08/06/04:
A review of “When You Walk In The Room” SoundFactory mix
I heard today the SoundFactory club mix which rides in at 8.40. On first impression it seems dull. If you compare it to how Almighty did “If I Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind” this is very different, there is no use of the original backing track or instruments. This is a sure fire club hit though. The vocal sounds very clean and the arrangment is a sort of techno, electric feel. It carries the song well and has grown on me after several listens. The radio edit is even better, it seems refreshing after teh club mix which seems to drag but this goes straight into a action and is a more hardcore number comparing it to Almighty’s “If Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind” mixes. I give it thumbs up !
Only a few days until the single release! Sweden: 9th June | UK – 14th June
Agnetha in the
This is an article/review on Agnetha from the Philappines. Presumably the album has just been released there:
Agnetha of ABBA returns
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SOUNDS FAMILIAR By Baby A. Gil
The Philippine Star 06/09/2004
After writing about Jamie Cullum’s nostalgic Twentysomething last Monday, it just didn’t seem right to do another album of old songs today. More so, when there are new albums by Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne and the Eraserheads’ greatest hits collection all waiting for their turn on the machine. Titled My Colouring Book, it was a CD I was actually glad to put on the wait list. Although I like the title track and had not heard the song in a long time, the name of the singer is Scandinavian, Agnetha Faltskog, and did not initially ring a bell.
Then, all of a sudden, there was this light bulb over my head and surprise! It is Agnetha, the blonde girl from ABBA! She was the first A in that name. The other letters stood for Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Synni-Lyngsted. Agnetha and Bjorn were married. So were Benny and Anna. So ABBA was actually made up of two married couples. They have both since divorced and ABBA was put to rest in the early ’80s while still on top of the hit charts. Agnetha and Anna later made solo recordings while Bjorn and Benny continued writing and producing. Their most famous work together is the rock musical Chess with lyricist Tim Rice, which included the hit songs One Night in Bangkok and I Know Him so Well.
Now, I know that the music of ABBA, the most popular Swedish group in music history, is still often dismissed as merely bubble gum. Then although fine-timbered, Agnetha’s kind of singing is not likely to raise fireworks the way Alanis or Avril could. On the other hand though, ABBA’s songs have grown in appeal over the years and it is a fact that hers was one of the voices behind one of the most definitive sounds of the ’70s.
Just think ABBA was responsible for hits like Waterloo, Hasta Manana, Honey, Honey, SOS, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, Mamma Mia, Fernando, Dancing Queen, Money, Money, Money, Chiquitita, Knowing Me, Knowing You, The Name of the Game, Take a Chance on Me, Voulez-Vous, The Winner Takes It All, Super Trooper, etc. etc. So I do not think you will blame me for dropping all others and listening to this. I just had to find out what Agnetha is up to these days. In fact, I am sure many of you out there will also find this one impossible to resist.
Agnetha’s My Colouring Book is her first recording after 17 years. She recorded for ace producers Mike Chapman and Peter Cetera after leaving ABBA. She has been singing for over 30 years. It is a very personal collection, made up of songs that evoke memories of her growing up years from the ’60s. That was an innocent time. All that mattered to kids then were for whom they would save the last dance and where to go for moonlight swims.
Agnetha goes beyond that for her choices. She chose to cover the more passionate tunes that were big with teen-aged listeners of that period. But you will still have to agree, the sentiments they manifest, so life or death situations then now seem paltry in the light of how we have survived and what is now happening in this world. Agnetha brings back those old days and I am happy to say her singing has the right sort of sweetness and naiveté that makes the songs once more believable.
All cuts in the album were arranged by Agnetha, also the producer. The first single release is If I Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind, which Cilla Black first recorded in 1969. What I like best though is her soft take on My Colouring Book, a hit for Sandy Stewart in 1963 and which I last heard in one of Barbra Streisand’s early albums.
Other cuts are When You Walk in the Room, Sealed with a Kiss, Love Me with All Your Heart, which she does with Spanish lyrics, Fly Me to the Moon, a narrated Past, Present and Future, A Fool Am I, I Can’t Reach Your Heart, Sometimes When I’m Dreaming, The End of the World, Remember Me and What Now My Love. Most of the songs do sound like ABBA recordings. That cannot be helped and it is really quite nice.
Last reports about the documentary in the UK was that TV companies BBC and ITV were in a fight for the rights to air it. BBC have said it is not on their schedule so it could be that ITV will have the rights. Otherwise some other channel or Sky will snap it up. It is unlikley it won’t be shown here.
In related news the Swedish showing has been getting complaints about it airing on SVT. It is said that it does not qualify as a documentary without narration and is more a promotion tool than an honest interview, it should have been shown on commercial TV station and that it breaks SVT’s arrangment with the goverment to show it.
You can read a full translation of the interview – Click Here !
Don’t forget the maximum impact campaign. Click below to find out how you can help Agnetha become a big hit in the UK!
Agnetha receives a death threat
Two articles appear in the press today about Agnetha getting a death threat, the first is from The Sun and the second is sky news with a link below:
Abba girl in death threat
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ABBA recluse AGNETHA FÄLTSKOG has been put under 24-hour guard after receiving a death threat.
Swedish police flew bodyguards to the singer’s remote island home in Ekerö near Stockholm after she was sent a terrifying letter.
Manager Staffan Linde said: �Agnetha receives many letters every day but this one was different and serious.�
Agnetha, who has been plagued by stalkers and is terrified of making public appearances, already has a live-in security team at her home.
Sky news article
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06/06/04:
All ABBA members invited to Mamma Mia! special
All four members of ABBA have been invited to a special charity performance of Mamma Mia! Apparently Bjorn and Frida have already expressed an interest but as yet nothing from either Benny or Agnetha.
Agnetha has said in recent interviews she would like to meet with all members and to see the show but was specific to the Swedish premiere, she also expressed her fear to travel and that was why she was not at the 5th Anniversary (aswell as been busy with album).
Below are details of the night:
ROYAL CHARITY GALA PERFORMANCE – 10 JUNE 2004
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MAMMA MIA! is proud to announce that the 10th June will be a special performance of MAMMA MIA! in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales and all proceeds raised will benefit The Prince’s Trust. HRH The Prince of Wales will officially re-open the new London home of MAMMA MIA!, The Prince of Wales Theatre, which has been completely rebuilt and refurbished by its owner, producer Cameron Mackintosh.
This very special evening will be jointly hosted by MAMMA MIA! producer, Judy Craymer and Cameron Mackintosh.
Watch Agnetha’s new video “When You Walk in The Room” !
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Tiscali in the Netherlands have the video exclusive. You can also win the album ! Weblink
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Look out for Agnetha’s daughter Linda in the backing vocalists and Agnetha has a little play of the air guitar aswell as dancing, she looks very happy in this video and so do the musicians and singers, especially at the end, they seem to break down laughing.
Get the video on TV !!
Here are links to email UK shows CD:UK and Top Of The Pops. Request for Agnetha’s video to be shown on them:
http://www.cduk.com/main.php then click this button:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/faq/tvshow_email.shtml
Here are some more pictures from Annette who recently visited Sweden and met Frida at The Polar Music Awards and Benny at Mono Music. She has kindly let us post these pictures.
To see more pics from Annettes trip of Frida and ABBA-related palces – Click here !
Benny Anderssons Orkester NEW CD
News from International ABBF Fan Club
The album contains 14 new songs that Benny wrote. Helen Sjohölm sings on 3 tracks: “Du Ar Min Man” (lyrics by Björn Ulvaeus), “Saknadens Rum” (lyrics by Ygga Eggehorn) and “Skenbart” (lyrics by Peter Dalle, from the movie with the same name). Helen and Kalle Moraeus duet on “Midnattsdans” (lyrics by Björn). The Duvemåla Choir sings on the track “Kärlekens Tid” (lyrics Ylva Eggehorn). The cd will be released on June 18th.
The Definitive Collection Deluxe release date
(Thanks to ABBA-World for pic)
The Sound & Vision release of “The Definitive Colelction” is released 14th June in the UK (the same day as Agnetha’s single). It will include both CD1 and CD2 from the CD release and the DVD from the album release all in one package.
Watch ABBA “The Story” TV Trailer
At the Official ABBF fan club site you can watch the
Belgian TV commercial for the new compilation cd “The ABBA Story”. In the clip some Dutch language is used.
http://abba.muziek.net/pix/Abba_512k.wmv
On June 12, 2004, Carl magnus Palm will be a guest at the ABBA fan club convention at the ABBAfest in Brighton, England. In conjunction with this event, He will be launching the brand new book, Benny’s Road To ABBA.
Carl Magnus Palm has written a second book about Benny, this time published in English and focuses on Benny as an individual rather than the Hep Stars. Below is taken from CarlMagnusPalm.com :
Back in 2002, when I began writing the Hep Stars biography Cadillac Madness, Premium Publishing asked me if I would consider doing an English version of the book. Their idea was to use the information about The Hep Stars’ extraordinary career, remove most of the personal details about all the members except Benny Andersson, then extend the time-frame of the English book to encompass Benny’s career during the three-year period from the break-up of The Hep Stars up until the recording of ‘People Need Love’.
Thus, the book would start with Benny’s childhood, tell the story of his time with the Hep Stars in the 1960s, and then the formation of his relationship and initial collaboration with Björn, Frida and Agnetha – ergo Benny’s Road To ABBA. The purpose of this approach was, of course, to produce a book that would be more interesting for readers outside Sweden…….READ MORE HERE
Cadillac Madness
The other book by Carl Magnus Palm is alla bout The Hep Stars, the group Benny was in before ABBA, this book is what led to “Benny’s Road To ABBA”. Below is taken from CarlMagnusPalm.com :
The Hep Stars were, without a doubt, Sweden’s biggest pop band in the 1960s. Although their musical merits have been debated, the undisputed fact remains that no one sold as many records as they did, no other band created such fan hysteria, nor was there a bigger live concert draw.
But despite The Hep Stars’ phenomenal impact – not to mention that this was where ABBA’s Benny Andersson achieved his first bout of fame – there has never been a book written about them. Until now. In May 2004, on the occasion of the group’s 40th Anniversary, the biography Cadillac Madness – den otroliga berättelsen om The Hep Stars (“Cadillac Madness – the incredible story of The Hep Stars”) is published. The title, of course, refers to the group’s breakthrough hit, Cadillac (released in 1965)……..READ MORE HERE
Here is an article from The Times about ABBA’s continuing success. It includes a new interview with Bjorn however there is no mention of “Our Last Video Ever” or Agnetha’s comeback!
Click Here to read the full article
04/06/04:
Behind the scenes with Agnetha
SVT have a behind the scenes clip from Agnetha’s documentary. It is from the Kiss scene:
Go to svt.se and you will see a link to the video clip ”
Bonusklipp: Kyssen – bakom kulisserna ”
There is also info about the TV special:
LINK
Agnetha’s UK interview : The Sun
Weblink
IN TEXT FORM:
Each day I look for love
By SEAN HAMILTON
RECLUSIVE Abba star Agnetha Faltskog has broken a 17-year silence – to reveal she spends every day fighting back tears over her unsuccessful search for true love.
The Swedish singer, 54, says in a world exclusive interview: “My tears are never far away. I’m a very sensitive person.
“People who find true love and keep it are very lucky.
“But it’s fine to yearn for true love. I still yearn.”
The sentiments, which come in a whisper, seem odd from the still-beautiful blonde who had millions of male admirers at the height of Abba’s fame in the Seventies.
Agnetha was married to bandmate Bjorn Ulvaeus for ten years until 1981.
In 1990 she wed surgeon Tomas Sonnenfeld – a relationship which lasted just three years.
Then she began an affair with forklift driver Gert van der Graaf, an obsessed Dutch fan 16 years her junior.
He turned into a stalker when their affair broke up.
In 2000 he was arrested and banned from going near her.
But recently Gert was spotted near her property.
Swedish newspapers said Agnetha responded by locking herself in her home and calling on police to guard her round-the-clock.
She cancelled all promotion for her new solo album.
Yet Agnetha has lived on her private island of Ekero, near Stockholm, and shunned the world since the Eighties when Abba broke up and she fell out of the public eye.
She only agreed to talk to The Sun – her first interview for 20 years – following weeks of delicate negotiations.
But Agnetha, who lives alone, insists she is NOT a hermit.
She was criticised in April when she did not turn up to a party to celebrate five years of Abba musical Mamma Mia in London.
Former bandmates Bjorn, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were all at the bash.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of their Eurovision success with Waterloo that launched their career.
Agnetha says: “There was a period after Abba that was too much to take.
“There were too many things running around in my head. So maybe the rumours about my hiding started there.
“But I’m not a total recluse as everybody says. They write that I’m hiding on an island and I don’t show up at things.
“But that’s not the way it is. It’s my normal way of living.
“I’m trying to get some peace and to do other things.
“I need a lot of peace. I can’t have too much noise. I have to take things carefully.
“I want to travel. But I just don’t like it – especially flying. I have too much respect for what could happen.
“It’s unbelievable that airplanes stay in the sky. How does that happen? They are so heavy. There are so many screws.
“I worry whenever a member of my family gets on a plane. I worry whether it will be all right. I don’t travel.
“And I was in the middle of recording my new album when the Mamma Mia party happened so I had no choice.
“I really wanted to go. If it’s closer next time I will appear. It’s unfair what people say.
“It’s much easier for the other three to travel. I just don’t like flying.”
Abba dominated the charts throughout the Seventies and into the Eighties.
They sold more than 350million records, getting nine No1s with songs including Dancing Queen, Take A Chance On Me and The Winner Takes It All.
It turned Agnetha into the ultimate Swedish sex symbol and a multi-millionairess.
When the band split in 1982 Agnetha made two solo albums but turned her back on music five years later.
And despite reports of a rift with her old colleagues, Agnetha insists she is still close to Bjorn for the sake of their daughter Linda and son Christian.
And she is keen to meet up with the others later this year.
She says: “We do speak – it happens. Just not very often. Whenever I don’t turn up at an Abba event people assume we don’t speak.
“They draw all kinds of conclusions. But I talk to Bjorn all the time. We have two children together.”
Agnetha has emerged to promote her new solo album, My Colouring Book.
It is a collection of sad Sixties ballads which she’s been quietly working on for five years.
The first single, a version of Cilla Black’s If I Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind, got to No11 last month.
The second single, When You Walk In The Room, is out a week on Monday.
Despite her reluctance to step out in public or get too close to admirers, it was fan mail which inspired Agnetha to record again.
She says: “I got lots of letters from people saying they really missed my voice.
“And reading all that kindness really affected me.”
So Agnetha turned to the music of her teenage years in the Sixties for inspiration.
Listening to tracks by Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and Doris Day rekindled her love of music and gradually got her in the mood to sing again.
She says: “It was a nostalgia trip. I started to feel again what I went through in that period of my life. I love the sad songs. When I was a teenager I would really cry along with them.
“These songs and artists affected me so deeply.
“When I started listening again I felt it in my whole body.”
Gradually the idea for her new album emerged.
She says: “I went into a shop that had a lot of these old records and I picked dozens of albums. I had a wonderful time. That was four years ago.”
Agnetha had barely sung a note for nearly 20 years.
She explains: “Like everyone I might sing a bit in the shower. But that was it. It took a while to loosen the voice up again.
“Then suddenly something happened and it came back.”
Although Agnetha does write her own songs there was never any question of recording them – she is too much of a perfectionist to ever let anyone hear them.
She says: “I do have the ability to write music and words if I really concentrate.
“And I do have songs I’ve written but I always end up throwing them out because I think they’re not good enough.”
Later this year Agnetha is hoping to meet up with the rest of Abba at a Swedish premiere for Mamma Mia.
And she did not completely rule out a full-blown reunion.
She says: “We don’t have any plans to work together again.
“But you never know what comes up.”
Agnetha hopes to meet with the others this year
In the Expressen interview Agnetha says she hopes to meet with the others at the Swedish Mamma Mia! premiere.
So could a reunion be on the tiles?
Well she also said in Australin interview with the Herald Sun:
“We have no plans of any reunion. I have nothing against meeting up with the others, to do something together again — not working, not in that respect. But to just see the others, it would be thrilling if that happens. We get so many gratitudes from different things. I have nothing against them.”
“I haven’t seen Mamma Mia but it is starting in Stockholm. I will hopefully see it there.”
and in todays UK interview in the Sun she says:
“And I was in the middle of recording my new album when the Mamma Mia party happened so I had no choice.
“I really wanted to go. If it’s closer next time I will appear. It’s unfair what people say.
“It’s much easier for the other three to travel. I just don’t like flying.”
and:
And she is keen to meet up with the others later this year.
She says: “We do speak – it happens. Just not very often. Whenever I don’t turn up at an Abba event people assume we don’t speak.
“They draw all kinds of conclusions. But I talk to Bjorn all the time. We have two children together.”
THE FULL SUN ARTICLE (UK) IS AHOWN ABOVE. FOR THE AUSTRALIAN ARTICLE SEE BELOW
03/06/04:
Calendar update
Our calendar (top right of this page) has been updated with lots of dates, so check it out.
Agnetha: ” I have nothing against meeting up
with the others, to do something together again “
Here are just some quotes from the Australian
Cameron Adams Interview from Herald-Sun, Melbourne with Agnetha:
“We have no plans of any reunion. I have nothing against meeting up with the others, to do something together again — not working, not in that respect. But to just see the others, it would be thrilling if that happens. We get so many gratitudes from different things. I have nothing against them.”
“I haven’t seen Mamma Mia but it is starting in Stockholm. I will hopefully see it there.”
“Kylie Minogue, I like her a lot.”
READ FULL TRANSLATION HERE FROM ABBAMAIL
This article appeared in UK newspaper The Sun which will feature an Agnetha interview by Sean Hamilton.
They report the documentary will be released along with the new single:
IN TEXT FORM:
SEXY Agnetha Fältskog � the blonde one in Abba � is back in action, and laying all her love on a lucky guy.
The 54-year-old 70s star hired the hunky Swedish actor for a snog in a documentary she is releasing with a solo single, 20 years after her group disbanded.
A source said: �She found the best-looking guy she could.�
Longest Kiss in film history
Weblink
As you will see today Agnetha is making the headlines with her on screen kiss from her documentary.
Expressen report this as the longest on screen kiss in film history.
It lasts for 3:57 and it beats the record that Jane Wyman and Regis Tommey had from “You´re in the army now” (1941).
Magnus Krepper says that he found the project fun and serious…
Thanks to “Swedish Princess”
It seems that here in the UK Agnetha’s new single is already selling well. At the time of writing CD1 and CD2 are 3rd and 5th best selling singles at Amazon.co.uk and in the top 20 best selling singles on HMV.co.uk. Remember if you have a UK address and order online only then does it count to charts.
It seems the lack of radio play may mean a low chart position. To find out how you can help:
02/06/04:
“When You Walk In The Room” tracklist
You may remember us reporting that Almighty have remixed the track. As before there are three versions. Sound factory have also done some remixes. This is the tracklist for CD1 and CD2 (UK) according to eil.com :
CD One:
1. When You Walk In The Room – Original Version
2. When You Walk In The Room – Radio Remix
CD Two:
1. When You Walk In The Room – Original Version
2. When You Walk In The Room – Soundfactory Radio Edit
3. When You Walk In The Room – Soundfactory Club Anthem
4. When You Walk In The Room – Soundfactory Dub Instrumental
5. When You Walk In The Room – Almighty Mix
6. When You Walk In The Room – Almighty Radio Edit
7. When You Walk In The Room – Almighty Dub
8. When You Walk In The Room – CD-Rom Video
Here is the ite description:
AGNETHA FALTSKOG When You Walk In The Room (2004 UK 10-track enhanced 2-CD single set from the ABBA queen written by Jackie De Shannon and originally a hit for The Searchers in 1964 featuring ‘Soundfactory’ & ‘Almighty’ remixes plus CD-Rom video). ** released Monday 14 June 2004 **
01/06/04:
Get “When You Walk In The Room” in the top 10 and bring the album back!
Click here to find out how you can help !
Agnetha would end her career as it started
Weblink
Finnish paper Helsingin Sonomat printed a full page spread on Agnetha: “Agnetha Faltskog makes a suprising return to the charts”
Agnetha tells the paper: “We are not planning ABBA’s comeback”.
When asked about the possibility of a new record she replied: “If I make a new record it may be in Swedish. That way I would end my career like I started it.”
When asked if this would be new material she added: “I have to think about that. If there’s something I can give, it’s my voice. Surely the album would be romantic and there would be tragic songs, like this album. Tragic music suits me.”
This is one of the many press interviews Agnetha has given latley, in the UK look out in The Sun newspaper.
More NEW Frida pics and ABBA in Sweden
As you probably now Frida recently attended the Polar Music Awards in Stockholm. One ABBA fan; Annette was there to meet Frida. While in Sweden she also met Benny at his Mono Music Studios. Annette also did some site seeing and took many pictures of ABBA related places (ABBA in Sweden), Annette has kindly let us share them here with a description of each picture.
This is where we met Benny: in front of his Mono Music Studio. We sat on the
field when he opened the door, asking:”Are you waiting for me??” :-)))
Unfortunately I don´t have any pictures of Benny & me yet as a friend Remko has taken
them with his camera – I forgot to take pictures myself as I was as nervous
as can be…
There was a lot of advertising for Agnethas new album – but this incredibly
big poster was the most amazing I´ve ever seen!!! We wanted to take it off
and thought about making a tent or a carpet out of it… 😉
This is the square where the famous winter photo session took place – you
can easily recognize the beautiful houses in the background…I loved it!!!
Do you feel like you´ve seen these stairs before?!? Right, Frida walked them
up & down in the Head Over Heels – video – and so did I…….I just couldn´t
resist once I was there!!
I took this picture at Drottningholm Castle where the The Name Of The Game –
session took place.
I loved this place: this is where the four of them posed for the wonderful
People Need Love session.
….and finally there she is: beautiful Frida!!!! So close…. …and one more picture of Frida, as pretty as can be. The pics of me & her were also taken by my friend Remko, so I cannot show them here (yet?!?). Hope you
enjoyed my colouring photobook of Stockholm!!
Thanks again to Annette.
Comment here
The seller is asking that people make offers for the record.
For all info on how to make an offer, about the record, about the seller and pictures:
Click Here !
Agnetha’s docu for DVD
It has been announced by abbaonspeakingterms.com that Warner will release Agnetha’s special on DVD, extra material is undecided but a behind the scenes section seems probable, the artwork is currently been worked on. A sound and vision “My Colouring Book” has also been looked at.
Watch part of Agnetha’s documentary
Agnetha’s documentary was aired in a 15 minute version on German TV.
Agnetha talkes about her fear of flying. She feels it has to do with her not understanding the technology of flying and the fact that such a heavy plane can fly in general. The most personal past of the interview is when she talks about how important it is to fight for love. She says she misses love.
Agnetha says she would like to be Frida in ABBA because she was “rougher…how do you say it?” “sexier”,
Lotta Bromé (the interviewer) suggests, “no, I think that was equal” Agnetha replies.
Clips are shown from “If I Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind”, “When You Walk In The Room” (includes daughter Linda and lots of colours!), “Past, Present and Future” this is Agnetha walking through the woods, she is talking to the camera and is wearing the same as with the Lukk interview. “Sometimes When I’m Dreaming” is in there and another scene in the woods is shown with “What Now My Love”.
There is a film aspect where Agnetha plays a character called Lena, this is a love story you see Agnetha and a man in the car together, the documentary ends with a full on kiss!
Agnetha is very relaxed in the interviews and this German version is edited with English and Swedish interviews but with German over-dub.
Agnetha sang her first composition ever Två Små Trol. Agnetha talks about ABBA alot she says that the crowds were in a way good but she was frightened about someone being crushed. She says she often dreams of Bjorn, Benny and Frida.
The journalist who presented the special on SAT.1 announced that a full-length version of the film is to air on SAT.1 on Saturday.
Here are some pics from the special from abbaonspeakingterms.com, Thanks !
And finally you can download the German 20 minute at abba-remember.com just Click Here ! for the direct link.