I was there, aged 13. All six of the London concerts were sold out, so I had no ticket to get in. But even if there had still been a few tickets, I didn't have £6.90 (= $8.76 = €8.04) to buy one. However, I turned up anyway, just in case some magic might happen. I stood in the freezing cold November darkness outside Wembley Arena, wearing my navy blue and silver ABBA t-shirt, and my navy blue and yellow satin ABBA scarf, and my ABBA pin badges. In my youthful optimism, I had my official ABBA Fan Club membership card in my pocket, just in case it might help me get into the sold-out concert. If I remember correctly, I was there on the Saturday night. I could hear the muffled boom of each song, and after a few touts tried and failed to sell me an over-priced ticket, they went home. Inside Wembley Arena, there were 48,000 ABBA fans. Outside Wembley Arena, there were a few very cold and very bored security guards, and me, the only other person standing outside one of ABBA's last ever concerts. Around halfway through the two-hour concert, in increasing desperation, I asked one of the guards if he would please let me in. With a noticeably joyless attitude, he refused a child's request to slip into the second half of his favourite band's concert. By chance, the long-time producer of the late John Peel's weekly music show on BBC Radio 1, the late John Walters, was leaving the concert, and he just so happened to be walking past us at that very moment. A Google search now confirms that the BBC did a live radio broadcast of the last of the six Wembley concerts on 10 November 1979, which was indeed the Saturday night. Therefore, I presume that John was there because he was the executive producer of the live broadcast. I had no idea who John was, but as he came level with us, he stopped walking, and asked the guard what was going on. The guard explained that I didn't have a ticket, so he couldn't let me in. John looked down at my crest-fallen face, and at my ABBA t-shirt, and my ABBA scarf, and my ABBA pin badges. Then, without another word, John was kind enough to remove the VIP lanyard with his name on it from around his own neck, and he placed it around my neck. Thank you, John. The guard was noticeably furious, but with John watching and waiting, the guard begrudgingly let me in "as long as you don't cause any trouble." The guard said that to a 13 year-old child going into a crowd of 48,000 people. With John's VIP lanyard now around my neck, I flew like the wind into the Arena. I had no idea which direction to go, so I ran up a few staircases into the upper levels of the dark auditorium. Because the concert was sold out, there were no empty seats. Therefore, I had to sit on the stairs in the upper level, but I didn't care about that because I was beyond excited just to be in the same room with ABBA, especially Agnetha. She was my first love, so I looked only at her. I can still remember the Voulez-Vous stage backdrop, and ABBA's costumes. Being only 13 years old, it didn't occur to me that John's VIP Access All Areas lanyard might have got me backstage access. When the concert finished, I bought the surprisingly fat tour brochure, which I still have in a cardboard box somewhere. Hopefully John's VIP lanyard is with the brochure in the same cardboard box. Having purchased the brochure, I then rushed out of the Arena to join a few hundred other fans at the backstage gate. While we waited at the gate for around 30 minutes to maybe catch a close-up glimpse of ABBA leaving the Arena, I slowly and gently eased my way to the very front of the crowd. Eventually, ABBA came out, sitting in the back of two chauffeur-driven vintage Rolls Royce or Bentley limousines, which were moving slowly through the crowd of screaming fans. If I remember correctly, Benny and Frida were in the first car, while Bjorn and Agnetha were in the second car. At one point, while the security guards cleared a path through the excited crowd, the two limousines were forced to come to a complete stop. And suddenly, right there, sitting on the far side from me in one of the two stationary limousines, was Agnetha. While she was waving and smiling at all the fans, I made eye contact with her. In that moment, I guess my shy and innocent 13 year-old love and sexual attraction was clear and obvious for her to see. In response, Agnetha stopped paying attention to the rest of the crowd for a few seconds, and she returned my gaze, looking me straight in the eye: "As I held my breath, the world stood still, but then she just smiled." Then, still smiling at me, Agnetha kissed the tips of her fingers in a sultry and seductive manner, and STILL LOOKING ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYE, she blew what I perceived to be a DELIBERATELY SEXY kiss off her fingertips directly to me: "I was in the seventh heaven when I kissed the teacher." A couple of seconds later, the guards cleared the head of the crowd, and the two limousines disappeared into the night towards central London. My one-to-one interaction with Agnetha lasted only a few seconds, but 45 years later, that sexy moment which Agnetha was generous enough to give to me is still one of the peak moments of my life. Thank you for the music, Agnetha. And thank you for the kiss ♥ ____________ References: In 2024, Agnetha said: "Those times we had here in London, at Wembley Arena, we never forget this. We were really moved. We could really feel the love. And we are very, very proud of this. It makes me very happy." www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/bobby-gillespie-abba-agnetha-faltskog-bjorn-ulvaeus-thomas-johansson-b1149906.html ____________ "Björn and Agnetha agreed that those [London] concerts were the highlight of the [Voulez Vous] world tour. Music stars such as The Clash's Joe Strummer and Ian Dury were among the audience, [as well as Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, members of Deep Purple, and the Moody Blues]. "Benny detailed that [in 2013], his son Ludvig went through hours of tapes, choosing the right material [for ABBA's only official live album]. Ludvig selected the November 10th 1979 concert to be released [on 26 September 2014]. The decision was approved by all the members of ABBA, including Agnetha and Anni-Frid, who listened to it at a studio in Stockholm". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_Wembley_Arena en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABBA:_The_Tour web.archive.org/web/20150212215015/www.abbasite.com/Banners/abba-live-at-wembley/ ____________ "The BBC compiled its own one-hour version of the concerts and aired it on Christmas Day 1979. The [BBC recording] circulates as a rare bootleg". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Walters_(broadcaster) www.popsike.com/ABBA-live-in-concert-1979-BBC-transcription-lp-rarest/270820996688.html ____________ This is a link to ABBA's official video for the opening track of their 1976 'Arrival' album, 'When I Kissed the Teacher'. The video was filmed when Agnetha was 26, at the very peak of her golden-haired beauty. The look on her face at 1:11 in this video is how she looked at me when she blew her kiss to me: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jGj8oM9NUZk.html __________
honestly, I never realize how good was their bass player..actually the whole band was amazing, but the bass was simply insane..actually a secret weapon..
mostly Rutger Gunnarson /some recordings Mike Watson There is a video with Rurtger here And one Gimme Gimme Gimme basline cover has 3 000 000 views, not bad for a bassline cover of a 45 year old song
With all respect to all great artists in music past this concerte is proof that ABBA was able to deliver Live as well as in studio. I belive Agnetha and Frida are often overlooked as great female singers, for me Agnethas voice is one of best in pop industry with colour like no other, expressing every possible feeling and the blend of both Agnetha and Frida is like no other. Thank you for the music ABBA.
Nobody hits live these high notes like Agnetha❤. Her voice is like satin en Fridas voice is like velvet, it wraps itself around you.... beautiful ladies❤❤
SET LIST 0:16 Voulez-Vous 3:22 chiquitita 7:18 i have a dream 12:05 thank you for the music 15:36 gimme gimme gimme 20:46 knowing me knowing you 22:55 Summer Night City 29:09 the way old friends do 32:01 dancing queen 36:05 does your mother know 40:04 hole in your sole
They are simply one of the best ever. The complexity of their songs, chord and key signature changes and the girls singing an octave apart and the sheer genius of the song writing is brilliant. A huge fan since Eurovision and non ironic either. Oh and no auto-tune. Just pure musical talent
I doubt that’s true. It’s just that the chosen entertainment celebrities are picked for reasons other than their musical talent. Also, ABBA isn’t a great comparison for todays touring artists, they toured so rarely. It’s not like their voices were worn out from months on the road. Bjorn said that in ten years of ABBA, they toured about six months total.
@@jtwilliams8895 I have a differing opinion: Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and how they all are named cannot sing as naturally or without autotune in studio, or AI intervention live. Taylor Swift is a marketing product, nothing more, "nothing to do with music" as John Lydon said. We have lost SOMEthing. Of course there are classical singers then and today who actually CAN sing. That someone on the charts however CAN sing is very rare today.
@user_user1337 Unfortunately you're right.. These were the great voices, in and out of the studio's. The voices from when we were young, the voices, who made real music...
В 1979 мне было 11. И я могла видеть АВВА только по телику))). Эта группа-моя первая любовь на всю жизнь!!!))). У нас в стране тогда редко можно было увидеть. Но какое же это было счастье, когда ее показывали😊😊❤❤
I was 10 years old too. Abba was my favourite band/group and I still love listening to their music. So nostalgic, brings back memories of dancing with mum in the loungeroom. She passed away August 1979
Back in the day , 60s-80s , I was a concert hound , loved music , and ABBA and the Carpenters were out of the picture . Now I think they are both just great and so talented . Their music will live forever .
I was to Sweden ABBA Museum 08.07.24 ....i so Happy ...Wunderfull Museum Feeling ...Gitar/ Telefon/Drums/Klavier u.Foto so much Details from ABBA...Thank you ABBA....we love you and Sweden Feeling....Gratulation for the "Vasa Zertifikat "❤❤❤..Greeting from Germany
Thank you group Abba it's all my teenagers .I know all their songs 1979 l was about to turn my 20 years old very good memory pleasant to hear Thank for this good moment ❤
They are certainly the most important musical group of all time, the quality of their music is unique.. Thank you very much ABBA for giving us so much beautiful music❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I am an Indian.India or bharat is my country, having a rich musical tradition. Classical tunes in sitar by pandit rabishankar claimed worldwide fame. In 70s I had afew albums and cassettes of bony m, carpenters.and abba, something new rang in my ears outside indian classical music. After 50 yrs at the age of 67, I had the chance to hear "I have a dream" sung by Agneatha. Though it is out of top ten best songs by abba, something electrical occured in my bloodstream. What a voice! Words of the song marvellous. don't know ever my letter come in sight of Agneatha. All the members of abba, Ben,Agneatha,Bjorn,Frida, whereever they stay,they are forever with us for such creations. Let God give them peace. Their love for each other, for music will remain everlasting till end of journey.
A rich musical tradition only found and heard in India, no one else cares. Truly great and universal music comes from the tradition of Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and others from the West.
When they visited Australia the first time, fiends and I went to Sydney Airport to greet them. Never seen such hysteria. girls were screaming and some crying with joy. Their concerts were brilliant too.
Did you take some fiends there, I hope they behaved themselves, I saw them in Perth '77, 3rd seats, I was 11 y.o and can't remember a thing about it unfortunatly.
Totalmente de acuerdo y no sólo en lo musical también en lo administrativo, relación, humildad, sencillez, cero escándalos, forma de mantener al margen a sus hijos, etc, etc.
Yes,not only ABBA themselves. Many Iconik musicians on this stage...Ake Sundquist,Mats Ronander,Thomas Ledin,Ola Brunkert,Rutger Gunnarson,Jan Schaffer...and many more.
The Seventies were such a wonderful time-I had a dream and ABBA was a huge part of those good times when life was pleasant and hope for the future was playing loud but somewhere along the way we failed to keep it going and now we need to get back on track and restore what we had with ABBA~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The amount of effortless vocal precision (simultaneously blooming with real joy, emotion and nuance) is absolutely unparalleled. The last part of the show is so insanely groovy and musically brilliant that my heart almost bursts with joy. My eyes are watering uncontrollably from pure happiness. And I'm not even a particularly hard core fan, just a lover of good music. Thanks for everything ABBA 💖✨
Auto-Tune, or autotune, is an audio processor introduced in 1997 by the American company Antares Audio Technologies. It uses a proprietary device to measure and alter pitch in vocal and instrumental music recording and performances.
110% there music will live on forever. My sister had the pleasure of seeing them in Germany, she said it will be a day she will never forget they were awesome.
Startling to see/hear this group live. Amazing sonority, blend and old -fashined musicianship.Although a typically European flavor, the music is exceptionally grooving.
The GREATEST GROUP that ever ROCKED are WORLD!! There music is time less. so glad I witnessed it first time round . Thank you my fab FOUR love and respect to all of you Good health and happiness to you all❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Tenia 7 años y me acuerdo de mi joven madre ! Con chiquitita !! Que emociona mucho ! Se vivia libertad en esos años y los ochenta ! Guerra a los globalistas ! Y viva la libertad !
I was then 18 years old. I didn't have your luck. I grew up with ABBA but never had the chance to have a record or tape of theirs. On TV every week or less, especially on Sundays, I would see a song in black and white. The national radio stations were more generous, every few days you would listen to a song with ABBA, but they broadcast about the same songs. We recorded from the radio and exchanged cassettes or tapes. You couldn't find news about them in newspapers or magazines. We get the news from foreign radio stations Radio Free Europe, BBC... Whoever had an ABBA T-shirt was very proud, he wore it only on holidays. At that time, I lived with the hope that they would also perform in my country, Romania. It was not possible. In 2023, I cried at the ABBA Arena when I saw the ABBA Voyage virtual show. I grew up with ABBA, I loved ABBA
How could not have had the Abba tape or record at the age of 18 when you were a fan of them? Don't make sense at all. I was 12 yo and I even had their cassettes the one with they were all in helicopter cover.1975
@@kyechongyi5085 You say it makes no sense at all. You had nowhere to buy. There were no tapes or discs. Pirate recordings were found, but very difficult. You can imagine that national television did not broadcast Jimy Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Beatles, Rolling Stones. Yes, that's how people lived in the 80s in Romania.
Que lindo recuerdo me trae chiquitita, un tema que le gustaba mucho a mi vieja, que cantábamos y disfrutábamos, hoy ya no esta con nosotros...pero igual...la vida debe continuar...mamaaaaaaaaaa...te quierooooo!!!
Fabulous vocals, fabulous arrangements, one incredible song after another. Such beautiful melodies and harmonies. I am sure the classic composers would even have rocked and danced to this group!
And to think that was only eleven of their songs. They could have played a different set of songs for each of the five or six nights at Wembly and not scratched the surface of their song catalogue.
If you are a Swede this is the musical equivalent of the Ingmar Bergman movie "Fanny & Alexander" from 1982. Every really good and iconic Swedish actor at the time acted in that movie. On this tour ABBA had every really good Swedish musician in the touring band. They tried hard to recreate the sound of the albums. They rehearsed for six months before this tour.
Making good music seems quite simple when you have four talented and complementary artists like those (and a very few others): thank you for the music,ABBA,you were great! (and thanks to those who allows us to watch this outstanding performance!)
Realmente era fabulosa esta banda...tremendo Abba,!!.,in clásico absoluta de la música pop de todos los toempos....gracias por la música y por las canciones que trasmiten emociones como dice la canción....gracias totales Abba!!
Wowww... ❤ You feel bad, let me tell you, we all get the blues Sometimes life is a burden, weighed down in your shoes When it's bad, worse, worst (And when you're feeling so bad) And you think you're cursed (And you've got it sad) Well, if there's one thing for the better that can turn you loose It's gotta be rock'n roll To fill the hole in your soul There's gotta be rock'n roll To fill the hole in your soul My friend Sam is a chauffeur, Annie goes to school Jerry works at the office, Sue lies by the pool But on all weekends (Together again) When I meet my friends (I'm gonna see them now) And we're lookin' round for the action we sure play it cool It's gotta be rock'n roll To fill the hole in your soul There's gotta be rock'n roll To fill the hole in your soul Ah-haa (ah-haa, ah-haa) You paint your world and use all colours Ah-haa (ah-haa) And then you find it all comes out too bright You know it's only a lie Ah-haa (ah-haa, ah-haa) The songs you sing are too romantic Ah-haa (ah-haa) And when you want the truth They only spit in your eye Oh yeah, they're only telling you lies Oh yeah, there's gotta be rock'n roll To fill the hole in your soul You feel bad, let me tell you, we all get the blues Sometimes life is a burden, weighed down in your shoes When it's bad, worse, worst (You know you're feeling so bad) And you think you're cursed (And you've got it sad) Well, if there's one thing for the better that can turn you loose It's gotta be rock'n roll To fill the hole in your soul There's gotta be rock'n roll To fill the hole in your soul There's gotta be rock'n roll... To fill the hole in your soul There's gotta be rock'n roll... To fill the hole in your soul There's gotta be rock'n roll... To fill the hole in your soul There's gotta be rock'n roll... To fill the hole in your soul There's gotta be rock'n roll... To fill the hole in your soul
ABBA forever!!! Great Performance and great Concert!!! Thank you for this Songs!!! Overwehlming und Wunderschön und Wunderbar!!! Make my day!!! Buy me!!! Do Something good for me!!! ❤❤❤😂!!! Masterpieces and Diamonds!!!
Gostaria de ter nascido nessa época e vivido tudo isso aí. Há muito tempo, desde muito novo curto o ABBA. Esse show é um verdadeiro concerto musical para posteridade.
Watching ABBA live from Wembley in 1979 is like stepping into a disco time machine! 😂 Their moves and outfits are so iconic, I half expect to see them pop up at a futuristic party where everyone’s dancing in sequins and bell-bottoms. If only we could all pull off those outfits with as much flair as they did!
