Welcome back ABBA. The long awaited return. The songs released from the new Album are just fantastic: the same unique ABBA sound, great lyrics and singing. I already found the notes for piano, we played the new songs! ABBA are back. Amazing.
This is a great interview. I get the feeling to get quite some insight. Even more than at the international launch, with the interview in London. It makes me happy to see and hear how glad Benny is. Especially being so happy-happy-happy myself about the new songs. THANK YOU ABBA!
Exactly, in most other (English) interviews Benny seems bit distracted but here he really shines up with great smiles when recalling how delightful the recording was with the "girls" and the joy he felt. It is such a happy interview.
Nettopp. Nå vet jeg at de har en knall skive klar. De åtte låtene vi hittil ikke har hørt regner jeg med er top notch ABBA. Det kommer til å bli to digre ABBA år 21&22++
This is my English translation (with help from my friend David Morris) of what the interviewer Per Sinding-Larsen and Benny Andersson say (please excuse any bad English, I am Swedish myself): Benny: ... what is going to happen is that we're going to present the work we've done the over last four and a half years, namely to give a concert with ourselves as digital figures." (pictures of digital versions of ABBA members) "That's what we've been working on, and during that time we've also made a CD. And the reason for that, was that the concert was going to happen. When we decided that, a long time ago... It was given a totally different shape, because... The original plan was that ABBA would be able to go on tour as holograms, and meanwhile we could be at home cooking dinner or walking the dog... And we thought: 'What?' An interesting thought, really. When we finally got that far that we were going to produce something, that which has been made up to today and which we're going to present today... Then we said: if we had made this for real - gone on tour as 75-year-olds and performed in concert - then we would've had at least two new songs with us... So, then I called Frida and Agneta and said: 'Hrrm, what do you say? You want to sing in two new songs?' and they said 'Y-e-s!' So... I was a little surprised by that, and then they came to the studio." Interviewer: "Why were you surprised?" Benny: "Sorry?" Interviewer (louder): "Why were you surprised?" Benny: "Well, because we... Because nobody has been mentioning ABBA, really. None of us. At least not I, and I would say not the others either. Agneta has been trying to keep away from being associated with ABBA, and me too, really. I want to be me, I don't want to be an... I don't want to be an 'ABBA'!" (A clip from the "I Still Have Faith in You" video) Interviewer: "'I Still Have Faith in You', the first song to be released - it's touching and it almost feels like it's telling us about what is happening, here, with you in ABBA?" Benny: "Yes, you could say that. I think it tells us that we're on stage 40 years later. That we are there and that we're doing this. And it comes from that. We have that. We have a very good relationship, all four of us. And I can say, we've always had that. Perhaps not (chuckles, makes clipping gesture with fingers) just at the time we all got divorced, but following that everything's been good between us. We've been pals and Björn and Agneta have children together - they had to have a good relationship." (A clip from the "Don't Shut Me Down" video) Benny: "When we finally had finished recording the songs "I Still Have Faith in You" and "Don't Shut Me Down", I thought... 'What the hell - is that all?' They (Agneta and Frida) sound exactly like they always did. It sounds like ABBA in all senses - in spite of the 40 years that have gone by. One can feel doubtful about it... Just a quarter of an hour before arriving at the studio, I thought: 'I wonder if they can sing, still?' So it was an incredibly feeling of joy, I have to say. When they arrived, we said 'Hello, have some coffee' and then ALL of us were back in 1980 or whatever. It was just like no time had passed. Our mutual feeling, I would say, were exactly the same for ALL of us before we took a break - for 40 years! (smiles) (Another clip from the "I Still Have Faith in You" video) Benny: "Yeah, and then when we had those two songs... I said: 'Shouldn't we make a few more? Maybe we could make an EP?' So then we made a few more songs, and that went well. And then we said: 'Should we keep going, and make an album?' And they thought it was fun. And they think... I can say this afterwards, they're really glad, that they did this. I have a feeling that they initially were unsure and thought like 'How would that work? How could that be accomplished? What would we sound like?' But as luck would have it - it was just like it should be - and they recognize that. So I think they are just as happy as I am. Absolutely..." Interviewer (inaudably): "... track and the like?" Benny: "And emulate 'What's going on'? Not a chance! I thought about that: 'Listen to Drake or you name it, what are they doing? What's been going on? What are the ingredients of what is working well now?' (pause) I don't understand that. So what we... I would say that we just kept going from where we stopped. No, that wouldn't work, to emulate 'What's going on' today. That's not feasible. Not for me at least. Maybe others can? I am not interested in that." Interviewer: "I see. And not to take on Max Martin as a producer, or..?" Benny: "Nope. He does very well without us (laughter)." Interviewer (inaudably): "... and that's like the same thing, a little bit." Benny: "To avoid travelling. One can say it's really just that - an extension of that. (gestures with both hands) Yes." Interviewer: "Isn't it that? (inaudible words)" Benny: "Yes, you're right. In a way, it is that. That's absolutely right." Interviewer: "What do you say to the question if you are going to put yourself on stage again, for real - instead of the digital versions of you?" Benny: "I don't think so. I don't think so. I think that both Frida and Agneta are, for example, a little against doing this sort of thing. Ehm. There's probably a lot of reasons for them to not want to do that, but they don't like it. We're presenting a new album, we're presenting a concert in London, the twenty- (inaudible), M... March. - No, May! Sorry. (laughter)" Interviewer: And which comes on the year, fifty years since you started?" Benny: "Yes! That's correct, right? -72? 'People Need Love'?" Interviewer: "Yes. 'People Need Love'." Benny: "Yes. That's groovy! (smiles)." (Interwiever smiling) Benny: "I have to say, I don't think there's many others going to do what we will do. I don't think there's anyone who's done it before. It's a little bit too long time, 40 years in between the albums. (smiles, laughter) But it has been very fun to do this, incredibly much fun, and especially being in the studio." Interwiever: "Mmm." Benny: "It's always fun, but in this instance it was extra fun, with Frida och Agneta. And that it is so good - that you don't, like, look back on it with and a facepalm says: 'We shouldn't have done this, should we?' Instead we really had a blast! (nodding in agreement)".
Thank you very much for the brilliant translation better than my Swedish I only do English and mostly Northern English (Yehup owt wrong in us translation ) Yes Nothing wrong in your translation
WOWW..your translation is great..Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Frida are great and humble human beings, topping up the incredible musicians and artists they are and have always been all these years...😍💞 We are all blessed to have been spoilt by their beautiful music all these years, and to be around to witness this touching and heartfelt Abba reunion, not to mention the 2 great songs already released, a whole album coming out in 5th of November and the digital tours coming up in May next year...WE ARE TRULY BLESSED😍
@@sharifuddinsalleh7119 + Christine Sourbutts and Markus Henzel: thank you so much for your words! I may have interpreted a little wrongly when I translated Benny's words into: "Agneta has been trying to keep away from being associated with ABBA...". What Benny says word for word is more like "Agnetha have tried to keep away from ABBA...". I think, what Benny means, is that she's not really been interested in making appearances associated with ABBA, in later years.
I can vouch for that.....having met Benny whilst on holiday in Stockholm.....he was with his orchestra at Skansen......my Mrs who is Swedish got chatting to him and introduced me........he is very professional,very honest and chatty,bought us both a cup of coffee. The only thing Benny and the other 3 members are really concerned about is letting their fans down......if a reinstatement of ABBA didn't work.....all 4 want to be remembered as they were......not in Benny's words......a bunch of geriatric has beens trying to relive their past.....to a degree I agree with him.......but only to a point.....a very nice down to earth guy.
Benny's parting words to me was when I get time or next time I'm in Stockholm give him a call at Mona Music and he will show both of us around the place.......that only happened because the Mrs is a fellow Swede and got talking to him in a break between performances. For those who never been to Sweden.....Skansen is an outdoor amphitheatre in Stockholm where bands or other entertainers can entertain the public.....there is also an oldtime farm there and other attractions........well worth a visit.......also the VASA museum.........LOL...end of tourist guide.
@@LageB12 Benny did however tell me that Agnetha is more than happy chatting about the old day.....which is handy to know as Anna's parents live about 7/8 km from her.....what she don't like and won't entertain is having a camera forced into her face......as I told Benny.....I agree as I wouldn't like that either.......also as I told him.....and footballers are same.....I would rather strike up a conversation with her about things other than music.....she would probably appreciate that too.
Underbar människa, han är såååååå värd den här framgången, naturligtvis ABA också, men framförallt Benny. Blir han politiskt aktiv så röstar jag på honom direkt oavsett parti
Bättre att han håller sig till musiken. Annars blir det bara sedvanligt hyckleri som att sponsra Fi! samtidigt som hans orkester (BAO) består av 20 gubbar.
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