A note to ABBA fans from ABBAMAIL's Graeme Read:
"As I write this, I am about to head off to bed here in Sydney, Australia. In a few hours time, on the other side of the world, we will know Agnetha's chart position for this week.
Reflecting on the amazing work that has been done by people across the world - particularly in the UK - to support YOUR FÄLTSKOG NEEDS YOU - I really felt that something special has been triggered by this campaign. Something special in ABBA fans themselves.
I've been in organised ABBA fandom since I was 15 - and that's almost thirty years ago - during that time I've seen every type of selfish, backstabbing, stealying, cheating, lying, manipulative, bullying, rip-off behaviour that you could ever imagine being displayed between people calling themselves 'ABBA fans'.
ABBA's music may have brought a joyous force for enjoyment and enlightenment into our lives but it has also been responsible for bringing out the very worst in many fans. The way some fans choose to interact with other ABBA fans has shown the absolute worst personal qualities in these people. And it isn't just the fans who are all about "me, me, me" 24/7. The insecurity and feelings of inadequacy of these people has often been chanelled straight in to their ABBA fandom and it isn't a good look. Not at all.
That the ABBA fan community continues to exist despite the activities and influence of these people is a miracle. And yes, these people have been around since Day 1 of the ABBA story, but their influence has grown exponentially since the arrival of the internet.
You may see them administering policies on official abba web sites, auctioning rip-off stuff on Ebay, attending fan events with dollar signs in their eyes or just spreading a negative and destructive influence via the many fan web sites and forums on the internet.
But wherever there is the ABBA fan community, there are also wonderful, generous, supportive, open and inspirational people. People that make you proud to be part of this crazy sub-culture we call "ABBA fandom".
And the great thing about the YOUR FÄLTSKOG NEEDS YOU campiagn is that the pendulum of influence in ABBA fandom well and truly swung the other way. NICE people took over for a change and spontaneously rose to take matters into their own hands. To do something good for Agnetha and for their fellow ABBA fans.
Those nice, genuine fans read the guidelines for the campaign and went out to make a real difference. It was life affirming - the number of UK fans who spontaneously said "I can help by offering to buy copies on behalf of fans from other countries where the single isn't being released. And I can do this efficiently, effectively because I want to help Agnetha's chart position and do something nice for fellow fans at the same time."
WOW! I had to take a step back, take a deep breath and say "okay, this is why I'm still involved in organised ABBA fandom after thirty years! These people are what the community is all about!"
So this crazy and heartfelt campaign to help get a record on the charts and in the British media had another, unintended affect - it brought out the best in many of us for once. We worked together towards a common goal and actively used our skills, abilities and cold hard cash to bring some excitement, some good feeling and a little love and friendship to the fan world.
We showed a side of ourselves that we should be damn proud of. And we had fun doing it!
I say to those who actively participated in the campaign: you shared the love people - and in doing so your reflected light has shone positively over the whole fan community. Give yourselves a pat on the back and a hug - you all deserve it! And you revived my faith in the basic goodness of this ABBA fan movement that I've been part of for three decades.
Whether Agnetha gets a great chart position on Sunday night in London is almost a secondary concern to me now. That you changed the whole perception of what fans can do, will do and that you spontaneously helped your fellow fans - well, to me, that's the real #1 result of this campaign.
I thank each and every one of you who participated in this campaign and especially to those of you who helped your fellow fans.
As Young Mr. Grace would say "You've all done very well."
And if you didn't participate and you could have. Or if you were a naysayer - shame on you. Your negativity will only serve to come back on you in the future. Step back and let the nice guys do their thing without hindrance for a change.
Graeme READ
ABBAMAIL Adminisrtration
