CLIPS OF INTEREST TO WATCH

Clips of interest on Swedish websites

http://www.tv4.se/player/categories.aspx?progId=86662&itemId=&treeId=3008&displayTreeId=
Interview with Björn before?

Here is a TV clip about the ABBA museum with the people who are setting it up :

http://www.aftonbladet.se/atv/player.html?catID=29&clipID=13085

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

THE TIMES ARTICLE ON ABBA MUSEUM

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2477294,00.html

ABBA go centre stage again in Stockholm
Roger Boyes

Abba fans who already own all of the group’s CDs and DVDs and have seen Mamma Mia! numerous times, but who still want to affirm their devotion to the Swedish superstars, will soon have a museum in Stockholm to visit.

The museum is expected to attract half a million visitors a year when it opens in 2008. “This is what Stockholmers have been missing,” said Kristina Axen Olin, the city’s Mayor. “We are convinced that the museum is important, both for Stockholm citizens and for marketing the city.”

The group leapt to fame by winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton with Waterloo. “Since Waterloo, the group has become a global phenomenon rather than a purely Swedish one,” said a Swedish tourism executive. “We want to bring Abba home.”

Fan websites and chat rooms have been lobbying for years to persuade Stockholm to become a Scandinavian version of Liverpool, with an Abba showcase to rival the Beatles Museum. Some even want Stockholm’s Arlanda airport be renamed Abba airport or, more confusingly, Waterloo.

Abba have sold 370 million albums — fewer only than Elvis and the Beatles — and continue to sell three million records a year. The Mamma Mia! musical has been seen by more than 20 million people worldwide since opening in London in 1999, and a film version directed by Tom Hanks is due next year.

Ulf Westman and Ewa Wigenheim-Westman, the museum founders, said that they came up with the idea after visiting Liverpool’s shrine to the Beatles. It then took them two years to convince the group’s four members — Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad — that a museum was a worthwhile idea.

Mr Westman said that it would be an interactive experience and would include a studio where visitors could record their own version of Abba songs. He wanted to “re-create the feeling of being at Wembley Stadium and seeing Abba live with 50,000 others”.

The four group members said in a joint statement: “It is nice that someone feels compelled to take on our musical history. We have a lot of confidence in Ewa and Ulf and we hope and believe that it will be a fun and groovy museum to visit.”

The museum will display the quartet’s satin costumes, long derided but which are nevertheless coming back into fashion. Madonna, whose recent hit Hung Up sampled Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man after Midnight), was seen in the song’s video wearing a distinctly Abba-esque outfit.

Also on display will be handwritten song lyrics, gold records and instruments that the band played on stage.

But much of the museum will be given over to the accumulated trivia that has kept the fan community together since the group last performed in 1982.

The founders say that the trick of the museum will be to transform the fan paraphernalia into something that interweaves with the history of the world.

For example, Abba was hot in communist Poland in 1976, when the country’s entire state budget for western music was earmarked for the group. But in 1982, after martial law was declared in Warsaw, Abba appeared in a US-backed concert critical of the Communist generals and its records were promptly banned from state radio stations. Seven years later communism collapsed.

The museum will be funded by private sponsorship and it seems certain that the financiers will make a handsome return on their investment. Abba, as usual, were there first with their song: “Money, money, money/Must be funny/In the rich man’s world.”

Mamma Mia!

# In 1976, Poland spent its entire budget for western pop music on Abba

# 18,000 people watch a performance of Mamma Mia! the musical based on the songs of Abba, every night

# Waterloo was voted the best song in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest at last year’s event

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

COSTUMES FOR ABBA MUSEUM

Thanks to Dimitry Shipov, Russian ABBA Fan Club

ABBA MUSEUM FOUNDERS PHOTO

Thanks to Russian ABBA Fan Club - Dimitry Shipov, Russia

MORE ON ABBA MUSEUM

STOCKHOLM, Sweden: An ABBA museum dedicated to the music, clothing and history of the legendary Swedish pop group and its four members will open in Stockholm in 2008, organizers said Tuesday.

The interactive museum will feature original outfits and instruments used by the group, handwritten song lyrics, a display of different awards, and "all other things we can think of and find," said Ulf Westman, an event consultant who is spearheading the project with his wife Ewa Wigenheim-Westman.

The museum will also feature a studio where visitors can record their own ABBA songs, and an interactive experience that "will recreate the feeling of being at Wembley stadium and seeing ABBA live with 50,000 others," Westman said.

Organizers are still searching for a suitable location for the museum, but said it will open somewhere in central Stockholm during 2008.
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Wigenheim-Westman said the idea was inspired by the Beatles museum in London, but that it took nearly two years to convince the former ABBA members — Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Reuss — that it was a good idea.

"It is nice that someone feels compelled to take on our musical history," the four members said in a joint statement. "We think this will be a fun and swinging museum to visit."

The band members will donate the material for the exhibits, but will otherwise not be involved in the project, which will be funded by company sponsors, Westman said.

Stockholm's mayor Kristina Axen Olin said the museum — which is expected to draw 500,000 visitors a year — will make the Swedish capital a more popular tourist attraction for the millions of ABBA fans around the world.

"As a Stockholmer, this is what you have been missing," Axen Ohlin said at a news conference to unveil the plan. "We are convinced that this is important both for Stockholm citizens and for marketing the city."

ABBA is one of the most successful bands in history, having sold more than 370 million albums. While the group has not performed together since 1982, it continues to sell nearly 3 million records a year and the musical "Mamma Mia!" — written by Andersson and Ulvaeus and based on the group's hits — has been seen by more than 27 million people around the world.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/28/arts/EU_A-E_Sweden_ABBA_museum.php

ABBA MUSEUM TO OPEN

THE WORLD`S FIRST ABBA MUSEUM TO OPEN IN STOCKHOLM

Press release – 28 November 2006

The world’s first ABBA museum to open in Stockholm

The legendary pop group ABBA is getting its own museum in Stockholm. The pair behind this initiative are entrepreneurs Ewa Wigenheim-Westman and Ulf Westman.

"It’s great that someone feels like taking on our musical history and making it accessible," Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Reuss said in a joint statement. “We have a lot of confidence in Ewa and Ulf and we hope and believe that it will be a fun and groovy museum to visit.”

ABBA the Museum will be a modern museum filled with ABBA’s music, original clothes, history, images, instruments and much more that captures the group’s heyday in the 70s and 80s. It will also be an interactive experience where visitors can participate with all their senses.

“This will be quite a tourist attraction – a real international magnet. We’re counting on 500,000 visitors annually after opening in 2008,” says Westman.

Ewa and Ulf got the idea for ABBA the Museum when they visited the Beatles Museum in Liverpool a few years ago. Ewa initially brought up the idea with Benny Andersson, with whom she had worked previously. But it took time for her to convince the whole group. ABBA has approved the project and will make material available to the museum, but is otherwise not involved.

“ABBA is one of our largest contemporary cultural treasures,” says Wigenheim-Westman. “With 370 million records sold, only Elvis and the Beatles have had larger sales in musical history. Today, 25 years after ABBA retired, the group still sells a couple of million albums a year. This makes Björn, Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid living legends and speaks volumes about how many fans they still have
around the world.

Read more: www.abbamuseum.com

ABBA MUSEUM FOR STOCKHOLM

An ABBA Museum is to open in Stockholm in 2008.

Behind the museum is the private entrepeneur Ewa Wigenheim-Westman and Ulf Westman, according to a press release.

The museum is approved by the four members of ABBA.

ABBA The Museum will be filled with the group's music, original clothes, history, pictures and instruments.

EXPRESSEN ARTICLE TRANSLATED

Translation of our earlier story...

Top singers honour the super group

Expressen can reveal that several big Swedish stars will honour ABBA in a giant tour during next year. Helen Sjöholm, Gunilla Backman, Jerry Williams, Magnus Carlsson, Peter Jöback and Thomas Di Leva will participe in the tour, which will take place during spring 2007 around the country and at Globen (Stockholm) and Scandinavium (Gothenburg). Thomas di Leva recently performed "The winner takes it all" at a Christmas concert.

On the repertoire are all the ABBA super hits.

A press spokesman said:
- We also want the musicians to be the ones that were playing with ABBA during their very successful Australian tour.

One of them, Mats Ronander, says:
- I've recently got back home after touring with the Refreshments, so I'm not sure what will happen. But yes, I have been asked to participate. If it happens I think my role will be to sing a few songs and play the guitar, just as I use to do.

Görel Hanser, press spokeswoman for the former ABBA members, is very secretive of the upcoming tour.
- I have not comment about this just now.

http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=769846
By Lars Johansson, Expressen
Translated by Tony Becker

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Tony Becker, Helsingborg, Sweden

IS THIS THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT?

I don't know if this is the supposed big announcement but the following article
just appeared in Expressen about an hour ago.

http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=769846

In a nutshell, there will be a huge tour next year in Sweden with the likes of
Helen Sjöholm, Gunilla Backman, Jerry Williams, Magnus Carlsson och Thomas Di
Leva. Peter Jöback will also be involved.

Apparently, former members of ABBA have approved the tour.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

ABBA ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED

Word on the street is that there is a big announcement from Sweden being made this morning Swedish time. Further details as they come to hand.

AGNETHA'S NEW NIGHT ON THE TOWN

Expressen: http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=767796

Agnetha has been out on the town again in Stockholm!

The picture shows Agnetha and friends having taken over the VIP section of "The Plaza Club" in Birger Jarlsgatan in Stockholm. It isn't the first time Agnetha has been here - last time she was seen canoodling with a man. This time it was all about champagne, vodka and having fun with friends.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ron Miskoff, USA and other ABBAMAILers

ABBA MENTIONS ON NEW WEBSITE

I was doing a search for something completely different and decided to look around some more. I input ABBA (as you do) and found the following.

ABBA
http://www.nndb.com/music/303/000035198/

Frida
http://www.nndb.com/people/555/000044423/
Benny
http://www.nndb.com/people/556/000044424/
Bjorn
http://www.nndb.com/people/558/000044426/
Agnetha
http://www.nndb.com/people/557/000044425/

Thanks to ABBAMAILer George Bourdaniotis, Kobe, Japan

BRIEF MENTION OF ABBA IN TAKE THAT GARY BARLOW'S BOOK

From the Book "My Take" by Gary Barlow, lead singer of British pop group Take That.

There are two references to Abba which I thought you might be interesed in:

'I loved music - I was one of those kids thats forever dancing in front of the TV looking at my reflection, and the first toy I remember really loving was a Fisher Price keyboard. I was five when I was given my first record - 'Living next door to Alice' by Smokie - and I played it over and over again. We lived next door to the Griffith's family - none of them called Alice- and they had some great music- their kids were slightly older than us and they were always playing the lastest chart records. But the one LP that every house on my street seemed to have was ABBA's Arrival. My parents also loved music and up until I left junior school I mostly listened to their record collection, which included Boney M, The Beatles, Motown, The Bee Gees and Stars on 45 The first record I bought with my own money was 'D.I.S.C.O.' by Ottowan, that was Christmas 1980 just before my 10th birthday - and I followed it up with some Adam Ant - 'Ant RAP' and Depeche Mode, Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran - no surprise then that I later became a real Frodsham New Romantic.'

-----
Later on in the book when Gary is detailing the events that led to the re-formation of Take-That he refers to their manager Nigel(part of the 'gay mafia'):
-----

'Nigel's take on us getting back together was, 'Never re-form, ABBA never re-formed.' That thought haunted me, but we went ahead and met Simon Moran (sic. promoter) anyway. I represented the boys and before we knew what we'd done, we'd agreed to a tour.'

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jack McCarthy, Dublin, Eire

ENGLISH VERSION OF KRISTINA SONG TO BE RELEASED

Thanks to www.icethesite.com for this.

"You Have To Be There" (English version of Du Måste Finnas)is going to be released as part of a 2CD set, as was performed in concert in New York in October. You can listen to a sample of it here: www.kritzerland.com/EA.html

This is the first time anything from Kristina has been released officially in English!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

ABBA ON AUSSIE TV: REPORT

A report about What Year Was It? on Australia's Channel 9 this week:

It was 1977.

It was a very short piece, predominantly using footage from ABBA-The Movie which made it visually very pleasant and illustrated the extent of the mania that happened.

There was a short interview with Tom Oliver which was sort of interesting to hear his reflections on the time...and that body guard guy. Some interesting still photos that I hadn't seen before of ABBA members with said body guard.

Overall it was a suitably reverential and fond (although far-too-brief) look back at the '77 tour. I liked it because it reflected the enormity of the tour and the hysteria.

Channel 9 have got enough footage in their vaults to do a substantial documentary about ABBA in Australia, but instead they choose to do sh!tty "specials" like ABBAmania...sigh...

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Luke Rogers, Melbourne, Australia

MAMMA MIA! IN COPENHAGEN

Mamma Mia - the original English tour version to be performed in Copenhagen on 12-22 April 2007 in Forum.

Tickets available from today Tuesday 21 November 2006 either via:
www.billetlugen.dk
or
phone: +45 70 263 267

Price:
A: 600,- Dkr. + fee
B: 520,- Dkr. + fee
C: 420,- Dkr. + fee

You can also buy a show-menu for 375,- Dkr (quite expensive, isn't it? Jan's note)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jan Bach, Copenhagen, Denmark

NUMBER ONES LIMPS IN

Just a quick one. I've just received my ARIA Report, and Number Ones debuts at the "disappointing" (but well deserved) position of No. 77. Sucked in.

Here is the blurb from ARIA's "Chartifacts":
"Iconic 70s pop band, Abba (sic) has returned with a compilation of their #1 hits for new and old fans alike. The Swedish mega-stars had their first #1 in September 1975 with their self-titled release. Soon enough, Aussie fans could not get enough of the quartet as they dominated the charts with several releases including, The Best Of Abba (sic) (#1 Dec. '75), Arrival (#1 Nov. '76) and Super Trouper (#5 Dec. '80). ABBA is an acronym formed from the first letter of each member's name; Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid (Frida)."

Nothing new there, but nice to see ARIA acknowledging ABBA's 70s chart success nonetheless.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Smith, Cowaramup, Western Australia

CHARTS 17-24 NOVEMBER

Here are the chart stats for the week of 17-24 November 2006.

AUSTRALIA:
ABBA- #1s - new in at #77
ABBA - ABBA GOLD DVD - up 7 to #15

UNITED KINGDOM:
ABBA - #1s - down 15 to #30

IRELAND:
ABBA - #1s down 4 to #64.

OFF:
Ireland - ABBA GOLD, Sweden - Benny Andersson's Orkester - Pa Turne.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

ABBA NIGHTS AT GAY HOTEL IN MELBOURNE

The Xchange, a major Gay hotel in Melbourne, Australia is having ABBA nights with drag shows, ABBA music and videos plus giveaways over the next couple of weeks. Click on picture to see the full sized version.

X-FACTOR CHART INFLUENCE

Not only did the airing of the ABBA-themed X Factor last week help Number Ones to debut at number 15 in the UK, several ABBA tracks re-enter the official download chart as well:

113 The Winner Takes It All
125 Dancing Queen
175 Does Your Mother Know

http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/c/uk/download_charts.html

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Campbell, Edinburgh, UK

HIDEOUS ABBA TV SPECIAL WINS TIMESLOT

Apart from the Swedes, Australians are the world's biggest Abba-lovers. From the 70s to the 90s we bought more Abba records per
capita than any other English-speaking country. And our fascination
continued last night when 1.3 million people in the mainland capitals watched Channel Nine's Abbamania special. That helped Nine win Sunday with 30.2 per cent of the prime time audience, followed by Ten on 25.3, Seven on 23.5, ABC on 17.1 and SBS on 3.9.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, Sydney, Australia

CHART NEWS

And here's the chart stats for the week of 10-17 November 2006.

AUSTRALIA:
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - down 19 to #22

UK:
ABBA - #1s - new in at #15 (one of 9 new entries in the top 15)

IRELAND:
ABBA - #1s - new in at #60
ABBA - ABBA GOLD - back in at #90, week no 389.

SWEDEN:
Benny Andersson's Orkester - Pa Turne - back in at #43, week 25

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

OTHER PERFORMERS TO RECREATE MINI-MUSICAL?

http://www.lilmcclarnon.net/index.php?pid=1

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC
A 90 minute special for ITV

It was in 1977, during their phenomenally successful world tour, that ABBA for the first (and only) time performed their mini-musical 'The Girl With The Golden Hair'. Written by Benny and Bjorn, it was the duo's first step into the world of musical theatre. In retrospect the musical can be seen as a mirror of what was to happen to the group in the future, particularly Agnetha, whose experience of being 'The Girl With The Golden Hair' was truly bitter sweet.

30 years on, Iambic Productions presents the first ever complete recording and performance of the musical in the UK, starring Atomic Kitten's Liz McClarnon and creator of The Rocky Horror Show Richard O'Brien.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

ABBA will be on that What Year was That Show thingo on Channel 9 at 8.30pm on Monday 20/11/06.

It is advertised that this was the year ABBA was welcomed to Australia.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Harold Hanlon, Sydney, Australia

GOLD IN TOP TEN UK ALBUMS

The Scotsman newspaper reports that the Official UK Charts Company has spent the last six months going through handwritten receipts from the 1950s to current chart sales in order to compile the Top 100 list of Britain's biggest-selling albums of all time, and the countdown will take place on Saturday at 6pm on VH1 (based purely on total sales from the last 50 years).

Apparently the Top 10 is:
1 GREATEST HITS Queen (5.4 million copies)
2 SGT PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND Beatles (4.8m)
3 (WHAT'S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY? Oasis (4.3m)
4 BROTHERS IN ARMS Dire Straits (3.95m)
5 GOLD - GREATEST HITS ABBA (3.94m)
6 THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON Pink Floyd (3.8m)
7 GREATEST HITS II Queen (3.65m)
8 THRILLER Michael Jackson (3.58m)
9 BAD Michael Jackson (3.55m)
10 THE IMMACULATE COLLECTION Madonna (3.4m)

Robbie Williams has six albums in the Top 100, with Oasis, Michael Jackson and Celine Dion three apiece.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Campbell, Scotland, UK

=========

Just a quick addition to this: Greatest Hits Vol 1 came in 27th with 2,598,576 sales.


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ken Griffin, Dublin, Ireland

BENNY ON BRITISH TV

There is a UK Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thing on Thursday on UK's Channel 4 at 9pm. Benny is in it commenting on Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys - there's a little piece in the ad.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Trent Nickson, Dublin, Ireland

MAMMA MIA! HAMBURG TO CLOSE

Despite the ongoing success, Mamma Mia! in Hamburg will close next summer.

Occasionally I am on the homepage on the fanclub, and the members are suprised that it will close, because the show obviously has a higher attendance than other musicals in Hamburg that will not close yet.

Mamma Mia! in Stuttgart will not close.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Erik Menkens, Wangerland, Germany

YOU TUBE FINDS

Discovered some Abba rarities on youtube.com including:

Agnetha singing ‘I’m still alive” at one of the ’79 concerts – poor quality visual but very rare I think.

Abba singing a Swedish song called “Hovis Vittne’ in 1981 dressed in Waterloo costumes.

Abba performing ‘Tiveshambo’ in 1986 at a benefit or ‘This is your life’ type of show for Stig..

There are pages and pages of Abba videos, much of it crap but if you look hard enough there are some real gems that any die hard fans would want to see, even if the video quality is poor. Thought you may like to let your readers know.

Thanks to ABBA fan Andrew Hutchinson

UK CHART POSITION

ABBA Number Ones entered the uk chart last night at no.15 . Sales were just under 25,000 copies for the first week.

Thanks to ABBA fan Justin Bindley

ABBA THE MOVIE CO-WRITER DIES

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20746860-17001,00.html

Evil Angels scriptwriter dies at 60
By Kasey Brunt

THE scriptwriter of Northern Territory film Evil Angels has died.

Robert Caswell died on October 29. He was 60.

He wrote Evil Angels following the Darwin trial of Lindy Chamberlain and the famous disappearance of her baby, Azaria, at Uluru in 1980.

The film, which starred Meryl Streep and Sam Neill, was released worldwide in 1988.

Caswell's other film and television credits include Bodyline, ABBA: The Movie and Scales of Justice.

The cause of his death has not been revealed.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

ANOTHER ABBA/MAMMA MIA! DOCUMENTARY

http://www.dcdmedia.co.uk/product.asp?ProductID=1029

13/11/2006 - Iambic announces new productions
DCD Media plc, the arts, entertainment and drama television production and
distribution group, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary,
Iambic Productions Limited, has commenced two new projects, both of which
are expected to air on television in the Christmas season, bringing the
number of Iambic programmes being premiered on television over the next two
months to four.

The first, `Abba - Thank You For The Music', is a new feature-length
documentary about the Swedish pop group. Initial sales have been to ITV1 and
Network Seven Australia. The second, initially for BBC One, is a documentary
about the new Cirque du Soleil show and associated forthcoming Beatles
CD`Love'.

Current pre-sale revenues for these two projects exceed £500,000.
Additionally, the Company expects to generate significant further sales from
overseas distribution. Iambic's previous Abba documentaries have exceeded a
further £200,000 in foreign and other media sales. The `Love' programme is
also expected to generate further revenues for the group over and above its
initial BBC One pre-sale.

International sales of both productions will be undertaken by DCD Media's
in-house distributor NBD Television.

DCD Media Chief Executive Chris Hunt said, 'These are two very major
projects for Iambic, which is cementing its reputation as the country's
leading producer of high quality popular culture programmes. Our Abba films
have, over the years, been Iambic's most profitable, and we see no reason
for this one to be an exception, while `Love' is a breakthrough for the
company on BBC One. Iambic is currently extremely busy, and has a pipeline
of other major projects awaiting production. Iambic routinely generates
margins far higher than its sector average, and these new programmes will go
a long way to ensure that the current year is no exception.'

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

RHONDA BURCHMORE SLAGS OFF BENNY & BJÖRN!

Possibly the worst ABBA television special in history aired tonight on Channel 9 in Australia. Called "ABBAMANIA" it featured has been singers and Channel 9 TV "personalities" slaughtering ABBA songs.

The hosts of the show - Richard Wilkins (notorious ABBA hater) and has-been actress Bec Hewitt - made fun of ABBA's costumes and more! It was less of a tribute to ABBA than an attack on ABBA.

The funniest part of the show was when Australia's "Tanya" from Mamma Mia!, Rhonda Burchmore, was asked how she was able to tell the difference between Björn & Benny thesedays (because they look the same). She did an hilarious character assasination that included using a hand gesture to indicate how fat Björn & Benny are thesedays.

She also said "time has wreaked havoc on them."

Finally, she said that thesedays Benny & Björn are bears! "Like two fuzzy bears, like Binky & Bonky."

The host then made a comment about the bulges in Björn & Benny's pack pockets (from all the money they have!

The whole special was like watching a car accident - horrible, disgusting and yet you found yourself unable to turn away from the screen. Could it get worse? Yes, it did. It got worse and worse.

A miniscule amount of footage from ABBA in Australia was shown along with a few talking heads (who knew nothing about ABBA) making comments. A fashion designer attacked their fashion sense again and again.

The offer to reform story has now been changed to "they were offered two billion dollars to reform and turned it down."

Most of the "performers" did not know the words of the songs. Two male performers dressed in "drag" as Agnetha & Frida. Agnetha had a beard.

This "special" was made with the full co-operation of Universal Music - another great blow to ABBA's credibility and legacy. And, naturally, there was naturally a plug for "ABBA NUMBER ONES" at the end of the show.

MADONNA RUMOURS NOT TRUE

The stories about Madonna recording with Agnetha & Frida are false.

www.aftonbladet.se/vss/telegram/0,1082,68273334_640__,00.html

Görel Hanser has advised that she has spoken to Frida about the story and Frida has advised that it is completely untrue.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, United Kingdom

ADAM ANT'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Frida / B&B mention in Adam Ant autobiography...

Phil Collins had received a demo tape of 'Puss n Boots' and let me know that he was ready to start work on it. I was glad to finally get to Stockholm and work with him. He was a delight throughout the three weeks that we worked together. He and Hugh Padgham, who worked with him, were professional and adventurous, willing to try a number of different things in the studio and taking care of what I called 'drudge' work, making things sound exactly as they should sound. The drum sound was perfect, of course, as were the horns. One day they persuaded Frida of ABBA to come into the studio and record a spoken-word section for the song 'Strip.' Later both Benny and
Bjorn would visit us at work in their studio, which was also a thrill. At the time they were writing a musical with Tim Rice (Chess), and the following year they asked me to record one of the songs for the soundtrack, which was an honour, even though it didn't make it on to the album.

(page 221) Adam Ant: Stand and Deliver: the Autobiography

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Rod Reynolds, Los Angeles, USA

ADVERTISEMENT FOR ARRIVAL

This month's UK gay magazine ATTITUDE features a fantastic full page advert for ARRIVAL DELUXE Edition.

"HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE ! THE ULTIMATE ABBA ALBUM JUST GOT EVEN BETTER."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer From Jurgen Parys, Antwerp, Belgium

JAMES FOX SINGS ANTHEM

I've just heard James Fox (UK's Eurovision entry a couple of years back) sing 'Anthem' from CHESS on a BBC program of remembrance (Armistice day to mark the end of the First World War and remember those who died during all wars).

He was bloody brilliant and then Kathryn Jenkins (a welsh opera singer) joined him for the last finale.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Kyle Lindsay, Kent, UK

MADONNA WITH AGNETHA AND FRIDA?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2006520504,00.html

This is a scoop .. isn't it ? LOL! After Robbie William it's now Madonna !

I don't believe it .. but well .... here is the story :

MABBA

November 11, 2006

MADONNA is working with ABBA legends AGNETHA FÄLTSKOG and FRIDA LYNGSTAD on tracks for her new album.

ABBA fan Madge is deep in discussions with the pair about recording together on her follow-up to No. 1 album Confessions On A Dance Floor.

And even though Agnetha has lived like a virtual recluse and Frida hung up her high-heeled platform shoes years ago - they have agreed to go into the studio.

This will be a truly massive collaboration of the music monarchy - The Queen Of Pop and the original Dancing Queens joining forces.

It should be a sure-fire hit if Madge, seen going to the movies in London's Mayfair, chooses to release their joint studio efforts as a single. A source said: "Madonna has been in contact with Agnetha and Frida for a few months.

"Madonna was the driving force behind the idea because she was so happy with her sample of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! on Hung Up.

"Agnetha and Frida loved it, they really warmed to Madonna for rejuvenating one of their most famous tracks."

My source revealed they will write and record together as soon as Madge, her producing partner STUART PRICE and the ex-ABBA girls are all free.

ABB fellas BJÖRN ULVAEUS and BENNY ANDERSSON will not be involved but are believed to have given the plans the thumbs up.

Madonna made music history while writing Confessions together with Price, becoming the first artist ever to get permission to remix and sample an Abba track.

At the time she said: "I had to send my emissary to Stockholm with a letter and the record begging them and imploring them and telling them how much I worship their music, telling them it was a homage to them, which is all true.

"They could have said no. Thank God they didn't."

Earlier this week I revealed Madonna provided a message on the sleevenotes for the Swedish supergroup's Greatest Hits, which hit the shops on Monday.

She wrote: "ABBA's timeless music continues to inspire me. It's joyous. Standing still when you hear ABBA is impossible.

"When I started recording my Confessions On A Dance Floor album, Stuart Price and I played their music constantly. Hung Up is my homage to their contribution to music."

Madge is also working on fresh material with her ex LENNY KRAVITZ.

Price, Kravitz, ABBA and Madge?

It's safe to say that will be another Madonna No. 1 album then . . .

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dirk Bracaval, Antwerpen, Belgium

NEW ORSA RELEASE

November 15th will, according to cdon.com, ginza (which also shows a cover) and the others, see the release of a new Orsa Spelmän album.

For those who don't know them - Orsa Spelmän, a traditional Swedish folk music band, play and work together with Benny since his very first solo album in 1987. They have been involved in his projects (like the BAO releases) and he worked together with them on their albums (the last one being "Ödra" in 1998).

Now I wonder if there is any Benny connection in this new album, which is called "Orsa Nästa".

www.monomusic.com doesn't show any signs of this album (their previous ones were released under Benny's label) and also their homepage just informs us that "the new album will be released in autumn".

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Harry Ehler, Linz, Austria

MAMMA MIA! FOR FINLAND

http://www.hartwall-areena.com/en/index.php?id=59&nid=148

PRESS RELEASE

THE WORLD’S MOST SUCCESSFUL MUSICAL MAMMA MIA! FINALLY TO FINLAND
16 shows & 8 extra shows between Wed 16 and Sun 27 May 2007 and 29.5.-3.6. 2007 at Hartwall Areena, Helsinki.


Mother. Daughter. Three possible fathers.

Already 27 million people in over 140 cities around the world have been charmed by the feel-good characters, story and music of MAMMA MIA!. In May this colourful and energetic musical will finally come to Finland, but only to Helsinki.

The classic hits of super group ABBA transport the storyline, which is set on a sunny paradise island in Greece. Familiar songs get new delightful and even touching dimensions in the plot, which tells of bride-to-be Sophie who wonders which of her mother’s three former boyfriends is her father ­ and decides in secret to invite all to her wedding. The musical incorporates 22 ABBA compositions, for example ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Chiquitita’, ‘Super Trouper’, ‘Take a Chance on Me’, ‘The Winner Takes it All’, ‘Voulez-Vous’, ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ and ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’.


MAMMA MIA! premiered at London’s West End on 6th of April 1999, 25 years to the day when ABBA won the Eurovision song contest with ‘Waterloo’. The production is not an ABBA tribute nor a story about ABBA the band, but an individual musical, in the creation of which Benny Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus have participated. At present MAMMA MIA! is staged in 9 cities (including London, New York, Las Vegas and Osaka) and in addition there are 2 tours. The MAMMA MIA! Original Cast Recording has gone Double Platinum in Canada, Platinum in the USA and Double Gold in Britain. The Swedish-language MAMMA MIA! Cast Recording has gone Platinum in our neighbouring country. ABBA’s own albums have sold 360 million copies.

The setting at Hartwall Areena will be that of an intimate theatre with 3300 tickets sold per show. The production is performed in English.

With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. MAMMA MIA! has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

The International Tour is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, Stage Entertainment and NGM.

SHOW DATES
First week
- Wed 16 May at 19.30
- Thur 17 May at 14.00 and 18.00 (Ascension Day)
- Fri 18 May at 19.30
- Sat 19 May at 14.00 and 18.00
- Sun 20 May at 14.00 and 18.00
Second week
- Tue 22 May at 19.30
- Wed 23 May at 19.30
- Thur 24 May at 19.30
- Fri 25 May at 19.30
- Sat 26 May at 14.00 and 18.00
- Sun 27 May at 14.00 and 18.00


-Tu 29 may at 19.30
-we 30 May at 19.30
-thu 31 May at 19.30
-Fr 1 June at 19.30
-Sa 2 June at 14.00 & 18.00
-Su 3 June 14.00 & 18.00
Doors open 1,5 hours prior to each show.


Duration 2 hours 35 minutes including one intermission.

TICKETS
Sales start next Monday 18 September at 9 am at Lippupalvelu (Ticket Service Finland)
- outlets nationwide
- telephone service
0600-10-800 (1,50 euros/min + local telephone charge)
0600-10-020 (5 euros/call + local telephone charge)
- online bookings www.lippupalvelu.fi
Tickets 49/59/69/79 euros.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Welldone Agency & Promotion
- promoter: Risto Juvonen
- press information: Ritva Väänänen,


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Kylie Lindsay, UK

THAT AWFUL CD IN OZ

For those who might be interested, the single disc version of Number Ones is already appearing in shops in Australia.

This afternoon JB Hifi's Sydney city store had lots of copies prominently displayed up front of the shop for $17.99.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia


====================================================

ABBAMAIL's RECOMMENDATION: DON'T BUY THE CD!
The more you keep feeding this machine that keeps rehashing the same songs over and over again in different packages, the more its going to happen.

If you must purchase something from the Number Ones range, only buy the DVD because at least that has some bonus material on it. But avoid the single disc and double disc versions of "Number Ones" at all costs.

NO OFFER FROM ROBBIE TO FRIDA

http://www.metro.se/se/article/2006/11/09/15/2304-23/

Frida waits for Robbie Williams' ABBA-SONGS.

It's not only Madonna who likes ABBA. The popstar Robbie Williams does it too, the English press reports. Daily Star even claims, that he is in negotiation with Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad about recording an ABBA song together with her, maybe "Dancing Queen".

Despite the news paper even quote the ABBA singer, it isn't true. They have never been in contact with each other, Anni-Frid Lyngstad inform via Görel Hanser, ABBA's press contact.

With that said, that she is not uninterested in a co-operation, if now Robbie dreams about it. Anni-Frid likes him. But first he must come up with an "offer", says Görel Hanser.

Written by Peter Lindholm
Translation by Jan Bach

Thanks to ABBAMAILers Jan Bach, Copenhagen, Denmark and Ian Cole, Sydney, Australia

FRENCH NUMBER ONES INFO

Will Abba number ones ever be released in France ?

On fnac.com, they announce the simple disc verstion available from November 21st as an import from Canada and the double version available from November 21st as an import from Belgium.....

Oh and the DVD will be an import from Canada available at the same time.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pascale Ranson, Lille, France

FRIDA GETTING MARRIED.....

Okay, so this gossip magazine says Frida may be getting married again. Here's a pic of the himbo in contention. Why do we feel like this is yet another beat up story?

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Bonnie Rietveld, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

MAMMA MIA! 5TH ANNIVERSARY CD/DVD - SAVE YOUR MONEY!

This arrived yesterday. Knowing that there was a DVD on the package with interviews with Björn and Benny I had to buy it for ABBA on TV.

If you were thinking of getting it for the DVD I wouldn't bother.

There are about 7 seconds of the Benny interview from "The Winner Takes It All" doc. where he talks about the Beach Boys making this "marvellous sound". There is no new interview with Benny at all. He is briefly interviewed at the Las Vegas opening but that's old footage too.

Björn's interview lasts about 15 seconds. That is new I believe but I could be wrong. The Mamma Mia! featurette features the Broadway Sky and Sophie cheesily narrating their way through it. They are featured heavily throughout.

Other footage is from the London 5th year Anniversary - footage arriving, on stage and afterwards on stage (press call). Might be some new camera angles but nothing earth-shattering. Also footage from the Stockholm premiere with 4 seconds of Agnetha.

I will not be listening to the CD part of the package. Ever.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, Sandhurst, UK

MORE ON THE FRIDA & ROBBIE THING

On page 3 of last Thursday's UK Daily Star, a third of the page is taken up with the following story. Talk about an out-of-context quote being spun beyond belief (it will give non-UK readers an idea of how accurate and relaible the Daily Star is):

* * * * *
ROBBIE A DANCING QUEEN
Hunk all set to join ABBA
Exclusive by Peter Dyke.

Pop idol Robbie Williams has been in secret talks about recording songs with singing legends ABBA.

The chart topper linked up with former band member Anni-Frid Lyngstad to discuss their plans.

Rob told her he would love them to record at least one of ABBA's hits together - perhaps even Dancing Queen.

Brunette Anni-Frid, 60, revealed they had also talked about going into recording studio as a team to pick the right songs.

She said, "Robbie and I talked about doing an ABBA hit together. He has not yet come back on that one."

SPLIT

If Robbie- seen wearing a kilt in Holywood for Halloween - did record with ABBA it would be a global smash.

The band - Anni-Frid, Bjorn Ulvaeus, 61, Agnetha Faltskog, 56, and Benny Andersson, 59 - split in 1983 and have turned down big offers to reform.

A source said, "Maybe Robbie could be the one to get them together again. It would be a sensational coup."

The X Factor will celebrate the band's music on Saturday, when the remaining eight acts perform the group's hits. Bjorn will be a special guest.

* * * * *

There is a large picture of Robbie Williams in a kilt, and a smaller colour picture of ABBA from the Arrival jump suits/red background session.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Graham Piper, Hove, UK

CHARTS

Well, There's still two charting, but it isn't the same two.

AUSTRALIA: ABBA - ABBA GOLD DVD - up 13 to #1. Giving ABBA their second #1 DVD in Australia.

AUSTRALIA: ABBA - 18 Hits - back in the top 50 at #40.

The accreditation for ABBA GOLD DVD remains unchanged (suspiciously), and 18 hits has yet to be certified.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

AMATEUR CHESS IN IRELAND

If you still live in Dublin you might be interested in a new production of Chess in February in the National Concert Hall in February 07.

Further details from:
http://www.glasnevinmusicalsociety.com

An amateur production it seems but staring Peter Corry, who is no amateur. Anyway, it's a rare occasion when the same city stages productions of "Mamma Mia!" and "Chess" at the same time.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Trent "Trica" Nickson, Dublin, Ireland

FLUFFY DICE OUT CHEAP IN UK!

Save £60!

HMV Oxford Street, London (Bond Street Branch) has 30 copies of the Complete Studio Recordings all stacked up for only £49.99 each (normally £109.99). I am guessing all HMV stores are stocking the same.

So much for them being a limited edition. A bit like the Thank You For The Music box set. The numbering on those is a joke now. They were going for £34.99 btw - normally £44.99.

So if you are in London or UK and you haven't got yours yet, maybe now is the time to treat yourself.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Richard Knight, London, UK

MADONNA PAYS TRIBUTE TO ABBA

http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news?id=24482

Queen of Pop Madonna has praised one of her favourite pop groups of all time ABBA.

Madge was asked to contribute to the sleeve notes on the Swedish group’s Number One’s album and she happily obliged.

According to The Sun, she wrote: “ABBA’s timeless music continues to inspire me. Its joyous Standing still when you hear ABBA is impossible.

“When I started recording my ‘Confessions On A Dancefloor’ album, Stuart Price and I played their music constantly.

“’Hung Up’ is my homage to their contribution to music.”

‘Abba: Number Ones’ is out now…

SCISSOR SISTERS SUPER TROUPER

On the weekend, I was watching Wetten Dass on German TV, and the Scissor Sisters
performed I Don't Feel Like Dancing. They were chatting with the host, and somehow the topic came to ABBA, and the Scissor Sisters madeThomas Gottschalk promise that he would sing Super Trouper with themat the end of the show.

Well, the Scissor Sisters did indeed sing Super Trouper on Wetten Dass on Saturday. I thought they actually did a really nice job, especially considering that they decided
spontaniously to do it, then just had an hour and a half to practice before doing it. Jake Shears had a really nice voice singing it live.

I thought it was also cute how incredibly, flamingly gay he is onstage ;-) Before starting to sing, he told two heavily muscled straight guys: "the muscle Marys need to be over here, too--come on girls!";-)

This performance is definitely worth looking at on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEgojKIyWns

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Andy Andrews, Dortmund, Germany

YOU TUBE AGNETHA VIDS

I stumbled across these on Youtube.com today . I've never heard the remix or seen this video before. I just thought I'd bring it up to the list so others can see it and give their opinion. I'm not sure if it's been brought up here or not, so if it has, I appologize.

I think it adds another dimension to the song. The added drum effects are nice. The vocals seem to be stripped from the layering, which I loved on the original. But I like it. Would be nice to hear on the dance floor I guess. If the link doesn't work, do a search for Agnetha Faltskog The Last Time. It's the extended version.

Also there's an extended version of When You Walk Into The Room, which I think is pretty cool. Again, they strip the vocals down a bit, but the powerful dance beat is nice. The video isn't half bad either.

For The Last Time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVUZ2g4j3R4

For When You Walk Into The Room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y24N6DtHhI

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James Bachmann, California USA

MAMMA MIA! TOUR IN MANCHESTER

MAMMA MIA!'s International Tour arrives in Manchester this month for a twelve week run at the city's Palace Theatre. The show opens on 7 November running through to 27 January 2007. The city has welcomed the show with open arms, making it the hot ticket over the festive period.

On 9 November, the cast has been invited to perform centre stage at the City's Christmas lights switch on. Falling on the same night as the VIP and Press performance, the cast have a hectic evening ahead of them, rounded off with a well deserved after show party!

MAMMA MIA!'s International Tour has played South Africa, Estonia, Portugal, Paris and beyond, and has been seen by over 1.3 million people.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Paul Carter, London, UK

BJÖRN ON UK TV'S X-FACTOR: REPORT

Björn was introduced by Kate Thornton at the beginning of the main show and was shown (pre-recorded) greeting each of the contestants on stage at The Prince of Wales theatre where "Mamma Mia!" is currently playing in London. After listening to each contestant singing a bit of their chosen ABBA song for this week's show, Björn then said a few words about each one.

He was then introduced at the beginning of the Results show an hour later where he gave some polite opinions on some the contestants. Then as suspected, the cast of "Mamma Mia!" performed "Mamma Mia!" and "Dancing Queen".

He was then interviewed briefly The Xtra Factor on ITV2.

He looked really good, really well (though a bit scrawny in the neck area!). Overall, he seemed to get a good reception and they were suitably respectful and in awe of him I think.

The performances were as awful as expected - keep an eye on YouTube over the next couple of days as I'm sure they'll appear. There was a 'swing' version of Waterloo which was "unusual" and imagine Mariah Carey singing "Chiquitita", well that's Leona for you.

Not quite the "car crash" TV I expected, but it was still pretty much a side-on collision! I will be updating my website abbaontv.com with more information about the show.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, Sandhurst, UK

ABBA NUMBER ONES TV COMMERCIAL

Just seen the tv advert for ABBA number one cd. It is a bit vile - it uses the Godley and Creme video from the 80s.. I can't remember the song title but it is where others pretend to ring ABBA.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dionne Kennedy, Colne, UK

NUMBER ONES IN IRELAND

First things first. Number 1s (the CD version) is out now in Ireland. Unusually, there are no Carl Magnus Palm sleeve notes in the booklet, just a quote from Madonna and the lyrics. And the cheesy 'Everyone loves ABBA' sticker on the front.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ken Griffin, Dublin, Ireland

X-FACTOR MASTERCLASS REPORT

Here is a report about Björn's comments on the X-Factor contests that will be performing ABBA songs on the show

The Bj0rn Ulvaeus Masterclass
http://www.xfactor.tv/page.asp?partid=361

This week, our finalists got to meet the one and only Bjorn Ulvaeus of Abba fame.

Providing the guys and gals with an exclusive masterclass, the maestro of 70s pop had some tips and feedback for getting the most out of their performances.

Nikitta
I was amazed to hear it was difficult to find songs for her because I really thought Dancing Queen suited her being a young, fresh, almost 17ish girl.

You could see her on a Friday night almost. She's going to do a good version of that on Saturday night I'm sure. Then again I think that song almost suits anyone or any girl who sings like that. She's got a good voice.

Eton Road
It was kind of surreal for me to look at them because when I wrote that lyric and when Frieda [Karen's comment: sic and what the hell is he talking about - HE sang Does Your Mother Know!] sang it - she would be singing about such a boy and then you hear that boy singing it - it's kind of strange.

However, they have nice harmonies and they'll go down very well I think. Melody wise it's a good song for them.

Robert
Robert was very enthusiastic and bubbly. He obviously enjoys what he's doing and Take A Chance might come across as an easy song to sing but it's not quite that way.

There were a couple of places where he could improve and I told his coach that so I'm sure he's going to get it completely right on Saturday. He did a very personal version of it which I enjoyed and I'm going to enjoy it even more with a backing track.

Leona
Leona was kind of shy - I got the feeling she was holding back. When she's up there on stage with a big audience she's probably quite different. She did Chiquitita in a very sensitive way and I liked that very much. Even though she was very quiet I could hear she has a great quality to her voice and Chiquitita is good for her.

The lyric to Chiquitta [sic] is very much a story lyric so if you read it carefully and put yourself in the place of that person singing to her friend - I think that's going to help her a lot. It always helps when you can act a lyric rather than just sing it. You'd be surprised how much people feel that when it comes across when it reaches them instead of someone standing with vacant eyes singing something they had learned by heart - huge difference.

The MacDonald Brothers
Nice guys, I thought. Probably good musicians even though I couldn't hear - they were kind of electrified without electricity.

They were very folky so Fernando is a very nice choice and they sounded a bit like they were two twins some time ago from Scotland - I don't remember the name now but a bit like them.

The only thing that I reacted against was the fact they were doing Fernando too fast and I hope they find a way to take it down in tempo a bit and still land in the two and a half minutes.

For young people like those two boys it's very difficult to take criticism and to do something productive out of it instead of just going home crying which, of course, many people do.

I think they should remember that they have a great personality - they stand out I think. Amongst these 8 they are totally different to the rest in their folkiness and their general feeling of what they are doing. So they should be proud.

Whenever there is constructive criticism by all means listen to it and do something out of it but don't ever take it too seriously unless you're not safe in yourself which you should be - I would be if I was them.

They are two brothers they can help each other.

[Karen's comment: in other words there were tears and a bit of a hissy fit?]

Ray
I could see Ray - I mean he was standing two metres away from me - but I could see him in front of a big audience and loving it to death because he really is that kind of a guy who is a performer. As he said to me - 'I want to be an entertainer' and I can feel that he would like to emphasise on that - the entertainment bit rather than being a recording artist.

I think he stands a good chance - he exudes enthusiasm.

Ben
It was very interesting to hear a man sing that song because obviously I've heard several women sing it through the years but Ben gave it something else.

He has a fantastic voice and personality. He comes across, he tells the story in a way that people listen to - they suddenly listen to what he's saying - not just what he sounds like. He's a big talent and he stands a good chance.

He shouldn't worry about singing and Abba song - people who have voices closer to Frieda [sic] and Agnetha - they are the ones who should worry.

He's so far away from it all he shouldn't worry at all - he gives it something new something different.

Ashley
He did forget the words, didn't he? What I said was true - I don't know them myself!

It's a very difficult song to sing you know like that if you can not sing the whole song because it's really a story that begins here and ends there but I understand because there's not enough time he had to cut it short, which makes it very very difficult.

But I think can probably do better than he did today because I could see his eyes were sort of vacant - it was like he was concentrating on something that he had learned by heart like you used to learn the lyrics of hymns at school, that kind of thing.

I didn't feel he knew exactly what he was singing about but I'm sure after our little talk he will think about that on Saturday.

To remember the words the only real secret that I know, and its something I've learned from actors, is that they are playing a part, or actually being the person that says those words, so it makes it much more logical to go from one line to another because they make sense.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Kaarin Goodburn, Kettering, UK

SOS CALL FOR ABBA

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20694088-17102,00.html#

SOS call for ABBA

By Brian Crisp

November 03, 2006 11:00pm
Article from: The Courier-Mail

ABBA national treasure, or something the Swedes would rather forget?

When you think of Swedish exports three things come to mind Volvo, Ikea and ABBA.

There's also some not so obvious ones including Absolut Vodka, Björn Borg, Greta Garbo, Ace of Bass, Roxette and the smorgasbord (which is Swedish for a table of sandwiches). But for the purpose of this story I'd like to concentrate on the big three.

Volvos Stockholm has. They are everywhere. Even the stretch limos are Volvos. Just like the Swedes they are safe and dependable.

The National Museum, among other things, had a design exhibition on when I visited and, yes, Ikea furniture had pride of place.

The only thing I struggled to find in Stockholm was ABBA Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid.

They may have sold more than 350 million albums worldwide, but when it comes to the Swedes it would appear that while it used to be so nice and it used to be so good, today it's so long, see you honey.

Sweden is a country where it is dark for most of the year. People think it is normal behaviour to run naked from a sauna and jump bum-first into the snow.

The world sees the Swedes as a tad eccentric and sometimes cheerless. So you would think they would champion ABBA and somehow want to thank them for the music, the songs they sang.

It's hard to imagine that ABBA could be seemingly ignored in their hometown. Imagine Liverpool without the Beatles tours. That's what it's like.

The locals I spoke to agreed that ABBA was better left resigned to the history book on the shelf.

Obviously they weren't with me in the '70s at The Sydney Cricket Ground when the super troupers performed to a sell-out crowd in pouring rain. It was so wet Anni-Frid slipped and fell flat on her face.

I was in Sweden and this was my chance to revisit my past so with my money, money, money in hand I went in search of anything ABBA.

An internet search for an ABBA tour of Stockholm proved fruitless. There were no ABBA tour brochures in the First Hotel Reisen foyer where I was staying. A call to the tourist authority was of no use. There is no ABBA tour and as far as they know, nothing is planned.

The best I could find was a fan website with directions to spots where ABBA filmclips were shot.

The conciege said that sometimes the boat cruises point out homes of the rich and famous, so at least I had a starting point.

Stockholm Sightseeing offers five types of cruises but if you want a tiny speck of ABBA gossip jump on the Royal Canal Tour (120 SEK). As the boat heads past Diplomatstaden we are told that one of the ABBA members lives in this area. No clues to which one, but at least they got a mention on the same tour as Sweden's kings and queens.

From here I headed to Musikmuseet (Sibyllegatan 2). Admission is free and there are more than 6000 musical instruments to see, touch and play.

By rights this place should be a shrine to ABBA. Not so.

To get to ABBA you make your way past the nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle) which is Sweden's national instrument and head down three flights of stairs, mind the 17th-century fiddles and go around the corner to the ABBA display. There's Benny's piano, a couple of microphones, Björn's guitar, some gold records and a purple jacket. There's also a jukebox of ABBA songs. Just for the record Dancing Queen was the most requested by a long way. There must have been about 100 people in the museum, but here baby by myself I sat and wait and wondered about why Stockholm had abandoned them.

From here I was off to see Mamma Mia!, the musical.

The 4.30pm show was almost a sell-out. I paid $91 and joined the well-dressed crowd at Cirkus Theatre (take bus 47 or the tram to Skansen). The theatre was rebuilt in 1997 for the staging of Kristina från Duvemåla, a four-hour musical written by Benny and Björn and based on Moberg's Utvandrarna books.

This is a fashion-conscious city and although my scuffs, three-quarter length pants and T-shirt looked a little underdone, I was ready for fun.

I'd seen Mamma Mia! during its successful run in Brisbane so I thought I knew what to expect. What I didn't expect was the performance to be in Swedish. Dancing Queen, for some reason, was the only song performed in English.

It's true though that to enjoy music you don't need to understand the lyrics.

With my toes tap, tap, tapping I headed off to Stockholm's bohemian quarter of Sodermalm for dinner at Benny's hip Hotel Rival. The hotel, originally built in 1937, is owned by Benny Andersson in partnership with Christer Sandahl and Christer Hagglund.

The boutique hotel has obvious Scandic features such as wooden floors, Nordic feature pieces designed by Alvar Aalto and Poul Christiansen. Above each bed hangs the image of a Swedish national star and the rooftop has fantastic city views.

The hotel also has a movie theatre, a bakery, restaurants, cafe and bar.

The food was fantastic. The service was great but the music was that terrible techno s