PREVIEW SCREENINGS OF MAMMA MIA! MOVIE - BOOK NOW!

http://www.odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_info/s105/Leicester_Square/m11153/Mamma_Mia/

MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE AT THE ODEON, LONDON IS ON SALE NOW!

* Genre: Musical
* UK release date: 10/7/2008
* Advance screenings: 04/07/08, 05/07/08, 06/07/08, ...
* Directed by: Phyllida Lloyd
* Country: United States
* Language: English
* Distributor: Universal Pictures

Who´s in it?

Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth
What´s the plot?

Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the awaited big screen adaptation of the beloved musical and worldwide phenomenon.

Bringing the timeless songs of ABBA to movie audiences, Summer 2008 is the season for Mamma Mia!

Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper join Streep in this celebration of a mother, daughter and three possible dads.

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna (Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Seyfried), the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her best friends – practical Rosie (Walters) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Baranski). But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own…

Determined to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she invites three men from Donna’s past back to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled…

See it first in an exclusive week of previews at ODEON Leicester Square from 4th-9th uly.

Session times that can be booked...

Friday 4/07/08
13:40
16:55
20:05
Saturday 5/07/08
13:40
16:55
20:05
Sunday 6/07/08
13:40
16:55
20:05
Monday 7/07/08
13:40
16:55
20:05
Tuesday 8/07/08
13:40
16:55
20:05
Wednesday 9/07/08
13:40
16:55
20:05

BACKGROUND ON FRIDA FRENCH TV INTERVIEW

And a French fan sent me an article of an interview of Michel Drucker who is telling about the Frida interview from last weekend. It was published in Le Parisien but also in a Normandy newspaper.

"This Sunday afternoon Michel Drucker is doing a whole tv show about Swedish pop group ABBA founded in 1974 and split in 1982. The group, made up of two couples, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Frida Lyngstad won Eurovision in 1974 with Waterloo and has sold 370 million records. Michel Drucker met Anni-Frid Lyngstad, known as Frida, in Zermatt in the Swiss Valais where she retired.

Q: How did you manage to contact Frida, one of the two Abba singers ?

A: I met her thanks to Alain Boublil who is the producer of Les Miserables musicals. He was responsible for ABBA for the Vogue record company. I knew them well too, I often invited them on my TV shows.

Q: Was it a dream to interview an ABBA member ?

A: It has been three years since we wanted to do a whole Vivement dimanche around ABBA. Can you imagine ? They're still selling 2 million records each year. They are even more popular because of the musical Mamma Mia! tour that is played in 10 countries and stops in France in July.

Q: So you met Frida on March 10th in Zermatt ?

A: She lives peacefully in a chalet there but she met me in a hotel. She went through many hardships after ABBA. At the end of the 90's, her daughter Lise Lotte died in a car accident and her husband Ruzzo Von Plauen died of cancer. She was 30 when she discovered her father was a German soldier. This interview is so moving that TV stations from all around the world are trying to get the rights for it. She promised she would watch the TV show this afternoon in Switzerland.

(Alain Grasset interviewed Michel Drucker)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pascale Ranson, Strasbourg, France

ABBA COLLECTION ABC TV'S "COLLECTORS"

As The Collectors Show was ending on ABC-TV Australia tonight, there was an advertisement for next week's show.

The show is going to feature collectors from the 70s and one of the segments is about an ABBA collector!

It airs 8.00pm to 8.30pm on ABC TV (Australia) on Friday night.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Harold Hanlon, Sydney, Australia

CHARTS WEEK 13

Still the same two to report for this week. 21-28 March 2008 (Week 13)

CANADA: ABBA ­ The Millennium Collection, 20th Century Masters (etc) - up 7 to #79
SWEDEN: Benny Andersson's Orkester - BAO3 - up 32 places to #18

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

MAMMA MIA! LONDON TURNS 9

http://broadwayworld.com/printcolumn.cfm?id=26502

Mamma Mia' Celebrates 9th London Birthday on April 6!
Back to the Article

by BWW News Desk

Mamma Mia!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, will celebrate its 9th London birthday on 6 April.Mamma Mia! continues to break box office records at the Prince of Wales Theatre. The musical has had the highest ever weekly gross taken in the history of the Prince of Wales Theatre several times. From West End smash to global phenomenon, Mamma Mia! has already been seen by more than 30 million people in over 170 cities across North America, Australia, Europe and Asia. It has already grossed over $2 billion at the box office worldwide. The original London production opened in 1999 and has grossed over £155 million at the UK Box Office. The London production has been seen by over 5 million people.

The cast is headed by Linzi Hateley as ‘Donna Sheridan’ with Joanna Monro as ‘Rosie’ and Jane Gurnett as ‘Tanya’. Richard Laing plays ‘Sam Carmichael’, Paul Ryan ‘Harry Bright’, Andrew Hall ‘Bill Austin’, Katie Brayben ‘Sophie Sheridan’, Oliver Hembrough ‘Sky’, Jodie Read ‘Ali’, Laura Selwood ‘Lisa’, Giovanni Spano ‘Pepper’ and Matt Wilman ‘Eddie’. At certain performances the role of ‘Donna Sheridan’ is played by Melissa Jacques.

Inspired by the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs, writer Catherine Johnson’s enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago…

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, the play is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch. It is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East & Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

Mamma Mia! is now booking until 25 April 2009. Tickets are priced from £20- £55 for weekday performances and £20-£59 for Saturday performances. Tickets are available online at www.mamma-mia.com or through the Box Office on 0844 482 5115 or SEE on 0844 412 2962. Performances times are Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm, with Friday performances at 5.00pm and 8.30pm and Saturday performances at 3.00pm and 7.30pm.

Visit the Mamma Mia! Website for more information at: www.mamma-mia.com

BENNY DOES MAKE A CAMEO IN MAMMA MIA! MOVIE

From our exclusive first review of Mamma Mia! The Movie:

"....Benny makes his cameo in the movie here, he’s got the whole screen to himself for a few seconds, you can’t miss him, he runs his fingers down the keyboard of a piano in a boat...."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Ryan Cameron, San Diego, USA

MORE MAMMA MIA! MOVIE POSTERS

Two more posters for Mamma Mia! The Movie - quite interesting and finally without that bloody archway! Don't forget ABBAMAIL has the first ever review of Mamma Mia! The Movie on our website. Check the link from our main page.

MAMMA MIA! MOVIE IS "AWESOME!"

Long-term ABBAMAILer Ryan Cameron just just seen the exclusive advance test screening of Mamma Mia! The Movie in San Diego.

His verdict? "It's awesome!"

He says the music and sound is fabulous and he can't wait to get the soundtrack CD.

We're waiting for a more detailed report from Ryan.

AT LAST! A GOOD MAMMA MIA! POSTER

Oh thank god! Finally, a decent Mamma Mia! poster!

THE WHOLE FRIDA INTERVIEW (LINK UPDATED)

See the whole Frida interview on French TV at:

http://tinyurl.com/6xbvmq

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dirk Bracaval, Wuustwezel, Belgium

EVIL EMPIRE LAUNCHES MAMMA MIA! SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE

http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=26405

Universal Pictures has launched a special Social Network community for Mamma Mia! movie fans to chat about their favorite stars and ABBA songs before the Dancing Queens dance and jive onto the silver screen this summer. Visit: www.mammamiafans.com.

Seen by over 30 million people around the world, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ global smash hit musical Mamma Mia! is celebrating 6 sold-out years at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway, and is currently playing record-breaking engagements in Las Vegas and on National Tour in the United States. The original West End production has played more than 3,500 performances, an international tour has played in more than 30 foreign cities, and the feature film of Mamma Mia!, produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, will be released on July 18, 2008.

Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the feature-film adaptation of the beloved musical that has been seen by more than 30 million people in 160 cities and 8 languages around the world. The three women who created the worldwide smash stage hit -global producer Judy Craymer, writer Catherine Johnson and director Phyllida Lloyd -repeat their roles in bringing this joyful, musical story to the big screen. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper join Streep in this celebration of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads.

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna (Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Seyfried), the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie (Julie Walters) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Baranski) - from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.

On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” Mamma Mia! plays on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway) Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $62.50 -$111.25, including a $1.25 Shubert facility fee. Tickets are available by calling the hotline at (212) 563-5544/(800) 432-7250; in person at the Winter Garden Box Office or online at www.telecharge.com/mamma-mia and www.mamma-mia.com

MAMMA MIA! EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW IN SAN DIEGO

According to a post on the IMDb, there is a preview of Mamma Mia! in San Diego tonight (26 March).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795421/board/thread/101314532

http://www.movietickets.com/pdf/mm92101.pdf

Unfortunately the preview is already sold out.


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

BARBARA DICKSON SINGS B&B DEMO: THE DAY THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN

Unreleased Björn & Benny written demo version - fabulous quality.

Why in the state we were in
Did we go to to Berlin
Well I just can't remember
We had built our invisible wall
Things were bad that fabled fall

We walked through the city that night
What a heart-warming sight
In the cold of November
People danced in the streets
And I knew I must too

The day the wall came tumbling down
I knew I loved you more than ever
My war with you, so petty now
Now that the times were changing

The world stood still
And held its breath
A world that always had said never
New lease of life is what we found
The day the wall came tumbling down

Down by the Brandenburg Gate
People cheered, it was great
I will never forget it
And your eyes as you looked at me then
Said it all
Let's try again

And grand was a glorious day
How it swept me away
And God knows that I let it
I was drunk
By the crowd I was in
In Berlin

The day the wall came tumbling down
I knew I loved you more than ever
My war with you, how petty now
Now that the times were changing

The world stood still
And held its breath
A world that always had said never
New lease of life is what we found
The day the wall came tumbling down

Special thanks to ABBA fan Gerard Hesen, Netherlands

CLIP OF FRIDA INTERVIEW ON FRENCH TV

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=3lMguI4-0Ro

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pascale Ranson, Strasbourg, France

SPECIAL REPORT: FRENCH ABBA TV SPECIAL

Yesterday the programme Vivement dimanche was entirely dedicated to ABBA with Frida being interviewed by Michel Drucker. This was of course an exclusivity and a very interesting program. The most exciting part of the program was of course the Frida interview that was cut with ABBA videos. Apart from one or two imprecisions (Drucker said the Mamma Mia troupe was in France for the first time and that after Waterloo, ABBA waited for 18 months before releasing a new single) the programme was a very good one, and that was to be expected with Michel Drucker.

First of all, we got to see the international Mamma Mia troup who is touring France and the Mamma Mia movie trailer. Then we started to see Drucker interviewing Frida in Zermatt, she is not in France, the interview was recorded in Switzerland and she wore jeans, a blue jacket as well as a scarf around her neck. She looked sad as well. It seems that Michel Drucker managed to get this interview with Frida because of their common friend, Alain Boublil who was ABBA's publisher in France. He also created the musical ABBAcadabra. (Around the world, he is not for the musical les miserables).

Drucker asked him how he became ABBA's French editor and A. Boublil explained that he started developping a friendship with Stig Anderson since both him and Stig Anderson were musical producers in their respective country. Stig liked two songs from Boublil's company and asked him the rights to write a Swedish text for the songs and have them recorded by his artists. Boublil agreed, though he cannot remember which songs they were, and the Swedish covers turned out to be hits in Sweden. From then on an informal partnership developped between the two men and then Stig offered him to release Ring Ring in France. Which Boublil did claiming the record met a certain success. When Waterloo won the Eurovision Song Contest, Boublil was the obvious choice for France though Boublil adds that there was no contract between the two of them at the time, only a kind of moral contract that both respected. He also confirmed that Stig would phone him to make him listen to new ABBA songs asking him if he thought they were potential single and Boublil remembers Money Money Money in this way.

Frida is interviewed about several topics. Many topics are not new to the fans : the Mamma Mia! musical, the costumes, the Mamma Mia! Movie. Then Drucker asks if Fernando is her favourite song, she answers that there are so many good songs she can't say that but that Fernando will always be special to her because she recorded it in Swedish first. The whole Fernando clip is shown. The fernando section was aired again at 7pm. It also shows that these days, it is with Bjorn that Frida has more contacts. She also denies the rumours between she and Agnetha fighting and disliking each other. She admits they never socialized but that they had a normal working relationship and that the group members had some sort of unwritten code of respect between them.

During the program, they also talk about ABBA's extraordinary popularity in Australia and they mention that each year there is a convention in Holland and that Holland loves Swedish artists and that Swedish artists feel at home in Holland. (Oops, sorry, I meant the Netherlands). Michel Drucker mentions the one billion dollar offer for an ABBA tour and you hear the audience gasp.

During the show, several ABBA clips are shown, most of them I knew except for an Sos extract but it also enables the mainstream audience to discover less familiar songs : California here I come, People need love, Eagle, Happy New Year. Only a small feature from the 1978 tv show with Drucker is shown and this is probably due to the fact that French tv archives ask too much money. The whole show was cut with videoclips and only the Voulez Vous album is missing. Of course Lasse Hallstrom is mentionned as well as Owe Sandstrom and late Ola Brunkert.

Then French singer Sylvie Vartan is interviewed and you can see a montage between her French cover of Wrap Your Arms Around Me and Agnetha's version. She says that when she heard the song, she wanted to cover it but had no idea it was Agnetha singing. She also adds that Agnetha is an outstanding singer. Sylvie Vartan has seen Mamma Mia in Los Angeles where she lives with her husband Tony Scotti (who was responsible for the ABBA tour in Usa in 1979) and she says it is a pity there is no French version of the musical which is a worldwide success abroad but seldom mentionned here. (Sylvie Vartan's first husband was French star Johnny Halliday). They showed a section with Tony Scotti being interviewed about ABBA (at the time, Sylvie Vartan and him had not met yet) in 1979and he just says that ABBA's happy music was what the public needed right at the moment when the period is depressing . Another curiosity is that they do not mention Sylvie Vartan's French cover of On and On and On.

They also talk about Frida's solo career. She mentions Something's going on as a big hit in France. Then they mention Daniel Balavoine and ABBAcadabra and Drucker says : you can only be moved when you see Daniel Balavoine. And Frida says that D. Balavoine was a wonderful person very nice. She also mentions that he wrote the music for the Face and that she has listened to it recently.

Then the interview becomes a little more personal for Frida. Drucker asks how she felt when ABBA ended ? Was it not hard. And Frida said yes, that when ABBA ended she felt very sad. She also mentions her grandchildren as well as lost husband and daughter. They also mention her father, how they thought his ship had sunk and how she discovered that he was still alive.

Drucker concludes his program by telling Frida. Thank you for the music.

http://vivementdimanche.france2.fr/archives/41307099-fr.php

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Pascale Ranson, Strasbourg, France

HOVAS VITTNE ON YOU TUBE

Swedish lyrics:

HOVAS VITTNE

Från Hova kom
det en bonnläpp det svängde om
Släpa och slet och snodde
och sen så småningom
på dur och moll
blev han rikare än ett troll
Nu är hans dagar fyllda
utav tunga beslut
Lukas ska ut
Backen ska saltas
korven ska kokas
Lukas ska ut

Hovas vittne knallarnas röst
Västergötlands stämma på jorden
Sångarhjärta klappar i ditt bröst
pennan glöder, upp flyga orden
Raska klackar slå ännu
som ett jehu är du
Hovas vittne ger aldrig upp
Hovas vittne
Full fart framåt flaggan i topp

Hos dig på fest
när man sitter och trivs som mest
hör man någonting som surrar
en dammsugareprotest
Från den Parnasse
tar du flyget i första klass
Djurgården Honolulu
om du kommer fram
enligt program
med ditt bagage i Rom
och Gudrun i Amsterdam

Hovas vittne knallarnas röst
Västergötlands stämma på jorden
Sångarhjärta klappar i ditt bröst
pennan glöder, upp flyga orden
Raska klackar slå ännu
som ett jehu är du
Vi och du är långhalm och ler
Full fart bakåt
Hovas vittne, vad som än sker

Stikke-Stikkan
Det är befogat denna gång
Trots att du tycker att låten
blir för lång
Stikke-Stikkan
Det har vi skrivit i den tron
att du blir glad om vi höjer
en halv ton

Hovas vittne knallarnas röst
Västergötlands stämma på jorden
Sångarhjärta klappar i ditt bröst
pennan glöder, upp flyga orden
Raska klackar slå ännu
som ett jehu är du
Hovas vittne ger aldrig upp
Hovas vittne
Full fart framåt flaggan i topp

Hurra!

**************************************** ****

English lyrics:
(Songs like this can't be translated directly, as there are many word gimmicks/tricks in the Swedish lyrics).

HOVA'S WITNESS

From Hova came
a swinging country bumpkin
Dragged, pulled and sought out
and then so gradually
in major and minor (keys)
became richer than a troll
Now his days are filled with hard decisions
Lukas has to go out
The bacon is salted
The sausage should be boiled
Lukas has to go out

Hova's witness, the salesman's voice
Västergötland's voice on the earth
A singer's heart beats in your chest
The pen glows, up flies words
Swift heels beat still
You are like a hurricane
Hova's witness never gives up
Hova's witness
Full speed ahead
The flag to the top

You're with him at his party
You're sitting there and like the others are happy
You hear a buzzing noise
a vacuum cleaner protests
From your Parnassus
you take a first class flight
from Djurgården to Honolulu
If it goes forward and you get there
according to plan
your luggage is in Rome
and Gudrun's in Amsterdam

Hova's witness...
...like a hurricane
we and you are like straw and clay
full speed backwards
Hova's witness, whatever happens

The 'Stick' Stikkan
It's justified this time
in spite of the fact that you think the song
is too long
The 'Stick' Stikkan
We wrote it because we believe
that you will be pleased if we raised it
one half note

Hova's witness...
...flag to the top

Hurrah!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jan Bach, Copenhagen, Denmark

BBC SWITCH WEBSITE HAS EXCLUSIVE MAMMA MIA! TRAILER

http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/

BBC's 'Switch' website has a new, exclusive and possibly the absolutely best trailer for Mamma Mia! the movie yet released.

Go to the website and look for the list of featured videos.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Mark Hannam, Freshwater, NSW, Australia

MAMMA MIA! IN FRANCE / FRIDA INTERVIEW

http://www.eurosong.be/nieuws.php?id=12504

Michel Drucker interviews ABBA's Frida

'Mamma Mia!' will return to France in july. Reason enough for French showbizzicon Michel Drucker to dedicate the Easteredition of Vivement Dimanche on France 2 to the ABBA hitmusical. Cherry on the cake will be an interview with Anni-Frid Lyngstadt, the dark haired female half of the legendary Swedish popfoursome.

In July Mamma Mia! will play in the Palais de Congrès in Paris. Not in a French translation but in the original English version with French subtitles on screens. It's not the first time the French can enjoy the ABBA hit musical. Several years ago the show also ran in the French capitol. Next summer 13 shows are planned.

For Michel Drucker enough reason to dedicate Vivement Dimanche this afternoon completely to Mamma Mia. To finish it off completely (what else can you expect of a pro like Drucker) he managed to get Frida to do an interview. Watch it at 14.00! (The special aired yesterday in France)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Monique Hoevens, Tilburg, The Netherlands

FRENCH ABBA TV SPECIAL

There is a two hour ABBA TV special on French television this Sunday from 2pm-4pm.

The program includes:

The cast of Mamma Mia!

Sylvie Vartan (a French singer)

Two interviews : FRIDA / Alain Boublil.

http://vivementdimanche.france2.fr/

Thanks to French ABBA fans Tristan & Vesna Praizovic

AGNETHA REMIX "IF I EVER THOUGHT..." CLIP

Unlikely to be official from the time but cleverly done anyway!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jan Bach, Copenhagen, Denmark

ONE OF THE RICHEST MUSICIANS IN THE WORLD WEIGHS IN ON DOWNLOADING DEBATE

http://www.aftonbladet.se/debatt/article2085815.ab

Björn talked to Aftonbladet this week

The debate piece talks about how illegal downloading is a threat to the "Swedish music wonder". In order for us to be able to enjoy great music we have to honour the song writers. Björn said if illegal downloading is continued song writers will not be able to work full time on writing songs andtheir talent will not be able to fully flourish.

Björn goes on to describe the very long process required in order to produce great songs. The process of creating great music mainly consists of getting rid of the things that are not good or mediocre. If you don't have the time, or the money to do this the quality of the product will suffer. Björn goes on to say that we have to be able tofind a way where copyright of music can be protected even on theinternet, without infringing on privacy.

He said that if we want to keep producing high quality music we have to be able to let the future generation of talent be able to exercise their songwriting and producing talents to the fullest.

The debate of solving the problem of copyright and downloading of music is a big debate in Sweden right now between the people, the government and the music industry."

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Bobby Murphy, USA and Gustav Sandberg, Stockholm, Sweden

CHART UPDATE

Here are the charts for the last 2 weeks: 7-14 March (Week 11), and 14-21 March (week 12) 2008.

CANADA: ABBA 20th Century Masters, The Millennium Collection (etc) down 5 to #79, then down 7 to #86

SWEDEN: Benny Andersson’s Orkester ­ BAO3 ­ Off The chart, then back on at #50 (week 20, and Gold)

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

NEW MAMMA MIA! TRAILER

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

OLA - THE TIMES OBITUARY

In today's copy of the paper ... (expanding the truth a little in a few places).

OLA BRUNKERT

Unsung drummer who provided the beat for ABBA

Few unknown musicians can have played on as many big-selling records as Ola Brunkert, the man behind the drum kit on every ABBA recording from their first single in 1972 until the Swedish quarter split up ten years later.

The ABBA glory was taken by the guitarist Björn Ulvaues and the keyboard player Benny Andersson, who wrote the songs, and their wives, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad who sang them - but it was Brunkert who held down the beat on all of their hits from Waterloo and Dancing Queen to the Winner Takes It All and Super Trouper.

Only Elvis Presley and The Beatles can claim to have sold more records worldwide than ABBA, and as Presley employed a variety of different drummers over the years, Brunkert can be regarded as the world's most ubiquitous drummer after Ringo Starr. Ironically, however, few were aware of his identity until a fatal accident Catapaulted his name into th eheadlines that he never sought - or received - during this lifetime.

Born in 1946 in Orebro, Sweden, Brunkert was a respected figure on the Swedish music scene long before the advent of ABBA. his first musical interest was in jazz and blues, and in the 1960s he played with Slim's Blues Gang, before joining the pop group Science Poption. he then formed the jazz-rock combo Opus III with the guitarist Janne Schaffer and by 1970 had become one of the most sought after session drummers in Stockholm.

His first experience with ABBA came in early 1972, befor ethe group had even adopted the name by which they were to become famous when he played on People Need Love. On its release the disc was credited to "Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha and Frida". The following year they adopted the name ABBA and Brunkert was there playing on their debut album Ring Ring.

From ABBA's breakthrough in 1974 when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo, Brunkert played on eight ABBA studio albums and 25 British hit singles,
including nine number ones. Worldwide sales of the ABBA records on which he played are estimated at 370 million and still run at two to three million copies a year.

Although essentially a studio musician, Brunkert also toured in ABBA's backing group between 1977-80 and was in the band when ABBA gave six sell-out performances at Wembley in October 1979 (oops! - Sara). When ABBA broke-up in 1982 Brunkert continued to drum behind various Swedish artists until he retired to Majorca, where he played for fun in a jazz band.

Ola Brunkert, drummer, was born on September 15, 1946. He died after an accident on March 16, 2008, aged 61.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, Sandhurst, UK

E-NEWS ON LINE

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?
uuid=f1adf541-1dec-4305-af90-e449e9fea534

Freak Accident Kills ABBA Drummer
By Josh Grossberg

Ola Brunkert, a former drummer for ABBA and one of only two musicians to play on all the Swedish pop superstars' albums, died in a freak accident at his home on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

According to authorities, Brunkert fell into a glass door in his dining room and slashed his throat. He apparently attempted to stanch the blood flow with a towel and apparently went outside to call neighbors for help. But he lost consciousness and collapsed.

According to published reports, a neighbor discovered Brunkert 's body, in a pool of blood, in the garden outside the musician's home Sunday evening.

The 62-year-old had sustained major cuts to his neck. An autopsy later confirmed investigators' findings that he died accidentally.

A renowned session drummer, Brunkert's tenure with ABBA began with the famed foursome's 1973 debut album, Ring Ring, and lasted through their swan song, 1981's The Visitors.

He played on all of ABBA's memorable hits—"Waterloo," "Fernando," "Dancing Queen" and "Take a Chance on Me"—and also provided the beats when the band toured.

"I remember him as a good friend when we worked together in the mid-1970s," ABBA cofounder Björn Ulvaeus told the Swedish newspaper Expressen. "He was a very creative musician who contributed a lot when we toured together and worked in the studio."

Fellow ABBA mastermind Benny Andersson said the loss of Brunkert was "tragic," calling the drummer "one of the best."

Per the band's Website, Brunkert was a jazz drummer who got his start with a blues outfit called Slim's Blues Gang and the pop act Science Poption in the mid-1960s. He segued into session work and collaborated with ABBA on its very first single, "People Need Love."

He and bassist Rutger Gunnarsson were a key part of the quartet's rhythm section, playing on all the studio albums and touring with the band in 1977, 1979 and 1980.

Ulvaeus, Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad broke up in 1982.

Brunkert and his wife, Inga—who passed away less than a year ago—retired to Arta, on the eastern end of the Mediterranean island, where he occasionally played with a jazz troupe.

ABBA remains as popular as ever. Thanks in part to the hugely successful musical Mamma Mia! (a movie starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan is due out in October), the band sells about 3 million albums annually, with total sales to date in excess of 350 million.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Leah Warren, Texas, USA

OLA: THERE AT THE BEGINNING AND AT THE END

ABBAMAILer Sara Russell comments on Ola Brunkert's death...

I am really upset by this news. I have always been one to be interested in the contributions of the musicians. I used to study the album covers and make lists and charts of who played on what songs! ( I also had a thing about song running times and used to get my Mum to test me eg. Waterloo = 2.46, etc!!) I was really disappointed to find that Ola Brunkert did not play on Thank You For the Music. That honour went to Roger Palm.

RIP Ola ... what a true star in ABBA's musical history. One of a select band of great musicians trusted by the group. When I saw ABBA The Show in September I was also gutted to find that Roger Palm had replaced him on that particular evening as I had long admired Ola Brunkert.

Best memories for me: Dick Cavett - On and On and On intro and of course Does Your Mother Know from ABBA in Switzerland. He was pretty much constant on all TV appearances where they had musicians with them. He was right there on stage with them in Brighton along with Rutger and his oversized guitar.

My Dad even knew who he was.

Yes the musicians weren't featured heavily, they were always in the background, usually with their faces darkened out. I'm sure they were happy with that. But I have never under-estimated their contribution. I would be as respectful for any of the others too. They may not have written or sang on the songs but they were always there, always trustworthy (there's never been any inside stories which they would have been party to on the tours and in the studio etc), and always brilliant. I believe the other musician who was the other constant throughout the albums was Rutger Gunnarsson.

We love ABBA because of the beautiful songs/melodies, the (mostly) great lyrics and the amazing vocals. But there are a good 10 or so other people who contributed their musicianship to the noises we love so much and we shouldn't forget their enormous contribution to the ABBA sound.

Respect to their work is due.

Michael Tretow told me during a telephone interview that Ola was a noisy drummer - that he would grunt and groan has he hit the skins! It's his funny noises you can hear on the track known as "Ali Baba" which turned up on some bootleg CDs about 12 years ago. It had been broadcast on a radio interview with Michael B. Tretow.

Sara Russell, Sandhurst, United Kingdom

OLA - 1967 PICTURE

OLA'S HOUSE IN MALLORCA

FURTHER EXPRESSEN STORY

http://www.expressen.se/noje/musik/1.1088417/jag-kande-att-nagot-var-fel

"I Felt Something Was Wrong"

When Ola Brunkert, aged 62, did not return home from a shop, his son Daniel Brunkert, aged 35, began to worry. He asked a neighbour to check up on his dad. "I felt something was wrong," the son says.

Daniel Brunkert works as painter in Paris, but he used to call his dad three times a day. On Sunday morning, Ola Brunkert said he was going out to buy cigarettes before noon.

Began to worry

But when Ola Brunkert did not answer the phone in the afternoon, Daniel Brunkert began to worry. "I asked an acquaintance to go to dad's place and see if everything was all right," Daniel Brunkert says. His father lay dead in the kitchen of his big villa by the sea.

According to the local authorities, everything indicates that the death was a result of an accident in which a chip of glass from the kitchen window took Ola Brunkert's life.

"The police say he fell down," says Daniel Brunkert. He is now on his way to Mallorca to offer support to his younger brother who is in his late teens. "Our mother died six months ago. My little brother lives nearby dad's house," Daniel says.

Ola Brunkert used to live near Alcudia on Mallorca. When his wife died recently, he sold the house and moved to the nearby small village of Arte.

By Joel Holm / To English by Gabriel Zubowski

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Gabriel Zubowski, Otwock, Poland

EXPRESSEN TRANSLATION

http://www.expressen.se/noje/musik/1.1088211/
abba-i-sorg-efter-det-tragiska-dodsbudet

ABBA are mourning after tragic news

The ABBA members learned the sad news before noon. Ola Brunkert, who played drums on all their albums and toured with them for two decades, is dead. "This is tragic," Benny Anderson tells Expressen.se. "He was one of the best," says Björn Ulvaeus.

Ola Brunkert has played with some of Sweden's most well-known bands and was one of the musicians who shaped the sound of ABBA during their career.

Benny Andersson is sitting in a studio in London and mixing music when he learns about the death of his former band mate. "This is terrible to hear, it is tragic" Benny Andersson tells Expressen.se.

Björn Ulvaeus:

"I remember him as a good pal when we worked together in the mid-1970s. He was an very creative musician who contributed a lot when we toured and worked in studio," Ulvaeus says when Expressen.se reaches him in his Stockholm home.

When did you last meet?

"We saw each other very briefly at the Mamma Mia tour premiere in Madrid, that was perhaps five years ago. Before that, we hadn't met in 20 years," says Björn Ulvaeus. "We were not close friends, but I miss him as a tour mate and an extremely good and creative musician. He was one of the best."

By Jorunn Amcoff / To English by Gabriel Zubowski

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Gabriel Zubowski, Otwock, Poland

ASSOCIATED PRESS STORY

ABBA Drummer Found Dead in His Garden

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jQDb9JiHv4VpmH6D6jpOTzxNZ6YQD8VF6TE00

By CIARAN GILES

MADRID, Spain (AP) — A former drummer for the Swedish pop band ABBA was found dead with cuts to his neck in the garden of his house on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Police said Monday an autopsy showed it was an accident.

A neighbor found the body of 62-year-old Ola Brunkert on Sunday evening at his house in a coastal area outside the eastern town of Arta, a Civil Guard spokesman told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

He said an autopsy was carried out and confirmed initial investigations. "It was an accident," he said.

The spokesman said Brunkert hit his head against a glass door in his dining room, shattering the glass and cutting himself in the neck. He managed to wrap a towel around his neck and left the house to seek help, but collapsed in the garden.

Brunkert lived in the coastal apartment complex of Betlem in the municipality of Arta, in the eastern part of Mallorca.

Brunkert had lived in Arta for around 20 years. His wife, Inger. died less than a year ago, an Arta municipal official told the AP. She spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to discuss the case.

ABBA band member Benny Anderson told Swedish daily Expressen he was sad to hear of the drummer's death. "It is tragic," he said.

Band member Bjorn Ulvaeus added that Brunkert had been "one of the best."

"I remember him as a good friend when we worked together in the mid-1970s. He was a very creative musician who contributed a lot when we toured together and worked in the studio," Ulvaeus told Expressen.

According to ABBA's official Web site, Brunkert and bass player Rutger Gunnarsson were the only musicians to appear on all ABBA albums.

Brunkert first played with ABBA on the group's first single, "People Need Love," and toured with the band in 1977, 1979 and 1980.

He had been a jazz drummer and a member of the blues band Slim's Blues Gang, before joining pop group Science Poption in the mid-1960s.

ABBA, with the four regular members Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Ulvaeus and Andersson, was one of the world's most successful bands, with album sales of more than 370 million. The group has not performed together since 1982, but continues to sell nearly 3 million records a year.

AFTONBLADET TRANSLATION IN FULL

"He Was a Very Good Friend"

Björn Ulvaeus mourns his pal

Björn Ulvaeus, Mats Ronander and Janne Schaffer are mourning Ola Brunkert both as a fellow musician and as a friend.

"He was a very good friend," says Björn Ulvaeus.

Friend and ABBA-member Björn Ulvaeus is utterly shocked when he learns that Ola Brunkert has been found dead in Mallorca. "It is so sad. He was extremely important for ABBA in the first years. It was he that played drums on our albums in the beginning. He was one of the best drummers in Sweden," Björn Ulvaeus says.

"Kind and humble"

Björn Ulvaeus remembers him as a kind guy. "He was kind, humble, creative, an artist. He always had something to contribute. He was also a very good friend," Ulvaeus says.

Fellow musician and guitarist Mats Ronander is still unaware that Ola Brunkert has died when Aftonbladet calls him. "No, what are you saying! I have to sit down. Damn, what a shame!" he says. Mats Ronander played with ABBA for many years together with Ola Brunkert. Most recently, last spring the two took part in an ABBA tribute tour in Sweden. "I feel enormously sad. We have worked together a lot and got to know each other well," Ronander says.

"Incredibly sad"

Guitarist Janne Schaffer worked with Ola Brunkert for many years. Amongst other things, the two were members of the same trio in the 1970s. They also played together in ABBA and with Ted Gärdestad. "This is incredibly sad. My thoughts go out to his sons who now have lost both their parents," he says.

By Mia-Li Hallengren / To English by Gabriel Zubowski

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Gabriel Zubowski, Otwock, Poland

AFTONBLADET STORY

Ola Brunkert Is Dead - ABBA Are Mourning

Ola Brunkert, a well-known musician who accompanied ABBA throughout their career, has been found dead near his house on Mallorca, according the Spanish ABC newspaper. A neighbour found Brunkert dead in his backyard, with severe cuts in his throat.

The 61-year-old used to play drums in ABBA and has also made recordings with such musicians as Claes af Geijerstam and Janne Schaffer. Everything seems to indicate that the man sustained severe cuts in the throat on broken glass when he fell against his kitchen window. He was trying to get himself out to get help, but he remained lying on the ground near the entrance to the house in the backyard.

Appears to be an accident

Brunkert's neighbour and friend found him covered in blood around 9 p.m. on Sunday. The neighbour called the police and told them the man was severely wounded and there was a lot of blood around. The window pane betwen the kitchen and the garden was completely smashed. When the police arrived, they pronounced the man dead. A preliminary examination indicates Brunkert had died around 12 hours before the neighbour found him. The local police in Artà, Mallorca, are investigating the man's death and are open for different explanations for the death, but they presume it was an accident. The police believe it was the wounds the man suffered when he had fallen against the window pane that led to his death.

The Swede had lived on Mallorca for many years and played in a local jazz band.

More information coming soon.

Thanks to ABBAMAILers Fredrik Augusstson, Sweden and Gabriel Zubowski, Poland

BJÖRN COMMENTS ON OLA'S DEATH

In a comment to Aftonbladet Björn says:

"It's so sad. He was very important to ABBA in the early years. He played drums on all our early albums. He was one of the best drummers in the country."

"He was so kind, humble, artistic and creative. He had always something contribute [to our work]. He was also a really good friend."

http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article2070008.ab

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Fredrik Augustsson, Skövde, Sweden

YAHOO MUSIC NEWS REPORTS OLA'S DEATH

Ex-ABBA drummer found dead at home

A former drummer for the Swedish pop band ABBA has been found dead in the garden of his house on the island of Majorca.

Ola Brunkert, 62, is believed to have been the only session musician to have appeared on all the group's recordings.

A police spokeswoman said an autopsy was being carried out but investigations indicated the death was an accident and no foul play is suspected.

She said a neighbour found Mr Brunkert's body on Sunday in the garden of his house in the town of Arta.

Police believe he fell and cut his neck indoors. He then apparently tried to leave the house to seek help but collapsed in the garden.

AUTOPSY BEING CARRIED OUT ON OLA

http://www.freep.com/

MADRID, Spain — A former drummer for the Swedish pop band ABBA has been found dead with cuts on his neck on the Spanish island of Mallorca, police said Monday. Foul play is not suspected.

A Civil Guard spokeswoman identified the man as Ola Brunkert, 62. She said an autopsy was being carried out but that the death appears to have been an accident. She spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with police rules.

A neighbor found Brunkert’s body Sunday evening in the garden of his house in the town of Arta, the spokeswoman said. Police believe Brunkert fell and cut himself in the neck indoors. He then apparently tried to leave the house to seek help but collapsed.

A jazz drummer, Brunkert is believed to have been the only session musician to have appeared on all ABBA’s recordings.

MORE FROMNEWS.COM.AU

ABBA drummer found dead

From correspondents in Madrid

Article from: Agence France-Presse


OLA Brunkert, a session musician who recorded and toured with the Swedish pop group ABBA, has been found dead at his home in Spain after apparently falling from a window.

Police said the body of the drummer, 61, who lived alone at his home on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, was found by a neighbour late yesterday in a pool of blood with an injury to his neck.

He appeared to have fallen from a window, and police said an autopsy would be carried out to determine if the death was accidental.

The Swede played as a session musician with ABBA, which recorded and performed in 1970s and early '80s. He also toured with the group.

Brunkert retired to Majorca, where he performed with his jazz group.

ABBA's four stars Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad became international sensations with hits such as Money, Money, Money, Waterloo, Fernando and Dancing Queen.

Despite having broken up a quarter of a century ago, the group still sells between two and three million albums a year.

ABBA DRUMMER DEAD

from: dailymail.co.uk

ABBA drummer found dead in Majorca home with his throat cut

Ola Brunkert, the former drummer with the Swedish pop group ABBA, has been found dead with his throat cut at his home in Majorca. He is believed to have fallen through a glass door in his kitchen.

The body was found in his garden at Arta, on the holiday island's north-east coast, at about 8pm last night by a friend and neighbour.

Officers from the Civil Guard are investigating. A spokeswoman at the paramilitary police force's headquaters in Madrid said today: "All the indications are that this was a tragic accident.

"A glass door in the kitchen of the house was shattered and it appears that this man fell through the door. He then managed to get out into the garden where he died."

She added that Brunkert, 62, had been alone at the time and that there were no signs to indicate that there had been any intruders.

But she added: "The investigation is still continuing and the results of an autopsy will be required to confirm that the victim died as a result of the cut he received."

Ola Brunkert had been a jazz drummer and also a member of the blues band Slim's Blues Gang, before joining the pop group Science Poption in the mid-1960s. Then, through working with guitarist Janne Schaffer in the jazz-pop group Opus III later in the decade, he became a session musician from the 1970s onwards.

Ola's first known session with ABBA was also the group's first single, People Need Love.

OLA BRUNKERT DEAD

Today I read the terrible news on digital newspapers here in Spain.

Ola Brunkert, ex ABBA drummer foud dead in the small city of Artá, Mallorca.
The police are working right now on the investigation with two hypothesis: murder or accident.

He was found with a cut in his throat in the garden of his house.
www.yahoo.es


Thanks to ABBAM fan César Francia, Spain

SECOND MAMMA MIA! MOVIE POSTER

Here it is - like it or hate it - the second Mamma Mia! movie poster.

Thanks to ABBAMAIL's Grant Whittingham, Sydney, Australia

FUNNY FRIDA STORY

Recently at work I overheard some regular custumors talking about their trip to the snow. They talked about Switzerland and how beatiful it has been. Talking about that ABBA woman and how funny that has been.

So I asked them what has happened and they asked me to sit down and have a drink with them.

They had been to Zermat with a large group of people and they were having dinner in a mountain restaurant, and while they were sitting there they saw this woman sitting next to them laughing and drinking.

One of the group knew her face but could not place it.

The one with the biggest mouth went up to her and asked her who she was. This woman answered in a shy way she was Frida. "Frida who?", he asked her and she replied, "You must have heard of ABBA a long long time ago."

The big man returned to the group and suddenly they all knew who she was. The group left her alone and a little embarrassed they all paid and went away.

I listened to them and confirmed their story.

The group in my restaurant asked me what i knew and they didn't.

I told them Frida is Frida the singer from ABBA and i told them she has been living in Zermat for many years now.

They didn't know I was a huge ABBA/Frida fan but said they would have asked her for an autograph and picture if they'd known. I smiled but said it was better that they left her alone.

I explained the history of lost husbands and daughter and how she loves to be left in peace these days.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jerom Scholl, Schagen, Netherlands

KRISTINE LEGAL DISPUTE HITS BBC WEBSITE

Abba stars settle court dispute
Two former Abba stars have settled a long-running legal dispute with a playwright in a row over the credits for one of their musicals.

Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson believed credit for the musical Kristina from Duvemala should go to the play's director, Lars Rudolfsson.

But Carl-Johan Seth claimed he was the author of the screenplay.

No settlement details were given by Seth's lawyer, but he said credits would be made clear at the next show.

However, Andersson told Swedish news agency TT that Rudolfsson and dramatist Jan Mark were recognised as sole authors under the terms of the settlement.

"We are glad that we have agreed and that we can continue to be friends," Ulvaeus, Andersson and Seth said.

The musical, based on the work of Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg, traces the epic story of a 19th Century Swedish family who emigrate to the US.

It debuted in Swedish city Malmo in 1995, but before it was due to open in Stockholm a few years later the three disagreed over who received credit for the story. The dispute hit the courts in 2005.

In 2007 a court ruled in favour of the two ex-Abba members, but Seth appealed.

That appeal has now been withdrawn as part of the agreement, two days ahead of when the case was due to reach the Court of Appeal.

Seth's lawyer said his client was satisfied with the settlement and that there were plans for a new performance of the musical.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/7289438.stm

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, UK

BJÖRN & BENNY FOR AUSSIE MAMMA MIA! PREMIERE?

I went to a film industry event recently in Sydney. In the lead up to the awards, I overheard the conversation of a couple of guys sitting behind me. One of them seemed to speak with a deal of authority about the state of the film industry at the moment. When he mentioned Mamma Mia! I listened more closely.

The essence of the conversation was that it was Universal's big movie of the year.

Incorrectly, he stated Mamma Mia! was the story of ABBA, which makes me think he probably worked in public relations, since they invariably get things wrong. That said, he was probably a film industry insider, more than an ABBA fan engaging in some wishful thinking. The two guys, he said, Björn and Benny are coming to Australia for the premiere,

I heard him say. It will either be at the State Theatre or Fox Studios. At that point the conversation moved on. So maybe a hot tip...

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, Sydney, Australia

EDINA HAS ABBA ON HER IPOD!

On My Nano..

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-catch-all/
2008/03/11/on-my-nano-86908-20347486/

Jennifer Saunders

COMEDY queen Jennifer Saunders, one half of the legendary French And Saunders, is best known for her role as the flighty Edina Monsoon in hit show Absolutely Fabulous. She starred alongside Joanna Lumley who played her best pal Patsy.

Jennifer was in Scotland last week to launch the International Comedy Festival that runs until March 23. It features 350 shows across 40 venues and Jennifer and Dawn will play the Clyde Auditorium on March 18 and 19.

Here she tells us what she's got on her iPod and why.

Abba Thank You For The Music Because I'm an Abba fan and I've got loads of their songs on my iPod. I'm randomly going through them and it stopped at this one.

Barbra Streisand

Cry Me A River

I love this because I think it's probably the campest song I've ever heard.

Blondie NoImagination

This tune just reminds me of the Eighties.

Dolly Parton

Light Of A Clear Blue Morning

There are so many reasons I like this. It's optimistic and inspirational.

Kate Rusby The Lark

This is on my iPod because it's just beautiful, gentle and evocative.

ABBA MUSEUM NEWS

Important information from the ABBA Museum:

The official online booking for ABBA the Museum will open on March 13, 10 am (swedish time)!

The news that Stockholm’s new tourist magnet, ABBA the Museum, will open during a glittering Opening Week June 3–7 has quickly spread around the world. People from 32 countries have already bought tickets for the opening week.

On March 13 at 10 am, the official booking office for reservations for ABBA the Museum will open. You can buy tickets both for the Opening Week and the rest of 2009, at www.abbamuseum.com.

The most sought-after tickets are naturally for the Opening Week, June 3–7, 2009. If you would like to experience this exciting and festive week, be prepared to go online at 10.00 a.m on March 13.

Tickets only available through www.abbamuseum.com

DANCING QUEEN GAYEST SONG

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23324076-12377,00.html

IF you are "having the time of your life" you may be dancing to the gayest song ever.

The lyric comes ABBA's Dancing Queen, which has been ranked by visitors to Australia's SameSame.com.au website as the gayest song of all time in a list compiled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

The Village People's YMCA came in second, followed by Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive.

"The list was compiled in the lead-up to the 30th Anniversary of Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to look back on the catalogue of popular music to decide which of them are truly worthy to be labelled a camp classic," SameSame.com.au said.

The top 20 songs were:
20. 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
19. Free, Gay and Happy - Coming Out Crew
18. In the Navy - Village People
17. Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
16. Macho Man - Village People
15. Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland
14. Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat
13. I'm Coming Out - Diana Ross
12. Believe - Cher
11. I Am What I Am - Gloria Gaynor
10. I Love The Nightlife - Alicia Bridges
9. Vogue - Madonna
8. Xanadu - Olivia Netwon-John
7. Better The Devil You Know - Kylie Minogue
6. Go West - Pet Shop Boys
5. Your Disco Needs You - Kylie Minogue
4. It's Raining Men - The Weathergirls
3. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
2. YMCA - Village People
1. Dancing Queen - ABBA

Thanks to ABBAMAILer James O'Brien, Sydney, Australia

MAMMA MIA! STARS IN SOUTH BANK SHOW

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/20080/stars-of-mamma-mia-appear
-in-new-series-ofStars

Stars from the stage and screen versions of Mamma Mia! are to be featured in an edition of The South Bank Show.

Julie Walters, Colin Firth and Meryl Streep - who star in the film version due for release in July - are among some of the names lined up to appear in the programme. It will also contain interviews with Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson from ABBA and behind the scenes footage of a new opening of the production in Europe.

There will also be contributions from the creative team behind the show, which has taken more than £1.5 billion at the box office.

Also in the new season of The South Bank Show will be a programme looking at the career of Liza Minnelli, who has been filmed on her latest world tour. The programme will look at Minnelli’s relationship with her mother, Judy Garland, and will include exclusive footage of her performing.

Elsewhere, The South Bank Show will examine the relationship between comedy and tragedy through the work and relationships of comedian Jim Sweeney and the Comedy Store Players, which will include his last live performance, filmed in December 2007.

The arts programme will also pay tribute to Ronnie Corbett, with a show featuring new material from the comedian.

All are being made by ITV’s specialist factual and arts department, headed by Melvyn Bragg.

The department has also been commissioned to make Comedy Classics, a new documentary series celebrating shows such as Rising Damp and On the Buses. Each programme will pay homage to a different comedy, with the show featured broadcast in its entirety afterwards.


Thanks to ABBAMAILer Monique Hoevens, Tilburg, the Netherlands

CHART NEWS

Here are the charts for the week of 29 Feb to 7 March 2008.

SWEDEN: Benny Andersson's Orkester: BAO3 - up 7 to #46

CANADA: ABBA - 20th Century Masters, The Millennium Collection . - down 3 to #74

Its run from Chart 53, 2007 goes like this: 123-146-68-58-71-74-110-147-150-71-74 (Currently on wk 52, not including the original chart action.)

Therefore: Since it recharted in July last year:
Date: 27 July 2007
Peak: #32
Weeks: 17+
It looks as though this album may well be the best charting album in Canada that has NOT reached the top 10.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dean Scapolo, Wellington, New Zealand

ABBA - THE LAMBS

Here is a little write up in a Sunday paper. Thought it may cheer you all up
...

A rare quad of newborn lambs where named Bjorn Benny Annifrid and Agnetha atan ABBA fan's at a farm in East Dean Sussex.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Dionne Kennedy, Colne, UK