It required a lot of planning and hard work to row the whole port. "We realized pretty quickly that we would not manage to reunite them, but thought we would instead send Jan Gradvall interviewing Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid separately".
The award-winning Jan Gradvall succeeded piece was even getting Agnetha Fältskog on the hook says a lot about his position. When ABBA museum was inaugurated Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid on location in Stockholm, but Agnetha Fältskog released her new album in London. Then, of course Jan Gradvall there and interviewed her. DI Weekend promises something special for all ABBA lovers. "We are incredibly pleased with the outcome, a long, extremely readable story about Abbas adversity. Extra fun is that we got hold of the photographer Larsåke Thuresson's previously unpublished photos of Bjorn, Benny and Agnetha from Thuresson's Photography Collection"
Agnetha Fältskog: I have a box of
memories in my bedroom
While Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid
inaugurated the ABBA museum, Agnetha met the world press and rested up in
London.
In an interview in DI Weekend the
legendary singer talks about what she has done during all the years beyond the
limelight and talks about how she remembers all those she has loved:
- I have a small box of photo memories
in the bedroom. It is perhaps more common among women than among men. In the
box, I have pictures of people that I love and loved, children, grandchildren
and dogs, she says.
It's the journalist and Expressen
co-worker Jan Gradvall who have met all the ABBA members. Björn Ulvaeus and
Benny Andersson are interviewed in Stockholm, while Anni-Frid Reuss answers
questions from Mallorca. But it is in London following Agnetha Fältskog as
Gradvall lets the story begin.
Fältskog has checked in under a
pseudonym at the luxurious Corinthia Hotel. She is not the only star there,
also the team from the latest "Star Trek" doing interviews and actor
Jeremy Piven. But it is Fältskog that makes people stop and take another look
She is not particularly sentimental
total, at least not when it comes to music and records:
- No, I don't keep track of it. I gave
away a lot to the ABBA Museum. I still have some LPs and CDs left, but they are
in boxes. I rarely listen to what I've recorded. One exception is "The
winner takes it all". I listen to it when I have low self-esteem. Then I
can praise myself, 'You did that good" says the singer in DI Weekend. And
without a doubt, she still has high demands on herself.
- It was interesting now that I started
singing again after such a long break. I overdid it at first, got a sore
throat. You have to use your stomach muscles, use the extra strength. It is
only when you feel sure about the technique that you can express yourself a
lot. I like being close to the microphone. I like to sit down when I sing in
the studio.
Ahead of the comeback Fältskog took
singing lessons, trained for months to get the right technique. The expression
itself is not as problematic:
Singing sitting
- I myself think that I became a better
singer, the more life experience I got. You get so much you want to share. And
my way to share is through singinging. I put my feelings there.
She likes to sit while singing close to
the microphone. If necessary laying down - for Gradvall she reveals a secret:
- When I did the sinfinging for
"Thank you for the music" I laid down in the studio. We had tried
various versions but didn't get it right. There is a recording where I sing
like Doris Day. When we tried it again, I was pregnant with Christian (Agnetha
and Björn's second child) and was about to give birth prematurely. I got orders
by the doctor to just lie down and take it easy. But it was ABBA, the world was
waiting for a new album. We solved it by carrying a kind of recliner into the
studio. So I sang laying in the chair, it's that take which is on the album.
Several of the dedicated journalists on
location in London had nearly killed for that kind of data. Even America's
biggest morning show "The Today Show" is there. The interview with
Fältskog takes place in the prestigious Abbey Road studios.
Teaches her grandchildren to play
Between all the interviews the star
relaxes with walks in Soho, exercise and spa visits. Not so much sightseeing,
given that it is Fältskog's first stay abroad for decades.
But the mythical Garbo image isn't quite
accurate. Fältskog is happy to talk. She has not isolated herself over the
years - she has been busy.
- People are wondering what I have done
during all these years I have not been visible in the media, but I've been
busy. I have a farm with horses to care for and I have grandchildren. When I
sit by the piano today, it is usually to teach my grandchildren to play, teach
them what the musical notes are called. They are very musical, funnily enough,
but honestly more interested in horses than playing.
Personally, Fältskog is the moste
interested in her loved ones. That's why she wrote the song "I keep them
on the floor beside my bed" for her latest album "A".
- I have a small box of photo memories
in the bedroom. It is perhaps more common among women than among men. In the
box, I have pictures of people that I love and have loved, children,
grandchildren and dogs. I wanted to write a song about that way of collecting
and preserving memories. In the end, it still became a love song between a man
and a woman, but that was the feeling I started with and wanted to express.
How often do you take this box out?
- Often.
This is what the ABBA-stars say in the interview:
"I have everything with me I need in the studio"
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Age: 67 years old.
Lives: Zermatt in Switzerland.
Family: Has a son Hans Ragnar Fredriksson. Is the widow of Prince Ruzzo Reuss von Plauen. In 1998 her daughter Ann Lise-Lotte Fredriksson died. Living today with English Henry Smith.
"When I sing, I express everything I have experienced in my life. I have with me everything I have in the studio. My voice is the result of my collected experiences."
The singer also reveals that last album "The Visitors" is her favorite, because of what the group went through at that time is reflected in the music in a good way.
"I only listen to folk and classical music"
Benny Andersson
Age: 66 years old.
Lives: On the island of Djurgården in Stockholm.
Family: His chldren Peter Grönvall and Helene Odedahl. Married since 1981 to Mona Nörklit, with her, he has his son Ludvig.
"I've stopped listening to pop. I stopped when we did "Chess". Since then I've only listened to classical music and folk music."
But in connection with the Eurovision Song Contest, Benny made an exception and collaborated with Avicii. The reason? ESC-producer Martin Österdahl is the son of bandleader Marcus Österdahl who has worked with Lill Lindfors among others.
"We supported each other"
Agnetha Fältskog
Age: 63.
Lives: On Ekerö outside Stockholm.
Family: Children Christian and Linda from the relationship with Björn Ulvaeus and three grandchildren.
Agnetha remembers working with Anni-Frid."Several journalists who have interviewed me have raised the question about the rivalry between me and Frida. But there was none. On the contrary, we helped and supported each other all the time, especially on tours. If any of us had a cold, the oter one stepped in and pulled a bigger load in terms of singing. We always covered for each other."
"I could consider picking up the guitar"
Björn Ulvaeus
Age: 68.
Lives: Djursholm outside Stockholm.
Family: Has children Christian and Linda from the relationship with Agnetha Fältskog. Is now married to Lena Källersjö, with her, he has children Emma and Anna.
Björn on why he does not sing himself anymore. "It is possible that I could pick up the guitar in some context and sing "Omkring tiggar'n från Luossa" (one of the biggest hits on the Svensktoppen chart). Maybe I will if some day. But I have been asked to participate in "Så mycket bättre" and declined.So many days of taping, to expose myself in that way ... No, it's not for me."
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