Fifty years after the triumph of ABBA at the Eurovision Song Contest, Claudine J., a Belgian fan, still remembers the “magic” of the group, precursor of the global successes of Swedish pop.
With their platform shoes and bright suits, Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni Frid “had a different style from all the other participants,” the 76-year-old retiree tells AFP.
“They had decided to be seen and heard. No one should forget them,” comments Ingmarie Halling, curator of the ABBA museum in Stockholm, who worked for a long time as the group’s seamstress.
The freshness of the ABBA group delighted everyone at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. From then on their success was overwhelming. (OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP)
For the seventh time, Sweden hosts the Eurovision Song Contest next May, an occasion to celebrate the group, which, however, assured that it would not be present.
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With a unique style and catchy melodies, the four artists of ABBA (their initials) personified the disco music years until their breakup in 1982.
With their albums and their accessibility (they opened their bedroom doors to journalists), they achieved a special place in the pantheon of Swedish music.
“Before Eurovision, some people thought ABBA wasn’t worth much, but others thought it was great,” says Halling.
With their victory in the Eurovision Song Contest, on April 6, 1974, in Brighton, United Kingdom, “the group became a source of inspiration for numerous artists and musicians, demonstrating that it is possible to become known abroad,” he adds. Halling.
1974, reference year by ABBA
According to Christel Valsinger, editor-in-chief of Musikindustrin.se, a publication specializing in the Swedish music industry, “1974 became a benchmark year, marking the beginning of international successes for Swedish music.”
After ABBA came Roxette, Ace of Base, The Cardigans, Robyn, Avicii and Zara Larsson, but also lesser-known composers and producers such as Ludwig Göransson, who won an Oscar for the film Oppenheimeror Max Martin, who collaborated with most Anglo-Saxon stars, from Britney Spears to The Weeknd.
Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni Frid formed the ABBA quartet in 1972. Photo: Archive.
Martin, who does not usually speak in public, has acknowledged that he owes his career to the Swedish system of municipal conservatories. In these music schools, young people can, for a small fee, learn the fundamentals of music and play an instrument.
Furthermore, “Sweden is open to new technologies. This creates favorable conditions for Swedish music producers to quickly adopt new music production methods,” adds Valsinger.
Today the Scandinavian country, with 10.5 million inhabitants, birthplace of the world’s number one audio platform, Spotify, is the third net exporter of music, just behind the United States and the United Kingdom.
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“This is partly due to the enduring and exceptional popularity of ABBA, Roxette and the number of Swedish composers working with major international artists,” a 2020 Export Music Sweden report noted.
ABBA’s popularity revived with the film Mamma Mia and the permanent show in London ABBA Voyagein which the quartet is represented by digital avatars.
