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Luke Rogers If you'd like to leave a comment for Luke on
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ABBA were so huge, and so commercially successful (understatement) that the fact the group was made up of 4 creative artists got lost in the enormity of it all. Consider The Beatles for example, the average person who enjoys their music thinks of John, Paul, George & Ringo. When it comes to ABBA, the average listener thinks of a pop group. Most know there were two boys and two girls. Some even remember a blonde and a red-head...a guy who had a beard and another one who didn't...but more so they're simply remembered as a "pop group from the 70s".
There were several factors that contributed to this. Certainly the fact that ABBA were based in Sweden rather than the U.K. or U.S. created an information-flow "buffer". Outside of Sweden, the rest of the world only got to see ABBA as...well...ABBA...and only when they were actively promoting their latest single or album or were on tour. The individuality of the four people became lost in the word "ABBA". Between albums and tours, ABBA dropped off the radar altogether outside of their homeland. Even when ABBA were actively promoting something new, for the most part it was via film clips or carefully presented TV specials. It wasn't until the divorce of Agnetha and Bjorn that any substantial non-music or tour related news appeared in the international press about the people that "ABBA" comprised of, and that news of course did not explore the creative brilliance of the four individuals who made up the entity.
But there's another reason behind the fact that Anni-Frid, Agnetha, Benny & Bjorn were thought of more in terms of an entity rather than four incredibly talented, creative artists who collaborated to form that entity. In my opinion, this can largely be attributed to the fact that any door that allowed the outside world to peek through and observe the people who made up "ABBA" was never open very wide at all. It's only in recent times...many years later...that we've been given a few all-too-brief glimpses into the creative side of ABBA...and even then, in most cases it's about Benny & Bjorn. It's to the detriment of their creative genius that even though ABBA ceased to exist 25 years ago, Benny & Bjorn, who have now become the "face" of ABBA, remain as guarded as they ever were about the ABBA years. It's about time they got over themselves actually. They should relax and embrace ABBA for the extraordinary, creative experience it was rather than just use it as a tool to promote "Mamma-Mia" when it suits them. If they did, it would also be a way of acknowledging the fans and their enduring love for ABBA...which is something Benny & Bjorn in particular have never been very good at.
The contribution that Anni-Frid & Agnetha made to ABBA became lost in the fact that they were the "face" of the group during the '70s and early '80s. The beautiful girls..."the singers". It's difficult to find examples of the creative and artistic aspects of who the girls were during the ABBA period. The reality however, is that they were also creative artists, just as Benny & Bjorn were. The entire reason they were part of the biggest pop group in the world was because of that special talent, artistic drive and creative passion that truly great singers & songwriters possess and which sets them apart. I suppose it could be argued that it was more "evident" in Agnetha because of her song writing...also because of her performances. Agnetha was a very giving performer emotionally...clearly feeling the songs and lyrics, she didn't hold back and it was exquisite to watch. And there was that emotion in the way she sang, the way she was able to "cry" with her voice as it's been perfectly described. I guess with Frida it may be less obvious. We all know it was there, but harder to see perhaps...or was it ? Frida, the more technically accomplished singer of the two women, was more prepared and perhaps more inclined, to convey the joy in ABBA's music. She was not afraid to let everyone know she was having a party up there on the stage and she wanted us all to come along. It may not have been quite as apparent to the audience how the music engaged her emotionally because she was so busy having the time of her life. She glowed on stage with the energy and obvious joy she experienced being a member of ABBA...and it was equally exquisite to watch. Frida danced like no one was watching when she was on the stage...but we all watched, and we adored her for it. Of course it was the differences in the two women and their remarkable talents that combined with Benny & Bjorn, both individually and together, to create one of the most potent forces in popular music history.
There is a brief but special moment in ABBA-The Movie that I love. It's a glimpse of Frida, unguarded...losing herself in the moment...immersed in the pure joy and love she had for what she was doing with her life. A reflection of the creative artist within her and how it all connected with her on an emotional level. Frida being transported to that private, special place we sometimes go to if we allow a song to touch us in such a way. Even more beautiful about it is the fact that it's Agnetha that Frida is giving permission to take her there.
In The Movie, during "S.O.S." when Agnetha sings "where are those happy days they seem so hard to find" look in the background, hidden in the shadows...there's Frida, standing there, silent and still, intently watching Agnetha perform, quietly acknowledging what is happening around her and unfolding before her...a remarkable situation in which she finds herself playing an integral role. Agnetha and the band and the song are creating something magical and rare. And there is Frida, gently shaking her head from side to side as you do when you suddenly "connect" with the wonder of all the elements that come together to create a beautiful song. Swaying gently in reverence of this thing she had magically become a part of. For a moment, Frida takes the time to step away and simply enjoy the experience.
Frida the artist...immersed in her art.
It's really quite lovely.
Luke Rogers
Melbourne, Australia
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