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Benny Swedish Press Tour Articles Translated Here are my translations of the articles about Benny and his orchestra that Robin mentioned. ------------------------------ Södra Dalarnes Tidning, published August 7, 2004 http://www.sodran.com/artikel.asp?id=1034061 Benny doesn't dance LEKSAND. Benny Andersson never dances on his own dancefloor. That in spite of going on tour with his own. Together with his orchestra and the soloists Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg, Benny Andersson comes to Sammilsdalsgropen in Leksand to play swinging, danceable beats. I myself don't think it's much fun to dance, I'm not very good at it, says Benny... This is the second summer that Benny Anderssons orkester tours in Sweden. Last time they visited Stockholm, Gothenburg and Gränna. Their demand then was that the location would have a functional open-air dancefloor with a roof and a stage, large enough for approximately fifteen people. Among those were as usual Orsa spelmän. This year the orchestra visits six locations, among them Allsång på Skansen on Tuesday and Trädgårdsföreningen in Gothenburg next Friday. The combination of musicians is arranged according to the conductor Benny Andersson's own wishes. A few violins, trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, flute, accordion, organ, piano, percussion, contrabass and tuba. -Those who want to have the opportunity to dance for three and a half hours, but you can just as well just listen, says Benny Andersson. Except for Benny Anderssons orkester, Benny is busy with the musical Mamma Mia which will premiere at Cirkus in Stockholm in February. But the rehearsals begin already in December. You usually spend some time in Dalarna, how come? -I've been a lot in Orsa. Partly because Görel Hanser who I work with has a summer house there where we usually stay and partly because I know the Moraeus brothers. What do you and the Moraeus brothers usually do? -We do everything from hunting elk to playing together. But I haven't been there in a while and I don't have time to stay there now, we're going to Läckö castle the day after Leksand. Can you dance? -Yes, I know how to dance schottische, hambo, waltz and fox trot. But it's more fun to play when others dance. I think it's quite common that people who play dance music don't dance themselves. What have you been up to this summer? -Almost nothing, it's been incredibly peaceful, I've really had some time off. I haven't worked on any project, instead I've mowed the lawn a bit. We have a summer house south of Trosa. What do you do during the day when you're not on vacation? -Then I sit in my studio on Skeppsholmen and play. I do that so I won't forget anything. Unless I sit there and work, there won't be anything. That's how it works for me. Then of course we (the company) work a lot on Mamma Mia. What's your task in Mamma Mia? -I will make sure it happens. The musical already exists so it's a different part of the brain that gets to work. What did you think of Agneta Fältskog's latest album? -It's great that she has made an album. Actually, I haven't listened to it very much. I think she still can sing good, I've heard a little. Do you still see each other, the Abba-gang? -Every now and then, sporadically. What is Anni-Frid doing today? -I don't really know. Playing golf, I believe. What's your next project? -I don't really know, but there could be something more. By Åsa Johansson ------------------------- Dagens Nyheter, published August 6, 2004 http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1058&a=294901&previousRenderType=1 Benny invites you to dance They are number one on the Svensktoppen chart and now Benny Anderssons orkester are going out on their third mini tour. This time BAO brings their own dancefloor. It's more than thirty degrees outside. Inside the studio at Sveriges Radio in Stockholm it's a comfortable twenty. There a classic entertainment orchestra is rehearsing. The song is "Glasgow Boogie" from the latest album with a funny intro by the tuba. The song catches on with some strings and is complemented rhythmically by various instruments. -This orchestra really invites humor. There's an amazing joy in playing together, it almost beats anything, says the conductor Benny Andersson. At the same time Stockholm's entertainment photographers frantically snap photos and after the final note, you hear: "If you Björn, do like this... I want Helen, Tommy and Björn in the same picture." It's as if he refuses to learn that it's benny, not Björn, who is there. Finally the whole orchestra joke about "Björn" who doesn't want to appear. The album was released on June 9 and has already sold more than 35 000 copies. The past five weeks the danceband song "Du är min man", with Helen Sjöholm singing, has been number one on the Svensktoppen chart. Today the whole band go on a mini tour. This year they bring their own dancefloor and the thought is to invite you to dance. Both the album and the tour offer a very mixed variety of music: danceband, klezmer, circus, folkmusic. -It's fun with variety! I am in a situation where I can do whatever I please and that's exactly what I'm doing. Maybe it's the kind of music that people my age, around 57 years old, like. But there are people of all ages when we're out playing, says Benny Andersson. It's the third year that BAO tours. Helen Sjöholm enjoys singing to a dancing crowd. -The first time we played it was quite a rock'n'roll atmosphere and people were shouting and dancing. The audience participates in a different way than during a concert, she says. She contagiously talk about the joy of singing with such a great orchestra, in which most of the musicians get to play many different instruments. -As a singer I only have one instrument, my voice, but with this orchestra I can experiment with it. Since we have so many different genres, I can step into different roles, imitate other ways of singing and styles. And it's incredibly fun. By Elin Bäckström ---------------------- Thanks to ABBAMAILer Claes Davidsson, Orlando, Florida, USA and also Robin Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden |