| Hello everyone, I'm the ABBA logo and ABBAMAIL has asked me to write a letter to you on the occasion of my 25th Birthday. As you know, I was born on July 1, 1976 when I was sent out to record companies around the world along with a memo from Polar Music instructing these companies to use me in every connection with ABBA's then new single 'Dancing Queen'. Those were pretty exciting times for a brand new kid on the block like me. Not many bands had their own official logo. The Beatles did back in the 60s so I guess I was in good company. Some of you may know my dad, Rune Söderqvist, who did most of the designs for ABBA's records. Dad is very surprised and pleased that his own logo is still being used on ABBA releases 25 years later. Good ole Dad, he's a totally cool dude and a hell of a designer. He made ABBA's records stand out and gave them style and class with classic designs that stand the test of time. Do any of you remember the four-colour ABBA version of me? Pretty amazing, eh? (so I'm not modest!!) The four-colour version of me popped up on special projects like the 1977 European Tour Program and Christer Borg's 'ABBA by ABBA' book. Also in 1977, Polar Music in Sweden published 3 issues of an ABBA newspaper instead of their normal photocopied press releases. I was on the front of each issue looking just gorgeous (even if I do say so myself). The ABBA Annuals and Gift Books also featured me in glorious colour on their covers. Much later on, in the 90's, Carl Magnus Palm used me on the cover of his book 'The Complete Recording Sessions'. A special black and white version of me was used for ABBA - The Movie and ABBA - The Album. I had four little stick figures representing the members of ABBA to accompany me in those days. But once the promotion for those projects was over, I was back to my normal old solo self. Amongst my favourite memories are the 1977 and 1979 ABBA concert tours. They used me in a flashing-lights version at the back of the stage. Who can forget me behind ABBA during 'Dancing Queen' in ABBA - The Movie? Or when the icebergs separate at the end of the 1979 concerts and there I am flashing away while ABBA belt out 'Hole In Your Soul'. Pretty versatile, aren't I? Well I am when they use me correctly! Over the last 25 years I have been used on everything from T-Shirts to gift wrapping to soap! Long term ABBA fans love me and they get very angry when I'm not used properly on new CDs and other ABBA products. There was an awful time in my life when Polygram records took over the ABBA catalogue and thought you could just turn any old 'B' backwards and you had an ABBA logo. Can you believe that? The cheek! Every true ABBA fan knows that I'm made from News Gothic Bold and I don't have a crown on my head. I don't do hats. Dad was pretty mad with the mess they made trying to 'improve' on my design on ABBA's reissued catalogue in the 90s. After all his hard work, they stopped using me, copied Dad's idea and put a silly crown on my head. Both Dad and I were furious about that. Luckily a lot of long term ABBA fans protested and a special fan, the author Carl Magnus Palm, was very influential in making sure Universal Music used me on the new 2001 ABBA reissue-remasters. This year, I'm even on some records that I wasn't originally on back in the 70s. Go figure! Still, classic design never dates. Next time you are browsing through your ABBA collection, have a look for me and say 'Happy Birthday'. I could be on an old record, a new CD or even a pen. I'm everywhere in the ABBA world and I love it! Well, that's all from me for now. I'm off to party some more. Hey, you're only 25 once!!! The ABBA Logo PS: Hope you like the pictures of me on the right | 
