Agnetha Album News - February 2004

Snippet: Agnetha's album cover shot has been taken and it appears it will show a 1950's style Agnetha. Too cool!

Snippet: Agnetha pronounces 'jewelled casket' as 'yuled casket' on the new single!

Since ABBA's glory days, Agnetha Fältskog has led a reclusive life. The band split in 1983 and after a string of unsuccessful love affairs and a second marriage, the Swedish blonde bombshell retreated to a tiny island near Stockholm.

She lives there alone and regularly receives psychiatric counselling for a number of phobias including a fear of heights, crowds, flying, driving and open spaces.

But almost two decades away from the music industry and the trappings of fame is apparently enough for the 53 year-old singer.

Agnetha is releasing her first album for 17 years - accompanied by a sultry new image. Called "My Colouring Book", the CD features 14 covers of her "favourite and most inspirational" artists and will be released in April on Warner Music.

She will also release a single, "If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind", which was originally a hit for Cilla Black in 1969.

The comeback coincides with the 30th Anniversary of ABBA's victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in April 1974. Their performance of "Waterloo " sparked a career which spanned most of the next decade.

ABBA sold 350 million records worldwide and, at one point, became Sweden's most successful export after Volvo. In the UK alone, they had 23 hits - including eight number ones - between 1974 and 1983.

A Warner spokesman said: "Agnetha`s new CD will be one of our biggest releases this year. Last year, she decided she was ready to do an album of covers and we were delighted to release it. It's a big deal for us because she's a mega-star - a name that everyone knows. She has such a distinctive voice that you know who is singing immediately. It really harks back to the days of ABBA and will, hopefully, be a big success."

Warner released Miss Fältskog's last solo album, "I Stand Alone", in 1987. It did not do well but her record label blamed lack of promotion.

Money is believed to be one reason behind Agnetha's decision to return to the spotlight. Although her personal fortune after leaving the band is thought to be worth GBP4million, figures recently released in Sweden suggest she made just GBP30,000 in 2002.

Agnetha split from her first husband ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, in 1981, after having two children, Linda, now 31 and Christian, now 25.

A record industry source said: "Agnetha has so far agreed to conduct interviews to promote this CD. An interview with Michael Parkinson has already been confirmed".

Thanks to ABBAMAILers Julie Rickwood, London, UK and Richard Simcock, Sydney, Australia

HERE'S ABBA's Super Trouper Agnetha Faltskog looking as irresistible as ever - making a comeback at the age of 53.

The blonde beauty, who soared to worldwide fame with the Swedish supergroup in the 1970s, is launching a solo career.

She is due to release an album in the spring - 17 years after she QUIT music to live like a hermit on her own private island.

And she will be hoping to recapture some of the success of ABBA, who racked up a string of No1s including Mamma Mia, Fernando, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, and The Winner Takes It All.

Judging by this new picture, former Rear of the Year winner Agnetha has barely changed at all since the days when she ruled the charts with former hubby Bjorn Ulvaeus and fellow husband-and-wife team Benny Andersson and Anna-Frid Lyngstad.

She still has the striking features and long fair hair which turned her into one of the most admired women on the planet.

Yet little had been heard of Agnetha since she turned her back on fame in 1987 - retreating to her island near Stockholm.

She had made two solo records after ABBA split five years earlier, but went on to quit the music business completely.

She admitted: "I hated the fame. It was horrible. It was fever. It was hysteria. I felt I could never get away. I never even bothered to get a stereo for the house."

The secretive star made only rare trips into the outside world - usually hiding her face behind umbrellas.

She was the only member of ABBA not to attend London's world premiere of Mamma Mia, the smash stage show based around the group's chart hits.

In 1990 she wed Tomas Sonnenfeld - a surgeon. But the pair divorced two years later.

But the reclusive singer was finally tempted back behind the microphone last year by Warner Music, who signed her to a huge worldwide deal.

A Warner spokesman said: "We're really excited. It will be 17 years since anybody has seen or heard from Agnetha.

Agnetha's solo album, My Colouring Book, features 15 cover versions recorded in English and will hit the shops on April 19.

The spokesman added: "They're songs by artists who've inspired Agnetha throughout her career."

Her comeback single, If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind is out on April 5. The song has been a hit for Barbra Streisand and Cilla Black.

ABBA shot to stardom 30 years ago when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo.

February 24, 2004

Warner Records UK who confirmned that Agnetha's single will be released in the UK on April 5th, and her album on April 19th.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Marcus Tustin, London, UK

Cover of Agnetha's new single thanks to ABBAMAILers Richard Simcock, Sydney, Australia and Marnix ten Brinke, The Netherlands

24/2 - Agnetha Fältskog - New Pictures

The release of Agnetha Fältskog's forthcoming album "My Coloring Book" is drawing closer. The release of the record is now planned for the month of April. Before this, however, it will be time for the enormously anticipated single "If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind" which is already being predicted as becoming a real classic. During March, Swedish radio stations will have the opportunity to start playing the song.

Fabulous new shots from Aftonbladet - thanks to ABBAMAILer Christian Thomasson, Sweden

FIRST PICTURES OF THE NEW, TOUGH AGNETHA

The ABBA star shows a totally new look leading up to her comeback this spring.

Agnetha Fältskog is making a comeback this spring. Aftonbladet is the first newspaper today to be able to show pictures of the star's new look.

Tough, self-confident and undressed.

The single "If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind" is released this April and is the first new recording from the ABBA star since the end of the 80s. The album "My Colouring Book" follows later in the spring - but already today, Aftonbladet can show the pictures of Agnetha Fältskog and her new, tough look.

She hasn't taken part in any interviews since 1987. And she has also kept away from cameras almost as consistently.

Until now.

The shy artist who has more and more become the "Garbo" of our time has disappeared - in her place radiates Agnetha Fältskog, 53 - a woman in her best years.

Half-naked, Agnetha Fältskog looks back over her shoulder. And smiles self-confidently at the camera.

But SVT viewers will get the chance to see Agnetha perform before the single is released - as a guest artist at Melodifestivalen. In January, Aftonbladet revealed that secret discussions had taken place during the winter for the ABBA star to perform at the last semi-final, "The Second Chance", on 14 March, where the third and fourth placegetters from the first four semi-finals get to compete for the last two places in the final.

It is thought that Agnetha Fältskog will perform a song not as part of the competition - 30 years after ABBA's victory in Brighton in 1974.

The ABBA connection to part of the competition is already obvious. "The Last Chance" will be broadcast from the Hotel Rival in Stockholm which is partly owned by Benny Andersson.

However, an ABBA reunion is impossible according to all the parties involved.

Agnetha Fältskog's new album is a tribute to the artists who have inspired her throughout the years.

- Annika Johansson

Translated by Grant Whittingham Sydney, Australia

February 22, 2004

ABBA's blonde goddess Agnetha Fältskog, is finally making a comeback. MY COLORING BOOK (sic) is the title of the album which is a tribute to the artists who have inspired Agnetha greatly over the years. 19 April is set down as the release date. Before this time, she would have released the single IF I THOUGHT YOU'D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND, which in its time was well known by Cilla Black.

I apologise for any mistakes. I had a few best guesses where the Norwegian words were unrecognisable. However, I am sure that they are saying the album will be released on 19 April and the single will come out before that.

Thanks to ABBAMAILers Paul Carter, London, UK and Grant Whittingham Sydney, Australia

If I Ever Thought You'd Change Your Mind by Agnetha Fältskog ships to radio

worldwide on March 8th.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Jeffrey de Hart, Stockholm, Sweden

February 17, 2004

JASON ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT AGNETHA'S SINGLE

ABBAMAILer Jason Dann has received a promotional copy of Agnetha's new single. The single does not have a cover unfortunately. Jason answered a few questions about his impression of the song:

Q. Are you aware of the buzz within Warner Australia itself? Do they believe in it and think it will be a hit?

A. The buzz is not good - they don't think they will release.

Q. Any idea of release dates?

A. Not as yet (if at all).

Q. How has Agnetha's voice changed or matured? Or does she sound more or less the same?

A. I'd have to say a little more fragile and certainly the accent is stronger.

Q. Was there a cover on the promo single? How is Agnetha looking?

A. No cover.

Q. From what you're saying, it sounds like it has been sung as a straight ballad. Does it at least sound contemporary? Do you think it has hit potential ?

A. I don't think it has hit potential. It sounds like it could have been recorded any time in the 80's, 90's or now..straight ballad...but I can't wait to hear what others think...

Thanks to ABBAMAILers Grant Whittingham and Jason Dann in Sydney, Australia

AGNETHA COLOUR FEATURE IN SUNDAY PAPER - Website Link Posted at 12:25 AM Brita Åhman has contributed a large feature to today's magazine that comes with Aftonbladet (1 February). It doesn't seem to be online, but is translated at www.raffem.com

There are lots of picture, including a wonderful outtake from the "As I Am" photo sessions (see the picture of her next to a tree) - what a great photograph!