Introduction
ABBA, one of the world’s biggest-selling pop bands, is back after a 40-year hiatus, marking a remarkable comeback following decades of individual struggles and triumphs.
The Original Split and Subsequent Challenges
After nearly ten years of immense success, ABBA’s internal dynamics changed significantly by 1981. Tensions arose as both couples had divorced, leading to a decline in motivation and a less joyful atmosphere. Concurrently, with the rise of new youth culture in the early 80s, ABBA’s music began to be perceived as “passe.”
Despite attempts to record a ninth album in 1982, the creative spark was gone. They released a compilation, “The Singles: The First Ten Years,” which included new tracks like “The Day Before You Came.” This somber song, while now an ABBA classic, was considered a commercial failure at the time, only reaching number 32 on the UK charts.
The increasing personal tensions, particularly between the divorced couples, were palpable. A famously uncomfortable TV interview in 1982, marked by awkward body language and dismissive answers about a split, proved to be ABBA’s last television appearance together for decades. By the end of 1982, Björn and Benny shifted their focus to a new project: a musical with lyricist Tim Rice.
Solo Endeavors and Personal Tragedies
While Björn and Benny embarked on the musical “Chess” (which yielded the hit duet “I Know Him So Well”), Agnetha and Frida ventured into solo careers.
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Frida found inspiration in Phil Collins’s divorce-themed album “Face Value” and asked him to produce her solo album. Despite initial nervousness and a demanding studio environment, she gained confidence. Her album, “Something’s Going On,” was a commercial and critical success, proving her independence from ABBA despite initial doubts from manager Stig Anderson. She then moved to London and later Switzerland, marrying a German Prince. However, tragedy struck in 1998 with the death of her daughter in a car accident, followed by the passing of her husband in 1999, leading her to withdraw from public life.
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Agnetha collaborated with producer Mike Chapman for her solo album “Wrap Your Arms Around Him,” aiming for mainstream pop success. However, she struggled with the constant media focus on her physical appearance rather than her musical talent, and a relentless tabloid press fabricated stories about her private life. This led her to become increasingly reclusive, eventually retreating to a quiet island in Sweden by 1988, exhausted after two decades in the limelight. She also endured immense personal grief, losing her mother to suicide and her father shortly after, which further deepened her seclusion.
The ABBA Revival and “Mamma Mia!”
By the early 1990s, the former ABBA members were geographically and creatively disparate. However, an unexpected revival began. In 1992, Björn and Benny were invited by U2 to perform “Dancing Queen,” marking a turning point where they re-engaged with ABBA’s music.
The 90s saw a resurgence of optimism in pop music, creating fertile ground for ABBA’s “shiny pop” sound. British band Erasure released an EP of ABBA covers, which became their first UK number one and bolstered ABBA’s renewed popularity. This led to the release of “ABBA Gold” in 1992, a greatest hits compilation that has sold over 5 million copies and has rarely left the charts, cementing their legacy.
This renewed interest paved the way for “Mamma Mia!,” a musical built around ABBA’s hits. Conceived by producer Judy Craymer, the musical’s plot involved a young girl inviting three potential fathers to her wedding based on her mother’s diary. “Mamma Mia!” premiered in London in 1999 to wild success, becoming one of the highest-grossing musicals of all time and sparking global speculation about an ABBA reunion.
While Björn and Benny were actively involved in “Mamma Mia!,” Agnetha and Frida were initially absent from promotional events. However, the film adaptation of “Mamma Mia!” in 2008, featuring a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep, brought the four members together publicly for the first time in 22 years at its Stockholm premiere, although they avoided being photographed together as a quartet to keep the focus on the film.
The Unthinkable Reunion: “Voyage”
The “Mamma Mia!” phenomenon reignited fan hopes for a reunion. Agnetha began attending promotional events, and in 2016, for the 50th anniversary of Björn and Benny meeting, Agnetha and Frida performed together onstage for the first time in over 30 years, fueling further speculation.
Finally, in 2018, ABBA announced their return for a special show. This was revealed to be “Voyage,” a series of concerts featuring avatars of their younger selves, utilizing motion-capture technology. While working on this project, the urge to create new music became irresistible. Behind closed doors, ABBA recorded new songs for the first time in nearly four decades.
The announcement in September 2021 of the “Voyage” album and the brand-new show was met with immense excitement worldwide. Fans were thrilled to see Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Frida, now in their 70s, reunited in the studio. Sound engineer Bernard Löhr noted the emotional impact of hearing their harmonies converge, sounding unmistakably like ABBA, albeit with the beautiful maturity of their voices. The comeback song, “I Still Have Faith In You,” was described as a perfect love song to themselves and their shared history, symbolizing reconciliation and renewed comfort among the members.
Despite four tumultuous decades marked by personal triumphs, adversity, and profound tragedy, ABBA’s musical legacy has continued to grow, culminating in their highly anticipated return.