Introduction
The video delves into the real story behind the breakup of ABBA, particularly focusing on Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad. While ABBA appeared to be a perfect pop band with two happy couples, behind the scenes their relationships were crumbling under the pressure of fame and personal differences.
Benny and Frida met in 1969 and fell in love while building ABBA’s signature sound. Although deeply connected by music, their differing personalities—Benny being methodical and private, Frida more emotional and social—eventually drove them apart. By 1979, their relationship was visibly strained, and Benny confessed to having feelings for another woman, Mona Nörklit, leading to their breakup in 1981. Despite the public image, Benny was visibly emotional during a rare and honest interview at the time, marking the first public acknowledgment of their separation.
Frida, meanwhile, handled the breakup with grace and later found comfort in a new relationship. The emotional impact of these splits was reflected in ABBA’s music, notably in songs like “The Winner Takes It All.”
The video also tells Frida’s difficult early life story. Born in Norway in 1945 to a German soldier and a Norwegian woman, she faced national rejection due to her parentage. After moving to Sweden with her mother, Frida found solace in music. She pursued singing passionately from a young age, eventually becoming an international pop star.
Years later, Frida married Prince Heinrich Ruzzo Reuss of Plauen in 1992, becoming a princess. However, the rigid expectations of royal life clashed with her free-spirited nature as an artist. Tragedy struck again in 1998 when her daughter was killed in a car crash.
Ultimately, the video paints a picture of extraordinary talent and emotional resilience, showing that behind ABBA’s global success were deeply human stories of love, loss, and personal transformation.
The tragic death of Anne, Frida’s 30-year-old daughter and closest confidante, deeply shook Frida (Anni-Frid Lyngstad), who withdrew from public life to mourn in solitude at her Swiss chalet. Despite her past as a pop icon and royal princess, nothing could alleviate her grief. Surprisingly, Benny Andersson, her former ABBA bandmate, provided comfort despite their strained history.
By the 2000s, Frida had largely disappeared from the spotlight, choosing peace and privacy over fame. Meanwhile, ABBA’s legacy remained strong. In 2021, the group made a historic comeback with their album Voyage—their first in 40 years—and launched a revolutionary concert experience in London using digital “ABBAtars” created through advanced motion capture and visual effects. The immersive performance has drawn over 1.3 million fans globally.
Although the band rejected a $1 billion offer to tour again, the ABBA Voyage concert redefined live performance. Frida, now 78, lives a quiet life in Zermatt, Switzerland. After ABBA disbanded in 1982, she pursued a solo career before marrying Prince Heinrich Ruzzo Reuss and becoming a princess. Following his death in 1999, she embraced a more private lifestyle.
Frida is still involved in charity and environmental causes and has been in a long-term relationship with British aristocrat Henry Smith since 2007. She occasionally participates in ABBA-related events and contributed to the Voyage album. In 2022, the King of Sweden knighted ABBA’s members for their cultural contributions. Though no longer in the limelight, Frida remains a beloved figure in music history, her voice and legacy living on through ABBA’s timeless songs.