ABBA: THE DYNAMIC QUARTET

When speaking of unique singing combinations, how rare is it to find two couples forming a successful pop group? Very rare, but not for ABBA.

ABBA was a Swedish popstar group comprised of couples Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus, and Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Back when they were active, the power couples were music geniuses, recording hits that took the world by storm.

What started as a fun vacation to Cyprus Island, turned into a career-defining moment for the married couples who were, at the time, pursuing solo careers. It is while at the beach that they started singing for fun, which sparked their interest in forming a group, later culminating into 8 studio albums, 7 compilation albums, 3 box sets, 73 singles, not forgetting 2 live albums and 42 music videos.

It was not always a bed of roses

Just like any music group, ABBA had their ups and downs in their otherwise, successful career. Anderson and Ulvaeus were already working on their Lycka album together when the idea of a group formation came to them. Benny and Anni-Frid added some background vocals on a couple of tracks on the album. The album was launched in September 1970.

It is right after that the pop group decided to launch Festfolket, a stage act. Unfortunately, the show was not well received. Critics were quick to give it low ratings. Generally, it received more negative reviews, prompting the quartet to postpone their plans.

Still concentrating on their solo careers, the couples continued doing background vocals and releasing moderately successful tunes. It is not until the 1972 release of their single People Need Love did they receive recognition. Their debut album Ring Ring did well in parts of Europe. Two years later, it is the release of the single Waterloo that saw their breakthrough into the US and the UK. From there, the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, were unstoppable Abba’s most successful hits include Super trouper, Mamma Mia, Gimme Gimme Gimme, any many more.

Musical success

The Fernando hitmakers enjoyed a successful music career worldwide. They had an array of best-selling singles and albums. Their album sales are estimated to be over 150 million copies and are the first non-native-speaking musicians to breakthrough into the US music industry. Also, the adaptation of their music into Mamma Mia further enhanced worldwide popularity. They have been awarded several times, with Dancing Queen receiving an induction into the Recording Academy’s Grammy Hall of Fame.

The breakup and reunion

ABBA is, undeniably, one of the biggest bands in the world. They had a plethora of tours and accumulated millions of fans in the course of their career. However, the pressures of the music industry strained their professional and personal relationships, leading to a collapse of both marriages. The group’s final show was in 1982. They have been on and off but came together in 2016 for the Mamma Mia! The Party in Stockholm.

Currently, the foursome is working on an album. The album was scheduled to be released in 2020, but the current Coronavirus Pandemic has stalled the project, postponing it to 2021.

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