dimanche 31 octobre 2010

Björn Ulvaeus : "we will never reform ABBA"




interview by Ingrid Bernard AND Emilie Cuisinier 30/10/10 at 05.01



At the Crillon hotel Paris that Björn received us in a sumptuous black suit .
far from the Abba frenzy of platform shoes ...
but not without emotion , he remembers some souvenirs.


Björn Ulvaeus was in paris for the Première of Mamma Mia
© Sipa

France-Soir. what do you think of the french version of Mamma Mia ?
Björn Ulvaeus. french is a very beautiful language for singing. the story line is the same everywhere,the difference,is the way the comedians play. the french version is very realistic because the french way is to play very seriously.

F.-S. how do you explain the success of ABBA, still today ?
B. U. i wonder how it can be, how millions around the world know our songs. i can't explain.it's a
miracle. i hear all the time people saying that their children listen to Abba. we won a new audience .mothers made their children love them who at their turn made them love to their offspring.

F.-S. did you imagine in the heydays touching several generations ?
B. U. in the 1970s, we were labelled a hit machine. so that it was easy for us. but in fact it was very hard each time . we have never had a magic formula. we just did what we could.


F.-S. what is your best memory from all your carrier ?
B. U. there's plenty. the eurovision in brighton is perhaps the one in 1974. it change everything. we were known only in Scandinavia. the day after, the world was ours...



F.-S. you never made a solo carrier contrarily to the others,.why?
B. U. i had never been a stage monster.i was member of a groups and felt conforteable.my wish was before singing , writing and producing. our last concert was in tokyo and i said to myself : «this is it,it's the end. » some people need the stage, i don't.


F.-S. in 2001, producer offered 1 billion dollars to reform the groupe. why didn't you accept ?
B. U. first , people remember us as ABBA , four young people ambitious and full of energy.now, we'll look like a tired copy of the groupe.
second,the project was for one year.one hundred concerts, tons of promotion. i was thinking it will take ten years of my life. Anyway,it's a définitive decision, we will never reform Abba again.


F.-S.what artist are you fan today ?
B. U. I love Lady Gaga. she has irresistible melodies.

F.-S.do you think she will be like you and stay popular for such long time ?
B. U. yes, she's got talent for ,the time to grow up and explore differents universes.





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vendredi 29 octobre 2010

new interviews in paris of Björn Ulvaeus



picture not included in the original article (just to illustrate)

here is an english translation :

Björn Ulvaeus : “The success of ABBA remain a mystery”



The former member of Abba was thursday in paris to launch the musical "Mamma mia !" at the "mogador" theater


1 ) how did the producer, Judy Craymer, convince you tu use the songs in the musical ?

In the eighties , Judy had already made a project of a TV program using the songs but it wasn't achieved. some few years later, she suggested a musical, written by Catherine Johnson, a very talented auteur. i accepted to the condition that she could use any song, but without changing the lyrics. then the scenarist Phyllida Lloyd went on board, to "give birth" to the musical, eleven years ago in London.

2 )what is,in your opinion, the key to the success of "Mamma Mia " ?

All great musicals have a wonderful story as a plot. Les Misérables, My Fair Lady, West Side Story...

In this case ("Mamma mia !"), i think the success is due to the fact that the songs blend naturally to the story line.


3 )All these songs that remain popular, all these years ?

i never understood why ! . everywhere i go around the world people know them and it's ,i feel,a wonderful feeling.


4 ) French fans will be surprised to hear them in french. was it necessary to translate them to french ?

Yes it's the only way to be carried by the story. and even if you think you know them in english, it's only when you hear them in your native language that you really understand the true meaning . how many times did I hum a Beatles song without knowing the real meaning of it ! (smile).

5 )what do Abba mean in your every day life actually ?

ABBA never leave me. there is not one day without something reminds me of it.and we are very careful to the use of our songs,in the media.

only if one of us four is against ,it's definitively no!

6 )the right wing Danish party used one of your songs (Mamma mia ) without your approval...

This party , that I already knew, transformed it to "Mamma Pia" !, (in tribute to their leader Pia Kjærsgaard,ndlr). we made it clear and they stopped it immediately.we will never let our songs used in a political meaning.the same happened with John McCain. he wanted to use "Take a chance on me" in his campaign against Obama and we refused !

7 )is there a 1 per cent to see you on stage one day with Benny, Frida and Agnetha ?


0% ! if we did it, it will destroy that image of four young ambitious people that you adored in videos !
I would never let that happen!

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recent picture of Björn



(well said Bjorn ,own comment)


samedi 16 octobre 2010

AGNETHA a la première de Mamma Mia ! au Danemark



Agnetha  a provoque une grande et agréable surprise en accompagnant Björn a la première de Mamma Mia ! au Danemark,elle est même monte sur scène et ce pour la première fois depuis la création de l'opéra rock base sur les chansons du groupe .

(image courtesy of INTERMEZZO)

vendredi 1 octobre 2010

nouvel interview de Benny Andersson

dans le magazine  suédois VI 

Benny Andersson se confie

ma vie n'as pas été de tout repos ,si succès il y a ,je n'est aucun mérite ,c'est la chance c'est tout

l'homme doit saisir sa chance et savoir la gérer 

la solidarité  est un devoir en suède !

il parle pour la première fois ouvertement de son combat avec l'alcool et comment il est sobre depuis 2001

la vie n'est pas aussi simple


Spriten höll på att ta ABBA-Bennys liv


nouvelles photos d'agnetha