and as soon as possible in french.
Hagge : Thank you and welcome to yet another »guest at hagge » Many have written in … well two have, and wondered how we choose guests Well, we go by the taxpayers’ directory.
Today we wanted a girl so we had four to choose from. Marta phillipson, Antonia morner, agnetha faltskog and anni-frid lyngstad. So I put four names in a hat and drew one of them. Guess who it was:
« It was me and little frida, little frida and me »
« together on the sunny side of life for better or for worse we strive »
« And here comes little frida…. »
F: thanks
Welcomes sit down, please.
I sang for you, maybe you didn’t noticed,
F: it was very pleasant
At least I tried
F: do you think my skirt is too short?
Skirt? So far I don’t think anything .I has to get use to it first!
Did I say « welcome »?
F: I think so, thanks anyway.
I might just as well ask you now, will you marry me?
F: it depends. Do you want me because of the wonderful person I am or for my money?
That wasn’t a good answer, but of course I think you are a wonderful person.
You are smart, beautiful, intelligent talented and you have a sound judgment.
F: okay I accept!
I remember when we first met for lunch in Stockholm; you said you never had met a person with such a personal charm.
F: it’s your blue eyes... I remember it clearly.
If we’re going to live together, I must get to know you better. What’s in the magazine you can’t…?
F: You can believe that
What are you like in the morning?
F: In the mornings I’m very slow .I don’t sleep in late but I take my time .I read the morning paper rat the breakfast table.
You’re moody, are you?
F: No, unless I don’t get provoked.
How do you like eggs?
F: I don’t eat eggs.
Can you cook?
F: I’m a great chef.
Let’s find out….. I’ve got a recipe.
Can you tell me what this will be? What dish these ingredients become?
1 lb boneless beef, 1 ½ lbs potato, 2 onions, 3 carrots and add some beer, red wine or bouillon and some spices. What is it?
F: red wine and bouillon?
Either, you don’t need both!
F: what it in the beginning?
1 lbs boneless beef, 1 ½ lbs potato….
F: it sounds like « sailor’s beef ».
Yes! Good job. And you’re probably expensive to keep. Your clothes and all. Look at this.
F: As you know I earn my own living. That’s practical, don’t you think so?
But you like nice clothes and fashion. Tell me, what kind of a romper suit is this?
F: He knows nothing about fashion! This is by an Italian designer, Valentino.
Can you stand up? Some sort of balloon?
F: it’s trousers and skirt at the same time.
Where did you find that one?
F: I bought this in New York.
Expensive? I need to know.
F: No, It was on sale half price.
And you can sit in that?
F: Yes, it’s no problem.
How is your temperament? I need to know before we move on
We’ll be sitting here for a whole hour .do you easily get mad?
F: When I was younger I had a bad temper .but nowadays I’ve learned to control it. After all that I’ve been through think I’m a fairly composed woman.
So I can be impertinent without you getting mad?
F: I have great patience end tolerance
Maybe we should get more serious and find out more about you. Your fans know everything about you but the rest of us maybe don’t. You’re not a Swede you were born in Norway.
F: Yes, I was born in ballangen, which is about 21 miles from narvik.
There you were born in 1945?
F: That is correct
And that is true?
F: Yes, I’m 37 years old.
Well, that’s not important… you’re a young woman.
How old are you?
F: Me? I’m 47.
47 with a bullet!
F: Do you want to know more about me?
You had in fact a troublesome start in life because your mother died when you were only 2 years and half. Your father disappeared at the end of the WW2.
He was a soldier and everyone thought, until you were very old …older than then .everyone thought he’d been killed in a shipwreck!
F: That’s correct, and I grew up in toshalla together with my grand ma.
What were your grandma’s names?
F: Antine kornelia Maria lyngstad.
And she became your mother?
F: You can say that.
That is a big difference in age …
F: She was two generations older which meant that we didn’t had much in common. It was only us two so she had to work to support our little family. So I was by myself a lot. A latchkey child .It means that you are very lonesome. That you seldom have somebody to get support and comfort from when you need it. You become introvert .I read a lot, I still do. Then of course I had the music. It always had been like that.
Did you get bullied in school?
F: No, I was never bullied don’t remember .I doesn’t remember being bullied. Music came to you early in your life.
I know that you did your debut at the red cross bazaar in torshalla when you were 11.I even know what song you sang, you sang this one. Do you remember the lyrics?
F: its 100 years ago. « Fourteen years believe I was « (she sings)
« A little girl, so cheerful and! (She stands up laughing) A bit too high. Can you raise the pitch? Thanks a lot!!!
« Fourteen years, I believe I was «
« A little girl, so cheerful and so happy! » It’s been months since I last sang. What key was this?
F: I think it’s enough for now.
In what key do you sing? This was F major, right?
I would like to ask you about your father? Maybe it’s delicate.
F: No, it’s not that delicate.
When you were 30, you found out that you had a father.
F: 32!
32 years old. That’s unusual. You were used to not having a father. What happened when you were 32?
F: The German magazine BRAVO had bios over the members in ABBA. In my bio you could read the name of my mother and the name of my father as we knew it. I think I t was my half brother who read this article. And he got somewhat thoughtful as he recognized his father’s name. Alfred my father? Was ill at the time. He had otitis. Peter my half-brother, asked my father if he was stationed in Norway at the end of 45. Yes, said my father. « Did you meet a girl named synni lyngstad? » « Yes », my father said. And peter showed him a big picture of me. »in this case, this is your daughter! » My father got well at once! That’s what happened!
And suddenly the office (polar) got a number of calls from someone who claimed to be my father. I didn’t believe him. Too strange to suddenly have a father. So I ignored him and refused to talk with him. I thought it was a lunatic. But I asked him if he had something that could prove that he was my father. It turnout that he had a photo of himself as a young soldier, exactly the same photo I had. And that settled it. Then he came to visit me in Stockholm. I was very tense and nervous but at the same time excited to finally meet with him . I didn’t dare to go to the airport to pick him up.benny and some friends did that? They spoke German, I didn’t. Then he came, and…
How did you feel?
F: Very mixed feelings. We were both very nervous, and … You get emotional .we both started to cry. He stayed for a few days and we talked a lot trying to get to know each other but it’s hard to get a father at the age of 23 . It would be easier if I were younger. It was hard to accept him as a father and love him as a child growing up with a father would do . We have a rather occasional contact; but he’s a very sympathetic and nice man, and I’m happy to have a father
You don’t get together that often?
F: When I’m working in Germany, we try to get together. Otherwise it’s letters and cards…but nothing more
You’ve got your own children. Did your upbringing have some effect on how you bring up your own children?
F: I think so, you‘re deeply influenced by your own upbringing even in your adulthood and therefore transmit that onto your own children. You want to give your children all that you didn’t have yourself. The fact that I was very lonesome as a child has shaped me so maybe it’s been hard for me to give my children all that I was missing as a child but I’ve tried my best
What did you wanted to give them?
F: A natural confiding contact that gave them a feeling of safety. This is my mother. I can talk to her about anything, now it’s working, but earlier I was afraid of making mistakes and that made me inhibited.
And you travelled a lot
F: Yes, for some years the children lived with their father
How old are they now?
F: Lotta is 16 and my son’s 20th birthday is tomorrow
Your fans are at that age and younger 12 to 20 years? Most of them. At least the ones who like abba, right?
F: Yes but we have older people too who listen to abba.
Thousand of them are certainly watching now. What would you like to say to them? They are in a dangerous age regarding alcohol, drugs and all that. What can you say to them right now?
F: In that case I would rather say something to their parents. they are also watching. I’m here.
That’s right …
F: I would like to address both the parents and the children? Because it’s important. I‘ve noticed a lack of contact between parents and children. I think it’s important that we talk to each other and to let your children know when you’re sad and fragile. You should be able to cry together and not be afraid to show your children that you’re just a human being. And if you show them that confidence, your child can become your biggest supporter. With a relation based on trust and love, I believe that many children could be saved from problems with drugs and alcohol. If they feel there’s something to lean against.
You’re an example of how to do with drugs in spite of working in the music business.
F: Yes drugs are nothing… I should definitely not expose my body to the demolition that drugs amounts to. You only get one life and you must try to do the best you can of it. That’s why we all need to help each other. Parents helping children, children helping parents Communication is the key to it .it’s hard but we have to learn to communicate.
Here in the studio we have a bar. Shall we move over to the bar?
F: What have you got? Champagne?
No champagne? I’m afraid. If this would be like the TV show « Dallas ». Then we already have been drinking half a bottle of whiskey each.
F: Who am I? Sue Ellen?
Yeah, here I have some milk.
F: I don’t drink milk. What else do you have? That one. « The wonders of nature « I like that.
« Wonders of nature »… Let’s see if I can open it
F: I can help you
Do you think that all the boozing in TV shows has an influence on people drinking habits?
F: Well I think so. I mean … cheers
I thought it would be nice to have a milk bar
F: That was good.
If you’re frequently looking at soap operas and see people having a drink as soon as they can .then it becomes common and if it’s a natural part of the everyday life . And it could be if you can handle it .but not like in the USA where it’s almost a necessity. In your line of work you have to stay fit .you can’t do that with alcohol. You probably work out a lot to being able to perform.
F: On tour I used to train jazz ballet, running and gymnastics.
I have a coin here.
F: What’s happening now?
Go up there, please. I wonder, can you pick it up without bending your knees?
F: Of course! With or without shoes?
With, that should be harder. You’re practical and a good chef? Can you tie a bow?
F: I don’t know about a bow tie. I can manage an ordinary tie.
Give it a try. If you’re practical you should manage that.
F: I have to think .it could take a while.
That one ought to go there. This is one way to fill out a TV show
F: Yeah, if you don’t have anything more intelligent to present …
Yes, but it’s important to know
F: If I try it like this
This is not right but maybe it becomes a bow tie anyway.
F: Maybe a new kind of bow tie …
Thank god I can’t see myself! Can you show me how to do it?
F: No we can’t waste more time at this
There are a lot of stories about you and other celebrities in the papers. I have to take this one off before it becomes a fashion. I can’t untie it
F: I’ll help you!
Here’s for example from a weekly magazine on how they use to write about you, that is what they write:
« While the other members in Abba live happy family life with new babies, frida, as usual goes on the spree at different parties and always with a new man « What do you say about that? That is what you read about yourself.
F: Rather not, but I can’t avoid it. That’s not true of course! They imply that I exchange my men as often as you change your shirt.i’m very restrictive regarding that. This article … it’s teddy.
Hi teddy!
F: I really don’t mind .I is used to it, but …
Who’s teddy? Should I know about him?
F: He’s a very nice young man. He is a good friend and we happened to go to a party together. We were a company of 5 people.
I’ll tell you how it works... He and I went in together. It was a celebrity that had a 40 year party. All the photographers took pictures of teddy and me. And then the article was written about teddy as my new man. But he is just a friend and nothing more. That’s how they work to find something to write about.
You must find it horrible
F: I think it’s unfortunate.
They could say that you’ve been steeling or committed murder and so on….
F: Yes, because they have absolutely no moral what so ever. It’s especially two magazines; everyone knows which two I mean. They don’t respect you. It’s almost as they think they have the right to your life just because you’re a celebrity. I don’t accept that (agree with that?) That’s why I decided to move away. If I stayed in Stockholm I never would have been left alone.
We could play all your old songs for the rest of the show. You sang « en ledig dag » at an amateur contest in Stockholm and became famous
Then you were the hostess in the TV shows “hylands horna” and from there to Abba. We have to talk about Abba
F: Absolutely it’s a big part of my life and a happy part
1970 was the first time the four of you performed on stage as a group
F: That was here in Gothenburg and it was our self “festfolket” Because we were two engaged couples at that time
A practical name
F: But we didn’t sing songs by Benny & Björn .Peter himmelstrand put Swedish lyrics to foreign songs like you did at that time. And it was terrible. Not good at all. It’s good that you don’t have a clip of that, but since then it got so much better
What happy circumstances that brought the four of together?
F: The four of you met and stikkan (stig andersson) was around. Björn Benny and stikkan already knew each other before Agnetha and I came into the picture. Stikkan believed in the guys. “One day you will become the best in the world “ he said . I don’t know if they’re best in the world, but they are world famous at least .
Stikkan had the ESC as a goal he wanted to use that to promote…
F: Yes and that was the only chance if you wanted to get outside Sweden
But at first you got disqualified two years in a row
F: Yes but that was the expert-jury’s fault.
People like Curt-Erik holmqvist. Were you in that jury? But experts should have some insight? Right?
F: No comments
Anyway you got voted off
F: Yes two years in a row
And that was with a song like “ring ring”
F: Yes in 73, I remember the steps (she sings joyfully)
That didn’t work at all
F: No, but we took revenge later
Yes, that song became world famous
F: Not world famous but big in Europe
But that’s a big part of the world
F : And a great time for us in Sweden .We were number one on two charts with the single and number one on the album charts
So that was a fantastic break through for us here
And then the third time you went to Brighton
What a night!
The night was nothing compared to the day after!
How did you feel when you realized that you’ve won?
F: It’s hard to recall. I never thought we would win. Björn was convinced that we would win. I didn’t want to take it for granted.
There would be much wangling in those competitions
F: Not at my knowledge
It’s a commercial ballyhoo, so maybe there is something else that controls the outcome.
F: Maybe some other country with a poorer song but with more money … I don’t know!
What are you insinuating?
F: Forget about that
The outcome was a tour in Europe
F: Yes. The tour was our first big tour. It was something new and exciting. A lot of fun. But only in Europe, a few countries
Then it went like clockwork. You conquered England in 76. You were number one on the album charts
F: Yes of 10 albums, 9 had become number one
Yes but in 76 was the first time
F: 1976 was the breakthrough. “Waterloo” was popular 74 but then it took two years before we came back
Two songs in particular come to mind when thinking about abba… (Piano plays)
“Mamma mia” … That song follows you? Right? Did you believe in the song when you first heard it? And then of course “Fernando”.
F: Yes, it’s a very beautiful song.
And it became huge.
F: The thing about the song is … I did my solo album “frida ensam” in 75 and Björn & Benny wrote the song for that album in Swedish. Then abba did it in English.
Then you came to Australia. It’s remarkable that a Swedish band goes to Australia and gets received with such enthusiasm. 58 per cent of the population watched the TV show
F: Yeah that was a record, I think.
And what a reception you got
F: Unbelievable, almost hysterical and something we weren’t used to. They treated us like royalties. We were received by a high official in a big house down town Melbourne.
Thousands of people showed up on the streets outside and wanted to greet us. And like royalties we went out on the balcony and started to wave at the people.
Did you learn how to wave like a royalty?
F: Like this if you’re in a car? Right? That was fantastic. I got really emotional
We will soon start a clip showing little frida from torshalla at the pinnacle of her fame? Controlling 60 0000 fans at a stadium in Australia.
F: Now I get Goosebumps…
Here it is. (“Why did it have to be me” live in “the movie”?)
That was in 1977. How many records has abba sold so far?
F: We have finally got a computer ET the office and the numbers are processed. It’s not final but so far it’s 120 millions? Worldwide. And 25 millions only in England.
That’s almost crazy. And the new one is expected to sell for 50 - 100 million kronor. How nice to see it’s going so well for stikkan from hova
F: I really think so. He certainly deserves that!
Now he can buy SJ (railway) and Gotland. All those people in the audience were your fans right? Do you know Therese from Orebro?
F: Ye s we are pen pals.
She is one of your fans. And she is sitting here. I asked her to come because; I’ve never seen a real fan. Come here and say hello to frida
This is Therese. You have never met each other?
F: But we write to each other. She’s a very special young woman.
Why do you like frida so much? You have 9000 pictures of her?
Therese: No 7000 of abba…and 6000 of you, frida
F: 7000 of abba and 6000 of me. Did you hear that?
What so great about her?
Therese: You have given me so much contact with ABBA fans all over the world. That’s one aspect of it
Why frida? Is she nicer than agnetha?
Therese: I think so!
F: I still love you, agnetha.
Have you met agnetha?
Therese: No, but I’ve heard of people that have and I think that frida seems nicer. I have absolutely nothing against agnetha. You must not think that.
No, we’re just kidding. You’ll be hearing from her …
This is magazines and pictures from all over the world that you collect. And tapes. How many tapes do you have?
Therese: 25 - 30 tapes? 90 mn.
Do you have that many tapes, frida? Not that many maybe can you give her some?
F: Why are doing this? It must be very time consuming to collect all this pictures and put them in plastic cases like this.
Therese: It’s so much fun. You can trade them with friends and so on. It’s a giving hobby.
Do you know everything about frida?
Therese: Only facts, like when you were born and things like that.
F: And how old I am…
And if she talks when she sleeps.
Therese: I don’t know if she does!
Well ask her!
Therese: Do you talk when you sleep?
F: I don’t think so!
Do you have beautiful rings like this?
Therese: No
Do you know what kind of ring is this? You can buy half of your hometown for this. Is it a brilliant?
F: Yes
Now you’ve met frida. Wasn’t it fun? And you will send her some tapes? She has nothing you know. Thanks for coming...
F: We can meet after the show and talk some more.
That was Therese!
All these fans are an important part in the marketing of you and abba. They buy the records and talk about you …
F: “Marketing “It sounds so … You’re right, but there is another aspect of it. You get a genuine and real contact with some fans, like Therese where they show their interest in you as a human being and show a great confidence in you. It’s very important to have this contact.
Isn’t hard to hard to handle this idolatry?
F: They are not like that. They don’t worship you. They see you as a person whom they trust and want to get in contact with and they’re very frank about what they think about my new hair color or hair style and so on …
I know what you mean …
F: You do? It’s nice to have them, because you can trust them.
All this success … has it changed you? Have you become more stuck up?
F: No I’m not stuck up at all.
It’s easy to get that if you’re famous.
F: Of course I’ve changed from the young girl …
You’re rich. It’s like the money falls in through your letter box
F: Exactly, one million per week through my letter box
You come from rather poor circumstances and suddenly you have all this money, isn’t it hard?
F: It’s harder than people think to learn how to live with money as it is without any. At first you’re almost afraid of the money.
One can get stingy!
F: Yes but luckily I’ve been the opposite. I’m a big consumer! I allow myself to do that. Who knows, I can get killed tomorrow
You travel a lot?
F: Yes, I love to travel.
You have gone through some crises in your private life. Do you have a new philosophy of life, now? We must check your economy if we’re going to live together!
Are you a good investment? You’re rich? Right? Do you have money in the bank? So to speak? The tax payers’ directory shows 22 million but that’s only a small part of it, right?
F: That’s only a fraction of it all.
And more are coming in?
F: So far yes.
You’ve sold your shares in polar?
F: Polar music.
And you moves to London. Why not to Monaco where Björn Borg lives?
F: Monaco is not for me .London is a great city if you’re in the music business. And it’s closer to other large cities in Europe and over the Atlantic and when I’m going solo…Monaco is like … a paradise foe senior citizen
I will tell stenmark and Borg that.
Your solo career is fantastic; you’ve released your own album and have promoted it for two months. This was also a kind of liberation for you to be able to do this
F: It was part of the complete liberation to make a solo album; the last was in 75 when I did one in Swedish
This is in English and released all over the world
F: I wanted to try something different from abba. We worked together for 12 years and after a while you feel stagnation I felt that I must prove to myself that I can manage outside the group, it was very important and a challenge to work with new musicians and a new producer, it was very inspiring to do that
You’ve been promoting the album in a number of countries, how does it work? Do you just phone them and say: “Hi, here I am with a new album”?
F: No quite. It’s planned in details. Before leaving Stockholm we drew up a schedule with different countries. For TV shows, radio and newspapers. It’s very strict schedule to follow. I began… and gorel traveled with me. I began at 10 am and made 30 minutes interviews all the day until 6 -7 pm and later. TV, radio and newspapers in every country. You just stay for a couple of days in every country? So it gets very compact.
What do they ask you?
F: They ask if abba is finished.
Is it?
F: No, I don’t hope so! They ask if I got a new man and if I’m getting married.
Do you have a new man?
F: You’ll never allow that? Right? I get the usual questions but sometimes new and fun interviews
Is the press different in different countries? Is the press tougher in certain countries?
F: In the US, they are very open and friendly. It’s fun because they are so positive. It’s boring when a journalist has a negative attitude from the beginning.
On this tour you probably could make use of the fact that you are a member of ABBA!
F: Of course it helps!
This album has sold one million copies. 100 000 in Sweden .that’s platinum. And three million of the single? If you just get a small piece of that, you still collect some money? Right?
Isn’t it right?
F: Yes .that’s right! It’s embarrassing to talk about money…
I’m only asking for our private matter.
F: Private? How many are watching this?
To describe you … the time flies. You seem to be a very honest person!
F: Yes that’s part of my view of life? To be honest. It’s important to stand up for who you are. I can’t lie. It’s impossible!
So, what do you think of this interview?
F: It has been very nice. I think so, honestly!
Was it as you thought it would be?
F: It has been relaxed and pleasant and I hope the audience enjoyed it!
Do you like being photographed?
F: I like it very much!
That’s good! After these shows … always … and we have done it for seven years! When the show ends and the audience leave, the photographers come in. and they take some pictures on the two people in the sofa, and that’s it! I thought we could show the viewers what happens after the show, so we ask the photographers to come on in and take some pictures. Welcome! You have seen it all, haven’t you?
F: I’ve met many photographers in my days!
Remember, you’re on TV now. Behave! Is this the way it works wherever you go?
F: This is very calmly compared to other places!
Come on in, guys! Are the photographers different in different countries?
F: It’s hard to say because you don’t speak to them. They take pictures and leave. You only see a person behind a camera, or rather? You only see the camera!
Are you an object for secret photography where they take pictures of you when you don’t want it?
F: Like this one behind me? No, I’ve never come up against that.
Anita Ekberg told me that she is followed by Italian photographers … Paparazzo… paparazzi. Has it happened to you?
F: No, not at my knowledge! But it’s probably tougher to be a star in Italy.
Do you prefer a particular side of your face when taking pictures?
F: This is softer, the other is more angular! Can you see the difference?
I would like to give you a bouquet. Thank you so much for coming.
F: Such beautiful flowers!
Wait a minute; I have a gift for you! You’re going back to London, and it could take some time before I get there. I know you have a nice flat and you’re fond of art so to prevent you from forget about me I thought you should have this!
F: What a beautiful man!
Did you forget something?
F: We can put that away.
Are you a good dancer?
F: I can dance.
May I have this dance?
F: Do you lead well?
Dancing on a carpet isn’t easy!
