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LAUGHTER
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RADIO HOST: Do you have any stories
of what was happening?
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Wait a minute, though. Before that,
there was something else.
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00:00:15,559 --> 00:00:18,120
There was an international award.
What was that?
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Er... The Eurovision Song Contest?
Is that what you mean? In '74?
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00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:24,919
Tell me that story.
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It's... Is the tape running now?
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Yeah. Yeah?
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Welcome to the 19th
Eurovision Song Contest,
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being transmitted to no less
than 32 countries.
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Here we have those two guys,
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00:00:43,199 --> 00:00:46,199
who have this burning ambition
to write songs...
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I'm Bjorn. I'm Frida.
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00:00:48,839 --> 00:00:50,879
Benny. I'm Agnetha.
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..and then one of them falls in love
with a beautiful blonde
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00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,080
who happens to be
the most fantastic singer,
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00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,599
and then the other one falls in love
with a redhead -
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00:01:02,639 --> 00:01:05,319
beautiful as well
and a fantastic singer!
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00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:16,279
Eurovision, we were mainly in it
to show ourselves, to show people
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00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,080
that there is a band up
in Sweden, in Stockholm,
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that can write pop music.
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Eurovision Song Contest,
it has a very, very big audience,
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00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,040
probably between 500
and 600 million viewers.
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We had funny costumes...
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They were tight.
They were really tight.
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00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:41,239
..and we had a song that wasn't
the usual Eurovision stuff.
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APPLAUSE
HOST: Oh, and it's Napoleon!
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No wonder their song
is called Waterloo!
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I don't think any one of us thought
that we would win the competition.
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Benny might have had a feeling.
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Well, I bet 100 quid on it.
HE LAUGHS
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Good odds. 40 to 1.
THEY LAUGH
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Really entered into the spirit
of it all, dressed as Napoleon.
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00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,760
For me, that was really,
really scary.
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00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,440
Waiting for Waterloo by ABBA,
for Sweden.
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Watch this one.
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# My, my
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# At Waterloo
Napoleon did surrender
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00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:27,279
# Oh, yeah
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00:02:27,319 --> 00:02:33,800
# And I have met my destiny
in quite a similar way
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00:02:33,839 --> 00:02:37,440
# The history book on the shelf... #
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00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,400
Here are the results of
the Finnish jury -
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Sweden, 5 votes.
Cinq votes!
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# Couldn't escape if I wanted to
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# Waterloo
Knowing my fate is to be with you
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00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,559
# Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo... #
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00:02:55,599 --> 00:02:59,639
Oslo.
Sweden, 2 votes.
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00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,760
Sweden, 3 votes.
49
00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:06,440
# My, my
50
00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:11,319
# I tried to hold you back
but you were stronger
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00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,279
# Oh, yeah... #
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00:03:13,319 --> 00:03:17,160
Sweden, 5 votes.
Sweden's way in the lead.
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00:03:17,199 --> 00:03:18,559
Sweden, they've never won it,
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00:03:18,599 --> 00:03:21,080
but they've surely got to be up
amongst the reckoning with that one.
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00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:22,800
There's no doubt about it,
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00:03:22,839 --> 00:03:27,400
the winning song of
the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest,
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Waterloo, chante par ABBA!
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00:03:33,959 --> 00:03:36,279
That was a great moment, really.
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00:03:36,319 --> 00:03:40,080
But it was a strange feeling.
I didn't expect to win.
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00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:49,400
"Wow! OK, we've achieved this.
Now we need to start working."
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MUSIC: Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
by ABBA
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SONG CONTINUES IN BACKGROUND
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SONG STOPS
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00:04:29,239 --> 00:04:32,160
Waterloo, the song that won last
Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest
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by a mile.
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00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:34,959
Sung by the Swedish group ABBA,
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00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:36,919
Waterloo looks like being
a really big seller
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00:04:36,959 --> 00:04:39,440
and making a chart entry
from nowhere next week.
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00:04:42,639 --> 00:04:44,680
What plans have you
got ahead of you now?
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00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,639
What about conquering
foreign markets?
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00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:49,879
The dream is the United States,
of course -
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00:04:49,919 --> 00:04:51,519
if we conquer the British market,
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00:04:51,559 --> 00:04:53,879
because that's the first thing,
really.
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00:04:53,919 --> 00:04:57,000
A little-known fact, perhaps,
is that the two of you are married.
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00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:58,440
Yes, we are.
AGNETHA: Yeah, we are.
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00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,400
Do the fans get jealous?
I don't think so. No.
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00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:03,040
You don't feel that
you're literally
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00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,959
living in each other's pockets?
No. Sometimes.
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00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,879
I don't. Disagreement in the ranks!
LAUGHTER
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00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:12,599
The first time I met them,
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00:05:12,639 --> 00:05:17,040
I was just struck by how genuine
and normal they were.
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00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,839
They were a close-knit team,
you know?
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00:05:19,879 --> 00:05:23,160
And Bjorn and Agnetha,
they were like one.
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00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:07,480
Take it away, ABBA!
APPLAUSE
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00:06:07,519 --> 00:06:08,839
# My, my
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00:06:08,879 --> 00:06:12,839
# At Waterloo,
Napoleon did surrender... #
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00:06:23,559 --> 00:06:27,559
# At Waterloo,
Napoleon did surrender... #
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00:06:27,599 --> 00:06:29,120
..ABBA!
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00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:34,919
# Bin ich verliebt bis uber beide
Ohren und ich will... #
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00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:47,160
# Is always repeating itself
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00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:48,440
# Waterloo... #
92
00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,160
ABBA were seen as total outsiders.
93
00:07:09,199 --> 00:07:12,800
And, you know, the UK press
could be mercenary.
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00:07:12,839 --> 00:07:14,959
A lot of them seemed to turn
on the band.
95
00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:16,680
You know, "It's a damp squib.
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00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,120
"It's going to end.
Tacky, plastic."
97
00:07:20,239 --> 00:07:22,480
# I was sitting by the phone
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00:07:23,839 --> 00:07:27,160
# I was waiting all alone... #
99
00:07:27,199 --> 00:07:30,040
On first seeing ABBA,
you know, I must admit,
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00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,000
I wasn't sold on the fashion
at the time.
101
00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,040
I found it a little bit cringey,
102
00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:37,559
seeing the outfits
that they all wore,
103
00:07:37,599 --> 00:07:40,279
and I think the outfits
were the contributor
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00:07:40,319 --> 00:07:42,919
that made them look
a little bit cheesy.
105
00:07:42,959 --> 00:07:45,919
# Please forgive and then forget
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00:07:45,959 --> 00:07:49,160
# Or maybe, darling, better yet
107
00:07:49,199 --> 00:07:51,160
# Oh, ring, ring... #
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00:07:51,199 --> 00:07:52,360
We weren't taken seriously,
109
00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:55,919
I think because we were wearing
such strange clothes.
110
00:07:55,959 --> 00:07:59,360
We thought we had to be
more outrageous than anyone else
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00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,639
to be seen. And then we thought
it was great fun, too.
112
00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,760
It was never any plan that,
"This is going to be our image,
113
00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,080
"the kitsch."
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00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,599
We've really suffered for that.
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00:08:29,519 --> 00:08:34,040
The first Swedish reporter who
came to us with a mic, he said...
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00:08:52,279 --> 00:08:55,599
It was kind of a different
mass media climate
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00:08:55,639 --> 00:08:58,199
in Sweden at that time.
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00:08:58,239 --> 00:08:59,519
We were not popular.
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00:09:01,279 --> 00:09:04,199
In the beginning of my life
in Sweden,
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00:09:04,239 --> 00:09:08,639
when I was working at the
Swedish Broadcasting Corporation,
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00:09:08,680 --> 00:09:14,440
my co-workers, they felt
ABBA was too commercial,
122
00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:18,879
not talking about what was happening
in the world.
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00:09:20,680 --> 00:09:23,839
We were "the upset generation".
124
00:09:23,879 --> 00:09:26,680
We were upset about
the apartheid system,
125
00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:31,279
we were upset about
the military coups in Latin America.
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00:09:31,319 --> 00:09:34,519
ARCHIVE: Chile today joined the list
of South American countries
127
00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,639
to fall under military rule.
128
00:09:36,680 --> 00:09:41,400
20,000 people disappeared
in Argentina.
129
00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:46,239
We were upset about the wars
in Southeast Asia.
130
00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:51,080
And we were upset
that ABBA weren't upset.
131
00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,120
There was a kind of
progressive movement
132
00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,040
that looked upon ABBA
as anti-Christ.
133
00:10:02,519 --> 00:10:04,239
I first heard an ABBA record
134
00:10:04,279 --> 00:10:07,360
because my boyfriend at that time
135
00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,680
was playing guitar with ABBA.
136
00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,599
You know, he was sitting home
in our apartment,
137
00:10:12,639 --> 00:10:18,279
trying out some new riffs,
so I heard the songs in many ways.
138
00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,360
I didn't particularly listen to ABBA
139
00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,959
because I was listening
to Frank Zappa and Pink Floyd
140
00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,360
and the Stones and bands like that.
141
00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:01,319
Everyone thought ABBA
was just a manager who decides,
142
00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:06,120
"Let's take two-good looking women,
two skilled musicians,
143
00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:10,400
"put them together and make a group
that will make hits."
144
00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,120
You know, just doing this
for the money.
145
00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,040
What happens to you when you win
that contest is, if you win it,
146
00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,000
you're a contest winner
and that's what you are.
147
00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:40,720
I mean, everybody who ever wins it,
148
00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,599
they're kind of a one-shot.
149
00:11:43,639 --> 00:11:47,839
It took us some time in Europe
to get rid of that mark.
150
00:11:47,879 --> 00:11:49,879
MUSIC: SOS
by ABBA
151
00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,160
After Waterloo,
we were trying to find our identity.
152
00:11:56,199 --> 00:11:58,680
INDISTINCT STUDIO CONVERSATION
153
00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:03,239
Were we a rock group or a pop group
or something in between?
154
00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:31,239
Hep!
APPLAUSE
155
00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,839
INTERVIEWER: How did you meet Bjorn?
Well, we met on the road, actually.
156
00:12:38,879 --> 00:12:41,480
I was in the Hep Stars
and he was playing in a folk group.
157
00:12:41,519 --> 00:12:43,720
The Hootenanny Singers?
The Hootenanny Singers, yes.
158
00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,120
And we, just by coincidence, met
the day before he was going to do
159
00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:48,559
his military services.
160
00:12:48,599 --> 00:12:51,639
Did you do your military services?
Certainly, I did!
161
00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:54,000
I shall stand up and salute, sir!
LAUGHTER
162
00:13:08,639 --> 00:13:10,000
# People need hope
163
00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:11,959
# People need lovin'
164
00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,040
# People need trust
from a fellow man
165
00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,360
# People need love
to make a good livin'
166
00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:22,080
# People need faith
in a helping hand... #
167
00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,199
Er, Anna and Frida,
how did you meet Bjorn and Benny?
168
00:13:25,239 --> 00:13:28,480
By that time, Frida and I
were working as
169
00:13:28,519 --> 00:13:30,959
solo artists in Sweden,
170
00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,120
and we had a lot of success.
SHE LAUGHS
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00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:38,440
I met Benny first of all in 1969,
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00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:41,080
and I fell madly in love with him.
173
00:13:54,680 --> 00:13:58,559
I remember hearing
Agnetha's first single on the radio.
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00:14:00,599 --> 00:14:04,279
I was so in love.
HE LAUGHS
175
00:14:18,879 --> 00:14:22,000
Fantastic, the way we sort of
came together.
176
00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:27,639
Who amongst the four of you
has the final say
177
00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:29,120
in which track will make a single?
178
00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,160
AGNETHA: Frida and I do.
LAUGHTER
179
00:14:31,199 --> 00:14:33,559
MUSIC: Mamma Mia
by ABBA
180
00:14:37,839 --> 00:14:42,279
Mostly, we were standing in
the studio right across each other
181
00:14:42,319 --> 00:14:45,360
and...just singing.
182
00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:49,879
# I've been cheated by you
since I don't know when... #
183
00:14:49,919 --> 00:14:52,360
There was so much singing.
184
00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,120
# So I made up my mind
It must come to an end... #
185
00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:59,519
But for me, it was not working,
it was just fun.
186
00:14:59,559 --> 00:15:01,599
# Look at me now
187
00:15:01,639 --> 00:15:03,000
# Will I ever learn?
188
00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,199
# I don't know how
189
00:15:05,239 --> 00:15:08,639
# But I suddenly lose control
190
00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,639
# There's a fire within my soul
191
00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:13,919
# Just one look
192
00:15:13,959 --> 00:15:16,000
# And I can hear a bell ring
193
00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:17,319
# One more look
194
00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,160
# And I forget everything... #
195
00:15:28,519 --> 00:15:31,360
# Mamma mia, does it show again?
196
00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:34,400
# My, my
How can I resist you? #
197
00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,400
When they were singing together,
doing all the harmonies,
198
00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:41,800
that sound, I can remember
4,000 metres distance.
199
00:15:41,839 --> 00:15:45,400
# Yes, I've been broken-hearted
200
00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,839
# Blue since the day we parted
201
00:15:48,879 --> 00:15:50,120
# Why, why
202
00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,400
# Did I ever let you go? #
203
00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,160
Even if they sing very sad songs,
204
00:15:55,199 --> 00:15:58,720
together, they sound
somehow jubilant.
205
00:16:02,839 --> 00:16:05,959
With Mamma Mia, we found,
"We're a pop group."
206
00:16:07,559 --> 00:16:09,800
We found our identity.
207
00:16:09,839 --> 00:16:11,040
# Bye-bye
208
00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,239
# Leave me now or never
209
00:16:13,279 --> 00:16:14,879
# Mamma mia
210
00:16:14,919 --> 00:16:16,839
# It's a game we play
211
00:16:16,879 --> 00:16:19,160
# Bye-bye doesn't mean forever... #
212
00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:30,040
# Yes, I've been broken-hearted
213
00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:33,440
# Blue since the day we parted... #
214
00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:35,279
MUSIC FADES
215
00:16:41,839 --> 00:16:43,680
In Sweden, there was
216
00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,839
almost a huge campaign against ABBA
during that time.
217
00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:52,440
You couldn't be open
about liking ABBA.
218
00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,080
And we even had to hide the records.
219
00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:03,879
Sweden was supposed to host
the Eurovision Song Contest in '75.
220
00:17:03,919 --> 00:17:08,519
There was a discussion in Swedish
television about not taking part
221
00:17:08,559 --> 00:17:11,000
in this Eurovision Song Contest,
222
00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,919
but the rules was that
Sweden had won,
223
00:17:13,959 --> 00:17:18,760
Sweden was obliged to host
the final in '75.
224
00:17:21,360 --> 00:17:24,040
There were protests.
225
00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:26,760
People were marching in the streets.
226
00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,000
"Stop the music festival."
227
00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:33,360
Swedish television even broadcast
228
00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:35,319
an alternative to Eurovision
229
00:17:35,360 --> 00:17:38,879
with a satirical song
that ridiculed ABBA.
230
00:18:14,879 --> 00:18:17,680
Many people think
that there is a formula
231
00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,279
or there is a calculation behind...
It's not.
232
00:18:21,319 --> 00:18:25,199
It's just merely that Bjorn and I
write the music that we enjoy most.
233
00:18:26,959 --> 00:18:30,199
THEY SING: # There was
something in the air that night... #
234
00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:50,599
Hello, I'm Johnny Farnham
and this is Countdown...
235
00:18:50,639 --> 00:18:55,279
Countdown was a huge television
pop show in Australia.
236
00:18:55,319 --> 00:18:59,720
They brought ABBA out
and it just blew this country apart.
237
00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:03,040
# There was something in the air
that night
238
00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:05,199
# The stars were bright
239
00:19:05,239 --> 00:19:06,639
# Fernando... #
240
00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,040
They played them like mad
241
00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:11,839
and made them gigantic hits.
242
00:19:11,879 --> 00:19:16,120
# For liberty, Fernando
243
00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,680
# Though we never thought
that we could lose
244
00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,199
# There's no regret... #
245
00:19:21,239 --> 00:19:24,400
Just kept getting bigger
and bigger and bigger.
246
00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,720
There was a song
every fucking two weeks!
247
00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:29,599
They were all over TV.
248
00:19:29,639 --> 00:19:31,199
Hello, I'm Bjorn.
249
00:19:31,239 --> 00:19:32,959
Hello, I'm Agnetha.
250
00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:34,839
Hello, I'm Frida.
251
00:19:34,879 --> 00:19:36,639
And I'm Benny.
252
00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:41,040
From '75 to '76, ABBA songs
were number one in Australia
253
00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,199
for 42 weeks!
254
00:19:43,239 --> 00:19:44,800
Nobody could ignore that.
255
00:19:49,319 --> 00:19:51,800
We had a meeting
with Peter Robinson,
256
00:19:51,839 --> 00:19:55,040
the head of UK
and international A&R.
257
00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:58,400
He'd just literally got in
some demos from Sweden.
258
00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,360
MUSIC: Knowing Me, Knowing You
by ABBA
259
00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:03,239
And there were a selection
of tracks,
260
00:20:03,279 --> 00:20:06,000
but the one that stood out
was Knowing Me, Knowing You.
261
00:20:07,639 --> 00:20:14,199
# No more carefree laughter... #
262
00:20:14,239 --> 00:20:15,720
He just sat there and he went,
263
00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,199
"Ooh! Yeah, that's got to be
the next track."
264
00:20:18,239 --> 00:20:20,480
You know, you get that feel.
265
00:20:20,519 --> 00:20:23,480
With that, they were now on a flow.
It was working.
266
00:20:23,519 --> 00:20:28,519
# Walking through an empty house,
tears in my eyes... #
267
00:20:28,559 --> 00:20:32,959
Judd Lander, he could not ignore
what was happening in Australia,
268
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:34,559
which was phenomenal.
269
00:20:34,599 --> 00:20:37,080
# Knowing me, knowing you
270
00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:39,599
# Aha... #
271
00:20:39,639 --> 00:20:41,319
When I first heard
Knowing Me, Knowing You,
272
00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:43,519
I just thought, "Oh, my God,
this is a number one.
273
00:20:43,559 --> 00:20:44,680
"I can't believe it."
274
00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,120
And you just wanted to rush out
into the street and tell everybody,
275
00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,680
"I've just heard a future
number one!"
276
00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,760
# This time, we're through
We're really through
277
00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,559
# Breaking up is never easy
I know... #
278
00:20:55,599 --> 00:20:57,559
From that moment on, I just thought,
279
00:20:57,599 --> 00:21:00,360
"Well, I'm listening to
every track they make."
280
00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,440
# Knowing me, knowing you
281
00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:05,919
# It's the best I can do... #
282
00:21:05,959 --> 00:21:07,720
You like travelling?
283
00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:09,519
Car, yes.
THEY LAUGH
284
00:21:09,559 --> 00:21:12,559
She's very shaky about flying.
Yeah. I don't like it.
285
00:21:12,599 --> 00:21:14,720
You're the happy couple. Now...
No, we are.
286
00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,839
THEY LAUGH
287
00:21:16,879 --> 00:21:18,519
We are just engaged, you know...
You're engaged?
288
00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:19,879
Congratulations. ..so that's why.
289
00:21:19,919 --> 00:21:23,000
# Walking through an empty house
290
00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:24,879
# Tears in my eyes
291
00:21:28,959 --> 00:21:32,360
# Here is where the story ends
292
00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:36,319
# This is goodbye... #
293
00:21:36,360 --> 00:21:40,080
After that success, did you find
that the press warmed towards you?
294
00:21:40,120 --> 00:21:42,480
They had been a little cool,
putting you down...
295
00:21:42,519 --> 00:21:45,199
No, not really.
They still thought that it was,
296
00:21:45,239 --> 00:21:47,599
you know, this
commercial hit machine.
297
00:21:47,639 --> 00:21:50,599
They still do, no? They still do.
Some of them do, yeah.
298
00:21:50,639 --> 00:21:52,279
The audience that buys the record,
299
00:21:52,319 --> 00:21:55,639
I mean, it's like telling them
that they're not mature enough,
300
00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:57,760
that they don't know
what they're buying
301
00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:01,559
and they're buying something coming
out of a calculated hit machine.
302
00:22:01,599 --> 00:22:03,319
I think that's terrible.
303
00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:06,519
Benny and Bjorn, in England,
304
00:22:06,559 --> 00:22:11,080
your lyrics have sometimes
been called simple and naive.
305
00:22:11,120 --> 00:22:13,000
Do you not have some ambition,
the two of you,
306
00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:17,440
to perhaps put more profundity, more
depth into your lyrics sometimes?
307
00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,279
Yes... Well, yes, very much so.
308
00:22:20,319 --> 00:22:23,040
And if you listen to
the recent lyrics,
309
00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:25,839
they're, you know, somewhat
different from the ones before.
310
00:22:25,879 --> 00:22:28,319
But it seems that
everybody's decided anyway
311
00:22:28,360 --> 00:22:33,519
that they are simple and naive
and nobody bothers to listen.
312
00:22:35,239 --> 00:22:37,239
MUSIC: Dancing Queen
by ABBA
313
00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:41,160
But they didn't veer off.
314
00:22:41,199 --> 00:22:44,680
Regardless of the critics,
they managed to come back up,
315
00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:50,080
bringing it all together
into a 3.5-minute killer track.
316
00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:53,720
# Baby, baby, you're out of sight
317
00:22:54,959 --> 00:22:58,319
# Hey, you're lookin'
all right tonight
318
00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,040
# When you come to the party
319
00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:03,720
# Listen to the guys
320
00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:07,239
# They got the look
in their eyes... #
321
00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:11,839
We never give up
until we're satisfied
322
00:23:11,879 --> 00:23:14,000
and we think, "This is
as good as we can do it."
323
00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,639
# Leave them burning
and then you're gone... #
324
00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:20,239
When we recorded Dancing Queen,
both Frida and I,
325
00:23:20,279 --> 00:23:22,639
we had those goose bumps.
326
00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:24,440
I remember recording that,
327
00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:27,800
I really felt something
very strongly for it, you know?
328
00:23:27,839 --> 00:23:31,480
# And when you get the chance
329
00:23:31,519 --> 00:23:35,279
# You are the dancing queen
330
00:23:35,319 --> 00:23:36,800
# Young and sweet
331
00:23:36,839 --> 00:23:42,440
# Only 17
332
00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:44,720
# Dancing queen
333
00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:49,120
# Feel the beat from the tambourine
334
00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:50,440
# Oh, yeah... #
335
00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:51,599
SONG FADES
336
00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:54,680
THEY PLAY "JINGLE BELLS"
337
00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:18,160
Why do you think they are that big
around the world?
338
00:24:18,199 --> 00:24:20,519
OK, I'll do that now.
No, I'm asking...
339
00:24:20,559 --> 00:24:21,919
Why...?
LAUGHS: Why do I think?
340
00:24:21,959 --> 00:24:24,160
Yes! I think it's because
they're the only group
341
00:24:24,199 --> 00:24:26,440
that's actually giving the world
342
00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,160
good commercial pop music
343
00:24:28,199 --> 00:24:29,879
that means 1976,
344
00:24:29,919 --> 00:24:31,639
because all the other commercial pop
345
00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,360
goes back to 1975 or '74 or '73.
346
00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:35,879
It's too old.
347
00:24:35,919 --> 00:24:38,080
These guys and the girls
are really modern,
348
00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:39,559
and yet they're commercial as well.
349
00:24:39,599 --> 00:24:42,199
Just how big are they
in Great Britain, for example?
350
00:24:42,239 --> 00:24:45,360
Very big. About THE biggest
commercial band there.
351
00:24:48,959 --> 00:24:51,839
Erm, how much of a strain is that?
352
00:24:51,879 --> 00:24:56,440
Meaning that you're working...
Yeah. ..you're living together.
353
00:24:56,480 --> 00:25:02,800
I'd say...my personal feelings
is that there's no strain at all.
354
00:25:02,839 --> 00:25:06,120
Mm-hm? It's...
It's rather the opposite.
355
00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,160
Mm-hm? It's an advantage
and a privilege to work together
356
00:25:09,199 --> 00:25:12,680
with somebody...
The one you enjoy most in life.
357
00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:14,279
Mm-hm. Mm-hm.
358
00:25:14,319 --> 00:25:19,040
But, of course, sometimes
you come into situations where
359
00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:23,000
having to be together all the time
can create problems.
360
00:25:24,239 --> 00:25:27,319
You know, as the band's success
grew, you know, the focus was always
361
00:25:27,360 --> 00:25:30,319
on the girls,
on Agnetha and Frida,
362
00:25:30,360 --> 00:25:33,040
and the guys were there
as the musicians,
363
00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:37,400
and they were seen as a backdrop
more than front-of-house.
364
00:25:39,599 --> 00:25:43,720
All the producers wanted
were the girls.
365
00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:47,879
But trying to get the band over,
along with Agnetha,
366
00:25:47,919 --> 00:25:51,040
who didn't really want to leave
her daughter in Sweden,
367
00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:53,440
it was a major, major problem.
368
00:25:54,519 --> 00:25:57,000
That was a difficult time for me.
369
00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,199
We got our daughter 'in 73,
370
00:26:00,239 --> 00:26:05,319
so she was just one year old
when we won in Brighton.
371
00:26:05,360 --> 00:26:07,919
So, everything happened
at the same time.
372
00:26:09,239 --> 00:26:11,519
But that often is like that,
I think,
373
00:26:11,559 --> 00:26:14,720
that you start your career
at the same time
374
00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:16,239
you want to be a mother.
375
00:26:17,839 --> 00:26:20,440
When we did Waterloo in Brighton,
376
00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:24,239
we were away for, I think,
a fortnight or three weeks.
377
00:26:24,279 --> 00:26:28,559
And when we came back, our daughter,
she didn't recognise us.
378
00:26:30,360 --> 00:26:33,000
That was a tough experience.
379
00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:36,639
That was horrible. She was so small.
380
00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:40,919
Do you find there are conflicts
between being a mother
381
00:26:40,959 --> 00:26:44,239
and being a pop star?
I think so, really.
382
00:26:44,279 --> 00:26:48,360
It's hard work and
you always get to bed conscious,
383
00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:50,800
"She wants me
and ABBA wants me
384
00:26:50,839 --> 00:26:53,199
"and it's very hard to do it all."
385
00:26:59,159 --> 00:27:03,519
The Polish TV Studio 2
special flight on Polish Airlines
386
00:27:03,559 --> 00:27:05,360
is ready for boarding.
387
00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:08,680
The special flight expects
the special guests,
388
00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,360
the pop music group ABBA.
389
00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:15,040
The Polish Television offered
Stig Anderson and ABBA
390
00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:19,000
to come to Warszawa
for a TV special.
391
00:27:21,879 --> 00:27:24,639
They were huge in Eastern Europe.
392
00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,639
ABBA cut through the Iron Curtain.
393
00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:29,320
CORK POPS, THEY CHEER
394
00:27:30,879 --> 00:27:35,639
It's very difficult to get paid
from an Eastern Bloc country
395
00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:39,000
because their currency
is basically worthless.
396
00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:43,239
Stig Anderson, who was quite clever,
he made a deal and he said,
397
00:27:43,279 --> 00:27:45,839
"OK, we'll do this free of charge.
398
00:27:45,879 --> 00:27:48,559
"But what you're going to do
in return
399
00:27:48,599 --> 00:27:53,040
"is make a media event out of it,
and everyone wins."
400
00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:56,480
What does the word ABBA mean?
It's very simple.
401
00:27:56,519 --> 00:28:02,440
ABBA is the initials of our first
name, and my name is Anni-Frid.
402
00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:04,000
And I'm B - Benny.
403
00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,720
And I'm the other B - Bjorn.
404
00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:11,239
And my wife is Agnetha.
405
00:28:11,279 --> 00:28:14,360
She's actually in Warsaw already.
406
00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:16,120
You see, when we fly,
407
00:28:16,159 --> 00:28:19,279
because we have a daughter of
three and a half years old,
408
00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:23,120
we try to fly separately
when we can.
409
00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:27,239
# Where are those happy days?
410
00:28:27,279 --> 00:28:29,919
# They seem so hard to find
411
00:28:31,360 --> 00:28:33,239
# I try to reach for you
412
00:28:33,279 --> 00:28:36,839
# But you have closed your mind... #
413
00:28:36,879 --> 00:28:40,199
I've been flying now for...very much
around the world,
414
00:28:40,239 --> 00:28:42,360
and I've never liked it.
415
00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,440
And now I'm very, very scared of it.
416
00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,279
# It used to be so nice
417
00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:49,480
# It used to be so good... #
418
00:28:49,519 --> 00:28:55,159
I'm sure other parents as well
would resonate the same way.
419
00:28:55,199 --> 00:28:58,480
Both parents flying together -
420
00:28:58,519 --> 00:29:01,199
"What if, what if?"
421
00:29:01,239 --> 00:29:02,800
# So when you're near me
422
00:29:02,839 --> 00:29:04,879
# Darling, can't you hear me?
423
00:29:04,919 --> 00:29:06,360
# SOS
424
00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:10,639
# The love you gave me
425
00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:12,639
# Nothing else can save me
426
00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:14,199
# SOS
427
00:29:15,959 --> 00:29:18,120
# When you're gone
428
00:29:18,159 --> 00:29:21,239
# How can I even try to go on?
429
00:29:23,519 --> 00:29:25,400
# When you're gone
430
00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:28,919
# Though I try
How can I carry on? #
431
00:29:32,599 --> 00:29:35,360
It was my first visit
to Eastern Europe,
432
00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:42,720
and you could see everything
was a bit more worn, a bit grey.
433
00:29:44,159 --> 00:29:45,839
ABBA, it was a big riot.
434
00:29:45,879 --> 00:29:47,599
It was a big thing.
435
00:29:51,639 --> 00:29:53,599
GONG RINGS
436
00:29:55,839 --> 00:30:00,760
# I work all night, I work all day
to pay the bills I have to pay
437
00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:03,599
# Ain't it sad?
438
00:30:03,639 --> 00:30:05,879
# And still there never seems to be
439
00:30:05,919 --> 00:30:08,720
# A single penny left for me
440
00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:10,839
# That's too bad... #
441
00:30:10,879 --> 00:30:16,080
Stig Anderson and his will to become
this big music industry mogul
442
00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,120
clashed against
the "Stay where you are
443
00:30:19,159 --> 00:30:23,599
"and don't get ahead of yourself
too much" attitude in Sweden.
444
00:30:23,639 --> 00:30:27,839
So, because they were so closely
tied to Stig Anderson,
445
00:30:27,879 --> 00:30:31,360
when people were criticising Stig
for just thinking about the money,
446
00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,800
that sort of rubbed off
on their image as well.
447
00:30:34,839 --> 00:30:36,400
# Ain't it sad? #
448
00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:38,480
So that was a struggle for them.
449
00:30:38,519 --> 00:30:40,519
# So I must leave
450
00:30:40,559 --> 00:30:43,000
# I'll have to go
451
00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:46,480
# To Las Vegas or Monaco
452
00:30:46,519 --> 00:30:48,519
# And win a fortune in a game
453
00:30:48,559 --> 00:30:52,879
# My life will never be the same
454
00:30:52,919 --> 00:30:55,320
# Money, money, money
455
00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:57,440
# Must be funny
456
00:30:57,480 --> 00:30:59,639
# In the rich man's world
457
00:31:00,959 --> 00:31:02,599
# Money, money, money... #
458
00:31:02,639 --> 00:31:04,720
Are ABBA into
the millionaire bracket?
459
00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:07,879
Well, you can't be that...
When they calculate it...
460
00:31:07,919 --> 00:31:10,720
..when you are paying 85% in taxes.
461
00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:13,320
85, I repeat.
462
00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:15,800
# All the things I could do
463
00:31:15,839 --> 00:31:19,320
# If I had a little money
464
00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,199
# It's a rich man's world... #
465
00:31:22,239 --> 00:31:24,400
I guess you're hit with a super tax.
466
00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:28,360
Rod Stewart left England
because of the super taxes,
467
00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:30,680
or like the Rolling Stones
to France.
468
00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,680
How do you feel about paying so much
to the government?
469
00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:35,519
It's all right.
It's all right?
470
00:31:35,559 --> 00:31:37,360
Money isn't everything.
471
00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:39,919
# All the things I could do
472
00:31:39,959 --> 00:31:43,159
# If I had a little money
473
00:31:43,199 --> 00:31:45,279
# It's a rich man's world... #
474
00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:48,239
Sweden is very important for us,
you know?
475
00:31:48,279 --> 00:31:52,159
I think everybody starts...
476
00:31:52,199 --> 00:31:54,760
..is asking us
why we are living in Sweden,
477
00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:58,400
because of the taxes and...
You know.
478
00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:04,000
And I don't think
that we can live somewhere else.
479
00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:07,279
It's very hard to think of that.
480
00:32:08,519 --> 00:32:11,360
# It's a rich man world! #
481
00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:13,839
APPLAUSE
482
00:32:13,879 --> 00:32:16,680
We're crossing live by satellite
to Sweden, to Stockholm.
483
00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:18,519
Let's meet them now.
Would you give them a hand?
484
00:32:18,559 --> 00:32:20,080
Ladies and gentlemen, ABBA!
485
00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:22,120
APPLAUSE
486
00:32:25,279 --> 00:32:29,839
Did you ever envisage that you would
be this immensely successful?
487
00:32:29,879 --> 00:32:31,680
No. No. No way.
488
00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:34,559
I mean, we've been...
We've been writing and recording
489
00:32:34,599 --> 00:32:37,480
for a couple of years,
all the four of us,
490
00:32:37,519 --> 00:32:40,599
and we never expected this, really.
491
00:32:40,639 --> 00:32:47,080
Bjorn and Agnetha, your daughter
Linda, how old is she now?
492
00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:50,199
She will be four years tomorrow.
493
00:32:50,239 --> 00:32:53,839
Does she yet realise who you are?
494
00:32:53,879 --> 00:32:55,760
LAUGHTER
495
00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:58,639
That's a funny question.
I hope she does!
496
00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:01,360
Well... She called me Father
this morning.
497
00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:03,480
Did she?
LAUGHTER
498
00:33:03,519 --> 00:33:05,000
APPLAUSE
499
00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:08,639
Well, let me get over
to the other two.
500
00:33:08,680 --> 00:33:10,120
I want to ask them
something personal.
501
00:33:10,159 --> 00:33:12,239
I read something in a paper.
502
00:33:12,279 --> 00:33:14,720
You two have been engaged
for seven years?
503
00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:17,000
Yeah. Eight by now.
504
00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:18,959
LAUGHTER
Eight, yeah.
505
00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:22,199
Are you ever going to make a move?
Are you ever going to get married?
506
00:33:22,239 --> 00:33:23,879
Oh, no.
LAUGHTER
507
00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:27,320
Look at the look on him.
Are you ready for that?
508
00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:29,680
LAUGHTER
509
00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:32,040
No, we are not quite sure of that,
you know? We haven't...
510
00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:33,879
We didn't get the time yet, so...
511
00:33:33,919 --> 00:33:37,120
Oh, I see. Maybe in another 10
or 12 years, you'll figure it out.
512
00:33:37,159 --> 00:33:38,440
Yes. Yeah.
LAUGHS: OK!
513
00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:39,559
You never know.
514
00:33:39,599 --> 00:33:41,760
Thank you.
ABBA, ladies and gentlemen!
515
00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:44,400
APPLAUSE
Thank you. OK. Bye now!
516
00:33:45,919 --> 00:33:51,040
Frida called me in late '76.
517
00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:52,839
We were friends.
518
00:33:52,879 --> 00:33:55,760
We did some fun things together,
played badminton
519
00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,120
and were out dancing and stuff,
520
00:33:58,159 --> 00:34:03,680
and she asked me if I wanted to
join ABBA in Australia.
521
00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:06,400
It was a very easy call to make.
522
00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:12,320
CHEERING
523
00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:14,599
CHANTING: We want ABBA!
We want ABBA!
524
00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:19,959
We were very nervous.
525
00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:22,400
To be perfectly honest,
we didn't know ourselves
526
00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:25,040
whether we could cope with
a tour of this form.
527
00:34:25,080 --> 00:34:26,279
They'd been saying that,
528
00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:28,720
"Oh, they can never reproduce
that sound onstage."
529
00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:33,320
When you're trying to do
something special,
530
00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:36,159
trying to reproduce our records
531
00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:38,639
with a band, live,
532
00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:40,320
that's difficult stuff.
533
00:34:45,879 --> 00:34:47,360
ARCHIVE: The group's arrival
in Australia
534
00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,480
has been accompanied
by a blaze of publicity.
535
00:34:50,519 --> 00:34:53,559
While they're here, they'll perform
at 11 concerts in ten days
536
00:34:53,599 --> 00:34:56,559
to an estimated 140,000 people.
537
00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:00,639
According to the promoters,
they're bigger than the Beatles.
538
00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:03,320
And with an entourage of 105 people,
539
00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:07,320
they're almost twice as big
as the Rolling Stones concert.
540
00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:09,760
ABBA are obviously
very big business.
541
00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:12,519
..live to air, and everybody
down there with radios can hear us.
542
00:35:12,559 --> 00:35:14,839
Would you like to say anything
to the people?
543
00:35:14,879 --> 00:35:18,519
I'd like to say that this is
the most fantastic reception
544
00:35:18,559 --> 00:35:19,919
we ever had.
545
00:35:19,959 --> 00:35:22,239
And, you know, we're so overwhelmed
and happy
546
00:35:22,279 --> 00:35:24,480
that I just can't say how much.
547
00:35:24,519 --> 00:35:27,000
And this is really honest, you know?
548
00:35:28,599 --> 00:35:30,800
Say hello. This microphone is live
to the people down there.
549
00:35:30,839 --> 00:35:33,040
They can all hear you.
Who, down on the...? Yeah. Oh.
550
00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:34,599
Hello, everybody. This is Frida.
551
00:35:34,639 --> 00:35:37,559
I really appreciate this.
I love you.
552
00:35:37,599 --> 00:35:39,559
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
553
00:35:41,839 --> 00:35:43,760
That was so enormous.
554
00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:51,080
The fact that so many people
like what you are doing, it's...
555
00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:52,680
You're very proud of it.
556
00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:56,480
But I was crowded, really.
557
00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:02,279
It affects you
when it gets too much.
558
00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:06,239
And I could feel that
when we were in Australia sometimes.
559
00:36:08,559 --> 00:36:12,199
Good feeling as well -
that was so enormous there.
560
00:36:12,239 --> 00:36:13,839
There was really fever.
561
00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:18,440
I think it was a little too much.
562
00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:21,360
Going on tour is really exhausting -
563
00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:24,279
to travel every day,
to change hotels,
564
00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:27,040
you know, never unpack
your suitcases.
565
00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:31,320
After a while,
it's not funny any more.
566
00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:35,080
I read somewhere where you are
the proud owner of an award
567
00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:36,959
which declares you as the lady
568
00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:39,320
with the most sexiest bottom
in Europe.
569
00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:41,199
LAUGHTER
570
00:36:41,239 --> 00:36:43,120
Is that true?
571
00:36:43,159 --> 00:36:45,360
How can I answer to that?
572
00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:47,599
I don't know. I haven't seen it.
573
00:36:47,639 --> 00:36:49,320
LAUGHTER
574
00:36:51,199 --> 00:36:54,400
Well, it's crass, isn't it?
It's rude.
575
00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:56,480
But what can she do about it?
576
00:36:59,720 --> 00:37:02,519
It's completely unsurprising.
577
00:37:02,559 --> 00:37:06,040
They're not going to ask Agnetha
about the music.
578
00:37:07,639 --> 00:37:10,559
I think it was unworthy,
579
00:37:10,599 --> 00:37:13,599
any person to be talked about
580
00:37:13,639 --> 00:37:15,599
as a body part.
581
00:37:23,519 --> 00:37:26,360
ARCHIVE: Heavy rain tomorrow night
is now the only thing that will stop
582
00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,159
the ABBA concert from going ahead.
583
00:37:28,199 --> 00:37:31,839
According to showground officials,
the 20,000 or so people out there
584
00:37:31,879 --> 00:37:34,159
should experience no real problems.
585
00:37:34,199 --> 00:37:38,440
How many hours do you reckon
you've been queuing for now?
586
00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:40,800
32. 32 hours? Yeah.
587
00:37:42,040 --> 00:37:45,199
You reckon it's going to be
worth it? Yeah!
588
00:37:45,239 --> 00:37:47,400
CHANTING
589
00:37:53,159 --> 00:37:56,080
They were extremely nervous,
absolutely.
590
00:37:56,120 --> 00:38:00,760
A little group from Sweden,
going to conquer the world.
591
00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:02,839
CHANTING
592
00:38:08,519 --> 00:38:11,760
CHANTING
593
00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:14,279
SHE SINGS
594
00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:16,559
MUSIC BLARES
595
00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:20,559
MUSIC: Tiger
by ABBA
596
00:38:20,599 --> 00:38:22,639
CHEERING
597
00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:35,040
CHEERING
598
00:38:42,199 --> 00:38:45,480
# The city is a nightmare
A horrible dream
599
00:38:45,519 --> 00:38:48,879
# Some of us
will dream it forever... #
600
00:39:02,279 --> 00:39:04,800
# People who fear me
never come near me
601
00:39:04,839 --> 00:39:06,080
# I am the tiger... #
602
00:39:06,120 --> 00:39:08,760
AGNETHA: I think both Frida and I,
when we were onstage,
603
00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:11,320
a bit competing.
604
00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:15,000
It's good, because you really
do your best every evening.
605
00:39:17,159 --> 00:39:21,559
# I am behind you
I always find you... #
606
00:39:21,599 --> 00:39:26,839
So much has been written
that Frida and I were not friends.
607
00:39:26,879 --> 00:39:29,120
It's not very fair to do that.
608
00:39:29,159 --> 00:39:32,720
We had a lot of fun,
but we also helped each other.
609
00:39:32,760 --> 00:39:37,400
# Look into the shadows
and you'll see the shape of me
610
00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:39,199
# I am behind you
611
00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:40,959
# I always find you
612
00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:42,760
# I am the tiger
613
00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:48,040
# Tiger, tiger! #
614
00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:50,320
WHISTLING AND CHEERING
615
00:39:54,199 --> 00:39:56,839
INTERVIEWER: In Australia, there
was that huge conglomeration
616
00:39:56,879 --> 00:40:00,480
of hit after hit after hit,
and there was that huge peak.
617
00:40:00,519 --> 00:40:02,360
Does that sort of bother you,
618
00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:06,279
the fact that you were getting
so terribly overexposed?
619
00:40:06,320 --> 00:40:08,839
In a way, yeah, because it's...
620
00:40:08,879 --> 00:40:11,680
It's harming us now, I think.
621
00:40:11,720 --> 00:40:14,159
If people expect us to have
622
00:40:14,199 --> 00:40:18,440
five songs in the top ten
all the time,
623
00:40:18,480 --> 00:40:21,120
I mean, that's impossible.
That's not normal.
624
00:40:42,080 --> 00:40:45,320
When ABBA: The Album
was released in Australia,
625
00:40:45,360 --> 00:40:47,320
it doesn't do as well at all.
626
00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:52,480
So not to make too big a thing
out of it,
627
00:40:52,519 --> 00:40:54,919
but maybe there was
a bit of a worry there.
628
00:40:54,959 --> 00:40:56,800
"Oh, this isn't a number one."
629
00:40:56,839 --> 00:41:00,159
"Maybe this is the start
of the end for us."
630
00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:08,360
The new craze, they tell me.
631
00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:12,279
They are heroes, not the
nice, clean Rolling Stones.
632
00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:14,959
They're a group
called the Sex Pistols.
633
00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:18,599
Punk came along, overturning
and turning its back on
634
00:41:18,639 --> 00:41:21,360
and spitting on all
that had come before.
635
00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:22,959
Go on, you've got another
five seconds.
636
00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:24,120
Say something outrageous!
637
00:41:24,159 --> 00:41:25,519
You dirty bastard!
638
00:41:25,559 --> 00:41:26,639
Go on, again.
639
00:41:26,680 --> 00:41:27,959
You dirty fucker!
640
00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:30,360
What a clever boy.
What a fucking rotter!
641
00:41:30,400 --> 00:41:31,800
Well, that's it for tonight.
642
00:41:31,839 --> 00:41:32,919
I'll be seeing you soon.
643
00:41:32,959 --> 00:41:35,639
I hope I'm not seeing you again.
From me, though, goodnight.
644
00:41:35,680 --> 00:41:37,720
We felt we were caught up
in a revolution.
645
00:41:37,760 --> 00:41:41,320
And here are Bjorn, Anna,
Frida and Benny,
646
00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:43,120
who go together to make up ABBA.
647
00:41:43,159 --> 00:41:45,199
And first of all, I'd like to say
welcome to Blue Peter.
648
00:41:45,239 --> 00:41:47,000
Thank you.
Thanks very much for coming along.
649
00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:48,599
Nice to meet you, Shep.
Nice to meet you.
650
00:41:48,639 --> 00:41:50,320
And Shep says hello as well.
651
00:41:50,360 --> 00:41:52,839
That was the contradiction,
in a way,
652
00:41:52,879 --> 00:41:55,720
of locating ABBA,
653
00:41:55,760 --> 00:41:58,919
when what was prized was
a certain sort of roughness.
654
00:42:01,279 --> 00:42:06,159
ABBA, they seemed to project
a relentless good cheer.
655
00:42:06,199 --> 00:42:09,720
That was somewhat at odds
with the zeitgeist.
656
00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:12,680
I try so hard to be nice.
657
00:42:12,720 --> 00:42:16,440
They represented a wholeness,
something high-functioning,
658
00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:19,559
whereas we were just teetering
on the edge and falling apart.
659
00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:24,800
By the summertime of '77,
660
00:42:24,839 --> 00:42:26,559
punk was in the charts.
661
00:42:26,599 --> 00:42:29,919
It was sometimes four or five
songs in the top ten.
662
00:42:29,959 --> 00:42:33,320
Bands like ABBA
were being squeezed out.
663
00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:43,440
In '77, the Pistols manager decided
to do a Scandinavian tour.
664
00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:46,959
I was brought up in England,
but I'm Norwegian.
665
00:42:48,559 --> 00:42:51,959
The first thing I remember
was Rodent.
666
00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:54,239
He was the roadie
667
00:42:54,279 --> 00:42:57,159
and he was carrying
a cassette player.
668
00:42:57,199 --> 00:42:59,919
And on the cassette player,
669
00:42:59,959 --> 00:43:03,120
they had one cassette, and it was...
670
00:43:03,159 --> 00:43:06,320
MUSIC: Dancing Queen
by ABBA
671
00:43:08,959 --> 00:43:11,360
I just turned around and went,
672
00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:12,760
"What?!"
673
00:43:14,040 --> 00:43:17,800
They played it 24/7, all the time.
674
00:43:17,839 --> 00:43:20,040
Everybody... It was Rodent's job
to turn it around,
675
00:43:20,080 --> 00:43:21,639
you know, when it got to the end.
676
00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:23,959
# You can dance
677
00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:26,320
# You can jive
678
00:43:26,360 --> 00:43:30,720
# Having the time of your life... #
679
00:43:30,760 --> 00:43:33,120
It's a miracle it lasted
the whole tour.
680
00:43:33,159 --> 00:43:35,919
The Pistols,
they were huge ABBA fans.
681
00:43:35,959 --> 00:43:39,199
# Digging the dancing queen... #
682
00:43:39,239 --> 00:43:42,000
A record label
can be very mercenary.
683
00:43:42,040 --> 00:43:44,639
It has to be to keep up with demand
684
00:43:44,680 --> 00:43:48,120
and with an ever-changing
musical scene,
685
00:43:48,159 --> 00:43:50,519
there was a little panic
in the camp.
686
00:43:50,559 --> 00:43:53,120
"Do we carry on with the band?
687
00:43:53,159 --> 00:43:54,839
"Do we call it a day?"
688
00:43:54,879 --> 00:43:57,159
That inevitably comes along.
689
00:43:59,839 --> 00:44:01,639
Having to come up with new songs
all the time,
690
00:44:01,680 --> 00:44:02,839
isn't that very difficult?
691
00:44:02,879 --> 00:44:04,279
Don't you feel enormous pressure?
692
00:44:04,320 --> 00:44:06,040
Yeah, we do.
693
00:44:06,080 --> 00:44:08,959
We feel that we have to come up
with something different.
694
00:44:10,599 --> 00:44:14,040
So many people been talking
about the equivalent
695
00:44:14,080 --> 00:44:18,400
to the Sgt Pepper album, you know,
when The Beatles came up.
696
00:44:18,440 --> 00:44:20,320
And, um...
697
00:44:20,360 --> 00:44:22,440
..it puts a lot of pressure on us,
sure.
698
00:44:28,040 --> 00:44:30,040
Benny and Bjorn are with me.
699
00:44:30,080 --> 00:44:32,919
Anna is, what,
due in a couple of days?
700
00:44:32,959 --> 00:44:34,680
Yes, yes.
701
00:44:34,720 --> 00:44:37,040
She's fine, but, um...
702
00:44:37,080 --> 00:44:39,080
..a bit tired of waiting.
703
00:44:39,120 --> 00:44:42,720
Yeah. After nine months, no wonder!
704
00:44:42,760 --> 00:44:45,480
What are you hoping for,
a boy or a girl?
705
00:44:45,519 --> 00:44:48,360
A dog.
THEY LAUGH
706
00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:50,159
Don't tell Anna.
707
00:44:50,199 --> 00:44:52,559
# No smiles, not a single word
708
00:44:52,599 --> 00:44:54,959
# At the breakfast table
709
00:44:56,680 --> 00:45:00,639
# Though I would have liked to begin
710
00:45:03,040 --> 00:45:05,919
# So much that I wanna say
711
00:45:05,959 --> 00:45:09,879
# But I feel unable
712
00:45:09,919 --> 00:45:13,639
# You leave and slam the door
713
00:45:13,680 --> 00:45:17,120
# Like you've done many times before
714
00:45:17,159 --> 00:45:21,599
# And I cry
and I feel so helpless... #
715
00:45:21,639 --> 00:45:25,720
People have read a lot
into various lyrics.
716
00:45:25,760 --> 00:45:28,720
And of course, there is
some of that in the lyrics,
717
00:45:28,760 --> 00:45:30,760
but most is fiction.
718
00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:33,239
But the emotions are there. Yeah.
719
00:45:33,279 --> 00:45:36,199
1978 was a strange period.
720
00:45:37,480 --> 00:45:39,519
Bjorn and Agnetha's marriage
721
00:45:39,559 --> 00:45:41,639
is not going so well.
722
00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:44,159
And in the midst of all this,
723
00:45:44,199 --> 00:45:46,559
Benny and Frida get married.
724
00:45:48,120 --> 00:45:52,279
# Where did all our love go?
725
00:45:52,320 --> 00:45:55,360
# Sometimes when I just can't cope
726
00:45:55,400 --> 00:45:59,199
# I cling to a desperate hope
727
00:45:59,239 --> 00:46:04,360
# And I cry
and I feel like dying... #
728
00:46:04,400 --> 00:46:06,279
"I cling to a desperate hope
729
00:46:06,320 --> 00:46:08,519
"and I cry and I feel like dying.
730
00:46:08,559 --> 00:46:11,519
"Two friends and two true lovers.
731
00:46:11,559 --> 00:46:14,159
"Somehow we'll help each other
through the hard times."
732
00:46:14,199 --> 00:46:16,279
No, you won't...
733
00:46:16,320 --> 00:46:18,639
..and you don't.
734
00:46:18,680 --> 00:46:21,839
Well, I think what men mistake
for happiness was in fact
735
00:46:21,879 --> 00:46:24,800
resignation and impatience.
736
00:46:26,080 --> 00:46:28,720
Depends what you're in
the relationship for, I guess.
737
00:46:30,159 --> 00:46:32,800
I mean, it's always
got to be worth staying,
738
00:46:32,839 --> 00:46:35,879
but it might be unbearable.
739
00:46:35,919 --> 00:46:38,400
# Daydreams of a better life
740
00:46:38,440 --> 00:46:42,120
# But I have to wake up
741
00:46:42,159 --> 00:46:46,199
# The sound of a key
in the door... #
742
00:46:48,720 --> 00:46:51,760
The lyrics, they're talking
about very serious,
743
00:46:51,800 --> 00:46:53,800
you know, pains of the heart.
744
00:46:53,839 --> 00:46:56,839
Within them, they did have
really mature reflections
745
00:46:56,879 --> 00:46:59,000
on their relationships.
746
00:46:59,040 --> 00:47:02,360
In talking about things
like separation,
747
00:47:02,400 --> 00:47:07,680
they were in the flow of
what was going on socially.
748
00:47:07,720 --> 00:47:11,720
Women's liberation
is people's liberation!
749
00:47:11,760 --> 00:47:13,080
It was a huge thing.
750
00:47:13,120 --> 00:47:14,639
People were not getting divorced.
751
00:47:19,040 --> 00:47:20,639
IN ENGLISH:
752
00:47:20,680 --> 00:47:22,720
IN FRENCH:
753
00:47:22,760 --> 00:47:24,839
IN ENGLISH:
754
00:47:24,879 --> 00:47:26,239
IN FRENCH:
755
00:47:26,279 --> 00:47:27,959
Do you want to answer, Benny?
756
00:47:40,199 --> 00:47:44,120
You are not afraid someone
might steal your wife?
757
00:48:24,400 --> 00:48:28,279
We know them as
the biggest artists in the world
758
00:48:28,320 --> 00:48:31,159
since The Beatles,
except in the United States.
759
00:48:32,839 --> 00:48:36,320
Speaking of Olivia Newton-John,
I was told that
760
00:48:36,360 --> 00:48:39,519
before being as noticed in America,
761
00:48:39,559 --> 00:48:41,720
you were quite popular in Australia.
762
00:48:41,760 --> 00:48:43,080
Is that so? Yeah, yeah.
763
00:48:43,120 --> 00:48:44,680
Why do you suppose that is?
764
00:48:44,720 --> 00:48:49,159
Well, I'd say the only territory
where we don't sell records is here.
765
00:48:49,199 --> 00:48:51,680
Otherwise, they buy the records
all over the world.
766
00:49:32,959 --> 00:49:37,480
It seemed impossible to make
ABBA as big in America
767
00:49:37,519 --> 00:49:39,400
as they were everywhere else.
768
00:49:39,440 --> 00:49:41,199
I mean, they were doing fine.
769
00:49:41,239 --> 00:49:43,839
They had a number one hit
with Dancing Queen,
770
00:49:43,879 --> 00:49:46,320
but it wasn't as successful.
771
00:49:47,440 --> 00:49:49,879
At this time,
when ABBA are coming up,
772
00:49:49,919 --> 00:49:52,839
the measure of credibility
in popular music
773
00:49:52,879 --> 00:49:54,680
is pretty much guitar rock.
774
00:49:56,400 --> 00:49:59,760
They didn't look like
other rock stars.
775
00:49:59,800 --> 00:50:02,639
And then also, I mean, just even
the sound of the women's voices,
776
00:50:02,680 --> 00:50:05,639
I mean, that kind of
thin, high pitch
777
00:50:05,680 --> 00:50:08,080
is almost like Alvin And The
Chipmunks or something.
778
00:50:08,120 --> 00:50:11,000
It sounds like a record that's
being played too quickly.
779
00:50:11,040 --> 00:50:13,559
They knew that there was
resistance to them
780
00:50:13,599 --> 00:50:15,559
from a magazine like Rolling Stone.
781
00:50:15,599 --> 00:50:16,919
Some great songs.
782
00:50:16,959 --> 00:50:18,879
I know one you could start off
with your voice.
783
00:50:18,919 --> 00:50:20,800
Ba-Ba-Ba...
784
00:50:20,839 --> 00:50:21,919
You want to do that?
785
00:50:21,959 --> 00:50:24,239
You go on. You do it. That's good.
786
00:50:24,279 --> 00:50:25,720
# Ba
787
00:50:25,760 --> 00:50:27,480
# Ba
Ba
788
00:50:27,519 --> 00:50:30,040
# Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann
789
00:50:30,080 --> 00:50:32,919
# Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann
790
00:50:32,959 --> 00:50:35,440
# Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann
791
00:50:35,480 --> 00:50:37,400
# Barbara Ann
792
00:50:37,440 --> 00:50:40,400
# Take my hand
793
00:50:40,440 --> 00:50:43,120
# Barbara Ann
794
00:50:43,159 --> 00:50:44,720
# You got me rockin' and a rollin'
795
00:50:44,760 --> 00:50:46,239
# Rockin' and a reelin'
796
00:50:46,279 --> 00:50:47,680
# Barbara Ann
797
00:50:47,720 --> 00:50:49,639
# Ba-Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann
798
00:50:49,680 --> 00:50:52,159
# Went to a dance
Looking for romance
799
00:50:52,199 --> 00:50:54,760
# Saw Barbara Ann
so I thought I'd take a chance
800
00:50:54,800 --> 00:50:55,800
# Barbara Ann
801
00:50:55,839 --> 00:50:57,559
# Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann
802
00:50:57,599 --> 00:50:59,159
# Barbara Ann
803
00:50:59,199 --> 00:51:00,639
This is the wrong way around!
804
00:51:00,680 --> 00:51:01,879
# Rockin' and a rollin'
805
00:51:01,919 --> 00:51:03,159
# Rockin' and a reelin'
806
00:51:03,199 --> 00:51:04,519
# Barbara Ann
807
00:51:04,559 --> 00:51:06,440
# Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann
808
00:51:06,480 --> 00:51:09,480
# Ba-Ba-Ba... #
THEY LAUGH
809
00:51:09,519 --> 00:51:12,120
How come you're doing the high part
and I'm doing the low part?
810
00:51:12,159 --> 00:51:13,959
THEY LAUGH
811
00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:15,320
Can you do some opera? Huh?
812
00:51:15,360 --> 00:51:16,599
Can you sing some opera?
813
00:51:16,639 --> 00:51:19,159
Actually, I don't know many songs.
814
00:51:19,199 --> 00:51:21,040
You know, just a few.
815
00:51:21,080 --> 00:51:22,599
Just give us a few bars.
816
00:51:22,639 --> 00:51:24,159
You have got a good opera voice.
817
00:51:24,199 --> 00:51:25,440
Sing some scales.
818
00:51:25,480 --> 00:51:27,440
Couple of notes.
The one you were rehearsing.
819
00:51:27,480 --> 00:51:28,959
LAUGHTER
820
00:51:29,000 --> 00:51:31,199
The one you've been rehearsing
for a week now.
821
00:51:32,879 --> 00:51:34,040
That's not fair.
822
00:51:39,440 --> 00:51:43,480
SHE SINGS OPERA
823
00:51:55,320 --> 00:51:59,559
LAUGHTER
824
00:51:59,599 --> 00:52:03,919
CONTINUES SINGING
825
00:52:03,959 --> 00:52:05,199
I like that.
826
00:52:05,239 --> 00:52:07,599
CONTINUES SINGING
827
00:52:07,639 --> 00:52:09,639
JAUNTILY: # La la la la! #
828
00:52:09,680 --> 00:52:13,919
LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
829
00:52:15,320 --> 00:52:19,959
There was an interesting connection.
Chic and ABBA
830
00:52:20,000 --> 00:52:24,440
were signed to the same label
at the same time,
831
00:52:24,480 --> 00:52:27,720
and I thought that
just like my band, Chic,
832
00:52:27,760 --> 00:52:32,360
their songs and their sound
is uniquely theirs.
833
00:52:34,080 --> 00:52:38,239
You have to understand that
people have different roots.
834
00:52:38,279 --> 00:52:39,720
They're Swedish!
835
00:52:39,760 --> 00:52:43,839
They're not from California
or New Orleans or whatever.
836
00:52:43,879 --> 00:52:47,480
They have a culture
that is uniquely theirs.
837
00:52:49,360 --> 00:52:53,279
It's very difficult to say
exactly what ABBA is.
838
00:52:53,320 --> 00:52:55,760
Because we've been exposed
to the American music scene,
839
00:52:55,800 --> 00:52:59,120
the English,
the Swedish folk music scene,
840
00:52:59,159 --> 00:53:02,680
to the Italian, German, French.
841
00:53:02,720 --> 00:53:07,400
There are a lot of styles,
a lot of different traditions
842
00:53:07,440 --> 00:53:10,120
that we now and then like to try.
843
00:53:12,919 --> 00:53:14,120
It must be very difficult to say.
844
00:53:14,159 --> 00:53:17,320
On average, how long does it take
for you to write a song?
845
00:53:17,360 --> 00:53:19,199
That's impossible to answer.
846
00:53:19,239 --> 00:53:21,639
Sometimes, you know, it takes...
847
00:53:21,680 --> 00:53:23,320
It takes you a week
848
00:53:23,360 --> 00:53:26,000
and there's no song at all
for two weeks.
849
00:53:26,040 --> 00:53:28,199
And sometimes it takes four hours
850
00:53:28,239 --> 00:53:30,919
and there is almost
a complete song there.
851
00:53:30,959 --> 00:53:33,480
Let's say it has taken us
a year for each album.
852
00:54:20,200 --> 00:54:23,720
I get this call from the head
of entertainment at the BBC.
853
00:54:23,760 --> 00:54:25,279
"Hi, Judd."
854
00:54:25,319 --> 00:54:27,480
"Listen, we need ABBA."
855
00:54:27,520 --> 00:54:30,559
"We're doing a Christmas special.
We'd love ABBA to come."
856
00:54:36,999 --> 00:54:38,760
Well, aren't they lovely? See...
857
00:54:38,800 --> 00:54:40,919
That applause. It just shows you
how lovely you are.
858
00:54:40,959 --> 00:54:43,200
I'll just check your details.
859
00:54:43,239 --> 00:54:45,039
He seems like a nice boy,
doesn't he?
860
00:54:45,080 --> 00:54:48,359
LAUGHTER
861
00:54:48,400 --> 00:54:49,679
Which one are you?
862
00:54:49,720 --> 00:54:51,239
I'm Bjorn. Bjorn? Yes.
863
00:54:51,279 --> 00:54:54,400
Bjorn. That's a very popular name
for babies in Sweden, isn't it?
864
00:54:54,440 --> 00:54:56,840
Yeah, they say
there's one Bjorn every minute.
865
00:54:56,880 --> 00:54:59,760
LAUGHTER
866
00:54:59,800 --> 00:55:02,400
He's going to be trouble, isn't he?
867
00:55:02,440 --> 00:55:05,919
This was one of the big, major
Christmas shows,
868
00:55:05,959 --> 00:55:08,400
a show called
the Mike Yarwood Show.
869
00:55:08,440 --> 00:55:11,279
He was a showbiz impersonator,
comedian
870
00:55:11,319 --> 00:55:13,599
and highly respected entertainer
871
00:55:13,639 --> 00:55:16,999
with the biggest viewership
at the time in the UK.
872
00:55:17,039 --> 00:55:19,840
They're one of the world's
most popular singing groups
873
00:55:19,880 --> 00:55:21,639
and I love them.
I know you love them.
874
00:55:21,679 --> 00:55:22,880
Millions do.
875
00:55:22,919 --> 00:55:24,239
ABBA.
876
00:55:24,279 --> 00:55:30,200
APPLAUSE
877
00:55:38,239 --> 00:55:40,559
# I'm nothing special
878
00:55:40,599 --> 00:55:43,440
# In fact, I'm a bit of a bore
879
00:55:45,840 --> 00:55:48,319
# If I tell a joke
880
00:55:48,359 --> 00:55:50,959
# You've probably heard it before
881
00:55:53,800 --> 00:55:55,720
# But I have a talent
882
00:55:55,760 --> 00:55:58,120
# A wonderful thing
883
00:55:58,160 --> 00:56:02,679
# Cos everyone listens
when I start to sing
884
00:56:02,720 --> 00:56:05,480
# I'm so grateful and proud... #
885
00:56:05,520 --> 00:56:07,279
We arrived at the hotel,
886
00:56:07,319 --> 00:56:10,959
all marched up to the suites,
887
00:56:10,999 --> 00:56:13,800
and I said goodnight.
888
00:56:13,840 --> 00:56:15,800
And there was Agnetha on her own.
889
00:56:17,359 --> 00:56:19,760
And I saw her going into
her own suite.
890
00:56:22,800 --> 00:56:25,840
A slight loneliness
was showing on her face.
891
00:56:25,880 --> 00:56:27,639
You know, the sort of...
892
00:56:27,679 --> 00:56:29,160
It was sad, actually.
893
00:56:34,160 --> 00:56:40,880
That television special actually
aired on Christmas Day in the UK.
894
00:56:40,919 --> 00:56:43,120
So while the British public were
895
00:56:43,160 --> 00:56:46,480
sitting in front of this big
television special
896
00:56:46,520 --> 00:56:48,599
and enjoying ABBA
897
00:56:48,639 --> 00:56:52,440
and seeing them as a happy group
of two happy couples,
898
00:56:52,480 --> 00:56:57,559
the reality of it was that
on that very same day,
899
00:56:57,599 --> 00:57:01,559
Agnetha took the kids and moved out.
900
00:57:09,440 --> 00:57:11,559
The marriage didn't work,
901
00:57:11,599 --> 00:57:15,599
but we still worked
very well together as...
902
00:57:15,639 --> 00:57:17,840
as musicians and artists.
903
00:57:19,559 --> 00:57:23,520
So we decided to split up
the marriage, but not split up...
904
00:57:23,559 --> 00:57:24,959
..split up ABBA.
905
00:57:28,679 --> 00:57:30,520
I think that was brave of us.
906
00:57:33,599 --> 00:57:36,319
But we were in the middle
of something
907
00:57:36,359 --> 00:57:39,359
and there were no hard feelings.
908
00:57:39,400 --> 00:57:43,120
And we knew, all of us,
that this is our way to succeed.
909
00:57:43,160 --> 00:57:46,039
We want to follow,
to do this and to continue,
910
00:57:46,080 --> 00:57:49,160
even if there were some hard times.
911
00:57:49,200 --> 00:57:52,599
I don't want to put the blame
on ABBA.
912
00:57:52,639 --> 00:57:56,559
I mean, we are growing apart
sometimes
913
00:57:56,599 --> 00:57:59,440
and you can't do anything about it.
914
00:58:13,599 --> 00:58:16,520
Coming up next from the General
Assembly of the United Nations,
915
00:58:16,559 --> 00:58:17,880
the concert of the year.
916
00:58:17,919 --> 00:58:19,279
A Gift Of Song -
917
00:58:19,319 --> 00:58:21,400
the Music for UNICEF Concert.
918
00:58:21,440 --> 00:58:24,919
APPLAUSE
919
00:58:24,959 --> 00:58:30,559
MUSIC: Chiquitita
by ABBA
920
00:58:37,679 --> 00:58:40,720
# Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong
921
00:58:43,279 --> 00:58:48,239
# You're enchained by your own
sorrow
922
00:58:50,559 --> 00:58:54,440
# In your eyes
923
00:58:54,480 --> 00:58:59,440
# There is no hope for tomorrow... #
924
00:58:59,480 --> 00:59:01,639
UNICEF needed to raise money
925
00:59:01,679 --> 00:59:05,520
for its children's charities
around the world.
926
00:59:05,559 --> 00:59:10,999
# I'm a shoulder you can cry on... #
927
00:59:11,039 --> 00:59:16,800
The artists donated royalties
for a song and UNICEF got it all.
928
00:59:16,840 --> 00:59:20,520
# Now I see you've broken
a feather... #
929
00:59:20,559 --> 00:59:22,919
Here I am, sitting
in the United Nations
930
00:59:22,959 --> 00:59:27,120
and ABBA are rising into view
on a turntable.
931
00:59:27,160 --> 00:59:28,679
And it was cool.
932
00:59:28,720 --> 00:59:32,720
# I hope we can patch it up together
933
00:59:33,880 --> 00:59:39,319
# Chiquitita, you and I know
934
00:59:39,359 --> 00:59:41,999
# How the heartaches come
and they go
935
00:59:42,039 --> 00:59:43,760
# And the scars they're leaving... #
936
00:59:43,800 --> 00:59:46,959
Chiquitita was an enormous
multimillion seller
937
00:59:46,999 --> 00:59:50,319
around the world
and raised millions of dollars
938
00:59:50,359 --> 00:59:53,880
for projects in Latin America
and Southeast Asia,
939
00:59:53,919 --> 00:59:55,279
among other places.
940
00:59:56,559 --> 00:59:58,400
I wonder if we can move
on very quickly, in fact,
941
00:59:58,440 --> 01:00:01,319
to the success, the great
success story of Chiquitita,
942
01:00:01,359 --> 01:00:04,319
which, as well as being
a number two hit in Britain, Frida,
943
01:00:04,359 --> 01:00:06,599
has now proved to be
your biggest success
944
01:00:06,639 --> 01:00:08,359
in Spanish-speaking territories.
945
01:00:08,400 --> 01:00:09,639
There's a wee bit of a story
946
01:00:09,679 --> 01:00:11,480
behind how and why
that happened, isn't there?
947
01:00:11,520 --> 01:00:13,959
We felt that it would be nice
to do it in Spanish
948
01:00:13,999 --> 01:00:16,720
because it's very much a Spanish
song, I mean, in the style.
949
01:00:16,760 --> 01:00:18,800
Sort of reminiscent of Fernando
as well, isn't it?
950
01:00:18,840 --> 01:00:19,959
Yeah, it is, in a way.
951
01:00:19,999 --> 01:00:24,279
So we called a Spanish teacher
to teach us how to pronounce
952
01:00:24,319 --> 01:00:27,400
the words and the lyrics in Spanish.
953
01:00:27,440 --> 01:00:30,400
I think it turned out very well.
954
01:00:32,319 --> 01:00:33,639
One day...
955
01:00:35,400 --> 01:00:36,959
"God dag."
956
01:00:36,999 --> 01:00:40,239
"My name is Stikkan Anderson
957
01:00:40,279 --> 01:00:45,880
"and I have a small pop group,
958
01:00:45,919 --> 01:00:49,880
"and I want a Spanish coach."
959
01:00:49,919 --> 01:00:52,679
A small group!
LAUGHS
960
01:00:54,800 --> 01:00:59,440
Stikkan Anderson was very
enthusiastic about taking
961
01:00:59,480 --> 01:01:02,480
ABBA in Spanish to South America
962
01:01:02,520 --> 01:01:04,480
because with so many people,
963
01:01:04,520 --> 01:01:07,160
commercially, it makes sense.
964
01:01:09,279 --> 01:01:13,440
I called my sister in Argentina.
965
01:01:13,480 --> 01:01:15,080
She was, like, crazy...
966
01:01:22,319 --> 01:01:23,959
ABBA SINGING IN SPANISH:
967
01:01:30,520 --> 01:01:33,880
It could be someone
with suffering of love,
968
01:01:33,919 --> 01:01:36,760
but I have to be very honest.
969
01:01:45,959 --> 01:01:49,559
For me, it's a song
about solidarity.
970
01:01:52,639 --> 01:01:56,279
When you have difficult
political times,
971
01:01:56,319 --> 01:02:01,720
like the military dictatorship
in Argentina or somewhere,
972
01:02:01,760 --> 01:02:05,720
you anyhow are a human being,
a person.
973
01:02:05,760 --> 01:02:08,319
You want some minutes of happiness.
974
01:02:18,959 --> 01:02:20,440
CROWD CHANTS:
975
01:02:21,919 --> 01:02:23,200
ABBA:
976
01:02:30,359 --> 01:02:31,999
And I am convinced...
977
01:02:47,200 --> 01:02:50,080
When Agnetha was singing,
978
01:02:50,120 --> 01:02:54,840
it was such an emotion because of
the words in Spanish for me.
979
01:03:26,800 --> 01:03:28,279
For me, it was magic.
980
01:03:32,359 --> 01:03:33,919
It was magic.
981
01:03:42,120 --> 01:03:45,760
In a way, ABBA was political.
982
01:03:45,800 --> 01:03:50,120
When they were collecting
money for UNICEF,
983
01:03:50,160 --> 01:03:51,880
that is political.
984
01:03:51,919 --> 01:03:56,080
What they were not doing was,
they were subtle.
985
01:03:56,120 --> 01:03:59,999
They have bigger visions
of solidarity.
986
01:04:34,200 --> 01:04:35,720
SONG FADES
987
01:04:39,200 --> 01:04:41,760
What about the sort of family life
now in ABBA?
988
01:04:41,800 --> 01:04:44,319
You're getting an awful lot of
publicity on various lines,
989
01:04:44,359 --> 01:04:45,679
actually, of the family life.
990
01:04:45,720 --> 01:04:49,480
Has it in any way caused
any problem professionally?
991
01:04:49,520 --> 01:04:52,400
You know, is it difficult at all?
992
01:04:52,440 --> 01:04:54,400
When you are a person
that everybody knows,
993
01:04:54,440 --> 01:04:55,679
you have to take that.
994
01:04:55,720 --> 01:04:57,520
You know that they are
going to write about it
995
01:04:57,559 --> 01:04:58,959
and you have to take it. Yeah.
996
01:04:58,999 --> 01:05:01,800
So we don't look at the papers
too much ourselves.
997
01:05:01,840 --> 01:05:02,880
Yeah.
998
01:05:12,319 --> 01:05:15,959
They were professionally
still working very well together,
999
01:05:15,999 --> 01:05:20,400
but particularly Agnetha
clearly didn't want to be there.
1000
01:05:22,440 --> 01:05:24,200
She was very professional.
1001
01:05:24,239 --> 01:05:26,120
She turned up for the interviews,
1002
01:05:26,160 --> 01:05:28,239
she had the pictures taken,
1003
01:05:28,279 --> 01:05:30,840
but clearly just didn't enjoy
being there any more.
1004
01:05:36,440 --> 01:05:38,039
I've got something for you.
1005
01:05:39,959 --> 01:05:42,319
This is Richard Skinner
with a Radio 1 exclusive,
1006
01:05:42,359 --> 01:05:43,679
as Benny... Hello, Richard.
1007
01:05:43,720 --> 01:05:45,400
Hi! Bjorn... Hello.
1008
01:05:45,440 --> 01:05:47,080
..Agnetha... Hi, everybody.
1009
01:05:47,120 --> 01:05:48,720
..and Frida... Hello.
1010
01:05:48,760 --> 01:05:52,120
..of ABBA talk to us about their
latest album, Voulez-Vous,
1011
01:05:52,160 --> 01:05:53,999
and we play tracks from the album.
1012
01:05:54,039 --> 01:05:56,239
# People everywhere
1013
01:05:56,279 --> 01:05:59,800
# A sense of expectation
hangin' in the air... #
1014
01:05:59,840 --> 01:06:02,080
Interestingly, it's a sort of
disco, funk sound
1015
01:06:02,120 --> 01:06:04,720
on that title track, Bjorn,
and in a way it sums up the album.
1016
01:06:04,760 --> 01:06:06,440
It's a new move for the group,
isn't it?
1017
01:06:06,480 --> 01:06:08,279
Yeah, that's what we feel ourselves.
1018
01:06:08,319 --> 01:06:11,319
# Voulez-vous?
Ah-ha
1019
01:06:11,359 --> 01:06:13,279
# Take it now or leave it
Ah-ha
1020
01:06:13,319 --> 01:06:15,080
# Now is all we get
Ah-ha
1021
01:06:15,120 --> 01:06:19,359
# Nothing promised, no regrets
1022
01:06:19,400 --> 01:06:22,639
# Voulez-vous?
Ah-ha
1023
01:06:22,679 --> 01:06:24,639
# Ain't no big decision
Ah-ha
1024
01:06:24,679 --> 01:06:26,559
# You know what to do
Ah-ha
1025
01:06:26,599 --> 01:06:30,359
# La question, c'est voulez-vous? #
1026
01:06:30,400 --> 01:06:32,919
When I first heard the album,
1027
01:06:32,959 --> 01:06:35,359
I thought, "Oh, they've peaked."
1028
01:06:35,400 --> 01:06:40,080
It seemed to gesture
to disco too much.
1029
01:06:40,120 --> 01:06:42,919
Now, who am I to say they shouldn't
have made a disco record?
1030
01:06:42,959 --> 01:06:44,880
Because disco was so big.
1031
01:06:44,919 --> 01:06:47,999
MUSIC: Good Times
by Chic
1032
01:06:48,039 --> 01:06:52,720
I grew up in the era of
discos and dancing.
1033
01:06:54,080 --> 01:06:57,200
The Latino, the Asian, the black,
1034
01:06:57,239 --> 01:06:59,120
the queer community.
1035
01:06:59,160 --> 01:07:01,720
The music brought us all together.
1036
01:07:01,760 --> 01:07:04,319
# Good times
1037
01:07:04,359 --> 01:07:06,919
# These are the good times... #
1038
01:07:06,959 --> 01:07:09,120
No matter how much it morphs,
1039
01:07:09,160 --> 01:07:12,279
this is a whole American vibe
1040
01:07:12,319 --> 01:07:14,880
that comes from soul music.
1041
01:07:14,919 --> 01:07:17,319
# Good times... #
1042
01:07:17,359 --> 01:07:19,599
Everybody made a disco record.
1043
01:07:23,120 --> 01:07:25,679
And so ABBA delved into disco.
1044
01:07:26,880 --> 01:07:30,359
MUSIC: Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
(A Man After Midnight) by ABBA
1045
01:07:47,760 --> 01:07:49,599
# Half-past twelve
1046
01:07:49,639 --> 01:07:53,559
# And I'm watching the late show
in my flat all alone
1047
01:07:53,599 --> 01:07:58,120
# How I hate to spend
the evening on my own
1048
01:07:58,160 --> 01:07:59,679
# Autumn winds
1049
01:07:59,720 --> 01:08:01,440
# Blowing outside the window... #
1050
01:08:01,480 --> 01:08:03,720
It was a successful disco record.
1051
01:08:03,760 --> 01:08:05,599
I mean, there's no doubting it.
1052
01:08:05,639 --> 01:08:09,200
Gay discos, particularly because,
of course, of the title.
1053
01:08:09,239 --> 01:08:11,400
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
(A Man After Midnight).
1054
01:08:11,440 --> 01:08:13,359
So, needless to say,
1055
01:08:13,400 --> 01:08:15,359
when the clock struck 12:01...
1056
01:08:15,400 --> 01:08:17,359
HUMS SYNTH MELODY
1057
01:08:24,120 --> 01:08:26,999
But it turns out the timing
was terrible.
1058
01:08:29,160 --> 01:08:31,880
50,000 people,
the largest crowd of the season,
1059
01:08:31,919 --> 01:08:33,679
showed up at Chicago's Comiskey Park
1060
01:08:33,720 --> 01:08:35,120
for the twi-night double-header
1061
01:08:35,160 --> 01:08:37,440
between the White Sox
and the Detroit Tigers.
1062
01:08:37,480 --> 01:08:40,120
15,000 others had to be turned away.
1063
01:08:40,160 --> 01:08:42,720
Many had come for
Disco Demolition Night,
1064
01:08:42,760 --> 01:08:44,359
a promotional gimmick.
1065
01:08:44,400 --> 01:08:46,319
Between games, as planned,
1066
01:08:46,359 --> 01:08:50,200
a huge box containing thousands
of disco records was blown up.
1067
01:08:52,999 --> 01:08:55,760
Yes! That's real good!
1068
01:08:57,319 --> 01:08:58,880
The rest was unplanned.
1069
01:08:58,919 --> 01:09:01,679
Fans stormed out onto the field
in the thousands.
1070
01:09:01,720 --> 01:09:03,959
Disco records were hurled
like Frisbees.
1071
01:09:03,999 --> 01:09:06,359
Bonfires were set,
bottles were thrown.
1072
01:09:11,800 --> 01:09:14,120
"Disco sucks!",
we can now clearly see,
1073
01:09:14,160 --> 01:09:17,520
was basically a racist and
homophobic reaction
1074
01:09:17,559 --> 01:09:19,679
from rock fans.
1075
01:09:21,200 --> 01:09:23,720
A lot of radio stations
stopped playing disco.
1076
01:09:25,520 --> 01:09:28,359
Disco died almost overnight.
1077
01:09:33,039 --> 01:09:36,599
ABBA was bringing in a lot
of disco elements into their music
1078
01:09:36,639 --> 01:09:39,520
at just the moment when disco
was publicly demonised.
1079
01:09:40,760 --> 01:09:44,359
This album wasn't going to make it
easy for them to break America.
1080
01:09:45,480 --> 01:09:48,480
ABBA, Sweden's greatest export.
1081
01:09:48,520 --> 01:09:50,599
On their very first American tour...
1082
01:09:52,160 --> 01:09:53,520
..ABBA: The Concert.
1083
01:09:55,400 --> 01:09:58,760
This was going to be their first
North American tour.
1084
01:09:58,800 --> 01:10:01,200
It opened in Edmonton of all places,
1085
01:10:01,239 --> 01:10:03,559
which is quite far north, in Canada.
1086
01:10:03,599 --> 01:10:06,160
Rolling Stone flew me up
there to interview them.
1087
01:10:08,400 --> 01:10:11,440
A rush of photographers
met ABBA at the airport.
1088
01:10:11,480 --> 01:10:13,480
Journalists from around the world
1089
01:10:13,520 --> 01:10:16,039
chasing the elusive
public image of ABBA.
1090
01:10:17,520 --> 01:10:20,679
We've done a lot of television and
radio and interviews and all that
1091
01:10:20,720 --> 01:10:23,919
without touring and doing
live performances.
1092
01:10:23,959 --> 01:10:28,880
Not being available here
in North America
1093
01:10:28,919 --> 01:10:30,639
is definitely a disadvantage.
1094
01:10:30,679 --> 01:10:32,359
We're here to try to change that.
1095
01:10:36,440 --> 01:10:38,559
They were very unassuming,
1096
01:10:38,599 --> 01:10:42,599
but clearly the tour was
important for them.
1097
01:10:44,679 --> 01:10:46,880
The truck drivers and
the people at the airport,
1098
01:10:46,919 --> 01:10:48,840
and the people
who worked in the hotels,
1099
01:10:48,880 --> 01:10:51,559
they all seemed to love ABBA,
1100
01:10:51,599 --> 01:10:55,559
but they were not that big
in America then.
1101
01:10:55,599 --> 01:10:58,959
We were playing in small places,
not huge arenas.
1102
01:11:00,400 --> 01:11:04,120
Well, Benny, ABBA seem to be
an entire unit to themselves.
1103
01:11:04,160 --> 01:11:07,440
You record your own records,
you write your own material,
1104
01:11:07,480 --> 01:11:08,760
you promote your own stuff.
1105
01:11:08,800 --> 01:11:11,400
Is there not a danger that
there could be a certain sameness
1106
01:11:11,440 --> 01:11:12,919
about the whole thing?
1107
01:11:14,440 --> 01:11:16,120
Um, well...
CHUCKLES
1108
01:11:20,160 --> 01:11:23,039
I'm sure that they felt
they weren't being taken seriously
1109
01:11:23,080 --> 01:11:24,200
as music people.
1110
01:11:26,559 --> 01:11:29,160
In the hotel,
when I interviewed them,
1111
01:11:29,200 --> 01:11:30,880
Bjorn had said,
1112
01:11:30,919 --> 01:11:33,520
"It may be pop music to you,
but it's soul to us."
1113
01:11:35,200 --> 01:11:36,919
The men did the interviews.
1114
01:11:36,959 --> 01:11:38,480
The women were not part of it.
1115
01:11:38,520 --> 01:11:40,919
And I remember getting
the sense at that time
1116
01:11:40,959 --> 01:11:43,760
that the women were less enthused
about going on tour.
1117
01:11:46,200 --> 01:11:48,599
It was a hard-core tour.
1118
01:11:48,639 --> 01:11:50,679
There was a lot of back-to-backs
1119
01:11:50,720 --> 01:11:53,679
and a lot of travelling.
1120
01:11:53,720 --> 01:11:56,200
FRIDA PRACTISES
1121
01:11:56,239 --> 01:11:58,599
A lot of practice.
1122
01:11:59,999 --> 01:12:04,480
AGNETHA PRACTISES
1123
01:12:04,520 --> 01:12:07,239
They were quite thorough
in their work.
1124
01:12:13,760 --> 01:12:17,959
You would always hear Frida
and Agnetha singing backstage,
1125
01:12:17,999 --> 01:12:20,959
and that was always interspersed
with laughter.
1126
01:12:20,999 --> 01:12:23,279
And I remember saying to Frida,
"Oh, it's been so great."
1127
01:12:23,319 --> 01:12:25,039
"The tour's been so great
and everything,
1128
01:12:25,080 --> 01:12:26,359
and it's so great to see you."
1129
01:12:26,400 --> 01:12:28,480
"And you guys,
you're just all so happy together."
1130
01:12:30,279 --> 01:12:32,840
And she said, "It's not quite
what it seems, Patrick."
1131
01:12:35,279 --> 01:12:40,520
MUSIC: Summer Night City
by ABBA
1132
01:13:07,840 --> 01:13:10,319
# End of night
1133
01:13:10,359 --> 01:13:13,359
# A new day dawning
1134
01:13:13,400 --> 01:13:17,720
# And the first birds start to sing
1135
01:13:18,760 --> 01:13:23,400
# In the pale light of the morning
1136
01:13:23,440 --> 01:13:28,880
# Nothing's worth remembering
1137
01:13:28,919 --> 01:13:30,999
# It's a dream
1138
01:13:31,039 --> 01:13:34,039
# It's out of reach... #
1139
01:13:34,080 --> 01:13:38,760
The response from the audience
was not as it was in Australia.
1140
01:13:38,800 --> 01:13:42,999
I'm not sure that we did
sell out all concerts.
1141
01:13:46,359 --> 01:13:50,959
But, you know, American audiences,
it's not easy to please.
1142
01:13:58,200 --> 01:14:02,359
They were really struggling
and fighting to do a good tour
1143
01:14:02,400 --> 01:14:03,999
and to break in America.
1144
01:14:04,039 --> 01:14:05,880
That was the sole purpose.
1145
01:14:08,520 --> 01:14:11,480
For Agnetha, that part of the tour
was really difficult.
1146
01:14:13,359 --> 01:14:15,559
She was fairly newly divorced.
1147
01:14:15,599 --> 01:14:17,359
She felt alone.
1148
01:14:17,400 --> 01:14:19,239
She hated flying.
1149
01:14:22,359 --> 01:14:24,120
Tornado, October 3rd.
1150
01:14:24,160 --> 01:14:26,039
We got many reports of tornadoes
on the ground.
1151
01:14:26,080 --> 01:14:27,559
Funnels and quite a bit of damage.
1152
01:14:27,599 --> 01:14:30,359
Some winds estimated
in excess of 100mph.
1153
01:14:30,400 --> 01:14:34,440
I can't stress enough, you should
take immediate safety precautions.
1154
01:14:34,480 --> 01:14:35,959
I don't like to fly.
1155
01:14:37,160 --> 01:14:41,639
On our tour, I think we flew
from New York to Boston.
1156
01:14:41,679 --> 01:14:43,480
We were up in the air for
1157
01:14:43,520 --> 01:14:46,279
one and a half...years,
I almost said!
1158
01:14:46,319 --> 01:14:47,400
SHE LAUGHS
1159
01:14:47,440 --> 01:14:48,919
One and a half hours,
1160
01:14:48,959 --> 01:14:51,359
with this terrible weather.
1161
01:14:51,400 --> 01:14:54,599
They tried to take us down,
1162
01:14:54,639 --> 01:14:59,120
but we couldn't land
because the airport was blown away.
1163
01:15:02,160 --> 01:15:05,919
That was really, really scary
moments for us
1164
01:15:05,959 --> 01:15:08,599
and we were all four in the plane.
1165
01:15:08,639 --> 01:15:10,880
More than 400 people hurt.
1166
01:15:10,919 --> 01:15:13,279
One man killed by the storm.
1167
01:15:13,319 --> 01:15:14,760
Damage extensive,
1168
01:15:14,800 --> 01:15:17,840
expected to run into
the millions of dollars.
1169
01:15:17,880 --> 01:15:19,760
After that, I got sick.
1170
01:15:20,919 --> 01:15:23,520
My whole body was sick.
1171
01:15:24,999 --> 01:15:26,999
That was some hard times, really.
1172
01:15:29,120 --> 01:15:33,840
We came to a point when I said that,
"I can't do this.
1173
01:15:33,880 --> 01:15:37,239
"We have to have
some kind of limit."
1174
01:15:39,160 --> 01:15:42,120
Touring, it takes too much away
1175
01:15:42,160 --> 01:15:47,080
from the creativity that is
essential to write songs.
1176
01:15:47,120 --> 01:15:49,679
Of course it's fun to be onstage,
1177
01:15:49,720 --> 01:15:51,760
facing the audience and all that.
1178
01:15:51,800 --> 01:15:54,200
That's only two hours a day.
1179
01:15:54,239 --> 01:15:57,239
The other 22 hours
is just struggling,
1180
01:15:57,279 --> 01:15:59,400
getting from place to place.
1181
01:15:59,440 --> 01:16:03,599
# Super Trouper beams
are gonna blind me
1182
01:16:03,639 --> 01:16:07,440
# But I won't feel blue
1183
01:16:07,480 --> 01:16:11,400
# Like I always do
1184
01:16:11,440 --> 01:16:15,800
# Cos somewhere in the crowd
there's you... #
1185
01:16:15,840 --> 01:16:21,120
For almost every artist, America
is the way to break it worldwide.
1186
01:16:21,160 --> 01:16:24,080
We've done it worldwide
without America.
1187
01:16:24,120 --> 01:16:25,760
We can live without it.
1188
01:16:26,800 --> 01:16:29,959
So it doesn't mean life or death.
No.
1189
01:16:29,999 --> 01:16:33,239
# I was sick and tired of everything
1190
01:16:33,279 --> 01:16:37,959
# When I called you last night
from Glasgow
1191
01:16:37,999 --> 01:16:41,480
# All I do is eat and sleep and sing
1192
01:16:41,520 --> 01:16:46,599
# Wishing every show
was the last show
1193
01:16:46,639 --> 01:16:50,679
# So imagine I was glad to hear
you're coming
1194
01:16:50,720 --> 01:16:53,200
# Suddenly I feel all right
1195
01:16:53,239 --> 01:16:54,959
# And suddenly it's gonna be
1196
01:16:54,999 --> 01:17:01,559
# And it's gonna be so different
when I'm on the stage tonight
1197
01:17:01,599 --> 01:17:05,919
# So I'll be there when you arrive
1198
01:17:05,959 --> 01:17:09,039
# The sight of you will prove to me
I'm still alive
1199
01:17:09,080 --> 01:17:11,760
# And when you take me in your arms
1200
01:17:11,800 --> 01:17:14,440
# And hold me tight
1201
01:17:14,480 --> 01:17:20,160
# I know it's gonna mean
so much tonight
1202
01:17:20,200 --> 01:17:23,720
# Tonight the Super Trouper
lights are gonna find me... #
1203
01:17:23,760 --> 01:17:26,559
We're at the gates of the BBC, where
there's a lot of expecting fans
1204
01:17:26,599 --> 01:17:29,760
hoping to catch a glimpse of their
favourite pop group, ABBA.
1205
01:17:29,800 --> 01:17:31,599
You're obviously all ardent fans...
Yeah.
1206
01:17:31,639 --> 01:17:33,800
..and willing to stand around
for quite some time.
1207
01:17:33,840 --> 01:17:35,800
BOTH: We'd do anything for them.
Right.
1208
01:17:35,840 --> 01:17:37,760
Tell me something.
We are girl-less this morning.
1209
01:17:37,800 --> 01:17:39,160
Where are the ladies?
1210
01:17:39,200 --> 01:17:40,559
We've been working so hard lately
1211
01:17:40,599 --> 01:17:42,520
that they're simply
too tired to come.
1212
01:17:42,559 --> 01:17:43,800
All right. How are you...?
1213
01:17:43,840 --> 01:17:46,359
We've been having, like,
38 gigs in a row.
1214
01:17:46,400 --> 01:17:48,200
How are you standing up to it?
1215
01:17:48,239 --> 01:17:50,559
Well, we're not, really.
THEY LAUGH
1216
01:17:52,559 --> 01:17:56,279
America was weird, but
when they came back to the UK,
1217
01:17:56,319 --> 01:17:58,359
things couldn't have been
more different.
1218
01:18:07,559 --> 01:18:08,919
Wembley.
1219
01:18:08,959 --> 01:18:10,959
It was like a mega event.
1220
01:18:12,080 --> 01:18:15,160
It was like pop royalty
had come to town.
1221
01:18:18,999 --> 01:18:22,080
Is it far to go? Yeah.
1222
01:18:22,120 --> 01:18:23,840
It is? Yeah. Good.
1223
01:18:30,039 --> 01:18:32,880
When I heard that they
sold out six concerts
1224
01:18:32,919 --> 01:18:36,279
and they could have sold out
six more or 15 more,
1225
01:18:36,319 --> 01:18:37,999
I was a bit shocked
1226
01:18:38,039 --> 01:18:40,480
because that's very few bands
that can do that.
1227
01:18:42,840 --> 01:18:45,639
It also attracted the critics.
1228
01:18:46,679 --> 01:18:50,559
The irony was that you'd have
high-end music journalists
1229
01:18:50,599 --> 01:18:53,039
who'd already criticised them all,
1230
01:18:53,080 --> 01:18:55,919
but suddenly they wanted
that VIP ticket
1231
01:18:55,959 --> 01:18:57,599
and I'd wind them up, saying,
1232
01:18:57,639 --> 01:19:00,599
"But I thought you
didn't like the band!"
1233
01:19:00,639 --> 01:19:04,520
SHE PRACTISES
1234
01:19:09,279 --> 01:19:11,800
HITS HIGH NOTE
1235
01:19:13,480 --> 01:19:18,480
INDISTINCT CONVERSATION
1236
01:19:29,279 --> 01:19:30,999
Soon as they came out...
1237
01:19:31,039 --> 01:19:33,720
CHEERING
1238
01:19:33,760 --> 01:19:36,760
..there was a roar
that you would not believe.
1239
01:19:36,800 --> 01:19:40,359
CHEERING
1240
01:19:40,400 --> 01:19:44,599
MUSIC: Voulez-Vous
by ABBA
1241
01:19:57,720 --> 01:19:59,880
# Voulez-vous
1242
01:19:59,919 --> 01:20:01,720
# Ah-ha
1243
01:20:01,760 --> 01:20:03,520
# Ah-ha
1244
01:20:03,559 --> 01:20:05,520
# Ah-ha... #
1245
01:20:05,559 --> 01:20:07,880
Everybody wanted to go to the shows.
1246
01:20:07,919 --> 01:20:10,559
The who's who of showbiz
wanted to go.
1247
01:20:10,599 --> 01:20:14,679
I remember the VIP area at Wembley
on the left was chocker
1248
01:20:14,720 --> 01:20:18,400
and some of the VIPs,
like Zeppelin, The Who.
1249
01:20:19,480 --> 01:20:20,800
We were really surprised
1250
01:20:20,840 --> 01:20:23,800
to see that these guys were
coming to see ABBA.
1251
01:20:23,840 --> 01:20:25,559
That was the thrill, actually,
1252
01:20:25,599 --> 01:20:28,160
that we will have
a following with our heroes.
1253
01:20:29,480 --> 01:20:32,440
# Voulez-vous... #
1254
01:20:32,480 --> 01:20:35,480
One of the most flattering things
I've heard in my life was
1255
01:20:35,520 --> 01:20:38,400
I ran into Pete Townshend
and he says, you know,
1256
01:20:38,440 --> 01:20:40,720
"SOS is the best pop song
ever written."
1257
01:20:42,440 --> 01:20:43,599
I was so proud.
1258
01:20:54,679 --> 01:21:01,120
CHEERING
1259
01:21:01,160 --> 01:21:02,800
Hello, everybody.
1260
01:21:05,720 --> 01:21:08,480
It's now three years ago
since we were in London
1261
01:21:08,520 --> 01:21:10,160
and played the last time.
1262
01:21:10,200 --> 01:21:11,400
It's far too long.
1263
01:21:11,440 --> 01:21:13,760
It really feels good to be back,
I can tell you that.
1264
01:21:13,800 --> 01:21:18,239
CHEERING
1265
01:21:18,279 --> 01:21:21,999
It's been tough in many ways,
but it's been very rewarding
1266
01:21:22,039 --> 01:21:25,639
because we've showed our
critics, audiences,
1267
01:21:25,679 --> 01:21:27,319
as well as ourselves,
1268
01:21:27,359 --> 01:21:28,800
we can make it live.
1269
01:21:31,359 --> 01:21:34,239
That confidence was there
the whole time.
1270
01:21:34,279 --> 01:21:36,800
It was there from the tour, '77.
1271
01:21:38,279 --> 01:21:41,760
When you do something
that you can stand up for,
1272
01:21:41,800 --> 01:21:45,599
then you have the confidence
because no-one can touch you.
1273
01:21:45,639 --> 01:21:48,760
They can say, "This is crap."
Yeah, fine, but I love it.
1274
01:21:50,919 --> 01:21:53,959
The difference now
was that they could
1275
01:21:53,999 --> 01:21:57,359
share the confidence
with the audience.
1276
01:21:57,400 --> 01:21:59,999
They were quite proud of
what they had achieved.
1277
01:22:09,319 --> 01:22:17,279
# You and I can share the silence
1278
01:22:17,319 --> 01:22:20,120
# Finding comfort together
1279
01:22:20,160 --> 01:22:24,720
# The way old friends do
1280
01:22:24,760 --> 01:22:28,800
# And after fights
1281
01:22:28,840 --> 01:22:33,639
# And words of violence
1282
01:22:33,679 --> 01:22:36,999
# We make up with each other
1283
01:22:37,039 --> 01:22:42,440
# The way old friends do
1284
01:22:42,480 --> 01:22:46,359
# Times of joy
1285
01:22:46,400 --> 01:22:52,039
# And times of sorrow
1286
01:22:52,080 --> 01:22:59,319
# We will always see it through
1287
01:22:59,359 --> 01:23:04,599
# Oh, I don't care
1288
01:23:04,639 --> 01:23:10,559
# What comes tomorrow
1289
01:23:10,599 --> 01:23:13,959
# We can face it together
1290
01:23:13,999 --> 01:23:19,840
# The way old friends do
1291
01:23:19,880 --> 01:23:24,559
# We can face it together
1292
01:23:24,599 --> 01:23:31,639
# The way old friends do. #
1293
01:23:31,679 --> 01:23:33,800
CHEERING
1294
01:23:40,279 --> 01:23:44,679
One thing we'd learned was
that everything starts with a song.
1295
01:23:48,200 --> 01:23:51,080
I think great music is created
1296
01:23:51,120 --> 01:23:55,120
from the human experience.
1297
01:23:56,840 --> 01:23:58,760
Deep emotions.
1298
01:24:03,319 --> 01:24:09,359
Writing a lyric is something
in between a poem and a melody.
1299
01:24:11,800 --> 01:24:15,639
It would conjure up not only a mood,
1300
01:24:15,679 --> 01:24:18,040
but, like, images sometimes in me.
1301
01:24:19,879 --> 01:24:21,080
Almost cinematic.
1302
01:24:31,120 --> 01:24:34,679
Peter, the head of
UK and international A&R,
1303
01:24:34,720 --> 01:24:36,720
called me up.
1304
01:24:36,760 --> 01:24:38,599
New tracks had come along.
1305
01:24:41,400 --> 01:24:43,879
The business is
a very cynical business.
1306
01:24:43,919 --> 01:24:46,359
You know, you've got
executives there who,
1307
01:24:46,400 --> 01:24:49,040
all they're interested in
is the next dollar.
1308
01:24:50,720 --> 01:24:52,679
But when we were listening
to that track...
1309
01:24:53,879 --> 01:24:55,160
..there was a silence there.
1310
01:24:56,319 --> 01:25:00,080
We all knew what it was all about.
1311
01:25:00,120 --> 01:25:03,400
MUSIC: The Winner Takes It All
by ABBA
1312
01:25:06,840 --> 01:25:10,319
I first presented the lyrics
one morning in our studio...
1313
01:25:11,959 --> 01:25:14,120
..and we had this fantastic
backing track.
1314
01:25:16,760 --> 01:25:18,599
# I don't wanna talk
1315
01:25:20,639 --> 01:25:24,599
# About things we've gone through
1316
01:25:24,639 --> 01:25:28,120
# Though it's hurting me
1317
01:25:28,160 --> 01:25:30,999
# Now it's history
1318
01:25:32,520 --> 01:25:34,480
# I've played all my cards...
1319
01:25:34,520 --> 01:25:38,359
I'm a very much feeling person,
1320
01:25:38,400 --> 01:25:42,400
and I really try to
put my life experience
1321
01:25:42,440 --> 01:25:47,959
and my feelings,
everything in the song.
1322
01:25:47,999 --> 01:25:50,279
# The winner takes it all
1323
01:25:51,919 --> 01:25:55,480
# The loser standing small
1324
01:25:55,520 --> 01:25:56,800
# Beside the victory... #
1325
01:25:56,840 --> 01:25:59,559
Going through a divorce
is difficult,
1326
01:25:59,599 --> 01:26:01,040
as anyone would know who's done it.
1327
01:26:02,440 --> 01:26:05,999
That was, of course,
taking up my thoughts.
1328
01:26:06,040 --> 01:26:07,999
# I was in your arms
1329
01:26:09,800 --> 01:26:12,959
# Thinking I belonged there
1330
01:26:12,999 --> 01:26:17,319
# I figured it made sense
1331
01:26:17,359 --> 01:26:19,760
# Building me a fence... #
1332
01:26:19,800 --> 01:26:22,639
But there was not one winner
in the case of us.
1333
01:26:22,679 --> 01:26:24,800
# Building me a home
1334
01:26:24,840 --> 01:26:28,400
# Thinking I'd be strong there
1335
01:26:28,440 --> 01:26:29,840
# But I was a fool... #
1336
01:26:29,879 --> 01:26:31,480
It was powerful.
1337
01:26:31,520 --> 01:26:33,879
You know, one of our best, I think.
1338
01:26:33,919 --> 01:26:35,840
It's really honest.
1339
01:26:35,879 --> 01:26:38,359
# The gods may throw a dice... #
1340
01:26:46,520 --> 01:26:49,359
I think he was writing
about all the four of us.
1341
01:26:49,400 --> 01:26:51,520
# Loses someone dear
1342
01:26:51,559 --> 01:26:54,959
# The winner takes it all
1343
01:26:54,999 --> 01:26:56,520
# The loser has to fall... #
1344
01:26:56,559 --> 01:27:00,239
The Super Trouper album, I think,
turned everything around,
1345
01:27:00,279 --> 01:27:04,160
getting the sales and finally
getting some brilliant reviews.
1346
01:27:17,959 --> 01:27:21,760
# Somewhere deep inside
1347
01:27:21,800 --> 01:27:25,359
# You must know I miss you... #
1348
01:27:25,400 --> 01:27:26,999
Everybody is happy with it.
1349
01:27:27,040 --> 01:27:29,959
In Holland, it's already
a golden album.
1350
01:27:29,999 --> 01:27:31,239
You must be rich.
1351
01:27:31,279 --> 01:27:33,120
But are you happy too?
1352
01:27:33,160 --> 01:27:35,160
Sometimes. Sometimes not.
1353
01:27:35,200 --> 01:27:36,959
As other people,
1354
01:27:36,999 --> 01:27:40,559
life goes up and down, I think.
1355
01:27:40,599 --> 01:27:44,520
# Spectators of the show
1356
01:27:44,559 --> 01:27:47,919
# Always staying low
1357
01:27:47,959 --> 01:27:49,760
# The game is on again... #
1358
01:27:57,400 --> 01:27:58,879
# I don't wanna talk... #
1359
01:27:58,919 --> 01:28:03,840
We could feel that it suddenly
had got a bit heavy.
1360
01:28:03,879 --> 01:28:06,239
It was not so fun any more to record
1361
01:28:06,279 --> 01:28:09,800
and it was something
in the atmosphere,
1362
01:28:09,840 --> 01:28:11,520
a bit tragic.
1363
01:28:11,559 --> 01:28:12,800
# But you see
1364
01:28:12,840 --> 01:28:19,599
# The winner takes it all
1365
01:28:19,639 --> 01:28:26,080
# The winner takes it all... #
1366
01:28:29,559 --> 01:28:34,160
We had a very explosive
and creative period.
1367
01:28:35,319 --> 01:28:38,639
We organically
came together gradually
1368
01:28:38,679 --> 01:28:40,520
and then it happened
1369
01:28:40,559 --> 01:28:43,239
and then it stopped.
1370
01:28:43,279 --> 01:28:45,200
# Takes it... #
1371
01:28:45,239 --> 01:28:46,720
MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY
1372
01:28:46,760 --> 01:28:48,760
It's fascinating, that story.
1373
01:28:50,520 --> 01:28:52,040
It is dramatic.
1374
01:28:52,080 --> 01:28:53,319
OK. Waterloo.
1375
01:28:53,359 --> 01:28:57,319
Why did you decide to
try out at the Eurovision...?
1376
01:28:57,359 --> 01:28:58,800
What's the actual title?
1377
01:28:58,840 --> 01:29:01,279
Eurovision Song Contest.
1378
01:29:01,319 --> 01:29:04,840
You know, you have to realise
that at that time
1379
01:29:04,879 --> 01:29:07,040
it was virtually the only thing
that could help you
1380
01:29:07,080 --> 01:29:08,800
get outside the borders of Sweden.
1381
01:29:10,200 --> 01:29:12,959
Nobody would listen to a tape
from Sweden at that time.
1382
01:29:15,080 --> 01:29:18,279
We had to prove
that we were different.
1383
01:29:18,319 --> 01:29:20,599
We had to fight our way.
1384
01:29:20,639 --> 01:29:23,520
We just started working
really, really hard.
1385
01:29:33,840 --> 01:29:36,520
MUSIC: Lay All Your Love On Me
by ABBA
1386
01:29:48,760 --> 01:29:55,760
# Don't go wasting your emotion
1387
01:29:55,800 --> 01:29:59,959
# Lay all your love on me. #
105041
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