The holiday season has arrived

 The holiday season has arrived.

photo: Ludvig Andersson - ABBA Voyage

Grammys 2022: Abba receive first ever Grammy nomination

 Congratulations!! ABBA...

Grammys 2022: Abba receive first ever Grammy nomination

Nomination is the pop group’s first in their 48-year history

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NEWS

Meet This Year's Record Of The Year Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

Take a look at the tracks that are up for Record Of The Year by ABBA, Jon Batiste, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Brandi Carlile, Doja Cat & SZA, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Olivia Rodrigo, and Silk Sonic

TAYLOR WEATHERBY GRAMMYS NOV 23, 2021

Right off the bat, 2021 showed promise for another year of massive hits with unforgettable hooks thanks to Olivia Rodrigo's record-breaking smash "driver's license."

Less than two months later, Anderson .Paak and Record Of The Year veteran Bruno Mars kicked off the Silk Sonicera with the instantly memorable jam "Leave the Door Open." In the months that followed, Billie Eilish struck again with her sophomore album, Doja Cat and SZA teamed up for one hell of an earworm, and both Lil Nas X and ABBA shook the world (for very different reasons).

Suffice to say, the race for Record Of The Year — which is awarded to the artist and the producer(s), recording engineer(s) and/or mixer(s) and mastering engineer(s) — is going to be a tight one at the 2022 GRAMMY Awards show.

With ABBA, Jon Batiste, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Brandi Carlile, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat and SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, Silk Sonic, and Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar and Giveon delivering equally impactful tunes, it's really anyone's to win.

Before tuning into the show on Jan. 31, 2022, get fully acquainted with this year's ROTY nominees below.

ABBA — "I Still Have Faith in You"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAzEY1MfXrQ

ABBA sent the world into a frenzy upon their much-anticipated return in September, when they released the first two songs from Voyage, their first album in 40 years.

"I Still Have Faith In You," a heartfelt ode to their friendships that have endured throughout their time apart, is a song that the group wrote in 2018 along with its partner single, "Don't Shut Me Down."

"New spirit has arrived/ The joy and the sorrow/ We have a story and it survived," the Swedish superstars sing on the chorus over a majestic rhythm, building to a series of dazzling harmonies for the song's epic finish. It's a musical odyssey that is oh-so-classic ABBA.

Believe it or not, this nomination marks ABBA's first GRAMMY nomination in their career. ("Dancing Queen," however, was inducted into the Recording Academy's Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015.)

Considering that the group's Agnetha Fältskog has suggested that this album (and forthcoming tour) might be their last(opens in a new tab), there will likely be many fans glued to their TV to find out if ABBA get to call themselves GRAMMY winners.

https://www.grammy.com/.../record-of-the-year-nominees...

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independent.co.uk

https://www.independent.co.uk/.../abba-grammys-2022...

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more here: in swedish

https://www.svt.se/kultur/abba-har-chans-pa-en-grammy

Ian McKellen and Björn Ulvaeus knit Abba Christmas jumpers together

 

https://fb.watch/9rCdLerDLD/

Ian McKellen and Björn Ulvaeus knit Abba Christmas jumpers together

CultureMusicNews

Abba fans delighted as Ian McKellen and Björn Ulvaeus knit Christmas jumpers together

‘ABBA and Ian McKellen together knitting was not on my card for the 2021 holiday season,’ one fan wrote

Ian McKellen and Björn Ulvaes make Abba Christmas jumpers

Ian McKellen and Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus have teamed up for an unlikely Christmas video together.

In the clip shared to the legendary actor’s Instagram on Sunday (21 November), the pair were seen sat on a sofa while wearing matching fair isle jumpers and blue jeans.

In their hands, they both held knitting needles and Abba-branded Christmas jumpers, which they appeared to be working on making together. As the camera pans out, McKellen and Ulvaeus are shown to be seated beneath a giant Abba banner and surrounded by sewing equipment.

The words: “Merry Christmas from Abba and Ian McKellen” then appear on the screen.

Fans were left delighted – if slightly baffled – by the video, which McKellen captioned: “The most exciting (mostly) silent clip you’ll see this season.”

One commenter wrote: “ABBA and Ian McKellen, together, knitting, was not on my card for the 2021 holiday season. But I’ll happily take it. Well done!”

“What was that?!?!? Just the best video of the whole week already!!” another comment read, while another fan wrote: “Never expected to see this in my life.”

Mamma Mia star Pierce Brosnan also saw the funny side, commenting: “Now that just makes me chuckle.”

Earlier this month, Abba released Voyage, an album containing their first original material in 40 years. You can read The Independent’s five-star review here.

Among the tracks is “Little Things”, a Christmas song from the Swedish pop group which will be released as a single in December.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/abba-ian-mckellen-bjorn-christmas-jumper-b1962051.html

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ABBA’s Björn teams up with Ian McKellen to knit festive jumpers

The Swedish supergroup's first-ever festive release features on their record-breaking ninth album 'Voyage'.

By Retro Pop

November 22, 2021

ABBA have shared a promo for their new holiday merchandise with actor Ian McKellen. The star appears alongside Björn Ulvaeus in the footage, which sees the pair knitting garments in support of the band’s festive single Little Things. The silent video ends with a clip from the song and the message: “Merry Christmas from ABBA and Ian McKellen”.

The jumpers are available to order from the official ABBA online store. Due December 3, Björn says of the track: “Benny (Andersson, co-writer) tells me he didn’t think of it as a Christmas song, but I, the minute I heard it, I said it cannot be anything else. “It is early, early Christmas morning. The stockings are hanging right there and then this couple wakes up.”

He adds in an Apple Music track-by-track: “This could be played for Christmases to come. And that would be great, because we want to own Christmas and New Year’s Eve, like with [1980’s] Happy New Year.” Little Things will be available digitally and as a limited-edition CD single. In a review of the album, Retro Pop called ‘Voyage’ “a fitting closing chapter in the tale of Sweden’s best-loved musical export”. 

https://retropopmagazine.com/abba-bjorn-ian-mckellen-festive-jumpers-little-things

Actualizada_ 22 Nov, 2021

ABBA make history as they top charts in 17 countries with new album Voyage

 

ABBA make history as they top charts in 17 countries with new album Voyage

ABBA make history as they top charts in 17 countries with new album Voyage and sell more than one million copies globally after 40-year absence

By Owen Tonks For Mailonline

Published: 23:05 GMT, 19 November 2021 

ABBA’s new album Voyage has made history with its UK chart success.

The Waterloo hitmakers released their first album in 40 years earlier this month, and it soared to the top of the Official Albums Chart during its first week of release. 

The album marked ABBA’s 10th number one album in the UK, and it became 2021's fastest-selling album so far as it registered the biggest first week sales in four years.

But new data has also unveiled the album managed to top the album charts in 17 different countries, as it achieved worldwide sales in excess of 1 million copies in its first week, and has received more than 190 million combined streams to date. 

Speaking on the early success of Voyage, the band said: 'We are so happy that our fans seem to have enjoyed our new album as much as we enjoyed making it! 

'We are absolutely over the moon to have an album at the top of the charts again.'   

Hitmakers: The album marked ABBA’s 10th number one album in the UK, and it became 2021's fastest-selling album so far as it registered the biggest first week sales in four years

The news comes as the Mamma Mia singers also achieved new heights with their greatest hits album, GOLD, which reached a landmark BRIT Certified 20x Platinum in the UK this week. 

ABBA's GOLD was released in September 1992, debuting at Number 1, and has gone on to be the UK's second best-selling album of all time, falling only behind Queen’s greatest hits album. 

About the certification BPI's Rob Crutchley, who oversees The BRIT Certified Awards, said: 'Gold going 20x Platinum is an extraordinary achievement. 

Back with a bang: ABBA announced their return to music earlier this year, along with a residency of a hologram show in London

ABBA discuss chances of writing UK Eurovision entry with Dua Lipa

'It shows – along with the great success of Voyage – just how well-loved Abba are and how their enduring appeal truly spans generations.'

Earlier this week ABBA announced details of their first ever Christmas single Little Things which will be released on CD through Universal Music Group on December 3.

The single appears on Voyage, and is a gentle reflection on the joy of Christmas morning and family time around this special time of year.

Making music: ABBA's new single appears on Voyage, and is a gentle reflection on the joy of Christmas morning and family time around this special time of year

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10222523/ABBA-make-history-charts-17-countries-new-album-Voyage.html

ABBA are supporting this year's @bbccin appeal

 ABBA are supporting this year's @bbccin appeal, with prizes including ABBA Voyage Opening Night tickets and a copy of the new album signed by all four members!

Nov 19th, 2021

source ABBA Voyage

ABBA Voyage sails to global chart success

 Can you believe it’s been two weeks since ABBA returned with their brand new album 'Voyage'.

The album has already made history with both chart-records and great reviews from around the globe.

What did you feel when hearing it the first time?

source: ABBA on Facebook

ABBA Voyage sails to global chart success - ESCXTRA.com ABBA Voyage sails to global chart success Their final album has topped the charts of 19 countries! ABBA Voyage Earlier this year ABBA announced their comeback with brand new music after a 40-year absence. Along with an ambitious, digitally produced, live ABBA Voyage Tour. Recently the Eurovision 1974 winning super troopers released ninth studio album Voyage, a journey the ABBAMania fanatics had been waiting decades for. More than worth the wait, the album has now charted at no.1 in 19 countries worldwide. As well as smashing UK chart records. ABBA break UK chart records with Voyage Since its release on November 5th, the latest ABBA album, Voyage has sailed to new heights in the global charts. The ten-track album, which stays faithful to ABBA’s Schlager-Pop origins, whilst adding new production elements not available in the 70s, has captured the hearts of ABBA fans old and new. Already lead singles ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’ and ‘I Still Have Faith In You’ stormed the UK charts – the former became ABBA’s first top 10 hit for 40-years. Over recent weeks ABBA have picked up right where they left us in 1981. With Voyage breaking the UK pre-order record previously held by Take That in 2010, with over 110,000 copies sold in advance. Last Friday, Voyage sailed to no.1, becoming their first studio album to top the UK charts since The Visitors in 1981 and their tenth album in total to top the Official UK Charts – out-selling the rest of the top 40 combined. Meanwhile in its first weeks sales, Voyage sold 204,000 copies, making it the fastest-selling album of 2021. These sales also include 29,900 vinyl copies, which makes it the fastest-selling vinyl release of the 21st century. Thus with a combined total of 58 weeks at no.1 on the UK album charts, only The Beatles and Elvis have spent more time at the top of the charts. Worldwide ABBAMania is back Although they have been away for almost 40-years, the global phenomenon that is ABBA and the ABBAMania fever, is still alive and well. Back in their Swedish homeland, the album dominated the Sverigetopplistan – with all ten tracks occupying the top 30 in the singles chart. While the album became the groups eighth studio album to reach the no.1 spot. Beyond their shores Voyage has sailed to worldwide acclaim. Over in Australia, Voyage topped the ARIA charts and became the first studio album to do so since Arrival in 1976 and third studio album overall. However it is always the glass ceiling of the US charts that every act wants to crack. Finally, for the first time ever this week, ABBA smashed into the top 10 of the Billboard 200 – with Voyage becoming their highest charting album in America, reaching no.2. In the process they also topped Billboards Top Album Sales and Vinyl Albums charts. Thus at 82,000 copies it is the best-selling album of the week and the largest from a group in 2021. Overall Voyage has reached no.1 in 19 countries so far. These include, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. The final ABBA Voyage Recently the group announced the Voyage album and accompanying tour would be their last project together. Setting sail on a high, ABBA have promised revolutionary performances of new songs and old favourites on tour in 2022. Unlike a traditional concert, the Voyage Tour will see the band emerge as digital avatars of themselves from 1979. Together with the team at Industrial Light & Magic, a 3,000 seat purpose built arena located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, will be home to ABBA’s latest tour from 27th May 2022. More dates are continually being added, with tickets available here. Next month ABBA will release the jolly festive single ‘Little Things’. A track to remind everyone of that warm family feeling on Christmas morning. The song will be released on December 3rd, with the music video to follow. History of ABBA One of the most successful acts of all time, ABBA have amassed over 400million albums sold worldwide, 17 No. 1 hits and over 16million weekly global streams. Ever since their breakthrough with ‘Waterloo’ in 1974, ABBA’s music has captured the hearts of people worldwide. Today, the songs they created – written and produced by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and interpreted vocally with passion and commitment by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad – are regarded as an important part of the international music canon. During the 21st Century, ABBA are more popular than ever. Originally released in 1992, ABBA Gold recently passed its 1000th week on the UK Album Chart. The first album in history to reach this milestone. Furthermore content using the #ABBA hashtag on TikTok recently reached one billion views, without the catalogue officially being available on the platform. ABBA was inducted into the Rock N’Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Meanwhile ‘Dancing Queen’, one of their most beloved songs, was added to the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2015.

Have you enjoyed ABBA Voyage and its chart success? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to follow us on Spotify for the latest music from your favourite Eurovision acts. As well as YouTube to see our reactions to the news in the run up to the 2022 contest in Turin!

Bjorn Ulvaeus on Tik Tok

 Source ABBA on Tik Tok

18 tde novl4tiemSb5rhpcue

Bjorn - Little things

 source ABBA Voyage

Bjorn and Benny - We waited 40 years to embark on ABBA's new Voyage

Nov 12th, 2021 Spotify on Twitter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcP-ELAMJSk

 

Frida at Breakfast Show - BBC Radio 2

 Zoe Ball Breakfast Show - BBC Radio 2

Nov 11th, 2021

Exclusive Interview with Frida

Zoe Ball Breakfast Show - BBC Radio 2

Nov 11th, 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NYJL5uNBGE

Newsdesk

ABBA's Frida is "not a fan" of 'Eurovision' anymore.

The Swedish pop icons famously won the song contest in 1974 with mega-hit 'Waterloo, but the 75-year-old singer has confessed that she doesn't like how "technical" the show has become.

Speaking to 'The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show' on BBC Radio 2, Frida - whose real name is Princess Anni-Frid, Dowager Countess of Plauen - admitted: "I’m sorry to say no I don’t. I’m not so interested because it has changed so much over the years and it’s not what it was at that time. Now it’s more like a show, it’s very technical and there are some good songs coming out of it, but I cannot say I’m a fan of Eurovision, maybe I shouldn’t say it, but I did it anyway."

Despite her bandmates Bjorn Ulvaeus, 76, and Benny Andersson, 74, recently declaring that they will be bowing out following the recent release of their first album in almost 40 years, 'ABBA Voyage', and their upcoming avatar tour, Frida has insisted "never say never" to them reuniting again.

She said: "I have learnt to say ‘never to say never’ and I’m very surprised that Benny and Bjorn, and I cannot remember that this year we have probably said this must be the last thing we do because also thinking of our ages, you know, we are not young any longer and you never know, but I’m saying you never know so don’t be too sure."

Meanwhile, Bjorn and Benny - who complete the lineup with Agnetha Faltskog - recently discussed the possibility of them penning the UK's 'Eurovision Song Contest' entry tune, and how they'd want Dua Lipa to sing it.

The pair think it's "promising" that the 'Physical' hitmaker's management, TaP Music, is to scout a pop star to compete at next year's show, which will be held at the PalaOlimpico in Turin, Italy after Rome's Maneskin won the 2021 competition with 'Zitti E Buoni'.

What's more, they've even said they'd like to see the 26-year-old star herself sing the country's entry and insisted they would be up for penning the track for the right act.

Appearing on 'BBC Breakfast', the pair were asked what they thought of the UK's "new tactic", to which Benny replied: "Good."

And Bjorn said: "Promising."

Benny continued: "Picking an act is one thing, writing a song is different. So you need both a great song and a good act."

And when asked if they would consider writing the UK entry, he said: "Oh, a UK entry? I don't know."

Benny then turned to his bandmate, who outright said: "No."

However, the former insisted: "But what's the risk? You can't be worse than last."

Bjorn said: "No, but it needs to be a really good act to write for, yeah."

Benny then suggested: "Dua Lipa."

To which, his bandmate agreed: "Yes."

The 2022 entry song is set to be released on a major record label to further boost the nation's chances of victory, after UK once again suffered a major blow after James Newman - the brother of 'Love Me Again' hitmaker John Newman - scored nil points in May with his performance of 'Embers' in Rotterdam.

https://www.music-news.com/news/UK/144648/ABBA-s-Frida-is-not-a-fan-of

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Abba’s Anni-Frid Lyngstad: ‘Don’t be too sure’ Voyage is the end

In a rare interview, the singer known as Frida told Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 that album and concert residency may not be the band’s final act

Ben Beaumont-Thomas

@ben_bt

Thu 11 Nov 2021 10.11 GMT

Abba singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad has suggested that the group may continue beyond what has been billed as their final album and performances.

The Swedish pop quartet released Voyage, their first album in 40 years, last week, and it is certain to be a UK No 1 on Friday – all week it has been outselling the rest of the Top 40 combined. Next year, the group will appear on screens as digital “Abbatars” alongside a live band in a newly constructed venue in east London, the Abba Arena, for concerts between May and December.

Benny Andersson has emphatically said there will be no further Abba activity. “This is it,” he said in October. “It’s got to be, you know. I didn’t actually say ‘this is it’ in 1982. I never said myself that Abba was never going to happen again. But I can tell you now: this is it.”

In September, singer Agnetha Fältskog said of filming the footage for the live shows, which has been blended with CGI by Industrial Light and Magic: “One felt that maybe it’s the last thing we do. Same thing with the album … We’re a bit older now, and have our minor ailments. But we struggle on. I don’t dare to say [if a further reunion will happen], because it’s a bit uncertain.”

But speaking to Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 in a rare interview, Lyngstad – known as Frida – said: “I have learned to say never say never. We have probably said this must be the last thing we do – think of our ages, we are not young any longer. But you never know – don’t be too sure.”

Of the upcoming live show, she said: “It’s very exciting. I didn’t know what to believe in the beginning … it was hard to comprehend, I must admit. But now we see some of the results, I’m very excited about the whole thing.”

Lyngstad, who once lived in Henley-on-Thames, also praised the UK, saying it had “been very, very important for us. We have a strong bond with the UK, that maybe we don’t have with any other country in the world.”

But she was disparaging of the Eurovision song contest, which Abba won in 1974. “I’m not so interested [now],” she said. “Because it has changed so much over the years, and it’s not what it was at that time [in 1974]. Now it’s more like a show, it’s very technical. There are some good songs coming out of it, but I cannot say I’m a fan of Eurovision – maybe I shouldn’t say it!”

Speaking about the ecologically minded song Bumblebee, she hailed Greta Thunberg as “a little queen in Sweden, raising her voice for everything, and I’m very proud of her, this young person getting all these young people with her.”

She was also full of praise for Fältskog, describing singing with her again as “coming back home again, having fun with my little sister, that’s how it felt … She’s an absolutely wonderful storyteller, she has something magical in her storytelling, which I, unfortunately, [do] not have in the same way. Or maybe that is good, because that means that we kind of sing the lyrics and the songs in different ways.”

Abba: Voyage review – no thank you for the music

Read more

Discussing the success of the Voyage album, she said: “We didn’t expect anything, actually – you’re always a bit nervous when you release something new. But, if I compare it to how it was 40 years ago, it’s a bit of a difference. Because I would personally say I don’t take it that seriously as I would do earlier on, when I was younger – then it meant so much. We don’t have to prove anything [now] – we have done it for the fun of it.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/11/abba-anni-frid-lyngstad-frida-voyage-not-the-end

actualizado nov 22 , 2021

-Interview with Benny Andersson

 WDR 4-Interview with Benny Andersson

10.11.2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHIj7AIJVCg

Bjorn Ulvaeus: I´m not saying never

 november 8th 2021

Source Zap

Bjorn, Gisla and Ludvig in an interview with Today Show Australia

Nov 5th, 2021

 Bjorn, Gisla and Ludvig in an interview with Today Show Australia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h10lEr67D5k

The choir of the song Little Things

 El coro de la canción Little things

The choir of the song Little Things

instragram: wannabemartina

Nov 5th, 2021

ABBA - Voyage - The Story Behind The Album

 

 

 Nov 5th, 2021 

 Filmed by Veronica Blecker Additional footage: Aaron Elvis Kyle (London Black Island Studios), Ludvig Andersson (Stockholm recording studio), Svana Gisla (Stockholm Filmhuset) Screen recordings by Industrial Light & Magic Edited by Veronica Blecker Produced by Josh Barwick and Svana Gisla for Aniara Films Ltd.

Abba on new album Voyage: We don't need to prove anything

 

Abba on new album Voyage: We don't need to prove anything

As Abba release their first studio album for 40 years, Voyage, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus speak to the BBC about being compared to their old music and why you won't be seeing Agnetha and Anni-Frid.

5 de noviembre 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8rNAaKqyV4