2 EBU broadcasters unite for new documentary: ABBA – Against The Odds
By Andreas Kalaitzis18 March 2024
This year marks 50 years since ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 in Brighton with the song "Waterloo." This will be celebrated in a unique collaboration in a documentary titled "ABBA – Against The Odds."
The documentary will be shown in more than 15 countries in the weeks leading up to Eurovision 2024 in Malmö.
The story of the group that became one of the world's biggest and best-selling music groups of all times includes rare clips and exclusive interviews. It's directed by James Rogan and produced by Dan Hall.
Unique collaboration
The documentary was developed by Danish DR and Swedish SVT, and the concept originated from the EBU Documentary Group. It is the largest ever collaboration of EBU members on a documentary production.
Matthew Trustram, Head of Television, EBU says:
– This is something of a landmark production for European public-service broadcasters, who have pulled together their biggest collaboration to date in the documentary space, to celebrate the music and influence of ABBA, a true European cultural phenomenon. By working together, the broadcasters have been able to deliver truly ambitious and impactful storytelling to their audiences.
Anders Bruus, Commissioning Editor, DR says:
– Never have so many TV stations collaborated to unfold the story of ABBA and their cultural significance. And when an idea from DR and SVT ends up engaging so many European TV stations in telling the story of a Swedish pop group, it shows the significance of ABBA over 50 years.
Axel Arnö, Head of Documentary, SVT says:
– The documentary is not only a celebration of ABBA's iconic music but also showcases the importance of our shared cultural heritage. The collaboration between so many European TV stations demonstrates how we can be united through music, art, and storytelling. ABBA's breakthrough in the Eurovision Song Contest 50 years ago and the current collaboration between TV stations are pivotal in bringing nations together then and now.
The documentary will premiere at Copenhagen's CPH:DOX on 23 March 2024, and will be broadcast in more than 15 countries throughout Europe ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö in May.
ABBA World in Malmö
Fans will be able to experience all the different parts of ABBA under one roof during Eurovision in Malmö, Sweden. Opening its doors on 29 April, ABBA World invites both new and old fans to explore parts of ABBA The Museum, ABBA Voyage, Mamma Mia!, Mamma Mia! The Party, and Polar Music International all at once.
Spread across two floors, this mini-exhibition and pop-up experience will create a space for ABBA fans to meet, share, and create memories together showcasing both the past and present of ABBA. Placed in the central parts of Malmö, ABBA World will be open for visitors for two weeks only at Södergatan 28 between 29 April and 12 May.
ABBA has been described as one of the world's most popular bands, and so far they've sold more than 150 million records worldwide.
The group released nine studio albums, two live albums, seven compilation albums, and 50 singles.
The major international breakthrough came in 1974 in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 when they won with Waterloo.
As part of a season of programmes on the BBC to celebrate 50 years since Abba’s Eurovision win, BBC Two and BBC Pop Music TV have commissioned When Abba Came to Britain, a 1 x 60 minute documentary from Wise Owl Films.
When Abba Came To Britain looks at the time At the band spent in the UK from 1974 to 1982 and examines their legacy, from Eurovision to ABBA Voyage.
Featuring previously untransmitted interviews with ABBA, the documentary “takes an affectionate look at the ongoing love affair between the UK and the Swedish supergroup.” Wise Owl Films has previously produced BBC Two’s award-winning When X Came To Britain strand (Bob Marley, Nirvana, Motown, Tina Turner and Blondie) and The Hacienda: The Club That Shook Britain.
The documentary will include a wealth of BBC and non-BBC performances, as well as long forgotten news footage, which all show how ABBAmania took hold in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. The story is brought up to date with the quartet’s return to Britain in 2022, choosing to launch their ‘comeback’ concert – ABBA Voyage – in London.
Contributors include: musicians who performed with the band; tour manager Thomas Johansson, who recalls the performance in Glasgow (1979) which inspired the hit Super Trouper; an ABBA superfan who travelled from Liverpool to London aged 14 to meet the band; staff who worked at their British-based record label; the British Eurovision judge who scored them ‘nul points’ in 1974; the producers behind ABBA Voyage; and a now-famous member of the children’s choir which accompanied ABBA at their Wembley Arena concerts in 1979. It will also feature interviews with musicians who were heavily influenced by the band, including Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and Blossoms.
Through interviews with those who witnessed the ABBA story unfold, the film will cross the nations and regions, visiting locations which had a part to play in the story, including the Brighton Dome and the Birmingham Odeon where the band played their first ever British concert in 1977, hearing from those who were there.
Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor, BBC Pop Music TV says: “When Abba came to Britain is a love letter from this country to the beloved Swedish super-group, celebrating the special relationship we have as a nation with Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid. We focus on the stories of individuals who were lucky to be caught up in their world. A must watch for pop fans of all ages.”
Mark Robinson of Wise Owl Films says: “There can be fewer bands, if any, who have straddled generations of British music fans in a more impressive way than ABBA. Their original fans might now be in their fifties and sixties, but their children, and even their grandchildren, will be just as familiar with their biggest hits thanks to the likes of Mamma Mia! and Voyage. This film shows the enduring and often emotional impact that ABBA have left on British fans and musicians across the decades, but we will also chart the key role that Britain played in the band’s history – from the music of groups like The Beatles to playing host to defining moments in their career”.
When Abba Came to Britain is a Wise Owl Films production for BBC Two and BBC Pop Music TV. It was commissioned by Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor, BBC Pop Music TV and Jonathan Rothery, BBC Head of Pop Music TV. It is produced and directed by Dhivya Kate Chetty and the Executive Producer for Wise Owl Films is Mark Robinson. Leeds-based Wise Owl Films is a non-scripted label of Lime Pictures, part of All3 Media.
The BBC celebrates ABBA in April 50 years since their Eurovision win in 1974
This April, the BBC celebrates this remarkable anniversary with a range of programmes on BBC Two, Radio 2, BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer
Published: 08:00 am, 18 March 2024
Updated: 11:00 am, 18 March 2024
When Abba came to Britain is a love letter from this country to the beloved Swedish super-group, celebrating the special relationship we have as a nation with Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid. We focus on the stories of individuals who were lucky to be caught up in their world. A must watch for pop fans of all ages.
This spring sees the 50th anniversary of music superstars ABBA winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. Ever since they were introduced on stage at the Brighton Dome, resplendent in unforgettable platform heels and satin, they have held an enduring place in Britain’s hearts and in British pop culture.
This April, the BBC celebrates this remarkable anniversary with a range of programmes on BBC Two, Radio 2, BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer.
BBC Two and BBC iPlayer broadcast a night of ABBA specials, including When Abba Came to Britain and More ABBA at the BBC, featuring a performance of So Long on Top of the Pops that hasn’t been broadcast since 1974
Radio 2 launches a vote to discover the listeners’ Ultimate Abba Song
BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds present Eras: ABBA, a brand new series of Eras dedicated to the band, Sophie Ellis-Bextor: ABBA, My Supergroup and ABBA at the BBC
BBC TV and BBC iPlayer
To celebrate ABBA’s special relationship with British music fans, BBC Two and BBC Pop Music TV present When Abba Came to Britain, a 1 x 60 minute documentary which will be broadcast in early April as part of a dedicated Saturday night of ABBA specials on BBC Two.
When Abba Came To Britain looks at the magical time Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Benny and Björn spent in the UK from 1974 to 1982 and examines their ground-breaking legacy, from Eurovision to ABBA Voyage.
Featuring previously untransmitted interviews with ABBA, this documentary takes an affectionate look at the ongoing love affair between the UK and the Swedish supergroup and is produced by Wise Owl Films - the Leeds-based team behind BBC Two’s award-winning When X Came To Britain strand (Bob Marley, Nirvana, Motown, Tina Turner and Blondie) and The Hacienda: The Club That Shook Britain.
It’s the tale of a relationship that started with the band’s fascination with British music, including The Beatles in the 1960s. After winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo in 1974, the band would eventually find global stardom, but their relationship with the UK remains unique.
The BBC was there at the beginning in Brighton - where the world first heard their name 50 years ago - and at the end of their initial chart-busting career in 1982, with what was thought to be the band’s last appearance on BBC One’s The Late, Late Breakfast Show.
The documentary will include a wealth of BBC and non-BBC performances, as well as long forgotten news footage, which all show how ABBAmania took hold in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s. The story is brought up to date with the quartet’s return to Britain in 2022, choosing to launch their ground-breaking ‘comeback’ concert - ABBA Voyage – in London.
Contributors include: musicians who performed with the band; tour manager Thomas Johansson, who recalls the performance in Glasgow (1979) which inspired the hit Super Trouper; an ABBA superfan who travelled from Liverpool to London aged 14 to meet the band; staff who worked at their British-based record label; the British Eurovision judge who scored them ‘nul points’ in 1974; the producers behind ABBA Voyage; and a now-famous member of the children’s choir which accompanied ABBA at their Wembley Arena concerts in 1979. It will also feature interviews with musicians who were heavily influenced by the band, including Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and Blossoms.
Through interviews with those who witnessed the ABBA story unfold, the film will cross the nations and regions, visiting locations which had a part to play in the story, including the Brighton Dome and the Birmingham Odeon where the band played their first ever British concert in 1977, hearing from those who were there.
Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor, BBC Pop Music TV says: “When Abba came to Britain is a love letter from this country to the beloved Swedish super-group, celebrating the special relationship we have as a nation with Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid. We focus on the stories of individuals who were lucky to be caught up in their world. A must watch for pop fans of all ages.”
Mark Robinson of Wise Owl Films says: “There can be fewer bands, if any, who have straddled generations of British music fans in a more impressive way than ABBA. Their original fans might now be in their fifties and sixties, but their children, and even their grandchildren, will be just as familiar with their biggest hits thanks to the likes of Mamma Mia! and Voyage. This film shows the enduring and often emotional impact that ABBA have left on British fans and musicians across the decades, but we will also chart the key role that Britain played in the band’s history – from the music of groups like The Beatles to playing host to defining moments in their career”.
When Abba Came to Britain is a Wise Owl Films production for BBC Two and BBC Pop Music TV. It was commissioned by Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor, BBC Pop Music TV and Jonathan Rothery, BBC Head of Pop Music TV. It is produced and directed by Dhivya Kate Chetty and the Executive Producer for Wise Owl Films is Mark Robinson. Leeds-based Wise Owl Films is a non-scripted label of Lime Pictures, part of All3 Media.
Further programmes to be broadcast as part of the ABBA night on BBC Two include:
More ABBA at the BBC: BBC Two says ‘Thank You For The Music’ with another voyage into the archives for more of the Swedish supergroup’s best appearances from shows including Top of the Pops, Wogan, The Late, Late Breakfast show and The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show. Bringing viewers right up to date, the programme also captures the excitement and sounds of their recent, technologically pioneering stage shows. The compilation also features a rare performance of ABBA’s song So Long, which has not been seen on TV since it was first broadcast in 1974. The performance had been missing from the BBC Archives and thought to be lost forever, until a Top of the Pops fan unearthed a home recording, which was then restored and will be shown for the first time, 50 years on, in this programme.
ABBA at the BBC: First broadcast in 2013, there is another chance to see the first compilation of ABBA's greatest performances at the BBC, including of Waterloo, Dancing Queen, Does Your Mother Know, Thank You for the Music, SOS, Fernando, Chiquitita and more.
ABBA in Switzerland: 1979 Special: In a show originally broadcast in 1979 on BBC One, ABBA star in their first European TV special, recorded on location in the Swiss Alps and also featuring special guests, Kate Bush and Roxy Music.
The Joy of ABBA: Between 1974 and 1982, ABBA launched into the UK charts but divided critical opinion. This documentary explores how they raised the bar for pop music as a form and made us fall in love with the sound of Swedish melancholy. This programme was first broadcast in 2013.
As announced recently, BBC One will broadcast the feature documentary, ABBA: Against The Odds later in spring. The programme will be produced by multi-award winning documentary makers Rogan Productions (Freddie Mercury: The Final Act), directed by BAFTA and Emmy Award-winner James Rogan and distributed worldwide by BBC Studios.
Telling the epic story of ABBA’s greatest period of musical achievement framed between the albums Arrival (1976) and Super Trouper (1980), this is the story of ABBA’s deeply personal and perilous journey through the band’s most transformative years and rise to global fame. In the UK the film will be shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this May.
More information is available here.
BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds
On Radio 2 and BBC Sounds in April, Eras returns (following previous series on Kylie and The Beatles), telling the definitive story of ABBA in four, era-defining chapters. Using the band’s own words with extensive archive, Eras: ABBA looks at the group’s rise, revival and how they changed music along the way. Contributors include Kylie, Rylan, ABBA historian Carl Magnus Palm, session musician Janne Schaffer, Rod Stephen - creator of Björn Again, and ABBA Voyage producers, Ludvig Andersson and Svana Gisla. Plus, Sophie Ellis-Bextor shares her love for the band in ABBA, My Supergroup.
Eras: ABBA, Sophie Ellis-Bextor: ABBA, My Supergroup and ABBA at the BBC will be available on BBC Sounds from Saturday 6 April and broadcast on Radio 2 later that month.
Also in April, Radio 2 will launch a vote to discover the listeners’ Ultimate Abba Song, featuring their favourite Top 40 tracks. More details will be announced in due course.
BBC Pop Music TV highlights over the past months have included: Highlights from the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival (BBC Four); Texas Live in the Piano Room (BBC Two); RAYE at the Royal Albert Hall (BBC One); Rick Astley Rocks New Year’s Eve (BBC One); Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution (BBC Two); Cher Meets Rylan (BBC Two); Reel Stories: Take That and Radio 2 In Concert – Take That (BBC Two); the BBC celebration of The Beatles on TV, radio, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, reflecting the release of their last song ‘Now And Then’; the autumn 2023 series of Later…with Jools Holland (BBC Two); When Blondie Came To Britain (BBC Two); The Country Music Awards (BBC Four); The First Ladies of Hip-Hop (BBC Two); Kylie Minogue’s Radio 2 in the Park performance (BBC Two), highlights from Reading and Leeds festivals (BBC One); Northern Soul at The Proms (BBC Two); and BBC Glastonbury. Music fans can also watch live performances on The Graham Norton Show (BBC One), The One Show (BBC One) and Strictly Come Dancing (BBC One).
‘Lost’ Top Of The Pops ABBA footage to be shown on BBC for 1st time in 50 years ahead of Eurovision victory anniversary
The Beeb has also created a smorgasbord of other ABBA specials ahead of the big anniversary
Ellie Henman, Bizarre Editor
Published: 20:00, 17 Mar 2024
Updated: 19:05, 18 Mar 2024
ABBA will soon celebrate 50 years since the night they won Eurovision on April 6, 1974.
And ahead of this year’s contest, in the Swedish super-group’s homeland in May, there is fevered rumour that they may reunite for a special show during the final.
Meanwhile, BBC Two will join in the Take A Chance On Me stars’ celebration of that Eurovision win, in Brighton, with a series of special shows paying homage.
More Abba At The BBC will feature one particularly nostalgic moment, after the Beeb was handed a video it believed was lost in its archives a tape of the band’s 1974 performance on Top Of The Pops.
The recording, which shows them belting out 1974 hit So Long, was thought to have been lost but will now be shown in full for the first time in five decades.
Another BBC2 programme, When Abba Came To Britain, will also celebrate the success of the group, made up of Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
READ MORE ON EUROVISION
A source said: “Getting the lost Top Of The Pops recording was a real coup for the BBC and it will be part of a series of huge programmes to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Abba’s Eurovision triumph.
“As well as the Top Of The Pops footage on More Abba At The BBC, the show When Abba Came To Britain will feature never-before-seen interviews with the band, as well as musicians who have been influenced by them including Primal Scream star Bobby Gillespie and Blossoms.
“Their old tour manager Thomas Johansson will also open up about ABBA-mania in the UK.”
“Even the Eurovision judge who famously scored the hitmakers ‘nul points’ back in ’74 makes an appearance.”
Most read in Bizarre
I’m sure that will involve some begrudging backtracking by the individual in question.
When Abba Came To Britain, produced by Wise Owl Films, will air next month alongside More Abba At The BBC.
Eurovision 2024 date and host city revealed after Sweden's victory
The Beeb has also created a smorgasbord of other ABBA specials in April including Abba In Switzerland: 1979 Special and The Joy Of Abba.
Here on Biz, we’re huge fans of the band so will be cracking open the vino and sticking on our own silver boots and flares
El emotivo documental que conmemorará el 50 aniversario de la victoria de ABBA en Eurovisión
El tiempo vuela... Ya han pasado cinco décadas desde el despegue de la carrera de la banda sueca y la BBC no ha querido faltar al homenaje
19 mar. 2024 5:40Actualizado 05:40
1974, el año que cambió la vida de ABBA para siempre. Agnetha, Björn, Benny y Anni-Frid, que nombraron al grupo con un acrónimo de sus iniciales, consiguieron impactar al mundo entero con su victoria en Eurovisión y comenzaron una estelar carrera internacional. Ahora, la BBC publicará un documental sobre la banda sueca y su impacto en la música.
Hace 50 años se presentaban al Melodifestivalen, el Benidorm Fest de Suecia, con su tema 'Waterloo'. Quién se iba a imaginar el impacto de esta canción en la sociedad, tan grande fue que lograron la primera victoria de Suecia en el festival de la canción.
La BBC presentará contenido inédito de la celebración tras la victoria en el festival europeo, así como imágenes de su paso por el Reino Unido. 'When ABBA Came to Britain', la producción audiovisual de una hora de duración debutará a principios de abril durante una noche de sábado dedicada a la venta. Sumado al contenido eurovisivo, los espectadores podrán ver "entrevistas a la banda nunca antes vistas". Desde bbc.com comunican que el documental narrará "el enamoramiento entre la banda sueca y Reino Unido". Además, la película mostrará el impacto emocional en los 'fans' británicos y en los artistas a lo largo de los años.
Pero este no será el único especial que lance la empresa inglesa, sino que también veremos 'More ABBA at the BBC' y se podrá escuchar contenido en la radio relacionado con este aniversario. El primero, buceará en la hemeroteca para encontrar los mejores 'looks' y actuaciones. Además, incluirán la 'performance' de 'So Long', una puesta en escena que no se ha vuelto a ver en televisión desde su estreno en 1974. Se pensaba que estaba perdida para siempre porque se había eliminado de los archivos de la BBC, hasta que un espectador recordó tenerla grabada en casa y, gracias a él, podremos disfrutar de ella de nuevo.
Otros programas especiales que se podrán disfrutar durante ese fin de semana dedicado a ABBA son 'ABBA at the BBC', 'ABBA in Switzerland', 'The Joy of ABBA', 'ABBA Against the Odds'.
Gracias por la música
ABBA ha sido parte de nuestras vidas y cuentan con grandes temas a sus espaldas. 1976 fue el año en el que la banda se consolidó a nivel internacional. 'Fernando' fue uno de sus éxitos del momento, que alcanzó la primera posición en listas de países como Francia, Alemania o Reino Unido.
En octubre del 76, 'Fernando' formó parte de su disco 'Arrival', que incluyó otros grandes sencillos: 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', 'Money, Money, Money' o 'Dancing Queen', el primer número 1 en la lista 'Billboard Hot 100'.
Otro de sus temas más recordados es 'Chiquitita', que presentaron en el Concierto de UNICEF en 1979. Rápidamente se convirtió en un exitazo y el grupo sueco decidió ceder el 50% de los beneficios obtenidos con esa canción a UNICEF. Este pacto sigue en pie a día de hoy, es más, ahora es del 100% de los ingresos.
Saltamos a 1980, año de 'Super Trouper' y 'The Winner Takes It All'. De ahí a 2008, fecha del lanzamiento de la película musical 'Mamma Mia!'. Este proyecto audiovisual ha conseguido expandir el legado de ABBA a los grupos más jóvenes, convirtiéndose en un 'film' obligado para cualquiera.
2024 promete ya que, con el aniversario de Eurovisión, se rumorea un nuevo proyecto de la banda sueca. El último disco de ABBA salió en 2021 bajo el nombre 'Voyage'. Entre los temas aparece 'I Still Have Faith In You'.
El legado de ABBA sigue muy presente en la sociedad, tanto que la banda ha creado un espacio dedicado a su música en Londres. El 'ABBA Arena' es el estadio desmontable más grande del mundo, en el que las noches son bastante peculiares: nos brinda conciertos de hologramas de ABBA que nos hacen pensar que son ellos de verdad.
