N°87 ABBA

One of the world’s most popular and successful music groups of all time, ABBA was formed fifty years ago (1972) in Stockholm by two couples: Björn Ulvaeus & Agnetha Fältskog and Benny Andersson & Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida). The name ABBA was created as an acronym of the first letters of their first names and has since the release of their first album in 1973 have become one of the best selling musicians in history. In the beginning of their career, ABBA were Sweden’s first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Waterloo. Since then, that song has become one of Abba’s timeless jewels. In 1999, based on the songs of ABBA, the world wide musical success Mamma Mia! premiered in London. The film features talented artists Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan and more. The success of the film allowed for it to be adopted into a Broadway play and has, to date, been seen by more than 60 million people in over 440 cities. After almost 20 years, a sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again was released and was just as big as a success.