Swedish superstars ABBA are set to launch a long overdue comeback to the music industry, after the welcome announcement that they have returned to the recording studios to produce new material after a 35-year gap. Fans and tribute bands alike seem eager to rekindle their love affair with one of pop music’s most respected and best-selling groups, after fearing that the opportunity may have been lost forever.
Virtual reality and TV comeback
The stimulus for their return seems to have been their agreement to create a “virtual reality” tour. Speaking via Instagram, the group enthused that “we all four felt that, after some 35 years, it could be fun to join forces again and go into the studio.”
No date has yet been specified for the release of the new songs - but a special television broadcast in December by the BBC and NBC is expected to feature one of them, a track called “I Still Have Faith In You.”
Popular tribute band ‘Bjorn Again’ were among those eagerly looking forward to hearing the fresh tracks, welcoming the chance to re-invigorate their own performances in the future.
Live touring ruled out
Fans may be slightly disappointed that live touring seems to have been ruled out, although that shouldn’t be a massive surprise given that none of the band members are getting any younger. But even appearing as holographic images should at least prompt reminisces of times gone by in the 1970s and early 1980s when they ruled the music scene.
Eurovision Song Contest victory
Ever since they famously triumphed in the 1974 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with the effervescent ‘Waterloo,’ the crowd-pleasing quartet has been a headline act. Massive commercial success and sell-out tours followed in the years to come, with perennial favourites ‘Dancing Queen,’ ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘Take a Chance on Me’ rocketing to the top of the charts.
They are believed to have sold more than 350 million records worldwide on the back of their stellar careers.
Troubled times after success
As ever though the success took its toll on the lives and personal relationships of the Abba band members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad and the band split up late in 1982.
After a brief spell as a solo singer, Agnetha for one, began to favour a lower profile out of the public eye and lived a somewhat solitary existence in her homeland for several years.
Like old times?
Their latest Instagram announcement will have provided their enduring fans with hope that the reunion will provide fresh memories, especially with the comment that going back to the studio “was like time stood still.” Let’s hope that the new Abba music matches the initial optimism.
