Abba - Ah, Vilka Tider

Here's a soppy video of my son Simon and his girlfriend Adelle. Please note this is not Bjorn and Agnetha, though they might have looked and acted similar in their younger days! The bench scene is reminiscent of a famous picture where Agnetha is ignored by the other three, though Simon is clearly not as pretty. The school kids are Just Like That at every break time!
Ah Vilka Tider was recorded on June 7th 1972 and has the distinction of being the only song that Abba released in Swedish only. The session sheet shows that Agnetha and Frida were duly paid for their backing vocals contribution at this time. The formation of the group marked the transition from Swedish language recordings as individual artists to English languages recordings for the international market.
Ah Vilka Tider was released as the B-side of the Swedish single version of Ring Ring (Bara Du Slog En Signal) on February 14th 1973. The single was credited to Bjorn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid and was released as record number Polar POS 1171. This was their 3rd single and was number 1 in Sweden for 8 weeks, and stayed in their charts for 17 weeks.
Abba's manager Stig Anderson soon become tired of the four unwieldy names, and started to refer to the group privately and publicly as ABBA. The media was amused at this, as Abba was also the name of the largest herring canning company in Sweden. However since the fish canners were unknown outside Sweden, Stig came to believe the name would work in international markets. A competition to find a suitable name for the group was held in February in the Gothenburg newspaper Goteborgs-Tidningen. The results were reported at the end of March. Several hundred letters were sent in, some of them with long lists of names.The group was impressed with the names "Alibaba", "FABB", "Friends and Neighbours" and "Baba". Curiously the name Abba did not appear at all in the published article about the results, although Stig stated that about 80% of people chose it. Other varied names submitted were Flower Power, Black Devils and Golden Diamonds. But in the end all the entries were ignored and it was announced in the summer of 1973 that the name "ABBA" was official. This is an acronym formed from the first letters of each group member's name: Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid (Frida). Frida later pointed out that the unofficial victor of the contest was probably called Stig Anderson.
Later the group negotiated with the fish canners for the right to use the name "ABBA". Stig phoned the managing director Anders Ekstrom, who kindly said yes on the condition that the group did not discredit his company. He later confessed that he could not have dreamed of better publicity for his product. "Bjorn and Benny didnt like the name very much in the beginning" recalled Stig. "They thought the name Abba smelled of canned fish. But we soon agreed that it was an excellent name in an international perspective. You can say it in any language." The first time the name is found written on paper is on a recording session sheet from the Metronome Studio in Stockholm dated 16 October 1973. This was first written as "Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida", but was subsequently crossed out with "ABBA" written in large letters on top
Ah, Vilka Tider (Oh, The Good Old Days)
Composers: Benny Andersson / Bjorn Ulvaeus
Lead vocal: Bjorn
Åh, vilka tider!
Paradiset hägrar
Du får kalla det fantasier
Men nog är det en dröm man minns
Drömde en dröm, jag minns och jag känner
Vatten blev vin ovh fiender vänner
Mmm, det var härlight att leva
Allting var fritt så vem skulle sakna
Någonting då? Nej, paradis, nakna
Var vi som Adam och Eva
Åh, vilka tider!
Underbara dagar
Roar sig kungligt, mår som en prins
Njuter allt gott som finns
Åh, vilka tider!
Paradiset hägrar
Du får kalla det fantasier
Men nog är det en dröm man minns
Ingen var sur och ingen var dyster
Var och en var en bror och en syster
Åh, vad jag dröde den stunden!
Skatan, han gol och göken, han skratta'
Ingenting var som det är, kan du fatta?
Vi var i paradislunden
Åh, vilka tider!
Underbara dagar
Roar sig kungligt, mår som en prins
Njuter allt gott som finns
Åh, vilka tider!
Paradiset hägrar
Du får kalla det fantasier
Men nog är det en dröm man minns
Du får kalla det fantasier
Men nog är det en dröm man minns

[@abbafanglosuk]

Cheers Matthias - in a few years time hopefully, as they're 16 at present and still at school!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Cheers Rob - yep this is something for the kids to look back on in later years and they can learn some Abba songs at the same time! I believe you were in one of the worlds high deserts recently, that would be something to remember too - hope you didn't get sunburnt!

[@caquerio]

This is the first time I listen to this song, what a nice surprise! thanks John; nice pictures and nice couple too. Congratulations

[@abbafanglosuk]

Cheers Bill, I like to do family videos now and then - its something to look back on in later years! The formation of the group name seemed a reasonable subject to go with the only Swedish only song they released, marking the transition from 4 talented individuals to world super group!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Thanks Xem, I was quite pleased with this one. There's some good photos to look back on, and a rare Swedish but very catchy Abba song to go with it! It shows their high standards that this nice song didn't make it onto the Ring Ring album!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Thanks Jim - yeah its different from the usual videos and the song is unique being the only Swedish only song that Abba ever released - and then it was hidden away on a B-side to a Swedish single release!!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Yes there is some similarity with "Me And Bobby and Bobby's Brother". Another factor is that this song was only recorded in Swedish, and thereafter Abba quickly moved on to recording tracks in English so that Ring Ring could be released internationally. This song is so bouncy that just listening to it makes you feel young and energetic. It would be one of their most singalong songs if we knew what it said!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Thanks Francisco, yes this song is rare but its still got Abba's tuneful singalong style to it! It should really have been on the Ring Ring cd instead of the Swedish version of Ring Ring (A-side of Ah Vilka Tider single) as its more unique!

[@myWORLDizDIGITAL]

a great video ! nicely put together. 5 stars all the way! later on, XEM

[@abbafanglosuk]

Yes indeed - oh to be young again!

[@frapistat]

How fun to use the bouncy ABBA tune to celebrate family. A perfect fit, John. 5*'s.

[@fridnetha]

Wow. Nice photos! Thanks for sharing Uncle.

[@abbafanglosuk]

Yep it soon grows on you Vanessa, its definitely got the early Abba singalong style! A pity it didn't quite make their first album Ring Ring - most likely because it was recorded in Swedish only!

[@abbafanglosuk]

Thanks Dallas, I like to be a bit different and put some fun into vids now and then. Kids seem to get together younger these days. I didn't have a girlfriend until 20 - too much homework every evening for college! I'll be happy if he passes for 6th form next term, which he should do.

[@dbrinkm1]

Cute couple ! Adelle is so cute and adorable ! I have 2 daughters & 1 son.My young daughters are also very attractive.

[@abbafanglosuk]

That's London for you Bill - prospects are a bit better out here! Helen and hubby have had their own house for years. David moved out last year and is looking to buy with his girlfriend, Just Simon left now, and he starts 6th form next term, So he should be alright too when the time comes to depart home, though that's some years ahead yet!

[@carlstandifer]

The above description. I have an old book on ABBA which I purchased back in 1977. The picture with Agnetha who is supposingly being ignored by Bjorn. That is a bit of a comedy thing. Bjorn is reading a paper. And Benny is kissing Anni Frid...which I wish it was me. That pose and in the picture a comedy thing back then. The way it was set up....probably by their manager Stig Anderson. Of all the songs...videos...and so on. Are just a sleuth of songs I never heard of...or seen. I only heard just a fraction. Tho I've been a fan since the early 70's.

[@cupen93]

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