ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus explains Eurovision no-show and shares "personal" meaning of classic song

[@LeeMichaelWalton]

A lovely guy who is a musical genius. All ABBA members are fabulous. I am a professional musicain, now 50 years of age. The ABBA songs have grown with me throughout the years.

[@guidedmeditation2396]

What a great ride it must have been to be in that group. I am glad to see them getting respect and love even after all these years. ABBA is more appreciated here in the States now than they ever were back then and I think thats great.

[@matheit7883]

​@@guidedmeditation2396 Yes yes yes ❤Greeting from Germany ABBA Songs Day by Day...Year by Year....i m so glad Thank you for the Music ABBA (Thanks Sweden for the 4 Peopel )❤❤❤❤

[@just_passing_through]

A true gentleman to the core. So incredibly rich, and famous, yet so very down to earth.

[@jaysterling26]

Probably due to Lagom & the Jante law, if you’re interested.

[@cesarm.franciafernandez5935]

One of the masters of the pop scene, Mr Ulvaeus.

[@rde4017]

What a beloved hero and absolute legend. A genuine god of pop music. x

[@guidedmeditation2396]

This simple video brightened my day.

[@raju-bitter]

What a wonderful interview, a great band, and such a humble human being. Thanks for the interview!

[@tomnoziglia8385]

Such a talented guy and still so humble as are all 4 band members. Their music is timeless and inspirational. Thank you Bjorn!!!!

[@garyhunt8067]

Bjorn and Benny are legends

[@andrewmcdonald6987]

Pop royalty member. Abba is a brilliant name.

[@TboneSteak1992]

Wow! Excellent interview. Great choice of questions.

[@AzoreanZionist]

🤩Thank You.....Agnetha, Björn, Benny & Anni-Frid.......For The Music ♫♫♫♫♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪❤

[@sambda]

Such a modest guy. Other musicians please learn from this!

[@michaelm3943]

Bjorn is a true gentleman which of course y'all can see. His is also a genius when it comes to writing, the lyrics of the ABBA songs are all down to him and they are brilliant. He is a guy who looks amazing too and you can see he takes his care of himself. He is one of the nicest guys in the business. The world is grateful for ABBA.

[@leifgunnarlindberg3879]

ABBA DABBA DO , Here comes Sweden. If it wasnt for the nights. is a under rated ABBA song.

[@marcelparrilla915]

So grateful to Bjorn! He seems to be the only ABBA member who fought to keep the brand going for generations to come.

[@QuintEssential-sz2wn]

Ugh. It’s so disappointing to see interviewers asking the same questions over and over and over. Poor Bjorn. If only a real ABBA fan interview them. Rick Beato’s interview was terrific since delved in to all sorts of questions you don’t normally see.

[@herrbonk3635]

But Beato didn't go very deep either (and lots of AI crap on top of that).

[@popcult]

Unpretentious Organic Genius : ABBA

[@Algabatz]

What a great guy!

[@padraigj3762]

Tack Björn för den fina intervjun på Gold Radio och tack Abba för Strålande sånger , musik och röster vi fortfarande lyssnar på och kommer att fortsätta göra.❤

[@christianoazzuro6711]

Veery interesting interview very good questionary!

[@tonymatthewaustin9597]

My god... how can you just not love him? Such a beautiful human.

[@ChatGPT1111]

"Sweden was so safe back then, you didn't lock your doors". That was everywhere back then. What the heck happened?

[@carterfamilychannel]

Amazing talented man! ABBA really are something special i was so happy they got to return with a new album

[@stanleybandos8195]

It's a great name, i don't know what he's talking about

[@nicolaknight66]

That ‘ridiculous name’ is the name of my youngest daughter. Thanks Björn !! haha

[@christianoazzuro6711]

'ridiculous" or not they made us LOVE it!Now it's a name that is still big deal,with a classic value in music culture and it still makes my heart beat faster even to the sound of it.Bless your little.daughter.Wonderful name.Reminds me of perfumed spring on a sunny day.

[@nicolaknight66]

@@christianoazzuro6711 😊 my daughter isn’t so little now, she’s 21 !! 🥰

[@christianoazzuro6711]

@@nicolaknight66 Doesn;t matter the age ,for many parents it's still our little ones.

[@lounolastname4477]

How awful, it’s a horrible name

[@cannabisstatics6193]

@@nicolaknight66. Think I saw on a TV show on ABBA a few years ago an interview with a fan who also named her daughter Abba! Don’t think her daughter was much of an Abba fan unfortunately

[@shyman99]

The name was genius because it placed them in the first spot of the alphabetized record bins. So you walk into a record store and immediately see one of their albums at you. No better way to advertise.

[@bobdavis4848]

What about Aalon and The A-Alikes? Some stores filed The A's before Abba, too. Well, I do get your point though, and that second act was rap, so won't likely be in the pop or rock genre section.

[@hejiranyc]

At 10:44 , what does Bjorn mean when he says "...no... it's not going to be the end...?" Is he referring to ABBA?

[@AGNETHAFALTSK0G]

because there is more new music to come !

[@wretch1]

After hearing the backstory, i listened to Slipping Through My Fingers and it put a lump in my throat.

[@jans724]

That song breaks my heart. I have a little daughter and it just cuts too close to the bone.

[@matheit7883]

​@@jans724.. Yes is a wonderful Heart breaker Song for little Kids and Mama and Papa Greeting from Germany ❤❤❤

[@gusyonok9950]

It's a bit too corny

[@Amarylis185]

Lovely song poignant and very moving!

[@janeturner2120]

I love ABBA is it about B I loved A great singers and looks.So I thank you for the music Jane Txxx❤❤❤❤

[@jamesdagenais6494]

I always thought ABBA was a good name.

[@nonnayoubuzinnes1669]

I like how Bjorn is trying to help other artists who have not received the royalties they should have. Also like the fact he met people at Tech firms to discuss A. I and its impact on music. Very smart guy.

[@michaelrochester48]

He also hated his earlier band named the Hootennanny singers. He said that was a stupid name as well.

[@bobdavis4848]

How about Benny's group The Hep Stars? They were really hep back in their day, right?

[@michaelrochester48]

@@bobdavis4848hep is American beatnick slang for cool

[@bobdavis4848]

@@michaelrochester48 Yes, I know; I'm American. You mean beatnik. These days, maybe when pondering a band name like that, I thought musicians might think, "If you have to tell people you're hep, how hep can you really be?" I see Hendrix in your icon; first two letters of it there and I think he tended to let people figure it out for themselves. Happy new month to you and yours.

[@nimos1]

Björn is totally wrong to say that the name ABBA is ‘ridiculous’. On the contrary, it is arguably the cleverest band name ever. It is short and memorable and starts with the first letter of the alphabet. The fact that each letter represents the first names of the band members (albeit with some tinkering with Frida), with the symmetry of Benny and Björn both having names beginning with ‘B’ as the male band members and Agnetha and Anni-Frid as the female counterparts is pure serendipity. If that is not brilliant enough, the fact that the group also comprised of two couples underlined by the fact that the first letter ‘B’ of ABBA has been transposed in the resulting trademark giving the impression that Benny and Björn have their figurative backs to each other so they are facing their respective partners is bordering on pure genius. This must be one of the top ten recognisable trademarks in the world alongside Nike. I would go as far as to say their ‘ridiculous’ band name was instrumental in their success, though obviously their music had to be exceptional too.

[@Salutimondo]

🥱🥱🥱

[@nelidapacioni5168]

Gracias por la musica ❤❤❤❤

[@elijahhawaii]

A true legend most certainly. They were not better represented by their avatars at ESC in Sweden though. It was disappointing. He said that he never thought he would win ESC in 1974 and it would have been so nice to have them show up in person to acknowledge the contest that made them famous and world-wide superstars.

[@ronsapp]

B B B Benny & Bjorn They've got Agnetha too and Frida too You know I own all their CDsssssssssssss B B B Benny & Bjorn !!!

[@NickSBailey]

band names aren't all that important they come to be associated with the output and that gives it the meaning

[@christianoazzuro6711]

So true!

[@darrensmith6999]

Love this quy he has a very British sense of humor (:

[@damothepianist]

What does not get mentioned ever is that after Abba he came to live in Britain new Henley on Thames and worked in a company somewhere, because he did not expect Abba to be remembered. He was certainly in the UK in 1999 even when Mamma Mia the musical was being launched, and even only a few years after Kristina the Musical. Wikipedia says this : 'From 1984 to 1990 they lived in the United Kingdom, where Ulvaeus founded an IT business with his brother.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Fun fact! ABBA is an anagram of ABBA. When the band chose the name they thought it was too simple so they revered the First "A" with the last "A" and then swapped the two "Bs" around giving them the newly arranged name ABBA. Pure Swedish genius just like their music!

[@paulsheridan543]

That didn't happen until late 1976.

[@HolgerJakobs]

Every word is an anagram of itself. But the name is a palindrome! The turning of one B had accidentally happened when they had a photo shooting with giant letters made from plastic. They saw it on the printed photos, liked it and turned it into a registered trademark ®️.

[@MsSmudge14]

I would still love to meet 'Agnetha', I've been waiting for over 40 years.

[@jamesshea9575]

I disagree with Bjorn about the band’s name. ABBA is PERFECT.

[@KebabMusicLtd]

The Beatles came upon their name through a process of elimination really. For some of their earlier gigs each band member adopted what they thought would be a cool name, like Paul Raven or Carl Harrison (after Carl Perkins). For a while they were calling themselves Long John and the Silver Beetles. They then shortened it to Silver Beetles and Silver Beatles as they progressed to play beat-music. There was also a motorcycle group in the Marlon Brando film Wild One who were referred to as The Beetles. I have to believe they were inspired by that. I have always regarded the name to be the hall-mark of an excellent product.

[@PFVideoAce]

ABBA is the BEST name ever

[@catieschrager5282]

I’m sobbing at the way he talks about Linda

[@petralorenzen5008]

thats true ❤

[@inaf1079]

ABBA is better than BAAB or ABAB or BABA 😅

[@bananaspiel1850]

True. Real. All the way.

[@gaztambo139]

Björn always seems to show enthusiasm talking about ABBA, as if he’s answering these questions for the first time. How did we meet ? Oooh that’s a new one ! What’s my favourite song ? …. mmmm tricky….let me think… But I guess if you helped create something as popular as ABBA (no less ridiculous than AC/DC), you don’t need to fake the enthusiasm. He can’t be doing it for the money 🙂

[@CliffMcAulay]

Like all pop groups, it is only the songs that are important..And ABBA had the goods! Lovely Benny has turned into Edvard Grieg in his old age, and this guy has turned into Paul Anka!

[@Bandido894]

it's ridiculous name only for Swedish herring company. 🤣

[@musicdirectordk]

Nice🍀

[@MrLpi]

Ringo and Bjorn should start a hair & beard dye franchise, the interviewer could buy shares😂

[@reuvenmarkmozes-mozesmusic7000]

And ABBA in Hebrew means father

[@prp3231]

My favourite song of theirs was Angelo.

[@gusyonok9950]

That's Brotherhood of Man, the ABBA rip off

[@knockedoutloaded279]

Hoping for 2 new songs

[@sambda]

Nice interview, but Bjorn dodges around the reason they didn't come on at the 50th Eurovision ("for artistic reasons...and other reasons").

[@gusyonok9950]

It was really strange they didn't even have a video message. Sure they used the Avatars, but it was just a clip from the show, nothing original. It was in Sweden, it was the 50th anniversary. There must be another reason they didn't do it, because it seemed set up perfectly for them to be there. Of course nobody expected them to perform, but even to turn up and wave, or even a video message-would that have compromised artistic integrity??

[@sambda]

@@gusyonok9950 Agreed. The four have appeared together both before and after (the royal thing) the Eurovision 50th thing, so I don't quite see the problem with a walkdown, wave, and a brief thank-you from Bjorn. I suspect one of the women wouldn't do it for some reason.

[@NoFinalWords]

The story of how they derived the name ABBA has changed so many times. The name ABBA makes sense because each had notoriety individually, so why not ABBA?

[@gusyonok9950]

What? There's only one reason they are called ABBA, because of their names-what other stories are there?

[@Kevin-zz9nc]

Don't forget Abba fish paste....that other legendary Swedish export!!!!

[@neilforbes416]

10:33 Geez, ABBA are looking positively *ancient!* Agnetha with walking stick and grey hair, Benny with grey hair as well, all four now in their mid-to-late 70s, *YIKES!*

[@p.m.6064]

It’s Frida with the walking stick.

[@neilforbes416]

@@p.m.6064 Frida was the dark-haired one, Agnetha was the blonde, her hair gone all silver and she had the walking stick.

[@p.m.6064]

@@neilforbes416 no. Agnetha is the blond lady in the picture and Frida is the lady with the white hair.

[@gusyonok9950]

WOW, they look older than they did 50 years ago???? What a shock. Personally I think they look great and have aged gracefully. Agnetha and Frida are older sure, but still good looking ladies. Benny has aged exactly as you would expect. Bjorn arguably looks better as an older man.

[@onbe804]

Are we still with the name ? The fish factory etc .... Ridiculous!

[@gusyonok9950]

He's right that ABBA is an awful name, but it got me thinking. Which band names are any good? They're mostly terrible. Think of the greats: Rolling Stones is a cool name. I agree with Bjorn, no problems with that but.....The Beatles? A lame pun, Led Zeppelin? Just awful, Pink Floyd? I don't think even the guys who were in the group knew where that name came from and what it means. The Beach Boys? Dreadful. Queen? Terrible. AC/DC? Thought of that while shaving no doubt. There are a few other half decent names I can think of. Metallica is ok, Guns n Roses is pretty cool, but the majority of band names are laughable.

[@maxpower6576]

Glad they weren't in Eurovision 24, weakest in so many years. Winner was awful.

[@kimbozw1808]

i suspect that doors must be locked in Sweden nowadays for security reasons.

[@polmus]

Yes, but I've never heard anyone try to open it anyway, so it might just as well be unlocked. Even if you have unlocked doors criminals would think twice about entering a home, the owner could come home, or already be at the home, so it isn't just a matter of walking in. The best safeguard we have against criminals aren't locked doors, but the law itself. That has always been the case, cause if a criminal really wants to enter a home, they could find a way to do that.

[@papalaz4444244]

we found the racist psychopath and his racist memes

[@roaringviking5693]

So you don't lock your door, wherever the hell you live? Hope the robbers in your neighbourhood reads this. Stop stirring up crap for no reason!

[@ChatGPT1111]

I M M I G R A N T S

[@polmus]

@@roaringviking5693 Maybe you should stop being so afraid? Maybe you should stop spreading that fear to others? I'm not saying that you shouldn't lock your door, but it's important to understand that the reason you are safe is that we have a legal system, not the locked doors.

[@SpaceCattttt]

ABBA sounds a lot better than BAAB, BABA or ABAB.

[@bobdavis4848]

BAAB reminds me of a Saab, which reminds me that ABBA had some competition with Volvo!

[@tinnnn1]

Bjorn again .... he's looking more and more plastic and he is slower and slower .... the fans really would love to see and hear Agnetha and Annifrid let's be clear ... Bjorn again .... oh dear

[@butterfly-bw6cx]

You do realise just how old he is? Of course he's slower, he's in his late 70s! I have no idea what you mean when you say plastic either. He and Benny are brilliant songwriters and the ladies have proved that they still have their voices which is quite something in their seventies. I bet you will be slower when you get to their age

[@stephaniejar3884]

I imagine you don’t get invited to a lot of trivia nights with your, shall we say, “special” brand of intelligence, do you, darling?

[@ThatBubbleMix96]

all i see is hairdye and bearddye lol. what is plastic?

[@brettwalters-n4u]

he's looking more and more plastic... envious are thee, he can afford to do as he wishes, can you ?

[@tinnnn1]

@@brettwalters-n4u Lol the idea just makes me melt in the sun .... hahaha

[@mariammov488]

I asked, this man didn't change to much and them I realized that is because he was the less handsome of the group ABBA. No more to change. Look like a little mouse. Agnetha should be crazy. LOL!!!

[@gusyonok9950]

Agnetha was stunningly beautiful as a young woman, and she still looks great in her older version

[@Salutimondo]

Let's have a look at what you look like so the world can offer an opinion on your looks.

[@wellstrung2]

I've hated Abba consistently ever since the 70s

[@stephengrayson8896]

So just ignore the video why the necessity to put a nasty comment!

[@stephaniejar3884]

Similarly, I imagine everyone around you has consistently not cared for your opinions of ABBA either over the last 50 years.

[@wellstrung2]

@@stephaniejar3884 no because all my friends think they suck too so quit crying about it and piss off

[@ThatBubbleMix96]

Oh wow so edgy and special.

[@EgoShredder]

Steady on there, its not Rap muzak you know!

[@walter4919]

Los nombres adquieren la energía de sus dueños y le dan significado. Los nombres no son ridículos, simplemente son, luego su dueños es el que le da la FORTALEZA Ó NO!!!!!