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And Finally Artist News
Abba’s Anni-Frid “surprised” by claims that new album will be the band’s last
By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 12 November 2021
Abba’s Anni-Frid Lyngstad has said she was “surprised” when her bandmates Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus said in a recent interview that the band’s new album ‘Voyage’ would be their last.
Last week, of course, Abba released their first new album for almost 40 years, and next year they will launch a new live show in which the four members of the band will be represented by digital avatars.
So, while it seems unlikely that the real Abba will perform together on stage again any time soon, what are the chances that they might make more new music for those avatars to play? Speaking to Zoe Ball on her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show yesterday, Lyngstad said: “I have learnt to say ‘never say never'”.
That ‘never say never’ phrase also came up in an interview with Andersson and Ulvaeus last week on BBC ‘Breakfast’. “I never say never”, Ulvaeus said when asked if there would be more music from the band. Except, he then added that he thought this new album probably “was our goodbye”.
“I don’t want to do another Abba album”, said Andersson more firmly. “But I’m not alone in this. There are four of us. If they twist my arm, I might change my mind”.
In yesterday’s interview, Lyngstad said that she was “very surprised that Benny and Björn” had said that ‘Voyage’ would be Abba’s final release and “cannot remember” having a conversation where that was decided.
“We have probably said it must be the last thing we do because, also thinking of our ages, we are not young any longer”, she said. “But I would say again, you never know. So don’t be too sure”.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t take all this suspense. Let’s change the subject. How about Lyngstad’s view on Eurovision? Those are surely uncontroversial, since Abba kicked off their career by winning the big old Song Contest in 1974.
“I’m not so interested, because it has changed so much over the years, and it’s not what it was at that time”, she says. “Now it’s more like a show, it’s very technical and there are some good songs coming out of it, but I cannot say I’m a fan of Eurovision, maybe I shouldn’t say it, but I did it anyway”.
Oh. Sorry to any Eurovision contestants who’ve ever imagined Lyngstad cheering them on as they took to the Contest’s grand stage. It just ain’t happening.
Though there is some good news for people who sit in the middle of the Abba fan / Eurovision fan Venn diagram. Because another “never say never” from the band involves Eurovision.
While Lyngstad might not be so interested in the Contest anymore, the same is not true for all of her bandmates. Andersson and Ulvaeus did say last week that they wouldn’t be averse to writing a song for the next UK entrant. Kind of.
“What’s the risk? You can’t be worse than last”, said Andersson, referencing the UK’s terrible performance at this year’s event. Ulvaeus – slightly less convinced – said that the performer would need to be “a really good act”. They agreed – like I think we all have – that Dua Lipa would be the right person to sing the song.
Though, despite her management team being in charge of choosing next year’s entrant, Dua Lipa seemed to rule herself out when that was announced last month. Maybe she’d be more interested if she was going to be performing an Abba song.
