Latest news with #AgnethaFaltskog
Forbes
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
ABBA's Album Is So Huge, Fans Need Several Versions At The Same Time
Two versions of ABBA's Gold reenter the U.K. charts, with the original hitting four tallies and the ... More anniversary edition returning to the Official Album Downloads list. ABBA pose for a group portrait in Stockholm, April 1976. (L-R) Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad. (Photo by) ABBA's Gold is one of the most valuable albums in pop history, as it's packed with dozens of popular singles — many of which rank among the most famous and catchiest tunes of all time. The group has expertly capitalized on the success of these songs by releasing multiple compilations over the years but none have performed as consistently well as Gold. The album is so popular in the United Kingdom that there's room for more than one version of the title to appear on the charts at the same time on occasion – and this week is one such occasion. Two Versions of Gold Return to the Rankings Two different editions of Gold not only land on U.K. charts this week, but return to a tally apiece. The anniversary edition of the compilation reappears on the Official Album Downloads chart at No. 88. In the past, the anniversary edition — which is counted separately from the standard Gold — has peaked at No. 8 on the downloads list. It has now spent 237 weeks on that particular ranking. The Original Gold is Also Back The standard Gold, officially titled Gold: Greatest Hits, also manages to break back onto one chart, though not the downloads tally. Instead, it reenters the Official Albums Sales chart at No. 93. That original take previously reached the top 10, peaking at No. 5. It has already spent twice as many weeks on the downloads list as the anniversary edition has, as it recently pushed past 500 frames. Gold Appears on Four Charts This Week The first Gold compilation can currently be found on four U.K.-based rankings. As it returns to the sales tally, it climbs to No. 42 on the Official Album Downloads chart, sitting more than 40 spaces ahead of the anniversary edition of the same title. Coincidentally, Gold also lands at No. 19 on both the Official Albums and Official Albums Streaming charts.
Scottish Sun
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
ABBA Voyage arena set to be demolished as developers unveil plans for housing estate
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ABBA Voyage has been a huge success since its launch three years ago, but now the Swedish group's digital avatars are set to be kicked out of their East London arena. I can reveal plans have been drawn up to make way for a 1,000-home neighbourhood, which would mean the venue, constructed especially for the concert spectacle, will be demolished by the end of the decade to make way for apartment blocks. 2 The venue for ABBA Voyage is set to be demolished Credit: Alamy 2 The Swedish group's digital avatars will be kicked out of their East London arena Credit: ABBA Voyage The news is likely to devastate fans, as the group have said the concert — using state-of-the-art technology to show a younger version of the group on stage — is the closest anyone will come to seeing Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Bjorn Ulvaeus perform together again. It also scuppers hopes the Spice Girls could take over the arena, in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, after The Sun revealed the girl group have been planning to create their own similar digital residency. The concert is currently booking up until January 2026, although it is expected to continue for longer. The show's CEO and executive producer Michael Bolingbroke previously said: 'ABBA Voyage will certainly run for another couple of years and hopefully longer — in an ideal world we'd stay for ever.' Building work on the first two phases of a major new estate is scheduled to start next year just metres away from the arena. Real loss That will include construction on the site of the nearby hotel and bar Snoozebox, where revellers often congregate after the performances and which only has permission to stay until the end of 2025. The first homes on the site are scheduled to be completed in 2028, but earlier this year, ABBA's Bjorn said he believed the arena could remain until 2029. He explained: 'We are allowed to stay in our venue till 2029, but sales might drop, you never know.' The arena was originally built as a moveable venue, but the band later admitted they hoped the show would stay in the area. During its run, ABBA Voyage has attracted more than two million visitors and has contributed £1.4billion to the UK economy. ABBA make a rare appearance together as they are honoured by the King and Queen of Sweden A spokesperson for ABBA Voyage said: 'We are in constant dialogue with the London Legacy Development Corporation and Newham Council about our lease and we welcome the opportunity to stay at the arena for as long as viable. 'At present, there are no plans for any changes to be made.' It would be a real loss for it to go, but it's certainly been a massive triumph.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bjorn Ulvaeus unsure if Abba Voyage will continue if a bandmate dies
Bjorn Ulvaeus said he does not know if the Abba Voyage virtual concerts will continue if one of his band members dies. Since opening in May 2022, more than three million people have seen the show that brings to life younger versions of the Abba members through digital 'Abba-tars' and a 10-piece live band in a purpose-built arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. The influential pop group, also made up of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Benny Andersson, were the first Swedish winners of the Eurovision Song Contest with their hit Waterloo in Brighton in 1974. Asked on Times Radio if the virtual concerts will continue if a member of Abba dies, Ulvaeus told the station: 'That's a question I've never had before… I honestly don't know, hadn't thought about that. 'It's good you raise that question – I'll talk to the others about that as we need to decide beforehand between us if it's OK for all four of us to go on after we're gone.' Faltskog and Ulvaeus married in 1971 before splitting almost a decade later, while Andersson and Lyngstad also married and divorced in 1981, a year before the band broke up. Abba had a string of chart-toppers including Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, The Winner Takes It All and Mamma Mia! The group reunited and released their first new music in almost 40 years with Voyage, their ninth studio album, which topped the UK album charts. Their songs also inspired the musical Mamma Mia!, which began in London in 1999, and became a hit worldwide sensation. It spun off two movies, 2008's Mamma Mia! and 2018's Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Leader Live
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad reunite for third Abba Voyage anniversary
The Swedish musicians, who were married until divorcing a year before the influential pop group split in 1982, were at the arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where fans were treated to new songs added to the Abba Voyage show on Tuesday. The group, also made up of Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus, who tied the knot in 1971 before splitting almost a decade later, said: 'When we first opened we never imagined that we'd still be in London three years on. We're very grateful that so many of you have joined us. 'Of course, the reason for us being able to sustain our concert for so long is because of our incredible audience.' The new tracks added to the concert's setlist included Abba hits The Name Of The Game, Super Trouper, Money, Money, Money and Take A Chance On Me. Famous faces including British singers Elvis Costello, Myleene Klass, and Mahalia along with U2 star Adam Clayton, author and Pointless star Richard Osman, comedian Rob Brydon and Poldark actress Eleanor Tomlinson were in the audience, Abba Voyage said. A post shared by ABBA Voyage (@abbavoyage) Since opening in May 2022, the series of shows that brings to life younger versions of the Abba members through 'Abba-tars', and a 10-piece live band has had more than three million visitors, and according to consultancy Sound Diplomacy, brought an estimated more than £1 billion to the UK economy. The concert series was created by the Swedish group, directed by Flashbacks Of A Fool director Baillie Walsh and produced by Svana Gisla and Andersson's son Ludvig Andersson. Abba were the first Swedish winners of the Eurovision Song Contest, performing hit song Waterloo in 1974 in Brighton. They have had a string of chart-toppers including Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, The Winner Takes It All and Mamma Mia! The group split in 1982 after 10 years but reunited and released their first new music in almost 40 years with their ninth studio album Voyage in 2021, which topped the UK album charts. Their songs also inspired the musical Mamma Mia!, which began in London in 1999, and became a hit worldwide sensation. It has resulted in two movies, 2008's Mamma Mia! and 2018's Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. ABBA Voyage is booking until January 2026.
South Wales Guardian
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad reunite for third Abba Voyage anniversary
The Swedish musicians, who were married until divorcing a year before the influential pop group split in 1982, were at the arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where fans were treated to new songs added to the Abba Voyage show on Tuesday. The group, also made up of Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus, who tied the knot in 1971 before splitting almost a decade later, said: 'When we first opened we never imagined that we'd still be in London three years on. We're very grateful that so many of you have joined us. 'Of course, the reason for us being able to sustain our concert for so long is because of our incredible audience.' The new tracks added to the concert's setlist included Abba hits The Name Of The Game, Super Trouper, Money, Money, Money and Take A Chance On Me. Famous faces including British singers Elvis Costello, Myleene Klass, and Mahalia along with U2 star Adam Clayton, author and Pointless star Richard Osman, comedian Rob Brydon and Poldark actress Eleanor Tomlinson were in the audience, Abba Voyage said. A post shared by ABBA Voyage (@abbavoyage) Since opening in May 2022, the series of shows that brings to life younger versions of the Abba members through 'Abba-tars', and a 10-piece live band has had more than three million visitors, and according to consultancy Sound Diplomacy, brought an estimated more than £1 billion to the UK economy. The concert series was created by the Swedish group, directed by Flashbacks Of A Fool director Baillie Walsh and produced by Svana Gisla and Andersson's son Ludvig Andersson. Abba were the first Swedish winners of the Eurovision Song Contest, performing hit song Waterloo in 1974 in Brighton. They have had a string of chart-toppers including Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, The Winner Takes It All and Mamma Mia! The group split in 1982 after 10 years but reunited and released their first new music in almost 40 years with their ninth studio album Voyage in 2021, which topped the UK album charts. Their songs also inspired the musical Mamma Mia!, which began in London in 1999, and became a hit worldwide sensation. It has resulted in two movies, 2008's Mamma Mia! and 2018's Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. ABBA Voyage is booking until January 2026.
