ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have dashed hopes of a reunion at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, which would have marked the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s iconic win with “Waterloo.” The duo, speaking to BBC Newsnight, also dismissed the idea of composing the host nation’s entry for the event.
Despite Sweden’s continued success at Eurovision since ABBA’s victory, including this year’s win in Liverpool, Bjorn and Benny have firmly decided against reuniting with Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad for a one-night performance. Their stance is unified, with Andersson stating, “I don’t want to, and if I don’t want to, the others won’t. It’s the same for all four of us – someone says, ‘no’ – it’s a no.”
While celebrating the 50-year milestone, Ulvaeus emphasizes that ABBA can be honored without taking the stage. Reflecting on the success of their virtual concert residency, ABBA Voyage, which features digital recreations of the band members, Ulvaeus expresses delight at the overwhelming response from audiences during the London show, surpassing all expectations. The emotional connection established with the audience despite the absence of the physical presence of the band is a testament to the power of the performance.
Looking ahead, Ulvaeus predicts that the groundbreaking technology employed in their virtual shows could be used to create avatars of deceased artists, raising ethical questions about consent and authenticity. While acknowledging the potential misuse of such technology to create “deep fakes” and spread disinformation, Ulvaeus asserts that ABBA’s project ensures transparency, with the audience knowing they are behind the digital recreations.
As for the beloved musical franchise Mamma Mia, set to ABBA’s music and set on a Greek island, Andersson delivers a blow to fans’ hopes for a third installment. He suggests that significant changes, such as a new setting and an irresistible script, would be necessary for another film in the series. Without such changes, he dismisses the idea as wishful thinking.
Throughout their enduring 57-year partnership, Ulvaeus and Andersson stress that their continuous drive to explore new creative ventures has kept their relationship fresh. Despite differing opinions along the way, their shared achievements have ultimately bonded them together, ensuring that they have never truly fallen out.
“We’ve had different opinions,” Ulvaeus admits, “many, many.”
“But it doesn’t matter,” Andersson adds, “because what we’ve achieved together keeps us together.”
