They won the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, launching their global career and paving the way for Sweden’s powerhouse music industry. And now, after a 40-year wait, ABBA are back with a brand new album called Voyage.
Writing on their official web site, the band say: “Thank you for waiting, the journey is about to begin.”
“Join us for a concert 40 years in the making. A concert that combines the old and new, the young and not-so-young. A concert that has brought all four of us together again.”
“ABBA Voyage is the long-awaited concert from one of the biggest pop acts of all time. See ABBA’s avatars accompanied by a 10-piece live band, in a custom-built arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London.”
“No comeback would be complete without new music. ‘Voyage’, the album, featuring 10 new songs will be released on 05.11.21. The first two singles from ‘Voyage’ are ‘I Still Have Faith in You’ and ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’ – and both are available to stream right now.”
Concert tickets will go on sale to the public at 10am (UK time) on September 7.
However, you can get first access to tickets if you pre-order from the official music store before 12pm (UK time) on September 4. First access to tickets starts from 10am (UK time) on September 5.
ABBA reunite for new album “Voyage”
The band have just shared two tracks from the album: I Still Have Faith in You and Don’t Shut Me Down. They will no doubt feature in their upcoming digital concert.
According to the Guardian:
“Abba’s digital avatars were created using motion capture technology, similar to that used by Andy Serkis and others to portray CGI beasts in Hollywood movies: the group was filmed in skintight suits to create the lifelike recreations. Wayne McGregor, resident artist at London’s Royal Ballet, choreographed the band’s performance, and an 850-strong team from George Lucas-founded effects company Industrial Light & Magic designed and animated the avatars from the footage.”
The following is a press release distributed by Universal Music.
It’s been a while since we made music together. Almost 40 years, actually. We took a break in the spring of 1982 and now we’ve decided it’s time to end it. They say it’s foolhardy to wait more than 40 years between albums, so we’ve recorded a follow-up to “The Visitors”. To tell the truth, the main inspiration to record again comes from our involvement in creating the strangest and most spectacular concert you could ever dream of. We’re going to be able to sit back in an audience and watch our digital selves perform our songs on a stage in a custom-built arena in London next spring. Weird and wonderful!
To all of you who patiently have followed us in some way or another these past decades:
Thank you for waiting – it’s time for a new journey to begin.
“We simply call it “Voyage” and we’re truly sailing in uncharted waters. With the help of our younger selves, we travel into the future. It’s not easy to explain but then it hasn’t been done before.”
“It’s hard to say what’s been the most joyful thing for me (Benny) with this project. If it’s the involvement in creating the concert together with everyone or being back in the studio together again after 40 years. I think hearing Frida and Agnetha singing again is hard to beat. When you come to the arena you will have the four of us together with an absolutely glorious 10-piece band. And even if not in the flesh, we will be right there, thanks to the work of the creative team and ILM.”
“Those first sessions back in 2018 were such fun and when Benny called and asked if I’d (Anni-Frid) consider singing some more I jumped at it! And what songs!! My respect and love go out to these exceptionally talented, truly genius songwriters! Such joy it was to work with the group again. I am so happy with what we have made, and I dearly hope our fans feel the same.”
“When we got back together in the studio I (Agnetha) had no idea what to expect…But Benny’s recording studio is such a friendly and safe environment, and before I knew it I was really enjoying myself! I can hardly believe that finally, the moment has come to share this with the world!”
“They’re such amazing singers those two, I (Björn) was completely floored by the way they delivered those songs. They’re true musicians; totally unimpressed by pop star glamour but still having a great time being creative in a recording studio. The “Voyage” project has injected new life into us in more ways than one.”
“So, again, thanks for waiting! We hope to see you in the “ABBA Arena” and yes – see – because we have infused a good deal of our souls into those avatars. It’s not an exaggeration to say that we’re back.”
Agnetha, Björn, Benny, Anni-Frid
Stockholm, Sweden, 2nd September 2021
We definitely need them as part of ESC 2022!!! 😀
I love abba. Their eurovision win pre-dates me by a couple of years, but their greatest hits, greatest hits 2 and Super trouper LP’s were the soundtrack to my early years. Then in 1992 it was gold. First on cassette and later replaced on CD. Well two cd’s as the first one wore out. and More abba gold. With a few spare pennies, I was able to complete their back catalogue to my cd collection. and I am thrilled that I can now add a tenth studio album to that collection. Released just in time for my birthday. I’m not… Read more »
I love ABBA. I have enjoyed their music for a long time, and I am happy that they are releasing a new album. Bjorn and Benny are such talented songwriters. But I think the avatars are a little creepy. They are Fake ABBA. Why can’t the group release videos of them performing their music as they look and act now? Is being in your 70s so awful? If Mick Jagger and the Stones can still perform live to sold-out stadiums, so can ABBA.
So maybe they will join Melodiefestivalen? Because since September 1st all songs can be potential entries. But I think it will be very unlikely…
40 years later, and still awesome
*faints
a strategic plan to bring them back to melfest with the selections coming up. Sweden wants to have the most wins. It wont work though
Why on Earth would ABBA participate in Melodifestivalen? Had it been fifteen years ago, when succesful artists, such as Andreas Johnson, Agnes and The Ark, wanted to participate, then maybe a teeny, tiny chance. But nowadays none of Sweden’s top selling artists (Molly Sandén, Myra Granberg, Veronica Maggio, Smith & Thell, Victor Leksell, Zara Larsson…) is interested in participating, mainly because they don’t have to. But, unfortunately, also because Melodifestivalen nowadays isn’t an all too serious competition, but rather a show of poor hosts, jokes and songs. Had Melfest been about music, mainly, then artists would have wanted to participate.… Read more »
No one thinks that. But if it makes you happy then fine..
I doubt it.
there will never be a group like ABBA
Maneskin
HAHAHAHAHA!
They’re completely different styles tho. Both of them rock
This made me laugh so hard, as TG fan.
Watched the livestream in real time! “I still have faith in you” is a banger. Just imagine ABBA in melfest again, after 48 years!
Im so glad they are back. I was beginning my working career as they were hitting their heights in the early to mid 70’s and as i’ve fully retired this week or as im saying to friends as his AB signs off 4 ABBA’s return. What a gift to this life long Eurovision devotee. By the way parts of Don’t shut me down brought back memories of a another song and then it hit me after an hour of humming. Check out chorus of Framling Carola 1983. Oh joy
The Hollograms look impressive!
wow. After 40 years. They must have run out money…..
They even admitted that during the press conference. The guys say they did it for the money. But nothing wrong with that, you have to earn a living after all!
I don’t remember them saying that. Benny said it was so good not having to worry about money, but never said this is why they made new music.
not sure if that’s really implied. they did say that them making new content was suggested to them as part of the digital project, rather than just them deciding to reunite on their own. but as u said, nothing wrong with that.
But do you really think THEY need more money to live?
Do you have clue how much the were offered to sing happy new year ar new yers eve 1999/2000?
22 years ago?
i know right lool. It is not for the love of the craft
Perhaps I’m biased because I’m British but I thought that was a super interview by Zoe Ball on the YouTube stream. She really got the best out of Björn and Benny.
Though I must say that Jan Gradvall was completely wrong to say that “Until 1974, Eurovision was not considered a part of popular culture.” The contest was doing pretty well anyway before ABBA, with massive television audiences and guaranteed hits. It was a huge deal, certainly in the UK. Take that from someone who is old enough to remember.
Not in Sweden it wasnt. It did not became big here until ABBA won it. Up til then no one thought Swedish music would work.
Yeah, outside of Sweden. Inside Sweden was different. Monica Zetterlund, Alice Babs… these people were beloved.
The first Melodifestivalen winner, Siw Malmkvist, actually was the also the first Swedish singer to have some success in America. Ten years before ABBA.
Yes those were popular singers but Eurovision was still not a thing until ABBA won it. Mostly because the singers never reached any heights. The saying was Swedish never does well.
Same day ABBA won Blue Suede was number 1 on Billboard with Hooked on a Feeling. It was then Swedes realised Swedish music worked. And that’s when Sweden started to really care about Eurovision.
Sure it was a big deal, there were some hit songs in the 50s and 60s, but there are hit songs today as well, but they, just like the hits sixty years ago, can’t compare to Waterloo. With ABBA came a greater hype around the contest itself. I have not seen a single Eurovision special without ABBA coming up. As they should!
Exciting. I like these first two songs, it’s the new music that I want more than this new not-live concert. I hope people are not disappointed, it’s a lot to expect ten new Dancing Queens… that we have any new music at all is wonderful.
Hmm! As much as I love ABBA (Dancing Queen is my gem) some things should be left in the past. Don¨t know waht they want to achieve with this, apart from pleasing nostalgics. Still I do feel a bit excited..
They seemed to enjoy to make music together again and if they make a few people happy why not!
Yes, even mum and dad deserves fun sometimes:)
I don’t think any of the songs will light up the charts but then again that’s probably not why they did it..
Just saying. But maybe you´re correct that it will not light up the charts 🙂
ABBA – I Still Have Faith In You
2 mn views 6 hours
ABBA – Don’t Shut Me Down (Lyric Video)
724 542 views 5 hours
youtube views dont equate to charts lol youre probably 15
…but YouTube views COULD give us a hint of how well the songs will perform in the charts as well. Chances are people will stream the songs on Spotify, radio stations will play them, people will buy them on iTunes. …and so if Anne_1 is – probably – 15, well you gotta be even younger given your conversational tone and lack of musical understanding…
Palindrome
…aaaaaaand there the two songs both enter the Spotify Top 50 world chart with 2,5 million daily streams each. Doing pretty well I’d say.