ABBA Takes All-Time Eurovision Crown, Interview with Benny Andersson

The Eurovision Song Contest celebrated its 50th year of foisting remarkably denatured euro-pop on the euro-masses last night with a Celebration program live from Copenhagen, the centerpiece of which was a vote on the greatest Eurovision song of all time.

The finalists were:

"Nel blu, di pinto di blu (Volare)" - Domenico Modugno - Italy, 1958
"Poupée de cire, poupée de son" - France Gall - Luxemburg, 1965
"Congratulations" - Cliff Richard - UK, 1968
"Eres tu" - Mocedades - Spain, 1973
"Waterloo" - Abba - Sweden, 1974
"Save your kisses for me" - Brotherhood of Man - UK, 1976
"What's another year" - Johnny Logan - Ireland, 1980
"Ein bisschen Frieden" - Nicole - Germany, 1982
"Hold me now" - Johnny Logan - Ireland, 1987
"Ne partez pas sans moi" - Céline Dion - Switzerland, 1988
"Diva" - Dana International - Israel, 1998
"Fly on the wings of love" - Olsen Brothers - Denmark, 2000
"Everyway that I can" - Sertab Erener - Turkey, 2003
"My Number One" - Helena Paparizou - Greece, 2005

With a mix of video footage of the original performances, live dancing and medleys, the "most memorable moments" of the Eurovision Song Contest were brought back to life.

That Abba's "Waterloo" represents the gritty, rocking edge of this material is perhaps all one needs to know, but at least the voting — split between the public and the "national juries" of the 31 participating nations — recognized this and gave the Swedish superstars of the '70s and '80s the victory.

I had a great time talking with half of the ABBA brain trust, Benny Andersson, a few years ago.

The Swedish pop group ABBA was the world's most successful in the '70s -
selling tens of millions of records by combining lush group vocals and gorgeous
Euro-melodies with rock and disco rhythms. The group's lyrics ranged from silly to touching, many reflecting the real-life romantic complications within the group, a la Fleetwood Mac: songwriter/producer/guitarist Bjorn Ulvaeus was married to and divorced from singer Agnetha Faltskog, and songwriter/producer/keyboardist Benny Andersson was married to and divorced from singer Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad during the life of the group.

ABBA was dismissed by many (especially in America) as Swedish cheese, but the group's best songs ("Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance On Me," "Lay All Your Love On Me," "SOS") have aged well and stand alongside the Beach Boys and Phil Spector's girl groups at the pinnacle of pop rock.

Article Author: Eric Olsen

Career media professional Eric Olsen is honored to be the founder and former publisher of Blogcritics.org, and former publisher of Technorati.com, which both rule. He is now editor, co-founder, and CEO of The Morton Report.

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