The Q&A with Björn And Benny
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- čas přidán 30. 10. 2022
- Polar Music & UMPG Proudly Presents The Q&A With Björn And Benny.
Recorded at Atlantis Studios, Stockholm, March 1, 2022
Moderator Jan Gradvall
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These guys wrote and arranged the songs, but when asked, they concede that 90% of the ABBA sound is Frida and Agnetha. Great respect.
"The most beautiful instrument of them all is the human voice, but it is the most difficult to play."
- Richard Strauss
BB understood this. Too many songwriters short change the beautiful human voice in favor of featuring man made instruments. ABBA featured the human voice. Intelligent writers.
They didn't actually arrange the songs, Anders Eljas did that, as Benny and Bjorn can't read or write music...
@@rbee3936I think it would be safe to say they had some input.
@@rbee3936 Anders Eljas started working with ABBA only in the late '70s and was responsible only for the orchestral/string arrangements anyway. To give him credit for all of ABBA's song arrangements is downright ridiculous!
lol@@rbee3936
ABBA FOREVER
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
To me, Benny is, to put it simply, the most talented composer I know. Benny's melodies and harmonies are like famous chess moves, self-contained timeless masterpieces and will always stay as such. Bjorn's texts put any pop music lyrics to shame. They are simple, deep, non-pretentious, and inspirational. Together with the girls' out-of-this world vocals, (and perhaps with Agnieta's emotionality and Frida's passion) they are unbeatable and unforgettable. ABBA's music shows the path the pop music could have taken... but unfortunately has not taken due to the lack of matching talent. Extreme words I know... bit IMO totally justified.
do not discount the abba women as carl magnus palm said they were not just puppets they contributed when they got in the studio ideas harmonies etc.
@@kyleday5026 I am pretty sure that was the case. As with most bands, their music is a common creation. But someone has to have that spark, the initial idea, which seems to come from nowhere and turns a routine recital into magic
I love Benny. He’s still so handsome!
There's not too many composers that you could truly label "genius". But for me, Benny sits alongside Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Jeff Lynne & Elton John as the greatest composers of the 20th century!!
@@TigerRogers0660 Abba are the Beatles of Sweden and definitely the best band from outside the English speaking world, and one of the best pop bands of all time,
As Benny said at 10:00 "The ABBA Sound" is 90% Agnetha and Anni-Frid. Add to that a superb composition and lyrics by Benny and Björn and you have one of the Greatest Bands of all time.
Бенни и Бьорн скромничают - вот без них точно не было бы ABBA🧏🎹🎸
Even Benny think that "I still have faith in you" is one of their best songs EVER, totally agree...
ABBA forever 😭❤️❤️❤️
Abba saved my life - I had bad circumstances in my childhood for years. If I heard and seen Abba I dreamed away in something good with love and peace and freedom and happyness. It helps a lot. Thank you, love you Abba.
ABBA was a beautiful garden to 'escape from reality' and feel safe in there.Even if a whole world had turned you down Abba was the big hug of consolation. That's why we just can't forget them!.
Kiam Gurk,I so much understand you.Many of us have felt same way and passed all this through.
ABBA have got a lot of us through the good and tha bad times in our lives.
I shake your hand. My childhood was an unhappy and lonely one. Abba saved my life many times. I remember myself, being 10, crying in front of the record player because I couldn't cope with so much beauty that emerged from their music.
If in times of pain and anxiety you see and feel the cold and darkness of life's cruelty, ABBA will always open their arms and hearts to console,love and embrace you with warmth and bring the light back into your life .Not only at one moment in your life, but continually as you travel through your life ,they are always there behind you to catch you if you stumble and lose direction.This is the mystical and spiritual part of ABBA as human beings and perfect musicians that can enter through your ears take their place in your heart ,comfort your mind and dwell in your soul to bring inspiration and peace in your life journey. ♥ ABBA and they will love you.
ABBA FOREVER 🇧🇷🇸🇪❤️
We'll keep talking about ABBA in 200 years ....timeless band !!!!!!!😍👌
a very welcome surprise video from the greatest pop band of all time!
I wish a similar type Q&A could have been done with Frida & Agnetha at the time. One perceives the different personalities of Benny & Björn and how they compliment each other's talents. I regard Benny as the more subtle driving force behind the wonderful ABBA sound, through his powerful compositions of both then and now. He is modestly brilliant yet refreshingly unpretentious, cautiously weighs his words and opinions - and very passionate about his music. Björn is the natural extrovert whose inspirational horizons as a lyricist can be from both deeply personal experiences and also more clinically existential, but he doesn't allow himself to be limited and embraces adventure. Legends in their own time - and righteously being recognised as such.
Yes, yes, yes!! And interview them in Swedish if necessary! (To make Agnetha more relaxed)
They just don’t want to do this promotion work anymore.
Yeah… when Björn and Benny approached the girls about making a new album and the ”abbatar” show in London, they were game, but they were also clear that they did not want to have to do all that promotion stuff you usually do. Thus their participation in that has been kept to a minimum and the guys have been doing most of the interviews by themselves.
Benny and Björn did all the music and lyrics in ABBA. Agnetha and Frida just singed in those songs
Not true. Björn said everyone had notes and lyrics were written together once the first draft had been written. @@KeNyNzTTV
They were, indeed, two of the finest contemporary composers of the era.
l could be here for another 65 years, and l have faith l would still be playing and listening to ABBA forever.
I love how Benny put in a snus and started explaining "more is more".
Please more ABBA songs!!! Please Benny, please Bjōrn!
Oh man, if only I could shake the hands of these two gentlemen and tell them they wrote some of the greatest songs of all time. Watching this video makes me realize again how rare it is to not only achieve so much career-wise, but also to be together as friends for 55+ (!) years. Björn and Benny are very smart men.
Seeing and hearing them talk, you just realize what a team they were and are, like brothers, and the ladies, like sisters, all four of them friends, and of course married couples, and so ABBA was a very close-knit musical family, and that's why they sounded and sound so unique and great.
Love Benny's story about joking around with Michael Tretow, still laughing about it so many years later. And the fact that both agree that the ABBA sound is created by Frida and Agnetha for the biggest part. They all had their precious input in my opinion, those amazing compositions and unforgettable lyrics still get me going since the age of 6.
I have their ABBA Catalogue collection Thank you for the music and one track they joking around in the Studio on demo of unfinished songs. Love the group homour. 😂
Well said Marcel ❤
Legends, absolutely love them ❤🎵🎶🇸🇪
6:52 Chiquitita
7:14 Importance of how lyrics sound
9:33 Hej Gamle Man
13:10 Benny stealing from himself
18:53 Laziness
20:10 Technological limitations
21:06 Don't be lazy
22:31 Mamma Mia revisions
23:23 When I Kissed The Teacher - Wall of Sound - Michael Tretow
39:04 Their favorite underrated ABBA tracks
41:44 Benny likes Breaking Bad and Björn likes Ozark
It's fantastic to listen Benny & Björn talk about some ABBA songs:
Chiquitita
Mamma Mía
I still have faith in You
Ode to Freedom
Money money money
When I kissed the teacher
When all is said and done
Our last summer
Eagle
Move on
and to giving the credits of the distintive ABBA sound to Frida & Agnetha voices
Thanks forever and eternal to
Agnetha Benny Björn A.Frida
the Fab Four from Sweden
for these fantastic ABBA comeback
Move on is one of my favorites but there are so many!
Legendary!And yet so decent and humble.Some of todays overestimated 'stars' should be taught by these Swede's attitude.RESPECT!
Everyday I thank the Universe por putting these 4 people together to make music for all eternity.
I’m 14 years, but I infinitely love ABBA 🕺🏻❣️
My dad love ABBA, I started to listen to ABBA since I was a kid.. You guys are legends. 💙💙💙
WE WANT ABBA
1. I agree with Benny.... the ABBA sound is 90% Frida and Agnetha. As he said, others sing the exact same song with the exact same backing tracks, and it's still not ABBA. Their voices, singly and together, are unique and unmatched. The music, the arrangements, the lyrics, the production, is all masterful, but it's still not ABBA without Frida and Agnetha.
2. This Q&A was before the Voyage concert success... I sincerely hope their 'arms are twisted' and they produce one more album. Voyage has proven that there is something still magical about the group.
3. I get annoyed with the guys when they say that Frida 'struggles' to get up to a certain note... an arrangement may be out of her natural range, but she does hit the note and as they say it produces a special quality that no other singer has... but to describe it as 'struggling' implies that she is not a strong singer, which is completely untrue. Rather, they are pushing her to sing higher than what is natural for her, and she not only manages to do it, but it creates an incredible, clear, sharp tone that is unique to her.
So agree with your point 3, time for Bjorn to find a better choice of word. Although I'm sure both Frida & Agnetha 'struggled 'with some of the vocal requests from B&B. they even mention it in this interview.
@Blue Amy I’ve heard them use struggling before in other interviews. The way it is said, it implies a negative, whether that’s his intention or not. The better way to phrase it would be ‘we challenge Frida to sing higher than her range, and when we do, her voice has this incredible metallic quality that no other singer has.’ Do you see the difference in how it’s framed, even though the intent of meaning is the same? English is not their first language, of course, but Björn’s English is very strong and I would think he could phrase it so it doesn’t come off as insulting Frida’s talent
Они великолепны и останутся таковыми. Пусть им много лет, но они сумели в этом возрасте выдать качественный музыкальный продукт и, как на машине времени, позволили нам вернуться в нашу молодость... Естественно, что весь этот альбом - это борьба, но борьба со временем, и они победили. Именно поэтому употребляется слова "борьба" - попробуйте через сорок с лишним лет после завершения выступлений выдать столь мощный диск, но силы то уже не те и мы им благодарны за это
Don't think he intented to 'insult' Frida.Frida was a mezzo and great on lower notes.Warmer and velvet.Agnetha a soprano, so the higher notes were her 'thing' than the lower ones.But maybe another word than 'struggle'(even though i think i heard 'stretching her voice') would sound better anyway in order to avoid misunderstandings.All 4 were equally precious to this musicianship and to each other..
@Blue Amy Agree on this.I do feel it was in a positive way for sure.
I LOVE YOU ❤️ forever ABBA
if there is a legend then it is Abba with her sound of the 70s. still today in every good disco the vinyl discs are playing and no mp3s.🎸❤
No words to describe them but Geniuses!!! ❤❤❤❤
From minute: 21 this is an important part of ABBA. Pay attention producers and musicians. What Bjorn speaks of here, it's crucial as to why ABBA music transcends the pass of time. Why it sounds good and fresh today as it did in the 70's.
Thank you so so much for this interview. As a musician myself, I always enjoy watching anything from Benny and Bjorn (experts) regarding their producing habits. 💯
Tretow’s absence on Voyage was definitely felt but they still managed to pull off the ABBA sound, thankfully. So cool that they acknowledge his genius contribution.
Of course the other singers don't sound like ABBA.
Because Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad their voices are ABBA's brand.
Their vocals are forever the mark on every ABBA record, old and new.
And the music Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
Sí, Agnetha and Frida their voices aré ABBA's brand... of course Míster Moreno, EXACTO ellas son ABBA... ELLOS sin sus ex_esposas NO HUBIERAN triunfaron INTERNACIONALMENTE.... Lástima, q' se ACABÓ el encanto..
"They came flying from far away and I love hearing the stories that they tell ".Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Annifrid, the PHENOMENON that out of the mists of time reappear and take physical form again to mystify and enrapture the world again and possess our entire being and create a state of ecstacy in our souls.This interview was raw and awsome, Benny and Bjorn are the wizards of music and song ,they are the definition of PERFECTION.❤ABBA
Rdg,
What a wonderful and talented musicians, singers, compasers and song writers who created amazing love and joyful songs. At times, emotionally touching one's heartfelt feelings of love expressed in their songs. First band also to create music videos to boost their popularity and reach a much wider audience around the world. Their song " Thank You For The Music.." says it all. May God bless those who love their music videos to spread creativity, love and joy in people's lives.
39:10: Yes, 'Move On' is a great track. But you always forget 'Cassandra' - one of Frida's finest moments.
Two of the most talented and humble geniuses of 20 century in the popular history of music 🎶 They have deep and profound abilities to put words into music ❤ All with a genuineness and warmth that’s captivating one’s heart
These two 😍 ❤️ make beautiful music 🎶 together
🦇🌹I'm so glad ABBA put out "Voyage", it has become one of my favorite albums. Wonderfully composed and the songs are true to the spirit of this powerful band....they still have that magic.
I also have to say, I still find Benny handsome. 🥰
Two music geniuses
Bless them all.. the four of them. I'm glad that Bjorn mentioned about Move On as one of their good songs 😍
Finally!Such an underated masterpiece not even existing in any of their Greatest hits album.A 'buried' diamond.
Makes me wonder why 'Move On' isn't part of the ABBA Voyage concert. It's such an masterpiece that would've been legendary there.
@@rasul01Wow , imagine this suddenly dropping in the next VOYAGE set list out of the blue.I'm sure lots of people's reaction would be grateful if not tearful.I also wished for 'Kisses of fire'.Those lil deep cut surprises would have been nice each now and then.I liked the choices of The visitors and HIYS.
Add "Old friends" only performed once brings tears. Sung by frida
They're both geniuses! This was so fascinating to watch! I feel like I got all the answers I've always wanted. I'm such a proud swede because of ABBA! My dream interview would be all four of them sitting down together! Or just another one similar to this with just Frida and Agnetha, I would love to hear them talk since we rarely do and as the guys said they're the biggest part of the ABBA sound!
Yes, the one thing I'm disappointed with in the "comeback" is that there has been no kind of new group interview. The closest we got was the red carpet for Voyage opening night. But nothing like an in depth reflection of the album and their career
What ever ABBA produced it is timeless there doesn’t seem to be music like it this can only be totally genius the 4 of them together only bring happiness for years there can never be another ABBA
Such wisdom, modesty and intact will to do the best, since I do I do I do...
It leaves me dreaming... (from a French who has been so mocked at that time)
My favourite group :)
They got just so much talent I can't even describe it
.. thank you.. I think the album, Abba's greatest hits, might be the best album in existence, by any Musical group. Way back when,, listening to this album helped save my life.. it gave me the beauty, heart, and love that I needed in order to survive... thank you so much Abba.
ABBA Forever and Ever!
My first encounter with ABBA was the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday 6th April 1974, when ABBA came on and perimeter Waterloo I said to my parents they are going to win and the did from then on I bought t their albums and singles thank you for the music ABBA.❤
Hello Benny Hello Björn I would like to thank you for your wonderful music. I've been a big fan of ABBA since 1974 for me you are living legends. Your music has accompanied me my whole life. When I heard your new songs for the first time, I had to cry it was so emotional after such a long time new music from you is fantastic. I wanted so much to meet you personally, but unfortunately it never worked out. ABBA forever, because your music is immortal. Kind regards, Klaus
Superb ABBA. ♥️♥️
Great interview. ❤️💕❤️ We all have faith in ABBA ✨️
Man blir stolt att vara svensk när dessa två genier producerar musik i värdsklass ❤❤🇸🇪🇸🇪
Om man blir!❤️❤️🇸🇪🇸🇪😉
Big hugs to Sweden for bringing ABBA to the world! Love from 🇺🇸!
Hard, hard working, Swedish genious! Thank you, Björn and Benny! Love from Norway
Excellent interview and excellent interviewer.
Benny is 100% accurate about their sound. Without the guys melodies and words, and the ladies' voices puts the bow on our gift of ANY ABBA song. I absolutely adore these 4 Swedes. And to me Benny is still sexy as hell.
As for Voyage, I still have Faith in You, makes me so freaking emotional. A happy emotional they gave us this gift of new music. I ❤❤❤ ABBA
Just Love ABBA and Their Story 💕
You can see all the respect and decency and I’m sure there’s some love there too if we can say this between Bjorn and Benny even after all these years. It’s great. We all could learn a lot from these two. Very talented and bright and successful, but still down to earth. Not to mention all that work and learning other languages etc all to yes express themselves but also to make people happy. Two great men really. ABBA is definitely one of the legends of pop maybe unparalleled. And of course the girls were great artists and very important as well.
always love the humility and honesty from B&B, not to mention the music.
Agnetha ❤ Björn ❤ Benny ❤ Annifrid ❤. Eurer Stimmen, eure Texte, eure Kompositionen, alles. Legenden für mich persönlich. Taff Ladys ❤
They should have talked more about Frida and Agnetha. About their talents, contribution and work in the studio.
I never had an appreciation for Abba until I recently agreed to play guitar in two local high school presentations of Mama Mia. The guitar, bass and other parts are woven beautifully and the cast and audience really enjoyed the shows. One of my former students played the second guitar part at one of the shows which made it even more fun.
Abba's songs were deceptively simple but reeeaaaly complicated and very tightly and masterfully constructed.
that's why lots of famous rockers have acknowledged their majestic pop purity, contribution and craftmanship.Songs such as SOS/GIMME GIMME GIMME with that crispy killer bass or KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU etc have been real inspirational masterpieces from a box full of hidden ideas.
How lovely to hear them in conversation
What excellence, what genius in our lifetime. I believe that Ola, Lasse, Rutger are under appreciated in this bands success also. M. B. T was the other ABBA genius..... One of a kind.
I salute you all for creating the theme songs of many of our lives.
So grateful to see these guys so vibrant and still active. Thank you!
I love the song move on from the album. It would have made a fantastic single if it had been released
Indeed, one of my absolute favorites as well :)
released on single in Mexico, i think.
"The sound of the lyrics" ( Bjorn's words ) ! It is very, very important point of whole harmony where all instruments sounds.
Thank you Björn And Benny for the interview
What a great interview by Jan with these two legends. Benny and Bjorn are right, when other people sing Abba songs they don't sound the same. Its when Agnetha, Frida, Benny and Bjorn get together musically, the ABBA magic happens. Love Abba 🤩
One of the best interviews yet with B&B
What outstanding producers they are. Maestros!!!
Hi from Lviv Ukraine! I love ABBA just as much as I love my childhood. I remember you, I still listen to your songs and I enjoy your new album Voyage. Thanks a lot for your Coming Back! I know all your songs by heart. Let the God bless you. Be happy and live long
God bless Ukraine-- you are in our hearts here in Canada.
A year today since the release of Voyage, a great album and creative ABBA in every song. I always hoped for another album and lived to see it, I listened to it today to celebrate the first year since its release.
25:00 The topic was how can the later melancholy songs sound so fulfilling and joyous. This is exactly why I love ABBA’s material so much. When their marriages’ failures were driving their late ‘70’s songwriting, the band matured into something eternal and beautifully relevant. Great interview!!
Great people and great music.😍
There are some Epic music concepts in this interview. The music Industry need to hear this in a loop for many hours. It baffels me to see this 2 extraordinary men that humbly find so much wonder and mysticism in something they themselves created and such respect for the music that came out and still is very present, relevant and alive today.
I’ve always appreciated how down to earth and humble all members of ABBA always has been. Still they clearly include among the best composer, lyricist and singers in modern music. Thus, fame and excellence appears not to has affected them much as individuals. Guess it is a sort of Swedish manner in a good way. So thank you for the timeless music and the thoughtful and sometimes bittersweet lyrics!
they are verry friendly to the press. i like this intervieuw.
It is so wonderful to see these two men being so Honest and still humble. Hasta Manyana guys!
Q&A~Quality & Amusement with B&B ✨🙌
I love you ❤️ ABBA ❤️
ABBA: A bard, a minstrel, and two goddesses: one of fire, the other of ice.
Ah recorded in March this year. I was hoping for some hints about the future. I am still holding out hope more could be coming.
ABBA music is here for eternity nothing and nobody will do what they have musically
Each sound and lyric is pure gold each song has so much going on, there has and never will be anything close to this genius
Benny's honesty >>>>>>
Have something to look forward to after work this evening. I had just clocked in when this notification arrived. Thanks for brightening my Monday!
One of the best interviews I've ever seen with Benny & Bjorn, the interviewer clearly knows he's in the presence of greatness and is very respectful of the ABBA legacy. Although the questions are sometimes not new, B&B answers are definitely more insightful including some fantastic facts around the recording process and little gems like the comment from Benny around Chiquitita and their favourite non single tracks. Each of which could have been singles as Bjorn points out. Highly recommended viewing for both fans of ABBA or music in general. Being pre Voyage The Concert, the uncertainty but quiet confidence they have in the concert is fascinating. How right were they!
ABBA fue lo más lindo de mi adolescencia en Argentina. Gracias por la música.
Super!!
Ah! So there are early demos of Voyage tracks in the archive! 💥
Here's hope for an anthology 😊
You KNOW they'll fight to the death against them being released! 😄
@@grantc61 I'm afraid you're right. 😅. But from what they said recently the ladies still love to work in the studio. So, if they twist Benny's arm... 😄
The ‘79 Wembledon concert was the best that has ever been do in the world ,I think everyone would agree with that
Tengo FE en ustedes, en el sonido de ABBA, en el talento musical, en el regalo a sus seguidores de ayer , hoy y siempre. Eternamente agradecida por su música 🎼😍🎼😍🎼
It's a special feast with Benny and Bjorn! Thanks so much!
There's just one ABBA, there will never be another ABBA.
never ever!
Abba are no 1 there my favourite band I've got all the cds
Loooove it! so far! the most interesting interview I´ve ever seen and...believe me I´ve seen a LOT!!! Love the way both talk about Frida and Agnetha in such wonderful and beloved way! Thanks a lot for sharing this!
They are so great! So genuine. What a great interview! Thanks for sharing this!!
I'm only half way through but god I love these guys-- they don't even know they are great and gifted! It's inconceivable that they don't but they are not being disingenuous. I love Benny saying about creating the songs, "there is a hole here, we have to stick something in it" -- too cute. All four of them are geniuses in their own way and none of them seem to realize it which of course makes you love them even more. And what a great interviewer too-- asking all the right questions. And now back to the show.....
Mesmerizing!
That type of Neve desk is unbeatable in its sound - analog greatness / abba fan dave grohl bought the same Neve for his studio
It's good to see the boys. t would be nice to see the girls too. Frida!!!
Great interview!! IMO one of the best bands EVER! Always turn the volume to max when I hear ABBA...
Thank you so much for doing this. Your presence is warm and reassuring in today's detached, impersonal, paint-by-numbers musical world.