Xan Fox

Mamma Mia! Who would have dared to dream that ABBA would come back to us? Maybe most surprised were the members of the supergroup themselves who for years had cut short any discussion on the subject with a clear ¨nej.¨

ABBA´s reunion is much more than a 70s phenomenon returning to the supertrooper limelight one last time; it hit a nerve in a sensitive world recovering from the pandemic. We somehow believe now that ABBA is back, we will be alright.

Why do we love ABBA so much? Is it a simple case of nostalgia, or is there something much more profound going on?

Cultural historian Xan Fox believes that we have been too distracted and bedazzled by the catchy melodies, the far-out clothes and the facade of happiness to see the truth of ABBA´s staying power. By light-heartedly (and probably erroneously) interpreting the lyrics of some of the most famous ABBA songs, including the new hits from the 2021 album Voyage, he reveals the ingredients of Björn´s, Benny´s, Anni-Frid´s and Agnetha´s secret recipe for success: a dose of honest emotions, carefully mixed with a pinch of Swedish angst and passion.

During ABBA´s long career, little attention was paid to what the supergroup really wanted to tell us. Didn´t the music critics understand Björn´s and Benny´s Weltschmerz? Did no one hear Agnetha´s and Frida´s desolate upper harmonies?

The fans always instinctively knew that there was a message waiting to be heard. Now, for the first time, let´s really listen to ABBA.

Jon Lobb

tvculture.nl

Mamma Mia!: A Voyage Of Discovery Through ABBA's Lyrics

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