ABBA were the “enemies” in Sweden during their heyday | people
ABBA was treated as “enemies” in Sweden during its heyday.
The iconic pop group band – which includes Agnetha Faltskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – was disapproved of by the “progressive movement” in Sweden when they first appeared on stage.
Björn explained: “You know, in Sweden there was this progressive movement in music, and we were the enemies.”
However, the band did not worry so much about the reaction in Sweden, as they became one of the world’s most beloved pop groups.
Björn told the Guardian newspaper: “Personally, I did not pay attention to all that – it did not mean shit to me, even if they hated us.
“Because we got so much response from all over the world. From the beginning, we had contemporary colleagues, musicians, who liked what we did.”
Benny also admitted that he could not understand how perceptions about the group have changed so much over the years.
Reflecting on the differing views of critics, he said: “It’s hard to understand, you know, I really do not understand.”
ABBA has recently returned to the limelight with their long-awaited new album ‘Voyage’.
And Björn revealed that they did not seek too many outside influences when they made the record.