ABBA Voyage: Band announce ‘revolutionary’ concert and brand new album
Fans overjoyed at news of first new ABBA album in almost 40 years
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Your support makes all the difference.ABBA have announced that they are releasing their first new music in 40 years, as well as the launch of a “revolutionary” concert next year.
Following the announcement this evening in London, the group – made up of Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad, Agnetha Fälskog and Björn Ulvaeus also unveiled two new singles: “I Still Have Faith With You” and “Don’t Shut Me Down”.
Both songs will appear on their forthcoming, 10-track album, ‘Voyage’. The album, which will be the group’s first studio album since “The Visitors”, will be released this November.
ABBA also announced details of a state-of-the-art virtual tour in which all four members of the band will appear on stage digitally.
Find out how to get tickets to their concerts here.
ABBA issue statement about their return: “It’s not an exaggeration to say that we’re back”
The group have also released a statement about their return - you can read it here:“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.”
Is anyone else crying?
ABBA say the concert is what led them to record new music
In a statement, the group said the concert was the springboard for them getting back into the studio. They added: “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!”
Fans describe Don’t Shut Me Down as “the song of the year”
The group are unveiling the second of their new singles now - ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’ - and it’s well, a complete banger. Many fans are commenting on the “Dancing Queen” like vibes to the song - others are calling it “the song of the year”
You can see some of the reaction here:
Hear the poignant new single ‘I Still Have Faith In You’ again
In case you missed it, here is the first new single in 40 years - yes, 40 years - that ABBA unveiled this evening, the delicate and very poignant “I Still Have Faith In You”.
What an ABBA chorus!
And the second single, “Don’t Shut Me Down” is here. One fan on social media said “it’s like every beloved ABBA chorus at once” - they’re not wrong.
Here it is again. Are you dancing around your living room yet?
The concert residency will see digital versions of ABBA hit the stage
As well as sharing details of the album, ABBA unveiled what’s being described as a “revolutionary” concert experience.
It’s a state-of-the-art virtual concert series in which all four members of the band will appear on stage digitally. The group will appear with a live 10-piece band, in a purpose-built arena in London from 27th May 2022. It will run for four years.
The group teamed up with Star Wars’ George Lucas’ studio to develop digital representations of themselves using this first-of-a-kind, technology.
The digital versions of ABBA were created following weeks and months of motion-capture and performance techniques with the four band members and an 850-strong team from Industrial Light & Magic, the company founded by Lucas, in what is the company’s first foray into music.
The group began work on the concert first, before finding themselves back in the studio in Stockholm recording new music soon after. The group together at Benny’s studio Riksmixningsverket in Stockholm.
The concert will open at the ABBA Arena, a state-of-the-art 3,000 capacity arena located at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
Earlier in the evening, the group confirmed it would have their “greatest hits” plus the two new songs unveiled this evening. There will be 22 songs in total.
Here’s all the info on how to get tickets:
And a preview of what the digital versions of ABBA look like can be seen below:
First review of the two new tracks: “How splendid it is to have them back”
The Independent’s 4 star review of the two new tracks is in. Roisin O’Conner said: “Perhaps their voices have that touch more gravitas, but that’s to be embraced. How splendid it is to have them back.”
You can read the full review here:
ABBA’s first new songs in 40 years are gold standard – review
The band claim they’re ‘not the same this time around’ but to fans, it will seem as though nothing’s changed. How wonderful that is
Benny and Björn open up about the moment the album came about
“First it was just two songs, then I said, ‘Maybe we should do a few others – what do you say girls?’,” said Benny Andersson during today’s press conference on how the album came about. “They said yeah, so I asked them, ‘Why don’t we just do a whole album?’”
Björn Ulvaeus continued: “The first song, “I Still Have In You”, I just knew that when Benny played the melody that it had to be about us. It’s about realising that it’s inconceivable to be where we are. No imagination could dream up that – to release a new album after 40 years and still be the best of friends, and still be enjoying each other’s company and have total loyalty. Who has experienced that? Nobody.”
You can re-watch the full press conference in full here:
Fans are reacting to news ABBA will have their very own concert venue
For their concert residency, ABBA are getting their very own purpose built venue. I mean, they are ABBA after all.
A “digital” version of ABBA will perform alongside a 10-piece live band at a the purpose-built 3,000-capacity ABBA Arena at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at a run of shows from May 27, 2022. The shows are expected to last for four years.
Fans have been reacting to the news on social media. One fan said: “I can’t get over the fact that ABBA are building their own arena just to do the concert.” Another added: “They’re ABBA: they deserve this.”
You can see more reaction here:
Fans say “ABBA have saved 2021"
Fans around the world are still excitedly reacting to tonight’s extraordinary news. One fan on social media said: “ABBA have saved 2021” while another added: “this is the news we’ve been waiting for all year. Well, 40 years.”
They are of course, all entirely correct.
Here are some more of the reactions:
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