Recent Frida interview
ITSBRY
"Frida Alone" website...thought you would be interested if you
haven't read it already.
Frida talks about her family, recent losses, her belief in God,
relationships with Bjorn, Benny and Agnetha as well as the
ABBA reunion idea and her thoughts on recording again. She
she also mentions her "performance" at the "Mamma Mia"
premiere in Toronto! Wish I could have been within earshot
of her seat that night!!! ;-)
I found this VERY interesting to read. Hope you enjoy.
ITSBRY
its...@juno.com
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ANNI-FRID TALKS ABOUT THE SORROW FOR HER HUSBAND
by Mats Larsson
The last years of the 90s were very black for Anni-Frid Reuss-
Lyngstad. In a short time she lost her daughter and her
husband.
Expressen met her last night in Toronto and she spoke for the
first time about the sorrow and the loss.
Anni-Frid Reuss-Lyngstad came to Canada last Sunday and will
travel back today. It was Björn Ulvaeus who several weeks ago
asked if she didn't wish to come to the premiere of the ABBA
musical "Mamma Mia".
- Why not, I thought. At the same time it gave me the oppor-
tunity to meet my family here. My grandchild Jonathon lives in
the USA, not so far from here. And my daughter Henriette studies
in Boston. Both of them are here now.
When the request came, she had still not seen "Mamma Mia"
although it had been running for a year in London.
- I have of course not been so absorbed in work. Then there are
private things which meant that I never came over.
But last weekend she finally came to England and saw and heard
the 22 ABBA songs in the musical for the first time.
Sang along with the audience.
- It was very exhilerating. It was fanbtastic how they got the
story and integrated it with the music in such a completely natural
way. It was exciting to hear ABBA music in this way.
- The audience sang along. Me too. My son sat next to me and
nudged me with his elbow. He thought I should stop.
- I am not singing so loud, I said. I turned to Görel (good friend
Görel Hanser) and asked her. Yes you are, Görel said.
Invited up on stage.
Afterwards, Anni-Frid was even invited up on to the stage.
- I wondered how it would go. Would the audience recognise this
old woman. I look a little different now than I did with ABBA. But
it was a fantastic reaction. I felt very appreciated.
- It was a kind of joyful trip.
Joy is something which Anni-Frid has been deprived of in the last
few years. In 1998 her daughter Lise-Lotte Casper dies in a car
accident in the USA. Last year came the next tragedy. Her life
companion of 15 years, husband Ruzzo Reuss, died from cancer
on 30 October. He was only 49.
How have you found the strength to continue to meet the future?
- In the first place I am a really strong woman. I have realised this.
Then I have a really strong belief in God. Actually, it was that which
helped me.
Fantastic family.
- I have a very strong belief in a force and an eternity, and it helped
me through my day.
- Plus I have a great small family. We are incredibly close. We support
each other. It isn't only me who is suffering. There are others. Both
family and friends.
Step daughters Henriette and Pauline both study overseas. Henriette
studies economics in Boston and Pauline studies public art in London.
- They are 23 and live their own lives. But we get together regularly and
have lots of contact. It helps a lot.
Feels at home in Switzerland.
Anni-Frid has lived in Switzerland for 18 years now. She has no plans
to move home, she says. She feels at home for good there. Not at
least, it has been great to avoid being recognised.
- It is the least what I want to be. It is really great to get to live an
anonymous, normal life in Switzerland. I have not regretted moving
here for a moment.
- In Stockholm it was harder. Also in London. Although actually not
so much now. With age, you can get to enjoy yourself a little and be
recognised and get a little praise for what you have done.
She says that she visits Sweden several times a year. She usually
tries to meet Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
- We get together quite a bit. We meet quite regularly when there is
the opportunity and I am in Stockholm.
How much contact do you have with Agnetha Fältskog?
- Not so much. She has, you know, a small tendency to pull back. But
we exchange letters occasionally and two or three times a year we speak
on the telephone.
Is there any way you could see ABBA singing together again?
- It is difficult to see it happening since Agnetha is not especially
willing
to see herself in this situation. I certainly believe that we could imagine
doing something if all four of us thought it was fun. But not right now,
so you cannot write that there is a chance of a reunion now. It is that
simple.
But could you imagine it?
- Yes, but not a reunion as ABBA. But to reunite to do something
musical in some way. It would certainly be fun. But then we would
need to be four.
Anni-Frid released a solo record a few years ago but has no plans to
go into the studio again. She says that on her part it feels as if the
circle has closed.
Do you sing much yourself?
- No, not particularly often. The circumstances have made it so I
don't feel any particular desire to sing. But I do every now and then.
The voice is still there of course. If I decide to at some time then it
just has to be exercised.
Have you any projects in the pipeline?
- No, I have myself. It is my biggest project right now. It gets to take
the time it needs to take.
translated by Grant Whittingham for ABBAMAIL and Frida Alone
Sian Williams
>
> Hey all...found this translation from Expressen (sp?) on the
> "Frida Alone" website...thought you would be interested if you
> haven't read it already.
>
I had already read it but I'm glad you posted it here, Bry, cos I think
there's a lot worth discussing here not least Frida's comment suggesting
that she's ready to get back together with the others - but only if
Agnetha will do it too.
Of course, Frida, Bjorn and Benny could do a project together but Frida
dismisses this and says:
>
> - Yes, but not a reunion as ABBA. But to reunite to do something
> musical in some way. It would certainly be fun. But then we would
> need to be four.
She also goes on to make a comment which I find interesting because it
seems to dispel the notion that Agnetha might have "lost" her voice from
not having sung much over the last few years, Frida's voice on Djupa
Andetag is superb yet she says of herself:
> Do you sing much yourself?
>
> - No, not particularly often. The circumstances have made it so I
> don't feel any particular desire to sing. But I do every now and then.
> The voice is still there of course. If I decide to at some time then it
> just has to be exercised.
Anyone else have thoughts on this interview they want to share?
Sian
Podmix
"ITSBRY" <its...@juno.com> wrote in message
news:G9kY4.740$73....@news1.iquest.net...
> Hey all...found this translation from Expressen (sp?) on the
> "Frida Alone" website...thought you would be interested if you
> haven't read it already.
Thank you for this (and unlimited thanks also to Grant for his many skills
and hard work:-)
> - The audience sang along. Me too. My son sat next to me and
> nudged me with his elbow. He thought I should stop.
>
> - I am not singing so loud, I said. I turned to Görel (good friend
> Görel Hanser) and asked her. Yes you are, Görel said.
I think this is a complete crack-up! Oh, to have been sitting nearby to
hear the songs done as they should be:-) It's impressive that after all this
time she still recognises the strength of the songs and the joy they bring
(imagine practicing the songs and having to do numerous re-takes on them-
eventually to become completely over them!)
> She says that she visits Sweden several times a year. She usually
> tries to meet Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
contact do you have with Agnetha Fältskog?
> - Not so much. She has, you know, a small tendency to pull back. But
> we exchange letters occasionally and two or three times a year we speak
> on the telephone.
How many people here would still call friends from work after 16 years of
occasional contact? Xmas cards and stuff like that, but not many people
would take the time surely to ring this often.
Definitely a pointer to the Frida\Agnetha rivalry-hatred thing that's been
so long touted.
This speaks volumes that the whole idea is ludicrous and especially since
both women scoff at the idea (while still recognising the different aspects
of the other...)
> Is there any way you could see ABBA singing together again?
> But could you imagine it?
>
> - Yes, but not a reunion as ABBA. But to reunite to do something
> musical in some way. It would certainly be fun. But then we would
> need to be four.
This is an interesting distinction- not as ABBA. This suggests that the
members see more to ABBA than just a musical performance. Is this a
reference to the whole media circus that would accompany the reformation?
I can understand a certain dismay at the idea- imagine being in your 50's
and not really wanting to recreate the hysteria that occurred in your 30's.
I can understand all these guys want is to live their lives quietly
achieving their goals without all the hype that would suddenly re-emerge if
they reformed under the ABBA banner.
But to quietly record something together, and then say "That was fun! We
hope you enjoy hearing what we as musicians are capable of today:-)" I can
understand such an anonymous approach.
And I think I'd certainly prefer it that way. I'm not sure that I'd really
be too glad to see the promotional dogs tearing into the ABBA mythos with
vigour again if they recorded something new- just look at the way Polysham
is mis-managing the ABBA portfiolio now. With new material, imagine how
badly it would be handled...
> Do you sing much yourself?
>
> - No, not particularly often. > Have you any projects in the pipeline?
>
> - No, I have myself. It is my biggest project right now. It gets to take
> the time it needs to take.
In some ways, there's an unspoken pressure in this whole exchange- an
expectation for Frida to record againand how many here have admitted that
they'd really like that...metoo!)
Frida's response is a firm but gentle "No" and I think she handles it well.
Just my ramblings on it all:-)
Cheers
Podmix
The future is a sell out
ITSBRY
> and hard work:-)
I soaked every bit of this article up!!! Every pertinent question that
fans seem to ask was addressed here. I thought everyone else
would also enjoy reading it. You're right, Grant Whittingham's "Frida
Alone" site is THE best non-official fan site of any of the group
members that I've seen!!
> I think this is a complete crack-up! Oh, to have been sitting nearby to
> hear the songs done as they should be:-) It's impressive that after all
>this time she still recognises the strength of the songs and the joy
>they bring (imagine practicing the songs and having to do numerous re-
>takes on them-eventually to become completely over them!)
Completely agree! This made me smile as well. Frida always seemed
to have so much fun with ABBA's music and I'm very happy to hear
that she's not jaded about the whole experience and that this still
makes her toes tap!! :-) I imagine it's quite a trip down memory lane.
> How many people here would still call friends from work after 16 years
>of occasional contact? Xmas cards and stuff like that, but not many
>people would take the time surely to ring this often.
> Definitely a pointer to the Frida\Agnetha rivalry-hatred thing that's
>been so long touted.
> This speaks volumes that the whole idea is ludicrous and especially
>since both women scoff at the idea (while still recognising the different
>aspects of the other...)
Again, I agree! I think this short response on the matter simply states
that she and Agnetha are different types of people. No bitterness or
cattyness at all...simply that they still check in every now and then to
make sure that the other one is doing OK. Sounds like a friendship to
me...and we have to remember, they do live in two different countries
after all!
> But to quietly record something together, and then say "That was fun!
>We hope you enjoy hearing what we as musicians are capable of today:-)"
>I can understand such an anonymous approach.
This is an interesting idea...I never considered this approach. It
would be
nice if they did it this way, however. It would be a great surprise for
the
fans and a nice quiet reunion for the band!
> In some ways, there's an unspoken pressure in this whole exchange- an
> expectation for Frida to record againand how many here have admitted that
> they'd really like that...metoo!)
>
> Frida's response is a firm but gentle "No" and I think she handles it
well.
This was disappointing to me. While I very much sympathize with both
ladies desire to live peaceful, quiet lives, my selfishness overcomes
that
at times. I would like to hear some new stuff and of all the members, I
thought that Frida would be the most likely to record again as she seems
like a very active woman with alot of drive.
> Just my ramblings on it all:-)
And mine.... :-)
ITSBRY
its...@juno.com
ITSBRY
> there's a lot worth discussing here not least Frida's comment suggesting
> that she's ready to get back together with the others - but only if
> Agnetha will do it too.
>
> Of course, Frida, Bjorn and Benny could do a project together but Frida
> dismisses this and says:
> >
> > musical in some way. It would certainly be fun. But then we would
> > need to be four.
Interesting Sian. I did not read these comments the same way you
did. I didn't get any impression that the question had something to
with a project without Agnetha. I thought that last sentence, "then
we would need to be four" was just an awkward translation meaning
that she would prefer a reunion of the four as individuals and not
as ABBA. Thanks for pointing this out...I may have misunderstood
when I read it!
> She also goes on to make a comment which I find interesting because it
> seems to dispel the notion that Agnetha might have "lost" her voice from
> not having sung much over the last few years, Frida's voice on Djupa
> Andetag is superb yet she says of herself:
I also noticed this! I had heard a rumor about Agnetha and possible
throat cancer a while back. It's likely just a tabloid trash rumor, but
I had theorized that maybe Agnetha's smoking had done some damage
to her vocal chords and that's why she'd been silent for so long. That
perhaps her silence is not so much a choice, but something that she
doesn't have any control over.
Something similiar happened to Julie Andrews...she had a lump on her
vocal chords and when it was removed, the surgeons botched her vocal
chords so she can no longer sing! Can you imagine having a gift like
that taken away?!?! Terrible. Anyway, I'm getting lost in my stray
thoughts here and I'm sure this is pretty far out there, but has anyone
else heard that rumor about Agnetha?
ITSBRY
its...@juno.com
moi
that a nice way of saying she values her privacy even with former band members?
B.