Since winning Eurovision back in 1974, ABBA went on to become Sweden’s top pop export. When hosting the contest in 2000, SVT tried to coax the fab foursome into getting involved in the project, without avail. This year however, SVT have managed to secure the help of none other than Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
The last time the foursome were seen at the Eurovision Song Contest was in 2004, albeit only in puppet form, when a brief tribute film was shown marking the 30th anniversary of ABBA’s victory at the contest in Brighton with Waterloo. SVT were unable to persuade any of the four members – Anni Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson or Agnetha Fältskog to get involved in any way in the production of the 2000 contest from Stockholm. Thirteen seems to be SVT’s lucky number however, as thirteen years later, the broadcaster has managed to draft in help with the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 from none other than former ABBA members and prolific composers Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
In a statement to Swedish media this morning, SVT confirms that the duo are involved in an exciting project together with Avicii, the globally popular Swedish DJ, remixer and record producer. The trio have reportedly pooled their artistic talents to create the song We Write The Story as the opening number for this years contest from Malmö.
Executive producer at SVT Martin Österdahl stated that: "It’s a beautiful, well written piece that will bring joy to many. We wanted to connect and portray the successes of the Swedish music scene over the years, which all started when ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest almost forty years ago." Björn and Benny reportedly accepted the offer to work on the project straight away, after a convincing presentation of SVT’s ideas made by Christer Björkman and Martin Österdahl. The trio still haven’t met in person yet, as Avicii is currently on tour, filling dancefloors the world over with his own take on Swedish house music.
This latest news comes after the recent revalation by SVT that they have commissioned another special piece from another prominent Swedish record producer, Kleerup. The piece goes under the name Northern Light and is to be performed during the first semi final in Malmö.
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