Molly Sandén performing during the Abba tribute on SVT.
Photo: Magnus Lejhall/TT / TT NEWS AGENCY
Participants in the ABBA quiz held during the tribute program.
Photo: Magnus Lejhall/TT / TT NEWS AGENCY
Abba when they won the Eurovision song contest in 1974, which was Sweden’s first win in the competition.
This year marks 50 years since Abbas’ iconic win with “Waterloo” in the Eurovision song contest. The 50th anniversary was celebrated with a tribute evening for the band at Cirkus in Stockholm on Saturday evening, which was also broadcast on SVT.
During the evening, artists such as Albin Lee Meldau, Seinabo Sey, Molly Sandén and Christer Sjögren performed various Abba classics. However, Abba themselves were conspicuous by their absence. Björn Ulvaeus was instead in London where the musical “Mamma Mia” celebrated 25 years on stage in the West End, writes TT.
THE ARTICLE IN BRIEF
The tribute evening for Abba that was broadcast on SVT on Saturday night has received criticism from both reviewers and on social media.
The range of artists is called, among other things, “low-profile” and the television production “old-fashioned and long-winded”, while others appreciated the party atmosphere, including the royal couple.
SVT’s now replies that, despite mixed criticism, they are happy about the efforts and had expected both praise and praise.
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“Agnetha, Frida, Björn and Benny have jointly decided to decline all requests in connection with the anniversary”Abbas’s manager Görel Hanser has previously announced to TT.
“Old-fashioned and long-winded”
Several reviewers are now criticizing the tribute, Gothenburg Post’s Johan Lindqvist writes that the range of artists was “strikingly low-profile” and that the television production was “old-fashioned, cumbersome, insensitive and long-winded”. Dagens Nyheter’s Matilda Källén writes that it is like “watching an extra luxurious ‘So much better'” and questions where the fathers are and the “lack of enthusiasm”.
Positive words have also been said about the tribute evening as “the audience was lyrical when Maja Ivarsson kicked off Saturday’s love fest for Abba with ‘Does your mother know’, writes TT. And the King and Queen who were in attendance looked to be enjoying the evening as they smiled and clapped along to the music.
The production behind the tribute evening has previously announced that they have invited several of Sweden’s biggest artists to interpret the band’s music.
The king and queen during the tribute night for Abba.
Photo: Magnus Lejhall/TT / TT NEWS AGENCY
SVT’s response to the criticism
Criticism is also directed at the program on social media, and now SVT is responding.
“SVT is happy for everyone’s efforts. It was a big gala and a lot was going to happen. Also expected to receive both rice and praise for the achievements when expectations were high”writes Camilla Hagert, press manager at SVT in a message to Expressen.
