Björn Again

Björn Again is a parody of the 1970s Swedish pop group ABBA. Created in 1988 in Australia,The show currently involves performers based in several countries. The Björn Again name is based in part on ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus with the obvious revivalist association to " born again". Björn Again has performed approximately 5,500 shows in 72 countries in 34 years.

Character of the show

Björn Again is a light-hearted parody of ABBA, using pidgin Swedish (or ' Swenglish') originally using stage names Agnetha Falstart, Benny Anderwear, Frida Longstokin and Björn Volvo-us referencing original ABBA members including bassist Rutger Sonofagunn and drummer Ola Drumkitt based on Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert). Björn Again is a slightly satirical, rocked up and choreographed act with costumes and song arrangements sometimes quite different from ABBA affording Björn Again the luxury of being considered as a unique show in its own right.

History

Björn Again was created in October 1988 in Melbourne, Australia by Rod Stephen. The name Björn Again was Rod's pseudonym he used when skiing in the Victorian alps throughout the 1980s. This name was perfect for his new ABBA show.
After the first Björn Again show at a pub in the inner Melbourne suburb of Collingwood called The Tote Hotel on 6 May 1989 the show's popularity increased quickly, which first took the group Australia-wide and then overseas to international acclaim. Original members included Rod Stephen, Peter Ryan, John Tyrrell, Dorina Morelli, Kathy Riseborough, Gavin Charles and later Janette Stuart.

Björn Again has in total recorded and performed live a massive 133 songs including 55 ABBA songs, 7 originals and 62 covers by other artists. When Erasure had a hit with ''Abba-esque'', Björn Again responded with an EP of covers of Erasure songs done in the style of ABBA, called ''Erasure-ish''. The EP included the songs " Stop!" and " A Little Respect" that achieved Number 25 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1992. Later that year, a cover of ''Santa Claus Is Coming to Town'' reached Number 55 in the UK charts. In August 2009, Björn Again performed Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' with an additional drummer to a receptive Sonisphere Festival crowd at Knebworth as a nod to the headlining act.

Björn Again has performed at many types of event from large rock festivals worldwide including Reading and Glastonbury, to private performances for celebrities, including playing at parties for top UK golfer Colin Montgomerie, Microsoft's Bill Gates, comedian Rowan Atkinson, actor Russell Crowe's wedding, and for Russian president Vladimir Putin.

On December 17, 2012, Björn Again performed at the Buckingham Palace Christmas party attended by the Queen and members of the royal family and their staff.

On 23rd Nov 2007, Björn Again performed a show in honour of Agnetha Fältskog at Stockholm's TV3/TV6 tenth anniversary party. She was quoted saying “It was a great show. I loved the choreography" and "Good Luck for the tour”

On 18th Jan 2005, Björn Again was asked to attend a celebrity gala in costume at the London Savoy to receive a belated award on behalf of ABBA from the radio times acknowledging 30 years since their Eurovision Song Contest triumph with Waterloo in Brighton on 6 April 1974.

In 1999, the UK Bjorn Again took part in a documentary for Channel 5 entitled "ABBA: Bjorn Again!", this included Björn Again on tour. The documentary explored some of the history of the show. Throughout the programme the members spoke in "Swenglish" accents.

Both Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have lauded Björn Again a number of times over the years, and after ABBA's former members made their intentions known that they were not going to perform together any longer, Andersson was quoted as saying in 1999, "BJÖRN AGAIN are the closest you can get to seeing ABBA. ABBA will never reform!"

In 1999, 2009 and 2019, Björn Again was the opening act on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Videos

* ''Live At The Royal Albert Hall'' (1998)
* ''ABBA Karaoke featuring Björn Again'' (1998)
* ''ABBA: Björn Again'' (2001)
* ''Gimme Gimme Gimme A Really Great Workout!'' (2008)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bjorn Again
ABBA
Musical groups established in 1988
Australian pop music groups
Tribute bands
Australian parodists
Australian comedy musicians
Parody musicians
Victoria (Australia) musical groups