Benny doesn't like Eurovision, but Abba website does

by Benny Royston 73 views

Despite Abba band member Benny Andersson claiming that the Eurovision Song Contest “means nothing for music”, it still seems to have a role to play in promoting the band that captured Sweden's first victory in 1974. This week sees the 35th anniverary of their Eurovision Waterloo, and the official Abba website is asking Eurovision Song Contest fans to vote for their favourite Abba song.

On Monday night, the official Swedish Delegation party at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow held a special Abba anniversary celebration that saw the head of delegation, former Swedish Eurovision Song Contest representative and competition producer of the Swedish National Selection show, Melodifestivalen back on stage. Christer Bjorkman was joined by this year's Swedish Eurovision Song Contest finalist, Malena Ernman, four time Melodifestivalen competitor and this year's Swedish co-commentator, Shirley Clamp, Iceland's 2009 Eurovision Song Contest finalist, Yohanna and many other stars. www.esctoday.com provided video footage which can be seen below.

Benny Andersson of Abbalaunched an attack on the music quality of the Eurovision Song Contest this week, saying that the show is a good spectacle "if you can bear sitting for such a long time". He commented to the BBC Newswebsitethat: "What it is now is possibly a great television event, but for music it means nothing".

Talking about the show in bygone eras, he said ""It was a smaller scale then, than it is now. It might have been a little bit more meaningful in the '50s and '60s and when we entered but after that, I'm not sure if anything ever happened".

The brand new official Abba site, www.abbasite.com, is packed with exclusive, never seen before ABBA pictures and videos. During the anniversary week (11th – 18th of May) everything in the web shop – cds, dvds, merchandise and more – will be available at a 35% discount. The anniversary will also include the launch of a new line of merchandise a that is made available on the site on a first come, first served basis.

Fans can The vote for their favourite Abba song under a poll sanctioned by the official international ABBA Fan Club and hosted by Universal Music – is open until the 18th of May.

esctoday.com videos from the Abba Anniversary Swedish Delegation Party in Moscow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEACwufu0Ro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y64q6TYZY8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqL_ghsNgr4