The best of 30 years of Rolling Stone – an interview from April 2018
With Abba celebrated Benny Andersson between 1972 and 1982 world success. After the end, he wrote the musical “Chess” with colleague Björn Ulvaeus. With the Benny Andersson Orkester, he picks up folk songs and goes on tour in Sweden. “Piano” is the new album of the 70-year-old, on which he interpreted songs of his life on the piano.
Note: The interview took place in August 2017 before the reunion of ABBA.
There are six ABBA songs under the 21 pieces of the album, rather undervalued. Do you want rehabilitation for “I Let the Music Speak” and “The Day Before You Came”?
I wanted to transpose their peculiarities. For example, the dominant mini-moog melody of “Day …”-how ominous it is! I am proud of it. The text can mean a lot, but only the music conveys: this woman is not doing well, this woman is left. It was our last recording in 1982. But almost everything comes from me. I was alone in the studio, in the end a drummer was added. I didn’t even rehearse for the new recording – it was the first time in 35 years that I played it. I haven’t played it since we made it.
“Everything Now” is a great title, could be from Abba
Why are the hits missing on “piano”?
Do they have to go to the album? “The Winner Takes it all” would have fit. “Super Trouper” does not work solo. For this it would need a rhythmicism. I play “Dancing Queen” on the piano – you will think that something is missing.
Do you know Arcade Fire?
Who?
A currently quite successful rock band. Their “Everything Now” sounds like “Dancing Queen”.
Someone has already asked me about that! (Get his cell phone out) A – rcade and fire is noted. I don’t know my way around with the latest skirt. But “Everything Now” is a great title, could be from Abba.
Will you appear live?
I am awarded the German Radio Prize in Hamburg. If I’m nervous, I play “Thank you for the music” Playback. But I don’t want to go on tour. The idea scares me. I am not long that can intonate everything at any time.
They worship Johann Sebastian Bach.
He always swings with him, but you don’t necessarily hear him in my songs. Me neither. I saved hours full of stream on my cell phone, I love his Sarabands. He died in 1750, for me he wrote music like from the 20th century. I am not really religious. But Bach must have been in contact with non -worldly. Why love him pop musicians? This is due to his feeling for rhythm.
We are too old, we don’t want a reunion!
In the linnotes to “Piano” it is emphasized: “The musical legacy that we call ABBA was largely created on the piano.” Wasn’t Björn Ulvaeus equal?
Do people know whether the music came, then the text? Of course the music came first. Also at our musical “Kristina Från Duvemåla” from 1995, our “Swedish National Opera”.
This is about Swedish immigrants in the USA. Do you make political music?
Everyone is political. Our musical “Kristina” is more relevant than ever, only the situation is different today: refugees come to us in Sweden or to Germany. Many countries are in need. We don’t, you don’t. I am proud of that. For this we are rewarded in heaven.
What’s next with ABBA?
For the second “Mamma Mia!” Film I take up new arrangements-this time from “Kisses of Fire”, “I Wonder” and “Why did it have to be me?”
Suppose I offer you …
We are too old, we don’t want a reunion! (Laughs) No tour! Instead, there will be a concert tour with holograms from the young ABBA, accompanied by a live band. If the holograms do not convince us, we take avatars, i.e. digital drawings of our bodies. We draw the vocals from the studio versions, some also from the few live documents, for example from the Australian tour. We are aiming for the premiere in spring 2019. You will think we’re on stage! But I won’t be there – I will take my dog for a walk.
Do you prefer to play the piano or accordion?
I have rarely used the accordion for pop music – with “One of Us” it is in the background. The accordion always looks for its way all by itself, but in folk.
You should see the Pro tools lists of the classical artists
Her album appears at the German gramophone. Which listeners do you want to achieve?
I don’t ask myself the question. There was only one reason for me “Piano” to record: my grandchildren. If at some point I no longer exist, you have a souvenir: grandfather plays the piano.
Have you reached old grades?
I can’t read notes. I asked a colleague to make grades – they appear as “Piano”-Book to the plate. Didn’t rummage through the old songs, but played them out of the memory. Sometimes I am not sure if I hit the right key – incorrectly taken up keys accompany me through my career.
Please tell us something about your piano.
Everything is right about my new Fazioli piano: the warmth, the feeling on the buttons, how gently you have to press how hard you have to press. And the reaction of the instrument. It spoke to me. I told the people from the German gramophone to which song spots I cut together the successful passages. Then they said: You should see the Pro tool lists of the classical artists-they use this music program much more often!