BENNY ANDERSSON: The melodic genius of ABBA
Today, December 16, is serving 65 years, none other than Benny Andersson, ABBA important member and songwriter Bjorn Ulvaeus, along with all the hits of ABBA. And as I did with Frida, Agnetha and Bjorn, could not fail to dedicate a post to the great Benny, in order to highlight their enormous importance in the famous Swedish group. And as always, I will not make a detailed and comprehensive biography, but focus on some important and interesting information extracted from some interviews with Benny.
Göran Bror Benny Andersson was born on December 16, 1946, in Stockholm, Sweden. His musical background came from his father and grandfather and they difrutaras see Benny play the accordion and 6 years, Benny already had one. His father and grandfather taught him Swedish folk music and traditional music.At 10 she had her own piano and taught himself to play it. He left school at 15 and began playing in clubs. His influences juveniles were Phil Spector, The Beach Boys, The Beatles and Elvis Presley. In 1964 he formed The Hep Stars, which lasted until 1969 and were known as Swedish Beatles. Benny was consolidated as the strength of that group and there soon began writing his own material. In this regard, in the documentary "Super Troupers" Benny said about those early days: "Six months after I wrote 'Sunny Girl' and had a good feeling, 'It's a good song', gave me that feeling. I felt something was up. The recorded and was very successful. The day we went to number 1 on the charts, out of nowhere, I realized and told me myself that I could write a good topic related to what he did, would be able to compose two. And if I did two, I could do three. I decided I wanted to do and neither has changed since then " . 
In June 1966, when they were on tour in southern Sweden, with its group Hep Stars coincided with Bjorn and became close friends. Both shared a passion for writing and each found a partner in the other and supported each other in their respective bands, adding guitars and keyboards respectively recordings. On contact with Bjorn, in the documentary mentioned in the previous paragraph, Benny said: "We met during a tour. He was in Hootenanny Singers. I composed and knew because he knew I did too.'re talking about a possible collaboration. Bjorn and I said, 'Maybe we should record an album two of us, with our own material, which we did in 1970 or 1971 ". In this context and during a festival, he met vocalist Anni-Frid Lyngstad and began a relationship. Soon after, Bjorn begin their relationship with Agnetha.When first formed ABBA, Bjorn composed the music along with Benny and both wrote the letter. As for the incorporation of Agnetha and Frida, Benny recalled: "We ask the girls to do the chorus. We realized that sounded much better than us to sing. We said, 'Let's album four and make a song together English pop '.'s titled' People Need Love '. Then we went on tour all four together. We acted in bars in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo and north " .In the late 70's, you could tell he was Benny who composed the music and melody and Bjorn wrote only the lyrics. Also Benny plays various instruments like the accordion, piano, keyboards, guitar, synthesizer and saxophone.About his work as composer, Benny said: "Being an artist or compose like there's a dragon in a cave. You know it's there, but never leaves, so you have to be patient. If you wait long enough, will come out. If you go home to rest, no see. It is then when you leave. It works well, you sit, wait and pretend you're working " .
After separation of ABBA in 1983, Benny continued to compose music with Bjorn and his first project was the musical "Chess", written by Tim Rice, which was a great success. He also regularly performs with his band of 16 musicians, called BAO , Benny Anderssons Orkester-Benny thus feel fully satisfied. It is worth noting that also worked on the film Soundrack "MAMMA MIA" and even had a very brief appearance as a cameo in the film and we can see from the time they sing "Dancing Queen" when playing the keyboard appears.
As for her personal life, Benny was engaged to Christina Grönvall out pregnant after Benny, who was just 16 years. In 1963 Peter had a son then a daughter Grönvall, Helen.The couple separated in 1966 and never married, and Christina had the custody of their children because Benny was at the height of his success with Hep Stars. In 1970 he became engaged to Anni-Frid Lyngstad and lived together. In October 1978 he married, but divorced in 1981. In this regard, Benny said: "Had it not been for ABBA, we would not have been so long" . In November 1981 he married Swedish TV presenter Mona Nörklit, with whom he has been married for 30 years. They had a son Ludvig, born in January 1982. Ludvig followed in the footsteps of his father and formed his own band, Ella Rouge.
On the other hand, Benny received an Honorary Doctorate University is tocolmo Royal Swedish Academy
Last year when ABBA entered the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame on March 15, 2010, at the ceremony in New York, Benny accepted the award along with Frida and gave a speech very interesting about the important influences in the music of ABBA as European traditional music. In this regard, Benny said, "If you live in a country like Sweden, with five to six months of snow and the sun disappears completely for almost two months, that would be reflected in the work of artists.'s definitely in the Swedish folk music, you can listen to Russian folk songs, you can hear the music of J ean Sibelius and Edvard Grieg in Norway, you can see in the eyes of Greta Garbo and you can hear the voice of Jussi Björling. And you can hear on the sound of Frida and Agnetha in several of our songs as well " .
Undoubtedly, Benny has always given the impression of being a cheerful and good-natured, always smiling to the fans and his sense of humor. And the latter sample, could be seen in the documentary "Super Troupers" when after the 30th anniversary of ABBA winning the Eurovision with "Waterloo" and 5 years of the premiere of the musical "Mamma Mia" in London, the 4 ABBA members were invited to this special function which was attended Bjorn, Benny and Frida. At one point, who had, Pete Waterman said of ABBA, "What is not this group has received nearly 30 years?" and nothing Benny says quietly: "A horse" , provoking laughter the entire audience. And its appearance has always been identifiable from the group's beginnings to the end and then in the years after the dissolution of the quartet. One saw a picture of Benny and immediately recognized him as one the "ABBA". And about that, I have an anecdote told to me a great friend of mine, Yvon, who is a fan of ABBA. When I was at school, his dad always drew things that gave him work at school, which required a drawing. And one day, a little later, he had been given the task of drawing a viceroy and his dad told him to draw. Dad went to find some picture of a viceroy in a book and found nothing. And then, reviewed the LPs of my friend and saw some of ABBA and saw a picture of Benny and took it away and drew Benny as viceroy. When she told me, I remember I ended up dragged with laughter.
It has been nearly 30 years of the dissolution of ABBA and the mega success during his years as current band and then, as an influence for future generations thanks to the theatrical musical "MAMMA MIA" and the film of the same name, is due entirely to musical genius Bjorn and Benny both composed. And important part of that authorial duo was undoubtedly the always charismatic Benny Andersson. Today, I wanted to remember Benny for his 65th birthday and dedicate this post as it deserves.And may God continue to give many years of life and health. HAPPY 65 YEARS, BENNY!
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