BBC Radio 2 is presenting Thank You For The Music: A Celebration of the Music of ABBA in London’s Hyde Park on Sunday 13 September 2009.
The concert promises “an array of stars” performing the songs of ABBA plus songs from Benny and Björn’s “recent offerings in musical theatre and folk”.
Performers announced so far include Elaine Paige, Lulu, Jason Donovan, Russell Watson, Helen Sjöholm with the Benny Andersson Band, “original ABBA musicians”, and the cast of Mamma Mia! (presumably the current London cast). John Barrowman is another name that has been mentioned, and apparently Annie Lennox has been approached.
Benny has said that he and Björn will be performing (“if you can call what Björn does performing” as Benny quipped on the Jonathan Ross Show on July 3rd when announcing this concert). What’s not clear is what that means – one song, the whole concert or something in between. I suspect it’s more likely just a song or two.
Rumour and speculation are rife that Frida and Agnetha should appear. Which doesn’t seem likely.
The concert is associated with the annual BBC Proms series, which conjures up scary images of rampant flag waving and “Rule Britannia”! Will this concert be like that? I guess we will learn more as the date grows closer.
UPDATE 6 August: apparently Russell Watson and Helen Sjöholm won’t be taking part in this concert as they will be rehearsing for Kristina – A Concert Eventat Carnegie Hall in New York on September 23rd and 24th. Sharleen Spiteri and The Feeling have been added to the list of performers.
Thanks to icethesite for additional information.
Tags: A Celebration of the Music of ABBA, ABBA, BBC Radio 2, Chess, Kristina, Thank You For The Music
ABBA Omnibus blog 
1 August, 2009 at 15:35 |
You know what upsets me so much is this huge amount of abba footage that has never been put on offical releas let alone a bootleg. I am referring to the Australian side of things mainly .Eg Celebrity Squares The amount of fabulous footage that channel 9 has especially and yet they showed that stupid stupid abbamania show which was total crap! I just wish that someone, (maybe Matti) could pull some on a TV special. The rights to sell this overseas would make them alot of money as did the Bandsatand special. The Mike Willesse interviews and the Bandstand rehearsles After seeing that footage of Tropiacla Loveland on the Abbavillage site it really makes me wild. GIve it all and wow what a great dvd!!!!!!!!!
1 August, 2009 at 15:37 |
Hi. That’d be great if Annie Lennox performs an ABBA goodie (or two). I love her voice, and I could imagine her performing a hauntingly beautiful version of ‘Like An Angel Passing Through My Room’ or a zesty/biting version of ‘Should I Laugh Or Cry’. Cheers, Tony.
1 August, 2009 at 15:39 |
I wonder if this concert will get released on DVD?
2 August, 2009 at 13:23 |
Hi Trudy. I agree totally agree with you. It is so frustrating that while the mentality of the ‘Anti-ABBA-Eighties’ is long gone, there is still this arrogant attitude from many in the Australian media that anything to do with ABBA is ‘silly’ or less important/enjoyable than something from a contemporary pop-tart’s one-off success (and as is the way of modern society, said ‘pop-tart’ will usually be forgotten, or similarly over-looked, by the following year).
What is also frustrating is that I’ve made enquiries to Universal in Australia about such release on DVD, and they never ever reply. It is silly, because we know that they would make mountains of money for Universal if they did release a DVD of ABBA in Australia, not only from fans, but because ABBA has been ‘re-accepted’ by the masses in Oz since the early 90s: the wider population would also be interested. Additionally, as we know, there would be large sales from other countries too. Sigh. No doubt the forthcoming ‘ABBA in Japan’ DVD will be very successful… thus a DVD of ABBA in Oz would go well too. Maybe the presumed success of the ‘Japan’ DVD will open the floodgates, and thus answer our prayers :o)
By the way Trudie, have a look at ABBAinter.net for free viewings of rare original ABBA and ABBA-esque treats (that website is far better for such goodies than what’s is found on YouTube) (although, the person who runs ‘ABBAinter.net’ is having a break at the moment).
Cheers, Tony.
2 August, 2009 at 17:43 |
I forgot to mention that I also wrote to UNICEF about suggesting that they release the 1979 UNICEF Concert for Children on DVD, because of the concert’s 30th anniversary this year. But again, no reply. No doubt that this would additionally a be a success, and a new money earner for this charity.
I could imagine a great DVD package being organised, including any behind-the-scenes bits (if there were any), 2009 interviews with various participants, and include a CD of the album that was released that year.
Why do marketers tend to not seem to listen (or at least, to take note) of fans suggestions? The fans have a good idea of what is wanted, and what would be popular. Even if marketers think that we are only fans with biased views, they would benefit to listen to us, and at least check to see if there is any value in out suggestions. But instead, sadly, us fans tend to also usually be seen as ‘loonies’. It’s silly, as some companies do listen to fans… look at how successful Star Trek has been over the years: fans wrote to Paramount, and after about 9-or-so years after the original 60s series had finished, Paramount made the first of the movies in 1979, and this continued all the way to the various TV series, and so on, right up to the current movie… I think Paramount also take much notice from fans on things to do with continuity, and so on.
Cheers again, Tony.
3 August, 2009 at 10:00 |
Hopefully ABBA in Japan will be a success and will inspire more DVD releases.
12 August, 2009 at 07:11 |
More acts confirmed. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/events/thank-you-for-the-music/
14 August, 2009 at 21:04 |
Hi. That'd be great if Annie Lennox performs an ABBA goodie (or two). I love her voice, and I could imagine her performing a hauntingly beautiful version of 'Like An Angel Passing Through My Room' or a zesty/biting version of 'Should I Laugh Or Cry'. Cheers, Tony.; Hi. That'd be great if Annie Lennox performs an ABBA goodie (or two). I love her voice, and I could imagine her performing a hauntingly beautiful version of 'Like An Angel Passing Through My Room' or a zesty/biting version of 'Should I Laugh Or Cry'. Cheers, Tony.;;
18 August, 2009 at 07:47 |
Hi, I am a BIG Abba fan. So much that I just finished my own Abba Costume Website Check it out and let me know what you think?
23 August, 2009 at 20:48 |
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27 August, 2009 at 21:45 |
Awesome! I got my tickets last week for this concert, can’t wait to go see… am a massive ABBA fan!!
The full lineup and the songs each artist is going to sing has been published!
http://london-insider.co.uk/2009/08/abba-celebration-bbc-concert-hyde-park-13-september-09/
14 September, 2009 at 18:42 |
Listen online now @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mnd4b