ABBA Is Back With 2 New Songs/Virtual Concert… Sadly, The Songs Are Kinda Boring

A very big deal is happening in ABBA World today as the mega popular Swedish pop band releases new music for the first time in 400, er, 40 years! They also announced an album and a digital concert experience happening next year!

Unfortunately, the two new songs; “Don’t Shut Me Down” and “I Still Have Faith In You” are kinda/sorta pretty boring…in our opinion as old school ABBA fans but you judge for yourself.

It’s nice to see them back in action though we’re shocked they released this awful photo of the four in these unflattering suits required for digital/virtual filming…I mean, you do NOT photograph stars of a “certain age” wearing ugly outfits and posing them in these awful positions!

I’m shocked, surprised and chagrined that Agnetha and Anni-Frid ok’d this!

More poo:

ABBA ARE BACK! Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid return with ABBA VOYAGE 

A revolutionary concert, 40 years in the making,and a brand new studio album Voyage

Listen To New Music + Watch New Music Video

Pre-Order 

Album Voyage out November 5, 2021

ABBA Voyage Concert Launches in London May 2022

ABBA, one of the most successful pop groups of all time, have today announced that, for the first time in 40 years they are back, with a revolutionary new concert that will see Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid performing digitally with a live 10-piece band, in a purpose-built arena in London from May 27 2022, and a brand new studio album. 

The digital versions of ABBA have been created following weeks and months of motion-capture and performance techniques with the four band members and an 850-strong team from Industrial Light & Magic, the company founded by George Lucas, in what is the company’s first foray into music. 

Now, an incredible 40 years since their last studio album The Visitors, ABBA have not only recorded two new songs, “I Still Have Faith In You” and “Don’t Shut Me Down,” that will both feature in the concert, but they have recorded and produced an entire new album. Recorded together at Benny’s studio Riksmixningsverket in Stockholm, Voyage will be released worldwide on November 5th on Capitol Records. 

ABBA Voyage will open May 27, 2022 at the ABBA Arena, a state-of-the-art 3,000 capacity arena located at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Pre-registration for tickets opens at 6pm tonight on abbavoyage.com with tickets on general sale from Tuesday September 7, see below for more detail. 

The ABBA Voyage concert is made with the help of: Producer Svana Gisla (David Bowie Blackstar/Lazarus, Beyoncé and Jay Z for HBO, Springsteen and I), Producer Ludvig Andersson (And Then We Danced, Yung Lean – “In My Head”, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again), Director Baillie Walsh (Flashbacks of a Fool, Being James Bond, Springsteen and I), Co-Executive Producer Johan Renck (Spaceman, David Bowie Blackstar/Lazarus, Chernobyl) and Choreographer Wayne McGregor CBE (The Royal Ballet, Company Wayne McGregor, Paris Opera Ballet).

Tickets for ABBA Voyage are available from 10am Sunday September 5th for fans who have pre-ordered the album from the official ABBA store, and from 10am MondaySeptember 6thfor those who have pre-registered. General on sale commences 10am Tuesday September 7th. Head to abbavoyage.com. 

ABBA’s studio album Voyage will be released November 5th on Capitol Records. abbavoyage.com

What ABBA had to say about the new project:

It’s been a while since we made music together. Almost 40 years, actually. We took a break in the spring of 1982 and now we’ve decided it’s time to end it. They say it’s foolhardy to wait more than 40 years between albums, so we’ve recorded a follow-up to “The Visitors”. To tell the truth, the main inspiration to record again comes from our involvement in creating the strangest and most spectacular concert you could ever dream of. We’re going to be able to sit back in an audience and watch our digital selves perform our songs on a stage in a custom-built arena in London next spring. Weird and wonderful! To all of you who patiently have followed us in some way or another these past decades: Thank you for waiting – it’s time for a new journey to begin.

Benny Anderson:

“We simply call it ‘Voyage’ and we’re truly sailing in uncharted waters. With the help of our younger selves, we travel into the future. It’s not easy to explain but then it hasn’t been done before.” “It’s hard to say what’s been the most joyful thing for me with this project. If it’s the involvement in creating the concert together with everyone or being back in the studio together again after 40 years. I think hearing Frida and Agnetha singing again is hard to beat. When you come to the arena you will have the four of us together with an absolutely glorious 10-piece band. And even if not in the flesh, we will be right there, thanks to the work of the creative team and ILM.” 

Anni-Frid Lyngstad:

“Those first sessions back in 2018 were such fun and when Benny called and asked if I’d consider singing some more I jumped at it! And what songs!! My respect and love go out to these exceptionally talented, truly genius songwriters! Such joy it was to work with the group again. I am so happy with what we have made, and I dearly hope our fans feel the same.” 

Agnetha Fältskog:

“When we got back together in the studio I had no idea what to expect…But Benny’s recording studio is such a friendly and safe environment, and before I knew it I was really enjoying myself! I can hardly believe that finally, the moment has come to share this with the world!” 

Björn Kristian Ulvaeus:

“They’re such amazing singers those two, I was completely floored by the way they delivered those songs. They’re true musicians; totally unimpressed by pop star glamour but still having a great time being creative in a recording studio. The “Voyage” project has injected new life into us in more ways than one.”“So, again, thanks for waiting! We hope to see you in the “ABBA Arena” and yes -see -because we have infused a good deal of our souls into those avatars. It’s not an exaggeration to say that we’re back.”