The Story of Abba: Melancholy Undercover
by Jan Gradvall
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"More than half a century after their songs were recorded, ABBA still make people the world over dance and sing their hearts out. In 2013, when the band had not been interviewed for over thirty years, Jan Gradvall was granted unique access to them for the next decade and the result is [this book]. Agnetha F¨altskog, Bj¨orn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad all share their personal stories, their thoughts, and their opinions about ABBA's music more openly than ever before. Weaving in and out of their story, ... Gradvall reveals the context in which their unique sound developed and shows how the story of ABBA is also the story of Sweden and the globalization of pop culture"--] Provided by publisher.
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9781250379856
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Authors
- Jan Gradvall
- Publisher
- St. Martin's Press
- Published Date
- June 17, 2025
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 336
- Physical Info
- 1.23 in H x 9.21 in L x 6.51 in W (1.19 lb)
There is a lot to enjoy in this book, even for a longtime follower of ABBA like myself.I have read a LOT about ABBA over my decades of devoted fanhood. Jan Gradvall's approach is at once journalistic and kind of literary. He includes many details that show he's immersed in his subject and able to put it all together.His analysis of ABBA's global appeal rings very true. (A colleague who once bought me a Frida fridge magnet from the ABBA Museum was the one who showed me the New Yorker story about this book, which led me to buy it. That story focusses on this subject. His insight into Bjorn's lyrics, written in a sort of "international" English seemed very keen to me.I came away with a lot more appreciation for Agnetha as a person and an artist.I like how he gave Frida and Benny their due for their acceptance speeches at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.The deep dives into Swedish culture were gratifying, given how my love for the band has also spawned a keen interest in the country, especially in their era.I will make space for this on my bookshelf. It's a keeper. Congratulations, sir!!
