By Steve Humphreys, Melbourne, Australia

A lot has been said about Abba with Eurovision’s 60th anniversary, so I had a look at the road the four famous Swedes took on their way to Brighton and international fame back in 1974.

It was interesting to note, that it was not an instant overnight success as it appeared. We know in fact Benny, Björn and manager Stig Anderson as songwriters, had their sights on a Eurovision Song Contest win since back in 1970. As well as often being quoted as saying ‘in the mid 70’s, Eurovision Song Contest was the only way a Swedish artist could reach an audiences outside of Sweden’ very different from today. Along the way Abba would have some rejected songs, and even the dreaded non-qualification in a semi final heat! All before the ‘Waterloo’ victory. Lets see the year-by-year journey.

1968- Agnetha Faltskog a new female popstar in Sweden submitted the song ‘Forsonade’ wrote by Agnetha. It was a lovely ballad that failed to be selected for Melodifestivalen 1968 – the song did find a place on Agnetha’s debut album in 1968.

1969- Benny Andersson and Lasse Berghagen wrote the tune “Hej Clown” Benny had already formed a songwriting partnership with Björn for the past 3 years, but wrote this tune together with a big star Lasse Berghagen (Sweden’s answer to Tom Jones). The tune was sung by Jan Malmsjö, (a famous actor) ‘Hej Clown’ tied for 1st place, then following a tie break, Benny’s entry came just second to Tommy Korberg winner ‘Judy min van’.

1969- Anni-Frid Lyngstad sung that same year a lovely pop tune ‘Harlig ar var jord’ following her breakthough a couple of years before Frida finished in =4th place.

1970- Sweden didn’t take part in the Eurovision Song Contest.

1971- Björn & Benny began writing and producing artists at Polar Records and so submitted a tune ‘Det kan lngen Doktor hjalpa’ a folk band Family Four, won a place at Eurovision that year and Björn and Benny’s submission was not chosen at all. The song was later released as a Björn & Benny single release- with Agnetha & Anni-Frid on backing vocals. This track although not a big hit did show an early pre-Abba sound slowly coming together at last.

1972- A Polar Records artist Lena Andersson sung the next Björn & Benny song ‘Säg Det Med En Sång’ she came 3rd- and this gave Lena a big hit single in Sweden. And has remained a popular Melodifestivalen classic of the 70’s. Family Four were chosen to sing at Eurovision Song Contest again with the happy tune Härliga Sommardag.

1972- Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid had released a debut single with ‘People Need Love’. Following this hit in November 1970, the foursome appeared in the ‘World Popular Song Festival’ in Tokyo with a new song called ‘ Santa Rosa’. It was a fairly new Japanese pop song contest, made up of two preliminary rounds, Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid never actually qualified for the grand final. They returned home to Sweden with a commemorative medal only.

1973- Benny, Björn, Agnetha & Anni-Frid must have arrived back and begun work right away on ‘Ring Ring’ a new Swedish tune for Melodifestivalen the very next year. They sang ‘Ring Ring’, however the national final was voted on by only a jury of experts ‘Ring Ring’ came 3rd only! The song was clearly the Swedish public’s favourite and hit No:1 in the Swedish charts and followed by a debut album called ‘Ring Ring’ from the band.

1974- Abba sang ’Waterloo’ and won Melodifestivalen with a huge landslide of 302 points, ahead of Lasse Berghagen (211 points) & Lena Ericsson (185 points).

The rest really is international music history (yet it did not end here).