Agnetha Fältskog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agnetha Fältskog
KVO1kl
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Agnetha Fältskog in 2013
|
|
| Born |
Agneta Åse Fältskog
5 April 1950 Jönköping, Sweden
|
| Other names | Anna |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active |
|
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2, including Linda |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Labels | |
| Signature | |
 |
|
Agnetha Åse Fältskog (born 5 April 1950), known as Agnetha Fältskog, is a Swedish singer and songwriter. She is famous for being a member of the pop group ABBA. Agnetha first became successful in Sweden in 1968 with her first album.
She became a global star in the 1970s with ABBA. ABBA is one of the best-selling music groups ever. Agnetha is the youngest member of ABBA.
After ABBA stopped performing together in 1982, she had success as a solo artist. She released three albums and acted in a movie. She later took a break from music.
Agnetha stopped recording music for 16 years. She then released a new album, My Colouring Book, in 2004. She returned again in 2013 with A. This album became her highest-charting solo album in the UK. ABBA has since reunited, and Agnetha is back with the group.
Contents
Agnetha's Early Life and Career
Growing Up in Sweden
Agnetha Åse Fältskog was born in Jönköping, Sweden, on 5 April 1950. She was the first of two daughters. Her father, Knut Ingvar Fältskog, loved music and entertainment. Her mother, Birgit Margareta Johansson, focused on her family. Agnetha's younger sister, Mona, was born in 1955.
Agnetha wrote her first song, "Två små troll" ("Two Small Trolls"), when she was six. In 1958, she started piano lessons and sang in a church choir. In the early 1960s, Agnetha formed a music trio called the Cambers with friends. They performed locally but soon stopped. At 15, Agnetha left school to focus on her music career.
She says that Connie Francis, Marianne Faithfull, Aretha Franklin, and Lesley Gore were her biggest musical inspirations.
Starting Her Music Career (1966–1971)
Agnetha worked as a telephonist for a car company. At the same time, she sang with a local dance band led by Bernt Enghardt. The band became very popular. Agnetha had to choose between her job and music. She sang with the band for two years.
During this time, Agnetha wrote a song called "Jag var så kär" ("I Was So in Love"). This song soon made her famous. A record producer named Karl Gerhard Lundkvist heard her demo. He was only interested in Agnetha and her song. She signed a recording contract with Cupol Records.
Her first single, "Jag var så kär," was released in November 1967. It reached number one on the Swedish Chart in January 1968. She also wrote "Försonade" ("Reconciled") for the Eurovision Song Contest selection, but it was not chosen. Agnetha became one of Sweden's most popular pop artists.
Her success continued in the late 1960s. She met German songwriter Dieter Zimmermann. Her albums appeared on German charts. However, Agnetha did not like the songs the German producers wanted her to sing. She ended her engagement and returned to Sweden.
In 1972, Agnetha played Mary Magdalene in the Swedish version of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar.
Agnetha and ABBA (1971–1982)
Agnetha met Björn Ulvaeus, a member of the Hootenanny Singers, in 1968. They met again in 1969. Her relationship with Björn, and her friendship with Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson, led to the creation of ABBA. Agnetha and Björn married on 6 July 1971. Benny Andersson played the organ at their wedding.
Their first child, Linda Elin Ulvaeus, was born in 1973. Their son, Peter Christian Ulvaeus, was born in 1977. After seven years, Agnetha and Björn decided to separate in 1978. Their divorce was final in 1980. Both agreed that their divorce would not affect ABBA. The end of their marriage inspired Björn to write the lyrics for "The Winner Takes It All".
As a member of ABBA, Agnetha was sometimes called Anna in other countries.
In 1975, Agnetha recorded her solo album Elva kvinnor i ett hus. She made this album between ABBA's busy recording and promotion schedules. Her album stayed on the Swedish chart for 53 weeks. Most of the songs on the album were written by Agnetha herself.
Agnetha has a soprano voice. This means she can sing very high notes.
Between 1968 and 1980, Agnetha had 18 songs on the Swedish radio chart. Most of these songs were written or co-written by her. Her biggest hit was "Om tårar vore guld" in 1970.
In 1981, Agnetha recorded a Swedish Christmas album with her daughter Linda. It was called Nu tändas tusen juleljus. It reached number 6 on the Swedish album chart.
Agnetha sang solo parts in many ABBA songs. Some of these include "Disillusion" (the only ABBA song she wrote), "SOS", "Take A Chance On Me", "The Name Of The Game", "The Winner Takes It All", and "The Day Before You Came".
Agnetha's Solo Career (1982–1988)
ABBA stopped performing together in late 1982. Agnetha then focused on her solo career. In 1982, she sang a duet with Tomas Ledin called "Never Again". It became a hit in several countries. That same year, Agnetha also played a main role in the Swedish movie Raskenstam.
In May 1983, Agnetha released her first solo album after ABBA, Wrap Your Arms Around Me. The album was very popular in Europe. It reached number one in Sweden, Norway, and other countries. It sold 1.5 million copies in its first year. The song "The Heat Is On" was a number one hit in Sweden.
Her next album, Eyes Of A Woman, came out in March 1985. It sold well in parts of Europe. The song "I Won't Let You Go" was a moderate success.
In 1986, Agnetha recorded another duet, "The Way You Are", with Swedish singer Ola Håkansson. This song also became a number one hit in Sweden and Norway.
In 1987, Agnetha recorded a children's album called Kom följ med i vår karusell ('Come Join Us On Our Carousel') with her son Christian. The album had songs for children, sung in Swedish. It was nominated for a Swedish music award.
Later in 1987, Agnetha recorded her fourth solo album, I Stand Alone, in California. This album was a big hit in Sweden, reaching number one. It sold over 300,000 copies in Scandinavia.
Break from Music (1988–2004)
After I Stand Alone, Agnetha took a 17-year break from music. She made very few public appearances. She spent her time on hobbies like astrology, yoga, and horse riding at her home in Ekerö.
In 1990, Agnetha married Swedish surgeon Tomas Sonnenfeld. They divorced in 1993. The separation from Björn Ulvaeus in 1979 was a difficult time for her. Her father passed away in 1995, and her mother passed away in 1994.
In 1996, Agnetha's autobiography Som jag är (As I Am in English) was published. Fans enjoyed reading about her life.
Return to Music (2004–Present)
.jpg)
In April 2004, Agnetha released a new single, "If I Thought You'd Ever Change My Mind". It reached number 2 in Sweden and number 11 in the UK. A week later, her album My Colouring Book was released. It was a collection of cover songs from the 1960s. The album topped the charts in Sweden and was popular in other countries. Critics praised her voice.
Agnetha appeared briefly in a comedy video for the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest semi-final. All four members of ABBA made short appearances.
In 2005, Agnetha attended the opening of the Mamma Mia! musical in Stockholm with her former bandmates.
In October 2008, a new collection of her songs, My Very Best, was released in Sweden. It included her Swedish and English hits.
On 4 July 2008, Agnetha joined her former bandmates at the Swedish premiere of the Mamma Mia! movie. This was the first time all four ABBA members were photographed together in 22 years.
In January 2009, Agnetha and Anni-Frid Lyngstad received an honorary award for ABBA at the Swedish Rockbjörnen Awards.
.jpg)
In May 2013, Agnetha released a new album called A. It included a duet with Gary Barlow of Take That, called "I Should've Followed You Home". The album was very successful, reaching the Top 5 in many countries. It was her highest-charting album in the UK.
On 12 November 2013, Agnetha sang live on stage for the first time in 25 years. She performed with Gary Barlow at the BBC Children in Need Rocks 2013 concert in London.
In the summer of 2017, Agnetha and the other ABBA members recorded two new songs. These songs were for a new ABBA project.
On 2 September 2021, ABBA announced their new virtual concert residency called "ABBA Voyage". They also announced a new album, Voyage, their first studio album in 40 years. It was released on 5 November 2021. The "ABBA Voyage" show opened in London on 27 May 2022.
On 31 August 2023, Agnetha released a new song called "Where Do We Go From Here?". Her album A+ was released on 13 October 2023.
Agnetha's Personal Life
On 6 July 1971, Agnetha married Björn Ulvaeus. They had two children: Linda Elin Ulvaeus (born 1973) and Peter Christian Ulvaeus (born 1977). They separated in 1979 and divorced in 1980. Agnetha later married Swedish surgeon Tomas Sonnenfeld in 1990, but they divorced in 1993.
Agnetha currently lives in Ekerö, Stockholm County, Sweden. She has four grandchildren.
Agnetha has a fear of flying. This fear became worse during ABBA's 1979 American tour. Their plane had to make an emergency landing during a storm. Agnetha said in 2013 that she needed help to deal with this fear. During her solo career, she often traveled by bus. She was in a bus accident on a Swedish motorway in 1983.
On 21 March 2024, all four members of ABBA were given a special honor. They were appointed Commander, First Class, of the Royal Order of Vasa by the King of Sweden. This was the first time in almost 50 years that this honor was given to Swedes. It also marked 50 years since ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest.
Distinctions
-
Sweden: Royal Order of Vasa, Commander First Class (21 March 2024)
Discography
|
|
-
- German-language albums
- Geh' Mit Gott (1994)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | ABBA: The Movie | Herself | |
| 1982 | Nöjesmaskinen | (Guest appearance) | |
| 1983 | Raskenstam | Lisa Mattson | Alternative title: Casanova of Sweden |
See also
In Spanish: Agnetha Fältskog para niños
