Anni-Frid Lyngstad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anni-Frid Lyngstad |
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Lyngstad at the opening of ABBA The Museum in 2013
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| Born | Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad 15 November 1945 Bjørkåsen, Norway |
| Spouse |
Ragnar Fredriksson
(m. 1964; div. 1970)Heinrich Ruzzo Prinz Reuss von Plauen
(m. 1992; died 1999) |
| Issue | 2 |
| Signature |  |
| Musical career | |
| Also known as | Frida |
| Origin | Torshälla, Eskilstuna, Sweden |
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| Years active | 1958–present |
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Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad (born November 15, 1945), often known simply as Frida, is a Swedish singer. She is famous for being one of the main singers and a founding member of the pop group ABBA. Because of her third marriage, she is also known as Princess Reuss and Countess of Plauen.
Frida was born in Bjørkåsen, Norway. She grew up in Torshälla, Sweden. She began her music career as a jazz singer in 1967. She won a talent competition called New Faces with her song "En ledig dag". This led to a record deal with EMI. Later, she signed with Stig Anderson's record label, Polar Music.
She became famous worldwide after joining ABBA. The group, which included her second husband Benny Andersson, sold over 150 million albums and singles. This made ABBA one of the most successful music groups ever.
After ABBA stopped performing together, Frida continued her solo career. She released albums like Something's Going On (1982) and Shine (1984). In 1996, she recorded her last album in Swedish, Djupa andetag (Deep Breaths). After this, she mostly retired from music.
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Early Life and Family
Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad was born on November 15, 1945. Her mother was Synni Lyngstad and her father was a German soldier, Alfred Haase. She was born in a small village in northern Norway called Bjørkåsen.
In 1947, her mother and grandmother moved to Sweden with baby Anni-Frid. They settled in the Härjedalen region. Her mother, Synni, later joined them in Sweden. The three then moved to Malmköping. Sadly, Synni died soon after from kidney failure at age 21. Anni-Frid was then raised by her grandmother, Arntine.
In June 1949, Anni-Frid and her grandmother moved to Torshälla. This town is near Eskilstuna. Arntine worked as a seamstress. Anni-Frid grew up there and started school in 1952. She often visited her family in Norway during summer holidays.
In 1977, Frida learned that her father, Alfred Haase, was still alive. She had believed he died during World War II. With help from Benny Andersson, Frida met her father for the first time in Stockholm.
Music Career Beginnings
Frida often said her grandmother sang to her, which made her love music. She showed a talent for singing from a very young age. Her teachers often asked her to sing for the class. She quickly became known for her beautiful voice.
At 13, in 1958, Frida started her first job as a singer with the Evald Ek's Orchestra. She performed every weekend for dancing audiences. These shows often lasted up to five hours. She loved singing classic songs like "All of Me". To improve, she also took singing lessons. Later, she sang with the Bengt Sandlunds Bigband, performing jazz music. Her favorite singers were Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee. In 1963, she formed her own band, the Anni-Frid Four. Her husband at the time, Ragnar Fredriksson, was in these groups.
On September 3, 1967, Frida won a national talent competition called "New Faces". It was held in Stockholm. She sang "En ledig dag" ("A Day Off"). The prize was a recording contract with EMI. On the same evening, she appeared on a popular TV show called Hylands Hörna. Many people were watching TV that night because Sweden was changing from driving on the left to the right side of the road. Frida's performance was a big hit.
Many record companies wanted to sign her. EMI quickly drove to her home to get her to sign a contract. On September 11, 1967, she recorded "En ledig dag" as her first single for EMI. She recorded the vocals in just one take.
In January 1968, she performed on TV again. She briefly met Agnetha Fältskog, who would later be her bandmate in ABBA. Frida toured Sweden and recorded more singles for EMI. She decided to move to Stockholm to become a full-time singer.
In 1969, she took part in Melodifestivalen. This is the Swedish competition to choose a song for the Eurovision Song Contest. She sang "Härlig är vår jord" ("Our Earth Is Wonderful") and finished fourth. Backstage, she met Benny Andersson, who would become her second husband and ABBA bandmate.
Joining ABBA
Her first album, Frida, was released in 1971. It was produced by her fiancé at the time, Benny Andersson. Critics praised the album, especially Frida's clear and versatile voice. One reviewer said she sang "in a very intelligent way." That same year, her single "Min egen stad" ("My Own Town") reached No. 1 in Sweden. All four future members of ABBA sang backup on this song.
Frida continued to perform in shows and on TV and radio. Her relationship with Benny Andersson, and her friendship with Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog, led to the creation of ABBA. At first, Frida was unsure about performing with them. Their first show together in 1970–1971 was not very successful. But soon, Benny and Björn realized how well Frida's and Agnetha's voices sounded together. This led to the group forming, first called Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid, and later renamed ABBA.
Frida has a wide vocal range. She sang solo parts in many ABBA songs. Some of these include "Fernando", "I Have a Dream", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", and "Money, Money, Money".
Frida seemed to enjoy being in the spotlight more than the other ABBA members. She liked touring and meeting fans. She also helped design ABBA's famous costumes for their tours and TV shows. After ABBA stopped performing, Frida was the only one who openly wished for a reunion. ABBA did get back together in 2017.
During the ABBA years, Frida released another solo album in Swedish, Frida ensam ("Frida Alone"), in 1975. Benny Andersson produced it. This album included her successful Swedish version of "Fernando". It was No. 1 in Sweden for nine weeks. The album was a huge success in Sweden. It was No. 1 on the Swedish album charts for six weeks. It stayed on the charts for 38 weeks. The album mostly featured cover songs by artists like the Beach Boys and David Bowie. It received good reviews and sold very well.
Solo Career After ABBA
In 1982, during ABBA's last year as a group, Frida released her first solo album in English. It was called Something's Going On. Phil Collins produced the album. It became a big success for Frida around the world. The album had a rockier sound. The lead single, "I Know There's Something Going On", was a No. 1 hit in Belgium and Switzerland. It was also a top 5 hit in many other countries. The song and its music video were popular on MTV. It was also successful in the United States.
The album received good reviews. Billboard called it "a stunning success." Swedish Television filmed the making of the album. This became a one-hour TV documentary. Because of the album's success, Frida was voted "Best Female Artist Of The Year" in Sweden in 1982.
Frida's next album was Shine (1984). It was recorded in Paris and produced by Steve Lillywhite. This album was not as successful as Something's Going On. However, it reached the Top 20 in many European countries. Its highest position was No. 6 in Sweden.
Later Career and Activities
In 1987, Frida sang in the choir for a song by her former husband, Benny Andersson. She also recorded a duet called "Så Länge Vi Har Varann" ("As Long As We Have Each Other") with the Swedish pop group Ratata. This song was very popular in Sweden.
In 1990, Frida became involved with the Swedish environmental group Det Naturliga Steget ("The Natural Step"). In 1991, she became chairwoman for Artister För Miljö ("Artists for the Environment"). In 1992, Frida started her own Children and Environment Foundation. This foundation runs summer camps for children who need help. Also in 1992, Frida performed at the Stockholm Water Festival. She released a charity single, her cover of Julian Lennon's song "Saltwater". All the money from this single went to charity.
In 1993, for Queen Silvia's 50th birthday, Frida was asked to sing "Dancing Queen". This was the song ABBA performed when the King and Queen married in 1976. Frida performed it with The Real Group at the Stockholm Opera House.
In 1996, Frida recorded her Swedish album Djupa andetag ("Deep Breaths"). This album was released 12 years after Shine. It received good reviews and was No. 1 in Sweden. Frida appeared on many TV shows to promote the album. A documentary about the making of this album was also released. A planned follow-up album was put on hold after the death of Frida's daughter in 1998.
Frida made a few more recordings. In 2002, she sang a duet with opera singer Filippa Giordano. In 2004, she recorded "The Sun Will Shine Again" with former Deep Purple member Jon Lord. They performed the song together on German TV shows.
In 2004, Frida appeared in a special comedy video for the Eurovision Song Contest semi-final. All four ABBA members made short appearances in the video. Also in 2004, Frida joined Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus in London. They were celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Mamma Mia! musical. In 2008, she joined all three former ABBA members at the Swedish premiere of Mamma Mia! in Stockholm.
Recent Activities and ABBA Reunion
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On November 15, 2005, for Frida's 60th birthday, Universal Records released a box set. It included all her solo albums and a 3.5-hour documentary called Frida: The DVD. In the documentary, Frida talks about her music career before and after ABBA.
In 2010, Frida sang "Morning Has Broken" on an album by musician Georg Wadenius. This song is one of Frida's favorites.
In 2013, Frida helped open ABBA The Museum in Stockholm. In 2015, Frida released a single called "1865" with Dan Daniell. The song is about the Matterhorn mountain in Switzerland.
In the summer of 2017, Frida joined her ABBA bandmates Agnetha, Björn, and Benny. They recorded two new songs: "I Still Have Faith in You" and "Don't Shut Me Down". These songs were part of a new ABBA project.
In 2018, Frida and jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval released a duet of the ABBA song "Andante, Andante".
On September 2, 2021, ABBA announced their new virtual show, "ABBA Voyage". They also announced a new album, recorded between 2017 and 2021. This album, also called Voyage, was their first studio album in 40 years. It has ten songs, including "I Still Have Faith In You" and "Don't Shut Me Down". The Voyage album was released worldwide on November 5, 2021. The "ABBA Voyage" concert opened in London on May 27, 2022.
Personal Life
On April 3, 1964, when she was 18, Frida married salesman and musician Ragnar Fredriksson. They had two children. They separated in 1968 and divorced in 1970.
In 1969, Frida met Benny Andersson. They started living together in 1971. They married on October 6, 1978, when ABBA was very popular. They separated in November 1980 and divorced in 1981.
After ABBA, Frida moved to London in 1982. In 1986, she moved to Switzerland. She lived there with her partner, Heinrich Ruzzo Prinz Reuss von Plauen. He was a landscape architect and a member of a German royal family. They married on August 26, 1992. Through this marriage, Frida became friends with the Swedish royal family, especially Queen Silvia of Sweden.
Frida became a grandmother in 1989. Her daughter, Ann Lise-Lotte Fredriksson, had a son named Jonathan Casper. Sadly, on January 13, 1998, Ann Lise-Lotte died at age 30 in a car accident. The next year, Heinrich Ruzzo Prinz Reuss von Plauen died from cancer.
Since 2007, Frida has been in a relationship with British peer Henry Smith, 5th Viscount Hambleden. They live in Switzerland. In 2023, her grandson Jonathan died from stomach cancer.
Other Interests
Frida is a vegetarian and a feminist. She is still involved in charity work. She is also very interested in environmental issues.
Awards and Recognition
Sweden: Royal Order of Vasa, Commander First Class (March 21, 2024)
In 1964, Frida won a national singing contest and was named "Vocalist of the Year". In September 1967, she won the Barnens Dag contest. This led to her TV debut and a recording contract. In 1982, Frida won the Swedish music prize Rockbjörnen for "Best Female Artist".
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of ABBA in 2010. She and Benny Andersson gave the acceptance speech for the group. In 2014, she received the Eskilstuna Music Prize. This was for her "pioneering career" and important contribution to music.
On March 21, 2024, all four members of ABBA received a special honor from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. They were appointed Commander, First Class, of the Royal Order of Vasa. This was the first time these Swedish royal honors had been given out in almost 50 years.
Title and Style
When she married Prince Heinrich in 1992, she became Princess Anni-Frid Synni of Reuss, Countess of Plauen. After his death in 1999, she is called Princess Anni-Frid, Dowager Countess of Plauen.
Discography
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Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 1977 | ABBA: The Movie | Herself | |
| 1978 | Gå på vattnet om du kan | Anna | English: Walk on Water If You Can |
| 1980 | ABBA – In Concert | Herself | |
| 1984 | Jokerfejs | Louise | English: Jokerface |
| 1992 | FernGully: The Last Rainforest | Magi Lune (voice) | Dubbed in Swedish |
| 2004 | ABBA – The Last Video Ever | Herself |
See also
In Spanish: Anni-Frid Lyngstad para niños
- List of Swedes in music
