Anni-Frid Lyngstad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anni-Frid Lyngstad |
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| Dowager Princess Reuss Countess of Plauen |
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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, Ballangen Municipality, Norway |
| Spouse |
Ragnar Fredriksson
(m. 1964; div. 1970)Heinrich Ruzzo Prinz Reuss von Plauen
(m. 1992; died 1999) |
| Issue | 2 |
| House | Reuss (by marriage) |
| Signature |  |
| Musical career | |
| Also known as | Frida |
| Origin | Torshälla, Eskilstuna, Sweden |
| Genres | |
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| Years active | 1958–present |
| Labels |
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Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad (born 15 November 1945), often known simply as Frida, is a Swedish singer. She is famous for being one of the main singers of the pop group ABBA. Because of her third marriage, she also has the titles Princess Reuss and Countess of Plauen.
Frida was born in Bjørkåsen, Norway, to a Norwegian mother and a German father. She grew up in Torshälla, Sweden. She started her solo career as a jazz singer in 1967 after winning a talent show called New Faces. She won with her song "En ledig dag", which led to a TV appearance and a record deal with EMI. Later, she signed with Stig Anderson's record label, Polar Music.
She had some success in Sweden, even competing in the Melodifestivalen in 1969. However, she became internationally famous only after joining ABBA. ABBA, which included her second husband Benny Andersson, sold over 150 million albums and singles worldwide. This made them one of the best-selling 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), before taking a break from music.
Contents
Early Life
Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad was born on 15 November 1945 in Bjørkåsen, a small village in northern Norway. In 1947, her mother Synni and grandmother Arntine took baby Anni-Frid to Sweden. They feared problems because Anni-Frid's father was a German soldier during the war.
Her grandmother, Arntine, raised Anni-Frid in Sweden. Synni, Frida's mother, died young at 21, leaving Anni-Frid to be raised by her grandmother alone. For a long time, Anni-Frid believed her father had died in World War II.
In 1949, Anni-Frid and her grandmother moved to Torshälla, near Eskilstuna. Anni-Frid grew up there and started school in 1952. She stayed close with her family in Norway, visiting them during summer holidays.
In 1977, a German magazine published details about Anni-Frid's parents. Her half-brother, Peter Haase, saw this and asked his father if he had been in Norway during the war. A few months later, Anni-Frid met her half-brother for the first time in Stockholm.
Career
Early Work (1958–1969)
Frida often said her grandmother sang to her, which made her love music. She showed musical talent very early in school. Her teachers often asked her to sing for the class.
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, sometimes for five hours. She sang popular songs like "All of Me". To improve, she 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.
On 3 September 1967, Frida won a Swedish talent competition called "New Faces" in Stockholm. The prize was a recording contract. On the same evening, she appeared on Hylands Hörna, a very popular TV show. This was also the day Sweden switched from driving on the left to the right side of the road, so many people were watching TV. Frida's performance was a big hit.
Record companies quickly contacted Frida. EMI, her new label, drove to her home the next morning to sign her contract. On 11 September 1967, she recorded her first single, "En ledig dag". She recorded the vocals in just one take! Her early songs for EMI are on the album Frida 1967–1972.
In 1968, she performed "En ledig dag" on TV and met Agnetha Fältskog, another future ABBA member. Frida toured Sweden and recorded more singles. She decided to move to Stockholm to become a full-time singer.
In 1969, she took part in Melodifestivalen, the Swedish competition to choose a song for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her song was "Härlig är vår jord", and she finished fourth. There, she met Benny Andersson, who would become her second husband and ABBA bandmate.
Pre-ABBA (1970–1971)
Her first album, Frida, was released in 1971. Benny Andersson produced it. Critics praised the album, especially Frida's clear and strong 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. In 1972, Frida left EMI and joined Polar Music. Her single "Man vill ju leva lite dessemellan" became her second No. 1 hit in Sweden.
ABBA and Frida ensam (1972–1981)
At first, Frida wasn't sure about performing with Benny, Björn, and Agnetha. Their first show together in 1970-1971 wasn't 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 sang solo parts in many ABBA songs, including "Fernando", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "Money, Money, Money", and "Super Trouper".
Frida seemed to enjoy being in the spotlight more than the other ABBA members. She loved touring and meeting fans. She also helped design ABBA's famous costumes for their shows. After ABBA stopped performing, Frida was the only one who openly wished for a reunion, until the group got back together in 2017.
Her next solo album, Frida ensam ("Frida Alone"), was released in 1975 while ABBA was still active. Benny Andersson produced it. This album included her successful Swedish version of "Fernando", which was No. 1 for nine weeks in Sweden. The album was a huge success, staying at the top of the Swedish charts for six weeks. It included covers of songs by artists like the Beach Boys and David Bowie.
International Solo Career (1982–1984)
In 1982, during ABBA's last year, Frida released her first solo album in English, called Something's Going On. Phil Collins produced it. This album was a big success worldwide. Many songs had a rockier sound, especially the main single, "I Know There's Something Going On". This song topped the charts in several countries and was a top 5 hit in many others. The music video was played a lot on MTV, and the song was successful in the United States.
The album received great reviews. Billboard called it "a stunning success." Swedish Television filmed the making of the album, creating a one-hour documentary. Because of the album's success (selling 1.5 million copies), Frida was voted "Best Female Artist Of The Year" in Sweden.
In 1984, Frida released her next album, Shine. This album was recorded in Paris and produced by Steve Lillywhite. It had a more experimental sound. While it reached the Top 20 in many European countries, it was not as big a success as Something's Going On.
Later Career (1985–2004)
In 1987, Frida sang in the choir for Benny Andersson's song "Klinga Mina Klockor". She also recorded a duet with the Swedish pop group Ratata called "Så Länge Vi Har Varann" ("As Long As We Have Each Other"). This song was very popular in Sweden.
In the 1990s, Frida became involved in environmental work. She joined a Swedish environmental organization and later became chairwoman for "Artists for the Environment." In 1992, she started her own Children and Environment Foundation, which runs summer camps for kids. That same year, she performed at the Stockholm Water Festival and released a charity single, "Saltwater."
In 1993, for Queen Silvia's 50th birthday, Frida was asked to sing "Dancing Queen" live. She performed it with The Real Group at the Stockholm Opera House for the King and Queen. This performance was filmed and can be seen in Frida: The DVD.
In 1996, Frida released her Swedish album Djupa andetag ("Deep Breaths"). This was her first album in 12 years and was very successful in Sweden, reaching No. 1. She promoted it with many TV appearances. 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 other recordings, including a duet in 2002 with opera singer Filippa Giordano and a song called "The Sun Will Shine Again" in 2004 with former Deep Purple member Jon Lord.
In 2004, Frida appeared in a special comedy video for the Eurovision Song Contest semi-final, called Our Last Video. All four ABBA members made short appearances, though they filmed them separately. Also in 2004, Frida joined Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus in London for the fifth-anniversary show of Mamma Mia!, the musical based on ABBA songs. In 2008, she attended the Swedish premiere of Mamma Mia! in Stockholm with her former bandmates.
Hiatus and ABBA Reunion (2005–Present)
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On 15 November 2005, for Frida's 60th birthday, Universal Records released a box set called Frida: 4×CD 1×DVD. It included all her solo albums and bonus tracks. It also had Frida: The DVD, a 3.5-hour documentary where Frida talks about her entire music career.
In 2010, Frida sang on a new album by musician Georg Wadenius. She sang "Morning Has Broken", a song she loves.
In 2013, Frida helped organize the opening of ABBA The Museum in Stockholm. The long-awaited ABBA reunion was expected in 2014 for the group's 40th anniversary of winning Eurovision, but it didn't happen then. In 2015, Frida released a single called "1865" about the Matterhorn mountain in Switzerland.
In the summer of 2017, Frida joined Agnetha, Björn, and Benny to record two new ABBA songs: "I Still Have Faith in You" and "Don't Shut Me Down". These songs were part of a new ABBA project that later became the Voyage show.
In 2018, Frida and jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval released a duet of the ABBA song "Andante, Andante".
On 2 September 2021, ABBA announced their new virtual concert residency called "ABBA Voyage" and a new album. The album, also called Voyage, was their first studio album in 40 years. It was released worldwide on 5 November 2021. The ABBA Voyage show opened in London on 27 May 2022.
Personal Life
On 3 April 1964, 18-year-old Frida married Ragnar Fredriksson, a salesman and musician. They had two children. They separated in 1968 and divorced in 1970.
In 1969, Frida met Benny Andersson. They started living together in 1971 and married on 6 October 1978, when ABBA was very popular. However, they separated in November 1980 and divorced in 1981.
In 1982, Frida moved from Sweden to London. In 1986, she moved to Switzerland and lived with her boyfriend, Heinrich Ruzzo Prinz Reuss von Plauen (1950–1999). He was a member of an old German royal family. They married on 26 August 1992. He sadly died from cancer in 1999.
In 1989, Frida became a grandmother when her daughter, Ann Lise-Lotte, had a son, Jonathan Casper. Jonathan passed away in 2023.
Through her marriage to Prince Heinrich, Frida became friends with the Swedish royal family, especially Queen Silvia.
On 13 January 1998, Frida's 30-year-old daughter, Ann Lise-Lotte Fredriksson Casper, died from injuries in a car accident in the United States.
Since 2007, Frida has been in a relationship with British peer Henry Smith, 5th Viscount Hambleden. They live together in Switzerland.
Other Interests
Frida is a vegetarian and supports environmental causes. She has been involved in charity work for many years.
Awards and Recognition
In 1964, Frida won a national singing contest called Flugan (The Fly) and was named "Vocalist of the Year." In September 1967, she won the Barnens Dag contest, which led to her TV debut and a recording contract. In 1982, she won the Swedish music prize Rockbjörnen for "Best Female Artist."
As a member of ABBA, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. She and Benny Andersson gave the acceptance speech for the group. In 2014, she received the Eskilstuna Music Prize for her "pioneering career" and important contribution to music.
On 21 March 2024, all four members of ABBA were given the Commander, First Class, of the Royal Order of Vasa by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. This was a special honor, given on the 50th anniversary of ABBA winning the Eurovision Song Contest.
Sweden: Royal Order of Vasa, Commander First Class (21 March 2024)
Title and Style
When she married Prince Heinrich in 1992, she became known as Princess Anni-Frid Synni of Reuss, Countess of Plauen. After his death in 1999, she is called Princess Anni-Frid, Dowager Countess of Plauen. She is entitled to be called Serene Highness.
Discography
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Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Images for kids
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Frida's signature
