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Björn Again is a parody of the 1970s Swedish pop group ABBA.[1][2] Created in 1988 in Australia,[3][4]The show currently involves performers based in several countries. The Björn Again name is based in part on ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus with the obvious revivalist association to "born again". Many people from all spheres including Royalty, the media to celebrity including ABBA themselves and many others have commented on how good the Björn Again name is in that it spells out great fun combined with ABBA's timeless hits. Björn Again has performed approximately 5,500 shows in 72 countries in 34 years.

Björn Again
Background information
Origin	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Pop, europop, disco
Years active	1988–present
Website	bjornagain.com

Character of the show

Björn Again is a light-hearted parody of ABBA,[5] using pidgin Swedish (or 'Swenglish'[1]) originally using stage names Agnetha Falstart, Benny Anderwear, Frida Longstokin and Björn Volvo-us referencing original ABBA members [2] including bassist Rutger Sonofagunn and drummer Ola Drumkitt based on Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert).[6] Björn Again is a slightly satirical, rocked up and choreographed act with costumes and song arrangements sometimes quite different from ABBA affording Björn Again the luxury of being considered as a unique show in its own right.

History

Björn Again was created in October 1988 in Melbourne, Australia by Rod Stephen and John Tyrrell.

The name Björn Again was Rod's pseudonym he used when skiing in the Victorian alps throughout the 1980s. This name was perfect for their new ABBA tribute show.[7] After the first Björn Again show at a pub in the inner Melbourne suburb of Collingwood called The Tote Hotel on 6 May 1989 the show's popularity increased quickly, which first took the group Australia-wide and then overseas to international acclaim. Original members included Rod Stephen, Peter Ryan, John Tyrrell, Dorina Morelli, Kathy Riseborough, Gavin Charles and later Janette Stuart. John was appointed as the band's manager and continues to this day. [8]

Björn Again has in total recorded and performed live a massive 133 songs including 55 ABBA songs, 7 originals and 62 covers by other artists. When Erasure had a hit with Abba-esque, Björn Again responded with an EP of covers of Erasure songs done in the style of ABBA, called Erasure-ish.[9] The EP included the songs "Stop!" and "A Little Respect" that achieved Number 25 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1992.[10] Later that year, a cover of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town reached Number 55 in the UK charts.[10] In August 2009, Björn Again performed Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' with an additional drummer to a receptive Sonisphere Festival crowd at Knebworth as a nod to the headlining act.[11]

Björn Again has performed at many types of event from large rock festivals worldwide including Reading and Glastonbury,[12] to private performances for celebrities, including playing at parties for top UK golfer Colin Montgomerie,[13] Microsoft's Bill Gates,[14] comedian Rowan Atkinson,[13] actor Russell Crowe's wedding,[15] and for Russian president Vladimir Putin.[16][17]

On December 17, 2012, Björn Again performed at the Buckingham Palace Christmas party attended by the Queen and members of the royal family and their staff.

On 23rd Nov 2007, Björn Again performed a show in honour of Agnetha Fältskog at Stockholm's TV3/TV6 tenth anniversary party. She was quoted saying “It was a great show. I loved the choreography" and "Good Luck for the tour”[7]

On 18th Jan 2005, Björn Again was asked to attend a celebrity gala in costume at the London Savoy to receive a belated award on behalf of ABBA from the radio times acknowledging 30 years since their Eurovision Song Contest triumph with Waterloo in Brighton on 6 April 1974.[7]

In 1999, the UK Bjorn Again took part in a documentary for Channel 5 entitled "ABBA: Bjorn Again!", this included Björn Again on tour. The documentary explored some of the history of the show. Throughout the programme the members spoke in "Swenglish" accents.

Both Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have lauded Björn Again a number of times over the years, and after ABBA's former members made their intentions known that they were not going to perform together any longer, Andersson was quoted as saying in 1999, "BJÖRN AGAIN are the closest you can get to seeing ABBA. ABBA will never reform!"[18]

In 1999, 2009 and 2019, Björn Again was the opening act on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival.[19]

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		AUS [20]
Live Album	Released: 1993 Format: CD, LP Label: Festival Records (D19952)	–
Flashback!	Released: August 1994 Format: CD, LP Label: Festival Records (D31176)	40
Live At The Royal Albert Hall	Released: 1998 Format: CD Label: BA Records Ltd. (BACD 2010)	–
20th Anniversary Concert	Released: 2009 Format: CD Label: The Music Group Pty Ltd	–

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Year	Title	Peak chart positions		Album
		AUS [21]	UK [10]
1992	"Erasure-ish" (“A Little Respect”/“Stop!”) (Europe only)	–	25	Flashback!
	"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" / "Little Drummer Boy"	105	55	non album single
1993	"Flashdance...What a Feeling"	27	65	Flashback!
	"So You Win Again" (Europe only)	–	–
1994	"Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" (Australia only)	–	–
1995	"Black Is Black" / "I'm On Fire" (Australia only)	–	–
2019	"Christmas Is Björn Again" ("Keeping The Dream Alive"/"Underneath The Tree"/"Human"/"Love's Not Just For Christmas")	–	–	non album single

Videos

• Live At The Royal Albert Hall (1998)
• ABBA Karaoke featuring Björn Again (1998)
• ABBA: Björn Again (2001)
• Gimme Gimme Gimme A Really Great Workout! (2008)[22]

References

На других языках

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[de] Björn Again

Björn Again ist eine satirische musikalische Darbietung, die ABBA parodiert. Die Bezeichnung ist ein Wortspiel aus dem Vornamen des ABBA-Mitglieds Björn Ulvaeus und dem Schlagwort "born again" (engl. für wiedergeboren). Letzteres ist ein Seitenhieb auf die Erweckungsbewegung. Gegründet wurde Björn Again 1988 in Melbourne, Australien.

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- [en] Björn Again

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