Agnetha - The Facts

Åse Agneta Fältskog was born on 5 April 1950 in Jönköping, Kristina congregation. 

Father: Knut Ingvar Fältskog (born 22 August 1922 in Jönköping, Sofia congregation) , mother: Birgit Margareta (born: 26 May 1923 in Jönköping, Sofia congregation, her name as unmarried: Johansson).

Married with Björn Ulvaeus between 6 July 1971 and 9 July 1980.

Married with Tomas Sonnenfeld between 8 December 1990 and 8 July 1993

Two children (father Björn Ulvaeus)

Linda Elin born in Vallentuna 23 February 1973

Peter Christian born in Lidingö 4 December 1977

1967   1968   1969   1970   1971   1972   1973   1974   1975   1977   1979   1980   1981

Agnetha Fältskog was the youngest member of ABBA, born in Jönköping on April 5, 1950.

 "It was my Dad's fault that I became an artist", says Agnetha. Agnetha's father Ingvar Fältskog about Agnetha as a child. "I did shows in Jönköping and we sang and played. My wife Birgit sings as well but only at home and Agnetha got some taste of music. She played piano when she was 5 years old.  Later she and some of her friends appeared in our show. Of course we did not think that someday she would work as a professional singer. But in fact she was very good when we toured in southern Sweden. I understood that she had a musical talents. She started to write her music very early as well. Finally she started to perform with a dance band. I must tell that I was ambivalent when she came one day and said that she wanted to be a professional singer. We wanted to wait..."

1967

But Agnetha did not want to wait anymore. She knew that a dance band "Bernt Enghardts Orkester" in the twin city to Jönköping, Huskvarna was looking for a singer. The band was more and more popular and they played not only on weekends but even on weekdays. Agnetha who worked as a phone operator in Jönköping realized that it was impossible to combine it any more. 

When she was 17 she wrote her first big hit "Jag var så kär" (I was so in love). 

Agnetha remembers:

"As far as I can remember I had a need of writing music and my own songs. For the band I had already done "Jag var så kär" and we noticed that the song was very liked by our audience. As soon as it was decided that our band would send a demo to Little Gerhard it was natural that "Jag var så kär" was one of the songs on this band."

Agnetha continues:

"Some weeks later a guy called me and said that he was Little Gerhard. He asked me if I wanted to record an album. I was almost sure that someone from my band was joking and I said that I did not believe him. I wanted to have an evidence. He said: If I send back the demo and write best greetings to you, do you believe me then?"

The demo came back and Agnetha had her evidence. But it was not so easy as she thought. The record company was namely interested only in Agnetha and not the rest of the band.

"It was a very sensitive situation. It was not easy for me to explain for the boys that the record company did not want them to be on the record."

Father Ingvar followed to Stockholm to the very first recording session. During one day she recorded four songs. Two of them written by herself "Jag var så kär" and "Utan dig" (Without you). Even the latter became a big hit on the Swedish chart.

Jag var så kär - the first single

At the end of 1967 the first Agnetha single was released in Sweden. It contained two songs recorded with Sven-Olof Walldoffs' Orchester: "Jag var så kär" and "Följ med mig". The single reached #1 on "Topplistan" in January 1968 and #3 on Svensktoppen

"I took pills to keep my nerves. The legs was shaking and I felt myself very stupid. Sven-Olof Walldoff was the conductor and he helped me a lot. When I heard the orchestra playing my songs I thought that I was dreaming."

1968

Agnetha with her boyfriend Björn Lilja in 1968

The first photo session

The very first professional photo session with Agnetha was taken at the beginning of 1968.

The "silver shoes" session - Stockholm

Another photo session was taken in Stockholm on the island Södermalm in the winter of 1968.

Utan dig - the second single

In the spring of 1968 Cupol released her second single "Slutet gott allting gott"/"Utan dig". In March 1968 the single entered Svensktoppen reaching #8. Agnetha quit her collaboration with Bernt Engharts Orkester in Jönköping and moved to Stockholm.

En sommar med dig - the single

One more single released by Agnetha in the summer 1968 featured Agnetha's own composition "Försonade" (Reconsiled) and the song "En sommar med dig" (A summer with you) written by Agnetha's father Ingvar Fältskog. The single did not make the Swedish chart.

Berlin

Agnetha's record company wanted to promote her in West Germany and that's why she went to Berlin for a recording session in May 1968. In Germany she met her future boyfriend Dieter Zimmerman who was producer at the record company. She recorded her first single in German "Robinson Crosoe".

Tour

Back in Sweden Agnetha she toured together with the dance band "Sten and Stanley" in the summer.

Allting har förändrat sig - the single

"Allting har förändrat sig" (Everything has changed) was released at the end of August 1968. It reached #2 on Svensktoppen and #7 on Kvällstoppen.

The first LP

The debut album was called simply "Agnetha Fältskog" and was released at the end of year 1968. It contained 12 songs including her first hit "Jag var så kär". Four songs were written by boyfriend Dieter Zimmermann, four by Agnetha herself and one by her promoter Little Gerhard. Some of the songs had been recorded and produced in Germany.

The photo session

On TV

During her short collaboration with "Sten & Stanley" Agnetha participate in some TV shows in 1968 and 69.

With Jörgen Edman

At the end of 1968 Agnetha recorded two songs together with Jörgen Edman "Sjung denna song"/"Nånting händer med mig". The latter became a Top 10 hit on Svensktoppen in December 1968.

1969

In 1969 Agnetha was back in Germany and in March it was announced that she and Dieter Zimmerman got engaged. But their luck did last long as they separated a couple of months later. The singer performed on German TV and released a new single in Germany - "Concerto D'Amore" which became a big hit.

Fram för svenska sommaren - the single

Back in Sweden Agnetha released a single with two new songs just before the summer. The songs were "Fram för svenska sommaren"/"En gång fanns bara vi två". The single entered Svensktoppen in May 69 and reached #4.

The photo session

The love affair with Dieter Zimmermann was over but a new love waited impatiently - Björn Ulvaeus. A real coincidence made that they met each other as they both performed in the TV special "Jules Sylvain-kavalkad" in summer 1969 produced by Kåge Gimtell. After this show they started to meet each other on more regular basis. Later in 1969 Agnetha and Björn moved together in a flat on the island Lilla Essingen in Stockholm.

Vol. 2 - the second album

The second album was called Agnetha Fältskog Vol. 2. It was released in 1969 and contained 12 songs. Five of them were written by Dieter Zimmerman, one by Little Gerhard and two by Agnetha. The last 1969 single contained the songs "Zigenarvän" (Gypsy friend)/"Som en vind kom du till mig". "Zigenarvän" became a top 5 hit in Sweden even if it caused a big discussions about the lyrics. The single cover featured the singer in her classical pose which would be seen many times in the future.

Zigenarvän - the single

The last single release in 1969 was "Zigenarvän" (Gipsy friend) at the beginning of November. The single reached #5 on the Swedish hit chart.

1970

Agnetha & Björn

In April 1970 Agnetha and Björn got engaged on the holidays on Cyprus. Their good friends Frida Lyngstad and Benny Andersson witnessed the engagement.

Om tårar vore guld - the single

One more heartbreaker "Om tårar vore guld" became a huge success on the Swedish chart at the beginning of the year. It spent totally 15 weeks on the chart reaching #3 in April 1970.

The photo session

Agnetha and Björn were subject of an extended photo session taken by Clas-Göran Carlsson in 1970.

Wedding plans

At the end of June Agnetha and Björn revealed their wedding plans for the Swedish magazine "Se". Several photos of the happy couple were published as well as Agnetha & Björn answered questions about their intrests, life and social issues.

On tour

In the summer 1970 Agnetha toured in the folkparks in Sweden together with Bert-Åke Varg (actor and singer). The song "Om tårar vore guld" (If tears were of gold) was her new big hit. "It is really wonderful, when I sing this song people start to kiss each other.

The "Allers" photo sessions

The Swedish weekly "Allers" followed Agnetha and Björn in private in summer 1970. The photos were taken on the island Lilla Essingen in Stockholm where the couple lived by that time. Some of the pictures were published in "Allers" in September 1970 but most of them remained unseen... Here they are - enjoy.

Ta det bara med ro - the single

The second Agnetha single in 1970 featured "Ta det bara med ro" (Take it easy). The single did not enter the Swedish chart though.

Church concert

Agnetha performed in the church in the village of Malexander in southern Sweden.

Som jag är - the third LP

The third LP called "Som jag är" (As I Am) was released at the end of 1970. Agnetha had written two songs. One of them "Om tårar vore guld" had already become a smash hit on Swedish Top. One song - "Hjärtats saga" war arranged by Agnetha and her new boyfriend Björn Ulvaeus. The album was produced by Little Gerhard and Björn Ulvaeus.

1971

En sång och en saga

At the beginning of the year Agnetha recorded and released a cover of Mireille Mathieu's hit "La première étoile" which received its Swedish title "En sång och en saga". The single was successful on Svensktopen where it reached #4 in March 71.

Kungens vaktparad

At the beginning of summer a new single was released - "Kungens vaktparad". This catchy song did not turn up on Svensktoppen though.

Björn & Agnetha in April 1971

These exclusive pictures were taken for the Swedish paper "Allas" (issue in May 1971)

The wedding

On July 6, 1971 the weeding bells rang up in the church in Verum in Scania in southern part of Sweden. They were consecrated by Uno Wårdener. A good friend to Björn, Benny Andersson played "Wedding" in the church, a song composed by Benny. Hundreds of curious fans waited outside the church. They wanted to see the hottest pair in the show business. 

(see ABBA related)

Dröm är dröm och saga saga - the single

The last single in 1971 was "Dröm är dröm och saga saga" (A Dream is a dream and a story is a story). The single reached successfully Top 3 on the Swedish chart Svensktoppen in December 1971. The most interesting fact is maybe that all future ABBA members were singing here. This recording can be maybe concerned as a very early ABBA song?

När en vacker tanke blir en sång - the fourth album

A new album "När en vacker tanke blir en sång" (When a beautiful thought becomes a song) was released at the end of 1971. The album was recorded in May 1971. Most of the songs were written by Agnetha some of them together with Björn Ulvaeus and some of them with Bosse Carlgren. Björn produced the whole album this time.

TRIVIA

"När en vacker tanke blir en sång" is the rarest Agnetha LP in Sweden. On the internet auctions it appears very seldom and the bidding reaches sky high prices. In the second-hand shops in Stockholm the price is always about 1000 Crowns or more (approx. 120 EURO). Nobody can explain this phenomenon as the album was not released in limited edition in 1971 and it was available as other Agnetha albums. The prices and the availability of this LP is a kind of mystery for all Agnetha fans.

 1972

Jesus Christ Superstar

The musical Jesus Christ Superstar came to Sweden in 1972. As many other young singers Agnetha wanted to sing the part of Maria Magdalena and she got in Gothenburg. During this project she learned a lot about being on stage. This experience would be very important for her in the future... The premiere of the musical took place at the Scandinavium hall in Gothenburg on February 1972.

Vart ska min kärlek föra - the single

Two songs from the musical were recorded and released as Agnetha's new single in March 1972 - "Vart ska min kärlek föra" and "Nu ska de bli stilla". The single entered the Swedish chart at the end of the March where it stayed for 5 weeks reaching #1.

In the summer 1972 Agnetha toured in Sweden with her own show. Together with Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson Agnetha recorded "People Need Love" which became a big hit in Sweden. One more successful single "He Is Your Brother" recorded by the foursome was released in autumn 72. Due to those "extra" productions Agnetha did not manage to release a solo album.

Agnetha 1972

Tio min kvar till Korpilombolo - the single

The last 1972 single featured "Så glad som dina ögon" with "Tio mil kvar till Korpilombolo" on the B-side. In December 72 it reached #5 on Svensktoppen.

Kungens lilla piga

A compilation album "Kungens lilla Piga" released in 1972 featured one Agnetha recording "Snövit och de 7 dvärgarna" originally released on her debut LP in 1968.

1973

Linda

One year before "Waterloo", in 1973 Agnetha was pregnant for the first time. The group which was still called Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida performed on Swedish eliminations to the Eurovision Song Contest. They did not win this time but they became famous in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries with their hit "Ring Ring". Some days later on February 23, 1973 Agnetha gave birth to a girl. Some days later Agnetha's and Björn's daughter Linda Elin was presented for the press on the press conference at the Danderyd hospital in Stockholm. 

Linda played indirectly an important role in ABBA's life. Agnetha did not want to be away from her daughter during long periods. After winning with "Waterloo" Agnetha said in one of the interviews:

"I enjoy writing music. I prefer writing that performing. I am much more pleased of creating something. Performing is not so much important for me but of course I have to do it for the group. Everything has its time. I do not think that I will perform and travel all over the world during all my life. It's impossible if you want to have a family life as well."

Some years later Agnetha said: "Linda has started singing a little. I have explained for her how it is with us. She cannot understand that not all parents are on TV and in the newspapers. But we try to protect her against the press."

About her work with Björn: "It's very funny but I cannot work together with Björn composing. It's completely impossible."

At home

One more photo session with new-born Linda.

Agnetha Fältskogs Bästa - greatest hits LP

The compilation album with Agnetha hits was released in 1973. The album contained 11 greatest hits as well as one song from the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar".

1974

Tyck om dig - photo session

One of the photo sessions taken with Agnetha and her daughter Linda in the spring 1974.

1975

Agnetha & Björn 1975

New solo songs

On August 2, 1975 Agnetha appeared on stage in Skansen in Stockholm where she performed live two new songs "Dom har glömt" and "Tack för en underbar vanlig dag" from the forthcoming solo album.

Elva kvinnor i ett hus -- the LP

Agnetha's solo album "Elva kvinnor i ett hus" (Eleven women in a house) was released in Sweden on December 1st, 1975. The album featured 10 new songs written by Agnetha and Bosse Carlgren and one song written by Benny, Björn and Stikkan (SOS) which appeared here in the Swedish language version. Agnetha did not have the same commercial success with her solo album as Frida who released her "Ensam" at about the same time. "Elva kvinnor i ett hus" was though a wonderful album with Agnetha at her best both as composer and singer. The album contained even the Swedish version of ABBA's "Disillusion" released originally in 1973 on the album "Ring Ring" - the Swedish title of the song was "Mina ögon" (My eyes). The photo of the house on the back cover of the album was taken in Stockholm - see ABBA related places.

The Elva kvinnor - photo session

Agnetha was talking about working with ABBA: "We have democracy at work. We discuss everything: stage outfits, the music, which songs we want to have on the album and in which order and so on. Even my hair is being discussed. I wanted to cut my hair short but after we have talked together about it I decided to have long hair because it suits me best.

At the end of 1975 Agnetha had a bothersome jugular vein operation. She quit smoking. Her almonds were removed. 

Agnetha, Björn and Linda lived in Lidingö and the address was hard to be kept in secret.

"The ring-bell is ringing every day. It's of course little annoying but on the other hand it's difficult to get angry with the fans coming with presents and illustrations painted by themselves. But we want definitely to be for ourselves when we are on our island in the archipelago. We got angry when a tabloid published pictures of our island with an description how to get there."

1977

On December 4, 1977 Agnetha gave birth to her and Björn's second child Peter Christian.

1979

Tio år med Agnetha

In 1979 after 5 successful years with ABBA Agnetha was back as a solo artist. At the beginning of the year she recorded a brand new song "När du tar mig i din famn" (When you take me in your arms). The song was released on the greatest hits album "Tio år med Agnetha" (Ten years with Agnetha) released by CBS-Cupol in Scandinavia. The demo in English "The Queen of Hearts (is back in town)" was releases on her compilation album "That's Me" in 1998.

The photo sessions

Veckorevyn - May 79

Agnetha was featured in Veckorevyn at the end of May 79. She gave an extended interview and a photo-session was taken. Many questions were about the divorce from Björn. Agnetha answered all of them without hesitation. She was talking about her move with children to a new house on Lidingö and her farewell to the archipelago island. She said that she did not like being there so much. It was fun for children if the weather was good but she felt herself locked there. She was talking about her fear of flying. The private life for her was to be at home with the children and wear jeans and cook spagetti. Her parents were very important and she could always find the comfort she needed by them. She was talking about ABBA after her and Björn's divorce. All four ABBA members and their management had several meetings at the beginning of 1979 and they decided to continue as usual.

In "Aftonbladet" on May 17, 1979

The Swedish evening paper had the story about Agnetha's love affair with the hockey player Lars-Erik Ericsson on May 17th, 1979.

1980

A non smoking generation

At the beginning of 1980 Agnetha became one of faces in the anti-smoking campaign in Sweden intended mainly for young people. There were several shots with Agnetha available. They were published in newspapers and printed as posters. Other celebrities in the campaign were among others Tomas Ledin and Ted Gärdestad. At the end of May 1980 a big rock concert was arranged at Gröna Lund-entertainment park in Stockholm. Agnetha gave out awards to children who participated in the anti-smoking campaign with best drawings.

Private life after the divorce

Agnetha does not like talking about her private life. But of course after the divorce from Björn she met new guys. She had some love affairs in the beginning of 1980s. The two most known and shown in the press boyfriends were Dick Håkansson (1980-81) and her bodyguard Torbjörn Brander (1981-83). In December 1990 she married the surgeon Tomas Sonnenfeld (go.to/Agnetha After ABBA part 2)

1981

Spök

In autumn Agnetha and Torbjörn attended the premiere of the musical "Spök" at the Maximteater in Stockholm with Björn Skifs (Arbiter in "Chess") in the main role.

Before Christmas 1981

After more than one year the relationship with Torbjörn Brander was over. Brander was at the beginning Agnetha's bodyguard and then became boyfriend. In the summer of 1982 the romance was over but Agnetha and Torbjörn chose not to go out to the press and talk about it. The first information about it reached the press though at the end of August 1982.