Benny Andersson News

see even: Björn & Benny News

Christmas in Malmö

Christmas 2011 Benny seems to spend in his house outside Svedala outside Malmö  in Skåne (Scania). On Thursday, December 22nd he was seen at one of the biggest ICA stores in Malmö in the part of the city called Västra Hamnen (West Harbour). We were there at the same time so here is the picture.

BAO on TV

On Friday, September 16th, Benny and his son Ludvig were guests in the Norwegian talk show (broadcasted even in Sweden) "Skavlan". They were talking about their addiction to alcohol. Benny stopped drinking alcohol 9 years ago and Ludvig - his son - 7 years ago. Ludvig revealed that he had started drinking when he was 14 years ago and it seems to be hereditary.

"Skavlan" was aired on Swedish TV1 on Friday, September 16th.

On Sunday, September 18, BAO (with Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg) were special guests in the Swedish talk show "Kalle and friends" hosted by BAO's member Kalle Moraeus.

BAO's tour premiere

BAO had its tour premiere in Örnsköldsvik in northern Sweden on Thursday, July 21. The band played their usual repertoire with Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg as main singers. Even several ABBA songs were performed during the show: Hasta Mañana, Why Did It Have To Be Me, I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do and for the first time Kisses of Fire.

BAO live 2011

Benny Anderssons Orkester with Helena Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg start recording sessions for a new album in January 2011. In summer they will tour in Sweden again.

Below the tour schedule for July 2011

21 Örnsköldsvik

22 Järvsö
23 Leksand
24 Karlstad
27 Sofiero, Helsingborg
28 Trädgårdsföreningen, Göteborg
29 Mariefred
30 Skansen, Stockholm.

New BAO album

Benny Anderssons Orkester celebrates their 10th anniversary. Their new CD "O klang och jubeltid"  was released on June 15th. The photo inside the booklet was taken at the Gripsholm castle - the same castle where ABBA took photos for the cover of the album "Waterloo".

Track list:

1. O klang och jubeltid - Helen Sjöholm, Tommy Körberg & Kalle Moraeus Slow musical piece performed by Helen and Tommy in lead vocals with some help from Kalle. Inspired by the Swedish summer folk songs with some choir at the end..

2. Kära syster - Helen Sjöholm Already known song performed by Helen which was released at the beginning of May as a single. One more piece inspired by Swedish folk tunes mixed with Allsång på Skansen-atmosphere. A typical Helen & BAO mood.

3. Månstrålar Klara - Tommy Körberg A non-Benny&Björn composition on this album. A traditional song with text of Arvid Odemann with some italian/spanish influence performed correctly by Tommy.

4. Midsommarpolka These tunes we've heard many times before. New variant of Benny's polka.

5. Allt syns när man är naken - Helen Sjöholm, Tommy Körberg & Kalle Moraeus B&B composition entitled in Swedish "Everything can be seen when you are naked" with a bit strange lyrics. Helen sings lead - Tommy and Kalle help in refrains - reminds of ABBA's "Under Attack" but not so catchy.

6. Alla goda ting One more folk inspired composition of Benny. Sometimes it is quite difficult to hear any difference between these folk music pieces.

7. En dag i sänder - Helen Sjöholm Strong up-beat start and typical Benny musical bridges. Sounds like a mix of "Does Your Mother Know" and "Mamma Mia". It can be thought as next single.

8. Flickornas rum Benny plays piano here very gently with some help from the Orkester. Typical composition in the same style as "Stockholm by Night" .

9. De ljuva drömmarnas Orkester - Helen Sjöholm, Tommy Körberg & Kalle Moraeus German schlager performed in classical Helen and Tommy manner with some help from Kalle - perfectly suited as an opening number on tour.

10. Jag hör... - Tommy Körberg Nice composition in psalm style performed by Tommy.

11. Sorgmarsch One more piano performance of Benny, sad as its title says: "March of sorrow".

12. Vilar glad i din famn - Helen Sjöholm The 2010 single with connection to the Royal Wedding in Sweden. Here performed by Helen.

13. Brudmarsch One more folk composition in Orsa Spelmän's style. Sounds a bit like "Klinga mina klockor"...

 Totally 48 minutes and 51 seconds of music on the CD.

On TV

BAO will appear on Swedish TV in September in the series "Moraeus and more". The show was recorded on Tuesday, June 14th in Orsa.

Kära Syster

BAO's first single from forthcoming album "O klang och jubeltid" was released as a download at the beginning of May and even as a CDs in limited edition.

My Africa

Benny and Mona attended the release party for new book "My Africa". The party was held in Skansen in Stockholm on May 26th.

The "Vi" feature

Benny was featured in the magazine "Vi" in October 2010. In an extended interview he talked about his life before and after ABBA. He talked about being father in age of 16, about divorce from Frida and his current wife Mona. Finally he talked about his problems with alcohol and that he quit drinking nine years ago. He says: "This was the best thing I did for myself. If you notice that you are not yourself without alcohol so it is high time to quit. Some people can drink alcohol without problem, some people not. If I hadn't quit, I had not been here today..."

Picture gallery

The Royal wedding

Benny contributed to the Swedish Royal Wedding between Princess Victoria and Daniel Westerling with a new composition "Vilar glad. I din famn". The song was performed live on June 19, 2010 and it was released in two versions on a CD single (with two versions).