icethesite - Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus news site

Comments

• Posted by Sean Mallon, July 03, 2009 12:34:

  Just been down to Hampstead Heath to check things out!!!!! There'a a lot of tents going up all around, lorries and workmen everywhere... It's very exciting!!!!! I also managed to stand on the Bandstand where Benny will be performing tomorrow!!!!! It was a great feeling!!!!!!!!

  
  
• Posted by Michael Salkeld, July 04, 2009 01:30:

  Cant wait.

  
  
• Posted by Gary Watt, July 04, 2009 09:01:

  Hi all
  
  I cannot make it so would like to wish all of you, who are going, a great time!
  
  Hope the weather stays good.
  
  Regards
  
  Gary
  

  
  
• Posted by Wazza, July 04, 2009 13:03:

  any video footage that can be uploaded to you tube would be appreciated for those of us in australia and other places that cant come

  
  
• Posted by Tom K White, July 04, 2009 18:12:

  I can't make it too, but I hope everyone had/is having a good time! I just got tickets to the Thank You For The Music show in Hyde Park in September though, Benny and Bjorn will perform the songs of ABBA with many famous artists, surprised it's not posted here yet though...

  
  
• Posted by astralfighter, July 04, 2009 20:14:

  WOW bennys album is really doing well on amazon uk

  
  
• Posted by Leepy, July 04, 2009 21:50:

  Well, what fun! Lovely weather and Gorel leading the dancing! Three numbers for ABBA fans - Hasta Manana, I Do and Why Did it have to be Me? Story of A Heart went down really well too but the best bit for me was the spontaneous crowd rendition of The Way Old Friend Do when everyone had left the stage at the end. Made the hairs on my neck stand up! What a wonderful night.

  
  
• Posted by Michael Salkeld, July 04, 2009 22:21:

  That was the mot stupendously, totally excellent, outstandingly brilliant concert I have ever been to. The musicians were mind bendingly superb , the mix of traditional to pop was heavenly, with Benny Andersons piano toping the euphoric orgiastic sublimeity.
  
  Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant,
  
  

  
  
• Posted by Dan, July 04, 2009 23:30:

  Just got back from the concert on Hampstead Heath - simply fantastic. Benny, Helen, Tommy and the Band were supberb. Words are not enough....

  
  
• Posted by Phil, July 04, 2009 23:51:

  OMG, what a day!
  
  Just got home from Hampstead Heath - what a fantastic few hours. Not too sure about the first act, but Miss Li and The Swingle Singers were both really enjoyable.
  
  And then....The Benny Andersson Band. Amazing. Incredible. What fantastic entertainment, from classical to jazz to traditional Swedish folk to Abba - the band powered through every genre like a hot knife through butter. The sound system was great and as for Helen & Tommy - superb. I never got to see ABBA live when I was a teenager in the 70's, but today made up for it. It has confirmed for me why I have continued to follow Benny & Bjorn all these years, true craftsmen of their art. Now bring on the Chess DVD and the English recording of Kristina. What treats are next for us I wonder?
  
  Phil

  
  
• Posted by damo, July 05, 2009 00:07:

  Hi, everyone.
  
  I have just got back from Hamptstead. It was absolutely brilliant. A wonderful sunny day, a great, talented band and singers - everyone was in great spirits and relaxed - Benny very witty, charming, modest.
  
  I also received my Story of Heart DVD from HMV 2 days ago and the single sounds much better than i have heard it on Youtube, a lot stronger. I've not heard it on the radio so cannot compare.
  
  BAB's performance was excellent. BTW Tommy Korberg was also superb, and very funny, too.
  
  Add to that, many Swedes were there dancing, let's hope they do it again.

  
  
• Posted by Ian, July 05, 2009 01:45:

  What a great day. What a great concert. I'm lost for words at the moment.

  
  
• Posted by Graham Harriss, July 05, 2009 02:17:

  What a great event Hampstead was!The Benny Andersson band were on stage for over 2 and a half hours. It was such a good day and I managed to buy Story of a heart album , Story of a heart (Swedish single) and also the BAO live album! So - 3 more for the collection! The whole show was fantastic and I think they should release it on DVD?

  
  
• Posted by carla, July 05, 2009 08:37:

  
  I´ve been at Skansen last weekend. The feeling was the same. What a great show. Fantastic musicians, Helen has an amazing voice. The most fantastic was that people who were there really participate in the show, singing and dancing. Benny was really Happy! For me it was like a dream come true. So sweet memories! I can´t stop saying ´Thank you for your music´ Benny!

  
  
• Posted by Kaarin, July 05, 2009 10:56:

  Photos at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=122211&id=640359459&l=49238d5b6c
  
  Enjoy!!

  
  
• Posted by Finnesse, July 05, 2009 11:06:

  I had arranged for an early birthday picnic there. What a day - I think I recruited quite a few new Benny fans, and I met some ABBA friends of old. Singing and dancing under the sinking sun to such wonderful music and watching Benny having the time of his life......wonderful. I was in the crowd when we started singing The Way Old Friends Do....marvellous

  
  
• Posted by Sean, July 05, 2009 12:19:

  Like the others, this show was amazing. We've waited 30 years for this! For me, the best bit was the opening bars of the very last song, a fantastic rendition of 'Why Did It Have to be Me?' - sent a shiver down my spine - watching Benny on the piano, he was jumping around exactly as he did in the footage from 'Abba The Movie' - that was something I thought I would never see in my lifetime. But the whole show was great - the atmosphere in the audience was electric and so friendly. Every member of the band looked as thought they were having an amazing time too. Thanks Benny et al.

  
  
• Posted by Paul Winnett , July 05, 2009 12:34:

  Amazing concert. I thought the supports, with the exception of Ms Li, were superb, but Benny and the band were beyond articulation. Helen has an amazing voice and Tommy is a pretty good stand up comedian, as well as a great singer, I've never heard Cadillac before but he rocks as well as he croons. Fantastic mix of moods and styles . Helen really lives the songs, watching her face during "heart" was the very definition of empassioned. Absolutely magical vibe to the gig. I'm not overstating this... This was the nearest thing to Woodstock I'll ever feel!

  
  
• Posted by Ingrid, July 05, 2009 13:22:

  I attended the first concert of the summertour at Helsingborg Sofiera Slottet (came from Holland). It is a very special happening, where Swedes are having a picnic, bring their own chairs, food and drink (!), and at the end of the evening wrap themselves in blankets. The Band played for an unbelievable 4 hours, full of energy. It was an amazing experience.

  
  
• Posted by Sara Russell, July 05, 2009 13:54:

  Well this wasn't as fantastic as I had expected - it was way, way better!
  
  Truly, one of the best concerts, events, atmospheres I've ever been too. I feel quite emotional today having experienced a magical evening.
  
  We were in the presence of brilliance and I don't just mean Benny. The whole of the BAB are just incredible - they exude, fun, warmth and musical brilliance.
  
  I'm no good at all the song titles but we heard all the main songs. I had heard they played for 4 hours the other night in Stockholm but we had "only" 2.5 hours. Still, we managed to get home at a decent hour.
  
  Benny clearly had a ball ... he was laughing out loud, smiling broadly, the likes of which you never seen in photographs and he looked great. He was revelling in the reactions of the audience and from the piano he looked like he would occasionally look into the audience and smile for peoples cameras.
  
  They started off with Glasgow Boogie and straight away you can't keep still. I am sore and stiff today from dancing so much! Every now and then Benny would announce the next batch of songs in a certain style - these are polkas, these are schottis or whatever it was.
  
  I knew it was Tommy's birthday but so did a louder bunch at the front who started to sing and then the band joined in and so we were able to sing Happy Birthday to him properly.
  
  Benny pointed out where the dance floor was supposed to be but that the dance floor was still in the truck! He asked people to move to make space as he knew there were some people who wanted to dance ... one of them was Görel! She led the dancing in a small clearing of people on the grass with a little flower garland around her head. Ian Jones and I joined in just trying to copy them ... good fun but energetic! The trouble is we're not taught "social" dancing in this country - I think we should be.
  
  Helen is such a fantastic vocalist - but she also moved energetically throughout the show and spoke to the audience with humour. Her voice was incredible. The whole band seemed amazed by the reaction from the audience.
  
  When they played Hasta Manana everyone sang along, it was a wonderful moment and an honour to be part of it. Helen, Tommy and Benny seemed shocked by the sound of so many voices singing the whole song with them. The crowd was enormous and stretched back as far as the eye could see. The view from the stage must have been amazing. I hope we get to hear somewhere, somehow what they thought of the concert themselves.
  
  Another show stopper was Cadillac ... it was great to see Benny standing up playing piano and bouncing around.
  
  When Benny picked up his tiny little guitar thing I knew we were going to get Det är vi ändå which is one of my favourites. We also had You Are My Man and The Last Dance.
  
  The audience didn't want to let them go! They could have played all night! But the time went for them to leave and a small group of fans behind me started to sing The Way Old Friends Do which soon got louder and louder as more people joined in. Now that for me was very emotional and fantastic. Oh for Benny to come back out with his accordion but he didn't. He can't have not heard it backstage ... I wonder what he thought? I wonder if he was touched, or was he itching to come back out for us but thought it would take the glory away from the band? It was lovely as it was even though he didn't come out. Great to be part of that. I did see one of the Moraeus brothers at the back of the stage with Lars Rudolfsson while we were singing The Way Old Friends Do and they looked very happy and curious - like they were witnessing something they'd never seen before.
  
  It was great to see so many friends, old and new there.
  
  It was especially special to experience last night with so many friends, everywhere you turned there was a familiar face. So special.

  
  
• Posted by Debi , July 05, 2009 14:50:

  The best evening EVER!! We were all so privileged to be there to witness such an incredible and entertaining performance- and for free! I'd never seen Benny perform live before (as I'm a 70's child!)- I never thought I'd get to- and I was right in front of the stage! It was such a thrill when they did the three Abba songs- when the intros started up.There is so much I could say right now but to sum up- it was unforgetable. Someone told me on the way home that they'd be playing Hyde Park next Sunday- but I wonder if she got it mixed up with the September date- maybe that's not right. An earlier post today says they're going back after Benny's Monday Breakfast Tv appearance. Can anyone confirm? Also can anyone tell me where I can get the BAO live album, as I missed out last eve- too busy waiting to get B's autograph, but failed!
  What a night though-AMAZING!

  
  
• Posted by Brian, July 05, 2009 16:07:

  Sound even better live,3 great Abba tunes which was unexpected.The band had so much energy & vibrance.Glad to have witnessed it.

  
  
• Posted by julian, July 05, 2009 16:54:

  Amazing concert, thousand of people turned up on hampstead heath to hear benny play and he didnt dissapoint. He played a wide range of music from hep stars rock , to bach classical, with a bit of abba stuff thrown in. Definetly the best concert i have ever been to.

  
  
• Posted by J_ase, July 05, 2009 17:20:

  So thrilled to read everyone's views of the night. I myself made a bad decision. Having paid £175 each for tickets to Madonna, felt I should go and see her instead. Whilst waiting for her to bother turning up on stage, I realised I'd made a bad decision. How different could Madonna and Benny be.
  
  Madonna was 45 minutes late on stage, did not apologise, and performed a slick but emotionless concert. Oh how I wish I had gone to the Heath! Please post more memories and pictures.
  
  Roll on September.
  
  J_ase

  
  
• Posted by Bob Taylor, July 05, 2009 17:35:

  I have just booked up for the concert in Hyde Park but forgot to ask what time does it start , does anyone know??????? regards Bob

  
  
• Posted by Sian M, July 05, 2009 17:40:

  Breathtaking. Just incredible! I never thought I'd ever get to see Benny play live, let alone for free - I'd happily have paid lots of money for that show. And to meet the great man himself afterwards - just wow!! I'm still hyperventilating, and I am *never* going to wash my hand again. Ever.
  
  What was also touching is that my 6 year old son has developed a love for ABBA (now I wonder how that happened...), and the look on his face when Hasta Mañana started is something I'll never forget.
  
  Thank you, Benny and the rest of the band. It was a privilege to be there.

  
  
• Posted by Pontus Eliason, July 05, 2009 19:32:

  Here are the YouTube clips of the event that I have found. Some more might still popup later as people upload what they recorded:
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwOcNfS4j7A
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fdJNZZ6a7U
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTG_ZKC168E
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPrx94U-yRI
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZznA3bERZlM
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYfMOD7WwqQ
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MDvfimBFT8
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbtU85Pel8
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2lEDlY6Gns
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozwnGHuhoDM
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6zb1bqp-Uw
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSGrfSM1D-c

  
  
• Posted by Paul, July 05, 2009 20:43:

  Just incredible. My first time seeing BAO, or BAB, and I loved every minute of it.
  
  As J_ase mentioned, above, other concerts are slick and every step is highly choreographed and last night was just FUN all the way through. The band were clearly having a ball being there, as were the audience, and the English weather did not let us down.
  
  A wonderful, amazing evening.
  
  I look forward to September and hope that they bring Helen, BAO and Tommy with them.

  
  
• Posted by Martin Bolton, July 05, 2009 20:43:

  A brilliant, brilliant evening! Loved every single second.
  
  Amazing performances, amazing band and amazing crowd (let's be honest, we did London and the UK proud!).
  
  After there was a fabulous treat with members of the band playing an impromptu mini-gig outside the SOS Green Room! Cool!
  
  When Benny left the Green Room, very soon after the show incidentally, he needed 5 or so minders and there was a bit of a rush'n'crush. Which was very surprising and also a bit upsetting.
  
  Helen spent ages signing CDs for fans and she said she had an amazing time on stage.
  
  It was a fabulous event and everyone that was there will know what a glorious form of entertainment Benny puts on.

  
  
• Posted by Ice, July 05, 2009 20:48:

  For some of the best photos from yesterday that I've seen, may I recommend the amazing Kevstaj's flickr page:
  
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevstaj/

  
  
• Posted by Kai, July 05, 2009 20:50:

  Ice - I'd like to thank you about news of this concert back in October or something last year. First again, I'm certain and what a great night. Great to meet you again too. You're a lovely guy and you deserve all the plaudits that your site gets, you're both amazing.

  
  
• Posted by Mike New, July 05, 2009 21:00:

  I agree with everything written. A balmy summer evening, a fantastic setting and just first class entertainment. I thought the evening would be great,but it exceeded all my expectations. everybody, both audience and band were having a ball.

  
  
• Posted by Johnny Rathlau, July 05, 2009 21:07:

  Bob Taylor (and others who are interested..:-)
  The concert in Hyde Park starts at 18.30. I just got my tickets via mail today -can't wait!!! I never saw ABBA live when they were around, so this has to be the one-off-chance :-)

  
  
• Posted by Gary, July 05, 2009 22:12:

  WOW !!!!
  
  What can I say - a truly amazing concert that I will remember until my dying day - it just doesn't get better !!
  
  And Mr Ice told me I was the first one to notice his Swedish-flag themed shoes - badge of honour for Mr Gary LOL !!!
  
  Gary

  
  
• Posted by Pam, July 05, 2009 22:33:

  An unforgetable experience!! The concert, the atmosphere and Helen signing after the concert (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbtU85Pel8). She even posed for a picture for my friends son :-))))

  
  
• Posted by Wybe, July 05, 2009 23:14:

  What struck me was the sheer joy that everyone on stage was expressing! It was a thrill to have been a part of it. Some pics I took at http://picasaweb.google.com/w.t.douma/BABAtHampsteadHeath?feat=directlink

  
  
• Posted by Jen, July 06, 2009 00:11:

  A absolutely magical evening . It's a dream come true to see Benny perform live and it went way beyond my hopes. Benny , Helen , Tommy and the band were fantastic and having great fun.
  'Story of a Heart' sounds better and better with each listen , it's well and truly stuck in my brain now - I will probably annoy all my work colleagues by humming it incessantly in the coming days and weeks !!!
  
  It was unexpected treat to hear the three ABBA songs, never thought I'd get to see Benny playing ABBA songs just metres away from me ! The audience was fantastic too..don't know how it was further back in the crowd , but down the front , everyone was singing at the tops of their voices and having a wonderful time.
  And when the band had finished ,the crowd singing ' The Way Old Friends do ' was a real spine tingling moment.
  
  I feel really privileged to have been part of such a special evening. Thank you Benny and the band !
  
  

  
  
• Posted by Graham, July 06, 2009 00:49:

  Unsurpassable - unique one-off unrepeatable ; to be able to say 'I was there' for the rest of my life and for our 3 girls also, their first ABBA experience, makes it so special.
  
  Thank you everyone

  
  
• Posted by Michael Salkeld, July 06, 2009 02:18:

  Here is one of my videos
  My mind is still boggling that I was at such a fantastic concert
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP3so5jwF5U

  
  
• Posted by Darren, July 06, 2009 06:05:

  It was an amazing concert.I'm still buzzing early on monday morning.The actual show with BAB was just electric.
  The music,the crowd and also the weather just made the perfect evening.The crowd singing along to 'Hasta Manana'was wonderful.Helen,BAB,fan club members and the crowd performing 'Happy Birthday' for Tommy was a nice touch
  Equally amazing also was being at the morning rehearsal when BAB tuned the instruments and played some pieces of music not played in the evening.
  There was hardly any audience or anyone there at all except a few early bird fans and a few ABBA fan club members.Gorel was placing the seat signs on the green chairs at the side of the stage for Bennys friends.
  From rehearsal memory... instrumentals of 'If this is our last dance' and 'Glasgow boogie' started the rehearsal then Helen did a semi acoustic 'story of a heart' while other instruments etc were tuned.Then a full version was performed and Tommy appeared on stage to duet with Helen on 'The stars'and then he sang 'fait acompli'.
  Two songs BAB did do at the rehearsal were 'Rule Britannia'and as it was American independence day I think the song was 'Stars and stripes forever'(not sure on this one).The rehearsal was run through from 0950 til 11am approx.
  Benny and BAB then left the stage.Benny filmed two interviews in the tented area at the edge of the stage where several fans got his autograph and posed for photos with him.
  My favourite personal moment was Helen emerging from the front barriers of the stage area with a piece of the cake the fan club? had presented backstage.She stood talking to me for several minutes with me and signed several items and also posed for a photo with me but she insisted on a piece of cake being on the photo.....hilarious and and i'm still rather stunned at meeting Helen.Benny signed for me also as he was rushed along to another interview.
  Helen and a few of the musicians went to the sound mixing desk opposite the stage at the edge of where the rather large crowd would be stood in the evening.
  An amazing day and possibly the greatest free music show on the planet.

  
  
• Posted by Vaughan, July 06, 2009 08:50:

  Wow brilliant, emotional, fantastic, moving,joyous,mindblowing.....

  
  
• Posted by stuart kerry, July 06, 2009 08:50:

  Thanks everyone for bringing back so many wonderful memories of a brilliant show. We were lucky enough to bring our 13 year old dog with us as our minder let us down at the last minute.
  Luckily he travelled well from Nottingham and it wasn't too hot.It was a very special day sitting under a huge tree with a picnic only a few feet from the stage and aperfect view of the screens with the main speaker aimed directly at us.I never ever thought I'd see a member of ABBA live let alone hear three classic ABBA songs. Benny so obviously enjoyed playing them and sang every single word of "Hasta Manana" egging the audience on!I so agree with Sean's earlier posting regarding Benny leaping around on his piano stool during "Why Did It Have To Be Me"..just like the Movie footage. Both Helen and Tommy are excellent vocalists and fantastic performers and the rest of the band are highly entertaining."The Stars","Our Last Dance","You Are My Man" and "Fait Accomplit"sounded excellent with english lyrics and I can't wait for my CD from Amazon!!But for me,"I Do,I Do,I Do,I Do,I Do" will be an eternal memory of a glorious summers evening on Hampstead Heath.

  
  
• Posted by Anita, July 06, 2009 09:31:

  Still feel so full of energy, seeing all those fans again, meeting friends and made quite a lot of new ones aswell. Charing food and drinks chating with eachother. For some newcomers who never attend an event like this it was a dream.
  The weathergods were with us. Great to see so many of you, and Ice great to see you again.
  
  The concert was unbelievable, had no feeling in my foot after it but it was it worth. Helen gave autographs after the show she was amazing. Well found out that a lot of fans will go to NY so see you there.
  
  And thank you Benny and the whole gang for this FANtastic concert

  
  
• Posted by Tricky Dicky, July 06, 2009 09:31:

  Thank you for the music, Benny, that you blessed us with on Saturday! After loving ABBA for almost 20 years, and never having the opportunity to see them live (I wasn't born!), Saturday was a truly memorable and emotional day for me.
  
  I couldn't take my eyes off him, thinking that all those wonderful melodies, that have been the soundtrack to my life, came from that man sat on the piano literally metres in front of me! Magical. Surreal.
  
  The highlight was the ABBA tunes, and the impromtu singing of TWAFD and TYFTM at the end. For the first time at any concert I felt like I truly belonged.

  
  
• Posted by ROGER HILLER, July 06, 2009 09:43:

  I can add nothing more to all the favourable comments . A beautiful summer's evening , a fabulous band and singers and the great man clearly enjoying himself almost as much as he did in the Abba days.
  
  Can't wait for , hopefully ,their next appearance in London but will have to make do with the superb CD purchased during the set.

  
  
• Posted by Richard Fraser, July 06, 2009 10:53:

  So many terrific performances last Saturday afternoon on Hampstead Heath but for me, and many others I expect, the highlight was of course Benny and his band. Great stuff and great vocals too by Tommy, Helen and the bearded multi-instrumentalist Kalle Moraeus.
  
  Here's a link (hope it works !) to my photos of the event :
  
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/16671323@N04/sets/72157620892467673/
  
  Richard

  
  
• Posted by AZ, July 06, 2009 12:40:

  Jätte,jättebra. Tack så mycket. What a great way to celebrate Sweden taking over the EU presidency! Brilliant day in glorious sunshine on the Heath. Everything from crazy golf through the Ikea furniture, the wonderful Sami joik singing, to BAO and the folk dancing.Benny was great. I was fortunate to see Abba live 3 times in the 70's and when 'Why did it have to be me' was played I could have been back at Stafford or Wembley watching Frida and Björn. Tommy and Helen were equally brilliant and it was fab to meet them both plus Kalle and Görel afterwards. Thank you all for a great day out and to Tommy and Helen for posing for pics with us.
  Although I'm from Merseyside I have no doubt that it is Sweden who gave us the greatest pop group ever.

  
  
• Posted by Fiona, July 06, 2009 14:10:

  I travelled over 600 miles (on my own) for a weekend in London to see the concert, and I can honestly say if BAB had only played for 20 minutes it would have been worth my trip! It was brilliant. And I had imagined them playing in the bandstand with a dance floor in front, so I was wondering whether I'd be able to see very much of the band at all, so what a wonderful surprise and thrill to find it was a proper stage and I managed to get right to the front! Well done to Tommy for performing so well with his bad knee, I've adored him since Chess days and I still think he has the best male voice ever. I got to meet him afterwards which was the icing on the cake. I'd love BAB to release Fait Accompli as a single, (great english lyrics) A wonderful wonderful night, thanks so much to everyone involved and to you ice for informing us about it so long ago.

  
  
• Posted by Darren, July 06, 2009 15:11:

  I just read a review on the London evening standard website.It's not a great review.It says the ABBA fans basically were let down by not enough ABBA songs and the concert contained too many polkas and awful material like 'roll out the barrel'.I sent a reply to the standard.As an ABBA fan I had a great time..I wasn't expecting ABBA except in the songs BAO/BAB perform.
  
  Nice your site got a mention on the Swedish embassy website Ice as a link promoting the Hampstead Heath gig.

  
  
• Posted by hales, July 06, 2009 16:57:

  Saturday was AMAZING, I cried buckets when Benny came out on stage. I was so happy he did the ABBA songs - very unexpected but how great? I though everyone was wonderful, Helen especially (obviously I loved Benny too!). Such a great atmosphere and everyone was really nice. People were kind enough to make room for me right at the front so I could take a couple of pictures, not that I could keep the camera steady in my excitement! We were about 30 yards from the front and I managed to get some pretty good pictures. Nobody else really gets it though, I want to tell everyone how great it was but they don't share my excitement....
  
  Here's some of my best shots www.flickr.com/photos/hayleywillis

  
  
• Posted by Ice, July 06, 2009 17:32:

  Gosh! 50 comments to date about Saturday. Thanks to each and every one who has taken time to share their experiences, videos and photos.
  
  If truth be told, I can't quite keep up at the moment, especially with all the pictures I've been sent. Whether or not I can use them straight away, please know that I am very grateful and will try and find a way to show off the best.
  
  It was, a truly perfect day - awesome atmosphere, awesome weather, awesome friendly crowd and what a show?!
  
  Felt great to be alive, say I!

  
  
• Posted by marco dirven, July 06, 2009 18:35:

  It was a wonderful evening! I can't get that wonderful feeling out of my body for the last to days. It was so friendly, so full of pleasure.
  And oh, what a grand lady Helen has become, she is a sensation!

  
  
• Posted by Darren, July 06, 2009 20:30:

  Did anyone buy the 'Sommaren du fick' cd single from the sales stall?
  I played mine when I got home and my cd has two full length versions on the disc as opposed to track 2 being an edit version.
  Some great clips/films now on youtube of the show.

  
  
• Posted by Roger, July 06, 2009 20:47:

  I've been an Abba fan since way back in 76 (when I was three) so I never got the chance to see them on tour and I resigned myself to have had "missed the boat" so to speak. So getting the chance to see Benny with his fantastic band on stage was just a dream come true. I never expected him to do one Abba song let alone three! To see Benny on stage jumping around on his keyboard like he used to in the old days was just out of this world....he had such a big grin on his face as did every single person who was there watching. To hear all those beautiful songs in the glorious sunshine just made it such a perfect day as I'm sure every one would agree. As Benny walked off stage and then everyone singing The way old Friends Do and Thank You For The Music was just amazing. I have not stopped talking about it and I'm sure I won't for a long time to come. I have got tickets for Bjorn and Benny's Abba celebration in Hyde Park in September and I cannot wait!

  
  
• Posted by Dave Fleming, July 06, 2009 21:34:

  That concert certainly exceeded all my expectations - and I had very high expectations. The musicians were terrific, the selection of music was very interesting and a lot of fun, and the crowd was wonderful too....everyone was in such a great mood, and the "feel good" feeling kept spreading through the night - it was like the musicians were having a good time and that infected the audience, and then the good time the audience was having infected the musicians - you could almost see the energy in the atmosphere, and it kept growing exponentially - I don't know where the singers came from or what their backstories are, but boy, are they wonderful finds! Both Helen and (I'm pretty sure his name is) Tommy were great, and as much as I love Benny, the show would not have been half as good if Helen had been absent. Even the weather co-operated!
  I don't know whom to thank, but thank you for a great evening whoever you are!!

  
  
• Posted by Roger, July 06, 2009 23:23:

  I've been an Abba fan since way back in 76 (when I was three) so I never got the chance to see them on tour and I resigned myself to have had "missed the boat" so to speak. So getting the chance to see Benny with his fantastic band on stage was just a dream come true. I never expected him to do one Abba song let alone three! To see Benny on stage jumping around on his keyboard like he used to in the old days was just out of this world....he had such a big grin on his face as did every single person who was there watching. To hear all those beautiful songs in the glorious sunshine just made it such a perfect day as I'm sure every one would agree. As Benny walked off stage and then everyone singing The way old Friends Do and Thank You For The Music was just amazing. I have not stopped talking about it and I'm sure I won't for a long time to come. I have got tickets for Bjorn and Benny's Abba celebration in Hyde Park in September and I cannot wait!

  
  
• Posted by Richard Fraser, July 07, 2009 11:14:

  Just letting everyone know that I've replaced the 'reduced size' copies of my photos on flickr.com of Saturday's concert with 'full size' versions. Anyone wishing to download any of them are welcome.
  
  My new Flickr address is : http://www.flickr.com/photos/richard-f/

  
  
• Posted by Debi, July 07, 2009 16:53:

  I really want to buy the live album (BAO Pa Turne-?) and am so annoyed that I missed out on the CD stall! -As someone said they bought it there as well as the new album. I've seen it on offer on abbasite-anyone else bought it through there? Still thinking of that fabulous night. Saw 'Moon River' on Youtube, but did anyone record it without all the pesky crowd gabble?!Fans at the front were listening avidly!

  
  
• Posted by anne, July 07, 2009 21:00:

  @ Debi, There are many places on the internet that you can get hold of both Pa Turne and Story of a Heart, but the Abba Fan Club web site (link - above left) wont let you down!

  
  
• Posted by stella, July 08, 2009 10:25:

  I am still on a high, what an AMAZING show,
  I dont think i will ever forget this day, magical
  
  

  
  
• Posted by Matthias Schulz, July 08, 2009 14:28:

  tears comes in my eyes!
  
  Thank you soooo much!
  Yours,
  Matthias

  
  
• Posted by Debi, July 10, 2009 17:10:

  Thank you Anne for your advice -I will see about getting it!
  I've just posted a clip of 'Cirkus Finemang' on Youtube- a bit shaky but the first time I filmed on my camera! I managed to get Benny's lovely bit of piano-playing, in close up. I didn't know he was going to do that-just a lucky piece of filming! You can see how much he was enjoying himself- they all were.
  There are lots of clips on Youtube now- isn't it great!'I do..,' has gone on there now.

  
  
• Posted by Kees, July 15, 2009 10:34:

  Just returned from holiday in the UK.
  The highlight offcourse was the perfomance of the Benny Andersson Band on the 4th of July. I've been ABBA fan since 1974, seen Waterloo win ESC (I was 12 then).
  I'm still busy going through all holiday-pics and video's but i allready put some on the net:
  
  Story of a heart & I do (x5):
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHf9DFNDl5w
  
  You are my man (short):
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57fg06BvJM0
  
  Hope you'll enjoy that like I did. There'll be more in the next days.
  It was actually the first time I saw an ABBA-member perform live and it was great.
  BTW: thanks all for sharing the pics/video's.

  
  
• Posted by Kees, July 30, 2009 16:01:

  A lot of pics of the whole event Sweden On Stage(maybe you're on one of the pics?):
  
  http://www.hansenkees.nl/SOS2009.htm