ABBA guys afraid of Broadway critics

MANILA, Philippines - ABBA member Bjorn Ulvaeus, who wrote the music and lyrics of Mamma Mia! with fellow member Benny Andersson, admitted in an exclusive e-mail interview with Funfare that they were afraid of critics when the musical opened on Broadway but were relieved that it has lasted this long, seen by more than four million people around the world.

Mamma Mia! was written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast.

Here are excerpts from the interview with Ulvaeus (rightmost in photo, with fellow members Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Faltskog):

What are your fondest memories about ABBA?

“Probably the days in the recording studio when we had recorded something we could be really proud of. Also standing on stage with the other three feeling the warmth from the audience.”

How did you feel about the Broadway musical?

“Really good. I was afraid of the Broadway critics, but when the musical came to Broadway it had been touring a while in the US and had a good reputation and therefore it did matter so much what they wrote. It’s been there for more than 10 years now and that’s far longer than I would have expected.”

What about the movie? Which do you like more, the theater version or the movie version?

“Both have their distinctive qualities. I wouldn’t put one before the other, it’s a happy co-existence.”

Dancing Queen has become the anthem of disco. How do you feel about it?

“I’m extremely proud if that’s the case. We liked disco and were influenced by it, as everyone else at the time.”

The song The Winner Takes It All is on everybody’s lips, very popular. Please tell me a brief backgrounder of the song.

“When we had written the melody we were very, very happy, I remember that. And the lyric was inspired by personal experience, but is 80 percent fiction.”

What is your personal favorite among the ABBA songs?

“I don’t have one, I have many.”

Do you have any hand in the mounting of the musical (in Manila) and in the making of the movie?

“Yes, I did. Especially the stage show. I was there from day one with Catherine Johnson. Catherine would write a draft of the story and we would meet and discuss it. Songs would be changed as well as storyline and characters. After five or six drafts, we were ready for the audience.”