ABBAmania features local touch

Straying from the sports scene, today’s column is about music – my other passion. This is a hats-off to one of the world’s most-loved pop groups ABBA returning here with its leading tribute act ABBAmania for five shows, including two in Manila. Producer Robert Pratt promises a more colorful, more interactive and more lively experience for Filipino fans of all ages. It’s a comeback tour by popular demand after ABBAmania sold out eight performances in Manila, Cebu, Tacloban, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Puerto Princesa last year. Redstone Productions and Viva Entertainment are once more combining forces to do the reprise.

This year’s edition will feature a distinct local touch in its set list. A 21-strong O. B. Montessori choir made up of boys and girls who are second and third year high school students will sing along on stage for the band’s first two or three numbers then join in the finale “I Have A Dream” at the Solaire Grand Ballroom on Friday and PICC on Saturday. Local choirs will also be assembled to accompany ABBAmania at the Baguio Country Club on March 25, Waterfront in Cebu on March 27, the Island Cove in Cavite on March 28 and the Lagao Gym in General Santos City on March 30.

“The ABBAmania group wanted to come back the week after they left, that’s how much they enjoyed their trip here last year,” said Redstone’s Rajan Gidwani. “They’re excited to perform before Filipinos because they know how musically-inclined we all are. In their first show, they had three costume changes, now they’ll have four and the outfits are even more eye-catching. They’ve tweaked their set list and added five or six new songs. Last year, they didn’t bring in a light director and sound engineer, now they’ll be in full force to stage a fantastic show. From what I’m told, the act will be very different from last time, they’re going to be more interactive with the crowd so the experience will be like the audience is part of ABBAmania.”

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The 10 members of ABBAmania flew in from three different countries yesterday, mostly from Glasgow and the others from London and Amsterdam. Gidwani declined to reveal what songs they’ll sing with the choir to open the show, saying it’s a surprise. “No seniors are involved in the choir because of graduation but we know it’s an internationally-acclaimed group,” said Gidwani. “Mrs. Preciosa Soliven herself will attend the shows with the Soliven family. This is something innovative and we think it’ll be a hit with the audience.”

There are two major personnel changes in the ABBAmania lineup from last year. Adam Robertson, a Master’s degree holder in Sound for the Visual Image at the prestigious Glasgow School of Art, is performing as Bjorn in place of Ross Taberner while Sharon Fehlberg whose mother Lorraine sang lead vocals for the Scottish 70’s hit pop group Middle of the Road (“Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” sold over 10 million records) will take over from Nyree Burt as Anni-Fri or Frida. Robertson learned piano at 10 and has been a professional musician for over 13 years. Fehlberg joined ABBAmania last year and made her mark as lead vocalist on the 2012 No. 2 dance smash “Silent Tears.” She is known for her “dynamic vocals and sizzling performances.”

Back on the microphone are Ewa Scott as Agnetha and Steven Galert as Benny. Scott is a Polish-born, classically-trained vocalist who was mentored by coach Wanda Kaluzna. A vocal tutor herself, she has studied piano and violin. Scott is often contracted for session work in the UK and Poland. Galert has been described in reviews as “a musical virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist.” He has worked with such recording artists as P. J. Proby, Tony Christie, the Drifters and the Christians. As ABBAmania’s musical director, Galert has performed with the tribute group all over the world, in countries including France, Belgium, Portugal, Poland and the US.

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Gidwani said witnessing ABBAmania live is not just about nostalgia but also celebrating the music of the original ABBA who has sold over 370 million albums and singles since 1972. Today, there are more than 10 ABBA tribute acts performing to huge crowds eager to relive the golden era of Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Bjorn Ulvaeus. Nearly 20 years after ABBA disbanded because of personal differences, the group was offered a $1 Billion fee to reunite for a world tour of 100 shows. But no amount of money could get them together again particularly as Ulvaeus and Flatskog were divorced in 1978 and Andersson and Lyngstad split in 1981. The two married couples were a perfect foursome in ABBA’s heyday but when both marriages ended in divorce, ABBA eventually suffered a similar fate.

The first ABBA tribute show surfaced in 1988 and the popularity of the group’s repertoire spawned the hit musical “Mamma Mia!” in 1999, later made into a movie in 2008. ABBAmania is arguably the best ABBA tribute act around and it’s a treat that the group is back in town for another tour of duty.

“We’ve got two Manila shows in the current tour just like last year but we’re just as thrilled to bring ABBAmania back to the provinces,” said Gidwani. “Anywhere you go in the world, including the Philippines, ABBA music is loved, listened to, sang to and danced to. ABBAmania is bringing back the love to the Philippines.”