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{{Short description|Australian pop musical group}}
{{Morerefs|date=December 2007}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox Musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
| Name = Björn Again
{{Multiple issues|
| Img =
{{Advert|date=December 2022}}
| Img_capt =
{{Refimprove|date=December 2022}}
| Img_size =
}}
| Landscape =
{{Infobox musical artist
| Background = cover_band
| Genre = | image = BA glitz logo - maybe try this one for no background.jpg
| Occupation = | image_size = 200
| Years_active = ]-Present | landscape = yes
| Label = | genre = Pop, ], ]
| origin = ], Victoria, Australia
| Associated_acts =
| years_active = 1988–present
| URL = http://www.bjornagain.com/global.htm
| Current_members = | label =
| Past_members = | website = {{URL|bjornagain.com}}
}} }}
'''Björn Again''' is an ] ], taking their name from ], a member of ABBA, and a pun on the phrase "]".


'''Björn Again''' is an ]-inspired ] from Australia, consisting of performers from various countries. The name is a reference to ABBA guitarist and vocalist ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bjorn Again - songtitels - Muziekweb |url=https://www.muziekweb.nl/Link/M00000068566/POPULAR/Bjorn-Again |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=www.muziekweb.nl |language=nl}}</ref> The band has performed worldwide since it was formed in 1988.
This tribute band has become so successful that as of ] there are five Björn Agains performing in various parts of the world. Björn Again originate from ], and have been touring since ]. Their seventeen-year existence exceeds that of the original ABBA by some margin.


==Character of the show==
Björn Again was created in ] by Melburnians Rod Leissle and John Tyrrell who not only oversee all of Björn Again's global touring activities but occasionally play in band;<ref></ref> Rod bass, John drums. After Björn Again's first show at a small pub in Melbourne called The Tote on May 6th 1989 the band's popularity increased quickly, which took them Australia-wide then overseas to international critical acclaim. The band is now regarded as the most successful tribute band ever and one of Australia's most successful musical exports.
]


Björn Again parodies ] pop group ABBA,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/music/2003/10/bjorn_again_review.shtml|publisher=BBC Leicester|title=Music – Bjorn Again at DeMontfort Hall Reviewed}}</ref> using a mix of English and Swedish language known as "Swenglish"<ref name=york>{{cite news|publisher=BBC South Yorkshire|title=Bjorn Again interview|date=18 November 2004|last=Clifton|first=Bernie|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/articles/2004/11/17/bjorn_again_interview_feature.shtml}}</ref> or pidgin Swedish. The performers use the stage names Agnetha Falstart, Benny Anderwear, Frida Longstoki and Björn Volvo-us<ref name=brit>{{cite news |last=Chamberlain |first=Darryl |title=Tribute bands: The next best thing |date=29 February 2000 |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/entertainment/2000/brit_awards/657042.stm}}</ref> in homage to the original ABBA members, plus bassist Rutger Sonofagunn and drummer Ola Drumkitt, based on Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC Cambridgeshire|title=Home Swede Home!|date=November 2004|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/content/articles/2004/11/16/bjorn_again_event_feature.shtml}}</ref> The show features choreographed acts with unique costumes and song arrangements that differ from ABBA's original performances.
<!-- Unsourced image removed: ] -->
Björn Again take a very light-hearted approach to their portrayal of ABBA.<ref></ref> While keeping pretty faithful to the songs themselves, the rest of the act is something of a send-up or parody. The group talk among themselves and to the audience in a faux-Swedish accent, and have stage names which resemble the group's original names in a humorous way: Agnetha Falstart, Benny Anderwear, Frida Longstokin and Björn Volvo-us. The band is supported by bassist Rutger Sonofagunn and drummer Ola Drumkitt (from long-time ABBA session musicians Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert).


==History==
Björn Again have also occasionally ]ed songs by other artists. When ] produced an EP of ABBA covers called ''Abba-esque'', Björn Again responded with an EP of covers of Erasure songs done in the style of Abba, called ''Erasure-ish''. The EP included the song 'A Little Respect' which achieved Number 25 on the UK charts in September 1992.
]
Björn Again was founded in 1988 in ], Australia, by Rod Stephen and John Tyrrell. The style is a light-hearted parody of ABBA performed in pidgin Swedish or 'Swenglish.' Original band members included Rod Stephen, Peter Ryan, John Tyrrell, Dorina Morelli, Kathy Riseborough, Gavin Charles, and later Janette Stuart. Since the band's debut in 1989, Björn Again has performed approximately 5,500 shows in 72 countries over 34 years. By 1997, the band had three touring lineups. John Tyrrell has been the band's manager since the outset. Rod Stephen manages the UK/Europe lineup and John Tyrrell manages the Australasian lineup.<ref>{{cite web|title=About - Björn Again|url=https://www.bjornagain.com.au/about/|publisher=Björn Again|access-date=19 March 2023}}</ref>


The band has recorded and performed live a total of 133 songs, including 55 ABBA songs, seven originals, and 62 covers by other artists. They released an EP of covers of ] songs performed in the style of ABBA, called Erasure-ish,<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=135}}</ref> which included the songs "Stop!" and "A Little Respect" that reached Number 25 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1992.<ref name=occ/>
The band has performed at many of the big rock festivals world-wide including Reading and Glastonbury,<ref></ref> plus has sold out shows at The Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Arena in London, The State Theatre in Sydney, the SECC in Glasgow Scotland and Irving Plaza in New York. The band are also in high demand for private shows having played at parties for top UK golfer ], ]'s ], comedian ] (Mr Bean), and at ]'s Wedding in Australia in 2003 which made world headlines.


Björn Again has performed at events worldwide, ranging from large rock festivals, including Reading and Glastonbury,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/glastonbury/1999/review-bjornagain1.shtml|title=Bjorn Again – review|year=1999|publisher=eFestivals|first=Mark|last=Champken}}</ref> to private performances for celebrities, including Microsoft co-founder ],<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Daily Mirror|title=Bjorn Again, the famous ABBA tribute band in concert in Colombo|date=11 February 2010|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/life/132-life/3387.html}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> comedian ],<ref name="ind">{{cite news |last=Viner |first=Brian |date=18 December 2000 |title=Brentwood, vould you like to dance? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/brentwood-vould-you-like-to-dance-629668.html |work=The Independent |location=London}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020}}</ref> actor ],<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Almost Abba|date=26 June 2004|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/25/1088144973288.html}}</ref> and Russian president ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/4526496/Vladimir-Putin-revealed-as-secret-Abba-fan.html|title=Vladamir Putin revealed as secret ABBA fan|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | first=Anita | last=Singh | date=6 February 2009}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news|work=The Times|title=Vladamir Putin flies in Bjorn Again for Abba tribute concert|last=Halpin|first=Tony|date=6 February 2009|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5671675.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107015353/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5671675.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2010 | location=London}}</ref>
In the words of ABBA's ]:
{{quote|“The best of luck. I always thought that someone who looked like me ought to have a successful career!|"Telegram from Björn Ulvaeus to Björn Again, Sweden ‘90}}


In 1999, the UK Bjorn Again took part in a documentary for ] entitled "ABBA: Bjorn Again!", which featured the band on tour. Throughout the program the band members spoke in "Swenglish" accents. Björn Ulvaeus and ] have both praised Björn Again. After ABBA's former members said they were not going to perform together again, Andersson was quoted as saying in 1999, "Bjorn Again are the closest you can get to seeing ABBA."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bjornagain.com/quotes.htm |title=Quotes-From ABBA |author1=Björn Again |author2=Benny Andersson |date=22 September 2011 |publisher=Björn Again |access-date=22 September 2011 |archive-date=13 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113011050/http://www.bjornagain.com/quotes.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In the words of ABBA's ]:
{{quote|"“Fans had better make the most of Björn Again because that’s the closest they are going to get to seeing ABBA. ABBA will NEVER reform!"|Benny Andersson, live on Capital Radio London Feb ’99}}


The band attended a celebrity gala in costume at the London Savoy and received an award on behalf of ABBA from the ], to commemorate the 30 years since their ] win with "]" in Brighton on 6 April 1974.
To date the various franchises of Björn Again have performed around 4,000 shows in over 50 countries, and there seems to be little sign that their popularity is diminishing.


In 2009 the band performed ]'s "Enter Sandman", with an additional drummer, to a ] crowd at ], as a nod to the headlining act.<ref>. Easier.com, (3 August 2009). Retrieved on 3 May 2012.</ref> They were the opening act on the Pyramid stage at the ] in 1999, 2009, and 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/festivals/glastonbury/bjorn-again-abba-tribute-2518200 |title=What more wholesome start could you have to Glastonbury than ABBA cover band Björn Again? |author1=Hannah Mylrea |website=] |date=28 June 2019 }}</ref>
In 1996 three of the original Australian group members Janette Stuart (Agnetha) Peter Ryan (Benny) and Gavin Charles (Björn) left the band and returned to Australia, new members were quickly brought in to continue the success. Now there are several Björn Again groups across the globe to feed the demand. A few of the current members have successful careers of their own outside of Bjorn Again including TJ Davis who played "Frida" had a hit in 2001 with "Wonderful Life" and Aileen McLaughlin who plays "Agnetha" has toured as a backing vocalist with several artists including Tom Jones, Lisa Stansfield and most recently Jason Donovan. Joanne Rowden who plays "Frida" has had a good career in acting starring in Coronation Street back in 2000 and other major television roles.


On 17 December 2012, Björn Again performed at the ] Christmas party in London, attended by the Queen and members of the royal family. They also presented a show in honor of ] at Stockholm's TV3/TV6 tenth-anniversary party, when Fältskog was quoted saying “It was a great show. I loved the choreography" and "Good luck for the tour.”<ref name="Björn Again - History">{{Cite web |title=Björn Again - History |url=https://bjornagain.com/history/}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links== ==Discography==
===Albums===
*
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%" | ]<br /><ref name=aus2>{{cite Ryan|page=31}}</ref><ref name="aus LP">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/31yMYQP| title=Björn Again chart history (albums), received from ARIA in May 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=5 July 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''Live Album''
|
* Released: 1993
* Format: CD, LP
* Label: ] (D19952)
| 102{{efn|group=upper-alpha|''Live Album'' was re-released in 1995 with ''Flashback!'', where it peaked at number 102.<ref name="aus LP"/>}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Flashback!''
|
* Released: August 1994
* Format: CD, LP
* Label: Festival (D31176)
| 40
|-
! scope="row" | ''Live at the Royal Albert Hall''
|
* Released: 1998
* Format: CD
* Label: BA (BACD 2010)
| –
|-
! scope="row" | ''20th Anniversary Concert''
|
* Released: 2009
* Format: CD
* Label: The Music Group
| –
|}


===Singles===
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bjorn Again}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%" | ]<br /><ref name="aus">Australian chart peaks:
*Top 50 peaks: {{Cite web |title=australian-charts.com > Björn Again in Australian Charts |url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bj%F6rn+Again |access-date=29 July 2016 |publisher=Hung Medien}}</ref><ref name="aus singles">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/p8qqcbZ| title=Björn Again chart history (single), received from ARIA in May 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=5 July 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%" | ]<br /><ref name="occ">{{Cite web |title=Official Charts > Bjorn Again |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28196/bjorn-again/ |access-date=29 July 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |1992
! scope="row" | ] {{small|(Europe only)}}
| {{n/a}} || 25
| ''Flashback!''
|-
! scope="row" | "]" / "]"
| 105 || 55
| {{Non-album single}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |1993
! scope="row" | "]"
| 27 || 65
| rowspan="4" | ''Flashback!''
|-
! scope="row" | "]" {{small|(Europe only)}}
| {{n/a}} || –
|-
| 1994
! scope="row" | "]" {{small|(Australia only)}}
| 121 || –
|-
| 1995
! scope="row" | "]" / "]" {{small|(Australia only)}}
| 166 || –
|-
| 2019
! scope="row" | "Christmas Is Björn Again" ("]"/<br /> "]"/"]"/"Love's Not Just for Christmas")
| – || –
| {{Non-album single}}
|}


==Notes==
]
{{Notelist-ua}}


==References==
]
{{Reflist}}
]


{{ABBA}}
]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bjorn Again}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 23:50, 26 December 2024

Australian pop musical group

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Björn Again
Background information
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresPop, europop, disco
Years active1988–present
Websitebjornagain.com
Musical artist

Björn Again is an ABBA-inspired tribute band from Australia, consisting of performers from various countries. The name is a reference to ABBA guitarist and vocalist Björn Ulvaeus. The band has performed worldwide since it was formed in 1988.

Character of the show

Björn Again performing in Sydney, 2009

Björn Again parodies Swedish pop group ABBA, using a mix of English and Swedish language known as "Swenglish" or pidgin Swedish. The performers use the stage names Agnetha Falstart, Benny Anderwear, Frida Longstoki and Björn Volvo-us in homage to the original ABBA members, plus bassist Rutger Sonofagunn and drummer Ola Drumkitt, based on Rutger Gunnarsson and Ola Brunkert. The show features choreographed acts with unique costumes and song arrangements that differ from ABBA's original performances.

History

Original logo for Björn Again, still in use by the Australasian lineup

Björn Again was founded in 1988 in Melbourne, Australia, by Rod Stephen and John Tyrrell. The style is a light-hearted parody of ABBA performed in pidgin Swedish or 'Swenglish.' Original band members included Rod Stephen, Peter Ryan, John Tyrrell, Dorina Morelli, Kathy Riseborough, Gavin Charles, and later Janette Stuart. Since the band's debut in 1989, Björn Again has performed approximately 5,500 shows in 72 countries over 34 years. By 1997, the band had three touring lineups. John Tyrrell has been the band's manager since the outset. Rod Stephen manages the UK/Europe lineup and John Tyrrell manages the Australasian lineup.

The band has recorded and performed live a total of 133 songs, including 55 ABBA songs, seven originals, and 62 covers by other artists. They released an EP of covers of Erasure songs performed in the style of ABBA, called Erasure-ish, which included the songs "Stop!" and "A Little Respect" that reached Number 25 on the UK Singles Chart in September 1992.

Björn Again has performed at events worldwide, ranging from large rock festivals, including Reading and Glastonbury, to private performances for celebrities, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, comedian Rowan Atkinson, actor Russell Crowe, and Russian president Vladimir Putin.

In 1999, the UK Bjorn Again took part in a documentary for Channel 5 entitled "ABBA: Bjorn Again!", which featured the band on tour. Throughout the program the band members spoke in "Swenglish" accents. Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have both praised Björn Again. After ABBA's former members said they were not going to perform together again, Andersson was quoted as saying in 1999, "Bjorn Again are the closest you can get to seeing ABBA."

The band attended a celebrity gala in costume at the London Savoy and received an award on behalf of ABBA from the Radio Times, to commemorate the 30 years since their Eurovision Song Contest win with "Waterloo" in Brighton on 6 April 1974.

In 2009 the band performed Metallica's "Enter Sandman", with an additional drummer, to a Sonisphere Festival crowd at Knebworth, as a nod to the headlining act. They were the opening act on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 1999, 2009, and 2019.

On 17 December 2012, Björn Again performed at the Buckingham Palace Christmas party in London, attended by the Queen and members of the royal family. They also presented a show in honor of Agnetha Fältskog at Stockholm's TV3/TV6 tenth-anniversary party, when Fältskog was quoted saying “It was a great show. I loved the choreography" and "Good luck for the tour.”

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
Live Album
  • Released: 1993
  • Format: CD, LP
  • Label: Festival (D19952)
 102
Flashback!
  • Released: August 1994
  • Format: CD, LP
  • Label: Festival (D31176)
 40
Live at the Royal Albert Hall
  • Released: 1998
  • Format: CD
  • Label: BA (BACD 2010)
 –
20th Anniversary Concert
  • Released: 2009
  • Format: CD
  • Label: The Music Group
 –

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year Title Peak chart positions Album
AUS
 UK
1992 "Erasure-ish" ("A Little Respect"/"Stop!") (Europe only) — 25 Flashback!
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" / "Little Drummer Boy" 105 55 Non-album single
1993 "Flashdance...What a Feeling" 27 65 Flashback!
"So You Win Again" (Europe only) — –
1994 "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" (Australia only) 121 –
1995 "Black Is Black" / "I'm on Fire" (Australia only) 166 –
2019 "Christmas Is Björn Again" ("Keeping the Dream Alive"/
"Underneath the Tree"/"Human"/"Love's Not Just for Christmas") 		– – Non-album single

Notes

  1. Live Album was re-released in 1995 with Flashback!, where it peaked at number 102.

References

  1. "Bjorn Again - songtitels - Muziekweb". www.muziekweb.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  2. "Music – Bjorn Again at DeMontfort Hall Reviewed". BBC Leicester.
  3. Clifton, Bernie (18 November 2004). "Bjorn Again interview". BBC South Yorkshire.
  4. Chamberlain, Darryl (29 February 2000). "Tribute bands: The next best thing". BBC News.
  5. "Home Swede Home!". BBC Cambridgeshire. November 2004.
  6. "About - Björn Again". Björn Again. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  7. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 135. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  8. ^ "Official Charts > Bjorn Again". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  9. Champken, Mark (1999). "Bjorn Again – review". eFestivals.
  10. "Bjorn Again, the famous ABBA tribute band in concert in Colombo". Daily Mirror. 11 February 2010.
  11. Viner, Brian (18 December 2000). "Brentwood, vould you like to dance?". The Independent. London.
  12. "Almost Abba". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 June 2004.
  13. Singh, Anita (6 February 2009). "Vladamir Putin revealed as secret ABBA fan". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  14. Halpin, Tony (6 February 2009). "Vladamir Putin flies in Bjorn Again for Abba tribute concert". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010.
  15. Björn Again; Benny Andersson (22 September 2011). "Quotes-From ABBA". Björn Again. Archived from the original on 13 January 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  16. Success for Sonisphere Festival Knebworth. Easier.com, (3 August 2009). Retrieved on 3 May 2012.
  17. Hannah Mylrea (28 June 2019). "What more wholesome start could you have to Glastonbury than ABBA cover band Björn Again?". NME.
  18. "Björn Again - History".
  19. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 31.
  20. ^ "Björn Again chart history (albums), received from ARIA in May 2024". ARIA. Retrieved 5 July 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  21. Australian chart peaks:
  22. "Björn Again chart history (single), received from ARIA in May 2024". ARIA. Retrieved 5 July 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
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