Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus Then and Now | home
Björn's facts
Birth date: April 25, 1945
Birth place: Göteborg, Sweden
Heigth: 1.76m
Eye colour: blue
Hair colour: dark blonde
Married to: Agnetha Fältskog July 6,197171 - Divorced: July 9, 1980
Married to: Lena Kallersjö Jan,5,1981 to the present
Children: Linda - Feb 23, 1973
Christian Dec 4, 1977
Emma Jan 13, 1982
Anna April 29, 1986
Sister Eva
Lives: Villa on Vågaskär in Djursholm (Stockholm)
"Assendene House" west of London
Start career: 1963
Bands: The Hootenanny Singers, ABBA
Interests: computers, reading , writing lyrics
Favourite drink: French wines
Companies: - Kopparnäset Förlags AB
Kopparnäs AB Swedish Royal honour: Litteris et Artibus' in 1999
From an interview at home with Björn and Agnetha in the Swedish weekly magazine Allas , May 31,1971.They believe in love at first sight. They met on TV and fell in love immediately. Now they are planning their summer wedding!
The old saying "like to peas in a pot" still seems valid, at least if you meet Hootennany Singers' charming man Björn Ulvaeus, thesedays a composer, producer, lyricist, singer and a handy man in his four room flat together with his beloved Agnetha Fältskog and his sweet younger sister.
The Hootenanny Singers, the Swedish people's favourites, are constantly on "Svensktoppen." They started their career when they still were in school in Västervik and their career has just kept going. After they graduated they parted, Hansi Schwarz is studying in Lund, "Totta" Roth and his friend Carlberg in Linköping.
Björn Ulvaeus, who already knew he wanted to go into the pop music business as a producer, composer and singer, went to Stockholm.
During the summers they toured like crazy all over Sweden. Girls would scream hysterically with joy when the four turned up on stage.
And last year it happened. Björn was doing a TV-show and he found The Girl.
They both fell in love immediately. You can't say that there's no such thing as love at first sight. The girl with a capital G was already famous in the pop music world.
Her name is Agnetha Fältskog from Jönköping, and she was a successfull composer and singer.
The more time the couple spent together they realised they had much in common.
So they decided to live together. And Björn brought his younger sister (Eva) with him.
The result was a very happy household.
We are just talking about this and that and I soon realise that there's a line of privacy they won't let me cross. They are both used to journalists by now and know where to draw the line. During our conversation a lot of issues comes up that they both agree completely on. World war, for example.They both think it's the worst thing. So where would they like to live if they were financially independent?
" Sweden", Björn says immediately. "I couldn't stand any other climate."
But, Agnetha disagrees. She says that she would like to live in Gambia, a small west African country south of Senegal with long beaches and palm trees. But it would be very hot there. The reason for Agnetha's choice is probably that she and Björn went there in November when it wasn't very hot. After May, no Swede could stand the heat there.
We talk about what they dislike in people. Björn hates "intolerance" and
Agnetha hates "lies."
When it comes to music they both agree that Tjajkowskij is great and Björn adds Beethoven and Lennon/McCartney. Agnetha adds Burt Bacharach and George Harrison! But which historic person do they admire most?
" Winston Churchill", Björn says immediately.
"Well, Björn, what are your worst qualities?" I ask, and Björn thinks long and hard about it.
" It's must be being absent minded and sloppy", he says. "That's probably what's most annoying to others. "
Agnetha, on the other, looks as if she doesn't mind running around picking up things
after Björn. I never get to know what Agnetha's worst qualities are. What I do learn is what kind of flowers they like. Björn loves Roses and Agnetha yellow Fressias.
When it comes to birds Björn prefers sparrows, and Agnetha prefers the blackbird, because "it sings so beautifully".
Neither have much time to read books, but Björn's favourite author is Ray Bradbury and Dan Andersson.
Agnetha loves Shakespeare "Especially "Romeo and Juliet" Daphne de Maurier and Karin Boye".
And, before I know it the blond beauty starts reciting a poem by Karin Boye. She does it so beautifully I almost get teary eyed.
Young Ms. Ulvaeus acts as hostess and Björn and Agnetha sit down on the floor and start playing on a strange looking instrument which they have brought from Africa.
It's very unusual that they both are at home at the same time. Mostly Björn's composing with his friend Benny Andersson somewhere, and Agnetha is away singing. But, this summer that will change. They are going to tour together and look forward to it.
" We are getting married on at a church July 6th in Verum in Skåne", Agnetha shouts.
In April they went to London and recently they were in Paris. They don't spend much time at home.
Agnetha loves Chinese food but Björn prefers a home cooked meal, so Björn takes her to the restaurant Hongkong , and in return she goes with him to see a movie.
Their apartment is beautifully decorated and very comfortable. It's a mixture of memories from trips abroad and modern furniture from IKEA. A very nice and welcoming place to come home to after spending many nights in hotel rooms during their tours.
They are a very charming and talented couple, and they definitely have what it takes to become successfull in the pop music business.
