Ok so just give this to me straight. What are we dealing with here? Two brand-new ABBA songs have been released today – their first new music in 39 years. They’ve released a double a-side single – ‘I Still Have Faith In You’ and ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’.
Two new songs. This is incomprehensible. Wait til you hear about the album then….
There’s an album?!!! A ten-track album – ‘Voyage’ – will be released on November 5th.
There’s more, isn’t there? There’s more. Starting on May 27th, the ABBA Voyage tour will commence. Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid will perform digitally with a live 10-piece band, in a purpose-built 3,000-capacity arena in London. It’s a set-up that’s been a long time in the making. The digital versions of ABBA have been created following weeks and months of motion-capture and performance techniques with the four band members and an 850-strong team from Industrial Light & Magic, the company founded by George Lucas.
How can I get tickets? Pre-registration for tickets has opened already on abbavoyage.com with tickets on general sale from Tuesday 7th September.
And what will they look like? As well as the single, a music video has been released for ‘I Still Have Faith In You’. It features footage of the digital ABBA members, and you can watch it below.
Ok. These two new songs then. ‘I Still Have Faith In You’ is the epic ballad that builds into something obviously quite special – as it’s all about their own belief in themselves reforming. ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’, meanwhile, is the Abbanger! With echoes of ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘If It Wasn’t For The Nights’, it’s the crowd pleaser to the first song’s heart warmer. Both songs, however, manage to sound like classic ABBA – fitting in effortlessly with their catalogue.
And what to ABBA themselves say about all of this? Scroll down past the music video for a message from ABBA!
You can find both of the new songs on our Best New Pop playlist.
It’s been a while since we made music together. Almost 40 years, actually. We took a break in the spring of 1982 and now we’ve decided it’s time to end it. They say it’s foolhardy to wait more than 40 years between albums, so we’ve recorded a follow-up to “The Visitors”. To tell the truth, the main inspiration to record again comes from our involvement in creating the strangest and most spectacular concert you could ever dream of. We’re going to be able to sit back in an audience and watch our digital selves perform our songs on a stage in a custom-built arena in London next spring. Weird and wonderful!
To all of you who patiently have followed us in some way or another these past decades:
Thank you for waiting – it’s time for a new journey to begin.
“We simply call it “Voyage” and we’re truly sailing in uncharted waters. With the help of our younger selves, we travel into the future. It’s not easy to explain but then it hasn’t been done before.”
“It’s hard to say what’s been the most joyful thing for me (Benny) with this project. If it’s the involvement in creating the concert together with everyone or being back in the studio together again after 40 years. I think hearing Frida and Agnetha singing again is hard to beat. When you come to the arena you will have the four of us together with an absolutely glorious 10-piece band. And even if not in the flesh, we will be right there, thanks to the work of the creative team and ILM.”
“Those first sessions back in 2018 were such fun and when Benny called and asked if I’d (Anni-Frid) consider singing some more I jumped at it! And what songs!! My respect and love go out to these exceptionally talented, truly genius songwriters! Such joy it was to work with the group again. I am so happy with what we have made, and I dearly hope our fans feel the same.”
“When we got back together in the studio I (Agnetha) had no idea what to expect…But Benny’s recording studio is such a friendly and safe environment, and before I knew it I was really enjoying myself! I can hardly believe that finally, the moment has come to share this with the world!”
“They’re such amazing singers those two, I (Björn) was completely floored by the way they delivered those songs. They’re true musicians; totally unimpressed by pop star glamour but still having a great time being creative in a recording studio. The “Voyage” project has injected new life into us in more ways than one.”
“So, again, thanks for waiting! We hope to see you in the “ABBA Arena” and yes – see – because we have infused a good deal of our souls into those avatars. It’s not an exaggeration to say that we’re back.”
Agnetha, Björn, Benny, Anni-Frid
Stockholm, Sweden, 2nd September 2021
