Thanks for joining me for this week’s edition of Saturday Songsausion. Two weeks ago, I started the post-ABBA years to learn more about what became of the band members. In my first two installments, I featured Agnetha “Aggi” Falkstog which you can read part 1 and part 2. In this third segment, I wanted to learn more about the other female vocalist, Anni-Frid, and as usual I was enlightened with the factoids I read on Wiki.
Today, I’m going to share with you the only two English studio album Frida recorded post-ABBA. First is the Phil Collins production from 1982, SOMETHING GOING ON. This album achieved worldwide success for the Swedish singer/songwriter. Listen to the album playlist.
Read this snippet from Wiki…
A much rockier sound was found on many of the songs and Phil Collins’ drum sound had a major contribution, particularly on the lead single, “I Know There’s Something Going On”, which topped the charts in Belgium and Switzerland, and was a top 5 hit in Australia, Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa and Sweden amongst others. With the song and video being heavily promoted and played on MTV, the single also proved successful in the United States, reaching No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and No. 9 on Radio & Records) in March 1983, and was the 20th biggest selling single in the US that year. In the UK, the track was not a successful hit, only reaching No. 43.
While listening to the playlist, it dawned on me that I was familiar with track #6 , I Know There’s Something Going On. I had no idea at the time it hit the charts in the US who the singer of this song was until now. I’ve mentioned frequently I rarely paid attention to the artist. This was one of those times. Did you recognize it, too? How about any of the other song tracks?
A couple years later, Frida’s second post-ABBA album produced by Steve Lillywhite released but didn’t have quite the success as hoped. The album reached the Top 20 in many European countries and did its best in Sweden reaching number 6. Turn your ear if you would to Frida’s 1984 album, SHINE!
Some of the songs on this album have a certain familiarity to them. Perhaps those of you who are more hip in the who’s who of musicians can tell me if any of these songs ever hit the US airwave in the mid-80s.
Frida recorded a few albums in her Swedish language and made limited appearances, some of which crossed paths with her former ABBA band members. Glancing over the niblets about Frida I read that she’s been married three times. First marriage from 1964-1968 produced two children, a boy and a girl. Frida’s marriage was with ABBA bandmate, Benny Andersson after a long live-in relations beginning 1971 the couple married in ’78, separated late 1980 and finally divorced the following year. Her third marriage was in 1992 this time she married a prince. Sadly, Prince Ruzzo Reuss died from lymphoma in 1999. It pulled deeply my heart when I learned Frida’s 30-year daughter died the previous year from complications following an auto accident. Her daughter had a son so while her daughter is no longer here, no doubt she sees her daughter in her grandson and I’d say that gives her some comfort. It would me. The last personal tidbit on Frida is she’s been involved with a British peer whom she lives with in Switzerland. I don’t know what a ‘British peer’ is but hopefully someone can tell me.
That pretty much sums up things on Anni-Frid Lyngstad. I though it would be fun to sample Frida’s pre-ABBA Swedish song collection from 1967-1972.
Join me tomorrow for Sunday Edition of Monday’s Music Moves Me with ‘love songs’ for theme. I’m saving a dance for you, so come join me on the dance floor. 
Have a songsational Saturday!
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You do come up with the most interesting facts and tidbits and we enjoy them lots!
Brian,
Thanks, my furriend. I hope you’re enjoying this series.
Spending her life in the shadow of a bandmate and then suffering such losses, her life has not been easy.
Mimi,
Not everyone can be in the limelight at the same time, it seems. It’s horrible when a parent outlives a child. I can’t even begin to imagine her sorrow.
I do prefer Anna’s post ABBA albums and had to laugh at the very 80’s pic of Frida punching the air. I do love her early album. Did you read my post on the first post of Anna’s music? Frida’a mom had to escape Norway, with her mom because she got pregnant by a German. Many women did and the man in charge (I can’t recall his name but his hatred of Germans was horrific) of taking care of this situation (I am not explaining this well but I watched a documentary about this and was shocked) decided to force the women into camps and force them to have abortions. There were other things that happened to these young women which is just abhorrent. Frida’s mom and grandmom escaped and she had Frida but Frida’s mom died of TB when she was only 21 so she was raised by her grandmother.
Birgit,
I’m not sure I recall your post but this is just horrible. I don’t understand that kind of hatred. I don’t hate a person for his/her culture, skin color, or what part of the world he/she lives. What I hate is the evil inside of a person and we’ve seen evil various cultures around the world. We all bleed the same. We are all from one Creator. I can shout it from the mountain top for people to stop hating one another but sadly, it won’t ever change in this life time. sigh All we can do is our best. Those bent on hating will continue to do so unless their hearts change. What a sad story but for Frida, her mother, and grandmother managed to get away. Thanks for sharing this with me.
Wow, Cathy! Excellent post about Anni and interesting to know more about her. I enjoyed listening to her pre-ABBA years! Rock on!
Eugenia,
I, as well enjoyed discovering and listening to Anni’s early recordings before she was such a superstar.
Hi, Cathy!
I am here for some Saturday Songsuasion, dear friend. I remembered that you were doing a multi-part series on the individual members of ABBA, and suspected today might be the day you shine the spotlight on Anni, the other female in the group. I think most can agree that Anni was overshadowed by the popularity of blonde beauty Aggie. Over the years, I have encountered quite a few fans who favor Anni over Aggie. This will be my first exposure to her work as a solo artist.
It’s interesting that Phil Collins played a big part in launching Anni’s career as solo artist. I can hear his touches as I play through the first album. I need to be honest in saying that Anni’s recordings and videos do not affect me the same way Aggie’s do. As a male consumer/record buyer, I “fell in love” with Aggie because she was soft and feminine and her vocals intimate, breathy at times, and filled with feeling and soul. To me, Anni seemed hard and masculine in comparison, and her vocals lacked the passion and spiritual quality of Aggie’s. Simply put, I did not and do not respond the same way to Anni and her recordings. I will admit that the song and video you singled out, “I Know There’s Something Going On,” is a good one and deserved to be a hit in the U.S., but I only vaguely remember it. I think it came and went the year before I started working at the MTV station. I don’t remember our veejays playing the vid. So, summing up that first album, I would say most of the tracks are pleasant but unremarkable, with “Something Going On” being the standout of the set.
One Anni’s second album, Shine, I was put-off by the cover photo showing her with fists raised, ready to fight like a boxer. That toughness isn’t what I look for in a female performer. Frankly, during the years of ABBA it sometimes seemed like Anni resented all the attention Aggie was getting. Anni’s facial expressions and body language on stage sometimes indicated that resentment. Call it my imagination, but that was my impression. The songs on album two are again mostly unremarkable, but the title song “Shine,” is a good one. I like the industrial sound. As I told you in a comment on one of your previous posts in this series, I read that Aggie needed to re-learn the English language for her later solo albums because she forgot much of it over time. Anni’s thick accent on the songs in Shine seems to indicate that she was having the same problem. It doesn’t help to sell an album in English speaking countries if listeners can’t understand the words of the songs.
i was sorry to learn that Anni’s life has been marked with tragedy and grief. Like you, I was unfamiliar with the term British peer, and so I let my fingers do the walking. I found this info: << a nobleman (duke or marquis or earl or viscount or baron) who is a member of the British peerage. >> << The peerage in the United Kingdom is a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles, composed of various noble ranks >> Wiki goes on and on, but you get the idea. Peers are entitled people.
I’m glad you posted some of Anni’s pre-ABBA recordings because I actually like them better than her later solo work. Early in her career, Anni’s vocals were softer, more tender, intimate, playful and girly. As I noted earlier, I respond favorably to that singing style. I was especially pleased to hear her Swedish language versions of four U.S. hits: Frankie Valli’s 1967 single “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” by Edison Lighthouse, “Goin’ Out Of My Head,” the Teddy Randazzo song first waxed in 1964 by Little Anthony And The Imperials, and Simon And Garfunkel’s “The Sounds of Silence.”
In conclusion, I admit I am biased in favor of Aggie F. I was dazzled by her looks and her softer, more feminine style. However, I enjoyed listening to Anni’s recorded output from her post and pre-ABBA years. Thank you for the morning entertainment, dear friend Cathy, and have a safe and happy weekend!
Tom,
Thank you for taking time to visit. This is going probably going to be my last SS for awhile. I need to get serious about gearing up for April’s challenge if I’m going to do it. I’m finding it harder than usual to commit to it mentally. Anywho, I totally can relate to what you’re saying about Aggi vs Anni. Their styles are so different. I think the Anni and Aggie harmonize beautifully together but like you, I prefer the softer vibe of Aggi’s voice. Anni isn’t bad as a solo artist but I can’t warm up to her as easily as I do with Aggi. I agree, I also like Anni’s pre-ABBA recordings better than her post-ABB years all for the same reasons. I have come to notice women’s voices generally are softer, sweeter when they are younger but sometimes that changes. I’d say a lot of it has to do with the hormones but it might be related to how good one has been with her body. Thanks for explaining to me what a British Peer is. I figured it was some royal title. My friend, you always leave such wonderful comments and I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate this but certainly do not expect it every time. If you ever need to keep it short, then do so. These posts like everyone I put together is really for your enjoyment and if you don’t want to leave a comment but you want me to know that you came by, just click the “Like” button. I’m trying to pay closer attention to that so I can visit those who choose this option. Again, thanks for making me apart of your weekend, dear friend!