Remko van Drongelen

Driven by a rocky start in life and an undeniable talent for singing, it was almost inevitable that Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad, or Frida as she would later be called, would take to the stage for the first time on October 25, 1956. Although she was only ten years old at the time, the recognition she experienced that evening was enough to fuel her desire to seize every opportunity to sing from then on, be it at a private party, at school, in the various choirs in town, or for the numerous talent shows in which she subsequently participated. It was the beginning of an ambitious life journey focused on music and singing which would see her stand out as a vocalist for local dance bands, eventually leading to a national breakthrough in 1967 and the meeting with keyboardist Benny Andersson of the popular group The Hep Stars, who would have a profound impact on her life. Together with Benny, Björn Ulvaeus and the popular schlager singer Agnetha Fältskog, she would go on to form the group ABBA, which would subsequently grow into one of the most successful pop groups in the world, while also remaining active as a solo artist and backing vocalist for other artists. This book chronologically details Frida’s road to ABBA, the other projects she was part of while the group was active, and the solo career that followed after, right up to the unexpected reunion of ABBA in 2021. The story begins in one of the northernmost regions of Norway and describes how a young girl with a love for music went out into the world and became a world famous pop star and a real-life princess. Based on extensive research, permission to listen to a large number of unreleased recordings and original interviews with people who have worked closely with Frida during different moments of her career, Frida Beyond ABBA provides the reader with detailed information on tours, musicians, recording sessions, performances and songs, as it tells the story of an ambitious and extraordinarily talented singer with a great determination to succeed. This book is the first of its kind, as Anni-Frid Lyngstad’s career has neve been researched to this extent before, and comes with a well-researched discography, a detailed list of tour dates from the mid fifties to the present and extensive notes with background information, illustrated with photographs, many of which are previously unpublished. Frida Beyond ABBA is a must-have for anyone interested in the background to one of the four components of ABBA’s story, and for those who believe Anni-Frid Lyngstad’s musical career and legacy deserve their rightful place in the group’s musical history.

Published:

Published 21 February 2022

See also:

Author’s website