In an age when there have been no new supergroups for years and instead a plethora of identikit Girl and Boy Bands who typically have done little more than won some TV talent competition, there is a thriving market for quality tribute acts to the great stars of past years whose music has found enduring appeal. This is fair enough as it stands but with Bjorn Again, you get that special something extra.
In the strict sense, Bjorn Again are not a pure tribute act. The Abba sound is faithfully re-created with a punchy rock feel and the outfits are meticulous replicas of some of the most famous (and sexiest) costumes ever worn by Agnetha and Frida. However, Bjorn Again whilst being serious about what they do, don’t take themselves too seriously and there is a relaxed, comedy aspect running alongside all their musical and artistic professionalism.
Bjorn Again are as much a visual experience as a musical act, with powerful dancing and great synchronisation. It’s a show in the true sense of the word and there is some spoofing of the personages of the real members of Abba but it’s too respectful to be classed as satire (despite this being a claim on the Bjorn Again website!). The TV comedy show ‘Not The Nine O’Clock News’ unkindly satirised Abba with their song ‘Superdupa’, which typified the snobbish derision Abba experienced from the artistic establishment in the '70s but that is now a long-outdated view with even Oxford and Cambridge music graduates doing theses on Abba! The group has won the respect it deserves.
There is one sure test that sets Bjorn Again aside from the typical tribute act, even it’s of high quality and that’s the audience. A tribute act to say a group like The Beatles, The Eagles or even Abba themselves, will typically be comprised mainly of people over 50 who either remember the original band’s hey day or were around soon afterwards. Go to a Bjorn Again gig and you’ll find a very broad mix of ages, from 20s to 60s and they all have the same aim; to simply have a good time and party. The huge West End success and subsequent movie version of ‘Mama Mia’ (which only features Benny and Bjorn in an end-credits cameo) has made sure that Abba’s music is both current and mainstream and Bjorn Again are a reflection of that; how else could they have made it to Main Stage at Glastonbury?
Another great feature of Bjorn Again is that whilst no serious Abba aficionado will be left short-changed, they are not afraid to play around a little artistically. The occasion track might have an acoustic guitar where the original had an electric or an Abba song might be morphed into something else (such as ‘SOS’ turning into ‘Message In A Bottle’) or a faithful rendition of an ABBA song might be interrupted by a hip-hop intrusion. Some songs are also enhanced with extended lead-guitar breaks. However, none of this detracts from the night being essentially about the songs of ABBA; indeed it enhances it because Bjorn Again’s seamless moving in and out of the Abba sound would not be possible (or indeed credible) if they did not have it absolutely nailed it in the first place. Expect one or two real surprises as well!
Bjorn Again are so much fun and have their own distinct personality making it unfair to classify them as a tribute act and yet they are in many ways, the greatest tribute to Abba, with an astonishing run of worldwide success which shows no sign of diminishing. A really great night out.
Reviewer - John Waterhouse
on - 7/12/19
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