April 6 In Swedish History

Europe and the rest of the world of music 'surrenders' to Waterloo in Brighton, England in 1974. 

  • ABBA in the good old days.

  • April 6 In Swedish History
    1974: Napoleon may have surrendered at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 (June 18), but 41 years ago on April 6, the Swedish pop group Abba made history by winning the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, England with the song “Waterloo.”
    They performed the song in English, with conductor Sven-Olof Walldoff dressed up as Napoleon. Actually the song’s initial title was “Honey Pie” sung to the same tune, and it was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. Björn and Benny of Abba chose “Waterloo” instead of another song, “Hasta Mañana”—and it proved to be a good choice as the group won.
    (Here's the song performed at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest: ABBA Waterloo - on Youtube)

  • On April 6, 1974, Sweden wins the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, England through Abba and their song "Waterloo."

  • “Waterloo” broke with the “dramatic ballad” tradition of the Eurovision Song Contest by flavor and rhythm as well as performance (not to mention the flashy costumes which included silver platform boots). The song shot to no. 1 in the UK and stayed there for two weeks. It also hit the top of the charts in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, West Germany, Ireland, Norway, South Africa and Switzerland, while reaching the Top 3 in Austria, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Abba's native Sweden. It also transcended Europe—unlike other Eurovision-winning tunes, which are usually ignored outside the continent, by reaching Top 10 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Rhodesia and even the United States (peaking at no. 6, "Waterloo" is one of only two Eurovision winners—the other being "Save Your Kisses For Me"—to be an American Top 40 hit). On October 22, 2005, during the 50th anniversary celebration of the Eurovision Song Contest, "Waterloo" was chosen as the best song in the competition's history.

  • The Abba Museum on Djurgårdsvägen on Djurgården island in Stockholm not far from the Vasa Museum and across from Skansen.

  • 40 years later, the group got its own museum in Stockholm, which opened in 2013. More info: www.abbathemuseum.com or read our brief in conjunction with the press meeting in 2012: Abba museum in Stockholm

    Also, Abba's unexpected induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame: ABBA enters Rock's Hall of Fame

  • Abba