The four members of Swedish pop quartet ABBA, who triumphed in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with the sultry love song 'Waterloo', were on Friday (May 31) awarded one of Sweden's most prestigious knighthoods by Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf .
The Order of Vasa was awarded for the first time in almost 50 years. Agnetha Faltskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were made “Commander First Class” of the order for “very outstanding efforts in Swedish and international musical life”.
Sweden has several decorations, including the Royal Order of the Seraphim, which is awarded to heads of state and foreign kings, and the Royal Order of the Pole Star, which is awarded to foreign citizens and stateless persons.
The Royal Order of the Vasa, which is given in recognition of personal efforts for Sweden or Swedish interests, as well as the successful performance of public duties and missions, was dormant until late 2022, when it was reactivated after regulations opened the Royal Battalions in Sweden citizens again.
Earlier this year, candidates were nominated by the public and the Swedish government and the king approved the nominees which included the four members of ABBA.
The orders were awarded during an official ceremony at the Royal Palace in the gilded Vita Havet Assembly Rooms. The monarch presented them with the order in a red box while they were presented with a diploma by Queen Silvia.
“The order you receive today is Sweden's thanks for your outstanding efforts,” the monarch said before awarding orders to “13 outstanding Swedes.”
Andersson, Faltskog, Lyngstad, who now goes by the surname Reuss, ascended using a cane, and Ulvaeus received the order in an event broadcast live on Swedish media.
The Eurovision win turned ABBA into a pop juggernaut, by far the most successful band to win the pan-continental music contest. ABBA's melodic disco pop has sold hundreds of millions of records worldwide. The stage musical Mamma mia! based on his songs is 25 years old and created two films.
Coincidentally, Eurovision 2024 was held in southern Sweden. Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th competition with 'The Code', a pop-rap operatic ode to the singer's journey towards adopting a non-racial identity.
The Swedish band members haven't performed live together in four decades, but have released a comeback album, Sea tripin 2021. Digital 'ABBA-tars' opened in London in 2022.
Two other recipients were two winners of the 2023 Nobel Prize: French-Swedish physicist Anne L'Huillier and Svante Pääbo, who won the coveted prize in physics and medicine. They were both made Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Pole Star for “outstanding research efforts”.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/abba-swedish-knighthood-order-of-the-vasa-eurovision-1235698758/
