ABBA group after 38 years of composing the song 'Happy New Year'

ABBA wrote the songHappy New Yeararound late 1979 early 1980 - the transition period between two decades. The song is in the albumSuper TrouperThe group's 1980 release. Blonde singer Agnetha Faltskog was the lead vocalist on the song.

Song "Happy New Year"

At that time, ABBA was already a world-famous pop group after 8 years of establishment. The love affair of two couples in the group also attracted the attention of many fans. However,Happy New Yearwas born at a time when the group had passed its peak and the marriage of the two couples began to fall apart. That is why this song about the new year has a melancholy mood.

Two rare ABBA reunions in 2004 and 2016

38 years after the release of this immortal song, each member of the band has experienced many ups and downs in life. Currently, they still maintain a good friendship with each other.

1. Agnetha Faltskog

Agnetha - one of the two lead singers - was dubbed the "golden girl of ABBA". Agnetha was famous for her high, clear voice and attractive appearance. She had a dreamlike marriage with male member Bjorn Ulvaeus. The couple married in 1971 - a year before they formed ABBA with the couple Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The singer and Bjorn had two children, a boy and a girl. Their love went hand in hand with the band's great success throughout the 1970s.

In January 1979, Agnetha and Bjorn announced their separation. By 1980, the couple had officially divorced. The reason for the separation was not disclosed, but Bjorn was seen with another woman. Agnetha tried to maintain a friendship with Bjorn and continued to perform with the band. However, in 1982, ABBA finally broke up.

Agnetha Faltskog worked solo for a year and then retired to spend time taking care of her two children. She suffered from agoraphobia, fear of the stage lights and fear of transportation after a plane crash. It was not until 2004 that Agnetha returned to the music scene with the release of a cover album of her hits from when she first started singing. Nearly a decade later, in 2013, Agnetha unexpectedly returned with the albumA- sold 1 million copies.

After her divorce from Bjorn, Agnetha's love life continued to be turbulent. The singer briefly dated detective Thorbjorn Brander before marrying surgeon Tomas Sonnenfeld from 1990 to 1992. She dated her fanatic fan - a Dutch truck driver in 1997. In 2005, Agnetha had a relationship with Bertil Nordstrom - a wealthy friend of the Swedish king, but it only lasted 3 years. Since then, she has not dated anyone else and lives peacefully with her daughter's family on a farm on the outskirts of Ekero - an island near Stockholm.

Agnetha Faltskog then and now at age 67.

2. Bjorn Ulvaeus

Bjorn wrote songs for ABBA with his best friend Benny Andersson. 1969 was the fateful year when Bjorn met and fell in love with Agnetha at the Eurovision contest, and Benny met singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and the four of them later formed a famous band.

After the band broke up, Bjorn continued to collaborate with Benny Andersson and created famous musicals such asChess,Kristina Fran Duvemalaand especiallyMamma Mia!.

Bjorn Ulvaeus in ABBA times and now.

In 1981, just months after finalizing his divorce from Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn married music journalist Lena Källersjö for the second time. They had two daughters, Emma in 1982 and Anna in 1986. The couple moved to England from 1984 until 1990, when Bjorn Ulvaeus founded an IT company with his brother. The family currently lives in Stockholm, Sweden.

3. Benny Andersson

Benny with his ex-wife - ABBA member Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

Male member Benny has been passionate about composing and performing since he was a teenager. In 1966, Benny met Bjorn and began collaborating on songs, later composing immortal hits for ABBA. Along with the Bjorn - Agnetha couple, Benny had a beautiful love affair with singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad. After many years of engagement, the two got married in 1978. However, the marriage only lasted more than 2 years. Benny and his wife separated in 1980 and officially divorced in 1981 (a year after the Bjorn - Agnetha couple broke up).

Also in 1981, Benny married television presenter Mona Nörklit. They had a son, who was born in 1982, and the marriage remains happy to this day. Benny has battled alcoholism for decades. He spoke openly about his addiction in a 2011 interview and revealed that he has been sober for nearly 10 years.

Benny Andersson in ABBA and now.

After ABBA, the friendship and good combination between Benny and Bjorn continued to help them create valuable musical products, especially musicals. Benny also joined another band called Benny Anderssons Orkester from 2001 to the present. The 71-year-old male singer is also the author of many songs and film soundtracks, winning countless music awards in Sweden.

4. Anni-Frid Lyngstad

In ABBA, female member Anni-Frid Lyngstad left her mark with her deep voice, brown hair and beautiful face. Before joining the group, she had gone through a broken marriage and had two children. A fateful meeting with Benny at Eurovision 1969 revived Anni-Frid Lyngstad's heart and opened up a brilliant musical path for her.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad was charming in her youth.

Time of recording the songHappy New Year, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny were together for 10 years and married for 2 years. Just a few months later, the two broke up. She left Sweden for London to live and develop her solo career.

In 1986, she moved to Switzerland with her boyfriend, Prince Heinrich Ruzzo Reuss, Duke of Plauen. After their marriage in 1992, the singer became the Princess of Plauen. Anni-Frid Lyngstad lived a happy and fulfilling life until 1999, when Prince Heinrich died of lymphoma. A few months earlier, she had also suffered the pain of her daughter's death at the age of 30 in a car accident.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 73, is a social activist and charity manager. The singer retired from performing 20 years ago after releasing her last album in 1998. She currently lives with her British boyfriend in Switzerland.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad (in white) and the ABBA members in their twilight years.

In 2004, Anni-Frid Lyngstad had a special reunion with her ex-husband Benny Andersson and the two remaining members of ABBA at the Eurovision contest to celebrate 30 years after their victory there. In February 2016, ABBA reunited again at a party in Stockholm, Sweden. The four members with silver hair, reminisced about the beautiful memories of the past with a few lines from their immortal songs.

Hoai Vu