icethesite - Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus news site

Comments

• Posted by Gerard Hesen, Netherlands, September 11, 2009 22:15:

  Wishing everyone a wonderful evening in Hyde Park! I'll be @ home, listening to the radio :)

  
  
• Posted by Bernard Danker, Malaysia, September 12, 2009 09:34:

  I'll be glued to the radio too - I'm always listening to Radio 2 anyway. All those who will be there...lucky you!

  
  
• Posted by Anita, September 12, 2009 14:20:

  To all the fans who are going I wish that it will be a great concert. enjoy it.
  I will listen here at home but hey I'm going to NY. You can't have everything.
  

  
  
• Posted by Jim, September 12, 2009 19:03:

  I am jealous! Have a great time everyone! Does anyone know if this will be televised or taped?
  Jim, San Francisco

  
  
• Posted by Debi, September 12, 2009 19:50:

  Really looking forward to tomorrow! Can I ask, how many people are actually taking cameras?!(following the earlier debate on here!) Also, I quickly need to ask advice from anyone with mobilty/disability problems out there, on how they plan to 'do' the day-?Will they let me on the platform if I don't 'look' disabled? I'm a bit worried about queing at the gates as I anticipate a stampede to the front when they open.(Or should I not give people ideas?!)I'd like to appeal to people to remember, not everyone is as fit as you!
  Anyway, lets all enjoy it, regardless of what we might think of some of the acts. As one person said, remember the wilderness years (late 80's!), when you couldn't have imagined this happening!

  
  
• Posted by Steve, September 13, 2009 04:51:

  Debi, regarding cameras, Radio 2 say the bar is on professional ones, so take your camera as we will be. I am sure there will be some organization at Hyde park to avoid a stampede. Looking forward to going, shame Agnetha and Frida are not there.

  
  
• Posted by Anthony, September 13, 2009 10:21:

  Hi Debi
  
  Don't worry about any stampede! The fact is a pinic style event, means that it is alot more civilised than an normal concert. Also it is very difficult to run carrying heavy cool bags :-)
  If anyone's going to run, it will be the hard core Kylie fans!

  
  
• Posted by gjr, September 13, 2009 11:20:

  I am lucky enough to be going to Hyde park today. Really looking forward to it. I am 17 so wasnt obviously about when ABBA were together so never got to see their songs live so this is a great opportunity to do so. All enjoy your experience of this whether you are there or your listening on the radio. I hope it will be shown on tv some time so i can record it a relive the memories.

  
  
• Posted by Jason, September 13, 2009 16:59:

  Hadn't appreciated how many people would be here. Excitement really building!

  
  
• Posted by Ian Shreeve, September 13, 2009 18:48:

  lisening live on the radio now and wishing i was there, sounds a great show , superb sound as you would expect from a Benny and Bjorn production, all those who are there, you lucky people, eenjoy yourselves and have a great time

  
  
• Posted by Carla, September 13, 2009 19:11:

  I´m listening to the radio...no words...fantastic.
  What a great tribute! Abba forever! :)

  
  
• Posted by Angeliqua M, September 13, 2009 19:24:

  
  
  Thank you for a most wonderful concert in Hyde Park. Even though I am sitting at my computer in Westmount, Edmonton, Alberta I enjoy your music very much. This lifts our spirits here in our lonely lives and brings back feelings of joy and love!! Thank you for bring happiness and peace to our lives!! Peace be with you all,
  
  Love from Angeliqua M

  
  
• Posted by Sian , September 13, 2009 19:25:

  What a breathtaking version of Anthem. Fab! One of my all-time favourite B&B compositions, well and truly done justice.
  
  Disappointed that Sharleen Spiteri couldn't be there though, that Pallot girl is a bit of an acquired taste...
  
  Funny how the ABBA songs just don't sound "right" without Agnetha and Frida though. The Chess ones were great. Maybe I'm just so familiar with the originals now that anything else just sounds wrong. :)

  
  
• Posted by Caitlin, September 13, 2009 20:01:

  Am listening on the radio. It's fantastic so far, wish I was there. Throat's getting a bit sore from constant singing, but Benny is on now with his accordion so I'm having a little rest. Am nearly seventeen so obviously missed ABBA the first time around - this makes up for it!

  
  
• Posted by 1221, September 13, 2009 20:07:

  A truly funny lyric from Bjorn - "Rowing On The Serpentine"

  
  
• Posted by ChessFan, September 13, 2009 20:22:

  Kerry Ellis' "You Have to Be There" and Jodie Prenger's "One of Us" have been the highlights so far-fantastic! Rowing on the Serpentine was also great!

  
  
• Posted by Eric, September 13, 2009 20:23:

  Yes there is something in the air tonight,
  even here in Berlin listening the concert..
  Thank you so much for this wonderful evening!

  
  
• Posted by SteveIL, September 13, 2009 20:24:

  I love listening to the concert live on the internet BBC2 radio. Thanks to all for the music
  
  Steve

  
  
• Posted by Alex, September 13, 2009 20:25:

  Great show!! I love I Know Him So Well performace with Elaine and Siobhan, I really enjoy this new english lyrics to Klinga Mina Klockor and this could be the final version of YOU HAVE TO BE THERE beacuse right now we have 3 diferent lyrics versions. This time they'd changed a few words from Helen's demo so let's hope this is the final version beacuse I love this new version!!!!
  
  I'm still listening from Mexico sitting at my computer!!!

  
  
• Posted by Marc Byrne, September 13, 2009 20:26:

  How often can you hear of a concert of mega pop music performed by mega pop stars, and in the middle of it, some orchestral-choral-fiddle folk music??!! Really , only B&B have the class to give us this. Brilliant!

  
  
• Posted by Carl-Oscar, September 13, 2009 20:46:

  It is so great to be able to listen to this and be united with ABBA-fans from all over the world! This more then makes up for not being there in London. B&B's legacy is truly "universal"!
  Greetings from Belgium!

  
  
• Posted by Mirrorman, September 13, 2009 20:53:

  wow benny and kylie how cools that :)

  
  
• Posted by Jason, September 13, 2009 21:19:

  What an amazing night. So incredible, such fun. Everyone around us just sang and danced and sang some more. The abba numbers were amazing but Kerry just made me cry. And Kylie and Benny were just out of this world. Release that as a single! Amazing. Next week New York. What a year. Jason

  
  
• Posted by Leepy, September 13, 2009 21:19:

  Kerry Ellis totally stole the show for me! Absolutely amazing performance - head and shoulders above anything else on the night!

  
  
• Posted by colinthebruce, September 13, 2009 21:25:

  You had to be there! Enough said! That was the highligyt and she was as good as Helen. Walking through park right now stre it. Great but not enooggh acknowledgement of the girls.

  
  
• Posted by Martin Bolton, September 13, 2009 21:41:

  Well, after listening on the radio I'm glad I didn't make the journey to London.
  
  Highlights were Kerry Ellis, Jamie Cullum, Benny and Kylie - all sensational! The atmosphere really sounded great as well.
  
  There was plenty of off-key singing and messed up lyrics but keeping it positive (yes, Icey!!!), the three acts above blew my socks off.

  
  
• Posted by John in Oslo, September 13, 2009 21:42:

  Quite an amazing concert experience, listening from Oslo; Kerry Ellis gave me shivers down the spine, so did Jodie Prenger -and Jamie Cullum finally put a new touch to one of my favourites! Proud to hear Benny and the Orsas: finally more people got to hear the amazing piece 'Klinga Mina Klockor' from his 1987 album - a bit edited, but nonetheless; finally! Fun english lyrics, Björn! Chaka Khan actually did put some colour and soul to 'Winner', and Kylie chose to sing the new verse for 'When All Is Said And Done' -and Benny seems to like the film arrangement too. All in all quite amazing; should have been there :(

  
  
• Posted by Mark, September 13, 2009 21:51:

  Really p'd off broke my ankle yesterday and so there was no way I'd be able to get there let alone stand during the performance. Really disappointed not to be there as planned.
  36,000 people wow!
  Listened to the concert on radio - a really mixed bag of real highs and excutiating lows.
  
  Chess songs all done really well - particularly impressed by Marti Pellow with Bangkok as I hated him in the Chess concert.
  
  The Feeling - 2 perfectly OK interpretations of KMKY & DYMK
  
  VV Brown - surprisingly good and made the song feel much more like a Phil Spector Sherelles type affair from the 60's.
  
  Jamie Cullum - MLMY - probably the most risky song and interpretation of a song of the whole night. I'm not sure what I thought of this?
  
  Orsa Spellman & Benny - great section and fantastic response from the crowd - nice to hear Klinga Mina Klocker with English lyrics and the full orchestra on the 12 minute piece will have given listeners a wider persepctive on Benny's solo material.
  
  Kerry Ellis - You Have To Be There - simply stunning and knocked spots off her performance on the Chess Concert CD. This is a song you think "how could someone else match or re-interpret this better or equally to Helen Sjoholm?" I have to say she did make it her own. A possible Kristina for the New York or London production?
  
  Kylie - nice performance with Benny of WAISAD and Super Trouper was pretty syrupy, but so was the original.
  
  Was it me or am I being cynical but interesting to see how many Universal and off shoot label signed artists were on the line up and with new material just out or about to be released....?
  
  It would be great to hear some of the performances end up on a highlights CD or TV broadcast. Does anyone know whether it was recorded for TV at all?

  
  
• Posted by Surianet, September 13, 2009 21:55:

  Kerry Ellis was the highlight of the night! Stunning performance of a very powerful song. Kylie was good too, I loved it when she said singing with Benny was a dream come true.
  
  All the incorrect lyrics did make me wonder whether some "stars" like ABBA as much as they claim to...
  
  Big raspberries of the night go to Jamie Cullum and Chaka Khan for slaughtering the two most beautiful ABBA songs!! Hideous.
  
  I think I'll book to see MM! again now. :)

  
  
• Posted by Gerard Hesen, Netherlands, September 13, 2009 22:01:

  Hats off to the audience, Benny with Orsa and Capital Voices on 'Rowing on the Serpentine', and of course Kerry and Kylie!
  
  Kristina rules! :)
  

  
  
• Posted by Ian, September 13, 2009 22:10:

  I hope that it will be available to listen to this week. It was on at 3.30 am local time for me.

  
  
• Posted by Jason, September 13, 2009 22:31:

  What an amazing night. So incredible, such fun. Everyone around us just sang and danced and sang some more. The abba numbers were amazing but Kerry just made me cry. And Kylie and Benny were just out of this world. Release that as a single! Amazing. Next week New York. What a year. Jason

  
  
• Posted by Angela, September 13, 2009 22:32:

  Great concert, really wish I couldv'e been there. Fantastic performance of "One Night in Bangkok" by Marti Pellow and I thought he was brilliant in the musical "Chess" also. Also lived The Feeling and Kylie sounded pretty good too.

  
  
• Posted by Kian, September 13, 2009 22:49:

  AMAZING! Well worth the crush just to see Benny and Kylie at the piano, truly emotional. And You Have To Be There, wow... I'd guess a Christmas TV broadcast

  
  
• Posted by Finnesse, September 13, 2009 23:02:

  Kerry Ellis.
  STOLE THE SHOW.
  B&B seemed really genuinely moved at the end - how could they not be - could they ever have imagained a crowd so large and so joyous in London so long after they started working together. Truly amazing.

  
  
• Posted by Helen Salter, September 13, 2009 23:11:

  Beth Nielsen Chapman's 'Fernando' was the highlight of the evening for me and second place would go to Kerry Ellis without a doubt. But were it not for Benny and Bjorn's wonderful catalogue of songs none of us would have been there to enjoy such a truly fabulous evening. 'THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC' is an under-statement if ever there was one!

  
  
• Posted by Maggie, September 13, 2009 23:22:

  Loved the concert - my highlights were the music not often heard - Kerry Ellis - You Have to be There was sensational - loved Klinga Mina Klocka!

  
  
• Posted by David, September 13, 2009 23:54:

  What a great concert although the sound quality wasn't great in the park - at least not at the back of a crowd of 35000 in Camden!!!! The atmosphere was just one big party and everyone was having a laugh and lots of fun. But just what was Chaka Khan on??????? She was away with the mixer!!!! Good to see the different arrangements and vocals on such legendary songs which only reinforced that although the songs are amazing much more credit needs to be given to Agnetha and Frida for belting out such vocally challenging songs that hardly any of the current bunch of 'popstars' can handle vocally. Highlights for me were You have to be there, I know him so well, One of Us and Anthem. Special mention for Kylie and Benny - very cute and special!!! My favorite 'The Winner' was absolutely cruxified by Chaka and I was so looking forward to her version - I am no purist and really like her but not remembering the lyrics was unforgiveable!!!! A very special evening in a great venue in one of the worlds most special cities - Magical!!!!

  
  
• Posted by GMan, September 14, 2009 00:54:

  Shelled out for VIP tickets and flew over from Oz with an ABBA mate of many years standing and we had the time of our lives. The VIP area was some distance from the stage but we got to sing along (sometimes more in tune than a couple of the performers) with assorted ABBA offspring (Ludvig, Peter etc) and friends and staff (Gorel, Marie etc) and then the best bit of all (even better than Kylie's dream coming true and putting in the performances of the night) was meeting Benny (Bjorn didn't put in an appearance) and having him and his band do their usual after-show play and sing-along, at which they played Lottis Schottis aka Hamlet III. It was absolutely magic and worth every cent!

  
  
• Posted by SteveH, September 14, 2009 08:13:

  I really didnt want to go to last nights show and only went because Id let my friend Bazz down over the Benny show a while back and although it was cold and although there was more traffic than on the M1, shoving their ways through endlessly,on their ways to the loo's and the Chip bars, I am so glad I did. Admittedly I had no idea who some of the so-called stars were as I dont watch a lot of Talent TV but certain things shone through.
  Even Chris Evans did a great job. Highlights for me were the Chess segments, Kerry Ellis was amazing, The Feeling were great and even Chakas voice was amazing even if it was lost at times in the sheer power of music coming from that stage. I have to admit, Kylie stole the show for me. Super Trouper isnt my fave ABBA track but she did it well but her duet with Benny was Heaven and even he seemed to love it too, he was so comfortable and the bonus of an extra verse too, fab.
  Standing there watching 36,000 people all waving in unison, and so happy, brought tears to Bennys eyes and mine. The finale was amazing.
  Benny said 'You English are Bonkers', and we are, but even after last night even he and Bjorn must realise that they may not understand the everlasting adoration of ABBA, but thats its their duty to continue it,cherish it and be truly proud of it.

  
  
• Posted by jdaz, September 14, 2009 08:32:

  Annifrid and Agnetha we missed you. V V much. No one can sing Abba's songs like you. Tonight certainly proved that beyond a doubt.
  Glad I didn't make the trip to London. Thank goodness for Kylie and the Abba related elements of the show (MM, Kristina, Chess, Orsa Spelman)at least they were high quality performances. The rest was EXTREMELY disappointing off key, dull, lack lustre, and the half outsider acts didn't seem to know the words!
  Abba reforming would have been a far better option than this.
  Kylie and Benny's version of 'When all is said and done' with the extra verse should give this great song the chance at last to be the hit single it never was.
  

  
  
• Posted by Frances Quinn, September 14, 2009 08:35:

  What a fantastic night. The atmosphere was just amazing, everyone was singing along and dancing from the very first song, and to see Bjorn and Benny genuinely moved by the reception was unforgettable. Yes, there were some car crash moments, as we all knew there would be, headed for me by Chaka Khan making up the words to TWTIA as she went along, and Jodie Prenger's strange nodding, winking version of One of Us, which she seemed to think had some sort of sexual metaphor going on. But the Chess section was superb (though what's gone on with Elaine Paige's eyebrows?), Kerry Ellis was wonderful, and as for Benny and Kylie, that was pure magic. And who would have thought, back in the days when we thought Abba was all over, that we'd get a year like this?

  
  
• Posted by Phil D, September 14, 2009 08:45:

  Fantastic atmosphere, fantastic crowd (36,000, wow!).
  
  Well worth the ticket price and the struggle up to london (thanks transport for london for all the supspended services due to engineering work!)
  
  KERRY ELLIS - amazing!
  ELAINE & SIOBAHN - amazing!
  KYLIE - amazing!
  
  Quite a bit of off-key, out of tune singing and the sound sysytem in the park was nowhere near as good as that on Hampstead Heath.
  
  I know you said no negatives Icey, but Chaka Khan was truly awful. The Winner Takes It All - murdered.
  
  Still we hand a great night and it was wonderful to see so many fans there.
  
  Benny & Bjorn brought a tear to my eye at the end - after all this time they still seem genuinely humbled by their success - I thought for a minute Bjorn was going to cry!
  
  Phil x
  
  

  
  
• Posted by Amy, September 14, 2009 08:54:

  It was a Great show! I wasn't there yesterday but listened to the radio. My highlights, Benny onstage playing!!! Kylie singing when all is said and done!! Was there a new lyric????!!! Also enjoyed slipping through my fingers and my live my life. I don't remeber every artist by name or wich number the where singing. I had a great evening! Fantastic to listen to the speech of Benny and Björn.

  
  
• Posted by Stephen & Sarah, September 14, 2009 09:56:

  Thank you so much for the music. A wonderful evening and worth every penny. Would have been great if the girls could have made it, but never the less, a fantastic night and great atmosphere.
  We hope for a repeat concert - maybe next year?
  Wish Benny had done some songs from "Story of a Heart" album is brilliant, we play it constantly, thoroughly recommended!

  
  
• Posted by David, September 14, 2009 09:58:

  Kylie and a few others were wonderful. But why can't people be honest - a lot of this was just second rate singing by second rate acts. Not a patch on A + F. I was glad they included some Chess/Kristina pieces which partially saved the event becoming a cheesy karoke! Overall it was dismal. Abba deserve so much more. But, I guess, that is what most people rememebr them for - Dancing Queen packing the floor at wedding receptions and the school disco, not really the obscure but wonderful music writing talents of B & B. It also seems to me that A&F have been as good as written out of the Abba story. Of course it is their decision to not show up at such events, but they were . It has always shocked, and saddened me that they never got proper recognition as solo artists as they rocorded some great stuff post Abba. But come the mid 80s people had just moved on and weren't bothered by Abba

  
  
• Posted by Ian, September 14, 2009 10:01:

  Listening online right now. You Have To Be There. Stunning. Chaka's version The Winner Takes It All was certainly different, and yes there were a couple of bum notes and fluffed lyrics, but it wasn't murdered. Kylie's When All Is Said And Done is quite nice. Rowing On The Serpentine was strange - such an inconsequential lyric for a monumental piece of music.

  
  
• Posted by Mark, September 14, 2009 10:09:

  Interesting that people there on the night say the sound system wasn't great - ont he radio it sounded absolutely fine.
  Thinking back very impressed with the pace of the concert with no real obvious breaks for change of acts.

  
  
• Posted by Jason, September 14, 2009 10:18:

  I was there. Really enjoyed it, though it was a patchy show and the calibre of the artists left a little to be desired. Also as a friend pointed out to be, this was not REALLY a "Celebration of the music of ABBA" as billed - there really was no place for the Chess and Kristina songs in a celebration of ABBA, which bear no relation to Aggie or Frida!!! These songs, albeit excellent performances (I ADORE Chess anyway) were at the expense of many big ABBA hits. Bit cheeky really. The orchestra was beautiful and the Capital Voices too. My highlights were Elaine and Siobhan, The Feeling and of course La Minogue with Benny!

  
  
• Posted by Simon McE, September 14, 2009 10:26:

  What a special evening. It really was moving to see how touched B&B were at the end.
  
  You Have To Be There was terrific - couldn't Kristina be the next movie? couldn't Lasse Hallstrom make it into a piece of cinematic glory? - and Kylie and Benny together were superb. Surely they'll want to release it as a single.
  
  Not as intimate as BAO at Hampstead, which will stay with me a long time, but a great celebration.
  
  I just wish I was going to be in New York later this month...

  
  
• Posted by Paul, September 14, 2009 10:29:

  As a long term Abba fan of over thirty years I went to this concert not knowing quite what to expect. As it turned out I really enjoyed the show, everybody seemed to be having a good time and were in good spirits, despite it being a rather chilly evening (thank goodness it didn't rain)!
  
  The obvious highlight for me was Kylie and Benny performing 'When all is said and done', a sort of magical hush went through the audience and I for one found it rather moving.
  
  I also enjoyed 'The Name of the game' and 'SOS' performed by Nerina Pallot; I had never heard of her prior to this but I was quite impressed.
  
  So all in all a good evening's entertainment and the fact that Benny and Bjorn seemed genuinely moved at the end of the concert is a memory that I will cherish for many years to come.
  
  Paul x

  
  
• Posted by Graeme, September 14, 2009 10:39:

  What a night! I had so much fun. Highlights were the trio of Chess songs (Kerry Ellis was amazing); Beth Nielsen Chapman singing 'Slipping Through my Fingers' (I was almost sobbing at this point) and seeing Benny and Bjorn on stage. A truly fantastic evening topped off by the two Bs themselves. The atmosphere was amazing, too! We stayed in the park until midnight chatting with people who'd come from Denmark especially for the concert, which in itself was strangely moving, too.
  
  Fabulous! Though I concur that Elaine Paige's eyebrows were a little alarming...

  
  
• Posted by megan, September 14, 2009 10:40:

  I have been listening to the concert from Sweden.Great to hear that some of the music written after ABBA was included - music which has had airplay in Sweden during the years. It shows how Benny has moved on and developed musically. The section with Benny Andersson and Orsa spelmän and Klinga mina klockor (Rowing on the serpentine) - simply beatiful - I hope someone could put this section on You Tube for others to enjoy! Otherwise the concert shows what great singers Frida and Agnetha are and how hard the songs must be to sing! Megan

  
  
• Posted by Sue W, September 14, 2009 11:02:

  Loved it!
  The atmosphere was brilliant - everyone was having a great time and I thought Bjorn's speech was really emotional.
  
  Marti Pellow - fab, as was Kylie and I also enjoyed Lulu!
  
  Great great night - glad I was on of the 35,000.

  
  
• Posted by Abigail S, September 14, 2009 11:19:

  Wow, what a great night. Agree that the best bits where the Chess segment, Kylie and Kerry Ellis. Surprise of the night was Christian Jon Billett singing Chess - had not heard him sing before and was most impressed. Hopefully we'll here more from him in the future

  
  
• Posted by amullens, September 14, 2009 11:49:

  Fabulous night!!! I took my 6 year old daughter who wore my red ABBA Arrival tee shirt that I wore when I saw ABBA in Melbourne in 1977. I found it very emotional to be able to give her a similar experience to one that was so important to me. I hope she rememebrs it forever.
  
  When All Is Said And Done with Benny and Kylie was divine. I loved how she got all teary at the end. What a dream for her.
  
  Anyway, it was sensational. Thankyou!

  
  
• Posted by Lisa, September 14, 2009 12:15:

  Have to agree with the majority of previous comments:
  Kylie and Benny on stage together was a magic moment, hope its released as a single.That was worth the ticket price alone!
  
  Chaka Khan- least said the better!
  Kerry Ellis- breathtaking
  All the Chess numbers were fantastic and the fireworks finale was a wonderful end to another great Abba themed event in London, what with the MM 10th Anniversary, Benny's band on Hampstead Heath and now the Abba museum to look forward to we have had a great year Abbawise in the UK!
  
  Just wish that Frida and Agnetha would get more recognition.

  
  
• Posted by Dmitriy Shipov, September 14, 2009 13:17:

  Great concert! Great event!
  
  Concert record
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00mnd4b

  
  
• Posted by Luca, September 14, 2009 13:20:

  This concert was just fantastic. I+ve no more words to say. THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC, Agnetha, Björn, Benny, Frida.

  
  
• Posted by Steve, September 14, 2009 13:31:

  After hearing some of the abysmal vocals at this concert, I'm sure the respect and recognition of A&F's contribution to Abba will only increase.
  But enough of that, I think all us diehard Abba fans should praise the wonderful Anders Eljas and his fantastic arrangements that were played so brilliantly by the BBC Concert Orchestra. To be honest, I was gobsmacked at how good the reproduction of all the songs was (dodgy vocals aside). So bravo to Anders, the BBC Concert Orchestra and actually Capital Voices too.
  Highlight? Kylie and Benny - a fresh twist on a great song.

  
  
• Posted by Beth, September 14, 2009 14:06:

  Never posted on here before...to see Benny and Bjorn together on stage even for a few minutes was a lifetime's ambition acheived. I spent most of the evening welling up with tears but this nearly saw me off! Heaven knows what the fabulous people around us thought! Had an absolutely brilliant time and am so pleased I went. Yes, one or two performances were a bit dodgy but to hear and see your favourite songs being celebrated by 36,000 was so fantastic.(What must it have been like for B&B?) The people around us were lovely and the atmosphere so friendly and happy. Thought, as almost everybody did that the Kylie/Benny moment was magical and really enjoyed Kerry (I did not know the song before hand I'm ashamed to admit).Also thought The Feeling did a good job - I had been expecting the worst.
  
  Overall this was one of the best evenings of my life. Have no voice today in work due to all the singing!
  

  
  
• Posted by Darren, September 14, 2009 14:15:

  I just got home after attending the concert.Talk about varied music styles.
  A great evening and nice to see alot of familiar faces from the fan clubs etc.
  I did enjoy 'Rowing on the serpentine'especially the build up of the female vocals.
  Nice to see Benny and Bjorn on stage and i'm sure Benny had tears in his eyes at the end.Kylie was great as always and Christian Jon Billet was amazing with Anthem.
  Being a Helen fan I was wondering how Kerry singing 'you have to be there' would sound but she did a great job of a wonderful song.
  The feeling were fun and Beth Nielsen Chapmans 'Fernando' was good especially with the crowds arm waving along but Chaka and also VV Brown seemed to be singing different lyrics and notes only ducks on the serpentine could decipher...at least in the park..maybe it will sound different hearing the radio versions
  A shame a video of Agnetha and Frida couldn't have been made and shown on screen just with their thoughts on the event.
  The programmes at £3.00 each were absolute bargains compared to other similar concerts.
  Roll on the museum now.......

  
  
• Posted by Thom Breslin, September 14, 2009 14:45:

  Fantastic event! Really friendly atmosphere. People from all over the world of all ages. I spoke to people from USA, Uruguay, Pakistan, Australia, Sweden and more.....
  
  Agree that Kylie & Benny were the best of the evening, and Beth Nielsen Chapman was a close second. I thought that Elaine Paige sang flat, but at least her botox held up!
  Bjorn is quite simply the sweetest guy in show business, his arrival on stage at the end was greeted with thunderous applause, and his and Benny's modesty is so touching.
  And if yesterday proved anything it should be that the Abba legacy should be left untouched i.e. NO comeback ever please. It is 30 years since I seen Abba live in Dublin, so yesterday was a great grown up way to say thanks again!
  

  
  
• Posted by Helen Salter, September 14, 2009 14:55:

  I know the night was about ABBA, but I feel I have to object VERY strongly to anybody referring to BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN as one of "The rest ... EXTREMELY disappointing off key, dull, lack lustre, and the half outsider acts didn't seem to know the words!" Beth didn't sing a bum note and she's no "half outsider" AND she knew the words. She's a fabulous song-writer in her own right. Last night was the first time I've heard every word of 'Slipping Through My Fingers', it was truly moving as was her rendition of 'Fernando'. Just because a singer hasn't been heard of before doesn't make them "half outsiders"! I've been a fan of hers' for over ten years. I was among a group of Die-Hard Abba fans right at the front, who also hadn't heard of BNC until last night, but by the end of the evening they were all agreeing with me how fabulous she is. Just had to have my say in Beth's defence. Ultimately thanks to Benny and Bjorn for creating those great songs.

  
  
• Posted by sue a, September 14, 2009 15:00:

  wow fab show glad i was there.bjorn and benny where wizzed from backstage in a golf car to the v.i.p.lounge,there was a smallcrowd of us outside and they were really kind signing our programmes when they left .Also spotted Gorel,ludvig ,Lena and the girls,antony van laast,stellan,lasse wellander,p.lloyd,cathrine johnson and s.macarthy hope kalle is ok he made a spectacular fall from the golf car.

  
  
• Posted by Gary Collins, September 14, 2009 15:05:

  Kerry Ellis did it for me ! Great atmosphere !!

  
  
• Posted by Anthony, September 14, 2009 15:06:

  WOW! what a great evening last night! It was one big camp happy party!
  
  Loved Marti Pellow, Kylie and the Chess segment! A couple of artists allowed a well deserved toilet break!
  
  B&B seemed so happy and emotional, at what they achieved last night, and so they should be! Imagine what the real full ABBA could achieve if doing a concert again!
  
  An impressive show! Sound wasn't great though, and the delay of sound on the Big screens was very bad, especially for people at the back! Very annoying!
  
  Chaka Kan's sound was appalling, and maybe contributed to the disappointing performance??
  
  Jamie Cullum was outstanding, and a great version of MYML!
  
  I can vaguely remember leaving the park, after several bottles of champagne and everything else! I did manage to go home with one of the 20 foot long banners advertising the concert, that were around Hyde Park! Lol

  
  
• Posted by Rob, September 14, 2009 15:16:

  Really enjoyed last night's concert. Overall there were some excellent performances, some slightly dodgy ones and a few awkward moments.
  Highlights for me:
  When All is Said and Done: you could see from Kylie's face that she felt honoured to be singing accompanied by Benny.
  One of Us: Really fantastic vocal, loads of energy.
  My Love My Life: I really liked this interpretation and I'm not a Jamie Callum fan, but great Piano playing and husky vocal. I guess it is an acquired taste.
  You Have To Be There: Kerry Ellis, was really strong and emotional, although it got a bit shouty towards the end. I think she's brilliant, but Idina Menzel still has the edge on her for me (different debate, I know!).
  
  Other thoughts: was most perturbed by Elaine Paige's eyebrows/ apparant face lift? Not a good look and I think Siobhan McCartney sang the song better last night.
  Chaka Khan seems to have lost it - is it The Winner Takes It All curse? (Remember the X Factor competitor on the Abba night a few years ago who took it on and forgot the words live on air?)
  Even Jason and Marti Pellow were reasonably good and I feared the worse. Anthem was sang well, but not at the awesome Josh Groban level. The Chess in Concert show/DVD is now, for me, the definitive version.
  Good to see Benny and Bjorn clearly having a great time. I had never seen them in the flesh before this year and now, with Mamma Mia 10 + this, that's twice in a year!
  
  Chris Evans, who does annoy me, was on good form and added a good light touch to proceedings.
  
  A Great night. To those going to New York: how I envy you all, have a fab time.

  
  
• Posted by Mike New, September 14, 2009 16:14:

  Just got back from London after a fantastic night.
  My highlight was the Chess Pieces.
  Christian Jon Billett was someone I had not come across before but his voice was sensational.
  Elaine, Siobhan and Marti put in first class performances as well.
  
  Also top marks to Kerry Ellis and her excellent rendition of You Have To Be There.
  
  I agree with others and enjoyed Benny and Kylie. I think it ought to be a single also.
  
  A fantastic night and well worth the trip to London again. (Still comes 2nd to Bennys Hampstead Heath concert though)
  Mike.
  

  
  
• Posted by Ian , September 14, 2009 17:15:

  It truly was the most thrilling and joyful evening. For me it was bigger and better than the B&B concerts, any BAO gigs and probably the biggest ABBA thrill since Nov 1979! For those listening at home who say they are glad they didn't make the journey..well, I'm sorry to say, you are vastly underestimating the power of 36,000 singing and dancing people to create an electric atmosphere and the most powerful sense of celebration of ABBA's music I have ever experienced (and that includes the Nov 1979 concert!). What an atmosphere! It seemed that every single person was 100% into the evening.
  
  Loved Jamie Cullum's take on MLML (a song which certainly benefits from such personal interpretations).
  
  Chaka Khan may indeed have murdered a great song for the most part but at least she ended with some good value Chaka shrieking!
  
  Loved Jodie Prenger, VV Brown and Kylie, especially in WAISAD with Benny on piano. (ABBA lyrics much better though!)
  
  After the concert (listening on iplayer) there is an interview with Bjorn and Beth Nielsen Chapman, recorded after the concert.
  
  Some reviews:
  
  http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/home/
  
  http://www.theartsdesk.com
  
  Has anybody seen any others?

  
  
• Posted by martin , September 14, 2009 17:31:

  Wow - great show
  
  highlights for me was:
  
  Jamie Callum - My Love, My life
  
  Kerry Ellis - what a fantastic version of the song (this can only help put Kristia on the platform it deserves)
  
  The feeling
  
  Kylie - when all is said is done was sweet - especially benny's endearing eyes!
  
  Fabastic night and well worth the trip

  
  
• Posted by gjr, September 14, 2009 17:51:

  I was at hyde park yesterday for this event and it was brilliant. Didn't want it to end. All the artists did great.

  
  
• Posted by Loz, September 14, 2009 18:02:

  I had an awesome time- loved every minute!
  
  Also worth noting the appearance of Emma Kershaw onstage - Florence from the Danish Complete Chess CD - and my personal fave Florence!! :-)

  
  
• Posted by Darren, September 14, 2009 19:14:

  I can't believe I forgot to add to my above comments the sight of Anders Eljas conducting and the original ABBA musicians on the stage...reading their names on the list of artists in the programme for me was like devouring the inner bag of a new ABBA vinyl LP for every piece of information...
  Per Lindvall,Lasse Wellander,Rutger Gunnarsson and Ake Sundqvist amongst others.
  After the show was broadcast on radio 2,Bjorn was interviewed on radio 2 along with various performers (for those like me who were at the concert,we didn't hear this broadcast after the show finished).
  I see on bbc teletext today Chaka and Lulu have announced a 20 date UK tour together ;-)

  
  
• Posted by Suzanne Arnold, September 14, 2009 19:32:

  It was an honour for me, my sister, cousin and friends to be stood in the front row. (We were on the big screen at the begining holding the
  "I LOVE BENNY" and "I LOVE BJORN" knickers!
  I love the song 'my love my life', but not sung by Jamie Cullum. We loved the whole event though, especially Kylie...amazing. What a fantasic memory.....

  
  
• Posted by Dave , September 14, 2009 19:54:

  Ha Ha i remember seeing you in tose pics.... i wnt to this on my own as friends could not get the Monday off,,,it has only struck me tonight after i have got home to Liverpool and watched my own footage how emotional i feel about all this.Watching these two guys who have been in my life since i was ten or eleven speaking as they did so humbly has really brought the whole thing back and made me so proud to have made the effort to attend this thing. Yes there were naff moments when stars boo booed words but forgetting that it was for me the nearest thing to going to an Abba concert that my mother would not have let me go to when i was 15 years old ...
  So to all 36,ooo hope you all had a fab night
  
  Dave liverpool

  
  
• Posted by Gerard Hesen, Netherlands, September 14, 2009 22:01:

  A studio-recording of Benny & Kylie's version of 'When All Is Said And Done' could be a great moving and reflective Christmas Number One!

  
  
• Posted by Lizzie, September 14, 2009 22:43:

  I had a great time, with my 9-year-old daughter.
  The highlight for me was Kerry Ellis doing a fantastic job with 'You have to be there'. Truly showstopping.
  Loved Kylie and Benny together, a beautiful moment though I'd never have thought 'When all is said and done' was a song for Kylie. Her version was charming.
  Other highlights: Beth Neilson Chapman, Jamie Cullum and the Chess songs.
  Special commendation to the orchestra who made a fantastic and vital contribution to the show. It was great to see them get full billing and playing such a major part.

  
  
• Posted by Gale, September 15, 2009 00:01:

  Similarly to some others' comments (have to say it despite Ice) much of the ABBA material was terrible vocally - not matter of style, just simply unable to sing accurately, redeemed by most of the post-ABBA stuff and the general atmosphere. If there are any moves to release the concert I'd be amazed if Benny passed it, and just goes to show how hard it is to do ABBA songs justice. Are there any good recorded ABBA cover versions by currently active UK artists?

  
  
• Posted by Steve, September 15, 2009 04:16:

  Really enjoyed the weekend, most performers were superb except Jamie and Chaka who ruined their versions. Will the event be released on DVD. I think it should. Also Benny and Kylie's song should be released as a single. What about another event next year. Perhaps if A+F are not going to make any appearances next year then there should be an ABBA event with Helen from Story of a heart singing ABBA hits. She sang an ABBA song at Hampstead Heath and she was superb. Shame she was not at Hyde park doing story of a heart as this song is fantastic. Now looking forward to ABBAworld.

  
  
• Posted by Mark Davis, September 15, 2009 04:22:

  I've been an ABBA fan since 1974 when it definately wasn't cool to be and I suffered for it at school. I Never stopped loving them and I NEVER will! I never got over them splitting and still long for a reunion even though I know it will never happen.
  This Nov 10th marks the 30th anniversary of me seeing ABBA live at Wembley. So I was delighted when this event was announced.
  I arrived early at the park and got a place right at the front and waited excitedly. The crowd was great. I was surrounded by a large group of young teenage girls who clearly didn't know some of the older performers and we explained who they were. However, the knew every lyric to every song. What a great testiment to Benny & Bjorns songwriting.
  The highlights for me were Beth Neilson Chapman whose version of Slipping Through My Fingers made me cry and leading the audience through a cracking Fernando singalong. Capital Voices were great and the crowd loved them. Elain Paige & Siobhan McCarthy gave a rousing version of I Know Him So Well.
  VV Brown, wearing what looked like a sparkly potato sack with hood, set the crowd alight with her great vocals on Ring Ring.
  Jamie Cullum gave his reworking of My Love, My Life a jazzy feel.
  One of my friends didn't really enjoy the folk bit with Benny, but I loved it. Great that they composed Rowing On The Serpentine especially for this event.
  Kerry Ellis performed You Have To Be There from Kristina that made my hair stand on end. Really rich orchestral sound. If Hyde Park had a roof she would have blown it off. She belted it out, what a pair of lungs. This is the first time I have heard this song and WOW. Kerry was rewarded with one of the biggest and most deserved applause of the night.
  Dan Gillespie of The Feeling gave an energetic version of one of my favs Does Your Mother Know after earlier playing Know Me, Knowing You.....aha.
  Which brings me to Chaka Khan. Now I have always been a fan of hers. However, giving her The Winner Takes It All was odd. It didn't help that she messed up the lyrics a couple of times.
  
  Kylie clearly relishing being asked to perform at this concert appeared. She gave a crowd pleasing Super Trouper, done pretty much the same as ABBA.
  Up next the London cast of Mamma Mia brought colour and fun to the stage. Doing Mammia Mia, Waterloo and Dancing Queen.
  The moment we've all been dreading and waiting for is here. The concert is nearing its end. However sitting center stage is Kylie with Benny at a grand piano. They do a much slower version of the bittersweet When All Is Said And Done. To be honest this was all getting a bit emotional for me and I had a giant lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I loved it! Kylie looked at Benny in such a sweet and tender way as she sang.You could tell from her face that this was a career highlight for her, Benny looked thrilled. We even got an extra added verse, where did that come from?
  Next up the finale, the cast of Mamma Mia and the whole company return to stage to do a fantastic crowd singalong of some of the songs we haven't heard tonight and some we have. Starting with Thank You For The Music, Iam affraid I lost it during Chiquita one of my all time favs. The crowd sang loud to this and my bottom lip began to tremble. Throughout this a fantastic fireworks display is taking place behind and from the stage. The crowd were going wild, 36,000 people all singing to ABBA, it just doesn't get any better.
  Suddenly, Benny and Bjorn are on stage together and the crowd are going wild. Chants of Ben-ny, B-Jorn are going up from the crowd. They look visibly moved Bjorn tells us "that watching us sing chiquita made him cry". He has to pause several times during his speech because the crowd are going mad and he seems genuinely suprised. I dont know, is he is just a really modest man? A friend of mine worked on the original London production of Mamma Mia, so naturally I grilled him about B&B to find out what they were like. He had nothing but great things to say about them, they were kind, polite, genorous and that they both reminded him of his father. He also said that them seemed to be culturally unaware of their important place in musically history.
  This Scandinavian modesty was on display at Hyde Park and I find it rather sweet,charming and refreshing.
  Benny & Bjorn then lead the entire company and park through a final singalong of Thank You For The Music and everybody is singing loudly.
  Suddenly and all too soon it is over and everyone is smiling leaving the park.
  
  I honestly believe that in 100s of yrs time when we are all no longer here, that people will still know and sing ABBA songs.....what a legacy!
  Nobody writes songs like B&B and Nowbody ever will!!!!
  The only thing left to say is Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha, Frida.........Thank You For The Music!
  

  
  
• Posted by Tony, September 15, 2009 08:22:

  I just saw Kylie's 'When All Is Said And Done' on YouTube. Bravo! And it was lovely to see "that was a dream come true" for her. How marvelous a dream... something we could all understand. She looks so happy and stunned at the end that she had the luck to perform with someone she has been a fan of for so long. Magic! Does anyone know if she attended one of the 1977 concerts that ABBA performed in Australia? Good one, Kylie!

  
  
• Posted by Anthony, September 15, 2009 09:57:

  I would also like to mention, that apart from the concert itself being great. Hyde Park was a fantastic venue! Well organised, civil, loads and loads of toilets and just totally effortless and everything run to time. I been to many concerts where you are crushed, stempedes, massive queues for loos, takes hours to get out of the venue and the show starts massively late (Madonna) messing up all your travel plans!
  
  A big Well done to the organisers!

  
  
• Posted by Jason, September 15, 2009 10:22:

  I've never heard Kylie say that she had seen them live in Australia (I'm a massive fan BTW), but she's cited them as one of her main musical influences right from day one of her career. She would have been 11/12 at the height of the Aussie ABBA mania!

  
  
• Posted by Erik Liebstaedter, September 15, 2009 10:23:

  Hi,
  
  What is the 4 titles of the songs performed by the Benny Anderssons Band ?
  

  
  
• Posted by Chrissy Osborne, September 15, 2009 13:29:

  To Erik Liebstädter: A list of the BAB-songs performed are on http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mnd4b
  I presume that this is what you meant.
  
  To Mark Davis: thanks for your great summary. Reading such lovely stories from all the fans recreates the lovely atmosphere of that night.
  
  I was there with a friend of mine, both of us being fans since we were ten (1979). We travelled from Germany that day and had to fly back the next morning. It was definitely worth it.
  
  We saw Benny Andersson & Band in Stockholm this year and hoped we would hear a little more from those new songs as well. The fact that we didn't - didn't dampen our spirits.
  
  I also have to say, we were amazed how enjoyable it was to stand in front of the stage without being crushed to near-death (our usual experience at concerts).
  A pity the sound quality wasn't so great (in the front at least). It was hard to understand what people said nor could we hear most of the announcements. Some of the singers voices didn't come across at all!
  Some songs were literally carried through by the fans rather than the artists.
  
  I loved Kylie although I didn't expect to be surprised by her as a lot of her own music I considered to be rather mediocre. I have to say I don't follow the charts so there might be good more up-to-date stuff from her. But she was very good, very mature and professional with a wonderful voice.
  
  I also loved the anthem which up to now I only know in the Tommy Körberg version. But Christian Jon Billet sang it wonderfully.
  
  Jodie Prenger was great too. She has a lot of charisma.
  
  The Orchestra: Wonderful!
  
  Can't comment on Lulu and Nerina Pallot. We were just a few yards away from the stage but couldn't hear their voices.
  
  Anyway the whole thing was just great. To see the fans of all ages and grate variety of cultural backgrounds - and everyone singing the same songs together. WE WERE word-perfect!
  
  Of course the highlight was Benny and Björn on stage together (it would have made my day and everyone elses as well I presume, if Björn had done "Does your mother know"...If he can get on stage for U2, why not for us?!) The two of them are just the best songwriters ever.
  
  Thanks for so many and many truly wonderful songs and compositions that will remain to us for the rest of our days....
  
  
  

  
  
• Posted by Terry, September 15, 2009 15:10:

  I absolutely loved Kerry Ellis, the stage was wonderful...and Kylie was just beautiful singing with Benny at piano..awesome !
  The other singers did their best..The Feeling were great I thiught, and the whole atmosphee brilliant, and the fireworks at the end..Bjorn's speech was really moving too..a great evening and one to treasure always.
  Hi to Stuart, Gav, Damien and all I met. Thanks for making it a special evening guys,
  Hugs,
  Terry xx

  
  
• Posted by Jill, September 15, 2009 16:03:

  Really enjoyed the concert!
  Highlights for me were Jodie Prenger's fantastic version of One of Us, all of the Chess pieces [no pun intended!] and The Feeling's version of Knowing Me Knowing You.
  Chris Evans I had real reservations about before the show but he actually suited the evening well.
  The way Benny looked up at Kylie was so endearing. Much mutual respect and admiration there methinks!
  Loved Benny's comments at the end when he said that hearing 30,000 people singing Chiquitita made him want to cry.
  
  Lowlights [sorry Ice!]
  Jason Donovan - looked half asleep [or worse!}. Very uninspiring.
  V.V. Brown - wrong on so many levels. Terrible hair, terrible outfit, terrible voice, terrible version of Ring Ring.
  Jamie Cullem [I was actually really looking forward to this!] - really disliked his My Love My Life.
  

  
  
• Posted by Sam B, September 15, 2009 17:32:

  So glad I went along to the Hyde Park concert. It was a wonderful experience.
  I had not expected it to be such a large event...and I suspect that those who planned it and who took part were a little suprised (and in some cases, overawed by the occasion as well.) It's true that it showed in some of the performances. --And such a shame that some even bigger names weren't on the bill. However, those artists familiar with the requirements of performing at the highest level did well.
  As others have written, Kylie Minogue and Benny performing her plaintive interpretation of 'When All is Said and Done' was the highlight of the evening. And despite what some others have said, Chaka Khan blew me away. She is talent personified and her version of 'The Winner Takes it All' was wonderful and made the song much more current. It matters not a jot that she changed a few of the words...her voice is amazing and it was an honour to see and hear the skills of a true global level diva.
  Jamie Callum was great. He made his song his own....and it was the efforts of those with less profile and less able to put their own stamp on the Abba songs who struggled.
  As Benny & Bjorn took the stage at the end, the people next to me--not such fans of Abba-- started the openly ask, "But where are the Abba girls? Have they just been written out of the history?" It felt embarrassing.
  It was a huge oversight not to have them there to speak and take a bow at the end. But to not even mention them showed a certain arrogance and rudeness. I know Agnetha is said to find public appearances difficult...but to have Frida take the stage and sing 'Fernando' or 'I Have a Dream' would have felt completely appropriate and I think she should have been asked. As others have noted, lesser singers struggled with the difficult Abba songs on the day...and as an Abba reunion is unlikely to ever happen, what a wonderful legacy having one of the original Abba singers reinterpret an Abba song would have been.

  
  
• Posted by Mick Munn, September 15, 2009 18:53:

  
  I Had A Great Time
  'When All Is Said and done' with Abba's Benny Andersson & Kylie She described the chance to perform with Andersson as "a dream come true." This was a dream that came true for all of us as the fireworks lit the sky and ABBA songs floating along the night. When all is said and done, ABBA what more need to be said

  
  
• Posted by Bob Taylor, September 15, 2009 20:23:

  They played to each one of us personally , it was a touching performance that I shall treasure for ever, having never got to see them live when they were all together. Thankyou, not just for the music Benny & Bjorn and the girls , but thankyou for the memories that go along side each tune and melody you have written God bless you all and everything you do . Bob & Julie (Cornwall)

  
  
• Posted by TonyG, September 15, 2009 20:28:

  Just read through all 89 reviews (so far), so first of all a big thank you to everyone who took so much time and trouble to post them. An especially big thank you the people who were actually in the park, their accounts really helped bring the whole event to life.
  I only heard the show on the radio so I haven't really got anything to add, but here are a couple of links you may find useful:
  
  I've just come across this review in 'The Telegraph' which may interest some people.
  
  http://bit.ly/3L5W6t

  
  
• Posted by Deb, September 15, 2009 21:51:

  Fantastic evening and atmosphere, amazing to see Benny perform, a dream come true for me and my best friend who lost contact for nearly 20 years, we wrote to 'Jim il Fix It' when we were about 12, so sunday made up for it, waited 30 years, it was a shame Agnetha & Frida didn't get more recognition - they to deserve it. Nobody can come close to sounding like them, although I know that wasn't the intention. But had a fantastic time, THANKYOU TO THE ORGANIZERS AND ESPECIALY THE FANS THAT ATTENDED AND OF COURSE BENNY FOR ACTUALLY PERFORMING & BJORN FOR AN LOVELY EMOTIONAL SPEECH. : - )

  
  
• Posted by Claire, September 15, 2009 22:51:

  I was there....along with the love of my life.
  
  Having had the priviledge to see ABBA at the young age of 9 in 1977 at Wembley, and then to be lucky enough to be able to attend 'Thank you for the Music' on Sunday was just the best - I think myself as very lucky. The whole evening was great - everyone around us was in the partying mood - even at the end us ladies still continued with a great version of Waterloo in the ladies loo!
  
  Star of the show was definitely the beautiful Kylie and of course seeing B and B together at the end was fab! What a great night! I'm so grateful to be able to say 'I was there....'. XXX

  
  
• Posted by Andrew, September 15, 2009 23:11:

  I have to say I feel very lucky getting to see Benny twice in one year, here and also at the Hampstead gig. My appetite is now very much wetted for some more English language Kristina and ABBAWORLD!
  
  I've got a few photos from the park to give a flavour of what it looked like, all shot on the big screen. Nothing too exicting! http://www.flickr.com/photos/aybekay/sets/72157622380780040/

  
  
• Posted by Jen, September 15, 2009 23:24:

  A fantastic evening of pure enjoyment. I was too young to have seen ABBA live , so I never thought I’d get to be part of a crowd of 36,000 Abba fans singing along to such classics songs as ‘Fernando’ and ‘Knowing me , Knowing you’ , waving our arms in unison….absolutely fabulous .
  Some fans have said it would have been better with more bigger names in the line up , but I actually think that would probably have resulted in more non ABBA fans attending , just to see certain star names and that would diluted the ABBA-ness of the crowd , completely changing the evening .
  Yes, some of the the performances weren’t perfect with fluffed lyrics, but what made the evening so special was all about being part of a wonderful crowd, of all ages , backgrounds and nationalities , sharing their love of ABBA.
  
  My highlights ? Kerry Ellis was simply stunning , the Chess section was great - have never heard of Christian Jon Billet but his performance of ‘Anthem’ , a song that always blows me away , was show stopping. Also loved Jodie Prenger , The Feeling , Nerina Pallot , Beth Nielsen Chapman and most of all , Kylie . Have never been a Kylie fan but I thought she was fabulous , clearly she was thrilled to be there and she treated the songs , the fans and the occasion with the love and respect they deserved , producing a wonderful performance . Her performance with Benny of ‘When all is said and done’ was magical , very special. I was concerned when I read Kylie was performing WAISAD as it is one of my all time favourites , but it was a truly beautiful performance.
  
  And at the end to see Benny and Bjorn looking genuinely overwhelmed by the warmth of the reaction, a lovely end to a special evening.

  
  
• Posted by swedish listener, September 16, 2009 06:37:

  I heard it live on the bbc player - thanks to the bbc!
  
  The highlights for me were:
  
  1. Kylie and Benny of course singing "when all is said and done". She showed that ABBAs songs apart from the very special originals are done best by artists who are positive, professional, confident and non-neurotic.
  
  2. Kerry Ellis with hear clear as a bell voice belting out "You have to be there".
  
  3. The chess numbers!
  
  4. The instrumental passage just before "rowing on the serpentine!
  
  5. Jamie cullums interpretation of "my love my life". It would have been pretty pointless for him doing that song without his piano improvisations. He was the artist of the night who really did bring something new to one of the songs.
  
  6. The lady singing SOS. I think her dialect, voice and intepretation made it a deeper song.
  
  7. Also the conferencier was great - confident, humorous, happy and polite!
  
  8. The audience and the orchestra contributed greatly to the athmosphere!
  
  9. The great Tim Rice! I wish Sweden would have more allround great personalities like sir Tim!
  

  
  
• Posted by Mark Davis, September 16, 2009 07:01:

  Further to my long review. Hope you enjoy the pics I took from the front at Hyde Park. Best viewed in slideshow.
  
  Flickr:
  
  http://bit.ly/107Eyd

  
  
• Posted by Neil Gosney, September 16, 2009 11:48:

  "You have to be there" sums it up perfectly!
  Despite the lyrical and occasional singing imperfections, a great evening from start to finish - including the immensely entertaining policeman directing homegoers at Marble Arch!
  Loved the BAO/Orsa/Chess/Kristina section (If anyone hasn't got all the available Chess/Kristina and BAO recordings, do themselves a favour and get them!)
  Incidentally, an earlier contibutor asked about the pieces in this section. they were, I think:
  
  Hjortingen (Track 13 on 'BAO pa Turme' CD)
  Inledningsvisa (short version of Klinga Mina Klockor - Track 1 on 'Klinga Mina Klockor' CD)
  Rowing on the Serpentine (As Sir Tim explained, anglicised version of the full KmK track from the CD).
  Followed, of course, by the superb 'You Have to be There' ('Du Masta Finnas' from the brilliant 'Kristina').
  
  PS. Can someone move Carnegie Hall nearer to Northants, quickly please: can't wait for a published recording!

  
  
• Posted by Petra, September 16, 2009 12:23:

  I was there. What a fantastic show. A dream come true to see Benny and Björn. Thank you so much for this great evening. I had to ask my daughter again and again: "Did I see Benny and Björn ... an Kylie, Elaine Paige, Kerry Ellis and so on..." - Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!
  Best wishes for everyone here from Petra (Germany)

  
  
• Posted by Nick Hardy, September 16, 2009 13:21:

  Ok - I've given it a few days space since being there to assess my feelings about Sunday's show. On the whole it was great fun with lots of love in the air for one of the World's most popular groups. That can't be denied.
  
  Having accepted that I left the park feeling a little bit despondant. Perhaps it was my real disappointment that what we actually got was, I suspect, rather less exciting than what we were first led to believe we might get (indeed, Benny's plea that Annie Lennox sings TDBYC showed that even humble he might have hoped for a little more glitter than could ever be provided by VV Brown and Jodie Prenger, much as I love her). ABBA rank in the top three in terms of record sales so, I think, and it was telling that the response from other big name artists was practically nil.
  
  Why? A friend wondered if their legacy has , in fact, been somwhat tainted by the Mammai Mia! money making bandwagon. Any 'cool' ABBA may have managed to recover over the years could well have been lost forever by the repeated display of fluorescent spandex and silly hair in clips from (an admittedly fun) musical. Even Chris Evans on Sunday chose the cleverly original route of wearing tacky, cliched clothes and a wonkily donned wig. Well done, Chris. All we needed now was a mimmicking of the Alan Partridge line Knowing Me, Knowing You.. A-Ha!! What? Oh, really, he did.
  
  So I actually believe that, though the general suburban public lapped it all up, ABBA standing in terms of the whole hasn't been improved by the media saturation. Any credible show of appreciation of such great music should always look beyond the Waterloo outfits and platforms.
  
  Perhaps Agnetha and Frida's decision not to appear indicates they are as sick of it all as I am.

  
  
• Posted by Darren, September 16, 2009 18:17:

  Another thing I forgot to post is with regards to the fans....
  It makes me smile even more now.When the event opened the first 3000(guessing the amount)were allowed into the enclosure with the people behind blocked off for safety to allow the queues to go down.Some of the first fans ran down the gentle bank just like on ABBA the movie shouting "we want ABBA"...wonderful.
  Also the guys with the ipod blasting out ABBA tunes while we waited in the queue...thank you.

  
  
• Posted by misse, September 16, 2009 18:18:

  As a Swedish listener I don´t think we Swedes quite realize how big ABBA are outside Sweden and I read in the swedish newspapers that Björn & Benny were totally unprepared for the amount of people at concert and the reception they received.
  
  I only wish peolple outside Sweden would also try and listen to the music which Benny and Björn have co written (Mostly Benny the music and Björn the lyrics)after ABBA which shows how they both have moved since ABBA.
  
  The beautiful instrumnental peace and "Klinga mina klockor" (now Rowing on The Serpentine)at the concert is one example but there is plenty more. Listen to Bennys solo albums and the BAO albums and of course Kristina which I hope will get the credit it deserves at the concert at Carnegie Hall later this month and in my opinion shows what a great composer Benny Andersson is.
  
  In my opinion the highlights of the concert was the post ABBA music maybe having to do with many out of tune singers (not beeing negative but it´s a fact) and which really shows what great singers Agnetha and Frida are. They should have got more credit at the concert. None of the four would have been anything without the other in my opinion. Best wishes from Misse Sweden

  
  
• Posted by kmky77, September 16, 2009 18:37:

  What a fantastic show. I was there and agree that Kylie and Benny stole the show.The atmosphere was the best I have ever encountered at any concert and I even found myself hugging complete strangers!
  
  As well as some wonderful performances I also think Chris Evans did a great job ( it was also fun to hear others around me say "yes" when Chris was doing his "did you know ..." introductions).
  
  The Chess numbers were all superb and a great plug for the Chess In Concert DVD and CD (Which I bought on Oxford Street on Monday just before returning to Nottingham)
  
  Thanks to Benny and Bjorn for being there, The BBC for staging this and AGNETHA & FRIDA for making these song so memorable that 35 years on 36,000 people had the "time of their lives" in Hyde Park last Sunday.
  
  
  

  
  
• Posted by Kirsten/Denmark, September 16, 2009 21:13:

  I was there - traveling from Denmark to see Björn and Benny for real and to say THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC which I have enjoyed for decades. To me it was also "a dream come true". Fantastic concert, fantastic show, fantastic fireworks.

  
  
• Posted by Bronx, September 17, 2009 11:52:

  I must admit, as much as I admire B&B and they have given us an amazing body of work, this was a celebration of ABBA. I really expected Abba songs only, so the insertion of their musicals was a little weird. Also why was nothing done to celebrate the voice of Abba, the voices of Agnetha and Frida. The songs were amazing but would not have been what they were without the girls beautiful voices and hard work. The image of Abba centred a lot on the girls. So Im glad the concert was enjoyed by so many but I don't understand why the girls were not at least represented on big screens. Abba were 4 people not just 2.
  I did listen to a little of the concert on radio 2 but to be honest, the singing was at times just too painful to listen to. Some of these singers would not even get through the first round of X-factor. So a giant karaoke was enjoyed by all. Can't wait for the Abba in Japan DVD to see Abba in their glory.

  
  
• Posted by carol stacey, September 17, 2009 16:34:

  The size and mix of the audience, was what really made the night special, the music of ABBA is carried down through the generations and still stands the test of time, ABBA have become embedded in the Britih music psyhce as much as the Beatles, the songs seem to be timeless.

  
  
• Posted by Darren, September 17, 2009 19:36:

  Interesting new interview with Benny and Bjorn in the sunday express UK paper(13sep).The review section has a new picture of Benny and Bjorn and the article mentions Agnetha and Frida hadn't actually been invited to Hyde Park although they would have been welcomed with open arms.
  "They know they are welcome anytime"says Bjorn.

  
  
• Posted by MarkieMark, September 17, 2009 20:52:

  Having been one of the Real Lucky ones that was at ABBA's second show at The Royal Albert Hall in 77 and again at Wembley in 79 I Thought the show at Hyde Park was Fantastic and so well worth the wait. Agnetha & Frida's Voices Together were Very Special which gave the ABBA sound its Magical Touch. The Show on Sunday took their Music to new heights and for me Kylies solo and Duet Benny along with Jamie Cullums Brilliant version of My Love My Life were the Highlights. I did enjoy the Chess segment of the show too and felt it was a good song choice of the Massive Benny & Bjorn Anthology.
  
  I do hope this does make it to DVD it Really was a Brilliant Show.

  
  
• Posted by c.v.d.,Netherlands, September 17, 2009 23:31:

  I was allready at Hyde Park at 7:30 AM ,because there was a rumour that Kylie Minogue fans were staying overnight at Hyde Park.But that wasn't the case.There was nobody too see.Because I never saw Hyde Park I went for a walk.My son (8 years old) asked for photo's of the statue of Peter Pan,and so I did.Also made photo's of the Royal Albert Hall and the Albert Memorial.When coming back at Hyde Park at 10:00 after a nice walk there were 2 people standing at the entrance.When I saw people at the ticketboxes I went to pick up my ticket.So now the waiting began.I came in touch with a nice fellow from England and A belgium couple (so now I could easily speak Dutch).The soundcheck began so we could all hear bits of different ABBA songs.At 14:00 hours the public started really to come.It didn't seem that it would become 35,000 visitors.On saturday the wheather in London was nice,but on Sunday it was sometimes chilly,but we kept it dry.Then the entrance was opened and all the people that were on the front of the stage must have run there lungs out of their body because it was still a long way to run from the entrance to the stage.But there I was right in the front,and let the music begin.!!The concert was great,Chris Evans of the BBC did a great job hosting the show in his 70 ties glitter suit.Highlights of the show for me are.Defenitly on nr 1 is Kerry Ellis with You have to be there.I also loved the version of My love my life by Jamie Cullum.Anthem of Christian Jon Billett was awesome.I never heard of him,but what a performance he gave.Sorry ICE,but as many people on this forum,I also have to say that the performance of Chaka Khan was really bad.She didn't even know the lirics and The winner takes it all was to hard for her to sing it propely.Kylie together with Benny on the piano was heavenly.Beth Nielsen Chapman created a nice atmosphere with her version of Fernando with really 35,000 people singing.Also nice to hear was the catchy lirics on klinga mina klockor (Rowing on the Serpentine).Off course I was really thrilled to see Benny play with The Orsa Fiddlers.Marti Pellow,Elaine & Siobhan and Capital voices were also great.I also have to admit that the singing of some artists wasn't allways that good.It was a pity that the T-shirts that were made for this event were very soon sold out.After the show I thought to see London by night.But then I thought why not check out the V.I.P. lounge.I was just arriving,and there came BJORN.I shook hands with him,and told him it was a good show.A few minutes later Benny also arrived,and got his autograph.So I missed Bjorns autograph,but Gorel was so nice,and went with mine souvenire book of the event into the V.I.P. room and came back with now also included Bjorns autograph.So this event was really worth the travelling from Holland.To see Benny and Bjorn from first row,and after the show been able to shake hands with them,WHO COULD IMAGINE THAT.On monday morning I went into London to buy Chess in Concert on 2 cd and also the Chess in concert on dvd.Hopefully they will release this event also on dvd.I was there and it was MAGIC.
  Chris, Holland.

  
  
• Posted by stuart, November 22, 2009 01:12:

  Is there any news that the tribute concert will be either screened by the BBC or released on DVD at any point?
  This would be great Christmas or New Year TV in my opinion.

  
  
• Posted by steve, February 13, 2010 20:49:

  Any news of the BBC releasing this on DVD, would have made a good show for Christmas release. But now that ABBAWorld is in the news, now would be a good time as well.
  
  Or do we have to put up those really bad youtube ones ??
  
  thanks
  Steve