I
Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida)

About:

15 November 1945

Lyngstad, born in Bjørkåsen in Ballangen, Norway, showed musical talent at an early age. She got her first job as a dance band and schlager singer in 1958, aged 13. In 1963, she formed her own band, the Anni-Frid Four, and married the bass player Ragnar Fredriksson, aged 17. The marriage produced two children, but the couple divorced in 1970.

In the summer of 1967, Lyngstad won a national talent competition with the song 'En ledig dag' ('A day off'). In 1969, she participated in Melodifestivalen - the Swedish heats for the Eurovision Song Contest - with the song 'Härlig är vår jord' ('Our earth is wonderful'), and finished fourth. Backstage she met her future husband and ABBA band member Benny Andersson, whom also participated in the contest as composer.
Her first album, Frida, produced by her then fiancé Andersson, was released in 1971. Her next solo album in Swedish, 'Frida ensam' ('Frida alone'), that included the original Swedish version of the future ABBA mega-hit 'Fernando', was released in 1975 when she was already involved in ABBA. Due to the rising popularity of the group, the album took 18 months to record.

In 1982, during ABBA's last year as a working band, Lyngstad released her first solo album in English, the Phil Collins-produced 'Something's going on'. Lyngstad's next album, 'Shine' (1984), enjoyed more moderate success. It reached the Top 20 in several European countries, No.6 in Sweden being its highest position. In 1990, Lyngstad became a member in the committee of the Swedish environmental organisation 'Det naturliga steget' ('The natural step'). The organisation wanted a 'famous face' to help them reach the public, and in 1991 she became chairwoman for the organisation 'Artister för miljön' ('Artists for the environment').

In 1996, Lyngstad recorded her Swedish language album 'Djupa andetag' ('Deep breaths'). The song 'Alla mina bästa år' was a duet with Marie Fredriksson. In November 2007, it was reported that Lyngstad and Deep Purple pianist Jon Lord are planning to demo recordings together. Provided that the results of these recordings turn out well, Lyngstad may release a new album with Jon Lord as a producer some time in the near future.

On the web:

- Frida's website: http://www.twistinthedark.net

What do we think:

PR: Frida has the blues. Maybe it is a scandinavian version of it, but still. At her age, after all she has been through, she is one of the best singers ever to come from Scandinavia. And after many years - what must have been very strange, exceptional years with so much succes, hysteria etc. - she still loves to sing. Her stand out album 'Djuppa andetag' proves that. A 'must have' for all Europopmusic collectors. For a very interesting insight in the person behind the Frida we all know so well, I recomend the dvd 'Frida 1967-2005' (released in 2005).

DB: A seperate page for 1/4 of Abba? Yes, indeed, and under her own name as well. Not only because some of my favourite Abba-songs are sung by her but also because she's is the only one who came up with a post-abba album that can stand on it's own. And sung in her own language. Forget the musicals Benny and Bjorn made, forget Agnetha's solo stuff. 'Djupa andetag' is an adult album that has nothing to do with the legacy of the band she was formerly in. An album probably purely made for the fun of it.

If you like this, you probably like.. / european counterparts:

Marie Fredriksson (Sweden)

Nicoletta (France)

Sarolta Zalatnay (Hungary)

Albums:

Albums in Swedish:

♪♪ - Frida - 1971

♪♪ - Frida ensam - 1975

♪♪♪♪♪ - Djupa andetag - 1996

Albums in English:

♪♪♪- Something's Going On - 1982

♪♪♪ - Shine - 1984

Further listening-watching :

♪♪♪♪♪ - Frida 1967 - 2005 (4cd + 1dvd box) - 2005

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided