ABBA

ABBA were a world-famous Swedish pop group, formed in 1972 in Stockholm, Sweden. Their trademarked and recognised name is an acronym of the first names of each of the members: Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (affectionately known as Frida). It is estimated that they have sold between 300 million and 500 million records, with sales still going after over forty years.

At one point, they consisted of two married couples: Faltskog & Ulvaeus, and Lyngstad and Andersson. However, in 1979 and 1981, respectively, the two couples both divorced, which contributed to the change in lyrics and mood, from light-hearted pop to darker, more subdued music.

After they disbanded in 1982, after a decade of constant attention and popularity (so much so that, as Faltskog revealed in a 2013 interview, fans were banging on car doors in hysteria), the two men went on to write stage music, while the two women pursued solo careers. Their popularity declined over the next decade or so, until an album entitled ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits was released in 1992. A musical, entitled Mamma Mia! was released in 1999. Inspired by this, a film was released in 2008 (featuring Meryl Streep), which was immensely popular.

They have had one or two reunions (notably in 1986, 2008 and most recently in 2016), but ABBA fans still live in hope that ABBA will one day reunite properly.

Referred to as "the greatest thing ever to bless the world of music", they have proved immensely popular.