Glutbusters

July 27, 2005

Gee, Is It 1975 Already?

Today I was "working from home", which in the code of my particular industry, generally translates as "sleeping in, reading the paper and running personal errands". And who should I glimpse in a passing car as I was cycling about but this man:

That's right. Benny Andersson of Abba.

"But", I hear you say. "That photo was surely taken in the 1970s, somewhere between 1975, when Benny and the gang performed 'I've Been Waiting For You' and 'So Long' on Swedish TV program 'Nygammalt' and 1979 when Abba performed 'Chiquitita' at the 'Unicef Gift Of A Song' concert held in the National Assembly Hall of the United Nations, shortly before Benny and songwriting partner Björn Ulvaeus took a much-deserved break in the Bahamas to help Björn recover from his divorce from bandmate Agnetha Fältskog. He must look much older now".

And you know what? Normally, I'd agree with you. Except for three factors which irrefutably confirm that the man I saw was Benny Andersson circa 1975-79.

1. He was wearing a pale blue skivvy, a look favoured almost exclusively by pop stars of the 1970s. (Admittedly, Björn was fonder of the skivvy than Benny, but we'll let that one pass.)

2. His hair retained its distinctive wave, and his eyes that dreamy shimmer.

And if you still doubt:

3. He was driving a Volvo.

Case closed. So what is Benny Andersson of 1975-79 doing in Melbourne?

Is he:

a. Earning a quid in suburban pubs playing Björn in the touring "Björn Again" show?

b. Teaching a short course at the CAE entitled "How To Write Catchy Pop Songs And Bag Hot Swedish Starlets?

c. Tweaking some of the numbers for Broadmeadows High School's production of "Chess"?

d. Collaborating with Shannon Noll on "Waterhole", an original musical based around an outback kid's journey from town pansy to Oz Rock superstar to washed-up smackhead?

e. ...?

Filed under Peter