Her Serene Highness Princess Anni-Frid Reuss von Plauen aka Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Influences
Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Agnetha Fältskog
Sounds Like
I think I sound amazing, "tis like the sound of the angels sing'n themselves.
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look how far I have come along
I was born out of wedlock in Ballangen, near Narvik, Norway, as a result of a liaison between my mother, Synni Lyngstad, and a married German sergeant, Alfred Haase, during the Second World War German occupation of Norway.
In 1947, my mother Synni, my grandmother Agny Lyngstad, and I, were forced to move to Sweden because of fear of reprisals from the Norwegian population, who were angry at and vengeful towards those who had dealings with the Germans during the occupation, which resulted not just in insult, but also in forced separation of infants from their parents and relatives. My mother died before I was two, so I was brought up by my grandmother in the town of Torshälla, near Eskilstuna, Sweden.
I got my first job as a jazz singer in 1958, at the age of 13. I formed my own band, the Anni-Frid Four, marrying the bass player Ragnar Fredriksson in 1963, at age 18. I then had two children, but I divorced in the late 1960s.
In 1967, I won a TV talent contest, and in the next few years released several marginally successful singles for EMI. The lack of commercial success at that time even made me contemplate a career change: I have always been interested in fashion and considered becoming a fashion designer. My first album Frida, produced by my then fiancé Benny Andersson (I married Andersson on October 6, 1978, but we divorced in 1981), came out in 1971. The album received unanimously generous praise from the critics, who especially noted the precision and versatility of me as a vocalist, but commercially it was not very successful.
My next solo album in Swedish, "Frida ensam", that included the original Swedish version of the future ABBA megahit "Fernando", was released in 1975 when I already was a member of ABBA. The album became an enormous commercial and critical success in Scandinavia, topping the Swedish album charts for six weeks and remaining in the charts for 40 weeks. The album was mostly a collection of covers of songs by artists like Beach Boys, 10cc and David Bowie and received this notice from Melody Maker; "The album portrays Frida as a very strong and emotive singer and shows the true value of the music, that if sung properly and with enough feeling it transcends all language barriers".
In 1982, during ABBA's last year as a working band, I released her first solo record in English, a Phil Collins-produced album, Something's Going On that topped the charts in Sweden and reached the Top 20 in the UK and the Top 40 in the US. It sold around 1.5 million copies worldwide and spawned a hugely successful single "I Know There's Something Going On" that made Top 10 charts across the world and sold around 3.5 million copies. In the US, the single reached No.13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 9 on Radio & Records airplay chart. The music video for the song was heavily promoted on MTV. The album was well received by the critics. Billboard wrote that "Abba's auburn-haired songstress makes a bold solo project a stunning success", while Mark Coleman described "Something's Going On" in the 3rd edition of Rolling Stone Album Guide as "sharp, rock-oriented, delightfully eclectic album". William Cooper had a similar opinon in All Music Guide: "Frida escapes the creative limitations of being a member of one of the world's most popular groups on this solid and often riveting album."
In 1982, I won the Swedish music prize Rockbjörnen for the Best Female Artist.
In 1982, I left Sweden and moved to London. In the mid-1980s, I relocated to Switzerland where I have been living since.
My next album, Shine (1984) enjoyed moderate success. It reached the Top 20 in several European countries, No. 6 in Sweden and No. 9 in Belgium being the highest positions, and proved to be my last foray into the international music world. In the next few years, I was seriously engaged in environmental work but also found time to make a couple of guest appearances on recordings by Swedish artists, former colleague and husband Benny Andersson's 1987 album in particular. In 1992, I performed live at the Stockholm Water Festival and released an environmental charity single with my cover of Julian Lennon's song Saltwater.
In 1996, I recorded a Swedish language album Djupa andetag that topped the Swedish charts and attracted positive reviews. A follow-up album was reportedly in works, but eventually shelved due to personal reasons. Several one-off recordings followed, including a 2002 duet with Filippa Giordano on the Barcarolle from opera Les contes d'Hoffman by Jacques Offenbach, and the song "The Sun Will Shine Again", written for me by former Deep Purple member Jon Lord and recorded in 2004. Both performances were not released as singles: "Barcarolle" is only available on the special Japanese edition of "Rosso Amore" album by Giordano, and "The Sun Will Shine Again" can be found on Jon Lord's album "Beyond The Notes".
Also in 2004, I appeared with Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus at London's fifth anniversary performance of Mamma Mia!, the musical based on ABBA songs. In 2005, I joined all three of her former ABBA colleagues at the Swedish premiere of Mamma Mia! at Cirkus in Stockholm.
On August 26, 1992, I married my longtime boyfriend, Fürst (Prince) Heinrich Ruzzo Reuss von Plauen (May 24, 1950–October 29, 1999), born from the German father of Reuss family and the Swedish mother. Sadly, he died of lymphoma in 1999. Two years before that, in 1998, my daughter Ann Lise-Lotte Casper (February 25, 1967–January 13, 1998) was fatally injured in a road accident in the United States where she lived. My marriage to Plauen gave me the title of Her Serene Highness Princess Anni-Frid Reuss von Plauen, and through my late husband who was a student at the same boarding school as the reigning King of Sweden I became acquainted with the Swedish Royal family and eventually became close friends with Sweden's Queen Silvia. Today, I still reside in Switzerland, and engage in a charity work, drug prevention in particular. My interest in a music career is non-existent, a fact I revealed in an interview for my DVD called Frida The DVD which was released in conjunction with my 60th birthday in 2005.
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If interested to hear Swedish Radio Kronobergs live-recording of our ABBA tribute track "Hey You Ring Me Tonight" (written by Clive Jones of Black Widow and friends) Click here:
Our first version of our ABBAtribute song "Hey You Ring Me Tonight" written by Clive Jones of Black Widow and friends was aired today on swedish radio p4 Kronoberg. We made it for "Svensktoppen Nästa"!
"Hey You..." first version is a freeload single-release and is uploaded on our profile. To get it completed with artwork; please visit: www.riverside-records. se/html/news.htm
First version of our ABBA tributesong "Hey You Ring Me Tonight" written by Clive Jones and friends to be submitted to the swedish radio contest "Svensktoppen nästa". First version produced by Peter Anderssson Upcoming second version produced by Carl Brolin
"Paperpile" - our 2 second contibution is also uploaded.
Our new version of the ABBA tribute song "Hey You Ring Me Tonight" - this one organized by Clive Jones of Black Widow himself and featuring his presence! - will be in progress upcoming Monday.
Hi Frida Lyngstad, Hope you have had a nice weekend!
We are happy that our s(ABBA)t - the first live-performance of our ABBA tribute song "Hey You Ring Me Tonight" written by Clive Jones of Black Widow will be at The Cavern!
If interested; Riverside Records have this digital single-release as a FREEload complete with artwork on their site:
Dear Frida and Friends ! Someone has used my myspace account to make false comments ! I just it see it today! - please know that those last comment you see right close down the site is not posted by RAIN BEAT. If anyone know how we can avoid this to happen, please write a us a message on myspace. Thank You - Pia - RAIN BEAT
You are invited to our digital party celebrating the official digital release from Riverside Records (www.riverside-records.se) of our first version of our ABBA tribute track "Hey You Ring Me Tonight" (written by Clive Jones of Black Widow/ Mark Pollard / Kevin Brooks)
www.myspace.com/theairwaves
Thursday. Jan 24 - Sunday. Jan 27
Very welcome to mingle around our space, shake hands with other people and introduce yourself - discuss ABBA and/or Black Widow (either if you are fans or not to any of them )!! Or simply honour us with your presence!
We have putt up a blog "Digital Releaseparty at Myspace" on our profile where you can mingle in and add comments!
Free admission
F.I.D. (a earlier project with members of Airwaves) will perform
Heavenly foods and digital drinks available for purchase ;-)
And you are welcome to advertise about your own music, album or whatsoever!!
A belated Happy New Year to you Frida :) I wish you all the best for 2008 and beyond. I'll never stop loving your music, both with ABBA and your solo material.Take care. Marlene xxx
And Goodbye (2007 and)old routines!! if interested; a free track to download as a little christmasgift from us :-)
The Airwaves releasedate of a final version of "Hey You Ring Me Tonight" (Riverside Records) from a upcoming EP - the ABBA tribute track written by Clive Jones of the progressive 70ths band Black Widow will if its ready by then be tied up promotionally together with the release of Black Widows new DVD & CD "Demons Of The Night Gather To See Black Widow Live" www.mysticrecords.co.uk officially to be released 24/1-08 "
Hi Princess! The Black Widow DVD & CD "Demons Of The Night Gather To See Black Widow Live" http://www.mysticrecords.co.uk will be reviewed in next years first edition of Sweden Rock Magazine. http://www.swedenrockmagazine.com/ Streetdate for the mag: 12/2
The release of Airwaves "Hey You Ring Me Tonight" the ABBAtribute written by Clive Jones of Black Widow will maybe by Clive Jones and Riverside Rec http://www.riverside-records.se be tied up together with the release of this DVD! (officially to be released 24/1-08) Everything depending if we to this date have the finished version ready
Online Now!
