Agnetha Then and Now | home
Interview part 2
LB: Are you subjected now to strange people? We've read in the papers that it has happened to you. 
AF: Well, it is also an unpleasant aspect of this occupation and this fame, that you have to put up with a lot, not only I, I know I share this problem with many different categories of work. So I receive very many letters and strange things from people who are a bit unwell.
LB: From all around the world?
AF: Yes. You have to screen them, you can't take it personally. Not all letters I receive are nice. But it's important to not take it personally, but that you understand that this is a person who's not feeling well.
LB: This man who stalked you, are you still subjected to him?
AF: I'm don't know if I can talk too much about it, I don't think I will.
I can't due to security reasons. So I want to lay low.
LB: Is this something that's bothering you?
AF: Yes, it is. But it's like this, if you've been around for this long, then you get quite hardened in various situations, so you can take very much, you have to take a lot too. And it feels very unfair sometimes, that there's so much that comes along with success.
LB: Have your children been affected?
AF: No, I think that things have gone well. But of course, they've been small once, it was a bit rough for them, it was for all of us since we became a family of divorce.
They were very young, they were only 5 and 1 year old.
But that was a long time ago. 
LB: But when you look back in the rearview mirror, do you think that you should have done things in another way?
That you shouldn't have withdrawn as much? Do you
know what I mean? To not have this hysteria that's surrounding Agnetha Fältskog after all. That it's such a
big thing that you're not visible very often.
AF: Well, at least it's not something that I have created deliberately or calculated, that I would have made myself very mysterious, instead it's an image which has been created due to, as you say, me
not being very visible. But it's because it's actually not my thing to sit like this and talk. But then, the older you get, the more you let go/give of yourself in a way.
LB: In what way do you mean? 
AF: Well, you may be able to talk about things that you couldn't before. Because it feels as if you also must be able to share your experiences in life. That maybe you can show that I'm really not as mysterious or strange, but I'm a completely normal person.
LB: Are we supposed to interpret this as some kind of return of a more public Agnetha?
AF: No, things aren't that well. <Laughter>
LB: How do you explain the phenomenon ABBA today? What do you think of the phenomenon ABBA?
AF: It has meant incredibly much to us all of course. And there I also feel an enormous gratitude for having been a part of it because things only went like this. <raises her arm> And there was incredibly much work during the 10-12 years that we kept going. And it went very fast, so if I could have slowed it down a bit and continued for 5 more years, I would rather have done it that way.
LB: To take things a bit slower and stretched it out a bit longer?
AF: Yes, exactly.
LB: Was it that everything became too intense?
AF: Yes, it was very intense. 
LB: What do you think was most difficult?
AF: It was the trips.
LB: Because you're afraid of flying.
AF: Yes.
LB: Still?
AF: Yes, I'm still very afraid of flying. It is also something you've read a lot in the press, that I'm afraid of flying. And it's this inherent fear that I have, which I told you about earlier, that a catastrophe will happen or something like that. That's what I feel. It's not that I don't have the ability
to understand how safe it is flying, but it's the insecurity within myself when I finally sit there. That there's nothing
I can do about it. And maybe it's because I'm a bit of a controlling person.
LB: You are, you want to be in control of things?
AF: Yes. And it's difficult to let go of it. But I think that I'm in some way trying to learn to become a little bit different. Maybe I will fly one fine day, you never know.
LB: When did you fly last?
AF: It was probably 15 years ago, I think.
LB: Are you serious?
AF: Yes. Maybe 10. 
LB: So you never travel abroad?
AF: No. But you can also travel by car.
LB: But what was the most fun thing about ABBA? Which is your single greatest memory? Because it wasn't just hard work, there was joy as well.
AF: There was lots of joy. We all shared the heavy tension before going onto stage, and there were lots of nerves involved. It felt good that all four of us were sharing this, helping to bear the burden. And if one of us felt a bit ill the other one was pushing and doing more on stage. Frida and I had different registers, and concerning singing we helped each other, although we at the same time were competitors on stage.
LB: There were sometimes talk of a schism between you and Frida. Was that right?
AF: No, that's yet again a media thing. Most of the time we were very much in agreement. But, being different personalities, of course it happened that we got
irritated upon each others qualities. And we *were* different. We also had different
lives because we had recently separated. Björn and I separated during the years with ABBA and we even continued afterwards. Then we had our small children who only were 5 and 1 year old, so the whole time I had a guilty conscience that they were
home. And it was quite tough and still having to do what we did. But, we were not
away all of the time. We were at home quite long periods as well, to spend time with
the children, which really made a contrast situation - to go from the luxury hotel suites and the fabulous touring life back home to the washing-up and the children.
LB: Is there a particular moment, Agnetha, with ABBA that you feel like "this was really fun"?
AF: Yes, then I'll probably have to say that it was when we won with "Waterloo". It was really incredible. 
Plays "Waterloo" and show pictures
LB: But don't you miss getting that kick today?
AF: No, I don't.
LB: That was a definite answer.
AF: <laughs> Yes. No, I don't. But it's really nice to look back upon it and sometimes I can't really comprehend it. It feels like another life, in a way a different part of my life and it really is. It is.
LB: But explain, what was the reason for ABBA breaking up?
AF: It was because we didn't think it was as fun anymore. I know that we were recording an LP then.
It didn't feel like it had in the past, instead it was quite tough. And it was we were divorced, both couples, so
it wasn't the same thing, but we continued even after our divorces.
LB: But it wasn't as good after the divorces you mean?
AF: No, it wasn't. 
LB: What is the best song that ABBA made?
AF: The best song? I think "The Winner Takes It All".
LB: Why?
AF: <laughs> It is so complete, it has a good flow, from beginning to end. And then I think the song is very good. I think the lyrics are excellent.
LB: It has quite a tough message.
AF: Yes, it does. But I like to sing about that.
LB: You do?
AF: Yes, I like to interpret lyrics like that.
LB: But, as I understand, you thought ABBA were better in the recording studio
than on stage.
AF: Yes, that's right. But that is, once again, the self-criticism. I don't like to see us perform on stage - I think it's much more fun to hear us than to see us.
LB: Do you keep in touch with the others nowadays?
AF: Yes, I do, a little. But we don't socialize.
LB: Björn?
AF: Yes, of course since he's the father of my children.
LB: How often do you see each other?
AF: Us in the group you mean?
LB: No, Björn.
AF: Well, I don't know, I don't really keep track of that. <laughs> But it happens every now and then since we have a little grandchild.
LB: The money - do you still make money from ABBA?
AF: Yes, I do.
LB: A lot of money? 
AF: Yes, enough for me to live on. <laughs> But I do. Of course.
LB: Even if it's Björn and Benny who makes the big money as songwriters of course, but there is a steady income for the rest of you?
AF: Yes. And we have also done other things. Frida has also made singles, what am I saying, solo albums, and I have as well, so you make a little bit of money off that as well.
LB: What does money mean to you?
AF: It is such a sensitive issue. So it's almost as if I would like to say that I don't want to talk about money, I don't want to talk about politics and I don't want to talk about religion. So I'll say so. <laughs>
LB: Why is it so sensitive?
AF: You have to give such a good answer that people believe in what you say. Because it's one thing to be in a position where you have money and another to be in a position where you don't. So you have to position yourself on a good level with the money so
you don't, well, so it doesn't. what am I trying to say?
LB: You're beginning to approach this subject anyway.
AF: <laughs> Yes. But I'm glad that everything has gone so well. And then if I were to say that the money doesn't matter, then everybody would realize that she's lying because of course it does. I'd rather live a life where I can buy the things I want instead of being a poor person. But you can be rich and poor in so many different ways. It doesn't always have to be about money either. But you can be rich because you have a rich life (a lot of experiences). And I'm probably such a person. I think that I as a person am the same today as I was when I was young. And I grew up under sparse living conditions with my mother and father. I didn't have my own room when I was young. So I know what it feels like growing up and not to be poor, but maybe not have what you want.
LB: What about the future? What will happen with Agnetha Fältskog in the future?
AF: Well, who knows? I don't know. Sometimes I feel that this was probably the last album I made. But then I know how I can be, and can get a new idea. And I know that there are many who think it would be great if I wrote my own songs again.
LB: Yes, I think so. Can't you do that now?
AF: <laughs> No, I can't promise anything. I'm not going to make any more promises.
LB: This book, "Som jag är", came out in 96. The author of this book has now said that she's considering auctioning material from your conversations and meetings that haven't been published before. What do you think about that? 
AF: It would be terrible if she did, but I currently don't know what's going on. But it's a terrible crime if she would, because when you work on a book together, you tell things in confidence. And then the two of us really worked on this book, having meaningful conversations about various subjects. And then I wanted to be a part the editing, so I deleted lots that I didn't think should be a part of it. And it's probably that which will come out now.
LB: Have you been in touch with her regarding this?
AF: No, and I don't want to either. My advisors will have to. Unfortunately. That's how it can go.
LB: Are you a happy person nowadays?
AF: These aren't easy questions. <smiles>
LB: They all shouldn't be easy.
AF: Yes, I'm happy with a lot of things. That's how I can formulate myself. Is that enough?
LB: Now you're going to read something before the new year, something you have chosen yourself. Tell me why you chose it.
AF: Well, I found a little book, so I thought that since I won't be singing anything.
LB: Unfortunately. 
AF: .I will read something instead and then I found a poem by Dan Andersson. It's called "Nyår" ("New Year"). This is how it goes.
Du nyår som susar med vingar av glänsande snö Som blandar med stigande soljus den bittraste vind Och tänder med flammande rosor på jungfrulig kind Och kramar än hårdare bröstet på den som ska dö Jag
hälsar dig nyår med vingar av glänsande snö O giv
att all världen till slut måtte bliva som då När Herren
ej ännu befallt någon gräns mellan vatten och land
När ännu ej djurögat stirrat mot rymderna blå Och
ännu en svagling ej rivits av tass eller hand Och kärleken ännu ej kommit att locka och slå O giv att
all världen till slut måtte bliva som då
(I tried to translate this poem, but it doesn't really make sense since poems are very
hard to translate. Claes' note) 
You new year who sough with wings of glistening snow
Who mixes with ascending sunlight the most bitter wind And lights with flaming roses on virginal cheek
And squeezes yet harder the chest of the one who will die
I greet you new year with wings of glistening snow
Oh give that the world finally must become like then
When the Lord yet hasn't ordered a border between water and land
When the animal's eye yet hasn't stared towards the blue space
And the weakling hasn't yet been scratched by paw or hand And love still hasn't come to entice and beat
Oh give that the world finally must become like then
LB: How will you spend Christmas?
AF: I'm going to relax. Spend time with those nearest and dearest to me and probably eat some Christmas food.
LB: Merry Christmas, Agnetha, and thanks for agreeing to this.
AF: The same to you. Thanks for having me.
**********
They again talk a short walk outside.
After the entire interview Lasse Bengtsson says,
"Maybe some of you are wondering why I didn't ask the intriguing question whether
she has a new man in her life - and the answer is that I forgot. But when I asked her afterwards, she answered: "
"I live my life as a single person, but I have many friends and acquaintances,
and some of them are men. "
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