Agnetha Fältskog Agnetha Ã…se Fältskog (born April 5, 1950 in Jönköping, Sweden) is best known as one of the four members of the pop group ABBA, along with Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Originally her name was spelled Agneta; she added the h later herself. At 15, Agnetha joined a dance band and wrote a song for the band, "Jag Var SÃ¥ Kär" (I Was So in Love). This went on to become a number one hit in Sweden in 1967. Prior to joining ABBA, Agnetha was a successful solo artist in Sweden with several chart singles and best-selling albums.
A couple of Agnetha's songs caused her some trouble. The first was 1968's "Zigenarvän" (Gypsy Friend). She was very severely criticized for this song, because, at the time, there was a heightened sensitivity about gypsies living in Sweden, and Agnetha became the target of racist remarks, but in truth, she only wrote the tune.
The following year, Agnetha was accused by a Danish composer, Per Hviid, of plagiarism. He claimed Agnetha had copied one of his tunes for her song, "Om TÃ¥rar Vore Guld" (If Tears Were Gold). He planned to sue Agnetha, claiming she would have heard the song when he toured Sweden, but when it turned out that the tour took place in 1950, the year she was born, the lawsuit was quickly dropped.
Agnetha first met Björn Ulvaeus while filming a pop music special for television in May 1969; they sang three songs on the special: "Titta in I Min Lilla Kajuta" (Visit My Little Cabin), "Nu Ska Vi Vara Snälla" (Now We Must Be Nice), and "Vårkänslor " (Spring Feelings (Yes, Spring Is Here)).
In 1972, Agnetha landed her first theatrical role; the role of Mary Magdalene in the Swedish production of musical, Jesus Christ Superstar.
On July 6, 1971, Agnetha married Björn Ulvaeus; the marriage resulted in two children, Linda and Christian. In 1979 Björn and Agnetha divorced, although they both agreed to remain in ABBA. She subsequently had a brief second marriage and was also the victim of an ex-boyfriend turned well-publicised stalker from Holland, Gert van der Graaf.
After the break-up of ABBA in 1982, Agnetha released three solo albums in the 1980s which sold well around the world without achieving the sales success of her ABBA days. At the end of 1982 Agnetha released a duet with Swedish singer Tomas Ledin. The song, Never Again, was a number one hit in Chile and got to the top 20 in various European countries. In the summer of the same year Agnetha starred in a Swedish movie called 'Raskenstam'. Even though this was her acting debut, it received positive reviews and it became a box office blockbuster in Scandinavia.
In May 1983 the single The Heat Is On, from her first post-ABBA solo-album Wrap Your Arms Around Me reached number 35 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was a major hit all over Europe and Scandinavia the same summer, selling over 500,000 copies. This was followed by Wrap Your Arms Around Me which reached the top 5 in Holland, got to number one in Belgium and reached the top 10 in Denmark and Germany.
In the UK it got to number 18 in June 1983. In the US Can't Shake Loose was released as a single. It was Agnetha's first solo hit on the US Billboard single-chart, reaching the top 30. The album Wrap Your Arms Around Me sold 1.2 million copies worldwide and was amongst the ten best selling albums of the year in the Netherlands and Belgium. It reached number one in Sweden, Belgium, Norway and Finland and got to the top 10 in Germany, Denmark and Austria.
Two years later, in 1985, Agnetha released I Won't Let You Go, from her second solo album Eyes of a Woman. The single reached number 38 in the UK Singles Chart and got to number one in Denmark. The song was another top ten hit in Sweden, Norway and Belgium. Agnetha made a TV-special called A for Agnetha in order to promote the album. This special was nominated at the Montreux TV gala in 1985. Agnetha performed during the show. The occasion marked the first time in her career that Agnetha -known for her long to mid long hair- performed with short hair.
In 1987 Agnetha released her third solo album. The record was produced in the US by Peter Cetera and Bruce Gaitsch. Simply called I Stand Alone, Agnetha showed her Californian style. The Last Time, the album's lead off single, was a minor hit in the UK. In the US the single I Wasn't The One became Agnetha's second song to chart at the billboard hot 100.
In 1996 Agnetha released her memoir-book As I Am. In Scandinavia a compilation CD called My Love, My Life was released as well. The double CD featuring songs from her pre-ABBA days, some ABBA songs and her best post-ABBA material. The album reached the top 20 in Sweden. The following year another compilation was released called That's Me - The Greatest Hits.
This time it was a worldwide release featuring Agnetha's post-ABBA solo hits plus some ABBA songs on which Agnetha sang the lead vocals.
In 2004 Agnetha released a new single, If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind (a cover of the Cilla Black song), her first in 17 years. In April, it appeared on the UK Singles Chart at number 11, in its first week of sale, making it the highest charting single of any of the individual ABBA members. The single reached number two in Sweden and became a hit all over Europe and Israel.
In May 2004, Agnetha released My Colouring Book. The album was well received by critics and was a best-seller in Scandinavia also reaching number 12 in the UK Albums Chart. In Germany the album got to number six in the charts and in Holland it reached the top 10. The album sold over 500,000 copies worldwide.
A follow-up single, a cover of the Jackie DeShannon and The Searchers hit, When you Walk in the Room, was released in June 2004 and reached #34 on the UK Singles Chart.
Agnetha currently lives quietly on the Swedish island of Ekerö, but has been seen out and about more and more recently. She was the big surprise guest at the Stockholm premiere of Mamma Mia in February 2005, and was photographed in a nightclub with some friends in December 2005.
