Copenhagen, Denmark — The four members of the Swedish pop quartet ABBA, who triumphed in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with the joyful love song “Waterloo,” will receive one of Sweden’s most prestigious knighthoods at a ceremony on Friday.
The Order of the Vasa will be awarded for the first time in almost 50 years. Agnetha Faltskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad will receive the Royal Order of Vasa as “Commander First Class” for their “very outstanding efforts in Swedish and international musical life.”
Sweden has several orders, including the Royal Order of the Seraphim awarded to heads of state and foreign royalty, and the Royal Order of the North Star which is awarded to foreign citizens and stateless persons.
The Royal Order of Vasa, which is awarded in recognition of personal efforts for Sweden or Swedish interests, as well as the successful performance of public duties and assignments, was dormant until the end of 2022, when it was reactivated after regulations opened the Royal Orders to the Swedes. citizens again.
Earlier this year, the public and the Swedish government nominated candidates and King Carl XVI Gustaf approved the nominees that included all four members of ABBA.
Victory at Eurovision turned ABBA into a pop giant, by far the most successful band to win the pan-continental music contest. ABBA’s melodic disco pop sold hundreds of millions of records worldwide. The stage musical “Mamma Mia!” Based on his songs, he is 25 years old and generated two films.
Coincidentally, Eurovision 2024 was held in southern Sweden. Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th contest with “The Code,” an operatic pop-rap ode to the singer’s journey toward adopting a genderless identity.
The Swedish band members have not performed live together for four decades, but released a comeback album, “Voyage,” in 2021. The digital “ABBA-tars” premiered in London in 2022.
The monarch will present orders to “13 exceptional Swedes,” including two 2023 Nobel laureates: French-Swedish physicist Anne L’Huillier and Svante Pääbo, who won the coveted prize in physics and medicine. They were both appointed Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the North Star for their “outstanding research efforts”.
The ceremony will take place at the Royal Palace in Stockholm in the presence of the recipients and their guests, the royal household said.
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
