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Benny Andersson

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Benny Andersson was born in 1946 in Stockholm. His father and grandfather played the accordion, and at the age of six he was given one himself. That is how he got to know Swedish folk music and schlagers. At ten he was given a piano and taught himself to play. He listened to Elvis Presley and at fifteen left school to perform in youth clubs. In 1964 he became the keyboardist of The Hep Stars, the most popular Swedish pop band of the 1960s, for which he soon wrote hits of his own.

Music and breakthrough

In 1966 he met Björn Ulvaeus, with whom he began writing songs. At the Swedish song contest of 1969 he met the singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and the two became a couple. Ulvaeus got together with Agnetha Fältskog. ABBA grew out of those four, and in 1974 won the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo. Andersson and Ulvaeus wrote and produced eight studio albums. Andersson was responsible above all for the music: rich melodies, layered arrangements and a glossy, perfectly finished studio sound.

Influence

After ABBA he continued writing with Ulvaeus. With Tim Rice they made the musical Chess (1984), with the hits I Know Him So Well and One Night in Bangkok. The Swedish musical Kristina från Duvemåla and Mamma Mia!, built on ABBA songs, followed later. He also returned to folk music, with solo albums on accordion. Andersson shows how Swedish pop music grew out of dance bands and folk music into a worldwide hit factory.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Dancing Queen by ABBA. Notice the piano run with which the song opens and how piano, strings and backing vocals are stacked layer upon layer into a full, sunny sound.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsSwedish pop (ABBA)