In a recent interview with BBC News, ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding the modification of existing art, music, and literature. Andersson expressed his belief that creative works should remain untouched, reflecting the context of their creation. He specifically referenced the recent alterations to Roald Dahl's books, arguing against such revisions.
The conversation stemmed from a question posed by BBC's Victoria Derbyshire regarding the re-evaluation of art through a modern lens. Derbyshire highlighted the performance of ABBA's "Does Your Mother Know" by a female character in the film "Mamma Mia" as an example of this trend. Ulvaeus responded positively to this adaptation, emphasizing the specific time and context of the song's portrayal in the movie.
The discussion then turned to the alterations made to Roald Dahl's children's books, where language deemed offensive by current standards was removed. Andersson firmly stated his disapproval, advocating for preserving the original works as they were at the time of their release. Ulvaeus echoed this sentiment, expressing agreement with Andersson's perspective.
Beyond the topic of artistic revisions, the interview also touched upon the band's innovative virtual concert experience, ABBA Voyage. Ulvaeus shared the band's initial uncertainty about the emotional impact of the digital performance, but expressed satisfaction with the audience's positive response. He highlighted the successful emotional connection established with fans despite the virtual nature of the concert.
Using advanced motion-capture technology, ABBA Voyage presents digital representations of the band members as they appeared in 1979, performing their iconic hits. This concert series complements the release of "Voyage," ABBA's first studio album in four decades.
