Home | Abba Albums | Abba Singles | Abba Songs | Abba Films & Video's | Abba Musicals | Abba Books | Abba Tours | Abba Chart Statistics | Abba & Eurovision | Abba Shop & Free Classified Ads | Abba Links | Abba Poll | Abba Forums | Whats New | Abba on The Web |
1972
In 1972 Benny & Bjorn had there first involvement with Stig Anderson of the Eurovision song contest. They wrote 'Säg det med en sång' for the Swedish heats. It was performed by Lena Andersson and came 3rd with 12 points.
The winner of the Swedish heat in 1972 was 'Härliga sommardag' by The Family four which came first with 24 points.
Bjorn and Benny also entered another song (Det Kan Ingen Doktor Hjelpar) in 1972 which was sung by all four members but only credited to Bjorn And Benny. It failed to even be accepted for the Swedish heats!
This song was put out as a single (with Pa Brollop on the B-side, also featuring Agnetha and Frida).
1973
Abba's first attempt at the Eurovision Song Contest was actually in 1973. They were not then known as Abba and their entry was Ring Ring which came in a dissappointing 3rd in the Swedish National Heats. The National heats were held in Stockholm on Saturday the 10th February 1973 and were presented by Alicia Lundberg. The full results are listed below:
| Entry Number | Artist |
Song |
Position | Points |
9 |
Malta (changed to Nova for actual competion) | Sommar'n som aldrig säger nej | 1 |
37 |
10 |
Ann-Kristin Hedmark | I våran värld | 2 |
29 |
4 |
Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Annifrid | Ring Ring | 3 |
8 |
2 |
Ted Gärdestad | Oh, vilken härlig dag | 4 |
7 |
5 |
The Glenmarks | En liten sång som alla andra | 4 |
7 |
8 |
Lill-Babs | Avsked från en vän | 4 |
7 |
1 |
Lars Berghagen | Ding dong | 7 |
3 |
7 |
Claes-Göran Hederström | Historien som en vän | 8 |
1 |
3 |
Inga-Lill Nilsson | En frusen ros | 9 |
0 |
6 |
Kerstin Aulén & Mona Wessman | Helleduane, en så'n karl | 9 |
0 |
The Swedish Winner went on to perform in Luxembourg and finished 5th out of 17 scoring 94 points. As stated above Malta changed their name to Nova & the Dolls and sung in English in the final. The song being called You're Summer. The competition was won by Luxembourg with 129 points followed by Spain ( 125pts) , the UK represented by Cliff Richard with Power to All our Friends (123pts) and Israel (97 pts).
1974
Abba first came to international prominence in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest.
The 1974 contest was held on Saturday the 6th April 1974 at The Dome in Brighton UK. The show was presented by Katie Boyle.
Each country had 10 Jury members who each allocated 1 point to their favourite song. Abba received a total of 24 points made up as follows:
Finland 5 , Spain 1, Norway 2, Ireland 1, Yugoslavia 1, Luxembourg 1, Holland 3, Israel 2, Germany 2, Switzerland 5, Portugal 1 (full voting statistics below).
Austria and Denmark did not participate at this event and France withdrew due to the death of their president. The Wombles performed as the interval act.
| Position | Artist |
Country |
Song |
Points |
1 |
Abba | Sweden | Waterloo | 24 |
2 |
Gigliola Cinquetti | Italy | Si | 18 |
3 |
Mouth & McNeil | Holland | I See A Star | 15 |
4 |
Olivia Newton John | UK | Long Live Love | 14 |
4 |
Romuald | Monaco | Celui qui reste et celui qui s'en va | 14 |
4 |
Ireen Sheer | Luxembourg | Bye Bye, I Love You | 14 |
7 |
Poogy | Israel | Natati la Khaiai | 11 |
7 |
Tina Reynolds | Ireland | Cross Your Heart | 11 |
9 |
Jacques Hustin | Belgium | Fleur de Liberté | 10 |
9 |
Peret (Pedro Pubill Callaf) | Spain | Canta y sé Feliz | 10 |
11 |
Marinella | Greece | Krasi, Thalassa ke to agori mou | 7 |
12 |
Korni Grupa | Yugoslavia | Moja Generacija (Generacija 42) | 6 |
13 |
Carita Holmstrom | Finland | Keep me warm (Älä mene pois) | 4 |
14 |
Cindy & Bert | Germany | Die Sommermelodie | 3 |
14 |
Piera Martell | Switzerland | Mein Ruf nach dir | 3 |
14 |
Anne Karine Strom & The Bendik Singers | Norway | The First Day of Love | 3 |
14 |
Paulo de Carvalho | Portugal | E depois do adeus | 3 |
Full voting statistics for Waterloo. ABBA led from the beginning.
| Voting Order | Points Awarded | Cumulative points | Position after Vote |
| Finland | 5 | 5 | 1st |
| Luxembourg | 1 | 6 | 1st |
| Israel | 2 | 8 | 1st |
| Norway | 2 | 10 | 1st |
| UK | 0 | 10 | 1st |
| Yugoslavia | 1 | 11 | 1st |
| Greece | 0 | 11 | 1st |
| Ireland | 1 | 12 | 1st |
| Denmark | 2 | 14 | 1st |
| Portugal | 1 | 15 | 1st |
| Netherlands | 3 | 18 | 1st |
| Sweden | X | 18 | 1st |
| Spain | 1 | 19 | 1st |
| Monaco | 0 | 19 | 1st |
| Switzerland | 5 | 24 | 1st |
| Belgium | 0 | 24 | 1st |
| Italy | 0 | 24 | 1st |
1975
Following the Eurovision success of 1974 Bjorn & Benny entered another song to the Swedish heats of the 1975 Eurovision song contest, this time as writers with Stig Andersson.
The song was 'Bang, en Boomerang' sung by Svenne & Lotta . However it only came third in the Swedish heats with 84 points.
The song that went on to represent Sweden in 1975 was 'Jennie, Jennie' written and performed by Lars Berghagen which came first with 117 points.
Eurovision Links:
Eurovision Song Contest 1974 - Lots of facts on the contest Abba won with Waterloo
Eurovision 1974 This site provides a huge amount of statistical information on The Eurovision Song Contest.