What do the following artists have in common: Roxette, Ace of Base, The Cardigans, Europe, Avicii, Eric Prydz (remember that raunchy work-out video) Robyn, Swedish House Mafia (the clue is in the name), Neneh Cherry, The Hives, and José González?
Well, if you didn’t already know – although I’m sure you do – they are all Swedish.
Sweden has one of the best music industries in Europe, and it was kitschy 70s band ABBA who first marked Sweden on the music map after they exploded onto the scene with their winning Eurovision Song Contest entry, ‘Waterloo’ in 1974. Following Eurovision, ABBA’s fame quickly turned stratospheric with more worldwide hits; as well as a musical, a movie, and the launch of a million tribute bands. ABBA is so well-loved that in 2013 Stockholm honoured the band’s impact on world music and opened ABBA: The Museum.
I first visited ABBA: The Museum not long after it opened its doors, so when TBEX Stockholm announced that they would be hosting us after hours at the museum I was stoked to go back for a second visit, and I knew that the other bloggers would love it too.
What is there to do at ABBA: The Museum?
The museum is completely interactive, which is what makes it so enjoyable. Yes, there are plenty of cool exhibits, such as Benny’s piano and the Waterloo Eurovision costumes, but the best parts of the museum are where you can have a go yourself. For example, the museum piano is linked up to Benny’s home piano, so when he plays at home you can listen along in the museum. Sadly, that didn’t happen while we were there – why didn’t TBEX arrange that?! There is also a telephone that can only be contacted by the four members of ABBA – I would love to be in the museum when the phone rings!
Other things you can do at the museum include: recording yourself singing ABBA hits in a real recording booth, mixing ABBA songs in a sound booth, a dance floor with mirrored tiles and flashing lights, and a stage where you can sing and dance with ABBA holograms – you can imagine how popular these things were with a bunch of snap-happy travel bloggers! Once you have left the museum you can use the code on your ticket to access your recordings on the museum website.
Always one to take to the stage, I couldn’t wait to have a go. And I have video proof. Here you can see me and Amy from Globetrotter Guru having an amazing time being members of ABBA!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaQPZQA-JR8&feature=youtu.be
It’s not just ABBA either
For those of you who love all things Eurovision, you can find sections of the museum dedicated to the ostentatious song contest. Eurovision is such big business in Sweden that they even have their own pre-Eurovision contest, Melodifestivalen, in which their entry to the contest is decided. This has certainly paid off as Sweden has won the contest 6 times, just behind Ireland who holds the record for most Eurovision wins with 7.
We had a wonderful time: for 2 hours the museum was full of travel bloggers running around and squealing with delight – or singing Mama Mia! at the top of their voices. But don’t worry, after all that excitement we were able to act like adults again in the museum bar – where some of us stayed until the sun (almost) went down.
Thank you to TBEX, VisitStockholm and ABBA: The Museum for hosting us. Thank you, Sweden, for the music.
Tell me, do you love ABBA or Eurovision? Let me know in the comments below.
This looks like such a fun experience! Especially the interactive elements. Singing along to ABBA songs is a guilty pleasure of mine, so it looks like I’ll have to make a trip to Sweden soon!
I think singing along to ABBA is the guilty pleasure of many people, but most won’t admit it 😉
This museum looks like such a fun experience! I’m not sure when I’ll be able to visit, but it is definitely on my list as of the past 5 minutes. Thanks for sharing!
I’m happy to have inspired you! It really is the most fun I’ve ever had in a museum!
I love ABBA and I think it is great that they have a museum and that it is interactive. Do they have anything about the musical Mamma Mia there? I love that show!
Hi, they don’t really have much from the Mamma Mia! show, but I think they should have, don’t you? It’s quite a new museum, so I expect they will expand their collection in time. I LOVE Mamma Mia!, although I have only seen the movie, not the show.
Runaway Brit recently posted..ABBA Museum: Thank Sweden For The Music
Visiting the ABBA museum seems like fun! I’m not particularly into ABBA but it’s a Swedish landmark so a must-do! I will think about it whenever I’ll go to Sweden!
If you like Eurovision at all, they have some Eurovision stuff there too – but it is a fun museum, and definitely a Sweden landmark (although most of the Swedes I know groan whenever they hear an ABBA song!).
This is a place I would love to visit! Such a brilliant band !
Thanks for sharing.
I love ABBA – their lyrics are not profound, but the songs sure make you feel good 😀
Ahhhh I have such wonderful memories of singing and dancing around with my Mum to ABBA – so special!