Agnetha and Bjorn: The Love Story

Angel on the Radio

Spring 1969

Björn Ulvaeus is a 24-year old guitarist from the Swedish seaside town of Vastervik. He has spent the past 5-6 years or so being a member of one of Sweden's most popular boy bands, the Hootenanny Singers, alongside his pals: Tony Rooth, Hansi Schwartz, and Johan Karlberg. Together, the four men often toured around the Swedish folkparks performing covers of American and British folk music.

Three years ago, on June 5, 1966, to be exact, Björn had a chance encounter with a man. A man who would forever become one of his best friends. This man was a member of another one of Sweden's most popular boy bands, the Hep Stars. The man's name: Benny Andersson. The Hep Stars were also known for touring the Swedish folkparks in which they performed covers of American and British rock and pop music. When they were not busy touring with their respective bands, Benny and Björn would collaborate and write original music together and simply just hang out as the way friends do. These days, both the Hep Stars and the Hootenanny Singers have disbanded, giving Benny and Björn more opportunities to hang out and collaborate with one another.

One day, Benny and Björn were in the recording studio as usual, along with their good friend, Stikkan "Stig" Anderson. Stig was not only their good friend, but their manager as well. The three men were in the studio writing new material as usual, but they had decided to take a break. Benny, Björn, and Stig decided to catch up on life while listening to the local radio station. And most of the conversation was about Benny's new girlfriend that he had met at a bar in Malmö not to long ago. And like Benny, his new girlfriend, Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad, also had two small children from a previous relationship.

"So Benny, how's Frida doing?" Björn asked.

"She's doing well. I think our relationship is starting to get serious," Benny responded.

"You guys have only been dating for about two months," Björn said.

"Doesn't matter, Björn. Relationships work at their own pace," Stig said.

"I agree," said Benny.

"Alright then. If that's the case," Björn sighed.

"Speaking of relationships, you should really listen to the song that just started playing on the radio. Stig, turn up the volume!" Benny said.

Stig turned up the volume on the radio and a young, angelic female singing voice can be heard through the radio. The three men were left absolutely stunned by the girl's singing voice, especially Björn. To Björn, he was falling in love even though he barely knows the girl yet alone seen a picture of her. When the song was finished, Björn just had to know more about the female singer that he, Benny, and Stig had just listened to on the radio.

"OMG! Benny, Stig, who the hell was that girl singing that song?! That song was pure heaven!" Björn exclaimed.

"Agnetha Fältskog sang it. And also, the song's name is Jag var så kär in case you're wondering," Stig replied.

"Awesome! Is there any way I can meet this girl or at least see her picture?" Björn asked.

"Woah, Bjorn! I see you're very hyped up about Agnetha Fältskog! I think you might be obsessed," Benny said.

"Dude, do you really think I'm obsessed?! In fact, I think I'm in LOVE!" Björn replied.

"You've barely seen a picture of Agnetha. You've never met her before either. You don't even know what she's like as a person," said Benny.

"So?" Björn asked.

"You should slow down a little bit and maybe see a picture of what she looks like and then find a way to meet her in person before jumping into a relationship with somebody that you barely know," Benny responded.

"You're right!" Björn sighed.

"Well here's a picture of Agnetha right here," Stig said handing Benny and Björn a picture of Agnetha.

"She's gorgeous! And not only does she sing like an angel, but she physically looks like one too!" Björn exclaimed.

"I agree! But Frida is just as gorgeous as Agnetha!" Benny replied.

"True," Björn said.

"Well guys, I hate to break this to you, but I just read a newspaper article about Agnetha that also has her picture in it and sadly, Agnetha is already taken," Stig said handing Benny and Björn another newspaper, along with a picture of Agnetha and an unknown man.

"No fucking way!" Benny said.

"That guy is SO LUCKY!" Björn exclaimed.

"You're jealous aren't you, Björn?" Benny asked.

"You're damn right I'm jealous, Benny! My hopes have been crushed!" Björn exclaimed.

"I'm sorry my friend!" Benny exclaimed.

"Well the good side about this is that the man looks so much older than Agnetha herself. So maybe her relationship with this man won't last anytime longer. Who knows?" Stig replied.

"How old is Agnetha anyways? She looks super young!" Björn asked.

"I don't know, maybe like 18 or 19," Benny shrugged.

"And this guy that she's engaged to is like so much older than her!" Björn exclaimed.

"If that's the case then I'm not surprised that Stig said that their engagement will most likely end before Agnetha and that older looking guy even walk down the aisle!" Benny exclaimed.

"What's that older guy's name anyways?" Björn asked.

"It says here his name is Dieter Zimmerman," Stig replied.

"Dieter Zimmerman, huh? I wonder where he's from," Björn said.

"He must be German based on his first and last name," Benny replied.

"Yeah true. If Agnetha does leave this Dieter guy before they even walk down the aisle, then I wouldn't be surprised. He looks so much older than she is. Me, on the other hand, I'm not that old. I'm only 24 after all," Björn said.

"Well then, you should keep your hopes high. You never know," Stig said.

"Agreed!" Benny exclaimed.

"Thanks guys. I don't know what I'd do without you both!" Björn exclaimed.

The three men gave each other one big group hug. And Björn was now determined than ever to meet Agnetha, even though she's engaged. And who knows? Maybe Benny and Stig are right, Agnetha's engagement to Dieter may not last for another while longer due to their large age gap.