Dick Cavett interviewed the members of ABBA in 1981 for the TV special "Dick Cavett Meets ABBA" Read more about the TV special here - www.abbaontv.co...
Dick Cavett is My favorite interviewer! I knew right away that they all felt uptight in this situation. Cavett wasnt at ease like he was with John Lennon or Paul Simon. It may be the mysterious Swedish aura. He matches/reflects the tone of his subjects. He's a true gentleman.
The problem is that Dick Cavett couldn't understand the genius of ABBA. Frida and Agnetha challenged each other vocally (there vocals were unreal) and were naturally insane harmonizers. Benny and Bjorn wrote some of the most amazing melodies and hooks ever written. Look at their album cuts, yes the lyrics are silly (um, try to write lyrics in Swedish), but the all of the elements that makes pop music magical floods from nearly every one of their songs.
This was the same core concept with The Beach Boys as well. Amazing harmonies and catchy melodies. It was unheard of at their time. I'm sure Brian Wilson is a an ABBA fan as well. Lol.
Lyrics are silly??? By no means! Maybe in the beginning of their career. But later they were masterpieces, little gems, rarely met at Anglo-Saxon performers. Read Head over heels, Knowing me, knowing you, Should I laugh or cry, Lay all your love on me, Piper, The winner takes it all, Visitors, The day before you came...
AWESOME Interview! I remember Björn saying in a past interview when he came up with the rhythm and/or song 'Take a Chance on me', he was joggin' and with every exhalation he took he wielded the words to that sound, which later applied to music sounded like the jogger exhaling air over and over.....the fab four from Svérige! :)
It's so funny how subdued and calm audiences were back then. Today everyone is so hyped, laughs hilariously, screams, cheers, etc. This interview is very awkward and strained for some reason.
Amazing that Cavett was such a big deal at the time, no interview skills at all. Though I suspect the group had set guidelines ahead, such as "no questions on our marriages", etc. that may have hampered Cavett. There seemed to be great tension both between group members, who managed to ignore each other throughout, and between them and Cavett, who seems to to have been briefed as to who these people were about 5 minutes before showtime.
My favorite concert was part of DICK CAVETT MEETS ABBA 1981. After a meandering interview, they cut loose before a studio audience. They run through "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!," "Super Trouper," "Two For The Price Of One," "Slipping Through My Fingers," "Me And I," "Knowing Me Knowing You," "SummerNight City," "Thank You For The Music" and "On And On And On." "SummerNight City" retains its eerie prelude, and Benny rocks the house with "On And On And On."
Dick Cavett reminds me a little of Conan O'Brien. He was ahead of his time. I also thought he was always polite with his guests, and asked as much as he could at that time period.:)
@Ted Ozdowski Yeah. A really good MC brings in all the insult comics to criticize and offend everyone, the way Carson and Griffin did. Now that's real entertainment.
well he wasnt showing anyone why he was the best of the era in this interview. its terrible. way too slow to actually get to the point and ask the question, and when he does it sounds like hes making it up as he goes along, rather than having pre planned questions he wants to ask
All of you people who are criticizing Dick Cavett here should go through You Tube and find his interviews of politicians and others considered "important" during the 60s and 70s, especially in the run-up to and during the quagmire of Viet Nam. He was an excellent interviewer, extremely intelligent, and asked the sharp, pointed questions that no one today asks, because he pandered to no one. He wasn't "out of his depth" here, but he probably was bored.
I don't think that's the point at all, Gail. He may have been a terrific interviewer on other points or with other subjects, but this wasn't one of them at all.
Uh...It was ABBA...Only the biggest pop group on the planet. He shouldn't have been bored. He seemed like he didn't have any background info on them...ie. didn't prepare for the interview before it happened.
Have you ever watched one of Carson's "intellectual" interviews.? First we always had to get past Carson's comedy routine, which was often pretty sad. Merv Griffin, on the other hand, spent the first half of his show telling you about Merv Griffin.
I like Mr. Cavett. he always got a legendary interview out of Janis Joplin and others, Bowie, and John Lennon...he was just so straight-laced that the ostentatious personalities of these people clash so much, that something DIFFERENT comes out than an interview with Oprah or Jay "Moron" Leno.
OK. Recently read the context of how ABBA came to be interviewed by Dick Cavett. Apparently, ABBA was to originally be interviewed by Dick Clark. This is in Sweden, not the US, where both Dick Clark and Dick Cavett are. For whatever reason, Dick Clark had to cancel pretty much last minute. Guessing there were issues with Clark getting to Sweden on time. So, somehow, Dick Cavett was a last-minute fill-in for Dick Clark. So, hope this sheds a little more light for people on Cavett seemingly not being as prepared as he usually is. This Dick Clark last-minute cancellation explains a lot.
Nice to see the group, they did a great job live and you can hear how all their voices together sound great on "Don't fence me in"... that same mix of their voices in all of those wonderful records. And...Dick Cavett well he is a goober. The interviewer was bad, but ABBA was great!
They are geniuses. The same way Newton dreamed mathematical formulas that describe the physical relationship of forces in the universe; having had no formal training in mathematics; they compose music; then put vocals/lyrics over it; and create masterpieces; yet they don't know how to read sheet music. Same as people like Eddie Van Halen learned how to play like he did; yet says he never tool lessons and he does not know how to read sheet music. Pure Genius.....which most people just don't have the thought processes to do.
Well Carson started his show with his pathetic comedy routines. Griffin spent much of his show talking about Griffin. Then both of them brought out the insult comics. That's how intellectual their audiences were.
It's a shame that Cavett obviously didn't know that lots of famous bands never could write or read music: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and many more. So ABBA were no exception.
Unlike Carson who spent half his show doing his own unfunny comedy routine or Merv Griffin who dedicated more than half his show to his favorite topic, Merv Griffin?
such a pity the boys' greed allowed the execrable Mama Mia musical to take off the way it has - a denigration of their legacy (plus an insult to Agnetha and Frida, reducing ABBA to a 'songbook')
At least we had amazing music then and we got to see them do an interview and hear about their experiences, I don’t even care about the “energy” I just came to see ABBA. So maybe YOU should back off and go watch a different band, who by the way, will never be as god a as ABBA
Most interviews were like that in the past. In general, people spoke in a more calm and relaxed manner, not like the hyperactivity and fast paced conversations of present times.
Bronwen622 - i thought so too but he was "all over the board." on some occasions he was unrehearsed and thoughtless and unfunny. but he's doing a great job here.
I met Dick Cabett once after his act in Greenwich village. He said that he was going to appear on Johnny Carson's show and was worried that he couldn't remember what jokes he told on the first time he was there. I always liked him but consider him a horrible, awkward, and embarrassing interviewer. A Yallie perhaps but so dull.
I could only watch 3 minutes. Cavett's awkwardness is painful to watch, seems searching for a killer joke. Seriously, he creeps me out, like he's having an out of body experience. THIS is the guy who's supposed to be so cerebral? Seems juvenile to me, like a 13yr old with his first talk show.
Epic fail. For all five, the guests and the interviewer. Boring, silly, no one taking it seriously. both women were suffering at that time, Agnetha and Bjorn were in the middle of a divorce. What a painful and stupid time to do an interview.
Agnetha and Bjorn were already divorced at this time, it was Frida and Benny who were in the middle of a divorce but yeah i agree 100 percent this whole thing was a fail.
The Dick Cavett Show music is outstanding. The interview, not so much. A little bit like having to sit and watch paint dry while Cavett is scratching his nails down a chalkboard. He does nothing to loosen the atmosphere, he's not funny with his tongue-in-cheek humor, and he brings up nothing worthy of anything but the shortest of responses. As a result they all look like they would like to make a mad dash to the nearest exit at their first opportunity. I can't say I would have blamed them.
+Joe Palmer I, on the contrary, think in this part it was going reasonably well. They all seem to be on the same wavelength somehow, they probably smoked pot or something before the show. also it's possible the ABBA people are kind of gentle and slow talking themselves
+Bart Nixon Are you kidding me? Look back at some of their time with Noel Edmonds and tell me in comparison that they are on the same wavelength here. They did not smoke pot. You however, are quite obviously having a good time with it. Just Say No......
Joe Palmer As a matter of fact, I don't :) I just assumed it, cause I imagined all music stars in the 70s did... whatever, I was wrong... I was under the impression they had a nice time talking to each other, quite lighthearted. You are right in that I haven't seen many ABBA interviews so I might not have a good comparison. I will look at the interview you mentioned and perhaps then I'll see the difference.
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3:00...Dick was, indeed, correct. Agnetha was being modest. She had a #1 hit in Sweden when she was 17. She was a star at that point.
Dick Cavett is My favorite interviewer! I knew right away that they all felt uptight in this situation. Cavett wasnt at ease like he was with John Lennon or Paul Simon. It may be the mysterious Swedish aura. He matches/reflects the tone of his subjects. He's a true gentleman.
The problem is that Dick Cavett couldn't understand the genius of ABBA. Frida and Agnetha challenged each other vocally (there vocals were unreal) and were naturally insane harmonizers. Benny and Bjorn wrote some of the most amazing melodies and hooks ever written. Look at their album cuts, yes the lyrics are silly (um, try to write lyrics in Swedish), but the all of the elements that makes pop music magical floods from nearly every one of their songs.
This was the same core concept with The Beach Boys as well. Amazing harmonies and catchy melodies. It was unheard of at their time. I'm sure Brian Wilson is a an ABBA fan as well. Lol.
Lyrics are silly??? By no means! Maybe in the beginning of their career. But later they were masterpieces, little gems, rarely met at Anglo-Saxon performers. Read Head over heels, Knowing me, knowing you, Should I laugh or cry, Lay all your love on me, Piper, The winner takes it all, Visitors, The day before you came...
They really remind me of what Einstürzende Neubauten would later become
well said!
None of them can read or write music apart from Agnetha. It shows just how much of a divine gift it is.
So is with most of the greatest artists including Jimi Hendrix, EVH, The Fab Four, etc..!!! 🎸❤️🎹😋
His first question. What is the appeal of your act? Simple, one word TALENT!
I love how Dick Cavett creates such a relaxed atmosphere. We get to see and hear from the Artists at a level that feels natural. Wonderful style.
Frida: “I can see it from here.” Agnetha: “Frida!”😂😂
Actually, it was Agnetha that said that.
agnetha said that and frida said "three of them"
That’s definitely Agnetha who said that.
AWESOME Interview! I remember Björn saying in a past interview when he came up with the rhythm and/or song 'Take a Chance on me', he was joggin' and with every exhalation he took he wielded the words to that sound, which later applied to music sounded like the jogger exhaling air over and over.....the fab four from Svérige! :)
It's so funny how subdued and calm audiences were back then. Today everyone is so hyped, laughs hilariously, screams, cheers, etc. This interview is very awkward and strained for some reason.
Thank you for sharing this interview, this is one of my favourites. Edit /Chiquitita/
Amazing that Cavett was such a big deal at the time, no interview skills at all. Though I suspect the group had set guidelines ahead, such as "no questions on our marriages", etc. that may have hampered Cavett. There seemed to be great tension both between group members, who managed to ignore each other throughout, and between them and Cavett, who seems to to have been briefed as to who these people were about 5 minutes before showtime.
He often got interviews with stars who wouldn't go anywhere else; people such as Hepburn, and Groucho.
There weren't many Americans interviewing one of the world's greatest musical groups at that time.
He was a superb interviewer. He let his guests talk and didn't make it about himself.
Agnetha so beautiful
My favorite concert was part of DICK CAVETT MEETS ABBA 1981. After a meandering interview, they cut loose before a studio audience. They run through "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!," "Super Trouper," "Two For The Price Of One," "Slipping Through My Fingers," "Me And I," "Knowing Me Knowing You," "SummerNight City," "Thank You For The Music" and "On And On And On." "SummerNight City" retains its eerie prelude, and Benny rocks the house with "On And On And On."
Frida: quietly beautiful.
Dick Cavett reminds me a little of Conan O'Brien. He was ahead of his time. I also thought he was always polite with his guests, and asked as much as he could at that time period.:)
@Ted Ozdowski
Yeah. A really good MC brings in all the insult comics to criticize and offend everyone, the way Carson and Griffin did. Now that's real entertainment.
What?? Dick Cavett was one of the best of the era...Everyone knows that!!
well he wasnt showing anyone why he was the best of the era in this interview. its terrible. way too slow to actually get to the point and ask the question, and when he does it sounds like hes making it up as he goes along, rather than having pre planned questions he wants to ask
Ooh, even the group's humour can't save this one...
All of you people who are criticizing Dick Cavett here should go through You Tube and find his interviews of politicians and others considered "important" during the 60s and 70s, especially in the run-up to and during the quagmire of Viet Nam. He was an excellent interviewer, extremely intelligent, and asked the sharp, pointed questions that no one today asks, because he pandered to no one. He wasn't "out of his depth" here, but he probably was bored.
I don't think that's the point at all, Gail. He may have been a terrific interviewer on other points or with other subjects, but this wasn't one of them at all.
Let's agree to blame his booking agent, who was undoubtedly instructed by the network to book ABBA.
Uh...It was ABBA...Only the biggest pop group on the planet. He shouldn't have been bored. He seemed like he didn't have any background info on them...ie. didn't prepare for the interview before it happened.
Have you ever watched one of Carson's "intellectual" interviews.? First we always had to get past Carson's comedy routine, which was often pretty sad. Merv Griffin, on the other hand, spent the first half of his show telling you about Merv Griffin.
I like Mr. Cavett. he always got a legendary interview out of Janis Joplin and others, Bowie, and John Lennon...he was just so straight-laced that the ostentatious personalities of these people clash so much, that something DIFFERENT comes out than an interview with Oprah or Jay "Moron" Leno.
OK. Recently read the context of how ABBA came to be interviewed by Dick Cavett. Apparently, ABBA was to originally be interviewed by Dick Clark. This is in Sweden, not the US, where both Dick Clark and Dick Cavett are. For whatever reason, Dick Clark had to cancel pretty much last minute. Guessing there were issues with Clark getting to Sweden on time. So, somehow, Dick Cavett was a last-minute fill-in for Dick Clark. So, hope this sheds a little more light for people on Cavett seemingly not being as prepared as he usually is. This Dick Clark last-minute cancellation explains a lot.
Nice to see the group, they did a great job live and you can hear how all their voices together sound great on "Don't fence me in"... that same mix of their voices in all of those wonderful records. And...Dick Cavett well he is a goober. The interviewer was bad, but ABBA was great!
This interview took place a couple of months after Benny & Frida announced that they were getting divorced.
I really commend abba group for speaking English well 😊
They are geniuses. The same way Newton dreamed mathematical formulas that describe the physical relationship of forces in the universe; having had no formal training in mathematics; they compose music; then put vocals/lyrics over it; and create masterpieces; yet they don't know how to read sheet music. Same as people like Eddie Van Halen learned how to play like he did; yet says he never tool lessons and he does not know how to read sheet music. Pure Genius.....which most people just don't have the thought processes to do.
Agneta actually knew how to read notes (as it's called in her language).
Ahhh, Dick. Why sooo booorrrrriiiinnnngggg??? Good, Lord. Come, on, sir!!!! You’re interviewing ABBA!!!
Gawd he's awful!!! He's not funny, not witty, not insightful, just a total waste of space - how did his show last 10 plus years???
Ditto
Well Carson started his show with his pathetic comedy routines. Griffin spent much of his show talking about Griffin. Then both of them brought out the insult comics. That's how intellectual their audiences were.
William Overly That’s America!
It's a shame that Cavett obviously didn't know that lots of famous bands never could write or read music: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and many more. So ABBA were no exception.
Not bad, but the problem with all Dick Cavett interviews was always they had too much Dick Cavett.
Unlike Carson who spent half his show doing his own unfunny comedy routine or Merv Griffin who dedicated more than half his show to his favorite topic, Merv Griffin?
All you have to do is watch AMERICAN BANDSTAND S.O.S in the 70's
such a pity the boys' greed allowed the execrable Mama Mia musical to take off the way it has - a denigration of their legacy (plus an insult to Agnetha and Frida, reducing ABBA to a 'songbook')
Terrible interview. No energy.
It's not American football. Words count, not energy.
@@paulski2960 I agree!
At least we had amazing music then and we got to see them do an interview and hear about their experiences, I don’t even care about the “energy” I just came to see ABBA. So maybe YOU should back off and go watch a different band, who by the way, will never be as god a as ABBA
Aaron Mula wow. Calm down, tiger. No one is criticizing the band.
Most interviews were like that in the past. In general, people spoke in a more calm and relaxed manner, not like the hyperactivity and fast paced conversations of present times.
shrek is drek
Interesting that the couples are not next to each other this time.
That's because they were divorced by this time...at least Bjorn and Agnetha were. They were divorced in 1979.
Bronwen622 - i thought so too but he was "all over the board." on some occasions he was unrehearsed and thoughtless and unfunny. but he's doing a great job here.
I met Dick Cabett once after his act in Greenwich village. He said that he was going to appear on Johnny Carson's show and was worried that he couldn't remember what jokes he told on the first time he was there. I always liked him but consider him a horrible, awkward, and embarrassing interviewer. A Yallie perhaps but so dull.
Then maybe you should learn to spell his name.
At least Dick Cavett pronounced "Agnetha Fältskog" right
Agnetha promovendo esses aí
Very bad interviewer
Anyone else find Cavitt’s pathetic attempt to pronounce their names in a Swedish accent highly annoying?
I could only watch 3 minutes. Cavett's awkwardness is painful to watch, seems searching for a killer joke. Seriously, he creeps me out, like he's having an out of body experience. THIS is the guy who's supposed to be so cerebral? Seems juvenile to me, like a 13yr old with his first talk show.
Epic fail. For all five, the guests and the interviewer. Boring, silly, no one taking it seriously. both women were suffering at that time, Agnetha and Bjorn were in the middle of a divorce. What a painful and stupid time to do an interview.
Agnetha and Bjorn were already divorced at this time, it was Frida and Benny who were in the middle of a divorce but yeah i agree 100 percent this whole thing was a fail.
Why don't you take some anger management classes, you psychopath?
The Dick Cavett Show music is outstanding. The interview, not so much. A little bit like having to sit and watch paint dry while Cavett is scratching his nails down a chalkboard. He does nothing to loosen the atmosphere, he's not funny with his tongue-in-cheek humor, and he brings up nothing worthy of anything but the shortest of responses. As a result they all look like they would like to make a mad dash to the nearest exit at their first opportunity. I can't say I would have blamed them.
+Joe Palmer I, on the contrary, think in this part it was going reasonably well. They all seem to be on the same wavelength somehow, they probably smoked pot or something before the show. also it's possible the ABBA people are kind of gentle and slow talking themselves
+Bart Nixon Are you kidding me? Look back at some of their time with Noel Edmonds and tell me in comparison that they are on the same wavelength here. They did not smoke pot. You however, are quite obviously having a good time with it. Just Say No......
Joe Palmer As a matter of fact, I don't :) I just assumed it, cause I imagined all music stars in the 70s did... whatever, I was wrong... I was under the impression they had a nice time talking to each other, quite lighthearted. You are right in that I haven't seen many ABBA interviews so I might not have a good comparison. I will look at the interview you mentioned and perhaps then I'll see the difference.
Seriously such a horrific interviewer. Even Ellen is more interested in her guests than this.
Especially their looks.
Cavett was a very smart guy who let his guests talk.
Tolstoy111 Except in this interview.
Dick Cavett probably had to speak slower because they couldn't speak English well.