ABBA The Museum

God dag, musikälskare! (Good day, music lovers) You knew what's coming on Day 23, right?

Growing up I was a huge ABBA fan. Considering how young I was and that I spoke no English back then, I put a lot of effort into memorizing the lyrics without really having much idea what I was singing along to. For a few Christmases and birthdays I always wished for ABBA albums on cassette tape. That's how long ago this was ;-) Hubby likes their music as well, and even Colin is quite fond of it.

Of course, when we stayed in Stockholm for a few days and the weather wasn't all that great anyway, we just had to check out ABBA The Museum.

The entrance fee for an adult is about USD 30, and apparently people don’t mind spending it; it was sold out for the day we initially wanted to visit. Good thing we were still in town the next day. They give you a specific time slot for entry, and like true fans, we (along with everyone else) were waiting in line ahead of time.

Next you need to stow your jackets and bags in the lockers. These are located in a very small space, and in this space there are both people who are leaving and others who are just arriving. It's hot and stuffy, and the mechanism that asks you to enter your own code only works after a few attempts. So the atmosphere is a little tense until you finally reach the first exhibition room.

There you’re greeted by the original video from the Eurovision Song Contest 1974. Sing with me:

Waterloo
Couldn’t escape if I wanted to
Waterloo
Knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo
Finally facing my Waterloo

If you’re used to today’s videos and sound quality, you have to cut the 40-year-old clip some slack, but of course, it’s a classic, and all the visitors sing along happily (or at least hum shyly).

What can you see in this exhibition? Lots of original costumes from the 1970s, numerous gold and platinum records, and awards from all over the world. You can even step into a recreated Polar Music studio, sing along in a sound booth, or perform on stage with digital ABBA avatars. The museum is very interactive; perfect even if you’re not a typical museum person.

However, while the museum offers interactive elements, it's worth noting that some aspects feel a bit dated. Most original footage is in Swedish, which is understandable, but to follow along, you need to use headphones provided by the museum - headphones that have been worn by countless visitors - or scan a QR code to listen on your phone. Unfortunately, the audio from your device often gets drowned out by the loud music playing in the main exhibition room. Additionally, the rooms are quite small, and despite the time-slot system, it still feels crowded.

The exhibition is structured into phases of ABBA’s journey, starting with The Early Years (when the members were in different bands), leading to their Eurovision breakthrough, followed by ABBA mania, and finally covering life after the split. You’ll also see how the musical Chess came to life, how Mamma Mia! conquered stages and movie theaters, and how the band recently reunited in digital form with ABBA Voyage and a brand-new album.

The part I liked best was the four stands where you can watch a video dedicated to each band member. In it, they talk about their career and share personal anecdotes. To my surprise, I learned that Benny can’t read or write music; he’s a gifted composer who plays by ear and simply “makes up” songs on the piano. That’s why they collaborated closely with musical director Michael B. Tretow and later with Anders Eljas, a classically trained arranger who helped put their music on paper.

Speaking of paper... They even kept some fan letters!

ABBA The Museum opened its doors in 2013, so it's been around for over a decade now. 

While it's a must-visit for die-hard fans, I believe it's time for an overhaul to enhance the visitor experience. All in all, if you're in Stockholm and even remotely like ABBA, this museum is worth a visit, but perhaps manage your expectations regarding the facilities and crowd levels.

Were you an ABBA fan growing up? Which song brings back the most memories for you?