Music News

Duffy offered Bjorn Ulvaeus ABBA song

Apr 8, 2009, 9:05 GMT

09/05/2008 - Bjorn Ulvaeus - The former ABBA star - who shot to fame when they won the Eurovision song contest in 1974 with \'Waterloo\' - would love to collaborate with the Welsh singer because he is a huge fan of her "unusual" voice. © Pixplanete / PR Photos

Bjorn Ulvaeus wants to team up with Duffy.

The former ABBA star - who shot to fame when they won the Eurovision song contest in 1974 with 'Waterloo' - would love to collaborate with the Welsh singer because he is a huge fan of her "unusual" voice.

He said: "I always listen to Duffy's hit 'Mercy' when I'm in the car. She's fantastic, very unusual. I love her original sound and distinctive voice.

"If Duffy asked to use ABBA's music and did it cleverly in the way Madonna did, I might consider agreeing to it."

Madonna sampled the group's hit 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) on her song 'Hung Up'.

Although he is a Duffy fan, the 63-year-old musician - who was previously married to his ABBA bandmate Agnetha Faltskog - doesn't enjoy all modern music.

He explained: "I don't like bands which are manufactured. The Beatles, who wrote their own music, are for me the ideal in terms of greatness. The band equivalent today is Coldplay."

Bjorn - who this week celebrated the 10th anniversary performance of hit musical 'Mamma Mia!', which is based on the pop group's songs, in London's West End theatre district - admits he is surprised at how popular ABBA still are.

The songwriter said: "Who would have thought the Eurovision would have led to all this?"

The Swedish quartet - which was also comprised of Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad - recently topped a list of artists fans most want to see make a comeback.