25 reasons why ABBA is one of the greatest, gayest bands of all time
Next year, it will be the 50th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest in which a then-unknown Swedish quartet took the world by storm singing about Napoleon. And, over the (nearly) five decades that followed, generations of people—and let’s face it, particularly queer people—have rushed to the dance floor as soon as the opening synth notes of one of ABBA’s many mega-hits start to play.
ABBA’s albums are an essential part of our record collections. Their songs and lyrics are imprinted on our collective memories, sparkling with glitter and disco strobe lights. Their legacy lives on in Broadway musicals, record-smashing movies, and live shows.
But what is it about ABBA that has kept them relevant in culture for this long, especially among the LGBTQ+ community? What makes ABBA one of the gayest bands that has ever lived? Well, here are 25 reasons that prove why:
1. Eurovision
ABBA broke into the scene by winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. The competition is consistently one of the queerest cultural events in Europe, with its dramatic and flamboyant performances and penchant for catchy pop tunes.
In other words, the band couldn’t have chosen a gayer way to make their entrance onto the world stage.
2. Their costumes
If you picture ABBA, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is their outrageous disco-inspired outfits—covered in glitter, sparkle, and sequins.
These were all the work of famed gay costume designer Owe Sandström, who clearly understood the assignment of making memorable costuming, rather than just performance clothes.
3. Their love affairs
It’s known that “ABBA” stands for the initials of each of their members: Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus ,and Agnetha Fältskog. The amalgamation of their names was not just for the brand, as the two couples dated, married, and eventually divorced each other through their career.
This never created too much drama (cough, cough, Fleetwood Mac), and it usually influenced the songwriting in beautiful ways. And that’s pretty queer!
4. Their videos
Probably just as iconic as their outfits is some of the imagery of their music videos. The vast majority of them were directed by Lasse Hallström, who would later become an Oscar-nominated Hollywood director behind films like The Cider House Rules, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and Chocolat.
We can thank him for popularizing the ‘ABBA shot’: with two people in the frame, one looks sideways while the others looks forward.