Top 30 Bjorn Ulvaeus Quotes

In the beginning of my career, I wanted to be chased by girls more than anything – that’s why I got the guitar. By the time we were in ABBA, the music was the only important thing.

My concern is to keep religion and the state separated. I don’t think that religion and politics go together. When you see political decisions colored by religion, decisions that affect us all… I thought: ‘I do not want to go back to medieval times.’

There is a very vibrant cultural scene in Stockholm. There are lots of places where there are concerts, and there are loads of museums and theaters.

The story of Jesus is very fascinating. It still has such a tremendous power, even after 2,000 years! We don’t really know if he existed as a historical figure.

I used to look so immature, like a young man without self-confidence. There was one particular light blue, shiny cape outfit I wore that still makes me cringe.

Religion is the root of so much misery in the world, and I’ve always thought there is lack of criticism against it.

I want people to remember ABBA as we were. I don’t think that four geriatrics wheeled on stage is what we should leave as our legacy.

All these years later, I have almost no memory of the shows themselves. It’s a blur. I remember my jogging runs better – that was my way of getting my energy together. I used to try to get to the arena as late as possible; otherwise, I’d just be pacing around, waiting to go on.

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away from a summer on the Stockholm archipelago.

England was always very special. It was so important because the reason Benny and I started writing was the Beatles. During the Sixties, England was everything. To be number one in England was more important than being number one in America because England set the tone.

I’m so incredibly tired of giving respect to a lot of delusions and crazy ideas just because they are regarded as religions.

I believe that religion should be totally separated from the state. That’s not the way it is today, not even in Sweden.

Some values must be universal, like human rights and the equal worth of every human being.

And also a lot of Muslims are no more religious then the average Swede. For them it’s natural that human rights come first.

It could be seen as narcissistic to have your own museum, but for me, it’s such a long time ago – I have perspective. That young man in the funny clothes – he’s almost a stranger, so I can tell his story.

I hear a really good pop song every now and then. ‘ROAR’ by Katy Perry, I love that! ‘Poker Face’… Oh! What a song! And ‘Rolling in the Deep’… Oh!

If you were to ask me what I couldn’t do without, it would be sashimi.

Folk music is where I come from originally. The very first thing that introduced me to playing guitars at all was skiffle – my cousin had been in London the summer that skiffle was big.

I do think that it’s better for a musical to live its life first because if you see it on the screen, would you like to go to the theater after that? Probably not. You’ve seen it. And that’s the mystery of a musical that hasn’t been filmed. You’re bloody meant to go there and buy your ticket.

Everyone should pursue whatever is original in oneself. That’s the way for a long life in music.

Before the Beatles, songwriters were very anonymous people and nobody paid any attention to them.

Well mostly in song writing my experience is that there isn’t so much inspiration as hard work. You sit there for hours, days and weeks with a guitar and piano until something good comes.

If that doomsday scenario happens, will it help if you have heaps of paper money? I don’t think so.

Every time I sit in the audience and watch a show that I have been involved with, it is such an amazing feeling to see all those people around me, knowing they are actually watching and enjoying something I have written.

Of course, we wore silly outfits, the pictures were corny, and some people still focus on that. But ABBA wasn’t a big intellectual thing. We were a pop group.

Sweden is an open, liberal, secular and democratic country. We strive towards achieving equality; we are forward-looking and refuse to be pulled back by social constructs such as religion.

I promise you, ABBA will never reform – I couldn’t bear the stress of disappointing everyone.

There are still many places I haven’t seen that I’d like to travel to. I’ve never seen the Pyramids, and I’d love to explore the culture in North India. I think walking in the Andes would also be awesome.

Lennon and McCartney have the best catalogue of songs ever produced. It will never be surpassed.

Critics used to say that ABBA were formulaic or that our songs were rubbish. We never had time for those comments, though. We were sincere and devoted to what we did.