Agnetha: As I Am ~ A Review (As I Am: ABBA Before and Beyond- Agnetha Faltskog, Brita Ahman)

Member Name: keeperofthematri

Product:	As I Am: ABBA Before and Beyond- Agnetha Faltskog, Brita Ahman
Date:	22/05/09 (123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Agnetha's own opinions on things

Disadvantages: Quite short. Selective on what is discussed from the Abba period

Preface:

When it became clear that Brita Ahman was going to write this book about me and Norstedts wanted to publish it, I gave a great deal of though as to where I would set the boundaries. How deeply should I go? How honest should I be? What should I shed light on and what should I keep to myself? What balance should I strike?

For example, I don't want to reveal anything about the men in my life. There will be no details about why my relationships or marriage broke up. Now & again I mention Bjorn Ulvaeus because he is the father of my children. But I don't want to say anything about him or anyone else.

You see, I know all too well what I say can be misinterpreted.

Naturally, it's too soon to give a complete account of my life. Inference can't yet be drawn, my path has not been determined. I shall have more experiences and pass many more milestones.

Some already exist, and I am happy to talk about them while my memory is still fresh and before I am engulfed by new developments or one of life's sudden vagaries. The title of the book, As I Am, is taken from one of my early LPs.

It can be interpreted in two way; you may think it means I'm going to reveal all, but, if anything, it's a description of the kind of person I am - a little reserved. Actually, I never imagined collaborating on a book about my life!

However, I'm tired of the imagine that's been applied to me overv the years. So now I feel that I'd like to show a few glimpses of my life to my readers, something of my reality and some of my thoughts.


The book contains the following chapters:

P 11 - 18: New Year, Ekero
An introductory chapter. Agnetha mentions the loss of her parents & talks about her children.

P 19 - 26: Connie Francis Was My Great Idol
Dealing with the period from Agnetha's childhood to, at age 15, becoming the singer in Bernt Enghardt's orchestra

P: 27 - 32: Suddenly, One Day The Phone Rang
Agnetha's time with the Bernt's orchestra & move to becoming a solo recording star.

P: 33 - 42: He Had A Charming Voice
Agnetha has a year in Germany, meets Bjorn, Benny & Frida and gets married to Bjorn.

P 43 - 48: It Was Good Then
Agnetha becomes pregnant. There's a little discussion about the dynamics within the group. Ring Ring is a bit hit in Sweden. Agnetha admits it wasn't a great song.

P 49 - 62: A Few Important Years
From Ring Ring to Eurovision and Waterloo

P 63 - 76:There Was A Fever, There Were Ovations
Glossing over 1975 this chapter focuses on 1976, the year of "Arrival" & 1977 when Abba toured Australia.

P 77- 90: Abba's Last Tour Was A Success
The USA tour of 1979 & Agnetha's feelings on the separation from her children.

P 91 - 96: We Had Reached A Dividing Line
1983 ~ Abba fizzles out, Benny & Bjorn start work on "Chess", Agentha records the album "Wrap Your Arms Around Me"

P 97 - 102: When I'm Acting Out A Life
Promoting the album "Wrap Your Arms Around Me"

P 103 - 106: What's Your Favourite Colour
Deals with Agnetha's relationship with the press.

P 107 - 112: All The Years On Stage
An accident during an appearance with Noel Edmonds

P 113 - 118: I Remember The Last Awful Thump
Agnetha discusses her views about travel, including the infamous coach crash incident.

P 119 - 126: It Had Become A Gut Reaction Of Mine
Compares Agnetha & Greta Garbo as well as further discussions about her relationship with the press.

P 127 - 130: What Makes The Virtuoso Phenomenon So Interesting To The Public
The topic of the voice is discussed.

P 131 - 138: The Driving Force
Agentha's opinions on some of Abba's songs, videos & concerts

P 139 - 144: I Think A Lot About Life
How Agnetha relaxes & what she's "into".

P 145 - 149: There Was A Time
Summing up. Agnetha's break from music, her return to it & where she feels her life is at now.

P 150 - 159: Agnetha Faltskog Discography
+ Solo Work
+ Work with Abba


The preface says it all: if you're looking for gossip about Abba you won't find it here. The majority of the chapters in this book begin with Brita Ahman summarising where we're up to in Agnetha's life before Agentha chips in with her thoughts or memories about the period under discussion. You may find out that Agnetha thought that Waterloo was one of Abba's weaker songs or that she thought that The Winner Takes It All is a small masterpiece but, as the preface says, there's practically nothing about Bjorn or the internal workings of Abba when they were the biggest pop group on the planet.

The book has been lavished with around 120 photographs, although you're left wondering whether this is to cover up the fact that, if you take the photos away the book would be around half the length it currently is (around 80 pages as opposed to 160).

Obviously, Abba takes up a portion of the book but even this is selective. The lack of success between Waterloo & SOS isn't really mentioned or discussed & neither is Abba: The Movie. Then, of course, we jump from Abba's US tour of 1979 to the last days of the group in 1983. No mention of any of the work that went into th albums Super Trouper & The Visitors.

All in all strictly a book for decdicated Agnetha fans only

Summary: One for Agnetha fans only