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ABBA star swaps pop for jingles on classical radio

Updated April 30 2024 - 5:45pm, first published 5:41pm
ABBA's Benny Andersson has composed 37 short melodies for Swedish classical radio station P2. (AP PHOTO)
ABBA's Benny Andersson has composed 37 short melodies for Swedish classical radio station P2. (AP PHOTO)

ABBA star Benny Andersson has swapped pop for classical music in a new role with a Swedish radio station.

The 77-year-old composed 37 short melodies for the classical radio station P2, national broadcaster Sveriges Radio said.

A selection of the compositions were chosen to be used as jingles on the station this week.

Andersson agreed to the opportunity immediately, Sveriges Radio said, as he wanted to find out whether he could write snappy jingles as well as longer pieces.

He composed the melodies with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and plays piano in the recordings.

Andersson enjoyed global fame in the 1970s as a member of ABBA alongside Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The band is best known for hits such as Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia and Waterloo and returned in 2021 to release a final album, Voyage.

Australian Associated Press