Y - Issue 246 - November 27, 2012 - Y-oman.com

in depth
November 27, 2012 Issue 246
was to come to Sweden. She auditioned
as Donna for the Swedish version of the
musical and still remembers the moment
she received a call from none other than
Benny Andersson himself to let her know
she got the part.
“It was quite amazing. I couldn’t stay still”
she gushes, before mimicking Benny
Andersson’s voice. “‘Hello, how are you
This is Benny Andersson,’ he said at first.
Then he just asked me: ‘Do you want a
job’ He told me that he loved my singing
and that was it. To me, it was a dream to
get to do this musical, having been a huge
ABBA fan myself.”
The musical opened in 2005 and toured
Sweden until 2007 when it came to an end
after 550 shows. But the ABBA frenzy did
not stop there for Backman. Not ready to
give up singing the music she grew up
with, the singer continued to play ABBA
tracks in concerts in Sweden and abroad,
which has led her to Muscat. “This show
20
is very special. It is specially made for
this event in Muscat,” reveals Backman.
“What we are doing is a concert with the
original trio of singers from the Swedish
musical. There are more songs in this
concert that in the original production.”
The ABBA music show about to take place
in Muscat was meant to be a small gig for
the Swedish expats of the area. But since
its announcement, the organisers have
sold more than 1,500 tickets, attracting a
variety of nationalities, be they Swedish,
Omani, British or Indian. For Backman and
probably for many other fans around the
world and of different ages, ABBA means
a variety of things. It is the music one grew
up with or the ridiculous, flamboyant outfits
that one copied. But it is also a powerful
Swedish symbol.
“ABBA is very important for Sweden” she
explains “We’ve performed in many places.
We’ve been from Hong Kong to India and
the wonderful thing is that people love the
music everywhere.”
Which is what makes ABBA so special;
its universal appeal. But what is it about
ABBA, and not the hundreds of other
bands of the era, that struck such a chord
Why is ABBA so appealing even today
For Backman it is the joy that comes from
the songs and the sounds that transcend
cultural barriers. “There is a certain
worldliness to ABBA which I think makes
it easier for the audience,” she explains.
“Benny and Bjorn created a distinct
sound and gave Scandinavia a voice.”
A Scandinavian voice it may be, but it
is a voice that is still recognised in any
language.
Mamma Mia takes place November 29
at the InterContinental hotel. Tickets can
bought at the venue for OR20, or for OR15
if you buy ten. For more information go to
www.facebook.com/MammaMiaMuscat