ABBA Reunion
he ABBA Reunion show is coming to Tthe Bedford Corn Exchange this month, as part of a UK National tour . I caught up with Vikki Holland-Bowyer , who plays the part of Frida, on one of her more :normal family days". She's at home in Staffordshire where she lives with fiance Greg, who plays Benny, and
her 14-year-old son.
An ABBA fan through and through , Vikki was captured by their Swedish sounds at the age of 7, when she saw the ABBA movie . "The original movie in 1979, not Mamma Mia!" she is quick to point out. 'My sister and I used to pretend to be ABBA in front of the mirror. It's funny now, I never thought I'd be in a tribute band."
Fast forward to present day, and the reunion band have visited numerous countries , including France , Germany , India and Holland , as well as a nerve-racking trip to Sweden and a freezing visit to Mongolia . India, as Vikki explains , was one of her favourite trips , "We had to keep telling people we weren't the real ABBA", she laughed. "People didn't know they'd split up, so we'd have people running up to us in the street and on the beach, shouting 'Hello ABBA! ' It was a great
experience and we absolutely loved it. One of the best things about this job is that it takes you to places you'd never dream of going to otherwise ."
From the way she talks about ABBA and their music , it is clear that Vikki is a real fan . She explains, "Their songs are great to perform because they 're all so different. I think my favourite has got to be Dancing Queen . The audiences ' reaction to it is always phenomenal , and it's got some fantastic harmonies, which are great to sing."
She goes on to explain her love for many of their other songs, 'It's rare to get such heartfelt lyrics from a band, especially one where English isn't their first language. Eagle means the most to me though . My dad used to love ABBA and it was his favourite song . He passed away five years ago , and now whenever I perform it I think of him, so that one really means the most.'
In true Phonebox style , we also ask Vikki which music would accompany her on a desert island. 'Well, being an ABBA fan it would have to be Dancing Queen , but if forced to stray away from ABBA , I think a Pink Floyd album. '
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