What better way for Abba to christen their new London venue than with a rendition of the EastEnders theme tune?
On the opening night of the Swedish pop legends’ Voyage concert experience, which features CGI ‘Abba-tars’ designed to recreate the band in their Seventies heyday, Benny Andersson’s digital avatar paid tribute to the show’s east London home in the Olympic Park by performing the iconic soap theme on the piano.
The tune then segued into the opening keyboard riff from SOS, which was one of 20 hits performed by the state of the art holograms over the course of a 95-minute set.
The ‘Abba-tars’ also made a dig at the UK Eurovision judging panel’s famous decision to award the group ‘nul points’ in 1974 before their rendition of Waterloo, the track which would win the song competition, held that year in Brighton, and kickstart their pop career.
The work of digital artists from Imperial Light and Magic, the special effects company set up by Star Wars creator George Lucas, the holograms were backed up by a 10-piece live band.
All four members of Abba reunited in London for the first time since 1982 to mark the opening night, and watched from the crowd as classics like Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia and Fernando, as well as newer tracks like Don’t Shut Me Down, got fans on their feet.
Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad last appeared in the capital together in 1982 for an interview on The Late Late Breakfast Show with Noel Edmonds, which aired shortly before they announced their split and featured what would become their final TV performance.
The group took to the stage in person after the digital set had finished to thank the crowd.
The opening night was attended by an array of famous faces ranging from the King and Queen of Sweden to Keira Knightley, whose musician husband James Righton was tasked with putting together the show’s live band, Jarvis Cocker, Sadiq Khan, Kylie Minogue and Elaine Paige.
