Free day: ABBA museum (Stockholm)
In Stockholm I got to through the ABBA museum. I am a big fan of ABBA and grew up on their music. Going to a museum dedicated to them made my day. This museum was so interactive and had a lot of information about the group before and after their days as a music group. Visitors had the opportunity to be the fifth member of the group. There was a recording studio, silent disco sessions, and a place where you could perform with the group. You learn about each member and how they created the groups. You walked through their stages of life with how they got famous and how that impacted their life. It was so much fun to look at their costumes and to hear their songs.
I don't think ABBA had a huge impact of Sweden history or culture but people associate ABBA to Stockholm. They were first introduce to the world by winning Eurovision for Stockholm (the song that won was Waterloo). They made music a huge part of Stockholm and it is incorporated into their culture. Their music has a lot of emotions and meaning to it but is also enjoyable to listen to. The songs can make make you dance and make you cry. People can relates to their songs. A lot of people have grew up from their music and it is so cool to see how that Swedish group has spread their culture all over the world.
Abba contribute to Stockholm status as a cultural capital by showing how creative and musical skilled they are. It shows the importance music has in Stockholm and that they are proud of their artists. The artists also shows that they are proud to be from Stockholms. The music brings attraction to Stockholm and attracts people to visit there to see where these great artist grew up. Their music is popular everywhere and without knowing it, every one has listens to a piece of Swedish music. Abba music is a part of Stockholm culture and ABBA music has intrigue people to visit the city.
It was so fun going to the ABBA museum with you Audrey! I wish we could go back! Music can contribute to what makes a cultural capital, and Stockholm clearly uses it to its advantage. I think the ABBA museum really enhances Stockholm as a cultural capital because it celebrates the globally influential band that is closely associated with the city.
ReplyDeleteSo awesome!! I love ABBA so much and I feel that they strengthen the city's position as a cultural capital because they have kind of brought Sweden to the rest of the world. I also like what you said there at the end about how they demonstrate Sweden's love for music. It was also cool to see that Swedes love ABBA just as much as we do, if not more! I always just assumed they would have been sick of always being associated with them but they are not!
ReplyDeleteHey Audrey! I liked how you emphasized the interactive nature of the museum--something we haven't seen a lot of. Your candor talking about the modest impact on Swedish culture was informative. Your comments on how ABBA drew the public eye to Stockholm drove home your points on the city's status as a cultural capital.
ReplyDeleteHey Audrey! Glad you also enjoyed the ABBA museum. One thing you talked about was how people love the emotion and lyrics of ABBA but I was reminded that ABBA only sings in English. Although the members were Swedish, their songs do not necessarily contain Swedish themes making it puzzling how we feel they represent Sweden. It brings up a curious discussion of how western culture has influenced European cities as cultural capitals.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Audrey! One thing you mentioned was that ABBA is huge in Stockholm. When I was in Stockholm I heard ABBA constantly on the radio in different stores and buildings, and it adds to the city being a cultural capital. While ABBA does not represent traditional Swedish things like Skansen does they reflect how Sweden and Stockholm are modern and global places!
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