ABBA's Ulvaeus Sparks Controversy With Boston Comment

By: Apr. 16, 2013
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ABBA songwriter and band member as well as the man behind the scores for the musicals MAMMA MIA!, CHESS and KRISTINA appeared on the UK morning show BBC ONE BREAKFAST today in honor of ABBA's 40th anniversary of winning the Eurovision song competition with "Waterloo", but the attention now is on anything but the pop group's heyday of worldwide success.

Indeed, "Waterloo" was not the only disaster to occur after Ulvaeus made a mild, seemingly innocent remark many are taking to heart and deeming inappropriate given the tragic events in Boston yesterday.

When asked how he maintains his youthful, healthy appearance closing in on 70 (he turns 68 next week), Ulvaeus said, "I don't know, running is good - unless you are in the Boston Marathon."

He quickly added that the events were "terrible, terrible, terrible," but the damage had apparently already been done.

Also, insofar as an ABBA reunion on the horizon? Ulvaeus says, "It is the inevitable question. No, we wouldn't - I mean, there would have to be a very strong motivation."

He continued, "The motivation would have to be that we have something fantastic musically to present to the world again, but sadly we don't have that."

So, do you think his comment was intentionally inappropriate in this context or do you find it to be conversationally acceptable given the focus of the interview?

View the video of the BBC ONE BREAKFAST interview with Ulvaeus below and decide.


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