Ulvaeus pens support for ‘Day of Girl Child’
LONDON, Oct 11, (AP): ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus grew up in at a time when his education was valued more than his sister’s, and he wants it to be different for girls around the world.
That’s the approach he took with his daughters, drawing inspiration from the women in his life.
“I’ve been surrounded by women, strong women for a long time,” Ulvaeus said, speaking about the need to empower female voices ahead of Sunday’s International Day of the Girl Child.
The day “it should be a cause for celebration, but the sad thing is that this girl child deserves so much more than the old men who rule the world are prepared to give her,” Ulvaeus wrote in a piece to support the day that he first shared with The Associated Press.
The piece begins: “Take a look at the old men who rule the world. With few exceptions their powers rest on cultures, religions and ideologies that suppress women.”
Ulvaeus said he was inspired to write about the need to support International Day of the Girl Child.
In 2011, the United Nations declared Oct. 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child to promote girls’ rights and address the challenges girls face around the world.
In his piece, Ulvaeus writes about how these powerful men are “afraid of the girl child” because “she represents a threat to their power Iike none other.”
“You could see it with Greta Thunberg,” he told the AP, speaking about the teenage Swedish climate change activist. “They got so ridiculously mad and irritated and, you know. And it is because the girl child is such a strong symbol for equality, for a better world, but a world where they wouldn’t exist.”
Ulvaeus said growing up, his father “thought it was more important that I got an education than my sister” and then started his early career in an all-male group, The Hootenanny Singers. But he says he was always “very inquisitive and very skeptical and honest.”
“There’s nothing really that says that men and women should have these roles that we read about. Early on, I could see through that. And I could see there’s no good reason,” he said of his viewpoint shift he had when he was about 30. “So I think that’s why and when I became more or less a feminist without even saying it that at the time.”
On his later career he explains, “Most of the projects I’ve done, like ‘Mamma Mia,’ have been, you know basically, female projects with me in it.”
And for his three daughters, there have always been strong female influences.
“They never knew of any other future than an equal one because they could see it at home. They could see it close up.
Agnetha (Fältskog) was an extremely strong woman who I was married to first in ABBA. And my present wife, Lena, since, many, many years back, she’s also very strong.”
And when it comes to his six granddaughters and the next generation of young girls, he has some optimism.
“For them as human beings, I’m very optimistic because they are very open. They are not afraid of saying what they feel.”
Ulvaeus has also taken some positives from his months of self-isolation and believes he will travel less when the global pandemic is over.
“It’s been in a way very, very calm and very good for me, because there’s been time for reflection. There’s been time for all kinds of things that you don’t have time for when you rush between airports.”
Speaking via Zoom he adds, “personally, I think that 80%, at least of all my meetings will take place like this, from now.”
ABBA will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2021 and for fans awaiting the promised new music from the band, Ulvaeus remains tight-lipped and philosophical.
“I’ve been saying things about it and it’s been wrong, so I would much rather not say anything right now, but it’ll be there eventually. That’s all I can say.”
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O’FALLON, Mo.: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra can’t give concerts in Powell Symphony Hall due to coronavirus restrictions, so musicians are taking performances straight to patrons — even to their homes.
The symphony recently began its “On the Go” series that involves outdoor chamber music performances for crowds of 50 or less, as well as one-onone performances in which symphony musicians visit and perform for individuals or families at their homes.
The chamber music performances will be at various places, including health care facilities around St. Louis to show support for the work that medical professionals have done in the fight against COVID-19, symphony spokesman Eric Dundon said recently.
The St. Louis region has been hit harder by the coronavirus than any other area of the state. While Republican Gov. Mike Parson allowed Missouri to reopen for business in mid-June, St. Louis city and county continue to have strict regulations aimed at slowing the spread of the virus, including limits on in-person gatherings. Powell Symphony Hall has not hosted a concert since March.
The symphony’s 2020-2021 season will include digital performances, concert broadcasts and educational outreach in addition to the small-gathering live performances, Dundon said.
Plans call for the “On the Go” performances several times each week through early October. In addition to health care facilities, concerts will be at places like senior centers and libraries, and some will be in public spaces in places like Forest Park. The concerts are free and masks are mandatory.
“There is no replacement for the joy of making and sharing music in person with audiences, and we are thrilled to once again bring live music, safely, to our community,” Stephane Deneve, music director for the symphony, said in a news release.
The symphony said the concerts at homes will “connect individuals to the power of music through intimate, 20-minute experiences.” Those concerts also are free.