Mamma Mia!

It's a little known fact that Abba failed to qualify as the Swedish entry for the annual Eurovision Song Contest the first time they entered in 1973, coming in third in the national competition with "Ring ring." The following year, they came back with a new song, and went all the way to the top. "Waterloo" became their first number one single in big markets like the UK and Germany.

In Sweden, nothing has ever managed to eclipse the success of Abba, but the Swedes retain high expectations for Eurovision.

"We are so, so proud of Abba in all aspects, from Eurovision, to Mamma Mia," Christer Bjorkman, head of the Swedish delegation, told Deutsche Welle. He'll be accompanying this year's candidate, Eric Saade, to the contest in Düsseldorf in May.

"Apart from Abba we've also had three more victories. And for a small country to have four victories - which puts us in that exclusive group - has made us spoiled!" added Bjorkman.

Discerning viewers

Bjorkman says the Swedish public demands a good result at Eurovision every year, and that his head is on the block if it doesn't go according to plan. He likens it to being a football coach. Last year, the Swedish candidate failed to even make it into the final.

"We've been really lousy the last four, five years," Bjorkman admitted. We're struggling with that and we don't really know why, and we're trying to figure out the key to change that. Hopefully we've found it this year."

Abba has given Scandinavian music a higher profile around the world than it might have otherwise had, said Staffan Landell from the Swedish record label Hitworks, which launches Swedish acts on the international market.

"Suddenly people have opened up their eyes to the fact that there's good pop music coming from Sweden, so they really laid the foundation for a lot of other artists and song writers," said Landell. "I think the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden was even big before Abba, but they sort of made it bigger."

Must-see television

One confirmed Abba fan is Dan Jay-Olsson, who runs the gay bar Monarki in downtown Stockholm. On Eurovision night the restaurant will be packed with regulars.

"We have one big screen where everyone can watch from all the seats in the restaurant," Jay-Olsson explained. "Everyone is not totally focused, because they're here to enjoy food and drink as well, but when they start counting the points, people will be quiet!"

Jay-Olsson is planning a Eurovision competition for the customers, with the prize of a free dinner for whichever table gets the most points.

Going to a screening such as this is a popular way to watch the show - above all, it is a social occasion in Sweden.

There's hope that Eric Saade will do well this time round with his song "Popular." It may be nearly 40 years since Abba's Eurovision debut, but Saade still has the expectation of a nation riding on his shoulders.

Author: Joanna Impey, Stockholm
Editor: Michael Lawton / Kate Bowen