The Scoop🇸🇪 Sweden

ABBA Voyage sails to global chart success

Their final album has topped the charts of 19 countries!

Earlier this year ABBA announced their comeback with brand new music after a 40-year absence. Along with an ambitious, digitally produced, live ABBA Voyage Tour. Recently the Eurovision 1974 winning super troopers released ninth studio album Voyage, a journey the ABBAMania fanatics had been waiting decades for. More than worth the wait, the album has now charted at no.1 in 19 countries worldwide. As well as smashing UK chart records.

ABBA break UK chart records with Voyage

Since its release on November 5th, the latest ABBA album, Voyage has sailed to new heights in the global charts. The ten-track album, which stays faithful to ABBA’s Schlager-Pop origins, whilst adding new production elements not available in the 70s, has captured the hearts of ABBA fans old and new. Already lead singles ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’ and ‘I Still Have Faith In You’ stormed the UK charts – the former became ABBA’s first top 10 hit for 40-years.

Over recent weeks ABBA have picked up right where they left us in 1981. With Voyage breaking the UK pre-order record previously held by Take That in 2010, with over 110,000 copies sold in advance. Last Friday, Voyage sailed to no.1, becoming their first studio album to top the UK charts since The Visitors in 1981 and their tenth album in total to top the Official UK Charts – out-selling the rest of the top 40 combined. Meanwhile in its first weeks sales, Voyage sold 204,000 copies, making it the fastest-selling album of 2021. These sales also include 29,900 vinyl copies, which makes it the fastest-selling vinyl release of the 21st century. Thus with a combined total of 58 weeks at no.1 on the UK album charts, only The Beatles and Elvis have spent more time at the top of the charts.

Worldwide ABBAMania is back

Although they have been away for almost 40-years, the global phenomenon that is ABBA and the ABBAMania fever, is still alive and well. Back in their Swedish homeland, the album dominated the Sverigetopplistan – with all ten tracks occupying the top 30 in the singles chart. While the album became the groups eighth studio album to reach the no.1 spot.

Beyond their shores Voyage has sailed to worldwide acclaim. Over in Australia, Voyage topped the ARIA charts and became the first studio album to do so since Arrival in 1976 and third studio album overall. However it is always the glass ceiling of the US charts that every act wants to crack. Finally, for the first time ever this week, ABBA smashed into the top 10 of the Billboard 200 – with Voyage becoming their highest charting album in America, reaching no.2. In the process they also topped Billboards Top Album Sales and Vinyl Albums charts. Thus at 82,000 copies it is the best-selling album of the week and the largest from a group in 2021.

Overall Voyage has reached no.1 in 19 countries so far. These include, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

The final ABBA Voyage

Recently the group announced the Voyage album and accompanying tour would be their last project together. Setting sail on a high, ABBA have promised revolutionary performances of new songs and old favourites on tour in 2022. Unlike a traditional concert, the Voyage Tour will see the band emerge as digital avatars of themselves from 1979. Together with the team at Industrial Light & Magic, a 3,000 seat purpose built arena located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, will be home to ABBA’s latest tour from 27th May 2022. More dates are continually being added, with tickets available here.

Next month ABBA will release the jolly festive single ‘Little Things’. A track to remind everyone of that warm family feeling on Christmas morning. The song will be released on December 3rd, with the music video to follow.

History of ABBA

One of the most successful acts of all time, ABBA have amassed over 400million albums sold worldwide, 17 No. 1 hits and over 16million weekly global streams. Ever since their breakthrough with ‘Waterloo’ in 1974, ABBA’s music has captured the hearts of people worldwide. Today, the songs they created – written and produced by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and interpreted vocally with passion and commitment by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad – are regarded as an important part of the international music canon. During the 21st Century, ABBA are more popular than ever.

Originally released in 1992, ABBA Gold recently passed its 1000th week on the UK Album Chart. The first album in history to reach this milestone. Furthermore content using the #ABBA hashtag on TikTok recently reached one billion views, without the catalogue officially being available on the platform. ABBA was inducted into the Rock N’Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Meanwhile ‘Dancing Queen’, one of their most beloved songs, was added to the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2015.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0uUtGVj0y9FjfKful7cABY?si=kyiLW6nWQMefumkd53wpfg

Have you enjoyed ABBA Voyage and its chart success? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to follow us on Spotify for the latest music from your favourite Eurovision acts. As well as YouTube to see our reactions to the news in the run up to the 2022 contest in Turin!

4 Comments

  1. A Fantastic album. It has to grow on you though. But once you get it, you get it.

    Lyrics and music that will stand the test of time.

    Ode To Freedom makes my pores raise everytime.

  2. What a comeback!! The album is absolutely fantastic. Have lost non of their great composing and singing. Long my they have continued success with this album!

  3. Amazing album that shows every aspect of ABBA\’s talent as stylists and songwriters. The release of \”Voyage\” is the best music event of 2021.

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