ABBA’s BBC TV documentary special will not air in December as their new song ‘I Still Have Faith In You’ isn’t ready yet.
The Swedish pop superstars – Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Frida Lyngstad – teased the track along with ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’, their first new music in 35 years made for their forthcoming avatar tour, in April, but songwriter Benny has now revealed they are delaying the festive programme until 2019 to complete the songs.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: "It was planned for the end of this year.
"But I think we are talking about the beginning of next year now.
"I am very proud of both songs. One is like a pop song from the Seventies. The other one is kind of timeless."
The broadcaster also confirmed that the show – which had a running title of ‘Thank You For The Music’ – is now going to air next year.
They said: "The ABBA TV special will be broadcast in 2019."
Bjorn previously teased that the new songs are "uplifting" and "timeless".
He said: "One of them is a pop tune, very danceable.
"The other is more timeless, more reflective, that is all I will say. It is Nordic sad, but happy at the same time.
"I think that exuberant quality of the two ladies [Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad] together singing, that makes the saddest song a bit uplifting. I think that is what happens and that [it] is very organic: [it] isn’t calculated, [it] just happened that way."
The ‘Dancing Queen’ hitmakers got back together for their hologram tour, which sees the four members projected in avatar form.
Benny had hinted that a third song could be released once the tour is launched.
He said: "Yeah it is but don’t tell anyone. If we do a third one, it won’t be out until we go on the road."
However, he has cast doubt on the band releasing a full album of new material unless there is a "really good reason".
He said: "It’s good to have a reason to do what you do and this avatar tour is a reason to come up with something.
"Doing another album is like doing ‘Mamma Mia 3’, what is the point unless there is a good reason, good script, good environment? It is such a joyful experience, so that is a reason to do it."
The group – who shot to fame after winning ‘The Eurovision Song Contest’ in 1974 – will be giving fans the chance to see their biggest hits and new songs performed on their digital tour by computer-generated ‘Abbatars’.
The run of dates are being lined up for 2019 or the year after.
ABBA delay new music and BBC documentray
