We know times are strange at the moment, but who would have thought ABBA would reform.
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A media release dropped in our inbox on Friday morning from NSW Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres.
Stuey was getting in on the ABBA hype quick-smart. Perhaps he could smell the Money, Money, Money.
Stuey said that ABBA had "showcased Sydney as part of a global activation to announce the release of the band's first new music in 38 years".
Mamma Mia!
Knowing me, Knowing You, we reckon almost everyone is surprised by this news. Who doesn't have the songs of the classic Swedish band grooved into their brains?
Perhaps because it's a pandemic ABBA's fans put out a subliminal S.O.S to the band to bring the music back.
Anyhow, Stu went on to say that ABBA had launched the first singles off its new album, Voyage.
"Striking avatars of ABBA stars Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid illuminated the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge overnight in tandem celebration with nine other cities around the world," he said.
"Sydney joined Berlin, Cape Town, London, New York, Reykjavik, Rio, Stockholm and Tokyo in commemorating the much-anticipated album, with vision of ABBA-fied icons from each city featured in a livestream on ABBA's official YouTube channel."
Stu described this tribute as "fitting recognition of ABBA as one of the world's most enduring bands".
"Sydney is the only city in Australia to be included in the event with other great cities around the world, positioning us as Australia's only truly global city and heart of the creative industries," Mr Ayres said.
Nice dig at Melbourne and Brissy there, Stu. We'll pay that one.
"Vision of the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be beamed around the world to a massive audience, reminding our friends overseas to keep Sydney and NSW top-of-mind as a must-visit destination for when international borders re-open."
ABBA performed in Sydney in 1977 on their first and only tour of Australia. The venue was the former Sydney Showground, Moore Park, to an audience of 20,000.
ABBA have announced a new concert experience in London, beginning in May next year. Digital versions of themselves, dubbed Avatars, will appear with a 10-piece live band.
"We're truly sailing in uncharted waters. With the help of our younger selves, we travel into the future," Andersson said.
Lyngstad added: "Such joy it was to work with the group again".
Equal Pay
Speaking of money, money, money, federal Shortland MP Pat Conroy asked on Facebook: "Did you know that Olympic medal winners receive bonuses between $10,000 and $20,000, but Paralympic medal winners do not?"
He wrote to the Minister for Sport requesting this be addressed as a matter of urgency.
"Our Paralympic heroes deserve to be treated the same way as our Olympic heroes," he said.
He was pleased to say that the government had "responded to my call - along with so many others - with equal payments for Paralympic medal winners".
"This is a great result. Thank you to you all for your wonderful support! It's been fantastic watching our Paralympians in action in Tokyo. They've been incredible and have made us so proud."
