Bono Says It Wasn't 'Macho' to Like ABBA Before? 'I Didn't Have Courage!'

Bono and The Edge are finally fessing up: they like ABBA.

During their appearance at BBC Radio 2's Piano Room, U2 paid tribute to their long-time friends and fellow artist, ABBA.

According to reports, the duo was accompanied by an orchestra as they performed the supergroup's 1975 song "SOS."

Huge ABBA Fans

Coming to the decision to perform an ABBA song was an easy one, but learning to embrace their love for the group took some time, Bono and The Edge admitted.

"We're big fans of this band, this Scandinavian band, and appreciators of their work in a way that grew on us over years," said The Edge.

"We're fans of lots of great songwriters who aren't necessarily seen as very hip. And I guess, we're just appreciators of their work, this band."

Bono added: "I didn't have the courage to own up to [ABBA] when I was 16 and in the middle of punk rock;

"There's a bit of macho, well, I didn't want to own up to ABBA. But I tell you what, they are just better songs. You can't be empirical about everything in art. But sometimes just, songs are just better."

According to reports, by 1992, the singer had already pretty much publicly professed his love for ABBA when he invited Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus for a cover of their hit song "Dancing Queen."

Legends Supporting Legends

Bono also cited another superstar group he was a big fans of, the Bee Gees.

"I did get to the Bee Gees and was ready to own up to 'Massachusetts' or 'Tragedy,' " he continued. "These are just crazy good [songs]."

Bono noted that most of the groups he mentioned, namely ABBA and the Bee Gees, are particular favorites of the late John Lennon of The Beatles.

He even recalled a time when women would perform ABBA's "Thank You for the Music" in pubs, and he would sing along.

"Certainly at closing time at our local pub, often young women would sing Thank You For The Music, and I would sing it and I was very thankful for the music;

"But I was like, what is this phenomenon? This is before their musicals and all that. What is going on with ABBA?" He joked.

Watch Bono and The Edge's performing ABBA's "SOS" here.

Tags

ABBA, Bono, The Edge, The bee gees