ABBA
Assembled and edited
By
Martin Francis
JosslynMartinArt.com
Feature Artist Band ABBA and The Album Visitors
This month, I thought I would look at ABBA. But not the band but their last album. The Visitors was ABBA’s eighth and final studio album before their long hiatus. Released on November 30, 1981, it marked a significant departure from their earlier upbeat pop sound, reflecting a more mature and introspective tone. The album was influenced by the personal tensions within the band, particularly the divorces of both Agnetha & Björn and Benny & Frida.
"In a way, I'm kind of a bystander looking at this phenomenon that is ABBA, which is still around, and that I thought would be finished in 1981 and forgotten. I'm amazed how this could happen, and I don't know why it happened. I'm just grateful and humble. I just sit back and enjoy".
Many of the lyrics on The Visitors were deeply personal and reflected the internal struggles within ABBA at the time. By 1981, both couples in the band had divorced—Björn and Agnetha in 1980, followed by Benny and Frida in early 1981. This emotional upheaval shaped the album’s themes of loneliness, heartbreak, and change.
While ABBA was never known for directly writing autobiographical songs, The Visitors is the closest they came to exposing their struggles. The album’s introspective and melancholic mood made it clear that the group was no longer the same joyful, harmonious unit they had been in the '70s.
"The Visitors was one of the first albums ever to be pressed on CD in 1982.
It was ABBA’s last full studio album until Voyage (2021), which came 40 years later. Though not as commercially successful as earlier albums, it’s now regarded as one of ABBA’s most sophisticated works.".
Darker, More Serious Themes – The lyrics explored complex subjects, such as political oppression (title track The Visitors), isolation (One of Us), and lost love (When All Is Said and Done).
Synth-Driven Sound – The album embraced a more electronic, synth-heavy production, signaling a shift from their classic disco-pop style.
The Lyrics Reflected ABBA’s Situation
"When All Is Said and Done" – This song is one of the most directly personal. Sung by Frida, it deals with the end of a marriage but carries a sense of acceptance rather than bitterness. Given that Frida and Benny had just divorced, it’s often seen as her goodbye song to their relationship.
"One of Us" – A melancholic ballad about regret after a breakup. While Björn wrote the lyrics, it’s been speculated that they were influenced by his own experience of divorce from Agnetha.
"Slipping Through My Fingers" – Though not about divorce, this song, sung by Agnetha, reflects on the passage of time and the regret of not spending enough time with a child. It’s deeply personal for her, as she was going through similar emotions with her daughter Linda at the time.
"The Visitors" – Unlike the relationship-themed tracks, this song is about political oppression (inspired by Soviet dissidents). However, some interpret its paranoid and anxious tone as a metaphor for the growing tensions within the band.
"Soldiers" – A song about war and military presence, but some fans believe it could also symbolize the battles within ABBA as they neared their split.
"Like an Angel Passing Through My Room" – The final song on the album is stark and minimalistic, featuring only Frida’s vocals and a synthesizer. It evokes themes of loneliness and finality, which many see as mirroring ABBA’s farewell.
ABBA - One Of Us 1981
ABBA - When All Is Said And Done
The album's cover art further symbolizes the band's state during this time. Unlike previous covers that depicted the members together, The Visitors features them standing apart in a dimly lit room, reflecting their growing personal distances and the melancholic tone of the album.
The Visitors stands as a testament to ABBA's evolution, capturing their personal struggles and artistic growth. The album's introspective nature and departure from their earlier upbeat style offer a poignant glimpse into the band's dynamics during its final chapter before their extended hiatus.
The Visitors
Photoshoot in 1981 for the single 'Under Attack' 1982
The Day before you came (1981)