For our 10th wedding anniversary, Lars and I, both IT professionals, treated ourselves to something truly special-a short trip to London. Our main destination was ABBA Voyage, the virtual 3D concert experience by the legendary band ABBA. We wanted to witness this spectacle, driven partly by our technical curiosity.
For younger readers: ABBA was a world-famous Swedish band that reached its peak in the late seventies and early eighties. They were hugely successful and often part of our youth, as our parents frequently listened to them. My first cassette (yes, there were these analog sound carriers for music called cassettes!) was an ABBA album. ABBA created countless famous songs that young people today still sing along to and dance to at parties. The band itself was only active until the early 1980s, when they disbanded.
The group consisted of two couples, hence the name, which comes from their initials. The members of ABBA are still alive but are now in their late 70s or early 80s. Some remain quite active and relatively fit, but age has inevitably left its mark. Like anyone else, they face illnesses and age-related challenges. Frida needs a walking stick, and Björn suffers from an incurable neurological condition that affects his long-term memory. Sometimes he can no longer remember his greatest hits or most triumphant moments.
During the pandemic, Benny, the most musically active band member, came up with an extraordinary idea. They wanted to perform again, but he also wanted to preserve their legacy. Both goals presented significant challenges at their age. It was crucial to create something dignified, avoiding the embarrassment that sometimes mars farewell concerts of aging stars.
ABBA took a completely revolutionary approach - they immortalized themselves. They created a high-tech light show featuring avatars based on their own bodies, recorded new studio tracks, and blended this elaborate production with a live concert experience.
It seemed hard to imagine this could match the quality of a real live concert. Naturally, as tech enthusiasts, we had to see it for ourselves. The opportunity was only available in London this year, as the show moves to Las Vegas in 2025.
The Experience
The concert took place on the outskirts of London in a purpose-built venue with a capacity of 4,000 people. I was genuinely impressed by the accessibility features. Everything was designed to be open and accessible for people with disabilities and seniors. Wheelchair users received excellent support for their participation. In England, as in Scandinavian countries, great importance is placed on including people with disabilities and older individuals. Have you ever experienced such comprehensive accessibility at a regular band concert in Germany? We certainly haven't!
So there we sat in the upper tier. Below us were the premium seats and the wheelchair-accessible areas. Down near the stage was the dance floor section, where people stood packed together and would surely be dancing later. Beyond a small security area stretched the impressive stage.
The stage was constructed on three levels. At the front was a large open area, with the live band positioned to one side. Additional instruments were arranged on the second level, accessible via a small step. The third and highest level, also reached by a step, featured what appeared to be a gigantic curved screen or monitor spanning the entire width of the stage behind it.
The light show began, on stage and throughout the venue. The band immediately launched into an ABBA classic, "Thank You for the Music." And then ABBA rose onto the stage's third level from below, just like the dramatic entrances you see at major concerts where bands are lifted through the floor.
Yes, there they were - all four members of ABBA, rocking out. With the ladies' wonderful vocals and the men's instrumental prowess. Agnetha, Benny, Björn, and Anni-Frid stood on stage. You might think this was just another oldies concert. But no, absolutely not. These weren't the nearly 80-year-old ABBA members of today. These were the young ABBAs from the late seventies, performing as they did in their prime. The blonde angel Agnetha and the wild red-haired Anni-Frid, both in skin-tight jumpsuits with bell-bottoms and flowing sleeves-brilliantly colorful and covered in glitter. Their two bearded blonde companions, Björn and Benny, were also dressed in pure seventies style. It was as if we'd been transported back in time. Incredible - they looked exactly as they did then.
My rational mind insisted this couldn't be real. After all, it's 2023, and I know they're all around 80 years old. But my eyes saw something different, and my entire being felt that what we were witnessing had to be reality. It left us speechless.
Using cutting-edge technologies - 3D modeling, video projection, lighting design, and AI - they had created an alternative virtual reality. A reality you could experience as genuinely real. An experience accessible to all fans and show attendees, but also meaningful for the ABBA members themselves. For Björn, who struggles with long-term memory loss, this could help activate memories of his past and reconnect him with his own history.
An Idea for Others Facing Similar Challenges
The ABBA show combines live music with pre-recorded video sequences. The videos also include reactive elements that respond to audience interaction. This has created an extensive video library of the band members' identities - something that can be replayed repeatedly to help maintain a connection to what their lives have meant. This approach could help affected individuals preserve their memories.
Of course, not everyone has access to such sophisticated technology. However, it's already possible today to create personal avatars using AI. These can be visually generated AI images of virtual persons that evoke one's own identity. Such creations are developed by feeding AI with numerous photos and videos from the past, which then form the basis for generating something new.
Personal avatars can serve multiple purposes beyond helping with age - or illness-related memory loss. They offer a way to digitally immortalize oneself for future generations, ensuring we're not forgotten. The internet never forgets, and this characteristic can be used positively to preserve our legacies.