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A friend in Dublin discovered that I’m a Swedophile and invited me to share what I love about Sweden. That simple invitation sent me down a nostalgic rabbit hole. It’s been thirty years since my first visit and about eighteen since I last set foot there, though my wife has been encouraging me to take her on a trip to Stockholm. I’m planning to speak to my consultant at the Beatson (cancer hospital) next week, so we’ll see.
As usual, once you search for anything Swedish online, the algorithms flood down the cyber-hive like the raging bulls of Paloma with all things Sweden and Swedish. Among the torrent, one thing stood out and sank deep into my heart. It was Benny Andersson talking about his favourite ABBA song.
What struck me most, as a writer, was something he said about the act of composing. Sometimes, you can sit at the piano for days or even weeks, and nothing comes. But then, he described The Winner Takes It All—a song he called “a good one.” It's a beautiful piece stripped raw and played on the piano.
And that’s how it goes with writing too. We persevere until our story, essay or poem or song becomes a good one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQNx5O6pxEM
Full piano version by
The Winner Takes It All ABBA (Piano Cover) Ulrika A. Rosén, piano.