Interview: ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus thanks Chinese star Jane Zhang for the music

The Chinese version of “Mamma Mia!” burst onto the stage at Shanghai Grand Theater on July 11. The premiere drew a host of Chinese and international celebrities, including former ABBA star Björn Ulvaeus, pop singer Jane Zhang, producer of British “Mamma Mia!” Judy Craymer and Taiwanese star Vanness Wu.

The 66-year-old Gothenburger Björn Ulvaeus, who co-produced the film “Mamma Mia!” in 2008, spoke with CNNGo about his views on Chinese food, Jane Zhang and Shanghai as Asia's Broadway before the premiere.

CNNGo: What’s your impression of Shanghai?

Björn Ulvaeus: Shanghai is bustling. It’s a city full of energy. I can feel that all the way up to my suite.

It’s like skyscrapers are popping up everywhere, and it’s vibrant and very dynamic.

CNNGo: How do you like the food in Shanghai?

Ulvaeus: I thought I was going to have a really good Chinese dinner yesterday, but the restaurant unfortunately only had European food. But tonight, I’m going to a really good restaurant.

I’m also going to have this tonight (hands over a piece of paper with the Chinese characters for century egg 皮蛋).

CNNGo: Why?

Ulvaeus: Because I want to try it. Several people here have talked very much about those eggs and how it is a specialty. I simply have to try it.

I’m just curious. It’s famous, as CNN knows. (Laughs)

CNNGo: We heard Chinese is going to be taught in all Swedish schools soon. Are you surprised?

Ulvaeus: It’s not taught in all Swedish schools yet, but it certainly is available. A lot of Swedish students take Chinese now instead of German or French. Chinese is winning.

CNNGo: What’s your expectation for the Chinese version of “Mamma Mia!”?

Ulvaeus: I hope it will be a big success because I don’t see why Chinese audiences should not enjoy it as much as they do around the rest of the world.

Maybe this is the beginning of other musicals coming to China as well, and maybe it’s a beginning of a new kind of musical culture -- that’s my hope.

CNNGo: Middle-aged Shanghainese audiences ask why Donna slept with three guys and didn’t know her daughter’s father's identity. How would you answer them?

I’m going to thank Jane Zhang for the wonderful version of my song, she understood it completely. — Björn Ulvaeus, former ABBA member and co-producer of the 2008 film "Mamma Mia!"

Ulvaeus: I guess there are people who asked the same question even in Europe and America. But they asked them very fleetingly and then they’re onto the next questions.

I think China is very open-minded morally. It’s not a condemning society when it comes to that, like if you play these in Saudi Arabia, it will be …

CNNGo: Have you heard of any famous singer from China?

Ulvaeus: Jane Zhang (张靓颖). I listened to her version of “The Winner Takes It All.”

I think she’s a brilliant singer. She’s really good. I understand that I have a chance to meet her tomorrow. She’ll be at the “Mamma Mia!” premiere party.

CNNGo: What will you say to her?

Ulvaeus: I’m gonna thank her for the wonderful version of my song, and I’m gonna compliment her. She understood it completely.

CNNGo: Do you really suffer from a long-term memory loss?

I don’t see any reason why [the new “West End”] wouldn’t happen here. But apart from the international blockbusters, you’ll need domestic ones too.— Björn Ulvaeus

Ulvaeus: They got it wrong on the Internet.

I had a Swedish radio show, in which I talked about episodic memories, which are the memories that some people have where they can go back and remember the smell of a situation and a feeling they had in that specific situation and it’s called episodic memories.

I said in the show how I envy those people because I don’t have those memories. It doesn’t mean I suffer from memory loss. It’s just that particular kind of memory I’d love to have.

CNNGo: Do you have any suggestions for Chinese musicals?

Ulvaeus: You will have to have really big hits for young talents to start wanting to write for the theater.

So hopefully, if “Mamma Mia!” is a big hit, there’s someone out there who thinks maybe I should try writing musicals as well, and that’s how it happens.

CNNGo: Do you see Shanghai as the next West End or Broadway?

Björn Ulvaeus: I think Stockholm was not a musical city 20 years ago. Today we usually have at least two or three shows running at the same time. And Hamburg was never the musical city it is today. People want to see musicals in Hamburg now.

I don’t see any reason why [the new West End] wouldn’t happen here, as well. But apart from the international blockbusters like "Mamma Mia!", you’ll need domestic ones, too.