A-Teens

This article is about a former Swedish band. It is not to be confused with Ateez, a South Korean boy band, or A-Teen, a South Korean internet drama series.

A-Teens are a Swedish pop music group^[1] from Stockholm. The group was formed by Niklas Berg in 1998 as an ABBA tribute group called ABBA-Teens, which was later renamed A-Teens. The band members were Marie Serneholt, Amit Paul, Dhani Lennevald, and Sara Lumholdt. The group is best known for the singles "Mamma Mia" (1999) and "Upside Down" (2000), both of which were hits worldwide. The group was particularly successful in their home country where they amassed ten top 10 hit singles on the Swedish charts.

A-Teens
The group in 2024. From left to right: Paul, Lumholdt, Serneholt and Lennevald
Background information
Also known as	ABBA-Teens
Origin	Stockholm, Sweden
Genres	Euro-pop Euro-dance pop
Years active	1998–2004, since 2024
Labels	Stockholm MCA Universal
Members	Dhani Lennevald Sara Lumholdt Amit Sebastian Paul Marie Serneholt
Website	at the Wayback Machine (archived 19 May 2014)

After six years together, the group disbanded following the release of their Greatest Hits album in May 2004.^[2]

History

1998–2000: The ABBA Generation

 

The original logo that the band used for their first releases under the original name, ABBA-Teens

In 1998, Marie, Sara, Dhani, and Amit came together to form the ABBA-Teens and began recording their debut album which would consist entirely of covers of ABBA songs. Their first single, "Mamma Mia", was first released in April 1999 in their native Sweden where it stayed at number one for eight consecutive weeks. Following this release, the group's name was changed to the A-Teens to avoid litigation.^[3][4] "Mamma Mia" was released internationally following their name change and topped the charts in over ten countries.^{[citation needed]}

 

The official A-Teens logo

In August 1999, the group released their debut album The ABBA Generation, consisting entirely of ABBA covers reinterpreted with a modern pop and electronic sound. The album reached number one in Sweden and Argentina. In the United States, the album peaked at seventy-one on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart and was certified Gold.^[5] The album sold more than 2 million copies worldwide and was certified Gold or Platinum in over 22 countries.^{[citation needed]} Further singles from the album were hits in Sweden: "Super Trouper" peaked at number two and "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) peaked at number ten; both songs charted moderately worldwide. "Happy New Year" was released as a standalone single in Sweden at the end of 1999 and peaked at number four.

In March 2000, the group released the single "Dancing Queen". The single reached ninety-five on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S. alone, being certified Gold.^{[citation needed]} Coinciding with this release, the band embarked on a promotional tour of the United States and was an opening act for the Britney Spears tour later that summer.^[6] The group made several appearances on Disney and Nickelodeon. In September 2000, the A-Teens won a Viva Music Award for Best International Newcomer.^[7]

2001: Teen Spirit

On 26 February 2001, the group released their second studio album Teen Spirit, which consists entirely of original tracks. It debuted at number two in the Swedish Charts. The album peaked at number thirteen on the European Albums Chart.^[8] In the United States, the album peaked at number fifty and was certified gold.^[9][10]

The album was preceded by the single "Upside Down" in October 2000; this was their first single that was not an ABBA cover song.^[11] It peaked at number two in Sweden and was certified 2× Platinum.^[12] The song reached the top ten in several countries. In the United States, the song was released with the alternate title "Bouncing Off the Ceiling (Upside Down)". The song peaked at 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the physical single peaked at number six on the Billboard Dance Single Sales component chart.^[13][14] The single peaked at number ten in the United Kingdom, becoming their only top ten hit in the country.^[15] Later singles from the album were hits in Sweden: "Halfway Around the World" peaked at number 7 and "Sugar Rush" peaked at number 15, however, these releases were not as successful worldwide.

The group promoted the album with a forty-three-date tour with Aaron Carter in the U.S.; the group later toured with No Angels in Germany.^[6][16][17] The A-Teens also performed on the Radio Disney Live! 2001 World Tour. The same year, Coca-Cola signed the group to become the face of the brand in Thailand.^[18] By the end of 2001, Teen Spirit sold over 1 million copies worldwide.

In December 2001, the group released the Cathy Dennis-penned track "Heartbreak Lullaby". The song was recorded for the European soundtrack of the movie "The Princess Diaries". The single became another top ten hit for the band in their home country.^[19]

2002–2003: Pop 'til You Drop! and New Arrival

In June 2002, the group released their third studio album Pop 'til You Drop!. The album was released exclusively in North America and Argentina.^[20] The album debuted and peaked at number forty-five on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart.^[21] The album was preceded by the single "Can't Help Falling In Love", a cover of the Elvis Presley song, in May 2002. The song was also featured on the soundtrack of the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch.^[22] In July 2002, "Floorfiller" was released as the second and final single from the album. In the summer of 2002, the group embarked on the Pop 'til You Drop! Tour, a thirty-date tour of the United States and Canada.^[23][24] In November 2002, the group performed at the 2002 Swedish Hit Music Awards.^[25]

In January 2003, the group released a reissue of Pop 'til You Drop! titled New Arrival exclusively in markets outside of North America.^[26] The album contains seven tracks from Pop 'til You Drop! alongside six new tracks. The album debuted at number four in Sweden and was certified Gold a few weeks after its release.^[27] Despite this, sales for New Arrival were lower than expected and the record sold fewer than 350,000 copies worldwide.^[28] To promote the release, the band embarked on the New Arrival Tour that March, performing shows in Sweden, Denmark, Russia, and Slovakia.^[29][30][31]

The album was preceded by the European release of "Floorfiller". The song served as the album's first single and became a top five hit in their home country.^[32] The second single taken from the album was "A Perfect Match" which peaked at number two in Sweden.^[33] "Let Your Heart Do All the Talking" was planned as the third single from New Arrival, but its commercial release was later canceled.^[34] In May 2003, the group partnered with the brand Popdrinks for a promotional-only release of the song "Bounce With Me" in Sweden.^[35]

2004: Greatest Hits and disbandment

In May 2004, the group released Greatest Hits, a compilation of three new songs and thirteen singles.^[36] The album was preceded by the single "I Promised Myself", a cover of the Nick Kamen song.^[37] The single became another top two hit for the group in Sweden.^[38]

Following the release of Greatest Hits, the group disbanded; their disbandment was not publicly announced until April 2006.^[39]

2024: Reunion

In February 2024, it was announced the group had reformed, and reunited with a performance at the Swedish music competition Melodifestivalen 2024.^[40]

Discography

Main article: A-Teens discography

For a complete list of all the songs, see List of songs recorded by A-Teens

• The ABBA Generation (1999)
• Teen Spirit (2001)
• Pop 'til You Drop! (2002)
• New Arrival (2003)

Tours

• Pop 'Til You Drop! (2002)

References

1. "Into the Mouths of Babes". Phoenix New Times Jimmy Magahern | 18 July 2002
2. Klas Lindberg (10 April 2004). "Nu vill jag göra en egen platta" (in Swedish). Nöjesbladet. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
3. Douglas Wolk (8 May 2000). . Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on 21 June 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
4. "An Oral History Of The A*Teens, The ABBA Cover Band That Defined Y2K Pop". MTV. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
5. RIAA: Gold Certificate for "The ABBA Generation" 29 September 2000 19 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
6. "A-Teens - Interview @ Designer Magazine". Designer Magazine. 2001. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
7. "Viva Music Award". Official A-Teens Biography. A-teens.com. 29 December 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
8. "European Albums Chart". A-teens.com. 20 March 2001. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
9. ""Teen Spirit" in the U.S". A-teens.com. 20 March 2001. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
10. RIAA Certification for "Teen Spirit" 19 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
11. ""Upside Down" Press Release". A-teens.com. 8 October 2000. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
12. ""Upside Down" certified 2× Platinum in Sweden". A-teens.com. 12 January 2001. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
13. . Billboard. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022.
14. "Billboard Hot 100 2001-01-13". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
15. ""Upside Down" hits the top ten in the U.K". A-teens.com. 20 May 2001. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
16. "A-Teens to tour with Aaron Carter in the U.S". A-teens.com. 21 April 2001. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
17. "German Tour". A-teens.com. 20 October 2001. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
18. "A-Teens biography". A-teens.com. 29 December 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
19. Steffen Hung. ""Heartbreak Lullaby" Swedish Chart Position". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
20. . A-teens.com. 18 June 2002. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
21. . A-teens.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
22. ""Can't Help Falling In Love" & Album Announcement". A-teens.com. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
23. . A-teens.com. 6 July 2002. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
24. . A-teens.com. 15 August 2002. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
25. "A-Teens to perform at Swedish Hit Music Awards". A-teens.com. 11 November 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
26. Hautman, Nicholas (27 August 2020). "A*Teens: Where Are They Now?". Us Weekly. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
27. . A-teens.com. 6 February 2003. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
28. . A-teens.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
29. "A*Teens "New Arrival" Tour". A-teens.com. 5 February 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
30. . A-teens.com. 6 August 2003. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
31. . A-teens.com. 22 February 2003. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
32. ""Floorfiller" reaches number four in Sweden". A-teens.com. 1 November 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
33. . A-teens.com. 7 April 2003. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
34. . A-teens.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
35. . A-teens.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
36. . Marieserneholt.com. April 2006. Archived from the original on 8 April 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
37. . A-teens.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
38. . A-teens.com. 2 August 2004. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
39. Spencer, Ashley (24 February 2021). "What Happened to the A*Teens?". Vice. from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
40. Benjamin, Jeff (31 January 2024). "Millennium Pop Group A-Teens to Reunite After 20 Years at Sweden Eurovision Qualifier". Forbes. United States: Integrated Whale Media Investments. ISSN 0015-6914. from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.

External links

• Official website