Swedish pop stars Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, who set the world rocking with supergroup ABBA, were honored with an international award for their lifetime contribution to music.
The songwriting duo were presented Thursday with the Ivor Novello Special International Award by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.
The pair spoke the words to their hit track “Fernando” as they collected the award at the Le Meridien Grosvenor House hotel in London.
Other winners at the 47th Ivor Novello Awards ceremony included Sting, who won the International Achievement award, and Kate Bush, who was honored for her outstanding contribution to British music.
“It’s great to receive a songwriting award in front of other songwriters,” said Sting as he picked up the prize.
“You know how difficult it is to write a great song – I’ve been trying for years,” he quipped.
Best song musically and lyrically went to U2’s hit “Walk On.”
The Ivor Novello Award was established to reflect the talent of British songwriters and composers and their contribution as the creative source of the music industry’s prosperity.
