May 12, 2009 10:55

Abba's Benny Andersson slams Eurovision

Andersson reckons contest is no longer worthwhile musically

Former ABBA star Benny Andersson has turned his back on the Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place later this week.

The Swedish legend's band famously won the competition in 1974 with 'Waterloo', but he has since said that he will not be watching Saturday's (May 16) final in Moscow.

He told BBC News: "What it is now is possibly a great television event, but for music it means nothing. I don't watch Eurovision, it's become so huge.

"It was smaller scale then [in 1974] than it is now. It might have been a little bit more meaningful in the '50s and '60s and when we entered but after that, I'm not sure if anything ever happened. Musically it's not what it should be. But as television it's a good show."

Andersson recently announced that he has once again collaborated with Abba bandmate Bjorn Ulveaus for new track 'Story Of A Heart', but he says he has no interest in helping out with the Swedish entry.

This year the UK is represented by reality show winner Jade Ewen, singing Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber's composition 'It's My Time'.