ABBA's Wild Stage Looks May Have Been Inspired By ... Tax Cuts?
Amid Gen Z's obsession with 70's Swedish pop staple, ABBA, using the group for hair inspiration, several of their upbeat songs for various TikTok trends, and even the existence of jukebox musical, Mama Mia! as an excuse to writhe around a pool to the tune of “Lay All Your Love On Me" while dressed like Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka …
@willywonkatiktok
… it seems Twitter's youth has enthusiastically re-discovered a seven-year-old artifact, sharing their shock and amusement by the notion that the group's iconic, over-the-top stage looks were evidently inspired by good 'ol tax evasion.
Yep. According to a 2014 biography detailing the band's rise to fame, everything from the infamous Garfield top …
… to every single time the band tried to out disco-ball the era's many disco balls …
… and their cowboy-inspired fares …
… were apparently all for the purposes of saving some “Money, Money Money” on tax day. “In my honest opinion, we looked like nuts in those years. Nobody can have been as badly dressed on stage as we were,” Björn Ulvaeus, one of the band's two B's said in the book. Despite being self-aware in regards to their loud fashion choices while dominating discos around the globe, ABBA allegedly continued to sport their iconic getups, as according to Swedish tax law, stage costumes can be tax deductible if – and only if – they couldn't be mistaken for everyday outfits, NPR reported. Wearing head-to-toe sequins and 70's jumpsuits to save some sweet, sweet, Krona? Sounds like a great deal by me.
Yet as The Guardian noted, this is far from ABBA's only controversial tax move – In 2007, Ulvaeus faced allegations of failing to pay roughly 85 Million Krona – approximately $12 million US dollars, accounting for inflation -- between 1999 and 2005, a charge he was ultimately able to appeal. “I am of course very happy that I have been informed in writing that I have always done the right thing concerning my taxes,” he said shortly after the ruling.
So folks, take it from ABBA, paying your taxes and wearing hot pants are never a bad idea.
For more internet nonsense, follow Carly on Instagram @HuntressThompson_ on TikTok @HuntressThompson_, and on Twitter @TennesAnyone.
