Björn and Benny wrote the music for the West End show Chess (1984) with lyricist Tim Rice. Chess ran for three years in London. The show also opened on Broadway in the US (1988) but the song order, lyrics and storyline had been tampered with and the show closed within weeks. Björn and Benny, inspired by the successes of Rice and his former collaborator Andrew Lloyd-Webber, had long expressed their desire to write a musical. Their first attempt had been a "mini-musical", The Girl with The Golden Hair, performed b ...

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ABBA, ABBA - Before ABBA, ABBA - Early years, ABBA - Eurovision and after, ABBA - Later years, ABBA - Fashion and videos, ABBA - After ABBA, ABBA - ABBA trivia

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ABBA, ABBA - Before ABBA, ABBA - Early years, ABBA - Eurovision and after, ABBA - Later years, ABBA - Fashion and videos, ABBA - After ABBA, ABBA - ABBA trivia

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ABBA was widely noted as an epitome of 1970s fashion for the colourful costumes its members wore. The videos which accompanied some of their biggest hits are often cited as being among the earliest examples of the genre. Though The Beatles and the Rolling Stones had shot the occasional video clip, making promotional videos still hadn't become the industry standard by the early-to-mid 1970s. Most of ABBA's videos (and ABBA - The Movie) were directed by Lasse Hallström who would later direct the films My Life as a Dog, The ...

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ABBA, ABBA - Before ABBA, ABBA - Early years, ABBA - Eurovision and after, ABBA - Later years, ABBA - Fashion and videos, ABBA - After ABBA, ABBA - ABBA trivia

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ABBA (1972–1983) was a Swedish pop music group. They remain the most successful Swedish music act and were one of the most popular groups in the world. The group dominated charts worldwide during the mid-to-late 1970s and early 1980s, selling many hit singles and albums. Estimates of ABBA's total worldwide sales vary from 100 to 500 million (there seems to be no reliable source for this information) which could make them the second most successful band of all time after The Beatles. They were the first act from the European mainland ...

Including:

ABBA - Before ABBA ABBA - Early years ABBA - Eurovision and after ABBA - Later years ABBA - Fashion and videos ABBA - After ABBA ABBA - ABBA trivia

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Abu Jafar Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur (712 – 775; Arabic: ابو جعفر عبدالله ابن محمد المنصور) was the Abbasid Caliph who founded Baghdad in 762. He reigned from 754 until 775. Al-Mansur was concerned with the solidity of his regime after the death of his brother, al-'Abbas. In 755, he arranged the murder of Abu Muslim, the general who had lead the forces of al-'Abbas to victory over the Umayyads in the third civil war. He undertook to make certain that the 'Abbasid family was supreme in state af ...

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Brotherhood of Man is a 70s British pop group that won Eurovision in 1976 with "Save your Kisses for Me". They borrowed the style and two-boy, two-girl approach of Swedish pop group ABBA, who had won Eurovision in 1974. Save your Kisses for Me was nominated as one of final five finalists in the 50th anniversary Eurovision concert held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in October 2005. Members: Nicky Stevens, b. 3 December 1951 Sandra Stevens, b. 23 November 1949 Martin Lee Lee Sheriden After winning Eurovision they had a ...

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Brotherhood of Man band - Singles

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His literary work is limited to revolutionary memories; after retiring to private life, first at Pisa, then in his native town, he attempted to write a romantic poem in five canti by the title "Arrigo". A fervent follower of Manzoni, he then tried to write a historical novel (1875) with Le rive della Bormida nel 1874 (The Banks of the Bormida in 1874), with the notes taken in 1860, which he did not publish. In 1880 it became Noterelle di uno dei Mille edite dopo vent’anni (Notes by one of i Mille twenty years later), a ...

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Giuseppe Cesare Abba, Giuseppe Cesare Abba - Biography, Giuseppe Cesare Abba - Works, Giuseppe Cesare Abba - External link

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The modern Iranian monarchy was established in 1502 after the Safavid Dynasty came to power under Shah Ismail I, and ended the so-called "fourth era" of political fragmentation. List of kings of Persia - Safavid dynasty 1502–1736. Ismail I, 1502–1524 Tahmasp I, 1524–1576 Ismail II, 1576–1578 Mohammad I Khodabanda, 1578–1587 or 1588 Abbas I the Great, 1587 or 1588 -1629 Safi I, 1629–1642 Abbas II, 1642–1666 or 1667 Suleiman I (Safi II), 1666 or 1667–1694 Husayn, 1694–1722 See also:

List of kings of Persia, List of kings of Persia - Early realms in Iran, List of kings of Persia - Elamite Kingdom 3000–660 BC, List of kings of Persia - Jiroft Kingdom c. 2500 BC, List of kings of Persia - Empire of Medians and Persians, List of kings of Persia - Median Dynasty 728–550 BC, List of kings of Persia - Achaemenid dynasty 550–330 BC, List of kings of Persia - Hellenistic rulers, List of kings of Persia - Argead Dynasty 330–310 BC, List of kings of Persia - Seleucid dynasty 305–164 BC, List of kings of Persia - Parthian dynasty Arsacid dynasty 247 BC – AD 224, List of kings of Persia - Sassanid dynasty AD 224–651, List of kings of Persia - Rulers after the advent of Islam in Iran, List of kings of Persia - Arab caliphs rule, List of kings of Persia - Tahirids in Khorasan 821–872, List of kings of Persia - Alavids 864–928, List of kings of Persia - Ziyarids 928–1043, List of kings of Persia - Buyyids 932–1056, List of kings of Persia - Saffarids in Seistan and beyond 861–1002, List of kings of Persia - Samanids Proto-Tajiks 892–998, List of kings of Persia - Ghaznavids 997–1186, List of kings of Persia - Seljuk Turks 1029–1194, List of kings of Persia - Khwarazmids 1096–1230, List of kings of Persia - Ilkhans 1256–1380, List of kings of Persia - Muzaffarid Dynasty 1314–1393, List of kings of Persia - Timurid dynasty 1380–1507, List of kings of Persia - Shahs of modern Iran, List of kings of Persia - Safavid dynasty 1502–1736, List of kings of Persia - Afsharid dynasty 1736–1749, List of kings of Persia - Zand dynasty 1750–1794, List of kings of Persia - Qajar dynasty 1796–1925, List of kings of Persia - Pahlavi dynasty 1925–1979

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'Waterloo' was originally written as a song that ABBA would perform at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. This was after the failure of Ring Ring in the previous year's heats, which only came third and consequently did not represent Sweden in 1973. Waterloo originally faced some "competition" from another ABBA-penned song "Hasta Mañana." But Björn and Benny ultimately chose "Waterloo," since it focused on both Frida and Agnetha as lead vocalists. 'Waterloo' is about a girl or woman (female lead vocalists) who is about to give in to r ...

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Waterloo English version, Waterloo English version - The Song, Waterloo English version - Chart Success, Waterloo English version - Trivia

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Until recently the leaders of the PLF were active in the PLO with Abu Abbas acting as PLF representative in the PLO's executive committee. During the years after the PLO signed the 1993 Oslo Accords, which the PLF opposes, Abu Abbas agreed to abandon terrorism and acknowledged Israel's right to exist. The movement maintained offices in the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon and Iraq, but its activities dwindled. It has a low level of support in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and its main strength lies in the Lebanese refugee camps, where it is reported to h ...

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Palestine Liberation Front, Palestine Liberation Front - Origins, Palestine Liberation Front - 1982 split, Palestine Liberation Front - PLF in recent years, Palestine Liberation Front - Prominent attacks

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On Ibrahim's death in November 1848 the government of Egypt fell to his nephew Abbas I, the son of Tusun Abbasad. Abbas put an end to the system of commercial monopolies, and during his reign the railway from Alexandria to Cairo was begun at the instigation of the British government. Opposed to European ways, Abbas lived in great seclusion. After a reign of less than six years he was murdered in July 1854 by two of his slaves. He was succeeded by his uncle Said Pasha, the favorite son of Mehemet Ali, who lacked the strength of mind or ...

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Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Rise to power, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Campaign against the Wahhabis, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Second Arabian campaign, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Reforms, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Invasion of Libya, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Ahmad Revolt, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Greek campaign, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - War with the Sultan, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - End of Ali's rule, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Muhammad Ali's successors, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Ismail the Magnificent, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Dual control, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Egypt occupied by the British, Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Rulers

Read more here: » Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors: Encyclopedia II - Egypt under Muhammad Ali and his successors - Muhammad Ali's successors

Raised in a privileged setting, his family was prominent and well-connected with the court of the Khedive of Egypt. Upon graduating from high school, he attended law school, obtaining a degree in translation. Shawqi was then offered a job in the court of the Khedive Abbas II, which he immediately accepted. After a year working in the court of the Khedive, Shawqi was sent to continue his studies in Law at the Universities of Montpellier and Paris for three years. While in France, he was heavily influenced by the works of French playwrigh ...

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Ahmed Shawqi, Ahmed Shawqi - Life, Ahmed Shawqi - Works, Ahmed Shawqi - Reference

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After the Islamic conquest of Iran, during the Ummayad dynasty, the Arabs, imposed Arabic as the first language throughout the Muslim empire. Hajjāj ibn Yusuf, who was not happy with the prevalence of the Persian language in the divan, ordered the official language to be replaced by Arabic.(ref.1, p.46) However after the reign of the Umayyids, Iran and its society in particular experienced reigning dynasties with various views. The Samanid dynasty was partially responsible for the initial revival of Persian culture. The Abbas ...

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Arabization and Islamicization in post-conquest Iran, Arabization and Islamicization in post-conquest Iran - Iranian culture after Islam, Arabization and Islamicization in post-conquest Iran - Persian influence on the Islamic Culture, Arabization and Islamicization in post-conquest Iran - Social relations

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Islamic scholarly tradition is concerned, among other things, with when and where verses and chapters of the Qur'an were revealed to Muhammad, for example whether a verse was revealed while the prophet was in Mecca or Medina. According to Ibn Abbas and others, Al-Fatiha is Meccan; according to Abu Hurairah and others, it is a Madinan sura. The former view is more widely accepted. Some say it was the first complete surah to be revealed[1], coming after the revelation of the beginnings of the sura ...

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Al-Fatiha, Al-Fatiha - Arabic, Al-Fatiha - Meaning, Al-Fatiha - Notes, Al-Fatiha - Revelation, Al-Fatiha - Alternate names, Al-Fatiha - Statistics

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Waterman's stated intention was to try to recreate the sound of ABBA and blend it with a more modern style, however their first single "5,6,7,8" was a techno line dance and though not typical of what would become their style, it became their first hit, and later find its way onto a game called "Dancing Stage Euromix 2," the "foreign" version of the popular Dance Dance Revolution Series. The single then went on to become one of the highest selling singles to ...

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Steps, Steps - Band members, Steps - History, Steps - Criticisms, Steps - After split, Steps - Discography, Steps - Albums, Steps - Singles

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One of the earliest accounts of Saqifah is to be found in Ibn Ishaq's sira, or biography of Muhammad. It is based on the words of Umar himself, as reported to Ibn Ishaq by Ibn Al-Abbas. According to this account, after the death of Muhammad the Ansar gathered at the Bani Sa'ida's saqifah while the closest relatives of Muhammad, Fatima and Ali and their relatives, were preparing Muhammad's body for burial. The Muhajirun had gathered with Abu Bakr and Umar. Abu Bakr suggested that they join the Ansar. On the way, the Mahajirun learned t ...

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Saqifah, Saqifah - Significance of Saqifah, Saqifah - Ibn Ishaq's account, Saqifah - A Sunni view of Saqifah, Saqifah - The Shi'a view of Saqifah

Read more here: » Saqifah: Encyclopedia II - Saqifah - Ibn Ishaq's account

The title track, after its success as a single in the UK was parodied in a sketch on the BBC comedy programme, Not the Nine O'Clock News in 1981. The sketch comprised a very close musical parody of the song, called Super Duper, with rather scathing words about Abba: One of us is ugly, one of us is cute One of us you'd like to see in her birthday suit Two of us write music, two have way a song Sorry, i ...

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Super Trouper album, Super Trouper album - Track listing, Super Trouper album - Personnel, Super Trouper album - Production, Super Trouper album - Trivia, Super Trouper album - Charts

Read more here: » Super Trouper album: Encyclopedia II - Super Trouper album - Trivia

Aghdashloo was born Shohreh Vaziri-Tabar (Aghdashloo is the name of her former husband, famous Persian painter Aydin Aghdashloo), to a wealthy family in 1952. She entered acting school at a young age, and acted at the age of 20 in some movies in her native Iran like The Report, which was directed by the director Abbas Kiarostami. After the 1979 Revolution, she left Iran for England, where she finished her education. Her interest in politics and social justice drove her to ear ...

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Shohreh Aghdashloo, Shohreh Aghdashloo - Early life, Shohreh Aghdashloo - American film career, Shohreh Aghdashloo - Private life, Shohreh Aghdashloo - External link

Read more here: » Shohreh Aghdashloo: Encyclopedia II - Shohreh Aghdashloo - Early life

Although Hormozgan is known to have had settlements during the Achaemenid era and when Nearchus passed through this region, recorded history of the main port of Hormozgan ("Bandar-e-Hormoz") begins with Ardashir I of Persia of the Sassanid empire. The province is said to have been particularly prosperous between 241 BC and 211 BC, but is said to have grown even further in trade and commercial significance after the arrival of the Islamic era. Marco Polo visited the port of Bandar Abbas in 1272 and 1293, and reported widespread trading in Persian jewelry, the ivory and silk of IndoChina, and pearls from ...

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Hormozgan Province, Hormozgan Province - History, Hormozgan Province - Geography and Culture, Hormozgan Province - Islands of the province, Hormozgan Province - Hormozgan today, Hormozgan Province - Attractions, Hormozgan Province - Colleges and Universities

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Chardin was born in Paris in 1643 into a Protestant family. His father, a wealthy jeweller, gave him a good education and trained him in the jewellery trade. But instead of settling down in the family profession, the young Chardin set out with a Lyons merchant named Raisin in 1665 for Persia and India, partly on business and partly to gratify his own wanderlust. After a successful journey, during which he had received the patronage of the Safavid monarch Shah Abbas II, he returned to France in 1670. The following year, he published an accoun ...

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Jean Chardin, Jean Chardin - Life and work, Jean Chardin - Value of Chardin's work, Jean Chardin - Reference

Read more here: » Jean Chardin: Encyclopedia II - Jean Chardin - Life and work