„Har jag redan sagt att jag älskar dig?“
 A Hagge Geigert Fan Tribute

I’m a big fan of Hagge Geigert. This guy rocks! I wish I were like him! Now, I can see the question on your faces: “Who the hell is Hagge Geigert?”

 Well, Hagge Geigert was a Swedish talkmaster. Between 1975 and 1992 he had a show on Swedish TV, called “Gäst hos Hagge” (“Hagge’s Guest”) A lot of Swedish celebrities were interviewed by him and during that time he was kind of an institution in Sweden. The 50^th show, in 1985, he had spared for a special guest: Agnetha.

Agnetha was breathtaking, as always, of course. But you’ve got to see Hagge! He’s just brilliant! This guy did a terrific job on that interview. Some parts of the show were kind of dull, for example when he lets Agnetha sing her Swedish hit “Om tårar vore guld” (“If tears were gold”) while she has to cut onions on a table in front of her. Haha! But Hagge is talking her up and flirts with her in a manner that makes her charme sparkle and shine! He tickles the hell out of her and is harvesting one cute smile after the next.

Really, there’s a lot to learn from Hagge Geigert. Although, if I ever were in his situation, I probably couldn’t get out a word or simply faint. But see yourself what happened.

“Gäst hos Hagge” – Starring: Agnetha Fältskog. 1985.

After Hagge has welcomed Agnetha . . .

. . .  they have a little chat with fans in the audience during which we learn she has shoe size 37. Hagge wears a sailor cap with the name  “Agnetha” written on it. [Hagge: “I’ve written that on it myself!”] Both of them take a seat on the stage.

[Minute 7]

Agnetha [seems to be a little nervous.]
Hagge: [sitting down] Do you have a stage fright?
Agnetha: I suppose so! You have?
Hagge: Yes, it’s insane! I’m like that too, so I’m shaking like this . . .  [Takes her left hand and shakes it several times.]

Hagge: Yes, but I do this too! What should we do about this?
Agnetha: Yes, it’s horrible. I think I’ve had nightmares about this for six months . . .
Hagge: No, about this?
Agnetha: Yes!
Hagge: But please! I have only had nightmares since yesterday.
Agnetha: [laughs.]
Hagge [takes her hand again]: Well, we’ll get through this, right?
Agnetha: Yes, I think so. I hope so anyway. Let me get some water . . . [Grabs a glass of water with her right hand.]
Hagge [still holding her left hand]: Well, you made a nice entrance. You don’t always do that; you fall onto the stage. Was that in London?
Agnetha: Yes, I have. [Puts away the water.]
Hagge [lets her hand go, at last.]

They continue talking about an event when Agnetha fell off the stage in a concert and then go on talking about her childhood and her early Swedish career before ABBA. After an intermezzo at the piano of the pianist on stage they return to their seats.

[Minute 13]

Hagge [getting himself in order on the seat]: Right. Let’s see where we were. [Casually] Uh, did I tell you I love you?
Agnetha [laughs]: No, I haven’t heard that before!
Hagge: I didn’t tell you that before? Then I’ll check it on my list. [Makes a check on his clipboard.]

Hagge [looks at her, playing the shy guy.]
Agnetha [still smiling]: You tell me just like this?
Hagge [raising his hands in defense]: I tell everyone. Some buy it too, you know.
Agnetha [laughs out loud and shakes her head.] Well, I did!
Hagge: But this time I really meant it, for once. [Takes her hand again.]
Agnetha: How fortunate! [Laughs again.]

Hagge: Speaking of which. In 1970 you got married . . .

The interview continues about how she met Björn, the marriage and the following ABBA career, some footage shown in between.

[Minute 33]

Hagge [abruptly switching topic]: This is amazing, but when I read about you and look at TV-interviews and such, 25% is about your sexy behind.

Agnetha: You say?
Hagge: But this is for sure, it’s no joke! You know it yourself, right?
Agnetha: I never understood that.
Hagge: No . . . Journalists in Australia and America, they come in and ask: “Oh, she has such a good looking behind”.
Agnetha: Oh, but God!
Hagge: Yes. How does it feel to be asked something as stupid as that? I [pointing to himself] would never ask anything like that!
Agnetha [laughs and takes the water glass.]
Hagge: [looks audaciously towards the audience and smiles.] It’s nothing to be ashamed about.
Agnetha: You see what I’m going through!
Hagge: We won’t talk any more about it, but you know it.
[Camera sweep over the chuckling audience.]
Hagge [with new topic]: After ABBA many think that now Agnetha Fältskog has stopped working . . .

[Minute 52]

Hagge: This thing, being beautiful and rich and world famous, it has to mean problems. Because, I mean, if you go out somewhere, and a guy asks you to dance with him, you think: “Is it because I’m beautiful or is it because I’m famous or what is it?” Is that how you feel?
Agnetha: No, this about being beautiful, I have never been able to take, you know. Unfortunately.
Hagge: Do you think I’m repetitive?
Agnetha: Yes, a tad. [Laughs.] No, but I think: “It’s not like that”. You should see me in the mornings!

Agnetha: No, it’s very much about make-up. If you wash your hair – if you blow it up and put on make-up and so on . . .
Hagge: No, it’s not. You’re so fine, even with no make-up. I think.
Agnetha: [slightly irritated.] You think so?
Hagge: Yes!
Agnetha: That was really kind.
Hagge: Of course I haven’t seen you in the mornings . . . yet. But I’m sure of it.
[Pause.]
Hagge: Now how does he look, this prince, riding on a white horse and parking on Lidingö?
[Hagge apparently is referring to the song “Hjärtats kronprins” from the “Agnetha Vol. 2” album.]
Hagge: How should he be? Should he be like Curt-Eric [the pianist on stage], or like ME . . . or like the producer here, or the studio host or . . . can you give some . . .
Agnetha: Yes, I can.
Hagge: Tell now!
Agnetha: He should be fairly tall.
Hagge: Thank you!

Agnetha: And he should have been a little in this business, preferably having put up shows and things.
Hagge: Wohoho! No, how good!
Agnetha: And his name should begin with an H. [Gazes at Hagge, waiting for his reaction, then bursts out in laughter.]
Hagge: No, let’s stop! [Turns around to get something from behind.] Do you know  what this is? [Switching topic.]

[Priceless, Agnetha! You got him at last! - “No, let’s stop!” - Surrender! - Is it only me who suspects to see the expression of victory on her face in the middle pic?]
 

The show ends in a highlight. Hagge has secretly invited Agnetha’s father Ingvar Fältskog and the two of them perform a duet of her song “En sommar med dig” where the lyrics were written by her father and Agnetha has composed the music.

Now you know why I am a Hagge Geigert fan. This was terrific! Thanks!
Should I ever meet the lady, you will be my blueprint, Sir!
 

Read Mattias Olsson’s complete translation of the show here on Kaarin’s Website.
More info on www.abbaontv.com.

(External links to other websites. Thanks for sharing, folks.)

And here’s what the tabloids made out of it. The cover of “Hänt i Veckan” (“Happened this Week”) of the following week:

Translation:

During the recordings it happened . . . HAGGE IN LOVE WITH AGNETHA! “You are beautiful, sexy and humorous”

(This guy is not just a pro, he has a good taste as well . . .)

(Picture taken from  www.agnethaarchives.com . See picture in original context here. Thank you for your hard work, Claas. Very much appreciated.)

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*Hagge Geigert, born 1925 in Lerdal (Dalsland), died in February 2000 in Göteborg at the age of 74.