Filmed: Friday 31 January 1975
Location: Studio 102, Paris, France
Broadcast: Sunday 9 February 1975, A2, France
Release status: This programme has not been included on any officially released video or DVD
Duration: Full programme 27:27; ABBA c. 3 minutes
Shown in: France
Ring Parade was shown every Sunday evening at 19.30 during the 1970s hosted by Guy Lux. The name of the show changed with the years (French Cancan, Domino, Ring Parade/Système 2, Top Club, Cadence 3). The show was a competition featuring approximately six songs/artists. This was followed by the news between 20.00 and 20.30 followed by Système 2. Système 2 was a 70-80 minute show with several artists. During the show, viewers got the results of the Ring Parade competition.
ABBA appeared in Ring Parade or in Système 2 but it seems that Ring Parade was, sometimes, listed as Système 2 by the French TV archives (INA) in the 70s.
ABBA performed So Long to playback on this show hosted by Guy Lux and Sophie Darel. Guy introduced them, "Number 4. We know this group from Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 when we discovered them and they have come back with their new song So Long."
The running order of the show was:
- Frédéric Francois' opening song
- Laurent Rossi - Jolie baby blue
- Annie Cordy - La bonne du curé
- Billy Swan - I Can Help
- ABBA - So Long
- Carlos - Senor météo
- Frédéric Francois - Mal, tu me fais mal
- Tino Rossi's closing song
The filming date was confirmed by Görel's diary from 1975 as seen in the leaflet supplied in ABBA - The Backstage Stories by Carl Magnus Palm and Ingmarie Halling.
This performance was also broadcast on 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 February and 1 March 2013 on Télé Melody, France and 14 November 2013, Jukebox, 192TV, Netherlands c. 19:00.
- Agnetha's scarily heavy make-up
- ABBA in the audience during Billy Swan and Frédéric Francois' performances
Ring Parade (So Long), 1975;
Ring Parade (I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do), 1975;
Ring Parade (SOS), 1975;
Archive data from French TVs’ public site:
Ring parade : émission du 09 février 1975
Emission : Système deux
Collection : A2 / France 2
N° de notice : CPB00004512
Date de 1re diffusion : dimanche 09/02/1975
Durée : 00:30:00
Original information (re: Système 2) from ABBA - The Book (p.111) by Jean-Marie Potiez. Also thanks to Pascale Ranson, Paul Neilson, Steve Layton, Walter Veldman, Pascale Ranson, Mandy Samuels, Erik Liebstaedter, Jun Seo, Sam Shervz, Petr Mlejnek and Gérard Le Sech. Huge thanks to Jozsef and Gabor. Special thanks to Eduardo Souza.
YouTube link c/o ABBA RICO