Every Sunday evening, during the 1970s there was a TV show hosted by Guy Lux and Sophie Darel. The name of the show changed with the years (French Cancan, Domino, Ring Parade/Système 2, Top Club, Cadence 3). Ring Parade was shown every Sunday at 19:30 and 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 a short version of Waterloo and then Fernando. This was the French audience's first chance to hear Fernando on this show hosted by Guy Lux. It was the world TV première of the song.

Footage has emerged of Fernando but only from the first chorus onwards. Princess Grace and Prince Rainier were in the audience watching ABBA that night.

The complete performance of Fernando (and presumably Waterloo also) for Système 2 has been lost/erased by the French TV archives. Luckily, Fernando became a big hit a few weeks later and so Guy Lux used a part of the footage again in a Ring Parade programme. It is this part of the performance (starting at the first chorus) that has emerged (which is a shame, but better than nothing).

I don't know about you, but I don't think these outfits SUIT Fernando .... it looks wrong!

Guy Lux died on 13 June 2003.

Note that the image captures above are from the re-broadcast of the clip on Ring Parade from 14 March 1976, remembering that the original performance was for Système 2).

Lyrics available on the Official ABBA site

Système 2 (I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do), 1975;
Système 2 (Waterloo and Fernando), 1976;

Information from ABBA - The Book by Jean-Marie Potiez. Huge thanks to Jozsef for pictures and information. Also thanks to Petr Mlejnek, Gérard Le Sech, Eduardo Souza and Sam Shervz. And double thanks to Jean-Marie Potiez for clarification.
YouTube clip c/o Mira6610