Système 2

Show background: 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 7.30pm and was a competition featuring approximately six songs/artists. This was followed by the news between 8.00pm and 8.30pm 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.  Princess Grace and Prince Rainier were in the audience watching ABBA that night.

The complete performance of "Fernando" 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).

Guy Lux died on 13 June 2003.

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

An "ABBA on TV" exclusive - these colour pictures are being shared for the first time since the original broadcast from what I can gather.