ABBA: Thank you for nothing

I never thought I'd say this, but ... I never want to hear another ABBA song again. Ever.

Thanks to roadwords on the M4 we had an epic six-and-a-half-hour journey on Sunday, much of which coincided with Radio 2's broadcast of the ABBA "Thank you for the music" tribute in Hyde Park. Oh goody, we thought, a sing-song will keep us cheery during the long, dismal hours ahead.

It was dreadful. The glittering line-up of stars screeched, squawked and warbled their way through the Swedish foursome's back catalogue. Jamie Cullum made "My Love, My Life" his own - unfortunately his free-fall jazz style proved totally incompatable with the song. And as for Chaka Khan ... she can't. In fact, the only ones who sang in tune were Jason Donovan and Kylie. It was karaoke hell, with bells on. And with Chris Evans yelling at the top of his voice.

Then, at rehearsals on Monday, the bandmaster got out the ABBA medley. We played it again last night, at a dinner. Now it's in the music pack we'll probably keep playing it from now until Doomsday. Or until we get it right.