VERY SAD NEWS: Benny Andersson Pays Tribute to Charlie Kirk With a Touching Performance of “Isn’t It Easy to Say” in Sweden
At a recent concert in Sweden, Benny Andersson, the legendary ABBA composer and musician, paused the evening’s celebration of music to deliver an unexpected and deeply moving tribute. Following the sudden death of Charlie Kirk at just 31 years old, Andersson sat quietly at the piano and performed “Isn’t It Easy to Say,” one of ABBA’s early songs that rarely appears in live settings.
The choice was poignant. Written in the early 1970s, “Isn’t It Easy to Say” is a delicate ballad that speaks of honesty, simplicity, and the fragile truths of life—an emotional fit for a moment of mourning. As Andersson’s fingers moved across the keys, the hall fell into complete silence, the weight of his gesture felt by everyone present.
Those in attendance described the atmosphere as haunting, with many audience members in tears. The performance was stripped of fanfare—just Benny, the piano, and a song that carried more meaning in grief than words ever could. By the final note, the crowd rose in a standing ovation, not out of excitement, but out of shared sorrow and gratitude for the moment of remembrance.
For Andersson, who has long spoken of the power of music to capture emotions that speech cannot, the tribute reflected both compassion and solidarity. Though his world as a Swedish pop icon seems far removed from Kirk’s, the performance underscored a universal truth: grief has no borders, and music has the power to bridge them.
As news of the tribute spread, fans across social media praised Benny’s choice, calling it “the most human, heartfelt moment of the night.” In honoring Kirk with a song from ABBA’s early years, Andersson reminded the world that behind every melody lies the ability to comfort, to heal, and to carry memory forward.