ABBA

[Filo]

I know it’s probably not cool to like ABBA, but I’ve just listened to the two new songs and they are excellent, the voices of Agnetha and Frida have not changed one bit, even though they are both in their 70’s now

[normal rules]

Some topical ABBA songs for RW

Take a chance on me
Money money money
Slipping through my fingers (from mamma Mia)
SOS

[belton rover]

Some topical ABBA songs for RW

Take a chance on me
Money money money
Slipping through my fingers (from mamma Mia)
SOS

Thank You For The Music (to Bogle)

[Bentley Bullet]

Who gives a f**k about what you like being cool?

[River Don]

I never really liked Abba but there's no doubting the quality of songwriting.

I'm not sure this new stuff is anywhere near the standard of what they were producing in their heyday. I might be wrong, it could be a grower. I don't expect that of Abba though, perfectly crafted pop songs that immediately grab you, was more their thing.

[Metalmicky]

I know it’s probably not cool to like ABBA, but I’ve just listened to the two new songs and they are excellent, the voices of Agnetha and Frida have not changed one bit, even though they are both in their 70’s now

I agree - both songs are good and you can definitely tell it's ABBA.

[selby]

  A few years ago Agnatha Faltskog  brought out a record of songs she wrote mostly herself, the wife got it and it was very good, both the girls in their early years had careers in stage musicals and are great singers, give them good songs and musical backing and they will make a fist of it, its always been easy for those with exceptional talent whatever the style of music and they are certainly main stream.

[ravenrover]

Love the fact that ABBA shows in the future will be computer devised images of them in their prime rather than live in person as they are now

[sha66y]

ABBA was a monster that destroyed music……it took Punk to put it to the sword…

If you liked ABBA you were just weird…end of

[Bentley Bullet]

Love the fact that ABBA shows in the future will be computer devised images of them in their prime rather than live in person as they are now

ABBATARS

[River Don]

ABBA was a monster that destroyed music……it took Punk to put it to the sword…

If you liked ABBA you were just weird…end of

I used to think like that Sha99y but now I think they are undoubtedly one of the greats of songwriting. Up there with Brian Wilson and Lennon & Mcartney. Seriously.

They were so professional. The bedrock is the songs. They are absolutely focussed melodies and hooks you can't get out of your mind, even if you don't want them there. How does Take a Chance go? If you tell me you aren't thinking - take-a-chance-take-a-chance-take-a-chance-chance-chance then I don't believe you. On top of that they are great performers and the girls have extraordinarily good voices and the whole thing was superbly produced for its day.

The thing is Abba knew their audience, it was a newly middleclass Western European, couple. Buying a new Cortina, going on holiday to Spain for the first time, it was easy pop music for them to play on their new record player. Bob and Thelma from The Likely Lads.

Oh and Abba aren't disco. Disco was a crossover of black American soul and funk with Latino styles. Very much an American urban thing. The Salsoul Orchestra. Abba might have been influenced by the French and Italian dance music of the day I guess but that's as close as it got to disco I think. The inspiration for their melodies actually came from Swedish folk music.

Abba weren't aimed at me, just as Barry Manilow wasn't aimed at me. Nowadays I wonder why it was that I so disliked that they even existed back in the 70s. Different times I suppose, music seemed much more important back then.

[Filo]

Personally I have. A wide range of musical taste, I could just as easily listen to the Blue Danube Waltz or Masters of puppets

[River Don]

I'm like that now Filo.

The funny thing is, thinking back I was still a kid when Abba were at their height. I don't think I really knew what music I did like but I was absolutely sure what I didn't like and Abba were one of those I couldn't stand.

[Glyn_Wigley]

Personally I have. A wide range of musical taste, I could just as easily listen to the Blue Danube Waltz or Masters of puppets

Same here, I go from Crass to Classical.

[scawsby steve]

Who gives a f**k about what you like being cool?

Speaking of being cool, BB, Wolfie wants to know if he can borrow your "Ronnie Hylton's Greatest Hits" album.

[belton rover]

Personally I have. A wide range of musical taste, I could just as easily listen to the Blue Danube Waltz or Masters of puppets

Same here, I go from Crass to Classical.

When do you think you’ll get to classical?

[Bentley Bullet]

Who gives a f**k about what you like being cool?

Speaking of being cool, BB, Wolfie wants to know if he can borrow your "Ronnie Hylton's Greatest Hits" album.

I would do but I broke it when I threw it at a mouse that was going clip-clippety-clop on the stairs.

[sha66y]

ABBA was a monster that destroyed music……it took Punk to put it to the sword…

If you liked ABBA you were just weird…end of

I used to think like that Sha99y but now I think they are undoubtedly one of the greats of songwriting. Up there with Brian Wilson and Lennon & Mcartney. Seriously.

They were so professional. The bedrock is the songs. They are absolutely focussed melodies and hooks you can't get out of your mind, even if you don't want them there. How does Take a Chance go? If you tell me you aren't thinking - take-a-chance-take-a-chance-take-a-chance-chance-chance then I don't believe you. On top of that they are great performers and the girls have extraordinarily good voices and the whole thing was superbly produced for its day.

The thing is Abba knew their audience, it was a newly middleclass Western European, couple. Buying a new Cortina, going on holiday to Spain for the first time, it was easy pop music for them to play on their new record player. Bob and Thelma from The Likely Lads.

Oh and Abba aren't disco. Disco was a crossover of black American soul and funk with Latino styles. Very much an American urban thing. The Salsoul Orchestra. Abba might have been influenced by the French and Italian dance music of the day I guess but that's as close as it got to disco I think. The inspiration for their melodies actually came from Swedish folk music.

Abba weren't aimed at me, just as Barry Manilow wasn't aimed at me. Nowadays I wonder why it was that I so disliked that they even existed back in the 70s. Different times I suppose, music seemed much more important back then.

You are also evil…….and damned!


Lol

[auckleyflyer]

Guilty pleasure of mine even in the 90's when they we're seriously uncool before the 00's revival.
I'm hoping there is a legends slot Put aside for them at the next Glastonbury!!

[River Don]

ABBA was a monster that destroyed music……it took Punk to put it to the sword…

If you liked ABBA you were just weird…end of

I used to think like that Sha99y but now I think they are undoubtedly one of the greats of songwriting. Up there with Brian Wilson and Lennon & Mcartney. Seriously.

They were so professional. The bedrock is the songs. They are absolutely focussed melodies and hooks you can't get out of your mind, even if you don't want them there. How does Take a Chance go? If you tell me you aren't thinking - take-a-chance-take-a-chance-take-a-chance-chance-chance then I don't believe you. On top of that they are great performers and the girls have extraordinarily good voices and the whole thing was superbly produced for its day.

The thing is Abba knew their audience, it was a newly middleclass Western European, couple. Buying a new Cortina, going on holiday to Spain for the first time, it was easy pop music for them to play on their new record player. Bob and Thelma from The Likely Lads.

Oh and Abba aren't disco. Disco was a crossover of black American soul and funk with Latino styles. Very much an American urban thing. The Salsoul Orchestra. Abba might have been influenced by the French and Italian dance music of the day I guess but that's as close as it got to disco I think. The inspiration for their melodies actually came from Swedish folk music.

Abba weren't aimed at me, just as Barry Manilow wasn't aimed at me. Nowadays I wonder why it was that I so disliked that they even existed back in the 70s. Different times I suppose, music seemed much more important back then.

You are also evil…….and damned!


Lol

I respect your opinion. I know exactly where you are coming from... Waterloo... I was defeated you won the war.

No. Sorry. Rubbish.

[ravenrover]

Guilty pleasure of mine even in the 90's when I hey we're seriously uncool before the 00's revival.
I'm hoping they es a legends slot Pu aside to them at the next Glastonbury!!

You'd be happy to watch computer generated images singing greatest hits?

[BillyStubbsTears]

RD.
I've gone on a similarish journey from detesting them in the 1970s to admiring their craft for what it is. But I have never liked them because the music doesn't move me. Their music is skillfully made but it is just too conventional. You compare them to Brian Wilson and I guess that's right in terms of producing a conveyor belt of perfectly crafted earworms. But ABBA could never have the touched-by-the-hand-of-God moment that resulted in The Warmth of the Sun. Something that transcends the conventional and transports the listener.

[River Don]

BST

I guess you know that's exactly how I feel about Abba. I heard Björn Kristian Ulvaeu speaking about his music and I was very impressed, he seems like a top bloke generally and a very thoughtful guy. I wonder how he would get on if he collaborated with someone like Johnny Marr or Bjork or even Nile Rodgers. A Daft Punk remix would probably appeal to me.

But then it's not the sort of thing he would do.

[River Don]

actually that's a really shite thing to say.

there are kids today who could make Abba transcend themselves and i do not have a clue who they are.

[silent majority]

I know it’s probably not cool to like ABBA, but I’ve just listened to the two new songs and they are excellent, the voices of Agnetha and Frida have not changed one bit, even though they are both in their 70’s now

Surely their voices will have changed, just electronically enhanced now?

[auckleyflyer]

Guilty pleasure of mine even in the 90's when I hey we're seriously uncool before the 00's revival.
I'm hoping they es a legends slot Pu aside to them at the next Glastonbury!!

You'd be happy to watch computer generated images singing greatest hits?

Works for me also love the chemical brothers.

[Glyn_Wigley]

It'd still be more entertaining than watching a live Kraftwerk concert!

[German Rover]

It'd still be more entertaining than watching a live Kraftwerk concert!

I love Kraftwerk, saw them live and loved it with all my heart, but I totally get what you mean!

[sha66y]

Would sound like pensioners in a giro queue …..some things don’t age,

Unless it’s Leonard Cohen or Barbara Streisand of course…..