Abba

take everything

I ****ing love Abba.
I am a heterosexual male but I ****ing love Abba.
I am also q bit drunk.

AllForIt

Fancy a f*cK while your temporarily gay?

AllForIt

I'll thank you for the Music if you do ...

AllForIt

I'll give you some Money Money Money if you finally meet your Waterloo with me..

AllForIt

Does Your Mother Know you listen to ABBA?

AllForIt

Oh come on, Take a Chance On Me...

AllForIt

If you change you mind, I'm the first in line..

Lucy8080

Does your mother know?

I bet she always suspected !

I'm bored , off to airport in couple of hours, offer me more A.H.

Richard Hillman

Phenomenal music. One of the rare occasions where their later stuff was better than the earlier times (which were also amazing)

AllForIt

I think I was 8 years old when this song was about and I used to play it in the jukebox in the pub on a Sunday after Mass when my Dad went to the pub for a few jars before going home for the spuds.

What can I say but thank them for the music.

Arghus

One of the best pop songs ever written:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvChjHcABPA

Can't stand them. Used to like Super Trooper when it was out but was about 7 or 8. Hated that whole revival in the early 90s when every rural disco had to end up with Thank You For the Music. Hate some stuff more than others, like Waterloo and Mammia Mia are worse than the Winner Takes It All. But can't say I like one single song.

spurious

15 Nov 1979. I was there.

Conall Cernach

Deleted User wrote: »

Can't stand them. Used to like Super Trooper when it was out but was about 7 or 8. Hated that whole revival in the early 90s when every rural disco had to end up with Thank You For the Music. Hate some stuff more than others, like Waterloo and Mammia Mia are worse than the Winner Takes It All. But can't say I like one single song.

I blame Erasure for making them "cool" again. During the 80's ABBA were laughably uncool.

biko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wydPIAxuXdw

I love them and I'm proud of it.

Yamanoto

They're an odd hybrid of Euro-pop cheesy razzmatazz meets glam rock, producing absolutely genius levels of melodic sophistication, brilliant arrangements with innumerable catchy hooks and lyrical simplicity with punch.

The fact they've steadfastly refused the massive financial inducements to go out on the road as essentially their own tribute band admirably bucks the trend too.

Conall Cernach

Conall Cernach wrote: »

I blame Erasure for making them "cool" again. During the 80's ABBA were laughably uncool.

Yep. The 80s were not good to Abba. Then Erasure got hold of them, they became a kinda gay anthem group (maybe they always were and Erasure were just exploiting that), and have ridden that wave since. Still twee pop for me, albeit cleverly crafted twee pop.

Yamanoto

Yamanoto wrote: »

The fact they've steadfastly refused the massive financial inducements to go out on the road as essentially their own tribute band admirably bucks the trend too.

But didn't some of them become very reclusive, thought the blonde lived on some island and kinda shuns interaction with others now. It's not like they've given the money to charity or anything.

jmayo

I remember visiting Stockholm in Gamla Stan area and there was military parade of sorts with military band in area round the Palace.

The band were playing Dancing Queen.

Then to top it off they dumped their weapons and gear into the back of Volvo estate cars.

jmayo

jmayo wrote: »

Then to top it off they dumped their weapons and gear into the back of Volvo estate cars.

Did they drive off to a bisexual orgy in a sauna? :P

As far as I remember even Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols was a massive Abba fan. I think he was kicked out of one of their UK gigs in Wembley Arena when he got a bit over excited and ran up the aisle towards Agnetha with his arms in the air, complete with leather jacket, boots, spiky hair and chains. But because there was a film crew there making a movie security tackled him and booted him out instead.

SecretsOfEarth

Deleted User wrote: »

But didn't some of them become very reclusive, thought the blonde lived on some island and kinda shuns interaction with others now. It's not like they've given the money to charity or anything.

Agnetha (the blonde one) suffered from anxiety a lot in the band's later years due to the stress of touring and the sheer insanity of ABBAmania at its peak, particularly in Australia. She also had an intense fear of flying which hindered touring and her own personal welfare. After ABBA, she had a pretty successful English language solo career for three albums then backed out of the spotlight to live a quiet life in Sweden. She did have problems with stalkers but she didn't become a recluse, instead just choosing to try and live a more normal life.

Slowly but surely she eased herself back into the world of celebrity, attending the Mamma Mia The Movie premiere in Stockholm and she released a new English language album, 'A' in 2013, which became her highest charting album in the UK thus far.

They have also made charitable contributions, the most significant being that 50% of all proceeds from 'Chiquitita' (one of their biggest hits, released in 1979) are donated to UNICEF to this day, with ABBA being involved in a UNICEF concert and honouring the song for Year of the Child.

suicide_circus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E43paYkY8E

Richard Hillman

I was watching a programme on ABBA a while ago. It highlights the progression of their songs. It started off with The courting phase, to the honeymoon period, the troubled times, the divorce, the getting on with you life phase.

This was generally reflected with the relationships within the band but it is phenomenal that a band can map a whole relationship, in chronological order, throughout their music career.

This is why they couldn't go on (plus the personal issues). If they continued on and made new music it wouldn't have made sense artistically.

It is amazing to think that they could do a small tour, 10 gigs, 80,000 people each, charge between €500-5k a ticket but would still turn it down. They'd pack about 100m each from it but won't do it for artistic reasons. They could even put it on PPV Television and double it. Remarkable. True artists.

keano_afc

I have no problem admitting to anyone that wants to hear that I bloody love Abba.

MRnotlob606

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Phenomenal music. One of the rare occasions where their later stuff was better than the earlier times (which were also amazing)

same could be said about the beegees I think

SecretsOfEarth

Richard Hillman wrote: »

I was watching a programme on ABBA a while ago. It highlights the progression of their songs. It started off with The courting phase, to the honeymoon period, the troubled times, the divorce, the getting on with you life phase.

This was generally reflected with the relationships within the band but it is phenomenal that a band can map a whole relationship, in chronological order, throughout their music career.

This is why they couldn't go on (plus the personal issues). If they continued on and made new music it wouldn't have made sense artistically.

It is amazing to think that they could do a small tour, 10 gigs, 80,000 people each, charge between €500-5k a ticket but would still turn it down. They'd pack about 100m each from it but won't do it for artistic reasons. They could even put it on PPV Television and double it. Remarkable. True artists.

The fact that they turned down $1bn in 2000 to reunite for a series of shows epitomises their determination to be remembered as they were.

I like that, while not directly reuniting, they have found other ways for their music to live on, and I like that they let the music speak for itself rather than feed any personal ego drive. For example, since their split, they've released compilations (with ABBA Gold selling 30m copies and becoming one of the best selling albums of all time), been involved in Mamma Mia the musical and the movie, designed an interactive travelling exhibition which eventually morphed into their own museum in Stockholm, and are now working on an innovative virtual reality experience with Simon Fuller (masterminded the success of the Spice Girls) to capture their essence in 2018, along with a Mamma Mia: The Movie sequel. Incredible longevity from just one decade of active recording!

Oscar Bravo

from 1977, great song.

SecretsOfEarth

Oscar Bravo wrote: »

from 1980, great song.

It's quite a strange song for them, especially with the monologue at the start!
It's from 1977, from ABBA: The Album.

Oscar Bravo

I have The Album here in the house somewhere, must dig it out soon! i think this one is on it to, jeez its been a while since i heard this

SecretsOfEarth

Oscar Bravo wrote: »

I have The Album here in the house somewhere, must dig it out soon! i think this one is on it to, jeez its been a while since i heard this

Yep, while I wouldn't consider it their best in my opinion, it houses a lot of their finest material including Take A Chance On Me, The Name of the Game, Thank You For The Music and Eagle. It also has some nice 'oddities' in their discography, so to speak, including Hole In Your Soul, I'm A Marionette and Move On.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQqRNo7hMMw

SEPT 23 1989

no early 80's brown and orange home was complete without a copy of the Greatest Hits Vol. 2 LP sitting beside the stereo system

SecretsOfEarth

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

no early 80's brown and orange home was complete without a copy of the Greatest Hits Vol. 2 LP sitting beside the stereo system

Their confusing tans seem to match the decor
gvh2.GIF

SecretsOfEarth

SecretsOfEarth wrote: »

The fact that they turned down $1bn in 2000 to reunite for a series of shows epitomises their determination to be remembered as they were.

I like that, while not directly reuniting, they have found other ways for their music to live on, and I like that they let the music speak for itself rather than feed any personal ego drive. For example, since their split, they've released compilations (with ABBA Gold selling 30m copies and becoming one of the best selling albums of all time), been involved in Mamma Mia the musical and the movie, designed an interactive travelling exhibition which eventually morphed into their own museum in Stockholm, and are now working on an innovative virtual reality experience with Simon Fuller (masterminded the success of the Spice Girls) to capture their essence in 2018, along with a Mamma Mia: The Movie sequel. Incredible longevity from just one decade of active recording!

Are we possibly in danger of overanalysing them. They were a very decent pop act, that made light poppy music, that many people liked, and probably were more proficient at it than most. I wouldn't ascribe some great nobility for turning down live shows, after all they cashed in with Mamma Mia, which didn't exactly preserve their integrity or wow the film critics, and I note you say that they're doing it again. The Police went the other way, the lucrative tour but at least no awful films...swings and roundabouts.

SecretsOfEarth

Deleted User wrote: »

Are we possibly in danger of overanalysing them. They were a very decent pop act, that made light poppy music, that many people liked, and probably were more proficient at it than most. I wouldn't ascribe some great nobility for turning down live shows, after all they cashed in with Mamma Mia, which didn't exactly preserve their integrity or wow the film critics, and I note you say that they're doing it again. The Police went the other way, the lucrative tour but at least no awful films...swings and roundabouts.

I've never made them out to be something they're not, most of the time ABBA are underrated. The problem is that many people seem them as just 'fluff' when there is more to their discography, with most of their subject matter being more heavy than the upbeat melodies belie. Towards the latter end of their career, their music took on another level of commentary, both personally and on a societal front.

I disagree, while Mamma Mia may not be well-reviewed, it has allowed the music to live on without ABBA cheapening themselves to a clapped out reunion tour and being slated. Through all of these things, the common denominator is the music, the songs which are slowly gaining their rightful place in music history.

jmayo

Richard Hillman wrote: »

I was watching a programme on ABBA a while ago. It highlights the progression of their songs. It started off with The courting phase, to the honeymoon period, the troubled times, the divorce, the getting on with you life phase.

This was generally reflected with the relationships within the band but it is phenomenal that a band can map a whole relationship, in chronological order, throughout their music career.

This is why they couldn't go on (plus the personal issues). If they continued on and made new music it wouldn't have made sense artistically.

It is amazing to think that they could do a small tour, 10 gigs, 80,000 people each, charge between €500-5k a ticket but would still turn it down. They'd pack about 100m each from it but won't do it for artistic reasons. They could even put it on PPV Television and double it. Remarkable. True artists.

As opposed to all the other acts that are on tour to cash in.
Anyone notice how much tickets for Steeley Dan, Doobie Brothers are going for ?

Or even worse the likes of The Stones which have become their own tribute band and haven't released anything of note for decades.

bnt

If you're not involved in music production, you might not appreciate that ABBA were genuinely innovative in this area, both in their use of recording technology and the quality of the results they achieved. Their recordings still sound excellent today, better than (in my opinion) most of what passes for "pop" these days.

It helped that they could afford to spend money on this, and they certainly did. They recorded their last three albums at Polar Studios in Stockholm, which was designed by ABBA and their producers to be totally state-of-the-art. One of the studios in the complex was possibly the first working digital recording studio in the world. Benny in particular spent huge wads of money on pianos and synthesisers such as the legendary Yamaha GX-1 ($60,000 in 1977, over $300,000 in today's dollars).

jmayo

jmayo wrote: »

As opposed to all the other acts that are on tour to cash in.
Anyone notice how much tickets for Steeley Dan, Doobie Brothers are going for ?

But not sure the music of Steely Dan could really be conveyed by some frothy light rom com musical targetted at 20-40 year old women!

I'd still take the tour. But the film route has commercial advantages, it can get them into towns all over the world and spark a new interest in buying the music itself, which for an act like Abba that was never really know for the stadium thumping gigs might be more attractive. It's easier to sell a pop act to a younger audience based on dewy eyed recollections of blonde hair and great teeth than see them painfully hobble on stage.

Plus, the obvious issue, maybe acts like Steely Dan are more confident in their live ability than Abba?

artanevilla

Abba backwards is addA.

ohnonotgmail

Deleted User wrote: »

But not sure the music of Steely Dan could really be conveyed by some frothy light rom com musical targetted at 20-40 year old women!

I'd still take the tour. But the film route has commercial advantages, it can get them into towns all over the world and spark a new interest in buying the music itself, which for an act like Abba that was never really know for the stadium thumping gigs might be more attractive. It's easier to sell a pop act to a younger audience based on dewy eyed recollections of blonde hair and great teeth than see them painfully hobble on stage.

Plus, the obvious issue, maybe acts like Steely Dan are more confident in their live ability than Abba?

Playing live was never an issue for them. they were all very accomplished live performers long before they formed the band.

SecretsOfEarth

Deleted User wrote: »

But not sure the music of Steely Dan could really be conveyed by some frothy light rom com musical targetted at 20-40 year old women!

I'd still take the tour. But the film route has commercial advantages, it can get them into towns all over the world and spark a new interest in buying the music itself, which for an act like Abba that was never really know for the stadium thumping gigs might be more attractive. It's easier to sell a pop act to a younger audience based on dewy eyed recollections of blonde hair and great teeth than see them painfully hobble on stage.

Plus, the obvious issue, maybe acts like Steely Dan are more confident in their live ability than Abba?

I really don't think that ABBA have any reason not to be confident, they sold out countless shows in the US, a market where they weren't successful to the same degree as everywhere else.

Their concerts gained rave reviews far and wide from critics and members of the general public alike, and selling out Wembley Arena for 6 consecutive nights is not to be dismissed.

It's more a case of not needing to or wanting to, rather than not being able to.

Richard Hillman

ABBA were also very revolutionary in their own country. Sweden was practically a quasi-communist/socialist industrialist country when they first came along. Their music and general individuality was frowned upon in Sweden, where people
were trying to resist Western Culture. They were rather unpopular in the early days but their progression also mapped a cultural change within Sweden.

KungPao

DEFTLEFTHAND

I recall one of the men being interviewed on the Late Late Show years back. He was asked about the time ABBA played Dublin (79 I think?), and he answered something along the lines of to be honest I don't remember.

I loved that brutal honesty, he wasn't going to pretend to remember just to placate Kenny and the Irish audience. Dublin was just another stop on a long World tour and it made no impression on him.

MRnotlob606

Song was inspired by El Condor Pasa - a song sung by Simon and Garfunkel.

keano_afc

MRnotlob606 wrote: »

Song was inspired by El Condor Pasa - a song sung by Simon and Garfunkel.

Absolutely brilliant song, one of my favourites.

LordSutch

Thought Agnetha was the most beautiful woman in the world when I was about fifteen. Catchy tunes & crazy outfits. I loved them, although I could never admit that I like them in school as they were never 'cool'.

Lorelli!

LordSutch wrote: »

Thought Agnetha was the most beautiful woman in the world when I was about fifteen

Isn't she a recluse now? I think there was something where she got into a relationship with her stalker as well!

I think ABBA are alright. Some good songs!

JupiterKid

I was practically brought up on ABBA and although my preference is for hard rock, blues and electronic I think they made amazing, perfect classic pop.

TheDriver

Absolutely love them, you cant but feel energetic when the music comes on. Even Fernando leads to a great sing along. Who cares OP what you're into, we must sing thank you for the music...
"finally facing my waterloo"