ABBA

Little known fact, ...Sissy Spacek was one of the original members before they really took off. ...she attended Stockholm University in the mid 60's.

Wow, that's pretty random, r1. How high are you?

Pretty fabulous. Super cheesy outfits and dorky live performances, but the music stands up as great, delicious pop.

.

They had the creepiest videos, especially "One of Us".

Best ABBA video is Take a chance on me

ABBA: the movie is pretty cool, Lasse Hallström did a good job

Never got their appeal.

"Waterloo" was a catchy single and it was all downhill after that, in my opinion.

There music is very well done, timeless and one of all time fantastic music groups. When I was a little kid my mother played their music and their songs bring me a lot of memories. Their music is still going strong and its still hugely popular world wide. I have heard they are worth around 1-2 billion dollars.

I think they're bloody fantastic!

Agnetha has a new album coming out this month.

I don't hate them, but I think they're overrated. They were also a fairly rare white disco group, and it irks me that they seemed to be completely unscathed by the disco backlash. Both ABBA, and another white disco group the Bee Gees, got into the R&R Hall Of Fame without the slightest difficultly, while Donna Summer (a way better singer than either of the ABBA girls) had to die before they let her in.

ABBA was not a disco group. Neither were the Bee Gees.

Bullshit r12, their first major US hit was Dancing Queen, too slow to be a proper disco song but obviously going for the disco market. Their subsequent synthesized europop often came close to disco, such as Take A Chance, until they went full out disco on their 1979 Voulez-Vous album and other remaining albums. "Voulez-Vous, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Lay All Your Love On Me are all obvious eurodisco songs, totally comparable to what Donna was recording with Giorgio Moroder. And to deny the Bee Gees were disco is the high of absurdity. This is just the attitude I was talking about the, the idea ABBA and BG get a pass for recording (*gasp*) disco because they're white. Fucking racist.

I like them - they have a definite place in the pop pantheon.

Like the Carpenters, their music sounded sunny but had a lot of melancholy undertones.

Their 90s/00s revival was welcome, initially, but the repeated return to their music, and the musical/movie, cheapened the music for me.

I adore the song Benni composed for the recent Swedish royal wedding. Lobely lyrics.

You do know the Bee Gees were around long before and long after their disco phase? Actually I guess you don't.

ABBA were influenced by all kinds of music and disco was popular at the time so naturally they dabbled in that style. I know every one of their songs forward and backward. Some were disco, most weren't. I won't argue they deserve a spot in the Rock and Roll hall of fame - they certainly never rocked very hard either - but you can't pigeonhole their music as disco just because it was popular at that time.

Their best moment was when Bea Arthur danced to "Fernando" on Malcolm In the Middle.

They ... were ... fabulous. Anyone who says otherwise should not be gay.

They are beloved in all of Spanish-speaking Latin America by people over a certain age. They've always been huge there, which is strange because I can't think of any other English-singing artist who has such appeal south of the border.

I loved them as a kid and continue to listen to them today. It's catchy, mindless, beautifully performed pop music. Great songs. The guys were REAL musicians and the girls were REAL singers.

Their Swedishness made them seem a little odd and set the apart from other pop groups of the time.

And no, they weren't a disco band. As the other poster already said they dabbled in it, as did most pop bands of that era. But they were pure, unadulterated euro pop.

The new Agnetha song.

Voice still sounds OK. Song dreadfully generic.

[quote]They've always been huge there, which is strange because I can't think of any other English-singing artist who has such appeal south of the border.

They were huge in Spanish-language markets because they released Spanish-language versions of their hits.

I know there's something going on...

I always loved ABBA and the Bee Gees. I am gay, so it is probably not a surprise. However, 98% of what I listened to in that era was hard rock and heavy metal. People were shocked that I had ABBA and Bee Gees albums mixed in with my Led Zep, Sabbath and B.O.C. albums.

The French version of "The Winner Takes It All" was recorded by Mireille Mathieu as "Bravo, Tu As Gagné." The members of ABBA sang backup.

"Mais les dés sont jetés, pairs, impairs, rouges ou noirs..."

Visitors is probably my favorite ABBA album. By the time it was released, their popularity was in decline, the relationships (male-female) between the members of the band were strained and, generally, the writing was on the wall when it came to the future of ABBA but what came out of the whole mess is beautifully melancholic and moving.

[r18] really? love of Abba is a requirement? I was gay before there was an Abba ~ I am gay now that they are no more. I can suck dick without the likes of them in my life.

The BeeGees were NOT a disco group. They were already huge in the late 60s long before disco and performed in a variety of styles.

ABBA also made their mark before disco. They were doing upbeat pop stuff, but you can't label it disco.

Also: the BeeGees and ABBA wrote everything they sang.

Linked below is the BeeGees singing what, for me, was their greatest song: "To Love Somebody". The year is 1967.

For this alone they deserve to be in the Hall of fame

[quote]They've always been huge there, which is strange because I can't think of any other English-singing artist who has such appeal south of the border.

Because they sang their songs in multiple languages (English is not their first language).

R25- Agnetha DID NOT sing on Bravo, Tu As Gagné, which I thought was telling, as that was one of her "Blue Liner" specials. On my facebook you can see my collection Of both Benny and Bjorn's former groups. Facebook ID Karl Dan

They were magic together and definitely have earned their place in pop history. Bjorn and Benny were great songwriters and producers and Agnetha and Frida were amazing vocalists.

Fernando!

I love their mournful love songs like Knowing Me and Knowing You and "The Name of the Game." Elvis Costello once said Abba songs were like mini-Ingmar Bergman movies and he's dead right.

WOW!

Agnetha is an underrated pop singer - a more soulful, more versatile interpreter than Karen Carpenter, whether or not she was singing phonetic English as claimed. One of my favorites is Eagle, and she's really great on My Love, My Life:

[quote]Like the Carpenters, their music sounded sunny but had a lot of melancholy undertones.

True, although the one time Karen sang an ABBA song, it was one of the perky numbers . . .

Good stuff

[quote]I know there's something going on...

There sure is

"True, although the one time Karen sang an ABBA song, it was one of the perky numbers . . ."

Maybe she bit into a burger in the green room.

I agree with R20 that their music wasn't disco. I think they were very unique and they stood on their own to the point they really couldn't be placed in any music category.I really don't think they were even Euro pop.I think that is one of the reasons why they were extremely successful and continue to be widely popular.

Muriel, you're *terrible*!

3 Abba songs on my current gym playlist, which doubles as a favorite songs of the 70s cache.

Thank goodness she's finally made enough money to get her teeth fixed since the days of R35!

Testing for the third time to try posting in this thread...

That was very weird... I tried twice to quote R33 and post about "The Name of the Game" but got "post rejected" each time. Was it because I quoted a line of the lyrics? What is going on?!

The best Abba video ever!

[quote]Thank goodness she's finally made enough money to get her teeth fixed since the days of [R35]!

Agnetha has always had more than enough money.

One thing the members of ABBA have never had to worry about was money. They are each very rich from the wise investments made from their ABBA earnings. They knew early on that they needed to be smart about money.

Agnetha's back!

No other group or single performer made me as happy listening to their music as did ABBA. I still stop whatever I'm doing when I hear their music. Their music was enough to make me spend my money and fly all over the world to listen them in concert. I will always have an ABBA tune in my head until I die. I'm not a music aficionado, so my take on ABBA simply reflects the effect their voices and orchestration had on me. The Cars, for a too short a time, had a similar effect on me.

There is power to ABBA that simply can't be denied, most of their cuts were either anthems or hymns. Long ago around the time of Yellow Brick Road, Elton John said, "rock hymns and anthems will capture an audience more often than any other form of rock music.

Nicely said, R49.

I love their skill at putting mournful lyrics with uplifting music - Happy New Year seduces you into singing along but the lyrics are such an accurate portrayal of that grey, morning after feeling.

[r49] power?

Ring, ring, why don't you give me a call Ring, ring, the happiest sound of them all Ring, ring, I stare at the phone on the wall And I sit all alone impatiently Won't you please understand the need in me So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call So, ring, ring, why don't you give me a call

You were here and now you're gone Hey, did I do something wrong I just can't believe that I could be so badly mistaken Was it me or was it you Tell me, are we really through Won't you hear me cry and you will know that my heart is breaking.

[quote]while Donna Summer (a way better singer than either of the ABBA girls)

No. I really don't think so R11/R13. Donna Summer's voice is not even vaguely in the same league as the ABBA girls voices. Donna Summer was average at best and didn't come close to the worldwide success of ABBA. Compare Summer's greatest hits catalogue with ABBA's greatest hits catalogue. Not even in the same league. Like R20 says - The ABBA guys were REAL musicians and the girls were REAL singers.

There are just so many reasons why your posts are ridiculous. Sick of your bullshit "racist" battle cry too! So sick of it. Just fuck off already.

R53 Also: ABBA wrote everything they sang.

(as did the BeeGees)

That counts for a lot.

In the Dancing Queen video they looked pretty cool in a 2014 style. A few touches and 2014.

Really.

I bought a lot of their music when I was working in South America -- thus the songs are in Spanish on the CDs.

The Ace of Base of the 70's

Their best video ever was Take A Chance On Me.

R41, *you* are!

Followed closely by Chiquitita.

STOP POSTING PAST SHIT BITCH! I'M GETTING SICK OF SEEING YOUR 50 YEAR OLD CRAP! LIVE IN THE PRESENT!

I agree, r58. I didn't listen to them until I read something on this site about them a year ago.

They were too Popish for me back then but I like them now. They also have an interesting history.

This is the song Agnetha should've released from her album...

I remember our grade school bus driver used to play ABBA for us. My favorite is still 'Waterloo'

Did they base their lyrics on melodic English words, or did they have relationships with places like Waterloo?

Donna Summer was every bit as good as the ABBA ladies, and I suspect better. I think there's a reason I've never found a live version of The Winner Takes It All on YT...

That said, I wouldn't pit Summer against them or the Bee Gees in relation to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is bullshit, and no one should be clamouring to get inside its walls

Just heard "Elaine" for the first time. Amazing song! Even their out-takes are genius.

Agnetha is the reason ABBA never reunited. Frida lives in Switzerland between Geneva and Lausanne. She's said many times every body else was willing to commit to a reunion tour - but not Agnetha.

No idea how Agnetha watches her finances having Sweden as primary residence. The taxes are astounding. The other three declare primary residence outside of Sweden.

A also had a booze problem for years. No idea if she's in better shape now.

Fabulous band. I'd pay a lot of money for a ticket to one of their concerts if only they'd reuinte.

[quote] or did they have relationships with places like Waterloo?

Eh... the lyric uses the battle of Waterloo as a metaphor for surrendering to love...

Do you think they were wife-swappers?

One of my favorites was Dance (While The Music Still Goes On). It has that melancholy undertone that was mentioned upthread but is upbeat.

Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson are total stand ins for Agnetha and Frida on the CHESS album.

I still dont know which is which..

So many mindless but wonderful hits.

They are harmless and did not cause pain.

I always wanted to visit a Scandanavian country. Or live there to see what it was like, what the people are like.

In the inter-personal relationship drama department, ABBA was like a sugar-pop-euro-disco version of Fleetwood Mac.

They were one of the few bands to lip sync on SNL.

Their songs were far from mindless for the most part.

ABBA were one of the first pop groups/singers to capitalise on music videos. Their videos are still iconic, and have been endlessly parodied. A lot of their success is owed to them, and how clever they were in marketing themselves. They also sang in multiple languages before any other major singers, which extended their success around the world.

That's not true. Petula Clark recorded in several languages. She was massive in France. There's probably singers before Clark did it as well.

ABBA sang in English, French, Swedish, German and Japanese. Beat that Petula.

She also sang in five (swap out Swedish and Japanese for Italian and Spanish)... I'm skeptical that ABBA sang extensively in Japanese. And didn't they release a Spanish album of their hits?

Clark is one individual (Raffaella Carra has recorded in multiple languages as well like many others) - Abba is a group. I do believe Abba was the only group to do this, non?

I've never heard Agnetha had a drinking problem and I've followed them closely all my life.

Also, it's not true the other members were willing to reunite to tour again. They ALL hated touring. There *might* have been a point in the late 80s when the other three were willing to record again under the ABBA name but Agnetha wasn't willing/interested. Frida was willing after her second solo album flopped but I wonder if Benny & Bjorn were really very interested. I'd think if three of the four were really enthusiastic they would have tried harder to convince Agnetha.

And though ABBA is very popular in Japan they never recorded their songs in Japanese. They may have recorded some spoken messages in Japanese to their fans there but that's it.

R18 is right. There is no level of fabulousness adequate to describe them.

[quote]They were too Popish for me back then but I like them now.

Yeah, I too much preferred their later Protestant period.

W&W for R86

To clear up some gossip and questions.

Benny had the alcohol problem, not Agnetha. Her father was an alcoholic.

As others have mentioned, they released an album in Spanish (Gracias Por La Musica), between Voulez-Vous and Super Trouper. A second version came out with the Spanish songs from the late albums. Several of their earlier songs were re-recorded just for that album for the Spanish language market.

They did record French and German versions of some of their early songs, but that stopped by 1975. As others have corrected, they did not record in Japanese.

No there was no wife swapping. Agnetha was very much in love with Björn. She was moody, too sensitive, and had lots of fears (flying, threats against her children). Both she and Frida were reportedly surprised by both Benny and Björn having affairs and asking for divorces. But they were pretty bold in sticking it out - three albums worth for Agnetha. At the time, Frida was the most ready to be done. Agnetha was still willing to come into the studio to record those final songs.

ABBA is the defacto pop group in music history and have influenced many.

R13 is an idiot and a major TWAT.

I recall tabloid photos of Agnetha taken after a stint in rehab for alcoholism. At least this is what the articles claimed.

Frida has been very clear that it was Agnetha who nixed the reunion tour - that the others were ready to go.

At any rate I'd pay big bucks still to see them perform live together.

I eat mounds and mounds and mounds of shit.

[quote] Donna Summer's voice is not even vaguely in the same league as the ABBA girls voices. Donna Summer was average at best and didn't come close to the worldwide success of ABBA.

Ugh, save that teenage shit of A-is-better-than-B for YouTube or some sensitive flower's Tumblr account.

Both Donna and ABBA were wonderful in their own right. No need to tear one down to raise the other.

R90, I have lived in Sweden most of my life and there was never a credible rehab story. There were many rumors of her in depression, etc., especially after the very odd and low period where she ended up in a what was never clear was a relationship with someone who stalked her. But I would not give any credence to a tabloid story.

Benny did an interview with Swedish press about his alcohlism. I am attaching one article to that effect. Agnetha, no.

Frida indeed said Agnetha would not tour but that does not mean Agnetha saying no was preventing a serious consideration of the logistics to do it or that it ever would have happened. She has always been afraid to travel extensively, at least until recently. Benny and Björn were tied up with their other work into the mid-90s, and have also said many times they were not a tourning band and did not feel after reflection it would be a good idea. They have said this in many documentaries since the 90s, certainly on Swedish television. They never blamed Agnetha for it.

Frida herself has experienced many tragedies since and also expressed doubts about a reunion. Agnetha brought it up recently and Benny said no. So it's all speculation.

Looks like it's a tradition among Swedish groups that the blonde singer is going nuts

They're no Cilla Black.

ABBA are inextricably linked to my childhood. I would play them endlessly and would pout and cry when their singles dropped from the number one spot - much to the bafflement of my older sister who never understood their appeal. I also remember an uncle asking thirteen-year-old me which ABBA member was my favourite: "Would that be Benny or Björn?" I guess It was that clear I was gay even then.

I loved "The Winner Takes It All" So much more realistic than "We Are The Champions" when it comes to "It's Judy's Turn To Cry" type songs.

The winner takes it all

The loser standing small

I sort of heard them around, but didn't get a good does of them until I saw "Muriel's Wedding."

You have to admit that ABBA moved with the times.

Their early 70s stuff included peace and love: "People Need Love" "He's Your Brother"

The late 70s they rocked the dance music and the meat-market scene: "Dancing Queen" "Take A Chance on Me" "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme"

And then set up the 1980s for a decade of self-absorption and yuppie-ness: "The Winner Takes It All"

The magic of ABBA was much the way the four worked together musically better than as couples. There was a perception that Agnetha and Frida were just voices but as time has passed it has been clearer that both women brought ideas to their songs.

The Winner Takes It All is one of those stories. They had done several versions but they didn't work. Somewhere along the way Björn suggested hearing it with simple piano and Agnetha contributed her own rendering of the lyric, and that's what makes that song so magical. The piano is in F-sharp (6 sharps) so it has this forlorn quality to it, and Agnetha doesn't over do it.

If you listen to the opening verse, there's this moment right as the verse turns where she holds one note just a little longer than the others - "I've played *all* my cards" - like she's catching herself from being emotional while she's trying to be philsophical about this breakup. It's great stuff.

Sarah Dawn Finer's Benny & Björn-approved cover of The Winner Takes It All is fantastic. The only one I really love besides the original, even in a lower key.

I like your analysis, r100.

Agnetha and Benny really were a fantastic combination. There was something about her voices and the keys he wrote really played well off of each other. S.O.S., My Love My Life, The The Winner Takes It All, but also "The Day Before You Came".

There's been so much analysis of TDBYC I won't even attempt to match it. Benny and Björn regret the production and having Agnetha "act" her singing in an ordinary voice, but the critical assessment is that it was the most haunting thing they did, especially coming at the end of the group, and I agree.

But for me, the way Agnetha sings over the key changes, with Frida's backing counterpoint is pretty fucking amazing, especially at the end with that very disturbing music:

"And turning out the light, I must have yawned and cuddled up for yet another night, and rattling on the roof I must have heard the sound of rain, the day before you came...."

Sexy, creepy ... fantastic.

Oh yes, and thank you R102

Here's a direction ABBA considered taking....

R103 The Day Before You Came is a masterpiece - get chills every time I listen to it.

I just found out the whole 1974 Eurovision Song Contest is on Youtube! (though only with German, Swedish and Italian commentary...) And the UK was represented by OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN!!!! I had no idea! I love the whole show, there were some lovely performances (you can't compare this to the vulgar mess in 2017). And the Portugese song apparently started the Carnation revolution? And Agnetha is just too captivating with her blue outfit.

Maybe some kind soul wants to start a thread about the EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 1974. It's too iconic.

ABBA starts at about 35:45, ONT @ 10:26

Take a chance on me!

R107 The Portuguese Eurovision song for 1974 most certainly did NOT start the Carnation Revolution. The song that did was Grândola, vila morena. The Revolution came indeed just over two weeks later.

Now back to ABBA.

And thank you for the video, that is a find.

Bumping this because ABBA is a great band (disco and crazy clothes were only small parts of their history.) Genuinely good pop music.

Also, Benny was cute as fuck.

r7 ...I agree. Lay All Your Love on Me was pretty good, too...the rest of their songs...meh

Their music is rhythmically and harmonically interesting. And they could sing.