ABBA - I Still Have Faith In You

Veeeeryy "The Way Old Friends Do"

Gorg!

Anything by them is very welcome!

I'd love to hear the "sung" version of "The Day Before You Came".

The song is nice, but nowhere near the glorious heights of their heyday. It is evident that Frida's voice is much lower, less powerful and less agile than it was before, and Agnetha has completely lost hers - that is why she only sings in the choruses.

Anything done by ABBA is a historic event because they are legends, but it is painfully clear that they are way past their prime. Listen to their performance 5 years ago, and it's almost sad... Hopefully, they will stick to videos and lip syncing.

Don't Shut Me Down is a little bit more animated and very reminiscent of what they sang in the mid 70s. Still, Agnetha's voice sounds weak in the recording, so I guess that no live performances will be available.

They'll be using avatars instead of performing live...

Dont Shut me Down is the more Abba-ish of the first two tracks. It would be foolish to think they would sound the same. It's the conundrum of do leave things as they are and not tarnish what was by putting out stuff that obviously wont hold a candle to the previous material in their hey day. Barbara Streisand is a prime example of an artist that SHOULD just stop.

I am actually shocked that have a new album coming out...it's fantastic!

I’m sure many drag queens will be grateful for an ABBA song which includes the lyric ‘Do I have it in me? ‘

Ugh. That song is horrible.

Listening that new song I feel completely underwhelmed and disappointed.

I like both new tracks

what cuties

Not very good BUT it is so nice to hear melody ....rather than a song based on beat, as is just about everything else out there today.

I am a huge ABBA fan and am excited for the new music. I do hope Agnetha and Frida make at least one public appearance to help promote it; they were the faces of the band and yet often go years without giving interviews.

I've only listened to "I Still Have Faith In You" so far, and I'm afraid I'm disappointed. I wonder why they led off with this one -- it's just so generic: an over-arranged orchestral ballad. I don't mind the voices; they're totally unemarkable, but they're drowning in that soup of strings. And the lyrics are, sadly, even less memorable.

They probably should have left their legacy alone.

But maybe the other tracks will be a positive surprise... one can only hope.

God, what a bore.

THIS is what they put out after 40 years?

Because what people always wanted the most from ABBA was their penchant for slow, plodding, sentimental balladry?

Are they trying to fail on purpose?

Both Frida and Agnetha have lost some of their English diction, too. Agnetha’s was always a bit dodgy…they sound like they haven’t sung in English in years.

Still, the songs are lovely, the avatar concept is brilliant, and I’m happy they’re back.

sexy!

So with technology they'll just go on forever. Avatars and computer generated voices.

Cher, The Rolling Stones, Bruce, Sting, Elton...I imagine others will soon be doing the same thing.

Love both songs!!! ABBA!

I'm pretty shocked. They always said they would not get back together. I wonder if they were offered a huge amount of money?

I Still Have Faith in You is nice, but Don’t Shut Me Down is really good. Ok the voices have ahed but it’s a great song and instantly ABBA.

I’m just glad the songs aren’t terrible. For a band who are all in their 70’s I think this is quite respectable.

I agree that Don't Shut Me Down is the better song, it's mid to near upper tier ABBA. I Still Have Faith In You is lower tier ABBA. Of course, lower tier ABBA is better than most anything out there these days....

ABBA have nothing to lose by releasing new (and old, reworked to be new) material. As a pop culture mega phenomenon, anything released by them, even if it was 60 minutes of Agnetha and Frida saying "hi, how are you?" in Swedish and Norwegian would've been a huge hit. The album WILL be No.1, both on physical and streaming charts, the avatar "tour" will be successful, and accompanying merch will be gone in a heartbeat. The official ABBA online store crashed today and everything was gone within 10 minutes of the merchandise being launched.

This has me back on an ABBA kick. Now listening to “The Way Old Friends Do” 🥲

Yeah, let me pay god knows what for tickets (plus airfare and lodging) to watch AbBA cartoons. Are they kidding? I guess not.

Can't they perform live and just stream the concert, or are their voices so completely shot? If the latter, then just release studio recordings and be done with it. I think billion dollar bank accounts are more than enough for them at this point.

Disappointingly flat. Maybe the songs will grow on me. If these are the two best songs off the new album, then it is going to be a stinker. They make me want to listen to the old songs though.

BTW, is Benny sporting a rug?

Sorry but they sound geriatric.

Well, they are geriatric...

Not impressed, sorry, neither with the singing nor with the song.

Pretty awful actually

Wow, the 1970s really are back - inflation, high unemployment, stagnant economy, America in decline, an incompetent president, and now Abba.

Some passages go "Don't Shut Me Down" sound like "Felicita" by Romina Power (Tyrone's daughter) and Al Bano.

i think its great

Given they were the first two recorded, perhaps they will hit more of a consistent groove with the other 8 to come.

Maybe look at the first two as dusting off the cobwebs-you hope.

I wonder why they are doing this? The two guys were the songwriters and they sure have enough money. Frida married some Prince who died in 1999 and now lives with her BF in Switzerland. Is Agnetha broke? I heard she had some mental problems.

I liked a few of their 70s disco stuff and their album The Visitors had a few good numbers but I've always had an extremely visceral hatred of the Swedes. A horrid combo of revolting accents, natural blonde hair which adds a gross inhuman skin tone. This new song fucking sucks. The two male leads are the biggest anal warts on the asshole of history since Trump.

R37 got covid in his brain.

What perfect timing to release this Boomer crap just as the Boomers are all going cunts-up - FINALLY.

I TOLD you R39 what happens when you DON'T take your morning meds.

R37 That’s certainly a hot take. Do tell us more about the “gross inhuman skin tone” of Swedish people.

R36, I can't imagine Agnetha is hard up for money, even if she's not mega rich like Benny and Bjorn. She only wrote two songs for ABBA ("Disillusion" and "I'm Still Alive"), but was a successful composer prior to the group's formation and always contributed self-written tracks to her solo albums.

Regarding the alleged mental issues, the only thing I've heard about her is that she is afraid of flying long distances and grew to dislike large crowds, hence why you rarely see her at ABBA events. From what I gather, she spends most of her time with her kids, grandkids, and dogs.

So DL hates these new songs, big surprise. Very soon your bones will be dust, and most of you sure sound ready for it.

Remember that scene in Priscilla where the one guy has a preserved Agnetha turd in a vial around his neck? Good times...

You all are a bunch of cranky, old bitches. I love “Don’t Shut me Down”. Can’t wait for the album!

R41 Swedes are just fucking gross. Must be from thousands of years of getting no sun way up there. Their skin just looks corpsey. Like they've been dead and bloodless for weaks. Robyn has that same skin color. Albino with a hint of formaldehyde.

^^ Post us a pic of yourself right now so we can what we are dealing with here…

R47 Yeah right, you Golden Girls-watching effete Boomer relic. Hatred of the Swedes is huge. ABBA never lessened this global hatred.

R48 go jump in the toilet while I flush twice.

R49 and join a washed up old ancient turd like you? Nope.

They should add ONJ as the fifth member.

Wow, who is the nasty bitter and twisted piece of raging hatred who hates the Swedish so much. This is what happens when you are so ugly you’ve had nothing but decades of rejections, you end up hating everyone, especially attractive people. Until a few years ago they still managed to have some form of social and sex life, but the closure of dark rooms and glory holes put an end to that. Didn’t they even think of these poor souls when they closed down these places?

I don’t think I have ever heard such vehement hatred of Swedes, except maybe from the Danish. Odd thread.

The elderly woman can't belt and hit the high notes like she could in her teens???? NO!!!

SHOCKING!!!

OFFS

Yes, they're tired, they're old. But they're still at it. Good for them.

R39 Boomer? What other groups have the multi-generational, world-wide popularity that they do. Name them.

And tell us R39, what current music do you listen to?

I wish they'd done this 20 years ago.

Agnatha Faltskog and Frida have released solo albums throughout the years and have had success in Sweden with them.

All four of them al multi millionaires. Abba gold alone has sold 30m. Abba are huge practically everywhere except the US. They have done it because the avatar project brought them back together and they wanted to see if they could. The new songs aren’t embarrassing but it’s the avatar project that is more interesting. With the motion capture in the bag these digital copies could last forever and be ‘remastered’ whenever technology improves.

I do particularly enjoy the incongruity of Abba songs containing words like reloaded and decoded!

The brand is worth billions.

Is it making any impact on Spotify or iTunes?

No one young will like this

I doubt Frida and Agnetha are still making money from Abba. Only the two guys were writing the songs.

As it was 40 years ago I had to listen to their songs 3 or 4 times until they start growing on me and I start liking and appreciating them. These two new songs are no different. I remember listening to 'The Visitors' first. The only song I liked right away was 'As good as new'. That was easy listening. It's now probably my least favorite from that album.

Agnetha's and Frida's voices clearly have changed; let's say they matured. But they are still highly skilled and highly emotional. The range may have decreased, but the voices still have a lot of charisma. And the songs very much work for these voices.

[quote]No one young will like this

From today's The Guardian:

"In a further confirmation of the Scandinavian pop band’s cross-generational appeal, Abba have already amassed 991,000 followers and 5.5m likes on TikTok despite only joining the platform on 1 September."

"While Spotify has not updated its charts since the release of the singles, it shared data showing the band were most streamed by 18- to 24-year-olds, and that their music has been growing in popularity since 2014, with streams doubling over that period. Dancing Queen is the most popular track on the platform, the data showed."

They are absolute legends, but that song is pretty boring.

It's probably like the Brady Kids: it's an onus they'd like to shed. But they can't, and it still makes them good money from time to time. Very odd.

Don’t Shut Me Down is a great song and Agnetha still has a beautiful voice and is able to sing.

R68 It is a nice song and very ABBA.

It doesn't disappoint, but let's face it, it's obvious Agnetha is getting A LOT of vocal help from software. Her real voice is buried in there somewhere.

Don’t Shut Me Down is a nice, catchy little song.

Infinitely better than any of the garbage released today.

I agree: The avatar concept could prove a stroke of genius.

Eventually they'll replace the vocals with new singers who sound similar and then the software will do the rest to create a perfect match.

New writers and musicians will churn out new ABBA style melodies.

Add the avatars and the arena in London, the ABBA brand will go on for decades. A permanent piece of pop culture.

r71 we already had Ace of Base and A*Teens

Considering "As Good As New" was on "Voulez Vous" and Not "The Visitors", it's impossible to figure out where the hell you stand, R64.

Sorry, you're right. I meant Head over Heels.

I liked Head Over Heals too!

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t… Millions of fans have demanded for 40 years that they produce yet another album. They constantly refused. Didn’t need the money. Couldn’t stand to be together in the same room for more than 10 minutes. Agnetha didn’t want to fly and hated the adulation. Etc. Now they’ve finally done it, and all of you vicious bitches are turning on them. Typical.

I personally think both songs are good. Very ABBA sounding fortunately, and not ABBA trying to sound contemporary. The lyrics are very clever, the melodies crafty. Yes both voices have declined, but this is all the more striking than theirs were absolutely superb instruments that blended fabulously well.

Overall it’s a lovely gift to fans, a ray of sunshine in such a dark world at the moment. They’re bringing joy to millions, what’s not to like? As for haters, they’re gonna hate. Fuck them.

Where the fuck do you get that they couldn't stand to be in the same room for 10 minutes? OVER 40 YEARS? This is not the Eagles we're talking about. Benny and Bjorn have worked together since ABBA stopped recording and Agnetha and Bjorn have a child. Frida doesn'even live in Sweden. Stop making shit up.

[quote]Now they’ve finally done it, and all of you vicious bitches are turning on them. Typical.

Do you have a reading comprehension problem? There have been many favorable comments here.

[quote]Frida sounds amazing!

Actually she doesn't!

I agree with R76. I think the reason the comeback works is that they still sound like ABBA, instead of trying to chase trends and update their sound to compete with the likes of Dua Lipa or what have you (I'm looking at you, Madonna!)

Are avatars in 3D for the concert?

R81 Avatars - that's funny. The concert is basically glorified cartoons. After you spend thousands of dollars and make plans to travel to London to watch ABBA cartoons, just pray that some new COVID variant doesn't result travel bans to the UK killing everything, including your dreams (not you specifically R81 - you understood).

People - just stay home and watch it online eventually.

I think their voices are quite remarkable for 70 year olds. 70! And they hold up very well for this type of pop songs. We've all heard voices of 50-something singers where even tech support couldn't do much anymore.

And the songs become more interesting the more you listen to them. 'I still have faith in you' sounds almost like an anthem. Both songs are nice sing-alongs for those who like to.

They sound like Lucille Ball does ABBA.

Love 'em!

............

I still want Benny in me, quite deeply.

Both songs are already hits on the charts. Good for them.

Benny is still hot.

[quote]Is it making any impact on Spotify or iTunes?

Yep. Already hit the top spot.

Not sure why, but I find the sentiment of I still have Faith in You touching.

These songs have already charted higher in the UK than their last string of singles in the 80s. Glad for them!

I just bought from their shop the 2 cd singles and a Voyage t-shirt. I love it!

And don’t forget Frida’s There’s something going on.

ABBA is on fire right now. Had a long drive, about 4 hrs roundtrip, and heard this song many times on several stations. Live in Europe and was travelling from Belgium to Germany. Not sure about the US but the US has always been a step behind when it comes to ABBA. So nice to hear good melodies and not another hip hop song about some guy bragging about his sexual adventures.

delish!

Mediocre at best. Sorry but not sorry.

^ Let me rephrase that for you: 'Do not understand the music. But good for you for enjoying it."

Euro pop never gave up on melody. It would be great if US artists would get back to what most of us long for: actual songs. The US has been so infected with hip-hop and the reign of the beat. It sounds so old. ABBA sounds refreshing in comparison.

"Don't Shut Me Down" is fucking brilliant.

Go back and watch the video and read the lyrics. It's all about their comeback as avatars.

Benny Andersson is genius.

I love both of these songs. I never thought they would record together again. It’s surreal! I loved them in the seventies when it wasn’t cool. Maybe it’s still not cool to like them, I’m not sure.

You really need to listen to or read the lyrics to both songs. It says so much about them and their lives and paths, but for us oldies it says a lot as well. I relate to both songs so easily, having just retired and wondering what I might do now. It is just the best they reunited.

Agnetha sings one of my favorite songs, The Heat Is On,.

I've listened to "Don't Shut Me Down" a few times today and it's a grower. I felt it was "meh" when I first heard it but now I really love it! Great tune, lyrics and beat

I felt the same way, r103. And I like the vibe, the energy, of both songs.

The songs both sound like rejects from their heyday. Who knows, maybe they are. Of course they will do well in the charts because there is a lot of pent-up demand and people will crap on about "joy" and "light" as some sort of feeble justification.

Comebacks like this with such ordinary songs are just depressing reminders their fame, like those of any famous band, was a time and a place that is long gone.

"Don't Shut Me Down" sounds like an A list number from their heyday.

This song is boring as hell.😴

R105 couldn’t have said it better myself! If they were going to release an album after 40 years, give us some upbeat and fun music, not this boring depressing shit.

Not sure what you expected, 105. The songs are totally on-brand. The glorification in the last thirty years makes people forget that Abba never was avantgarde. They were never 'cool'. They perfected the art of being the best crowd pleasers. They never aimed to set the next trend. Abba was for people (mostly women) who sought happy songs. The guys had other bands.

I was apprehensive at first because coming back with mediocre results can tarnish the legacy. But the songs are exactly the harmonic happy makers I am craving these days. The songs are good, and even better: I like them a lot. So I am happy. At this point I like the songs so much that I don't even care anymore if they are commercially successful or not.

Agnetha's solo album from 2013 sounds very ABBA-esqe. There's a few moments in "Don't Shut Me Down" where they ramp up to the old harmonies, but maybe a key lower. Overall there is absolutely no doubt that these are ABBA songs. I'm happy they're staying close to what they're known for.

Babara, pick up the damn phone. We have a duet to record.

Apparently one of the melodies of I Still Have Faith In You was originally used years ago for a film score Andersson wrote. Not the first time he’s recycled musical bits but it makes it all the more frustrating he refuses to release Just Like That in full

Would be great if they could get a UK no1 with either single. It would be one of the best songs to reach the top in YEARS, given the drivel nowadays

Given they have recycled just A Notion, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that parts of just Like That may find it's way into a different song.

[quote]Would be great if they could get a UK no1

That’s not going to happen unless they release something fun and upbeat.

Anyone hearing these much on the radio?

[quote]Would be great if they could get a UK no1

They will have no problem doing that.

I love both of the new songs and have pre-ordered the album. Haters gonna hate; they sound like ABBA. This is awesome.

People have always knocked ABBA. They were about as uncool as can be for many.

But ABBA got the last laugh.

Their strategy of being true to their sound, not giving in to trends and styles keeps them far above the fray.

Pre-orders for their new album are through the roof, setting a record in the UK.

No other group in the history of pop has been able to pull off such a feat. Love them or hate them, you've got to admire that.

Not good enough to call it a comeback. The two songs are very very underwhelming. Hope they will release better songs

[quote]Not good enough to call it a comeback.

The deciding factor are sales and chart success. The rest is opinion.

It's a comeback.

If this isn't a comeback...what is?

I’m not gonna shit n piss over these late in life tracks. Sorry.

I've tried for over a year to see if those has-beens wanted to collaborate on some project under my direction, but they never even returned my calls. I'm sure it's racially motivated and I'm going to tell Oprah as much.

Numbers 3 and 5 in Germany. We await the results of the UK jury.

I still have faith in you reminds me a lot of I have a dream. They're both similarly arranged like anthems and quite epic really.

Numbers 9 and 14 uk charts (1&2 in the sales charts).

250k concert tickets sold.

80k album preorders.

This is a comeback!!

It's a return! I hate the word comeback!

You could even argue that it’s not really a return as they never really went away. Every year they’ve kept selling around 5m albums, no matter what.

There's a difference between a comeback and pent up demand that drives sales. This isn't really a comeback album. It's a farewell.

Sorry to say, what a crappy song.

I am not sure why she felt the need to record her emotional reaction, to ensure that everybody takes notice, bit it's kinda cute. Tells me that Abba's music is apparently appealing to a pretty broad audience.

[quote]There's a difference between a comeback and pent up demand that drives sales.

Most ridiculous statement ever.

R132 Fucking dumb bitch. No one gives any fucks what you think. God I hate reaction videos. Most are brainless and dumb like dem bitches recording it.

Steady on, r134.

[quote]Anyone hearing these much on the radio?

Does anyone listen to a radio anymore?

ABBA will never top this. It defined the era. Picture it: a huge room of gay men dancing under strobe lights, no cares in the world, no judgment, just pure freedom.

After listening to that song, I Don't Have Faith in ABBA.

Now #2 in the UK

R137 I forget about that one. It’s such a good song. The lyrics are short and to the point and one of Bjorn’s best lead vocals I think. Thanks for reminding me.

The whole album is out now. What do you all think? I like it overall, and think I like No Doubt about It the best.

^i’m with you. I’ve listened to the whole album 2x a day since Fri & it’s really great! No Doubt About It is the best song by far for me; I like 90% of the album, but Little Things is a bit too saccharine sweet & cloying. Rolling Stone gave the LP a 4 star review!

I never like their songs right away. It's always, 'oooohhh this is tooo slow, or 'this doesn't sound modern', 'oh it's clearly not for the American market'. I always need to listen to (any of) their songs two to three times before getting into them. By the fifth listening, I usually love them. Same here. By now there is no song I don't at least like.

Question: What is 'Keep an Eye on Dan' about? Love the melody and the arrangement, it's very dramatic. But the lyrics don't seem to match. They're very mundane in comparison. The lyrics sound like a mother is dropping off her kid at the father's place for the weekend. What's the big deal? Is the kid 'special' 'cause he can get out of hand? Is she dying, and that's why she's so upset? (But then again, she'll be back on Sunday).

R143 I agree about repeated listening. I was thinking meh on some of the now released tracks but have come around on most of the album.

I’m not sure about the Dan song other than it being a song about sharing custody.

R142 I wish they hadn’t added the children’s choir. I think I could have taken it better otherwise. The music is really pretty but not into the lyrics.

Voyage was the second biggest selling album in the world last year, no 1 was Adele.

Wow good for them! It’s not a top tier album but it is pretty good and I respect the fact they didn’t try and modernise their sound.