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Post by iiwftn on Aug 5, 2023 22:34:52 GMT
I must confess, this was one of those ‘skip to the next song’ numbers for me until I recently stumbled across that gorgeous (but slightly fuzzy) little clip of ABBA performing this with awesome Agnetha tinkling away at the piano.
Agnetha, as we know was/is a very capable pianist but I’ve never seen a clip of either of the women playing an instrument (or even holding a tambourine) in any performance (apart from a ‘Voyage’ studio still).
This begs two questions from me:
Is there any other such examples of the women playing instruments?
And, has a video (or tv or concert performance) altered your perspective of an Abba song by the way it was portrayed visually?
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Post by Michal on Aug 6, 2023 5:50:12 GMT
I have never seen the clip you mentioned - do you think you could post a link? Agnetha played a piano on the Gäst Hos Hagge show too - it's definitely on YouTube. Otherwise I can't think of any other example.
As for a performance changing a perspective of an ABBA song - He Is Your Brother from ABBA The Movie has done it for me. It's become one of my favourite songs thanks to that wonderful performance. Summer Night City from Wembley would be another example.
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Post by Michel on Aug 6, 2023 8:47:50 GMT
Here it is. Tropical Loveland starts at 10:20.  |
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Post by iiwftn on Aug 6, 2023 13:30:43 GMT
Thanks Michel. I’m posting from an iPhone so it doesn’t seem to allow uploads.
It’s a cute little performance this one. Not only is it (so far) the only known clip of A playing piano with ABBA, but it is perhaps also the closest she has ever been to members of the audience, with three of four literally hanging over the piano!
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Post by iiwftn on Aug 6, 2023 13:35:39 GMT
On the point of visuals altering our enjoyment of a song, I will stick my neck out and say it goes both ways.
I like the song S.O.S, but I think the video is frankly, unflattering to the girls. Latterly, I would say the same about Super Trouper.
On the plus side, I fell in love with Bang-A-Boomerang firstly on the strength on the video, which I find completely joyous.
I’m sure there’s more I’ll think of.
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Post by iiwftn on Aug 17, 2023 5:47:47 GMT
Apparently Agnetha played piano on the ‘79 tour with the song that she co-wrote with Bjorn, ‘I’m Still Alive’?
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Post by Michal on Aug 17, 2023 11:47:14 GMT
Apparently Agnetha played piano on the ‘79 tour with the song that she co-wrote with Bjorn, ‘I’m Still Alive’? You're right, but sadly no footage of it exists (or more precisely, none was ever shown). |
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Post by iiwftn on Aug 19, 2023 13:03:33 GMT
Apparently Agnetha played piano on the ‘79 tour with the song that she co-wrote with Bjorn, ‘I’m Still Alive’? You're right, but sadly no footage of it exists (or more precisely, none was ever shown). It’s a common theme on this forum: there must be some magical clips left in a can on some dusty shelf somewhere, owned by people unwilling to let it see the light of day. |
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Post by iiwftn on Aug 22, 2023 5:54:44 GMT
Some grainy footage has appeared on Tik-Tok of Agnetha singing ‘I’m still alive’, and playing piano from the ‘79 tour although the picture quality is terrible (and the song may well be an overdub).
The name of the account is called ‘Lavender (Agnetha’s Version)’.
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Post by abbafan456 on Aug 22, 2023 14:46:04 GMT
Some grainy footage has appeared on Tik-Tok of Agnetha singing ‘I’m still alive’, and playing piano from the ‘79 tour although the picture quality is terrible (and the song may well be an overdub). The name of the account is called ‘Lavender (Agnetha’s Version)’. The almost complete performance from Germany can be seen here Originally uploaded in 2010. |
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Post by iiwftn on Sept 22, 2023 13:57:41 GMT
Here it is. Tropical Loveland starts at 10:20. That entire clip is just fantastic. Firstly, getting back to Agnetha on piano, it really gave a different dimension to ABBA with Frida, the sole front-woman and Benny on his beloved accordion. I like how Agnetha almost forgets that the camera is on her for a moment. The interview clips are good too, with Agnetha’s affronted ‘OH!’ to Bjorn’s cheeky comment, and good on Benny pointing out that he’d already scored a number one hit in the Netherlands years before. |
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Post by iiwftn on Oct 10, 2023 21:23:32 GMT
Just a update to the question of the women playing musical instruments:
I remembered another (very rare) example.
The Olivia Newton John/ABBA/Andy Gibb special with six of them rattling off a couple of Beach Boys songs.
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Post by evilincarnate on Jan 27, 2024 4:04:25 GMT
My money's on a three-quarter-speed master of Tropical Loveland. I actually really like "Tropical Loveland" (always did). |
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Post by Alan on Jan 27, 2024 10:02:05 GMT
Well, you’ll only need to wait about 15 months for the half-speed remaster of the ABBA album, that’s pretty much a dead-cert for next year! I can feel the anticipation building for that one already, particularly as we now don’t have any distracting new music to concern ourselves with. 😅
I’ve always liked Tropical Loveland too.
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Post by HOMETIME on Jan 27, 2024 10:08:01 GMT
Same. It's one of those songs in The Rule Book that's prefaced with "Thou shalt not..." but I think it's charming.
I've said before that I think the girls often did more for a song than B&B. For me, it's one of those songs where the assigned vocalist elevates it. Frida's oh-so-laid-back delivery is fluid and sensuous. The harmonies are juuuuuust right, allowing those subtle ad libs to warm the end section.
Sorry, what? Off-topic? My bad.
Naughty Bjorn and Benny for tormenting the fans. Finish the bloody songs and release them - as extras on a compilation if they're not suitable as singles. This "nothing in the vaults" BS is getting old now.
[Edit by Alan - I’ve quoted the last paragraph of this post back in its original topic].
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Post by Michal on Jan 27, 2024 10:49:04 GMT
Tropical Loveland is beautifully arranged and mixed too - something you appreciate especially when listening to it on headphones. The accordion playing, the xylophone, backing vocals from one channel than the other... the layers are perfectly separated like on the later ABBA recordings, which can't be said about many other songs on the ABBA album. The songs such as Bang-A-Boomerang or I Do are just a terrible racket coming from all directions, attacking your eardrums - better avoid the headphones! |
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Post by welshboy on Jan 27, 2024 11:17:45 GMT
Yes Tropical Loveland is a wonderful song and Frida sings it so well you feel the hot sun beating down on you every time you play it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2024 13:19:37 GMT
Never had any particular problems with Tropical Loveland, except that its title is a bit clunky. Apart from that (to quote myself), "I'll happily wallow in its languid optimism and gentle tropical breeziness".
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Post by evilincarnate on Jan 27, 2024 14:16:41 GMT
Same. It's one of those songs in The Rule Book that's prefaced with "Thou shalt not..." but I think it's charming. I've said before that I think the girls often did more for a song than B&B. For me, it's one of those songs where the assigned vocalist elevates it. Frida's oh-so-laid-back delivery is fluid and sensuous. The harmonies are juuuuuust right, allowing those subtle ad libs to warm the end section. Your comments perfectly encapsulate my fondness for "Tropical Loveland" - and I absolutely agree with the nod towards the ladies' contributions, which for so long, were wildly underestimated. Even B&B acknowledge F&A these days for their ideas and crystallising the ABBA sound. |
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