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Post by Justin2024 on Mar 26, 2024 18:15:36 GMT
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Post by bjorenny on Mar 26, 2024 18:43:20 GMT
When I saw the final programme on that schedule had 'So Long' in the title I thought that was going to be another ABBA-related gem 😄
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Post by Alan on Mar 26, 2024 18:48:24 GMT
“More ABBA at the BBC” might not be much to write home about, being as the first one showed some familiar promo videos, simply because they were shown on BBC programmes back in the day. Some ABBA In Switzerland stuff may be included in it, but being as that programme is also in the schedule, even that won’t be interesting.
When ABBA Came To Britain sounds more like it though, particularly if it has some previously unheard interviews.
“When ABBA Came to Britain
With previously unheard interviews with the band and new interviews with those who met them, this is the story of ABBA’s love affair with the UK since their Eurovision triumph.”
Oh, wait, did someone mention the rare once-lost So Long on Top of the Pops being included in At The BBC? It’s on YouTube but it must be the first time it’s been on a BBC channel since its original airing. On a previous forum (A4E), there was a “crowd-funding” to acquire it from whoever had it. They raised the money. I didn’t contribute.
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Post by johnny on Mar 29, 2024 10:43:21 GMT
⭐️ SPOILER ALERT⭐️ When ABBA Came to Britain Interviews with the band, musicians working ABBA musicians influenced by ABBA judge who scored "nul points" Superfans "Using previously unheard interviews with the band, this is the story of the Swedish super group’s 50 year relationship with the UK. From their first visit, for the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton in April 1974, to their first ever UK concert in Birmingham in 1977, to the ground-breaking ABBA Voyage concerts in London - this documentary looks at Britain’s impact on the band and the legacy they have left on generations of fans in the UK, as well as the influence of British bands like The Beatles on ABBA. Contributors include musicians who performed with ABBA, superfans whose lives were changed after hearing their music, the British Eurovision judge who scored them ‘nul points’ in 1974, the producers behind ABBA Voyage and a now-famous member of the children’s choir which accompanied ABBA at their Wembley Arena concerts in 1979. The documentary will also feature interviews with musicians who have been influenced by the band, including Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and Blossoms." www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001y5m0#:~:text=From%20their%20first%20visit%2C%20for,in%20the%20UK%2C%20as%20well |
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Post by johnny on Mar 29, 2024 12:22:50 GMT
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Post by bjorenny on Mar 29, 2024 14:04:13 GMT
"Exploring ABBA's songwriting and musical craft across their studio albums - from Ring Ring in 1973 to The Visitors in 1981 - on the 50th anniversary of their Eurovision win".
That sounds right up my alley!
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Post by johnny on Mar 31, 2024 12:17:17 GMT
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Post by johnny on Apr 1, 2024 8:36:23 GMT
I am one of the Superfans interviewed on When ABBA Came to Britain. I am presented as a "critical fan" in the same way as many people have "critical friends".
Basically I argue for every classic like Dancing Queen or SOS, there's cringe like Dum Dum Diddle or He is Your Brother.
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Post by Alan on Apr 1, 2024 16:21:37 GMT
I am one of the Superfans interviewed on When ABBA Came to Britain. I am presented as a "critical fan" in the same way as many people have "critical friends". Basically I argue for every classic like Dancing Queen or SOS, there's cringe like Dum Dum Diddle or He is Your Brother. Brilliant! For a second I thought you were serious, and then I realised it was 1 April and you posted it before midday! |
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 1, 2024 16:35:48 GMT
Nearly got me..... well done...^^
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Post by welshboy on Apr 1, 2024 21:20:42 GMT
I am looking forward to what will happen on the 6th. I will play the Waterloo Album and then the video that came with the 40th Waterloo Album to get me in the mood.
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Post by onlyabba4meagain on Apr 2, 2024 13:42:21 GMT
I've no idea what Today's 'Radio Times' are Featuring for ABBA Night on Saturday 6th April. I don't think that ABBA are on the Cover, but they certainly could/should be an ABBA Feature inside.
However, my Brother got 'TV Times' Today, and ABBA ARE on the COVER, and there is a 2 Page Feature on them inside. So, other UK TV and Satellite Magazines, should also Feature ABBA this Week too. They all begin their UK TV schedules on Saturday 6th April - the Day of the BBC's 'ABBA Night'.
In 'TV Times' , one of the 1974 ESC UK Jury says that he has no regrets, that the UK gave 'Waterloo' Zero Points at the time. He also says that he still dislikes both 'Waterloo' & ABBA. He seems proud that he snubbed ABBA. Even after all of their huge success.
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Post by johnny on Apr 2, 2024 16:18:38 GMT
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Post by johnny on Apr 6, 2024 13:59:50 GMT
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Post by johnny on Apr 6, 2024 18:19:48 GMT
Looking forward to the ABBA programmes tonight. I can't remember ever looking forward to staying in and watching TV on a Saturday night.
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Post by bjorenny on Apr 6, 2024 19:34:56 GMT
I'm part way through the Radio 4 delve into their music structure - stopping for now to watch BBC2, but so far so good 😃
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Post by johnny on Apr 6, 2024 21:40:04 GMT
When ABBA Came to Britain was somewhat disappointing. It's a pity they weren't on screen sharing memories like Blondie members in their programme.
Way too much screen time for that one Superfan and the bloke from Primal Scream.
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Post by HOMETIME on Apr 7, 2024 10:43:59 GMT
When ABBA Came to Britain was somewhat disappointing. It's a pity they weren't on screen sharing memories like Blondie members in their programme. Way too much screen time for that one Superfan and the bloke from Primal Scream. Agreed. There was a little overlap with the older The Joy Of ABBA, which I think actually might have done the job more effectively. Possibly? Having Bjorn on screen made the difference. When Blondie Came To Britain was far more effective, because it had its subject front and centre. ABBA in Switzerland looked like it has been restored - everything looked so crisp and vibrant. Looking at it now, the non-performance sequence was pretty tedious and the script was dire. More ABBA at the BBC was fun, despite its reliance on videos and non-BBC productions. |
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Post by Alan on Apr 7, 2024 15:14:40 GMT
ABBA in Switzerland looked like it has been restored - everything looked so crisp and vibrant. Is that since the last time it was on? Wasn’t all that long ago, I recorded it that time (think it was 2021). It’s struck me more on recent viewings that ABBA In Switzerland was belated promotion for The Album as much as the forthcoming Voulez-Vous. I think only one song - Mamma Mia - dates from before The Album. It makes sense though. Similar with Greatest Hits Vol 2 and the 1979/80 tour both heavily mining The Album (five tracks in each). |
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Post by Alan on Apr 7, 2024 22:07:34 GMT
I really enjoyed Eurovision 1974 on BBC Four tonight. I wasn’t expecting to. What struck me was how far ahead ABBA were in terms of looks and sound. There was nothing else like them. And I know the scoring system used that year had seemed odd - ABBA could have won a maximum of 170 points and only got 24 - but they still finished a clear six points ahead of the runner-up and no other country was ever ahead of them.
Apparently the British commentary for the scoring was lost, so we got the Dutch commentary instead. I remember David Vine primarily for snooker and skiing presentation so it still seems a little odd hearing him commentate for Eurovision in the pre-Terry Wogan days.
Poor Olivia. She was given a terrible song. She all but said so herself, preferring a song called Angel Eyes of the eight she performed for the UK’s Song For Europe. And that dress was questionable. David Vine said she sold the song well. I’d agree, but it was wasted on it. Long Live Love has largely been written out of her recording history - its accompanying album is better remembered for I Honestly Love You.
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 8, 2024 8:09:02 GMT
Same as you Alan, I really didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did...
It did bring into sharp focus that it is 50 years ago and everything has moved on big time especially fashion.... that shirt collar on Belgium..lol...
The dresses.. enough said....
Compared to today , the contest came across quite amateurish.. but those were the times....
Ok we knew the final outcome, but even the voting was interesting.......
Ok hindsight is now great, but Abba really did break the mould .
Can't remember seeing it first time around, so to see the whole show was enjoyable....
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Post by johnny on Apr 8, 2024 8:21:09 GMT
I forgot about this! But I remembered I was a Womble.
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Post by DaronJulian23 on Apr 8, 2024 9:48:17 GMT
I forgot about this! But I remembered I was a Womble. I watched Eurovision units entirety as well. Very amateurish but those the times. As for the Wombles Johnny... Hard to imagine they were on totp around 74/75. We didn't half listen to some stuffe back in those days. |
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Post by johnny on Apr 9, 2024 7:32:46 GMT
I guess everything was a smidgen less than we anticipated? Still looking forward to ABBA Against The Odds - hopefully that elevates things a bit Yes, the impact on sales and streaming and those TV programmes. I already said When ABBA Came to Britain was a bit ofva disappointment. The Blondie one, wheere they all participated set the bar high. Without ABBA, it was always go to be less favourable than the Blondie one. But the makers made a challenging situation worse. The guests, apart from a bass player had no real connection with ABBA. As stated before way too much focus on a random fan who certainly got his 15 minites of fame. Sky News Reporter Gillian Joseph had a nice piece about being part of the 1979 Wembley choir - but there needed to be a caption from the beginning as to who the hell she was. Interesting insight from the Eurovision juror but like the random fan went on too long. With the exception of Stauart Maconie, the "celebrity" talking heads made this more about them. No Jude Rogers not interested in your family photos. And as for the geezer from Primal Scream, just why? If they wanted a rock musician to have input I an sure Elvis Costello or Dave Grohl would have been happpy to participate. This programme was disappointing. ⭐️⭐️ More ABBA at the BBC had more recent Voyage concert interview foorage as well as that infamous 1982 interview. I felt at the time using full videos was because they didn't have enough material and were streching things out. On reflection, it was preferable to watching toe-curling, fingers-in-front of face excruiting interviews. A nice nugget though was ABBA having it put to them that their music all sounded the same. Benny was clearly irked by this. Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 |
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Post by Alan on Apr 9, 2024 8:14:37 GMT
I watched More ABBA at the BBC last night. Thought it was OK. I noticed a mistake on the captions when they were referring to Glasgow and Super Trouper. It stated that Björn was missing Agnetha when he wrote it… it was his then future wife Lena wasn’t it?
For I Know There’s Something Going On, it mentioned she didn’t like Björn and Benny coming into the studio during the making of that album, and that they were making unnecessary comments that she was “fragile”. To be fair, they did show a 1982 interview with her promoting her solo album and she clearly wasn’t happy.
Not looking forward to When ABBA Came To Britain after Johnny’s review! I was hoping they’d got the message that no one really wants to hear celebrity talking heads (or indeed fans).
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Post by johnny on Apr 9, 2024 8:45:00 GMT
I noticed a mistake on the captions when they were referring to Glasgow and Super Trouper. It stated that Björn was missing Agnetha when he wrote it… it was his then future wife Lena wasn’t it? Yes. I noticed that too. There have been a couple of good Fleetwood Mac documentaries in recent years (one actually Christine McVie). Band members interviewed as well as key players in the story - no fans or celebs talking heads! I'll have to watch 1974 Eurovision one day. I forgot all about it - after posting about it being on! |
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Post by Alan on Apr 9, 2024 17:57:26 GMT
Moved some posts from the main 50th anniversary thread to this one, being as we already had a separate thread.
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Post by johnny on Apr 9, 2024 18:14:34 GMT
I have finally seen the 1974 contest. Simpler, shorter - and better than more recent years
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Post by Alan on Apr 9, 2024 19:15:15 GMT
I have finally seen the 1974 contest. Simpler, shorter - and better than more recent years I can’t disagree! There was a sense that it was genuinely about the song (and who’s singing it). These days it’s too much about what’s going off on stage and what special effects they have. And 17 songs is about right - maybe they should have quarter finals as well as semi finals in today’s contest!! I even enjoyed the Wombles bit. I remember the TV show more than the pop act, but in this it was fun. I wonder… is the intro of Just A Notion on Voyage really a nod to Remember You’re A Womble? And is “No Doubt About It” a reference to what Katie Boyle said when she was announcing ABBA as the winner? |
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Post by Alan on Apr 10, 2024 20:24:30 GMT
Just watched When ABBA Came to Britain. Really enjoyed it! It probably helped that the reports on here weren’t encouraging. They helped to lower my expectations. Glowing reviews would have done the opposite and I’d have been disappointed!
It was just the two bands that I didn’t really see the point of, especially the one with the guy with hair like Richard Beckinsale in Rising Damp. And not sure I believe the other band’s story about Agnetha randomly ringing them up. Everyone else on the programme had been connected to ABBA in some way (even the two fans who had at least met them), so the two bands stood out like a sore thumb.
The fans were interesting though, was good that they dug out the Late, Late Breakfast Show lad, and the Liverpudlian guy who met them in a hotel. And I’m impressed that they found some people from CBS Records from the time to hear their take. It’s a slight re-telling of the story though, as they signed ABBA well before Eurovision.
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