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Post by foreverfan on May 10, 2023 9:18:19 GMT
Watched the first semi final for my sins..lol
it was very predictable, 10/15 acts go through rest go home, to say there were some dreadful choices is an understatement, personally only about 6 deserved to go through, but hey it's all about the " show" theses days and a full on entertainment show for 3 minutes with sometimes the song coming secondary...
Of course the favourites got through, and trying to keep tension going until last act announced which was Norway..
So big favourites Sweden, Finland Israel and Norway easily make it a few more obscure like Moldova which ironically is quite catchy... a couple of weird from Croatia and Serbia and a few forgettable..
Personally a pleasant surprise was Portugal...
Ireland went home yet agin, they just cant qualify 5 years now...
Onto Thursdays next batch....
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Post by foreverfan on May 8, 2023 18:25:39 GMT
Gigiola Cinquetti from Italy won 1964 and came 2nd to a little known group in 1974...
With just under a week to go, Sweden are still favourites with Finland also heavily tipped...
UK should be a top 10....
Dark horses.... France.....
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Post by foreverfan on May 4, 2023 9:08:41 GMT
From Colin...
Waterloo got a UK Platinum Award on 14th April for 600k sales ( streams ) along with its previous sales ( mostly physical ) it has sold about 1,000,000 since 1974.
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Post by foreverfan on May 4, 2023 6:12:12 GMT
^^^ Alas Gary my sources only go back to 1980, I believe anything prior is quite sketchy in getting true figures, therefore Guesstimate only MMM being a prime example as we know.
The Official Charts Company here in the UK has just presented ABBA ( and a few others) with an award for 1 billion plus streams here in the UK, not bad for a so called heritage act ....
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Post by foreverfan on May 3, 2023 10:29:37 GMT
Looking back at my 1981 The Music Chronicle by Sean Gregory....
The upto date final chart of 1981
One Of Us sold 400k in its 4 week stint in 81 and was 31st best selling single. ( this I guess ties up with the 500k plus we hear about, adding it’s 6 weeks in 82).
LAYLOM, sold 120k and ended up 156th best seller, not bad for a 12 inch only
The Visitors ( album) when adding in those final few weeks which was left off sold 570k and was 4th best selling album of 81 Super Trouper, shifted another 175k and ended up 37th Greatest Hits 2 sold 65k and ended up 119th
Apparently a lot of research had gone into these figures. And as stated takes into account the final 2/3 weeks of the year that are not published under Wikipedia for example
By the end of 81.. Super Trouper single , was the 6th best seller of the decade ( so far ). On 820k Abba were also the 6th best selling singles artist on approx 2,050,000
Super Trouper ( album) by end of 81 was the best selling album of the decade with 1.025,000 Abba were 2nd best selling artists( behind The Police) 2,095,000
Hope you find of interest.. more to follow....
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Post by foreverfan on May 3, 2023 10:13:49 GMT
In the newspapers this week, there are talks albeit provisional regarding Mamma Mia 3. Again Judy Cramer has said it’s always been a trilogy... which we’ve heard before.. From memory 2025 was mentioned !!!
Here we go again...lol
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 28, 2023 12:11:38 GMT
^^^ I had thought of that, it was announced a while back now, so was hoping for something “ new and exciting “ but reality will probably be a let down and will be about that dreaded show.. isn’t Zoe hosting it ?
Back to dreaming.....
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 27, 2023 14:54:51 GMT
Just listened to that bit of the show.. Obviously she “ can’t say anything “ but it was hinted around the show, but nothing really. We may think they are doing something special for the 1st Anniversary... like be there ? Set change ? Can’t see new songs being released at the show, however if she’s having a meeting with I guess the boys or one of them, it might have something to do with those tracks, to re promote? Who knows..
All ifs buts and maybes...
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 27, 2023 8:32:06 GMT
A very good friend has just told me that Zoe Ball ( UK radio 2, who interviewed B&B on Voyage ) Has just played DQ and then revealed that she loves playing ABBA , and is off to an exciting meeting later....
What that means who knows but speculation will be rife....
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 25, 2023 10:18:39 GMT
^^^ Very good point Dina; none of us are immortal... you never know it could be what they’re planning for the 50th..unlikely but never say never.....
Regarding radio, I’ve recently swapped to Greatest Hits Radio ( GHR ), from Radio 2 to follow Ken Bruce, and to play Pop Master, a daily challenge with a friend.
I must admit there does seem to be a limited amount of tracks being played, for instance I hadn’t heard David Bowie’s, Let’s Dance for ages and now it’s on everyday sometimes twice. As with ABBA, GHR does play a lot, however as stated, it’s only the “ Gold “ hits and then only the big ones, I’ve heard DQ about 10 times or so, not that I tire, but.. Is it that these independent stations will only play Hits ? Top 40, For commercial reasons, and forget about the other 80 non single tracks as no money in it ( unsure how radio stations work, commercials mainly)..
I’ve listened for about 3 weeks Since Ken started, and as yet to hear a non single track, I sometimes forget to switch back to radio 2 ( like to try and keep up with new stuff ) so radio on for 6 hours, and nothing different, GHR only play prior 1999, so Voyage is understandable but not even the lesser hits let alone album tracks....
Such a shame the wider public doesn’t get to hear, but are they truly interested outside the dedicated fans.. wonder how many knew for instance TV , HIYS at the beginning of Voyage...not as many as we may think.....
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 24, 2023 14:36:36 GMT
My fault I expect, but it was meant to be a general “ Did You Know “ It was just that I started off with some 1983 chart trivia, I also have 1980 through to 83 so I’ll trawl the books for any more info, but please, add anything else that you think we may not know or find of an interest.....
As for Colin, well he’s still the guru and had an email not so long ago, he’s ok.
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 23, 2023 19:45:38 GMT
As so few of us posting these days, I thought there maybe a few facts that we may not know, plus it gets us participating.. probably we know everything..lol ....but here goes my facts , that I found in The Music Chronicle 1983,by Sean Gregory, a reliable source....
1. Greatest Hits Vol 1 , was the first album to sell 1.5 million copies in a calendar year (1976 of course ).
2. Greatest Hits Vol 1 , was the best selling album in the UK until Thriller by Michael Jackson took the lead in late 1983
3. ABBAs sales were low in 1983... Thank You For The Music ( Album ) sold 125k and was the 75th best selling album of 1983. The Singles ( First 10 years ) sold 70k and was 122nd for the year, so adding in back catalogue , just over 200k for the year ? A big decline...
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 23, 2023 15:15:12 GMT
Probably my favourite album, the inclusion of SNC and Lovelight even GGG would have been perfection at the time. Ok I’m not to fond of IHAD and Lovers, but are perfectly listenable. All ifs buts and maybes of course, so many potential singles, but long long favourites were relegated to b side or not released at all AGAN and Kisses, imagine them as a double A side ( talking retro now lol ) but ultimately spoilt for choice,. It’s just a shame it didn’t produce a number 1
At the time who actually chose the singles and why the big turn around for ITWFTN, we know C came about, but why so solidly dumped... or just all speculation....
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 19, 2023 19:42:04 GMT
SPOILER ALERT ANSWER....
Yes....
More info if needed...
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 18, 2023 18:27:19 GMT
Other great tracks You And Your Heart So Blue and Keep Each Other Warm.. They deserved bigger hits , 3 Number 1s which is good, but only 7 top ten hits in total and 20 hits in the top 75 ... Shame...
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 18, 2023 18:19:51 GMT
I know we’ve been here many times regarding above, but for some reason, I’ve a tendency to believe it this time, obviously I’d like to be wrong and I truly wish Benny hadn’t mentioned those two unfinished tracks, if it was said by accident, ok, otherwise it’s a cruel thing to have said , knowing full well fans always want more, however misguided . Yes he has a mischievous sense of humour, but come on.....
I guess there’s always “ hope” and of course there may be other projects that Bjorn hinted at in the article above, but as for new music.....
It looks like it’s all over......
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 16, 2023 10:29:16 GMT
Great Group, I sometimes think this sort of group is inevitably compared to ABBA, like so many others, Ace Of Base, ( because they were Swedish , dark blond etc, Brotherhood of Man, , ( of course) , numerous others pre Abba !! And since. However they did/ do have their own style.. and yes still performing to this day. As already mentioned some great tracks just listen to My Camera Never Lies ( Number 1 hit ) for example, brilliant track. It’s a shame they waned......
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 16, 2023 9:44:47 GMT
^^^ Hometime.. Look at web site for specific dates, but the play is touring, taking in Guildford, Exeter, Brighton, Cheltenham, Oxford, Salford, Batn, and York..
So hopefully one is close enough, As regarding the Abbachat mention, it doesn’t really matter as so few of us anyhow, it just happened to strike a note with me and my friend at that moment.....
Seriously if anyone is close enough and you want a laugh worth seeing.....
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 13, 2023 13:36:44 GMT
^^^ it really is a laugh out load moment, especially for those in the know or are part of this forum.... you just vision “ us”
I know it started in Birmingham, and has been in London for a month, guess 200 seats not hard to fill in London, but it should tour..
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 13, 2023 8:49:30 GMT
I’m surprised that this hasn’t been talked about more than it has, perhaps its due to accessibility, that all said and I’m no reviewer, and probably won’t say the correct things, however I had the pleasure to see this show last night ( 12th) in London, on show until the 15th I believe. Very small intimate theatre, 200 seats and within touching of the cast. It was a delight from start to finish and very funny, in my opinion well worth the effort to go and see, forget Voyage, forget Mamma Mia, this is a different level, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, strong gay theme, but all done tastefully and interspersed with Abba( of course ). This forum is referenced more than once and as above funny in its portrayal. Wide range of audience, and well appreciated...
As said I’m no great reviewer but I think it was well worth it.....if you get the chance....go....and be open minded...
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 10, 2023 12:45:39 GMT
It’s interesting to see how we have “evolved” remember those days of complete nothingness, then the hope and finally the realisation of something new, and are we happy ..lol.. some of us clearly not, Perhaps I look at it from a more simplistic point of view and take all the tracks for what they are.. new... yes I like some more than others, but isn’t that true of all ABBAs albums, as well as other artists for that matter. It may take another 40 years for those tracks to find their place, not that I’ll be around, or highly unlikely..101 !!
I guess we have more right than most in a a way to be critical, but nothing really lives up to what we really want.. it’s all evolving nothing is as it was.....
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Post by foreverfan on Apr 5, 2023 7:00:18 GMT
Apologies , I couldn’t find the thread I’d initially put the following facts in, or just gave up.. Due to no real news at present, mainly speculation,...
A little update for those who find it of an interest..
Gold in the UK, after the first 3 months, Gold has sold in the region of 4-4500 k steadily each week, has not been outside of the top 20 best selling albums and has reached a high of 10 ( twice ) .
Therefore at present it has sold 56k plus and is currently the 10th biggest selling album for 2023.
Just to link it in with Voyage, probably the show , Gold is unlikely to be withdrawn anytime soon, so any new compilation including Voyage tracks is going to have to be something special for the record companies to produce, release..as really not worth it as sales numbers are so low.. Voyage sells Gold and vice versa...
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 29, 2023 16:02:42 GMT
^^^ Your right Johnny, that would’ve been a perfect ending, alas the UK is unlikely to win, plus the UK only held the ESC by default in 1974....Luxemburg had won in 1973 and assume couldn’t afford to stage it , so UK stepped in..... I’m guessing there would be a higher chance of ABBA performing in Sweden anyhow... it’s a long shot.. unlikely...but hey you never know..... we have guessed on many things like a new album !!!
So a new song? ..as long as it’s not Thankyou For The Music..lol....
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 29, 2023 10:43:12 GMT
A anthology would be nice, but realistically it would have to be priced competitively, I’m not paying £100 plus for something I have many times in various guises, that’s just me of course, so it’s going to a big ask for me to part with money, it would have to be something new or finished off to make it worth while, and as awful as it sounds all the tracks end up on you tube....so again a £10-£20 cd/ vinyl of new music would work...
Let’s be honest , there’s not to many of us fans left out there, only 600 plus so called on here and only 20 or so post, so no great numbers , sales would be very small unless there is something new, so will the record companies go to great expense for a few 1000...
So a finished CD of new or put aside complete tracks please...
As cliche as it sounds and I had mentioned before, If Sweden win Eurovision and hosting in 2024 wouldn’t it be a fitting finale and a huge coup , for ABBA to be the interval act and say goodbye then ...full circle......
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 21, 2023 6:40:56 GMT
Full circle ?
If the odds are to be believed, and fickle fate deals its hand, Then Sweden is red hot Favourite to win ESC..
So that would mean the ESC 2024 would be held in Sweden.. exactly 50 years after a little known group that we all now love won, wouldn’t that be a great coincidence..
Hey, we could speculate forever and a day on a ABBA appearance in the final... now that would be a fitting finale.....
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 17, 2023 9:50:56 GMT
^^Joe , I hope there’s more than 5 of us that post regularly, at least 10..lol.. it’s a shame so few of us post, a sign of the times I guess, we may have a up surge next year breaking that 20 posters ?
Enough of that, I have had a thought and realise that I don’t deviate much from that Pop/ Ballad genre... Soft rock comes about as radical as it gets, Tina Turner esq...It’s not that I don’t listen to other types, but I seem to default if playing a CD for instance.. Recently I’m trying to appreciate “ today’s “ music without to much success, I like the current Flowers by Myley Cyrus..but as Colin once said a lot of today’s music is beige and instantly forgettable or is it just my age,
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 9, 2023 20:43:00 GMT
^^^ Yes The UK has upped their game, it’s a top 10 finish, ( I doubt the UK would want to hold ESC again next year )
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 8, 2023 7:52:23 GMT
Over the years I’ve tried picking the winner, not my favourite, with pretty bad results..unless it was obvious..
At the moment it’s looking like Sweden and Loreen with Tattoo, I forced myself..lol, to listen to the whole track, and yes it’s very good and can understand the hype, the issue she has is that she hasn’t won the Swedish qualification yet surely a formality ?
With very few tracks to be confirmed, including the UK, can anyone beat her...
Tickets for the final sold out in 36 minutes yesterday and within hours the touts had them for sale for £9000.. disgusting... I believe, that has been stopped now, but more fool you if you bought them, ring side seat... TV I’m afraid. I’d love to go, but even at normal price of £380 is pushing it.. that’s nearly 4 times seeing Voyage...
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 5, 2023 13:18:12 GMT
^^ I agree, Australia would be good for a few months, 6 at the most really; and probably in Sydney; but I can’t see them going to that expense for such a small time, so Asia wise that’s going to be tough, Singapore was touted, but hey China has the population, but all in all they weren’t that popular in Asia, Japan adore technology....
North America, alas is has to be Las Vegas, on the tacky side but it’s such a huge entertainment venue......
Europe probably the hardest, but somewhere central, like Munich, In Germany, Austria and Switzerland have big fan bases as well. You can forget Belgium , Netherlands and even Ireland all massive fans but far to close to London...
It’ll be interesting, I have a feeling it will happen sooner than we think......
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Post by foreverfan on Feb 27, 2023 9:47:18 GMT
Thought it about time to start this thread, how many are interested is another story? I guess we only ever mention it because of that event in 1974... that said personally I’ve always had an interest...
Favourite by a long way is Sweden; yet again, and they haven’t even had their own final to choose their representative, this year there’s a huge amount of hype as run away favourite is previous winner Loreen ( Euphoria) with her track Tattoo...
From what I’ve heard so far , 20 countries have chosen , UK not one of them, it’s not a great year... so far....
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