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Post by Michal on Jan 26, 2024 15:35:55 GMT
I think we shouldn't use the concept of Truth or Lies tellers in regards to the ABBA "headquarter"information on new releases. I agree that "lie" is probably too strong a word. However, the denying of everything around Voyage was understandable and we had no proof it was otherwise until the very last moment. But to try and persuade us that there is nothing left in the vaults is another thing and not very smart to do, because everybody knows it isnt't true.
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Post by Michal on Jan 26, 2024 0:56:22 GMT
May be B and B changed their minds about releasing these 2 tracks. Bjorn isn't a liar. Or they never even considered releasing them in the first place. Very well, they have every right to do so. And if Björn said: "We decided not to release anything from the vaults anymore, as we don't deem the stuff good enough", I wouldn't like it but could accept it. However, telling us that "every little snippet we've ever recorded has been released" is really a lie.
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Post by Michal on Jan 25, 2024 19:24:04 GMT
I Saw It In The Mirror definitely. There were times it was the only song in the whole ABBA catalogue I skipped. I don't anymore, even though it's still not a favourite.
My Love, My Life - I started to appreciate it only after I heard Monsieur, Monsieur and Benny's piano version - the simple arrangements suit the song better in my opinion and highlight the beautiful melody, which suffer from the over-produced version from Arrival.
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Post by Michal on Jan 25, 2024 19:16:26 GMT
I'm just listening to the album on Spotify and I'm surprised how good it sounds. Does anybody know if it was remastered for digital platforms? The mix on the CD is muffled and lacks ambience but it sounds clearer and more detailed on Spotify, especially from Rock Me on. Or am I just imagining it? Anybody else noticed?
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Post by Michal on Jan 25, 2024 17:08:47 GMT
⬆️ Definitely. A complete silence or simple "no comment" would be much better.
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Post by Michal on Jan 25, 2024 17:01:38 GMT
Don't forget Janne Schaffer's comment that 2024 is going to be exciting... He surely didn't mean the half-speed master of Waterloo...
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Post by Michal on Jan 25, 2024 16:44:11 GMT
Oh, this is ridiculous. Wasn't it Björn, who said that they had to be more inventive this time and not escape with just another reissue?
And all this talk about "nothing left in the vaults" ... oh come on. They let Carl Magnus Palm write a whole book about the vaults, they even let him listen to all the unreleased stuff, they even release the demos of Like An Angel Passing Through My Room and rework Just A Notion and still try to claim there's nothing?
I've long since stopped believing in what Björn and Benny say. In this case it could mean "we've just finished the new album and ABBA has retired for good and we've emptied the vaults finally, so NOW there's nothing left" 😃 They are worse than politicians.
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Post by Michal on Jan 25, 2024 6:08:24 GMT
I voted for Hole In Your Soul. It works so well in the opening of ABBA The Movie. But ABBA had so many. I would add As Good As New too.
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Post by Michal on Jan 25, 2024 6:05:48 GMT
Count me to the "love it" camp. It is an immense fun. Sheer joy of playing it out loud shines through. And those screams by Agnetha!
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Post by Michal on Jan 25, 2024 6:00:04 GMT
⬆️ The video is the clip from ABBA-Dabba-Dooo Tv special but the intro was not there originally, I think. Could it be a hint at alternate versions being considered for release?
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Post by Michal on Jan 20, 2024 14:08:50 GMT
I would almost bet they won't be there not only because of the announcement in the FC magazine but also because of the SVT gala. They will be oficially invited and I can't see them turning the invitation in Stockholm down and flying to London instead.
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Post by Michal on Jan 19, 2024 19:29:37 GMT
....I don't "get " "Should I Laugh Or Cry "... the chorus is much better than the preceding verses.... It's interesting how the views of the same song can be so diametrically different For me it's the exact opposite. I love the verses and once the chorus comes, the song is spoilt for me. What we agree on though is that it's a strange song. And Benny will keep telling us, that the incompatibility of the verses and choruses in Just Like That is the main problem, when he doesn't have problem with this one, even choosing it as a bonus track for the recent CD and vinyl box...
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Post by Michal on Jan 19, 2024 15:06:50 GMT
The mention of Kisses Of Fire is interesting. I've been listening to the song quite recently and couldn't help thinking what a banger it is! The quiet intro reminds me of the intro of the long version of Summer Night City - the chorus kicks in the same unexpected way. From then on it's brimming with energy and can't see anything wrong.
I'd probably nominate I've Been Waiting For You - beautiful melody, one of the best Agnetha lead ever, gorgeous backing vocals by Frida... BUT the "howling" sound of the backing track is the ingredient that makes it not as great as it could have been.
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Post by Michal on Jan 19, 2024 14:58:27 GMT
I've been planning my first visit for 20+ years and with every passing year it's getting more unlikely. But you're right that 2024 is probably a good reason. However, out of the events already announced the one in Stockholm seems the most appealing to me - I feel that more than one ABBA member will appear there.
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Post by Michal on Jan 16, 2024 14:59:01 GMT
So well written! There's not much to add. I count myself among the fans of Rock Me. Maybe one of the reason is that it featured on the GHV2 album, which was the record that introduced me to ABBA. I loved every single song of course!
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Post by Michal on Jan 16, 2024 14:49:16 GMT
⬆️ Absolutely agree. I believe this is what the album may have sounded, had Michael Tretow been involved. He never would have allowed for a mix with backing vocals buried down to the extent of being practically inaudible. I listened to the Voulez-Vous album today and it made me wonder again how pristine the production and final mixes were - one can hear every layer of the recording perfectly separated and clear. Voyage is a disappointment in this regard.
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Post by Michal on Jan 8, 2024 6:40:40 GMT
We've shown them that we're willing to sell kidneys to buy their stuff, so I hope ABBA/Universal are wearing their Thinking Caps. That's precisely the reason why they don't need to. We will buy anything that will contain something new. Even the ugly 30th anniversary edition of Gold has apparently sold out, so why should they bother and make some effort? Björn's hint that they need to be more inventive than releasing another reissue gives some hope but I would not expect a 180° turn in Universal's policy...
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Post by Michal on Jan 3, 2024 17:10:44 GMT
My son got good quality headphones for Christmas and so I had a chance to listen to Voyage on headphones for the first time. And I found out an interesting thing about Little Things. I don't know if I'm not imagining it but the joint lead vocal is actually separated - Frida is on the left channel and Agnetha on the right and it creates quite a magical effect. Anybody else noticed this?
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Post by Michal on Jan 3, 2024 17:05:30 GMT
Another long-standing favourite of mine:
I love the way the music flows, the lyrics and Marian Gold's voice is magical.
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Post by Michal on Jan 3, 2024 16:59:14 GMT
Yes, HOMETIME, you remember it correctly. Such a pity! I've read somewhere that Mikael was torn between the desire to get his song heard abroad and his hate for ABBA and Stig. Finally the latter prevailed unfortunately.
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Post by Michal on Jan 3, 2024 16:53:16 GMT
Whatever we may think about yet another compilation, I think it's inevitable. I believe the two outtakes from Voyage are going to be released and as I don't think that a deluxe edition of Voyage is likely, where else should they go? I just hope that they won't use the excuse of the 30th anniversary of the Thank You For The Music box set to just update that one. It's already been reissued and it would be the most boring solution. I really hope for some kind of anthology.
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Post by Michal on Dec 13, 2023 20:16:08 GMT
Today I listened to this song by Mikael Wiehe after very long time. One of my absolute favourites. It always strikes me what an ingenious piece of music and lyrics it is, perfectly complementing each other and creating the feeling of urgency and anxiety.
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Post by Michal on Dec 12, 2023 17:41:40 GMT
I checked mine and there was a shocking revelation - my most favourite song was Where Do We Go From Here! I played it... dramatic pause... FOUR times! 😂
My most favorite genre is rock, top 5 artists:
1. Roxette 2. ABBA 3. INXS 4. Agnetha Fältskog 5. Queen
Very telling, when you consider that I spent 90 minutes listening to Roxette! 😄
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Post by Michal on Dec 12, 2023 17:20:50 GMT
Another fan of the song here. One of my favourites from that period. And Agnetha's and Frida's dance routines are brilliant
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Post by Michal on Dec 4, 2023 7:08:39 GMT
I can't stand Modern Talking as a group. But when one of their songs come up on the radio, I can enjoy it (it doesn't matter which one), unless they play two in a row. All their songs have basically the same formula and they sound so alike to me, that hearing more then one at a time is irritating.
Bee Gees have similar effect on me, but the irritation comes a bit later - third song at the earliest 😄
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Post by Michal on Dec 4, 2023 6:59:42 GMT
Yes, it's possible. On the other hand, the Fan Club knows only what they're told, so if ABBA and their management want to keep it secret, the FC will know nothing.
Also, one can speculate what "being involved in something" means. I don't think that attending a Voyage show is much involvement from their part. In any case, it seems something will be happening in the Voyage Arena on 6th April. I would rather read it as "ABBA won't do anything as a group". But maybe you're right and I'm just getting carried away by hoping too much...
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Post by Michal on Dec 2, 2023 21:08:16 GMT
It seems there will be *something* on 6th April - the 50th anniversary of Waterloo win Next year's contest final is on 11th May. It's probably best they do something on their anniversary, if they do - and not upstage the contest. In the last ABBA Fanclub magazine it is reported that ABBA themselves will not be involved in anything on 6 April. Which is quite surprising. I expected some kind of event at the ABBA Arena since no public performance is scheduled on that day. But apparently not. I would not take it too seriously. Even if they plan to do something, they will surely not reveal it at this stage. Actually, I expect a surprise appearance, if anything. Their appearance at the VIP opening wasn't confirmed beforehand either.
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Post by Michal on Dec 1, 2023 7:03:52 GMT
The only song that was performed unplugged is Thank You For The Music (on Nöjesmaskinen) and it is a fantastic version. For a long time (before Voyage happened) my dream was that ABBA would get together for a TV special, where they would be interviewed in Swedish, reminisce and then perform a song or two around piano. But I'm not sure if it's not too late for this already.
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Post by Michal on Dec 1, 2023 6:56:17 GMT
So the teasing and hinting have begun. I wonder when we can expect some official announcement. Not earlier than in January, I bet.
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Post by Michal on Nov 28, 2023 14:58:05 GMT
...had never heard of At Vance before... They seem to be ABBA fans - they did three ABBA covers. Besides TWTIA there's aldo SOS and Money, Money, Money - both of them worth checking out. They also "covered" quite many classical pieces, Vivaldi's Four Seasons among others. Actually, there are loads of metal or hard rock ABBA covers. Some very strange but quite many really good ones - e.g. Tobias Sammet of Edguy covered LAYLOM, Helloween's version of the same song is definitely worth a listen too.
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