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Post by Michal on Aug 31, 2023 8:01:32 GMT
So, have you heard the song? I still wonder what they did to Agnetha's voice or if it has changed so much much since 2021 but I must admit I often had hard time identifying her even during the verses. During the chorus she's completely unrecognizable under all those backing vocals. All in all, an average song, which could have been lifted by the magic of Agnetha's voice, but sadly isn't...
As for the album... just remixed. We'll see if for better or for worse.
The highlight of the interview for me - Agnetha neither confirmed not denied ABBA would do something for the 50th anniversary of Waterloo next year.
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Post by Michal on Aug 30, 2023 13:51:41 GMT
I ask myself how I'd feel if Benny and Björn announced they were reemagining The Visitors album Not sure about a whole album but a few tracks from across their repertoire would be welcome. You can call the Voyage version of When All Is Said And Done re-imagined - and it's very good! There would certainly be more suitable candidates, especially those, that they are not completely happy with (My Love, My Life for example - it would definetely benefit from stripping down the arrangement). As long as they don't add rap passages or ask Elton John to sing a few lines here and there, it could be interesting.
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Post by Michal on Aug 30, 2023 13:41:29 GMT
I’m starting to warm to the idea. I'm trying not to too much - yet. I don't want to end up building high expectations again, as the yesterday's news were really like a slap in the face after everything we imagined might come. Of course it was not Agnetha's fault. But the people handling the promotion have clearly overkilled. However I must admit that actually it's still good news. Not as good as we hoped for but still good. The artwork looks classy. The good thing is that they don't try to make Agnetha look 20 years younger like on the original cover of A. Will the single be a physical release?
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Post by Michal on Aug 29, 2023 14:10:15 GMT
"According to insiders, "the new song" was already created during the sessions for A." Even better... a reissue with an outtake added as a bonus. Oh my God, what they were thinking? A simple announcement would be more than enough. I don't know... there must be more to this than it appears now. If it is the first in the series of re-imagined and expanded albums, than the promotion would make sense. If it's a one off, then I don't get it at all.
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Post by Michal on Aug 29, 2023 9:42:31 GMT
I imagine backing tracks might be different. ... I honestly don't get the point of this release.... If anything, I'd like some unplugged approach, stripped down versions. Some tracks would benefit from this. But the only point probably was to find a place for the new track...
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Post by Michal on Aug 29, 2023 8:51:04 GMT
P.S. I really don't want to be ungrateful but I'm at the phase of total anticlimax. I mean, if they didn't tease us that way, I would be jumping out of joy that we will get a new song by Agnetha but now... I'm underwhelmed. And more so because it is A they're re-releasing. Not exactly my favourite...
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Post by Michal on Aug 29, 2023 8:45:44 GMT
If this is it.... am I a little disappointed ? Do you really need to ask?
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Post by Michal on Aug 29, 2023 8:45:24 GMT
What the...?! Well, at least we know that Agnetha is interested in old stuff. Interested in what the "reimagination" might involve A new cover design maybe? (the logo on the opposite side of the sleeve and maybe (I don't dare to hope!) a different font?) Now that would be exciting!
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Post by Michal on Aug 29, 2023 7:08:54 GMT
Cold shower... And I thought they wouldn't make such a fuss about a reissue. Well, at least we know that Agnetha is interested in old stuff. But I wonder why it's BMG then. It should be on Universal. On the positive side... it means Agnetha certainly wasn't too busy to prevent her from secretly recording with ABBA (Hope is the last that leaves a man )
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Post by Michal on Aug 28, 2023 14:03:45 GMT
Hi Alan, "Det sa min faster som pimplade port" Means: "This said my aunt, who guzzled Port (wine)" And that's another priceless line along with "I became as fat as a pig". Altogether very clever and funny lyrics!
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Post by Michal on Aug 28, 2023 14:00:07 GMT
I'd prefer something new too but if it really was an album with covers from musicals, what songs would you wish for or think would be suitable for Agnetha? You Must Love Me would indeed be a perfect choice. I can almost hear it in my mind. Don't Cry For Me Argentina would fit her too. Could We Start Again Please from Jesus Christ Superstar strikes me as a natural candidate, as she already did the other two. I Know Him So Well would be great of course and maybe Someone Else's Story too. Ett Herrans Underverk as another potential duet with Frida? (call me hopeless) I was thinking about Les Mis but both the big numbers that would be most appealing seem a little too chalenging vocally, but maybe I'm underestimating Agnetha. Any ideas?
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Post by Michal on Aug 28, 2023 7:30:26 GMT
[criticism] On her albums (bland, autotune .....) Constructive criticism is nothing wrong. It's very natural that Agnetha's albums are not to everybody's taste. Voyage received critical reactions from some fans too. Unless it's completely unfair or rude, everybody is entitled to his or her opinion.
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 18:23:13 GMT
Can't we just be happy about this new chapter? Why drag Frida into this? Some fans are hopeless. I am happy. I don't demand anything. But the combination of the two voices is one of the best things that happened in music history. And the occasions on which we can hear it is so rare nowadays, that every opportunity is welcome.
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 13:22:15 GMT
I finally had time to watch it. Great interview!
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 13:20:53 GMT
By the way, it's interesting how our perception of who actually blocked ABBA's reunion all these years suddenly changes. We were led to believe it was "the blonde recluse" but finally it seems that apart from Agnetha's difficult period in the nineties it wasn't so. And even than Benny and Björn were very busy with Kristina and then Mamma Mia! so there was really no chance for a comeback until the 1 billion dollar offer in 2000, which was of course too much to swallow.
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 13:14:21 GMT
By the way, I'm all for Agnetha / Frida duet. I think the time is finally ripe. ABBA has already reunited, so no worries about rumours. And they're both past the difficult periods in their lives, which prevented them from doing so before.
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 13:09:06 GMT
It would be very exciting, if Frida released a new album, but I probably know what you mean with the comparison, Alan . This is "the blonde recluse from ABBA" coming back to the limelight and it doesn't matter that Frida's artistic pause is actually much longer (with the exception of guest appearances here and there), as people perceive her as the more active of the two. I feel that besides the personal tragedies mentioned by HOMETIME, there is maybe one more reason why we don't have more albums from Frida. I believe the low self-confidence combined with with the lack of success of her albums didn't help. I remember an ethusiastic interview Frida gave at the time of recording Shine. There was a follow-up planned with the same team, if my memory doesn't deceive me. The plans were abandoned, when the album flopped, which must have been like a cold shower for Frida.
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 12:56:36 GMT
I think Agnetha isn't interested in old stuff. You keep repeating that at various threads. Is your opinion based on something Agnetha said? I can't remember she ever expressed such a thought. Yes, the lack of attention to certain reissues (the Swedish solo albums were not available on CDs for a very long time and where is the Deluxe edition of I Stand Alone that was reported few years ago?) but I think that the record companies are more to blame. Actually I think it would be nice if we got a career retrospective box with an accompaning DVD but I agree that this "Where Do We Go From Here" line hardly points in that direction. They would not make such a fuss about a reissue, no matter how spectacular it may be.
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 12:46:38 GMT
So it seems we're in for a duets album? Fingers crossed for Frida being one of the partners.
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Post by Michal on Aug 23, 2023 15:30:16 GMT
I used to have problems identifying the lead vocalists especially when I started listening to ABBA. Some songs were more obvious than others. Move On was a mystery for a very long time. But after listening to Agnetha and Frida for decades, I'm able to tell who's singing what in most cases. Or at least I think so
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Post by Michal on Aug 23, 2023 15:25:02 GMT
Update: speculation seems to be that it might be a new Agnetha single rather than new ABBA music. Perhaps the recording of a new ABBA album, and the apparent frustration that Benny doesn’t want to do any more, has got Agnetha interested in making new music. If ABBA is a no-go then it has to be solo? Wow, that's very interesting! Add Frida as a duet partner and Björn on guitar and backing vocals and we have an almost-ABBA record
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Post by Michal on Aug 17, 2023 15:40:39 GMT
Guessing it’s 4pm everywhere, regardless of country. Mine is anyway. It's not. Some cinemas in Prague are showing it at 3 p.m. and I'm going to a local cinema at 7:30 p.m. In Prague many seats were already booked and it seems like it may even sell out, as the capacities of the cinemas screening it are generally small (there is a club cinema with just 40 seats for example). However, I was the first to book in Jicin and I'm afraid I may be the last Hopefully they won't cancel it.
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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 Michal on Aug 17, 2023 11:44:00 GMT
I was surprised that this fan event is taking place in my country too. So many cinemas, even in small towns are screening it. So I'm going on 17th. Hopefully I won't be the only person in the cinema As for Robert Hughes, I understand that screening the film in Australia may feel problematic. But most people around the world don't recognize him, have never heard of him and his crimes and so will probably not notice. If it's right or wrong is a question but I thing that banning ABBA The Movie once and for all is not fair.
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Post by Michal on Aug 17, 2023 11:34:27 GMT
Yes, it's too early for any announcements but I'm sure justabba is right. It was the same before the release of Voyage. They are saving the surprises and I'm sure the attack on our wallets will be immense next year. Even Björn mused that the 50th Anniversary is too important for them to escape with just some kind of reissue (no doubt there will be at least one - Waterloo as a half-speed remaster and the accompanying singles box set and picture discs). I'm very curious. I believe that the screening of ABBA The Movie in September is the first event paving the way for the celebrations.
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Post by Michal on Aug 13, 2023 18:41:39 GMT
I've just realized it's not complete. I have it on a bootleg and it's much longer - more than 15 minutes. Frida seems to be unusually quiet because her parts were edited out. I tried to find a complete version but had no luck... HOMETIME - well spotted! @lycka - it is indeed the same day. Björn says at 1:04: "This morning we gave a satellite interview for Don Lane Show in Melbourne"
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Post by Michal on Aug 13, 2023 7:52:44 GMT
The Don Late Satellite interview is one of my all-time favourites - relaxed and funny. Björn's reply "She called me father this morning" is priceless :-)
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Post by Michal on Aug 12, 2023 20:25:55 GMT
Are the any other examples of Frida taking the high harmony? There are at least two I'm aware of: I've Been Waiting For You ("and finally it seems my lonely days are through") and Move On (the last verse). And now when I think about it, I think the unplugged version of Thank You For The Music from Nöjesmaskinen features high harmonies by Frida as well. These rare moments are absolutely magical in my opinion. As for GSYMLS, I agree it's an underrated song and Frida does a fantastic job on the lead vocals.
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Post by Michal on Aug 12, 2023 14:21:14 GMT
@lycka, finally a voice of reason. As much as Hughes deserves to be condemned, his crimes are no reason to lock up ABBA The Movie in the vaults forever. Punish him and not the others, who had no idea what he was like at the time. Someone mentioned Kevin Spacey here. Johnny Depp comes to mind too. They stopped giving him new roles, when he was suspected of domestic violence but would it be right to ban all movies he ever appeared in? Surely not. So as much as I like HOMETIME 's suggestions for a 1977 tour special, I think that The Movie should remain the way it is. Or better, expanded with extras and re-released.
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Post by Michal on Aug 6, 2023 7:23:19 GMT
Interesting a bit of backlash against Voyage. Pretty sure there were more people on this Forum more favourable to it than me. Now Alan, says he's put it in the Live Without category and Michel doesn't have any Voyage song in his Top 20. It's really not a backlash in my case (BTW, you're confusing me with @michel all the time, but I can't really blame you ). In fact, I was disappointed by both the first two singles and the album on the first listen. It's true that part of the disappointment was caused by poor sound quality of the live stream, where the first two songs were premiered, and the YouTube version of the album, which I listened to for the first time (I switched my VPN to disguise me as a New Zealand citizen, so that I could listen to the album earlier ). It has grown on me since, even the least favourite tracks, and I played it almost every day for some time. Even now I listen to it quite often and the novelty aspect plays a part in that for sure. However, I have always found it difficult to rate against the original albums, which have been with me since my teens. In a way it feels like it is a different group and I believe it is the fact that we were made to believe it would never happen, that makes the album feel sort of surreal. That doesn't mean I would rather not have it released. I love the record, I love the fact that ABBA returned, I appreciate that I could hear Agnetha and Frida together again.
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