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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 12, 2021 19:56:50 GMT
Some people are mean about Zoe Ball. Why? I don't get it. It seems she's just a bit star struck, both meeting Benny and Björn and getting to interview Frida. Of course she's going to be a little nervous. Maybe there's something I missed. I don't get it either. I saw someone reply to her Frida tweet, saying she was "too enthusiastic." Personally, I find Zoe to be quite likeable. It's nice that she is honestly star-struck. During the big reveal back on 2 September, there was a short moment where Benny seemed a little brusque with her during their interview and I winced a little. There's no arrogance about her. I like the balance she provides to the chin-stroking of the "serious music journos" and critics - she's like the ordinary person on the street who can't believe their luck.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 12, 2021 15:34:49 GMT
Wow. 23 different editions is a lot. And I know there are fans who probably will accumulate all of them - possibly even multiple times. Blimey!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 12, 2021 9:56:53 GMT
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 11, 2021 8:57:44 GMT
Frida's interview with Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 was just fabulous. She is so warm so articulate and chatty, so utterly adorable. Hearing her talk about her bond with Agnetha, praising her storytelling singing and referring to her as her little sister... it was quite emotional. And she seems so unaffected and normal. If only this had been a video interview!
Her "never say never" to new music was very telling. It felt like she was dropping a heavy hint, to be honest. And if Benny has already said much the same thing...? Have we entered a parallel universe?!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 16:07:39 GMT
There's an official Spotify playlist with more than a million likes that may be quite influential on that ranking. It's frontloaded with 8 of Voyage's ten tracks - NDAI and OTF are omitted (incidentally, my two most streamed tracks right now. They're very addictive.)
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 15:07:20 GMT
I set my 'puter to translate French to English when I was shopping in Amazon.fr - it even translated the album title!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 14:34:03 GMT
That's not unreasonable at all, Alan. If you weren't fussed about shrinkwrap, you could suggest that they simply send you a new sleeve? My worry is that they'd say they don't have the stock of coloured vinyl to replace it.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 11:39:54 GMT
That's an impressive haul, gamleman ! The various items have been made very attractive, so I can see why so many of us were tempted to part with our hard-earned rent money. I think my deluxe CD box is finally on the way: I got a bill from our Customs people: an extra €8.44 because it's coming from the UK (outside the EU). Infuriating when the damn thing is on the shelves of the record shops. So I promptly cancelled my orange vinyl from Amazon's UK shop and re-ordered from the French site instead. Turns out it's cheaper there too - and I won't be hit with customs charges. It's an expensive lesson to order from EU sites only from now on. I currently have the standard softpack CD and the yellow vinyl... The orange vinyl and possibly a picture disc still to come... I really should know better.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 9:18:06 GMT
With all that in mind, bennybjorn, I hope that there's a documentary and/or TV special in the offing. I suppose that the likes of Radio 2 and the dedicated Christmas stations might playlist Little Things in the run-up to Christmas. A physical release on single would only get them so far, as it's really not a song for the streaming generation. If Frida and Agnetha are appearing on radio shows, I hope it suggests that they might have taken part in something visual for broadcast on TV too.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 8:49:04 GMT
Frida will be speaking to Zoe Ball on BBC Radio tomorrow?!!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 10, 2021 8:39:48 GMT
Those are some impressive figures. The chaos in the Voyage shop makes me wonder if they were expecting a significantly smaller response. The only item I managed to order from their frustrating system is the deluxe CD box doohickey. I placed an order within hours of the shop opening and still have heard nothing to say that they're even getting it ready to be shipped. It's on the shelves in my local record stores, but there isn't even a "cancel my order" facility. I ordered the yellow vinyl alternative artwork edition from Fnac on Wednesday and it arrived yesterday. The shop is a disaster.
Roll on the No.1 chart placing! With the streaming sales numbers very much at the bottom of that impressive list of stats, should we brace ourselves for a big drop thereafter?
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 8, 2021 19:17:27 GMT
Sheeran had two songs in the Airplay Top 10 last week (and one just outside) when his album was released, powering the album sales through the week. Abba only have one in the Top 40 and it's outside the Top 10- Just a Notion at 11. Note this is still an impressive achievement - I think it's a bigger airplay success than the first two songs and at this position means they must be getting at least a few plays from stations other than Radio 2. So, Voyage will continue to shift copies throughout the week, and I reckon it might well still beat Ed's week 1 tally, but not a foregone conclusion as they have a much lower presence on the nation's radio stations than Ed. Just A Notion is the song I'm hearing most on the radio. I've been keeping an ear on BBC Radio 2. JAN got a couple of plays today and Ken Bruce played When You Danced With Me. It's remarkably radio friendly. It seems to be doing considerably better than the other album tracks on Spotify too. Yesterday, ABBA had 13 songs in the Irish iTunes singles chart - 7 from Voyage (DSMD and WYDWM scoring the highest) and the others from Gold (mostly 1979 singles). Today, there is only one ABBA track in the Irish iTunes singles chart: I Still Have Faith In You at #24. Looking at those reaction videos that suddenly* seem so popular on YouTube, Little Things is attracting way more affection that I expected. It'll be interesting to see how things pick up once radio stations start playing seasonal tracks again. *maybe not 'sudden' for anyone else, but it's new to me
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 7, 2021 17:49:50 GMT
I was in HMV in Burton-on-Trent today and they only had the plastic case edition of the CD and the deluxe box. No sign of the vinyl or the alternative artwork CD (or the standard artwork soft pack). Presumably sold out and waiting for more (I checked the ABBA vinyl and CD sections as well as the main display). Thankfully I got what I wanted in Chester on Friday. Is it possible the supply is deliberately (s)low, now that it is almost certain they will be No.1 this week, to save some sales for the next week??? Interesting thought - and it's a cunning strategy that I could kind of admire! Dublin stores only have the three CD editions now - card pack, deluxe box, and jewel case. The only vinyl available since release was the solid blue edition - which now seems to have sold out. I haven't seen the cassette anywhere. It seems odd that the standard black vinyl isn't out there. But if new vinyl stock arrives ASAP and is counted in next week's sales, it will be nice to think that ABBA will be putting up some fight against the Adele juggernaut.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 7, 2021 14:01:53 GMT
The Irish iTunes singles chart has rearranged itself:
13 - Don't Shut Me Down 29 - When You Danced With Me 31 - Just A Notion 39 - Does Your Mother Know? (!!) 41 - I Still Have Faith In You 56 - Bumblebee
Voyage holds the No.1 spot on the iTunes album chart.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 7, 2021 11:44:58 GMT
Longwinded Hometime is back with an album review...
I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU would never have been an ABBA single – let alone a lead single – in any other era. What other ABBA single makes you wait two minutes for the chorus to arrive? But it is the perfect opener for this important comeback. Lyrically and sonically, it sets out the new ABBA stall: rooted in the present, looking back, enjoying the moment. Frida’s vocal hits such beautiful low notes that we’re assured that maturity and age will be a gorgeous new feature of the album. It’s incredibly emotional and that last section is one the finest things Frida has ever delivered. But it’s a song that demands your time and attention. Mamma Mia it ain’t.
WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME. Like Fernando’s Mexico, ABBA take a place/setting and imbue the lyrics with the imagined atmosphere of that place. The feel recalls Sombrero and The Piper. The voices are so strong that if you told me this song was a newly discovered 1980 recording, I’d believe you. ABBA commit themselves so completely to the Kilkenny setting that, in my head, Frida is sporting one of her famous lava-red perms and tossing her curls tempestuously, fist on her hip as she strides towards her visiting ex. Bjorn, styled as a Tom Cruise Oirish character from central casting, will probably say something like “yer a corker, Frida,” while Agnetha sweeps gorgeously from the opposite side, saying “I’m more than a sexy bottom, so I am.” Shirt characteristically ripped to the navel, Benny is a beefier, furrier and infinitely more likeable Michael Flatley stand-in, who grins directly to camera. (And yes, Universal, feel free to pass my contacts to Baillie Walsh so that we can get cracking on that video). I was ready to mark this one as a skipper but it quickly became addictive. It’s so energetically sure of itself, so irresistibly catchy, that I could only succumb.
LITTLE THINGS had me nervous before I heard a note. As delicate as it is, I think it could have had a little more power if the glockenspiel and flutes were jettisoned. A single voice might have been a good idea too, as (to my ears) there seems to be a slightly ragged blend between Agnetha and Frida at moments. The little background harmonies are glorious, though. As for the coda, I’m torn: I think it was genius to use Benny’s old Red Christmas tune here but do the kids wreck it? I don’t think so. Yes, maybe the tune could have made a good instrumental section like the end of Chiquitita, but the kids’ delivery is natural sounding, and the little barb in the last line that basically calls us all a bunch of grannies is fun. The lyrics may be heavy on tinsel but they’re not completely sentimental. The parents’ urge to hide from the kids’ hysteria, and the Dad’s horny opportunism (the price of breakfast) mightn’t have been a feature had they released this song in the 70s.
DON’T SHUT ME DOWN is perfectly located, capitalising on those kids. Agnetha is in gorgeous form, delivering a quirky lyric that could only be in an ABBA song. The joy and energy of the track marches you straight past the slightly bonkers behaviour of the protagonist. And that chorus! Swoon. Frida’s depth blends beautifully with Agnetha’s higher tones to make that sound. At first, I felt that the piano glissando and the double-octave chords in the second verse were a tad cynical, but I've completely given up the ghost and adore the uniquely ABBAesque glory of this fabulous single.
JUST A NOTION fits in far better than I expected (although it sounds slightly louder than other tracks? Is that just me?). The joyous bounce and energy make up for the disappointing (to me) decision to use old vocals on such an important comeback album – but I understand the premise. And Womble schwomble: I love the piano. That walking bass is great too (a synth bass, at that – amazed that an actual bassist is credited for only one track). The only track with a fade ending on the album is another throwback to the old days, where such techniques were de rigeur. Important, too, for that fade to cool things down ahead of the brace of heartbreak scenes ahead. Its boogie swing is ever-so-slightly rooted in country, which clears the path for the next song.
I CAN BE THAT WOMAN walks a lyrical tightrope. Bjorn’s scene-setting leaves no room for misinterpretation: it’s this story and no other. The minutiae of the scene – every move of the dog and her owners is detailed – place the pain of the moment front and centre. Writing about alcoholism in the first person was a nice decision. Setting that storyline and Agnetha’s aching delivery in a country-flavoured arrangement skates close to cliché, but the overall honesty of the song keeps things on the rails. The way the richer “third voice” weaves in and out of the chorus evokes the warmth it brought to Slipping Through My Fingers. It’s a lovely grower.
KEEP AN EYE ON DAN had everyone on edge before a note was heard. But instead of a tedious attempt at comedy, we have a dark tale of parental disharmony. Both lyrically and musically, the verses remind me a little of the work B&B did on Gemini’s second album and Josefin Nilsson’s Shapes. It also feels like something from Chess – a neurotic sibling for Nobody’s Side, maybe. I know that this is widely touted as a highlight, but I’m struggling to connect with it. I think the lyrics are over-wrought and the chorus feels clunky and shouty. The synth solo that replicates the chorus melody is too thin and nasal. I’ll need more time with it.
BUMBLEBEE arrives on a fluttering of Fernando flutes and I reckon that section alone will divide opinion. Personally, I’d love to scrub those pesky flutes from every corner of this album. The melody of the song is rather lovely, though, and Frida’s voice is just sublime. She sounds as strong and fluid as she does on Cassandra. How does that happen?! Like Little Things, this song could have benefitted from a more naked arrangement. A solid album track and a nice nod to concern for the environment.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT is not what I was expecting from this album at all. Its fantastic energy drags us back to the 1980s and, let me tell you, I am ready to go shopping for shoulder pads and leg warmers right now! My husband mentioned Elaine as soon as he heard it. Frida’s lead lines are astonishing: if you told me that this was a second B&B song recorded for Shine, I could easily believe you. Pop a fiery spiky mullet and some neon fingerless gloves on the Fridatar and make a promo video for this song NOW! And if you want a prime example of how brilliantly bonkers ABBA can be with sequencing their albums, check out the sedate beauties this zesty banger is sandwiched between.
ODE TO FREEDOM‘s instrumental sections are so beautiful that I wouldn’t have been upset if this had been the instrumental track that I half-expected when the tracklist first emerged. But the vocal sections are sublime. The choral feel is anchored by Frida’s warmth and power, while Agnetha’s high tones give a lovely airiness. The lyric is nicely judged. It’s incredibly addictive and it’s a very early favourite for me.
VOYAGE is a very eclectic set. Some of the production has surprised me. For an album recorded in a state-of-the-art studio with so much technology at their disposal, some of the mixing seems a little woolly. Especially when it comes to the vocals. The BVs by Bjorn and Benny on both ISHFIY and KAEOD are a case in point: in Tretow’s hands, they would be crisply audible (but still clearly backing vocals). You struggle to hear them on this album. The vocal levels on OTF is also curiously low and I can’t imagine why. Maybe a conscious decision to sound like a live recording of a choir with a classical orchestra? The strangest thing for me is that the once precise matching of Agnetha’s and Frida’s voices seems to be slightly off in ISHFIY, Little Things and the bridge of KAEOD. In the 70s and 80s, any lines they sang together would have been so minutely matched that it’d be impossible to tell who was singing what. These parts sound like live performances, where their lines are close but without the laser precision of a studio recording. Maybe the ladies looked Benny straight in the eye and told him to forget any notions of the 8-hour vocal sessions that were a feature of the previous album sessions?
For me the album is a triumph overall. It’s already delivering new joys with each repeated play, so I expect it to find a high spot in my album rankings in the years ahead.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 7, 2021 11:11:18 GMT
^Bit of back-handed compliment to Tammy Wynette. She is transformed into a dog in I Can Be That Woman 🤣 I thought so too. The song is pretty obviously actually about Tammy Wynette(she was addicted to pain killers - one of her husbands was an alcoholic) rather than just a nod to her style. I guess there needed to be a way of telling us that without spelling it out. There was also a battle with alcohol in more recent years inside ABBA. To me, it makes the song seem a little braver, more honest.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 6, 2021 14:53:11 GMT
Excluding the singles for now, this is my current ranking for the album:
No Doubt About It Ode To Freedom When You Danced With Me I Can Be That Woman Bumblebee Little Things Keep An Eye On Dan
It'll take some effort to incorporate the singles fairly into that ranking.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 6, 2021 9:46:30 GMT
In the Irish iTunes album chart, Voyage is at No.1. In their singles chart, there are five entries:
12 - When You Danced With Me 14 - Don't Shut Me Down 23 - I Still Have Faith In You 31 - Ode To Freedom 32 - I Can Be That Woman
I'd be interested to see how that compares with other countries. I imagine this kind of data might be influential in choosing which track to push next as a single or "buzz" track.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 5, 2021 20:04:16 GMT
Irish TV news this evening included a segment on the Kilkenny reference in "When You Danced With Me." Seems we're so greedy for attention that a mention of one of our regional cities in a pop song is national news! I have to say that, at first listen, it was a song I was ready to skip... but it has grown on me a lot. The vocal performance really has some energy! It feels pretty fresh - and a little like a marriage between Arrival and Put On Your White Sombrero - except that the overcooked TexMex imagery is replaced with a whiff of Shamrock. I agree with you madonnabba, "Little Things" won't be big. But we'll hear it every year, I think, and it's bound to appear on every Now That's What I Call A Seasonal Cash Cow compilation from here to eternity.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 5, 2021 9:45:43 GMT
Has anyone noticed the glint of cheekiness in Little Things? There's the line about how he'll consider bringing her a breakfast tray - but there's a "price" #filth
The children's choir seems to gently take the p1ss out of us all, with that final sideswipe about "a song my grandma would sing." It's also a lovely way to incorporate Benny's "Red Christmas" tune. Could it have been done as an instrumental coda (a la Chiquitita)? Possibly. But the hidden nudges are a nice foil for the overall prettiness.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 5, 2021 9:21:24 GMT
"When You Danced With Me" was just played on Irish radio and the presenters raved about it, urging listeners to go out and get the "amazing" album! The predictable quip followed: "all these years, we thought they were Swedish but it turns out they're actually Irish."
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 5, 2021 8:44:37 GMT
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 4, 2021 23:50:42 GMT
I'm on my first complete run-through of the album now - incl. ISHFIY, DSMD and JAN - having just played the "new" songs first. The second half of the album seems to be packed with the best bits. It'll be interesting to see how it all hangs together with the singles mixed in.
Astonished by Frida's voice on "No Doubt About It" - it sounds like a track she'd held back from "Shine." She sounds so fresh. Somebody else mentioned its "Elaine" energy - it's a good reference point.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 4, 2021 23:22:20 GMT
It's gorgeous, @briefne! I'd move there in a heartbeat.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 4, 2021 23:17:15 GMT
RELEASE KLAXON!! This is not a drill. iTunes might be a little premature, but the album is available for me here in Ireland!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 4, 2021 22:52:40 GMT
Kilkenny is only an hour from Dublin and it's very artsyfartsy. A lovely place to visit. Maybe the Kilkenny Tourist Board is slipping him bribes. Do we know yet whether Kilkenny is part of an essential rhyme? Kilkenny/henny/penny/Jenny?
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 4, 2021 19:59:25 GMT
Here's the review that Johnny mentions. It's not exactly laden with spoilers but maybe avoid it if you want an entirely pure experience as you hit play. And it is quite a witty piece, too - I chuckled. Rolling Stone being nice about ABBA: who'd'a thunk it?! www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/abba-voyage-1251755/amp/And welcome, darin! Hard to believe that in 12 hours, the whole world (more or less) will have heard a brand new ABBA album!
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 4, 2021 19:36:03 GMT
Look on it as a nod to Super Trouper, where Glasgow was namechecked in the lyrics. Is Kilkenny really any more random?
And breathe.....
I was sick and tired of everything when I called you last night from Glasgow
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 4, 2021 18:48:05 GMT
The opening of "Ode to Freedom" owes a lot to the first part of a piece from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake: Act I: II. Valse (Tempo Di Valse). It's too similar to be a coincidence. From the iTunes snippets I've heard, I think that melody also sounds like Sinéad O'Connor's "Three Babies." And on those snippets alone, I think that Ode To Freedom might be my favourite. A little over five hours now until I get to hear the full thing.
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Post by HOMETIME on Nov 4, 2021 13:43:36 GMT
Nice to see that your review score exceeds your earlier prediction, Liebezeit!
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