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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2018 19:18:40 GMT
Benny & Bjorn have today - Tuesday 1st May - given an interview to the Swedish Newspaper 'Aftonbladet'.
I've translated the part where they discuss the 2 New ABBA Songs.
It is a pity that Bjorn cut Benny off, just as Benny was starting to fully describe, 'I Still Have Faith In You' -
although Benny does go on to say more about the Song.
Here is the Translation:
"It's a pop band"
When did you play the two songs?
- In June last year, with Frida and Agnetha.
One of them is called "Don't Shut Me Down".
"It's a pop band," says Benny Andersson.
The other "I Still Have Faith in You" is quite ...
"It's not good to categorize it," says Björn Ulvaeus.
"It's 6/8 part, so you can not dance disco to it," says Benny Andersson.
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Post by foreverfan on May 1, 2018 19:57:38 GMT
Forgive my ignorance, anyone shed light on 6/8 , I guess that's tempo? And what other ABBA tracks are that tempo?
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Post by Fafner on May 1, 2018 20:10:48 GMT
Forgive my ignorance, anyone shed light on 6/8 , I guess that's tempo? And what other ABBA tracks are that tempo? It's a musical meter (or time signature), which is not the same as tempo. Tempo tells you the speed, but meter deals with rhythm - and more specifically it tells you how many strong and weak beats you have in each bar, and also how they are distributed. (It's true though that 6/8 songs also tend to be in a pretty slow tempo). An example of an Abba song with a 6/8 meter would be Andante Andante. (another good example is We Are The Champions) To get more technical, 6/8 is like a rhythmical hybrid between a waltz (which is in a triple meter like 3/4) and a march (in a double meter like 2/2 or 2/4). This basically means that you have two strong beats in each bar, but each beat is further subdivided into a triplet. I hope that makes sense. |
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Post by Liebezeit on May 1, 2018 20:30:46 GMT
Benny & Bjorn have today - Tuesday 1st May - given an interview to the Swedish Newspaper 'Aftonbladet'. I've translated the part where they discuss the 2 New ABBA Songs. It is a pity that Bjorn cut Benny off, just as Benny was starting to fully describe, 'I Still Have Faith In You' - although Benny does go on to say more about the Song. Here is the Translation:"It's a pop band" When did you play the two songs? - In June last year, with Frida and Agnetha. One of them is called "Don't Shut Me Down". "It's a pop band," says Benny Andersson. The other "I Still Have Faith in You" is quite ... "It's not good to categorize it," says Björn Ulvaeus. "It's 6/8 part, so you can not dance disco to it," says Benny Andersson. I’ll buy one more ABBA song if the song after two songs features 9/8 time signature, as well! That music theory lingo got me all appealed for a new ABBA song instantly. 6/8 metre is only a good start for them... I theorize, it must be a gospel-blues-waltz-esque ballad, that “I Still Have Faith in You” song! Good to see Benny break away from the pop 4/4 metre even if it’s not the first song that has unusual time signature. |
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Post by foreverfan on May 1, 2018 20:35:17 GMT
Thank you Fafner, I get the idea a bit better, whatever it will be it will be interesting...
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Post by Fafner on May 1, 2018 21:20:18 GMT
I’ll buy one more ABBA song if the song after two songs features 9/8 time signature, as well! That music theory lingo got me all appealed for a new ABBA song instantly. 6/8 metre is only a good start for them... I theorize, it must be a gospel-blues-waltz-esque ballad, that “I Still Have Faith in You” song! Good to see Benny break away from the pop 4/4 metre even if it’s not the first song that has unusual time signature. And why not a song in 5/4 or 7/8?  |
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Post by Fafner on May 1, 2018 21:34:00 GMT
And by the way, Agnetha already sung some music with an odd time signature... |
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Post by madonnabba on May 1, 2018 23:38:41 GMT
I’m not up on musical jargon. Can someone give me an example of a 6/8 ? A song title? I can see how the title would fit a gospel treatment. That would be a different direction for Abba. Could be perfect for Christmas if the lyric is ambiguous enough . Boy, they have got us all guessing. And an Abbatar video to go with it. Wonder what outfits they will wear..... ones from 79 era or new ones with a 79 influence?Will they just be singing or will there be a few classic Abba poses.....back to back , profiles etc? And not that I watch it now but an Abbatar appearance on the X factor or Strictly?
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Post by Fafner on May 1, 2018 23:47:23 GMT
I’m not up on musical jargon. Can someone give me an example of a 6/8 ? A song title? Andante Andante and We Are The Champions come to mind. (and speaking of gospel - Queen's Somebody to Love is also in 6/8 I think) |
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Post by madonnabba on May 2, 2018 0:02:55 GMT
Thanks Fafner. I love those songs so it’s looking good. And there is the uptempo Don’t shut me down too to look forward to. And Mamma Mia 2. What a year this is turning out to be! 🇸🇪🎼🍾🎉
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 10:21:05 GMT
Today - Wednesday 2nd May - Benny & Bjorn have been interviewed by the BBC.
They have revealed more about the 2 New ABBA Songs. (I do hope that the one that sounds like
they wrote it in 1972, is stronger than that! They make it sound like it could have been on the
'Ring Ring' Album, in 1973 - and most Fans regard that as being ABBA's weakest Album).
THE BENNY & BJORN BBC INTERVIEW
Benny Andersson has said he doesn't feel ABBA have "anything to prove" with their new material.
The band announced last week they have recorded two new songs, which will be released later this year.
Benny told BBC News: "I don't feel that we have to prove anything, or I don't feel we have to think about, 'Oh, what if it was better before', because maybe it was, but we can't care about that.
"We do it because we think it was a good thing to do."
He added: "We enjoyed it very much. We'll see. I hope you'll like them."
He said the songs came about while he and Bjorn Ulvaeus were in the studio working on a project where the band will tour as avatars.
"So we said, 'Hmm, maybe we should try and write a couple of songs, ask the ladies if they want to come in and sing'. And they said, 'Yeah, absolutely'. So it was just, out of pure joy I'd say."
He also revealed further details about the sound of the two new tracks - but added that they haven't been completed yet.
"One of the songs is like we would've written it [for] today. The other, we could've written in 1972. So I don't know, we'll see. I mean, they're not finished yet.
"We have the vocals, they're all recorded, we haven't mixed it, we haven't worked them through, really, but I think they're pretty good."
Asked whether he thought it would complement ABBA's legacy, Bjorn said: "I think so. It certainly sounds ABBA very much."
Benny added: "As soon as Frida [Anni-Frid Lyngstad] and Agnetha [Faltskog] start singing, that's when it sounds ABBA."
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Post by gary on May 2, 2018 10:37:26 GMT
Ooh yes, I don’t want 1972 songs, I want 1977 songs! A world of difference! :-)
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Post by madonnabba on May 2, 2018 11:39:38 GMT
I am hoping for 1976/1977/1980 or 1975 when DQ and Fernando were recorded. 1972 was when they were finding their feet and even Ring Ring was one of their lesser hits although I do like the wall of sound.
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Post by abbafan456 on May 2, 2018 16:05:29 GMT
I personally really enjoy the songs from the Ring Ring era, so if it sounds like that I'd be happy, but nevertheless, whatever the songs sound like I know I'll enjoy them.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 16:18:30 GMT
On another Site, a few ABBA Fans are rather worried, that the 2 New ABBA Songs will not be very good.
That they will not only fail to be Hits, but that they may ruin ABBA's reputation.
I've Posted this to them. It is relevant here too:
No********** - As you point out, 'Free As A Bird', (1995), & 'Real Love', (1996), were Decades old, unfinished John Lennon Demos.
The other 3 Beatles simply added their parts to them, in the Mid 1990's. Neither Single was very strong.
There is a big difference, with the 2 New ABBA Songs. The Songs are truly New - written in 2017. All of the recording & production
on them, is also truly New. All of the vocals are also New. They are entirely New ABBA Singles. I'm sure that both will be more
impressive than 'Free As A Bird' & 'Real Love'. Benny & Bjorn are very strict about what is released in ABBA's name...
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Na****** - We will have to see whether either, or both of the 2 New ABBA Songs are strong etc.
We must not get too pessimistic.
After all, we must not assume that Benny & Bjorn even know what a good/great New ABBA Song sounds like, in 2018.
They have not recorded any since 1982! They are way out of touch, in being able to objectively judge a New ABBA Song.
Even when ABBA were together, the 2 Guys were not always sure what would make a good ABBA Single.
Remember - They were not even going to release 'Mamma Mia' as a Single, until RCA persuaded them to release it.
Benny & Bjorn thought that 'So Long' and 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do', were better choices for Singles off 'ABBA'. They
had Zero clues that 'Mamma Mia' was far stronger than either of those.
I know that we ABBA Fans desperately want the 2 New Singles to be impressive and to also be big Hits. We should just wait
& see. There is no way that Benny & Bjorn would release them if they were not much good.
After all - they want to use the attention from the 2 Singles, to promote the ABBATars Shows. So, it is very important
to them, that the 2 New Songs are good enough to attract people to those Shows. As such, the 2 New Songs will certainly
be of a good standard. They'd not have allowed Agnetha and Frida to sing them, if they sounded like 'I Am Just A Girl', or
'I Saw It In The Mirror', etc.!
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 16:44:04 GMT
Gary - By about June 2010, the UK's Best Selling ABBA Singles were:
1... Dancing Queen - Sold 1,100,000
2... Knowing Me Knowing You - Sold 845,000
3... Super Trouper - Sold 815,000
4... Fernando - Sold 775,000
5... Take A Chance On Me - Sold 705,000
All of those Sales include several 1000 Downloads - since W/E 11th November 2004.
'One Of Us' - Yes, in the unpublished UK Chart of W/E 2nd January 1982, 'One Of Us' rose
from No.3 to No.2. It sold about 96,000 UK copies to do so. Those Sales were never added
in, which is why The UK Charts Company 'only' give about 405,000 UK Sales to that ABBA
Single. Also, as the W/E 2nd January 1982 Chart was unpublished, 'One Of Us' is said to
have been a UK No.3 Hit. The published Chart, of W/E 26th December 1981, was repeated,
to represent the 2nd January 1982 Chart.
Remember, there was more than one UK Chart in the 1980's etc.. There was the 'Official'
one - BMRB, (British Market Research Bureau). There was the 'Melody Maker' Chart and
also the 'Record Business' Chart. As with BMRB, 'One Of Us' was No.3 in those Charts. But,
there was also the 'New Musical Express' Chart. In their Chart, for 2nd January 1982, the
ABBA Single was a No.1 Hit. It was their 11th 'NME' No.1 Hit, as 'Chiquitita', was also a
No.1 Hit, in early 1979. (It was a No.2 Hit in the other 3 Charts). However, only the BMRB
Chart was 'Official', in 1981/1982, so 'One Of Us' cannot be credited as ABBA's 11th No.1
Single, & 'Chiquitita' cannot be credited as an ABBA No.1, for the same reason.
'THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL' FINALLY GETS A UK SALES AWARD
'The Winner Takes It All' was the UK's 18th Best Selling Single for 1980. I've been told that
it sold 545,000 to 565,000 UK copies, that Year. That was enough for a Gold Disk. At that
time a Gold UK Single was for 500,000+ Sales. (It is 400,000 now).
However, Epic Records forgot to apply to The B.P.I. for a Sales Award for it. So it never got
one. Not even a Silver Award, (250,000+ Sales).
However, The B.P.I. gave it a Silver Award on 13th April this Year.
The Award is nothing to do with its 1980 Sales.
It is for its UK Download Sales, since November 2004 - when The OCC began tracking UK Downloads.
These days, a Silver Award is for 200,000+ Sales, so it has sold over 200,000 Downloads - so far.
A Single can only be given a Download Sales Award, if it has not been given a UK Sales Award for
previous Decades Sales. That is why 'Dancing Queen' cannot have a UK Silver Award, even though
it had sold over 200,000 UK Downloads by 2016. It cannot have an Award, because the 1976 release
was given a UK Gold Sales Award, in the 1970's. (For 500,000+ UK Sales).
The only ABBA UK Top 5 Single to have Zero Sales Awards is 'Waterloo'. It went Silver, (250,000+), in
1974. Epic Records forgot to apply for the Award!!! (Even though they told 'Music Week' - at the time
- that it had gone Silver).
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Post by hejiranyc on May 2, 2018 17:02:39 GMT
They recorded last June and they are still not finished? Yikes. I dunno... to me, that is not a good omen of things to come. I mean, if they were unqualified stupendous pieces of work, they would have probably finished these songs and announced them a long time ago. Could it be that they listened back to the raw tracking footage and felt that they needed a lot of work? Or were they struggling to get the right sound, e.g., "Summer Night City," and they handed the tracks over to other producers to see if they could be salvaged? Were there multiple trial-and-error iterations of these tracks? Or even worse yet, did the vocals require a lot of digital post-production? A more tangible reference point for these new songs may be the sound of Agnetha's voice on her 2013 solo album, which sounds heavily, heavily autotuned and manipulated to sound, dare I say, "younger." What I dread is the idea that A&A's vocals would be digitally altered to sound like their younger selves. I want these new songs to capture everyone as they are today, even if there is a bum note or a raspy syllable here and there. Yes, the vintage ABBA sound was very polished and highly produced, but they were also very organic sounding.
Anyway, considering what is perhaps the longest dry spell in recorded music history, I look forward to anything from these people.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 17:18:54 GMT
As the Group have plowed a fortune into the Hologram/ABBATars Shows, they are relying on the
huge hype & fuss, about the 2 New Songs, to draw attention - and audiences - to those Shows.
As such, Benny & Bjorn will want the 2 New Songs to be as good & as impressive, as can be.
I think that it will be nerves that is causing them to spend so much time working on them.
ABBA stand to lose a huge amount of cash, if the ABBATar Shows are a flop.
Indeed, ABBA have so much to lose - if it all goes wrong - that I'm sure that the Group see the
2 New Songs as the most important Singles that they have ever worked on.
The work being put into them is not necessarily a sign that the Singles are 'weak' or 'awful',
or 'The ladies can no longer sing very well'.
We should try to be more optimistic - just like the Title of one of the Songs - 'I Still Have Faith In You'.
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Post by foreverfan on May 2, 2018 19:14:15 GMT
It was only a matter of time... "Its gonna bit terrible", " They are 1972 standard" " they should never have got back together" etc etc etc... the moaners, ok we are all entitled to our opinions, whether they are pessimistic or optimistic... But at the moment " we and %99.999999999 plus of the rest of the world no NOTHING....just a handful KNOW? so lets all all just sit back and wait before destroying anything before it's even begun.. optimism is a wonderful thing.  |
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Post by shoshin on May 2, 2018 22:15:58 GMT
...the sound of Agnetha's voice on her 2013 solo album, which sounds heavily, heavily autotuned... But Agnetha almost always did sound autotuned
I have been meaning to start a thread for her most autotuned-pre-autotune moments. The Angels Cry, for example. Or Sa Glad Som Dina Ögon.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2018 8:17:36 GMT
ABBA really cannot win, regarding the 2 New Songs. Some Fans want the Group to give us
a final Tour. But, ABBA were never a Touring Group. They were a Studio Group, who - very
rarely - went on Tour. They disliked Touring. They are certainly in no mood to Tour, at their
current ages. If they don't Tour, then some Fans will call them 'lazy'. If they were to Tour,
some Fans would say that they are: 'Far too old'. No matter what decision ABBA make, there
will be some ABBA Fans who do not agree with it.
Already, some Fans do not even want ABBA to release the 2 New Singles. Those Fans see it all
as a huge risk. That the Singles will not be very good. That they will both flop etc. The irony is
that those Fans want ABBA to just remain in the past - just like the people who dislike the Group.
Neither of those 2 types of people want ABBA to record again.
We should all just relax and see what happens in December. To predict, that it is all going to go
'wrong', before we even hear the New Singles, is silly and far too pessimistic. We have to move
away from such 'Doom and Gloom' thoughts.
If the 2 New ABBA Songs do well, (in the World's Charts), then I'm sure that the Group may well
go into the Studio to record an entire Album. (They need not even tell us about it until they have
finished recording it).
They'd use 'I Still Have Faith In You' & 'Don't Shut Me Down' as the basis for that Album.
Then they could either add 8 freshly written Songs. Or they could get Agnetha & Frida to record
'I Know Him So Well', 'Just Like That' & 'Story Of A Heart', and add 5 brand New Songs. We then
have a 10 Track New ABBA Album.
It could all be recorded by this time next Year.
To promote the New Album, they could just make Videos - using the ABBATars.
So, that is a far more optimistic idea for ABBA...
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Post by madonnabba on May 3, 2018 8:38:17 GMT
I am sure that the songs will be the quality we expect. And I would rather have Abba back in the studio with the prospect of new recordings than touring with none. They said in the past that touring kills creativity and that they would continue recording as long as it was fun. Seems like it’s fun again. Could be the compromise and the balance they need...recording at a more relaxed pace without having to adhere to schedules and travelling the world. Bjorn has hinted there could be more.
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Post by Michal on May 3, 2018 15:13:56 GMT
ABBA really cannot win, regarding the 2 New Songs. Some Fans want the Group to give us a final Tour. But, ABBA were never a Touring Group. They were a Studio Group, who - very rarely - went on Tour. They disliked Touring. They are certainly in no mood to Tour, at their current ages. If they don't Tour, then some Fans will call them 'lazy'. If they were to Tour, some Fans would say that they are: 'Far too old'. No matter what decision ABBA make, there will be some ABBA Fans who do not agree with it. Already, some Fans do not even want ABBA to release the 2 New Singles. Those Fans see it all as a huge risk. That the Singles will not be very good. That they will both flop etc. The irony is that those Fans want ABBA to just remain in the past - just like the people who dislike the Group. Neither of those 2 types of people want ABBA to record again. We should all just relax and see what happens in December. To predict, that it is all going to go 'wrong', before we even hear the New Singles, is silly and far too pessimistic. We have to move away from such 'Doom and Gloom' thoughts. If the 2 New ABBA Songs do well, (in the World's Charts), then I'm sure that the Group may well go into the Studio to record an entire Album. (They need not even tell us about it until they have finished recording it). They'd use 'I Still Have Faith In You' & 'Don't Shut Me Down' as the basis for that Album. Then they could either add 8 freshly written Songs. Or they could get Agnetha & Frida to record 'I Know Him So Well', 'Just Like That' & 'Story Of A Heart', and add 5 brand New Songs. We then have a 10 Track New ABBA Album. It could all be recorded by this time next Year. To promote the New Album, they could just make Videos - using the ABBATars. So, that is a far more optimistic idea for ABBA... My thoughts exactly. No need to worry what the songs will sound like and what success they will generate. Let's be thankful they actually want to do something together... |
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Post by Zeebee on May 3, 2018 16:58:49 GMT
5)... It is horrendously expensive, to create a Hologram, to sing even a 3 Minute Song. Some say, that those 3 Minutes cost about £73,000! If it all ends in disaster, ABBA can easily claw the cash back. All they need to do is to record 8 more New Songs, & release a proper Studio Album to the World. A sure fire way for huge ABBA success. (If they get Agnetha and Frida to sing 'I Know Him So Well' & 'Just Like That', they need only record 6 more New Songs & a New ABBA Album is ready)... They wouldn't have to get Agnetha and Frida to sing Just Like That. They completed recording it in 1982, so all they would have to do is release it. |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2018 17:53:08 GMT
Zeebee - It is my understanding that Benny & Bjorn were not happy with the finished ABBA recording of 'Just Like That'.
Therefore, if ABBA do decide to release it, they are very likely to re-record it. To see if they can get it to 'work' better, this
time around. So - if ABBA do release it, it will most probably be a 'Modern' version of it, & it may have big changes and/or
additions, to the 'Just Like That' from 1982.
If they do re-record it, I do hope that they steer well away from the Gemini treatment of it. I find Gemini's version of it to
to be too slow, very dull & not even close to how ABBA did it. After all, Gemini are long forgotten and just the recording of
2 New ABBA Songs, has World Media attention - in 2018.
iTUNES - If ABBA do record a 2019 Album, we will see how the Singles from it fare in the decline of the Download Era. It
looks like Global Charts will soon be relying on just Streaming & Air Play. It very much looks like Apple plan to close down
iTunes in early 2019. Possibly in January. It no longer makes them money, apparently. As a contrast, Artists make far more
cash from iTunes than they do from Streaming & they really want iTunes to stay open.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2018 20:09:51 GMT
The Global fuss about the 2 New ABBA Songs, has had a big effect on 'ABBA Gold'
'ABBA Gold' is currently Worldwide iTunes 8th Best Selling Album. Another Edition of it is at No.31.
It is the 6th European iTunes Best Seller. With another Edition at No.38.
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Post by madonnabba on May 4, 2018 5:24:13 GMT
I can see Fernando and Knowing me Knowing you adding to those figures after Mamma Mia 2 has been released.Could push KMKY over 900 000 and Fernando over 800 000. Bit of a tall ask but wouldn’t it be great for KMKY to push over and join the million club. That would give us two Abba songs with over a million sales in the UK.
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Post by gary on May 4, 2018 11:08:00 GMT
^
Both songs are ABBA at their very best, and are certainly worthy of being million sellers, particularly when you consider how many atrocious songs have been million sellers in the UK!
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Post by gary on May 4, 2018 11:11:49 GMT
Just my opinion, of course, but if we do get lucky and ABBA eventually release a new album, I think it’s likely that it would be all new songs. I doubt B&B would want to revisit songs they wrote over 30 years ago. But it would be an easy way of filling up an album!
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Post by wombat on May 4, 2018 17:46:23 GMT
So if we all stream that should help. Not sure why the album chart and physical sales should be different from the singles chart. Streaming seems to de value the number one title. Does this happen in the USA charts? I dont know. This is the only forum I read, where charts are even discussed. On every other music forum I read, its as if charts do not exist or have no relevance. Back in the day we had a radio show, Kasey Kasems Countdown, and I think he went by the Billboard 100 and a LOT of people listened to that and enjoyed it. Today? I have no idea. Everytime I even glance at the Billboard 100 I see tons of rap and hip hop and bunches of artists I've never heard of. So I dont really care if the new Abba songs make the USA or the UK charts. If I like them, great, I dont care what the mainstream music audience likes. |
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