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Post by richard on Jun 7, 2019 16:18:33 GMT
It's the conventional wisdom, I suppose, to say that, attractive and charming and good singers though Frida and Agnetha were, Benny and Bjorn were the two who really mattered when it came to the music. I disagree. Although I like many of the songs - though some less than I used to -one thing that has remained a constant in my appreciation and enjoyment of ABBA is the singing, especially together, of Agnetha and Frida.
Here's a quote that sums up my feelings:
The girls' casual unison read-through of the incomplete Hamlet III was enough to send shivers up the spine. At their least rehearsed and most exposed, the blending of the two voices is magical. With no technical interference by Benny and Bjorn, this is true testament to a one-off vocal phenomenon
- Christopher Patrick, ABBA: Let the Music Speak
Is there any one thing that appeals to you most about ABBA, or is it the whole package, so to speak?
Richard
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Post by josef on Jun 7, 2019 20:07:04 GMT
Well, it's the whole package of course but naturally there are some things that have always captured my love and attention more than others. I guess it would be "the girls". I've always adored Agnetha and Frida- from the first time I heard/saw them. They are part of my DNA now! 😆 But seriously, their ability as SINGERS, the unmistakable way they interpreted and imparted emotion into ABBA's songs has aways been numero uno for me. It helps that they were/are beautiful. It's not that I don't appreciate Benny and Bjorn- in fact, I consider them both to be geniuses and Benny is something else - his 'Piano' album is sublime- but Agnetha and Frida were the main focus of the group for me.
To summarise.... I guess I concur!
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Post by victor1978100 on Jul 13, 2021 18:20:41 GMT
My response will be too short: because I love music.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2021 7:27:36 GMT
Richard - "one thing that has remained a constant in my appreciation and enjoyment of ABBA is the singing, especially together, of Agnetha and Frida".
- Christopher Patrick, ABBA: Let the Music Speak
"The girls' casual unison read-through of the incomplete Hamlet III was enough to send shivers up the spine. At their least rehearsed and most exposed, the blending of the two voices is magical. With no technical interference by Benny and Bjorn, this is true testament to a one-off vocal phenomenon".
I agree with you Richard and with Christopher Patrick, I adore Hamlet III. And now hearing Agnetha and Frida again in the new songs with the chemistry still intact is an absolute joy. Whenever I hear someone else sing an ABBA song I just don't connect with it in the same way, even though most are great songs! Maybe I am just more emotionally invested in Agnetha and Frida!? Once you've heard them everything else seems ordinary to me. If I listen to Cher's covers for instance, I totally appreciate her talent I really do, and I love Cher, but I miss that vocal magic that only happens when Agnetha and Frida are together. It always dismays me when there is a list of Top 100 vocalists and Agnetha and Frida usually place below top 50 - unbelievable! Especially when a lot of those singers above them are auto tuned anyway!
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Post by richard on Sept 29, 2021 11:39:32 GMT
Totally agree. Agnetha and Frida's singing on ABBA recordings still has the power to delight and enthrall me after all this time!
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Post by foreverfan on Sept 29, 2021 16:02:49 GMT
After all these years at least 45 !! I have a funny feeling on a very basic level its genetic !!! ( I wonder if a thesis has been done on it ).
From the very beginning of my like for music, I've gone for dare i say Middle Of The Road/Easy Listening music.. so to name a few.. Abba ( of course ) Boney M, Bucks Fizz, The Dooleys, Steps.. etc etc they all have a theme really... I rarely stray....Texas, Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Barbara Striesand, etc , even then you could say there's a thread, they are not a million miles removed. Even Eurovision has drawn me, and still does....
So a combination of melody, beat, lyrics, all the normal stuff really but mix together and you've got me...
Its not to say I don't like other types of music and can appreciate, but not a lot in my collection. Really dont get Jazz , Heavy metal, Rap, hip hop.. etc , a lot of Today's music I find Bland easily forgotten there's the occasional track but very rare... Will we be singing them in 40 years time ?
So alas not a simple answer, but Genetic, seems to work, not really influenced by parents, 50s stuff, big melodies I guess ?
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