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Post by gamleman on May 26, 2020 14:45:35 GMT
This is my first proper post and I thought it would be fun to ponder the following scenario...
There has been a lot of talk about ABBA's two new songs, or perhaps three songs, or perhaps a whole album. I have my doubts that they will come up with 10-12 new songs for an entire album, but it struck me that they could have produced a new ABBA album in which they visit some of B&B's best compositions from the post-ABBA period - songs which could well have been ABBA songs. The idea is that they would record ABBA versions of these songs and I think it would have been a nice way to bridge the gap between 1982 and the present day - a new ABBA album without being totally new. If they were to do this, which songs should be included?
Here are my initial ideas, assuming these would supplement two or three brand-new songs:
I KNOW HIM SO WELL (Chess) - I imagine a lot of people would like to hear Agnetha and Frida sing this song
NOBODY'S SIDE (Chess) - Probably the most ABBA-esque song from Chess, but who would sing lead-vocal? Probably Agnetha
HEAVEN HELP MY HEART (Chess) - Definitely one for Agnetha
SLOWLY (Frida & Gemini) - I would love to hear Agnetha's voice shadow Frida's on this song
JUST LIKE THAT (ABBA & Gemini) - They would absolutely have to finish this song, in the original ABBA version
ANOTHER YOU, ANOTHER ME (Gemini) - Probably one for Frida
YOU HAVE TO BE THERE (Kristina) - Definitely one for Frida
STORY OF A HEART (BAO) - One of B&B's best post-ABBA compositions. Probably one for Agnetha
Such an album would give these songs the attention they deserve. To casual ABBA fans, many of these songs would actually be new to them. And I think that an ABBA version of "I Know Him So Well" would be headline news in itself.
I've probably missed some obvious songs. Any other ideas?
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Post by Michal on May 26, 2020 17:19:09 GMT
I don't think it is a good idea to ressurect old solo stuff and record it as ABBA. However, I've always thought Agnetha and Frida could have done a collection of covers together, including some of the songs written by Björn and Benny for other artists. I Know Him So Well is an obvious choice. Other songs that come to my mind are Ett Herrans Underverk, Another You Another Me, Slowly and maybe some of the songs written for Josefin Nilsson (e.g. Heaven And Hell?)
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Post by gamleman on May 27, 2020 9:03:32 GMT
I know such an album concept would be back-tracking, but I would love to hear ABBA versions of the above songs - it's as if some of these songs were written with ABBA in mind. I don't really see it as the re-recording of solo tracks (apart from Frida's "Slowly") as many of the songs are from B&B projects with guest performers.
I would have liked an 'Agnetha & Frida' album too and I think they did talk about it, didn't they? However, if they had recorded mainly B&B songs on that album, I think the world would have perceived it as an unofficial ABBA album and I don't think Benny and Bjorn would have approved of that.
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Post by gazman on May 27, 2020 9:46:30 GMT
None. Any further new ABBA recordings ought to be ABBA originals.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2020 12:23:02 GMT
I think quite a few you have mentioned could have been re-worked and re-recorded. If only Agnetha and Frida had recorded " I Know Him So Well " during the mid eighties I am sure it would have brought ABBA back into the limelight. Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson's version was good and they enjoyed immense success chartwise with the song. If ABBA had recorded the track it would have been a huge hit for them too and can you imagine the joint lead vocals from Agnetha and Frida. Definitely would send shivers down my spine as they are such talented singers and story-tellers. The vocals are so distinct and very clear and I commend them as English is not their native tongue. The Nordic accents add another dimension. They are so appealing. Benny and Bjorn are great song writers and producers with an accomplished attention to detail. It is a pity that Frida and Agnetha didn't record an album together.
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Post by stepalm on May 27, 2020 17:20:01 GMT
Actually ABBA did perform a version of I know him so well on the 1977 tour since the Chorus of I know him so well is from the sont I am an A wich ABBA only made live and it was kind of a presentation song of the four of them. I still would have liked a studio version of it since it would have been som much stronger in a studio version.
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Post by jj on May 28, 2020 8:09:35 GMT
I want all new material.
Having said that, I do hope that in one or two of the new songs, there'll be a short allusion, either musically (melodically) or maybe lyric-wise, to one (or maybe even a few) of their past, massive or iconic hits. It'd be a nice post-modern touch, and a clever nod to their own history. Madonna did it in her song "Deeper and Deeper", when she added, near the end of that song, "You gotta just let your body move to the music/You gotta just let your body go with the flow", which is a tiny segment of the chorus of her massive previous hit "Vogue", incorporated here into a newer song ("Deeper and Deeper"). It's like inserting a fun/cheeky message, a wink to her fans saying "I know you remember this and isn't it great that I'm still around and can aknowledge and celebrate my past success in a new song?"
I know The Beatles also referenced their old, simplistic, first huge hit "She Loves You" in the coda of their much later and more complex hit "All You need is Love" by singing "She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah" repeatedly as the (new) song fades out.
I'd love it if ABBA did the same. Even if, for example, (and this is just one idea I have), ABBA's little post-modern touch was in the form of ending one of their new songs with a very short burst of the signature "hoot-hoot" synth from "the Day Before You Came" (slightly changing the octave/pitch of it to stay in tune with the new song, of course) to end one of their new songs. That familiar "hoot-hoot" coming like a full stop right at the end of one of the new songs would be like ABBA giving a wink and a nod to their own, most die-hard and loyal set of fans. It would also carry all sorts of other meanings and messages, such as "an element of the last song we ever recorded is incorporated into this new song which is finally here for you 38 years later".
There are tons of post-modern ideas they could choose from like that to self-reference something from their past. It'd be fun, and it could also prove quite moving, too.
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Post by gamleman on May 28, 2020 8:12:49 GMT
Actually ABBA did perform a version of I know him so well on the 1977 tour since the Chorus of I know him so well is from the sont I am an A wich ABBA only made live and it was kind of a presentation song of the four of them. I still would have liked a studio version of it since it would have been som much stronger in a studio version. I didn't realise that. It's a long time since I've heard "I Am An A" but going back to it now, I note that there is a line which is melodically reminiscent of one in IKHSW. I'm wondering whether this line was re-used consciously or the similarity is just coincidental. |
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Post by gamleman on May 28, 2020 8:24:44 GMT
I think we would all like an album of brand-new material, provided that it is up to the usual standard, but I'd be surprised if we get that. My idea of ABBA re-visiting key B&B songs was hypothetical and just for fun. I like jj's idea of including a nod to TDBYC in one of the new songs. |
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Post by madonnabba on May 30, 2020 7:13:00 GMT
Would rather have fresh new songs but I can think of three ...I know him so well, Anthem and Story of a heart. Tim Rice would have to agree to the first 2 I think.
Slowly... really not sure about this song. I had high expectations for the song at the time and found it rather boring. It just didn’t have that Abba sparkle. Very much 80s. Most of the songs from the 80s solo albums have not dated well . The only track that still sounds fresh is IKTSGO.
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Post by gamleman on May 30, 2020 9:05:33 GMT
Would rather have fresh new songs but I can think of three ...I know him so well, Anthem and Story of a heart. Tim Rice would have to agree to the first 2 I think. Slowly... really not sure about this song. I had high expectations for the song at the time and found it rather boring. It just didn’t have that Abba sparkle. Very much 80s. Most of the songs from the 80s solo albums have not dated well . The only track that still sounds fresh is IKTSGO. I love "Slowly" but prefer Frida's version to Gemini's. Even though Frida's version was produced by Steve Lillywhite, it does retain elements of the ABBA sound in a low-key way. I think IKTSGO was probably the best track from Frida's English-language solo career and was amazed that it wasn't a big hit in the UK. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2020 19:22:13 GMT
English lyrics on ”En dag i sänder” from BAO should fit nicely in my opinion
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