My Current ABBA Top 40

I wonder if a forum such as this has much of a future. Bjorn and Benny have said that Voyage is it. Going by their past remarks, it's tempting to think that they don't really mean it and that we'll get something more. But their ages - and ours; and younger fans' continued interest - is against it, I think.

By the way guys, are your current placings of songs still current, even after a few days? And do those placings mean you simply prefer them or think them musically/lyrically/arrangement-wise superior to those not on your list? I ask because, for example, I think I prefer listening to Dum Dum Diddle to Money Money Money,even  though, all round, I regard MMM as a better song on Arrival. It's amazing really how diverse our preferences can be even when it comes to ABBA; for example, my favouite ABBA track, The Visitors, doesn't even make Gary's list!

None taken, Gary 

I think the demise of the forum (I mean the general media entity, not this one specifically) might have slowed a bit. Social media has destroyed many, but now things seem to be shifting again. Facebook has fallen out of favour with many. Instagram has turned itself into an absolute mess and TikTok seems to be so youth-oriented that codgers like me have neither a clue nor an apparent welcome. Twitter occupies some strange space where a battle between good and evil rages alongside cat videos, Russian bots, radicalised soccer moms and K-pop hysteria. Try discussing your personal Top 40 in 128 characters or less. So as long as there remains some impetus to actually get into a chat, these forums might still have a weak pulse. Of course, given my track record with predictions, we could easily be in our local coffee shops this time next week, lecturing innocent bystanders about the merits of Happy Hawaii and why I Am Just A Girl is the most probable cause of conflict in the Middle East.

The Voyage album ignited a decent amount of discussion here but not as big an uptick in new membership as I expected. I think the shows may well grow a new fanbase - certainly a better-focused one than the Mamma Mia franchise created. It might bring a trickle of visitors over time but I wonder if they'd have the patience for some of the nitpicking and "well actually..." that arises from long-term fandom. And I mean that in a positive sense: we sometimes get stuck into the details of a discussion that no civilian or spouse would be expected to tolerate. It's a support group for anoraks like me. 
 

Yeah, I think the quiet periods will be increasingly regular features. The 30th anniversary of Gold may generate a tiny bit of chat. The overdue releases for The Visitors might generate a bit more. After that, I think it'll be stuff like Voyage setlist changes. The lead-up to the 50th anniversary of Eurovision might be interesting. I can't imagine that there won't be some commemorative re-issues and a compilation.

Prior to summer 2021, we did pretty well to find stuff to discuss about a retired group and a decades-old back catalogue.

I'm quite certain that 2024 will be a busy year for ABBA fans. The 40th anniversary of Waterloo back in 2014 was very interesting - Waterloo Deluxe, The Official Photo Book, Live at Wembley Arena, the vinyl singles box, Chess Deluxe... have I forgotten anything? So I can't imagine they would not make the most of the 50th anniversary. But after that? Who knows. Unless Benny and Björn finally relent and give their blessing to releasing something from the vaults now and then, it will be over. I'm sure they will find a way to re-release the whole back catalogue again but how many times yet it can be done?

Apart from Voyage, has there been much to say about ABBA that hasn't been said before on previous forums from years ago? Of course, that's not a reason to stop discussing the group - any more than avoiding talking about the weather with a friend, or refusing to prepare a meal that includes potatoes yet again! But maybe a few who might otherwise post are reluctant to do so for fear of repeating others' views that they may remember reading elsewhere before. It's a difficult one if, like me, you're not into discussing the wrinkles and niceties of yet another release of old tracks, for example. But I really like reading about others' responses to ABBA's songs, positive or not.

Well done, never a easy task and there were always going to be surprises, and yours is no different, your number 2 will surprise most.
There's never a correct " list" just what we prefer at a given moment in time... so thanks for posting...

I noticed that I started this just over a year ago, so for fun I'll try and post my current top 10/20 and see if much has changed, a little shuffle here and there I expect but who knows there may be a surprise.... later....

I haven't done one of these things in such a long time. Utterly unscientific, completely subjective, entirely subject to revision (but that top 3 has been pretty much unassailable for decades). The biggest surprise for me is the high placings for the Voyage songs - that might change in another year. My iTunes play stats suggest that I'm still very fond of the album. I can't remember much about my original "chart" but I think that LAYLOM, Angeleyes and HOH have climbed a few spots. It feels like sacred cows such as DQ and TWTIA should be higher, but I honestly find myself skipping them on occasion. They're probably victims of being overplayed. Still love them, though.

Edit: just noticed that I've overlooked SOS. Not sure what I'd swap out in its favour... [ponders]   Adios, WIKTT.

Edit No. 2 - wake up, Tony, where is SNC? I squoze it in between NDAI and OTF. Adios DWTMSGO

40 – My love, my life
39 – He is your brother
38 – Ring, ring
37 – S.O.S.
36 – Money, money, money
35 – Elaine
34 – Lovelight
33 – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! ( A man after midnight)
32 – Gonna sing you my lovesong
31 – I’ve been waiting for you
30 – I wonder (departure)
29 – Head over heels
28 – Super trouper
27 – Chiquitita
26 – Take a chance on me
25 – The winner takes it all
24 – Me and I
23 – Our last summer
22 – Dancing queen
21 – The king has lost his crown
20 – Hey, hey, Helen
19 – Lovers (live a little longer)
18 – I’m a marionette
17 – One man, one woman
16 – Voulez-vous
15 – The name of the game
14 – Should I laugh or cry?
13 – Ode to freedom
12 – Summer Night City
11 – No doubt about it
10 – Don’t shut me down
9 – When all is said and done
8 – Angeleyes
7 – Knowing me, knowing you
6 – Lay all your love on me
5 – I still have faith in you
4 – If it wasn’t for the nights
3 – Like an angel passing through my room
2 – The day before you came
1 – The visitors

In complete agreement about GSYMLS. It's an oasis of elegance in those garish early days. I've always thought it was like a Dusty Springfield song - Breakfast In Bed, maybe, or Just A Little Loving. I love how Frida has stripped all of the vibrato from her voice and made the performance so vulnerable.

I do remember it being mentioned in an interview with the lead singer of an edgy early noughties band. Can't remember who now, but it was his favourite ABBA song. Imagine what a lovely curveball it would make on the Voyage setlist?!

Foreverfan well you certainly do like the uptempo tracks.

Big moves up for Money Money Money and Angeleyes. I didn't have you dowm for the TikTok audience 😃