ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2019

Looking at the first page of this thread (to remind me how long it’s been going on), the announcement was made on 27 April 2018, so that’s over 15 months ago.

It seems like they’re now saying it could be at least another 15 months, if not more, before these songs can be heard.

I’d like to think they regret announcing it when they did, and that it was a mistake. No one was expecting it, or dared hope for it, so any sensible PR campaign would have left it until much later in the day - say, when everything is definite and a date is all but guaranteed - before announcing anything. It’s unlikely that anyone involved would have leaked it (unless that was a real threat and the reason they unveiled their plans when they did), so it was an error of their own making.

As has been the case for so long, it seems like Björn and Benny aren’t in touch with the real world and how it works these days. I could forgive all of the above if Björn hadn’t teased the audience and fuelled rumours that there might be more than just two songs (and perhaps even a full album). Benny’s grumpy denial of that, and now his comments on a further delay, does make me wonder if he’s changing his mind altogether.

Songs not mixed yet? Why ever not? Is that just an excuse? What’s the hold-up there? Or is that so we think it’s not just the ABBA-tar things that’s postponing it? I’m not really bothered about the ABBA-tar things (it sounds a bit tacky, and if audio is just their old studio or live recordings we’ve already heard, it really isn’t much to get excited about). The new songs should be separate from that. Part of the show, yes, but not the main draw.

I don’t know what’s worse - grumpy, pessimistic Benny putting a downer on everything and trying to remove any excitement people have about this, or Björn doing the opposite and trolling the audience. And as ever, the female half of ABBA remain silent and (if history is anything to go by), having no real say in it.

Not sure if this reply will appear in the right place, but here goes....

I gather from the recent posts that the new songs have been delayed again...? I feel that this will now undermine the hoped-for impact of the new songs. As Alan suggests, they should have kept their gobs shut until everything was ready to go. Imagine what an exciting explosion that would be? At this stage, they are testing the patience of the die-hards, taking the gloss off an otherwise momentous occasion. I can't help feeling that the songs are more likely to attract harsher, more exacting judgement than they might have received following a rapid-fire announcement-and-release schedule.

If Benny really is still looking forward to a final mix, does this mean that it's another "Summer Night City" scenario where things are not sounding as he'd really like? I can't imagine he's adding up-to-the-minute trendy new sound affects to appear "current."

Do he and Bjorn somehow imagine that the new songs will be the key attraction of the ABBAtar tour? They won't! Fans would have attended anyway. A sizeable chunk of the audience will have been drawn in my the Mamma Mia franchise and the fashion for nostalgia-driven shows.

Are they reluctant to release the songs without videos? Is it internalised ageism? True, a video featuring ABBA as they are now will incite ageist, sexist conversation. Also publicity. If charts are not an issue, release the tracks now. Celebrate the MUSIC, not the problematic technological project. Are they really putting their own music in second place behind a potential cash cow?

I am ,also, fed up with the same excuse time after time. Why did they want to collaborate with Simon Fuller in the first place. I don't like the project involving ABBAtar puppets at all. It is a waste of time. Why not release the two new songs on a special compilation album when they are ready. Sometimes, I think that ABBA do not care for their fans at all and particularly Benny and Bjorn just want to make more money as if they haven't enough already. I cannot stand this " Mamma Mia " over exposure. My comments may be a little too harsh but it is the way I feel. A disappointed fan who is rapidly losing interest with the band.

Having just re-read Colin’s post with the translated Benny interview, I did miss this bit originally:

"We have to make a setlist, which songs will be included in the concerts. So they can be recorded with our double occupants. How long should the songs be? Are they the same versions, or any acoustic? It's a pretty fun job. I've been doing recycling for a long time now".

There’s a hint here that at least some songs might be acoustic? If it’s meant to be like a live show, I’m assuming vocals are extracted from the 1977/79/81 concert recordings, but the idea that they could have very different backing tracks is very slightly interesting! Perhaps there could be a soundtrack album containing these new versions along with the two new songs? I still wouldn’t be too fussed about seeing the show itself, but newer versions of familiar songs done by members of the group themselves might be worth a listen.

Well, I listened to the Wembley concert just yesterday, but for the time being, everything ABBA sounds a bit fishy though. It seems all nasty comments from the very past were proven right by ABBA/B&B these days.

Perspective, people. Of course the Abbatars and the new songs are linked. Did you think that the four of them were sitting in their separate summer cottages thinking about new song ideas and reforming ABBA just for fun and companionship? Of course not. I hate the idea of Abbatars as much as anyone, but thank Buddah that Simon Fuller is as persuasive as he is greedy and he convinced them that getting back together and recording new music was a good idea. ABBA could have very well left their legacy intact and they would have remained iconic enigmas forever. Instead, they risk flushing this legacy away with the Abbatars, so every note and pixel needs to be perfect. As frustrated as I am with the delays, I 100% understand why they are fretting over every fine detail. My theory is that they are basically finished with the technical aspects of the Abbatars show, but they realized that it just wasn't particularly entertaining or was lacking the oomph needed to keep dazzle a live audience. I wouldn't be surprised if they recorded new arrangements for some songs, hence, Benny's comment about "recycling." And if this is the case, this could be the foundation for a "new" ABBA album featuring these new Abbatar arrangements in addition to the two new songs.

We have no choice but to wait. We'll get the songs eventually. But, for me, the shine of excitement has dulled a little. Who knows - maybe they might feel the urge to create more new material in the meantime. I can;t see myself getting too excited this side of a definitive release date.

I think there's a danger of second-guessing here. It's all too easy to jump to conclusions. Yeah, I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't itching to hear the new songs but the fact that I can't doesn't make me seriously want to take pop shots at anyone or apportion blame. Who knows what's truly held this all back? Well, one thing's for sure...nothing we can do about it except remain patient and just crack on with our lives in the meantime. This doesn't change my love for the music or the group at all. That's not going to change after all this time. Yes, it's a downer but we never expected a lot of things over the last few years and we got them....Agnetha solo releases, Frida guest solo work...Benny's 'Piano', the Mamma Mia! malarkey for those into that.

Let's hope the best is yet to come. In fact, Agnetha and Frida aren't doing much. ...nothing to stop them collaborating on summat. They don't 'need' Benny and Björn. Or do they? Million dollar question.

   Yes, it would help if Benny & Bjorn ceased giving, 'Maybe', and 'Hopefully', and 'Could be' type, hints and
   'promises', regarding the New Songs. Indeed, it would even help matters, if they decided to never, ever
   release the New Songs, and told us so. Then, we would be unhappy, but at least we'd know that we are
   never going to hear them. Honesty is the best policy, I think. Stringing Fans along is really not very nice,
   and Benny & Bjorn know better, they really do...I've reached the stage now, where I'm so fed up of it all,
   that I would simply 'absorb' it, if we are told we can't have the New Songs. I'd rather that happen, than
   still further Months of semi promises and hints and hopes. It is all very silly indeed. How ABBA came to this,
   goodness knows, but they were a 'Hit Machine' in their big Years and now the Machine is rusty and falling
   apart...

   I doubt very much if Agnetha and Frida can be as big on their own as they are when Benny & Bjorn write
   for them. There is plenty of evidence for that. Frida has never even had a UK Top 40 Single after ABBA
   split up. Agnetha has never had a UK Top 10 Single after ABBA split up.

   Neither Woman has had a UK Top 5 Album after ABBA split up.

   Frida only had 1 Global Big Hit Single after ABBA - ' I Know There's Something Going On'. After that, most of
   the World lost interest in her Solo Career. I recall very well, some ABBA Fans boasting to me in 1984 etc.
   that they didn't care that ABBA were gone, as 'We've got Frida now'. Of course, it then all fell apart when
   the 'Shine' Album was no-where near as big a Hit as 'Something's Going On'. Apparently, Frida actually
   thought that she could be Europe's answer to Pat Benatar, and she realised that it was not going to happen
   when 'Shine' struggled to sell well...

   Agnetha did quite well with her 'Put Your Arms Around Me' Album, but each of the next 2 performed steadily 
   worse, except in Sweden. 'My Colouring Book' did well, but that was covers of old Hits, and anyone can make
   an Album in such an easy way. The Songs are already 'Road Tested' for you. You only need to be able to Sing, 
   to create such Albums. The 'A' Album did quite well, but after 3 or 4 listens, I could only hear several Songs 
   that were not as strong as the ones she recorded with ABBA. 

   Agnetha and Frida did not do as well as ABBA after 1981, because the 'Magic' with ABBA was mainly just not 
   there. Many, many Critics have pointed that out over the Years.

   I said it in 'The Manchester Evening News' in 1984, and I got a 'Death Threat' Letter, from a Male Agnetha Fan,
   from Yorkshire. Apparently, it was all my fault that Agnetha and Frida's 1982 & 1983 Solo Albums only reached 
   No.18 in the UK. If it wasn't for my criticism, they'd have been Top 10 Albums. So, I was ruining their Careers
   and I'd 'Better stop' or I'd have to die! It was quite ridiculous...

   Even Benny & Bjorn have struggled without Agnetha & Frida. 'Chess' was quite big, and 'One Night In Bangkok' 
   was huge Globally. 'I Know Him So Well', is their only UK Million Selling Song, besides 'Dancing Queen'. But, after
   'Chess', they spent Years focusing on 'Kristina', which was never, ever going to be a Broadway or West End Hit,
   despite how terrific it is. Everything else has been various 'Mamma Mia!' 'Projects' - using Old ABBA Hits, and
   truly feeble 'Plots' to shove them into. Hardly creative, to be honest.

   As a UK DJ said to me in 1986 - regarding all the Solo stuff - 'ABBA really were a force to be reckoned with as
   a Group, but separately, they show no-where near as much talent'...

   That was true in 1986 and it is true now...

   The World knows this. That is why there was far, far more Media interest, in the New ABBA Songs, than
   there ever was in 'Chess' and 'Something's Going On' and 'A'...

I’m not speaking on behalf of anyone here, however ^^^^ JJ, that is a vicious attack on someone who has the right as we all do , to have an opinion, whether we believe them right or wrong, there are ways of saying these things without coming across as hateful/personal.

Colin , for me has posted 100s of interesting facts, most I agree with but not all.. he’s just entitled to his opinion as anyone on here including you..
but there are ways of saying it...

Well, the new songs are inexorably tied to the Avatar project, as already mentioned - so, if any fan is disappointed, there is nothing to do but to sit back and wait some more. I'm sure B&B have only ever given an honest assessment to where they think they are in terms of release planning each time they make a statement; they must be asked the question every time they talk to the media about anything...

I'm pretty sure that the song quality is going to be worth the wait. Benny says they are 'quite good'. Let me translate that - it means they must be something really special. He knows they are sitting on a couple of absolute crackers.

As for chart success, it really doesn't bother me at all, as long as I like the songs personally. I don't follow the singles charts with much interest nowadays, because I just think of it as a 'song chart for teenagers'. I used to follow the singles charts avidly 40 years ago, but I've lived that life now. I don't think any chart success, or lack of, in 2019/2020/2021/2022 (delete as appropriate, in due course!) is going to affect ABBA's overall reputation greatly. That's my view, anyhow.

Totally agree with you, Colin, about ABBA and melodies. Rhythm and harmony - both vital components in so much music; but melody and quality of vocals matter most to me when it comes to popular music. You can have an engaging rhythm and the most beautiful chord sequence in the world, yet if they're not 'clothed' in resourceful/apt/attractive melodic ideas, I often soon lose interest. Not always, but I often do.

I so much hope - don't we all - to hear Agnetha and Frida sounding great as they sing on these two songs, and that these songs have really good TUNES!

JJ -- We all have different views about ABBA etc. We also have different ways to respond to the points of view of
other ABBA Fans. I really don't mind your Post, regarding me. Lots of people have disliked me over the Years, and
that is to be expected, as some people like us and some cannot abide us. So, your Post is quite OK.

In 2014 Bjorn set up a Company in Sweden. It is called The Pop House Group. Its only task is to: 'Promote The ABBA
Brand'. Anyhow, the President of Universal Sweden and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Nordic Region, is a Man
called Per Sundin. He has now left both of those Positions, and joined The Pop House Group, as its Chief Executive
Officer. His Job will be to 'Promote' ABBA. This looks promising, as why would he start the new Job on 1st September,
unless there are lots of New ABBA Plans to be Promoted?

He will still retain a Position in Universal Nordic Region, which covers a larger area than Scandinavia - Sweden,
Norway, Denmark, Finland, Greenland and The Faroe Islands. He will also report back to the CEO & President of
Universal Central Europe, Frank Briegmann.

Mr. Briegmann says:

Frank Briegmann, CEO & President of Universal Music Central Europe and Deutsche Grammophon: “I have had a very close, trusting and
successful working relationship with Per for many years now and I am thrilled that we will continue to collaborate with one another
under this new arrangement.

“ABBA’s wonderful, timeless body of work offers huge potential for generations to come, and I am looking forward to working with Per to
provide fans with even more absorbing experiences and provide the artists with more traction around the world.”

Pop House Sweden’s launches so far have included the Pop House Hotel and the dinner show Mamma Mia! – The Party. It’s also been behind the
opening of ABBA: The Museum and the Cirkus concert venue, both in Stockholm.

Colin again -- So ABBA obviously do have 'Set' Plans for the near future, or they would not have hired Per Sundin to Promote them...