ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2019

I'm a Marionette is good, Edmund...and it also ties in neatly with the song.

I have a friend I talk to who is a big Eurovision and ABBA fan, leaning more towards Agnetha. His favourite songs by her are ones like Eyes of a Woman, The Heat is On and Maybe It Was Magic. He's not as full-on a fan as me, though, and I appreciate I have a bias. Anyway, we had a long chat last night and I said my fear was if ABBA used autotune on the new songs. I really hate it, it's so overused and irritating. It really is a pet hate. It's used a hell of a lot in a lot of RnB and it makes what might possibly be a passable song unlistenable for me. I truly despise it. He reckons ABBA will indeed use it, that Agnetha has lost her voice and so on. I was shocked at this. I'm very open minded and of course I listened and respect his views but I said she has always been more at home in the studio and just because they're all older doesn't mean they can't carry a tune. I'm sure the songs will be arranged to take this into consideration. Of course Agnetha (and Frida) can't reach the giddy heights of their youth, no one expects that, but with maturity comes depth and so much more that can be used to interpret a lyric.

I'm dreading his opinion when the songs are released - he doesn't hold back!

I do like 'A', Edmund but I must admit I don't play it very often. Occasionally, the odd song from it will pop up on my phone. But it's My Colouring Book that has my heart. I love it to death. I know it's covers, but Agnetha made them her own and her voice is incredible on it- especially the title track where she really soars. If there's one I'm not so keen on, it might be Sometimes When I'm Dreaming. Not sure why- it just doesn't grab me.

Anyway, I digress. Let's hope Björn is as good as his word.

So it’s 2020 now... so we could be saying the same in 16 months time.. at least we will have something to keep on talking about..lol

^Björn says: "Next year you will see the avatars in the form of video and it will have to do with the new songs."

Bjorn and Benny are finding that every Interview that they now give, has them being asked about the New ABBA Songs.

This may be a downer to both Guys, as Bjorn wants to promote 'Mamma Mia! - The Party', and Benny wants to promote
his 'Projects' with BAO, and perhaps a 2nd 'Piano' Album.

 However, like the Media, I'd say that most ABBA Fans are more interested in the New ABBA Songs, than Benny & Bjorn's
 other 'Projects'. I'm sure that most Fans would rather have a New ABBA Album than 'Piano 2' etc. The other 'Projects
 just don't excite the Fans, or the Media, anywhere near as much. 

 In the meantime, 'ABBA Gold' may well reach another 'All Time UK Chart Record' soon. It only has a few Weeks to go.
 So, I'm looking forward to pointing it out to the Official UK Charts Company. They are interested in ABBA, which is why
 they did a big 'Feature' on 'ABBA Gold', becoming the 1st 900 Weeks Album, in the Top 100, a few Weeks ago...

 

Thank you Josef, I’m easily pleased..you know me so well...lol

I know many don’t really like Matt Pop Mix, all very similar , heavy back beat etc, you know I’m going to disagree..lol
I just thought , through the lack of anything new from ABBA for years now , that he was presenting an “ alternative” , some really work well,  like One Man One Woman, adorable , with hints of I’ve Been Waiting For You towards the end, magical  and some , well not really worth listening to.. 
As for this one, it was always meant to be a little tongue in cheek and it is, if it makes you smile, it can’t be all wrong, we need smiles in this world of ours..

thanks for posting it, it’s been a little while since I’ve been bopping around the kitchen to a new Matt Mix.. 😂 

I trust the guys in their judgement about when the songs will ready for release . They are perfectionists. But I am secretly hoping they are going to release Opus 10. New songs though.

To be brutally honest, I do not think this project with the "ABBAtars" is going to work. Why not scrap the idea and release the songs instead.

I think I’ll reserve judgment. If the songs “performed” have been altered in some way and therefore not just the studio or 1979 live versions, then it might be worth a look. I imagine it will tour at some point - as Josef says, we don’t all live in London and it’s even further for fans in other countries. As it’s not actually ABBA, I’d be happy with a live showing in cinemas or something.

Did I read in this topic that the tars might be based on how ABBA looked in 1978? That seems an odd choice as they didn’t do a great deal that year. And worse, Frida was having perms again. In another topic, the general consensus seems to be that ABBA looked their best in 1977, so that would have been a good starting point.

ABBA Tars - This constantly reminds me of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and the classic line “Are you telling me that this is an ABBA Turd?!” - I’m guessing they didn’t think of that when they came up with this stupid name for it.

  Regarding 'The ABBAtars - I have read the views of ABBA Fans, from many Sites and Sources. I only see a tiny 
 minority of Fans who are excited about The ABBAtars. Most Fans are annoyed that we cannot have the New ABBA
 Songs until The ABBAtars are 'ready'. (If they ever are ready).

 Most Fans would rather just have the New Songs, with the biggest 'Wish' of all being an entire New ABBA Album.

  A lot of the impatience - of many Fans - is due to the constant delays as to when we can have the New ABBA Songs.

 It really has been very poorly managed and organised. They record 2 New Songs in June 2017. They tell us about 
them in April 2018. Also going on about a Global 2 Hour 'ABBA TV Special', which will 'Showcase' The ABBAtars 'singing'
 'I Still Have Faith In You'. All that was to happen in December 2018. Then it was all delayed until 'Early 2019'. Then
there were a few Media rumours about an entire New ABBA Album. But, Benny said that they were wrong and there
 would only be 2 - maybe 3 - New Songs. Then the release of at least 1 New Song became 'June or July'. Then it
became November 2019. Now it is 'Probably' in 2020 for the New Songs and 'Probably' 2021 for The ABBAtars. 
That was from ABBA's Spokeswoman, Gorel Hanser. Then Bjorn said that we should get at least 1 New Song in 2020,
with a Promo Video of The ABBAtars 'performing' it. (Miming to the Real ABBA vocals). Benny says that the 2 New 
Songs are still not 'Mixed' properly - even though ABBA recorded them over 2 Years ago. He also says that The 
ABBAtars may not go ahead, in the end...

 So, that is where we are at the start of September 2019. Bear in mind that The ABBAtars don't need to 'perform' on
Stage, or Tour at all. If the 'Project' is scrapped, then it does not mean that they cannot be used in ABBA Promo Videos
- to Promote any New Songs that ABBA release. Hopefully, by now, ABBA Fans have got the message - ABBA have Zero
intentions of performing in the Videos for the New Songs. Nor have they any desire to do a Tour, a Concert, or sing on
TV. It is not going to happen. The most that we can expect is to see Promo Videos with The ABBAtars 'singing' New ABBA
Songs. I think that ABBA have more than made that very clear. Some Fans still cling to fantasies, where ABBA as they
are in 2019. 2020, or 2021, etc. are going to give us all a big Concert. It is a false dream...

 All of the uncertainty and impatience has been caused by ABBA telling 'The World' about the 2 New Songs, before most of their
plans were ready. I've never known ABBA to seem so uncertain of what to do. They can't blame those Fans who have become
 frustrated by it all. Outside of them using The ABBAtars in Promo Videos, I see no use for them at all. I have a very bad feeling
about it all. Try as I might, I cannot see The ABBAtars being a success. Why ABBA went along that 'Road'. I really do not know.
I truly hope that it is a success. (If it ever gets off the ground, that is).

So no Christmas single...

That Dan should be shot! So many lies going around it’s hard to believe anything at the moment, as I guess it’s that Dans article again in the Sun.. how can you now trust him... mind you the Sun is such a reliable paper anyhow !!! Not...

I heard that about Charlie, @edmfio76.  Not directly but someone on a previous forum mentioned it once.  It didn’t really matter though, as the ABBA Magazine was an official publication fed by Polar.  It just needed someone to piece it all together each month, and presumably Charlie Bates had some experience and it was the sort of job he wanted.  I don’t think he was there from the start but certainly ABBA were still big when he took it over, and he was hardly going to refuse such a gig!  And give him his dues, he stayed right until the end.  He played the part well though. What was telling is that everything came from Polar, there was no input from CBS in the UK.  A UK fan as an editor might have explored that avenue.

Perhaps what Dan Wootton was trying to do was almost shame ABBA into doing an album. The media still has a lot of influence and doubtless things have happened in the past because of the media stirring up interest.  He obviously bit off more than he could chew.  I genuinely think Björn may have been open to the idea but grumpy old Benny put the kibosh on it.

^^^^not even a hint of anything more.. ...

 

   Gazman -- Graham Norton is 100% certain to ask Bjorn about New ABBA Music, during his Radio 2 Interview, on Saturday.

   Some ABBA Fans think that it is rather 'unfair', for Benny & Bjorn to get asked about the New ABBA Songs, during every
   Interview. Even if the Interview is mainly supposed to be about The ABBAtars, or some aspect of 'Mamma Mia!'. I don't
   think that it is unfair at all. The Global Media were far, far more interested in the New ABBA Songs 'News', than they 
   ever were about: 'Chess', 'Mamma Mia!', 'My Colouring Book', 'A', or 'Piano'. It was the biggest Media interest in ABBA
   for Decades. The Media will be surprised, that absolutely Zero happened to back up the '2 New Songs' announcement.

   I know that the Staff, at The Official UK Charts Company, are baffled, as to why nothing seemed to come from it all.
   They've told me so in Emails. They have also said, that it does not look very good, for ABBA's reputation. They are
   right...I've given up trying to keep them 'Updated', as all I am able to do, is to inform them about the latest 'Delays'.
   I worry, that simply reporting 'Delay after Delay', to them, will make them think that I'm playing a 'Game' with them!
   So, I try not to 'Update' them too often! I don't want them to see me as a 'Pest', or as a 'Nut Case'! (I've seen some
   ABBA Fans, accusing ABBA, of 'Playing Games' with us, due to all the 'Delays', of the New Songs. It is to be expected).

   After the April 2018 'Media Frenzy', we have just had endless 'Delay Dates'. It is no wonder that in every Interview
   Benny & Bjorn are asked, 'When?'. regarding the New ABBA Songs. There is also much curiosity, as to how many Songs
   there may be. As well as what they sound like and if we are to get an entire Album. It is obvious that these matters
   will be raised, in every ABBA Interview, from now on. The only way it will stop, is when the New ABBA Music is actually
   released. Be it 2 Songs, 3, 4, or even an Album. That is a 100% inevitable Fact...
    

If this situation was taking place ten years ago, it would be massively frustrating.
But with it happening now, it's heartbreaking too.
The group are well into their 70s. My parents' age. Scarcely a month goes by without my parents attending another funeral, or hearing of another friend being diagnosed with cancer.
It's amazing that Abba have got back together and actually written and recorded new songs. But, at this time of their lives, there really needs to be a sense of urgency. Ditch the whole ill-advised avatar thing if that's the spanner in the works. The new songs really are the only thing that truly matters.
Release them as an absolute priority - it is more than likely that the reception will be extremely positive, and then give us a new album before it's too late.