ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2020

I'm no fan of the "Mamma Mia" movies - I have the CDs but was only interested in them to see what Benny had done with the songs. I never play them, as why would I want to hear actors sing ABBA songs badly when I can listen to ABBA. However, my feeling is that without the MM stage-musical and movies, there wouldn't have been the same level of public interest in ABBA as they have enjoyed in the 21st century. And dare I say there perhaps (even probably) wouldn't have been any new songs. I also feel that a third MM movie is going too far - for a start, I can't imagine which songs they would pick, as they've almost exhausted ABBA's most famous songs. It reminds me of 2014 when they released a special 3-CD set of "Gold" with the third CD containing B-sides, which made rather a mediocre compilation.

I only hope that B&B's new songs are of the same calibre as "Story Of A Heart" (BAO) and not "2nd Best To None" (The Rivals). Has there been any speculation as to the nature of the songs? I know one is supposed to be a timeless ABBA song while another is supposed to be more modern. I imagine "I Still Have Faith In You" is the former - the title puts me in mind of "The Way Old Friends Do", although I hope it's a bit more spectacular. I can't say that the title "Don't Shut Me Down" inspires confidence but I imagine it is planned as the finale of the ABBAtars show.

  1)... Like many other ABBA Fans, I'm not a great Fan, of the 'Mamma Mia!' Films. However, they do serve 
  a useful purpose, in that they Promote ABBA. 

  2)... In the UK, the 1st 'Mamma Mia!' Film caused 'ABBA Gold' to return to the Top 10 for 9 more Weeks.
  2 of them were at the No.1 Position. This raised its UK Top 10 Weeks, from 49 to 58. It was its 5th time 
  at No.1 and its 7th & 8th Weeks at No.1. The 1st Film also caused '18 Hits' to reach No.15. That 2006
  ABBA Compilation had not been higher than No.46, (2007), until then.

  3)... The 2nd Film, did not have the same impact, on ABBA, but it did cause 'Gold' to re-enter the Top 10, for
  3 further Weeks, bringing its Top 10 Total to 61 Weeks. 'Gold' Peaked at No.6, due to that 2nd Film, in 2018.

  4)... A 3rd 'Mamma Mia!' Film, should see 'Gold' re-enter the UK Top 10 yet again. I know, that a lot of ABBA Fans, 
  are not keen on 'Chart Facts & Feats'. However, 'ABBA Gold' is not far off 2 interesting UK Chart Feats. Its 61 Top 10
  Weeks, are only 2 Weeks, from beating all of The Beatles Albums Top 10 Weeks. 'Please Please Me' is their Album,
  with the most UK Top 10 Weeks. It has 62 of them. Also, 'Gold' is only 4 Top 10 Weeks, from becoming the Album,
  with the most Top 10 Weeks, by a Male/Female Act. At present, that Feat is claimed by 'The Singles 1969-1973' by
  The Carpenters. That has 64 UK Top 10 Weeks. That Carpenters Compilation, has held that UK Chart Record, since
  W/E 6th September 1975 - 2 Weeks before 'SOS' entered the UK Singles Chart!...

  5)... Regarding the ABBA Songs, that could be used, for a 3rd 'Mamma Mia!' Film. I know, that a lot of Fans, say that
  nearly all of ABBA's 'Most Famous' Songs, were used in Films 1 and 2. However, that is of no consequence. The Films
  are mainly seen by People, who have very little idea, of how many Songs ABBA Recorded. It's those People, who would
  be hearing ABBA's less well known Songs, for the 1st time. I've noticed, that such People, tend to like less well known
  ABBA  Songs, when they hear them in the 'Mamma Mia!' Films. Millions of People, liked 'When I Kissed The Teacher',
  'Our Last Summer', 'When All Is Said & Done', 'Kisses Of Fire', 'Slipping Through My Fingers' - Plus: 'My Love My Life',
   'I've Been Waiting For You', 'Andante Andante' and 'Why Did It Have To Be Me?', when they 1st heard them, in Films
   1 & 2. So, it does not matter, if more less well known ABBA Songs are used in Film 3. (If it is ever made!).

  6)... I do not understand the idea, that People, have to already know, the Songs in 'Mamma Mia!', if the Films are to work.
  It makes no sense to me. How many People, do you think knew the Songs, in 'Grease', before they saw the Film, in 1978?
  I knew none of the Songs in 'Grease', until I saw that Film. A Movie Audience, does not need, to already know, the Songs in
  a Musical, for the Film and Songs to be Hits. It is the same for less well known ABBA Songs...

  7)... A 3rd Film, could introduce Millions of People to: 'Tiger', 'That's Me', 'Arrival', 'Eagle', 'One Man One Woman', 'Move On',
  'Hole In Your Soul', 'I'm A Marionette', 'As Good As New', 'If It Wasn't For The Nights', 'Lovelight', 'On & On & On', 'The Piper',
   'The Way Old Friends Do', 'Soldiers', 'I Let The Music Speak', 'Like An Angel Passing Through My Room', 'Should I Laugh Or Cry'
   and 'Cassandra'...

  8)... To 'Fit' such ABBA Songs, into a 'Mamma Mia! 3' Plot, is just a matter of using imagination. For example, one of the Characters,
  could have a Boyfriend, who joins the Army. She then gets very upset and she Sings 'Soldiers', as a way to show her disapproval. My 
  imagination is boundless. Judy Craymer's imagination stretches, from about 'A' to 'E'. Like many ABBA Fans, I could write the Plot to a
  3rd 'Mamma Mia!' over-night. Unlike Judy Craymer, I would not even expect to be paid for it, as I would find it so easy to do...

Thanks for this, bennybjorn.


My instinct tells me this is likely to be the 'fourth song' amongst the new ones he mentioned.  

Agnetha and Frida had just put down some stellar lead vocals, and B and B were just about to start the final mixing, when social distancing had to start.

Or maybe my imagination is running away with me...! 

"[...] mixing a particular song" - dammit, Bjorn, SPILL THE BEANS!!!

  I've been looking 'Around The Internet', at the current views of several ABBA Fans, regarding the 
  New ABBA Songs. Of course, a lot of Fans are upset, with all of the 'Delays', and there is even some
  anger towards ABBA, but all of that will pass. It always does. It may not be ABBA's fault, that the 
  'Delays' carry on. Simon Fuller is their 'Partner' in The ABBAtars 'Project', and he may be insisting 
   that ABBA 'Launch' some New Songs, for The ABBAtars to 'Sing'. (Mime). At the same time, this puts
   ABBA in a dilemma, as they have promised we Fans, at least 2 Songs - for later in 2020. But, there are
   now rumours and hints, that The ABBAtars may not 'Perform' until 2021 - or even 2022!

   So, the most interesting 'ABBA Fans' Theory, that I've seen more than 1 Fan express, is this:

   A)... ABBA will give us the 2 June 2017 Songs, later in 2020. I've read one Fan saying that, he has 'Insider'
   knowledge, that The ABBAtars, (ABBA), Video for 'I Still Have Faith In You', was completed, in October of 
   2019. Just over 9 Months ago. So, that Song cannot now be very far from being released. We may get that
   Song in September, and 'Don't Shut Me Down' in December. (Or even in November).

   B)... ABBA have Recorded New Songs 3 and 4. (Whatever they are called). These will be used to Promote 
   The ABBAtars Shows - when, (if!), they ever get started. The 4 New Songs will form part of those Shows.

   C)... In November or December of 2021 - or of 2022 - ABBA may give us an entire New Album - based
   around those 4 New Songs. Although, the New Album idea/theory may be a 'Dream' too many. We will see.

    
   

   

 
   Note -- I dislike the 'Mamma Mia!' Films, but if a 3rd one is to be made, I'd prefer it to be good rubbish, 
   rather than bad rubbish!

   Amanda Seyfried, is now trying to talk, as if she is an 'Expert', on every Track ,that ABBA ever Recorded.
   She has now told the 'Daily Mail', that there are almost no ABBA Songs left, for a 3rd 'Mamma Mia!' Film. 
   The 3rd Film, (if made), would need to re-use 'Super Trouper' and 'Mamma Mia'. Of course a 3rd Film would
   need to re-use 'Mamma Mia', as it would be stupid if the Title Track was not in the Film! Amanda has really
   no clue, as to how many ABBA Songs were not used in Films 1 & 2. I bet that she only knows ABBA's Singles,
   and that her only ABBA CD is 'Gold' - if she's even bothered to buy that! I get tired of People, who don't know
   what's on ABBA's Studio Albums, making out that there are hardly any un-used ABBA Songs left! At one stage,
   Bjorn was claiming, that there were no ABBA Songs, good enough, for Film 2! Does he even listen to old ABBA
   Studio Albums? Film 2 was made, despite Bjorn's doubts - and it made £316+ Million...(It is the UK's 17th 
   'All Time' Biggest Film. The 1st 'Mamma Mia!' is the UK's 13th 'All Time' Film)...
  
   Amanda wants a 3rd Film to be made, but she thinks ABBA don't have enough Songs left, to go in it. She seems
   to suddenly be, the World's No.1 Expert, on ABBA's Songs!!! (Notice that 'Mamma Mia' is spelt wrongly in both the
   Headline and the Text. As is 'Super Trouper'). She, (and Judy Craymer), are perfect examples, of what happens when 
   People, with hardly any imagination, start to talk about ABBA, to the Media. They show themselves to be ignorant...

   Amanda's 'Daily Mail' Article -- Link:

   link

   Amanda's, 'hardly any ABBA Songs left', garbage, was repeated in today's 'The Sun'. So that spread her nonsense,
   to an even bigger readership...

   Another 'Expert', commented on Amanda's 'Daily Mail' Article, with the statement, that a 3rd Film would have to
   use ABBA Songs, at the bottom of the barrel! Many of the Songs, that are left would have been Hit Singles, had 
   they not been left on their Studio Albums. There is this view, that ABBA released everything worthy to be a Single,
   off their Albums. That only rubbish was left. It is just not true. Then there are 'Fun' Singles, that would have People
   singing away to a 3rd Film - such as 'Ring Ring'. Many People, on YouTube, love that Track. 

   I've added Comments of my own, as I cannot just let these People get away with it. If you talk to them directly, you
   often find that most of them, only know ABBA Songs that were Singles and on 'ABBA Gold'. They are clueless,
   as to what the Tracks, on the Studio Albums sound like. But, they spout nonsense about ,'Almost Zero', ABBA Songs,
   being left, to put in a 3rd 'Mamma Mia!' Film...

  

For a Mamma Mia 3 movie, I imagine there would have to be a handful of vaguely famous ABBA songs as headliners. Of course, "Mamma Mia" would have to be included in these but I wouldn't like to see them re-use any others, which leaves the choice rather limited. Possibly "Ring Ring", Summer Night City" and "Head Over Heels" could be amongst these, but the situation is complicated by being able to weave their lyrics into an interesting and credible story. There is no shortage of other songs, although I would prefer to see the inclusion of strong album tracks that have previously been overlooked for MM, such as "Hasta Manana", "Dance", "Bang-A-Boomerang", "One Man One Woman", "If It Wasn't For The Nights" and "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room". I would also perhaps try to include some of the better B-sides, like "Lovelight" and "Should I Laugh Or Cry", as well as the non-B&B track "Disillusion". I suppose they could even resurrect "Just Like That". There are songs that I would definitely not want to see included, such as "Watch Out" and "Man In The Middle"

The first was not that bad. However the sequel was ridiculous indeed. But the way it was built up speaks for itself. I've read they put the titles of the songs they wanted to use on a board and tried to weave them into a story at any price. No wonder it doesn't make sense in places. And the top of it all was adjusting the original lyrics of some of the songs where it was impossible to use the original... I really felt embarrassed in the cinema. There are good moments in the second movie but as a whole it's a complete rubbish. I doubt the third movie would be any better.

Noooooo I don't believe it would happen that way round! 

Rolling stones new single is no.9 on the early midweek. Its almost exclusively based on vinyl and CD single sales. So a decent chart position from old established artists is still possible...

Of course a third film will be made, if Judy Craymer wants it that way (to quote a Swedish song), because behind her stands a gaggle of eager men in suits. Björn wouldn't mind, now would he? And Benny has proved to be a highly penetrable fortress of integrity as of late, for better or worse...

The only consolation is that it will be another success, because as we all here know, their catalogue is far from exhausted!

I don't think it will turn out this way (nightmarish prospect indeed). I guess Agnetha and Frida will have a say in the matter and I can't imagine they would resign to returning to a recording studio after such a long time just to make "demos" for the new Mamma Mia movie.

Wow - absolutely!  More than £10 for a 1-track CD single is extortionate. 

Together with a 10" orange vinyl single, these things are clearly aimed at the 'Rolling Stones' completist, rather than at the masses.  It is likely that most people interested pre-ordered these items.

Which will, surely, determine its ultimate chart performance.  I would be surprised if it made the UK Top 20 at the end of the week.