|
|
Post by Alan on Jul 18, 2020 18:59:48 GMT
Apologies, justabba, but it certainly didn’t come across that way in your post that I quoted. You must surely know then that singles released by heritage acts are never going to be hits, but to push an accompanying album. Agnetha’s “A” was an example of how to get it absolutely right. Accept that your ageing audience won’t download/stream songs, but release four worldwide singles purely for the likes of Radio 2 airplay, and watch the album become a major hit. This is why it would be such a missed opportunity if no new ABBA album materialises. An all-new ABBA album is almost certain to be number one, or at least a major hit, even if singles from it barely scrape the top 100. |
|
|
|
Post by gary on Jul 18, 2020 21:18:40 GMT
News about ABBA's New Songs, has now dried up. There has been nothing, for a few Weeks. I'm not sure, if that is good or bad. A lot of the 'News', was really rumours and speculation. The Official UK Charts Company, has done an interesting Article, about Queen, due to it being the 50th Anniversary, of their first 'Gig'. It is 50 Chart Facts about Queen. ABBA get a few mentions. Hopefully, they'll do such an Article about ABBA, one Day... Link: link The Article gives Queen's 'Greatest Hits' 6,370,000 UK Sales. However, in 2006, The OCC allowed 626,000 Sales, to be added to it from 2 other Queen releases. (560,000 - 'The Platinum Collection' - 2000, 66,000 - 'Greatest Hits I & II - 1994). If you remove, those 'Enhanced Sales', it has really sold around 5,744,000. It would still be the UK's Best Selling Album. However, 'ABBA Gold' is 2nd, with an estimated 5,726,000 UK Sales. There are really only about 18,000 UK Sales, between them. (To W/E 23rd July 2020). The OCC never mention, that 626,000 UK Sales, of the 1981 Queen 'Greatest Hits' Album, are from 2 other Queen releases... 18,000 isn’t very many, especially in the context of sales of close to 6 million for each album. But it’s probably not a good idea to hope that Gold will overtake the Queen album any time soon, as the latter has been above Gold in the UK charts for quite some time now. Colin, I’m always interested in your chart-related posts, but I’ve never quite understood your fascination with Queen in an ABBA-related context. Why compare ABBA with Queen so often? Why not compare ABBA with other artists, assuming any comparison is needed? (Mind you, you could say I am contradicting myself by writing my first paragraph!) Moderators, although it was me who started this thread, I think a case can be made for shutting it down, as it has become a catch-all for various topics, some of which are deserving of their own specific threads. In a way, it has become a victim of its own success! |
|
|
|
Post by Michal on Jul 19, 2020 6:40:11 GMT
The Article gives Queen's 'Greatest Hits' 6,370,000 UK Sales. However, in 2006, The OCC allowed 626,000 Sales, to be added to it from 2 other Queen releases. (560,000 - 'The Platinum Collection' - 2000, 66,000 - 'Greatest Hits I & II - 1994). If you remove, those 'Enhanced Sales', it has really sold around 5,744,000. It would still be the UK's Best Selling Album. However, 'ABBA Gold' is 2nd, with an estimated 5,726,000 UK Sales. There are really only about 18,000 UK Sales, between them. (To W/E 23rd July 2020). The OCC never mention, that 626,000 UK Sales, of the 1981 Queen 'Greatest Hits' Album, are from 2 other Queen releases... Colin, I’m always interested in your chart-related posts, but I’ve never quite understood your fascination with Queen in an ABBA-related context. Why compare ABBA with Queen so often? Why not compare ABBA with other artists, assuming any comparison is needed? (Mind you, you could say I am contradicting myself by writing my first paragraph!) I don't want to speak for Colin, he will probably give you detailed reasons later but personally I can't help but notice certain similarities between the two, which sort of draw attention - they started their careers at the same time, released their first albums in the same year, had their breakthrough in the same year, saw a decline in popularity in the same year (1982), their greatest hits albums occupy the first two spots in the chart of the all-time best-selling albums in the UK. There are lots of parallels even if their music is so different. And the one thing that fascinates me most is the year 1982 - quite bad for both bands. One of them called it a day, the other returned with and had a very successful decade. It always makes me think - what if ABBA returned in 1984? Would it be the same? |
|
|
|
Post by Michal on Jul 19, 2020 6:42:56 GMT
By the way, this is exactly the kind of topic that would deserve a thread of its own...
|
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Jul 19, 2020 17:34:49 GMT
The difference between ABBA and Queen is that the former is a pop band and the latter a pop-rock act. And more crucially, Queen was all men. Sexism existed in music as much as it did elsewhere. It’s somehow OK for men making music to grow older - look at the Rolling Stones, U2 etc - but not women. How many acts can you think of containing women lasted more than a few years? Solo acts, yes, but not bands. Blondie made an unexpected successful late 90s comeback but it didn’t last too long.
It’s wrong, but Queen were able to come back because of this sexism (which is as much the fault of music audiences as it is the industry itself). Queen did at least manage a top 20 hit in 1982, ABBA didn’t. Queen’s other two singles that year were so awful that they didn’t deserve to be released as such at all, but still managed to be top 40 hits. Body Language has to be the worst Queen single ever, and Backchat was really b-side material.
I’ve therefore never bought into the idea that ABBA could come back in 1984 or whenever. I’d have expected slightly more successful solo careers for evidence of that. ABBA’s time was well and truly over and they got out at exactly the right time.
Anyway, Queen’s story isn’t all sweetness and light. Their US career never really recovered until after Freddie Mercury’s death (and even then only because of a film).
|
|
|
|
Post by Michal on Jul 19, 2020 20:02:32 GMT
^^ Roxette lasted quite long. They were stopped in 2001 (after 15 years together) by Marie's illness, otherwise they would have continued for at least a few more years, I'm sure. But it's probably just an exception, I can't think of any other.
By the way, the whole Hot Space album is very weak, I hardly ever listen to it. Only Las Palabras De Amor and Under Pressure are worth listening to. As for Queen and US... yes, they lost that territory. And ABBA lost Australia (another parallel :-))
|
|
|
|
Post by gamleman on Jul 19, 2020 20:13:08 GMT
Roxette worked way beyond 2001, releasing the following studio albums:
Charm School (2011)
Travelling (2012)
Good Karma (2016)
They also toured over this period. I saw them in London in 2015. So they were active until not long before Marie sadly died.
|
|
|
|
Post by gazman on Jul 19, 2020 20:23:45 GMT
In terms of seeing how well 'old' pop acts do in the charts - Kylie Minogue is rumoured to be issuing a new single within a couple of weeks, so let's see how well that one does.
|
|
|
|
Post by justabba on Jul 19, 2020 21:13:41 GMT
In terms of seeing how well 'old' pop acts do in the charts - Kylie Minogue is rumoured to be issuing a new single within a couple of weeks, so let's see how well that one does. I think it's out as soon as this coming Friday |
|
|
|
Post by Michal on Jul 20, 2020 6:16:59 GMT
Roxette worked way beyond 2001, releasing the following studio albums: Charm School (2011) Travelling (2012) Good Karma (2016) They also toured over this period. I saw them in London in 2015. So they were active until not long before Marie sadly died. I know, I have all the albums and saw them live twice during the period (and three times in total). However I tend to not count these years for several reasons. Firstly, I guess if it wasn't for Marie's illness, they would have actually quit earlier. In her biography Marie says that by 2001 she was fed up with Roxette and with touring. Per was probably too as their 2001 album Room Service sounds uninspired except for a few tracks. In my opinion it is one of their worst albums ever. Another tour was planned for 2002 and who knows... maybe it would have been too much. I guess they would have lasted maybe until 2006 to celebrate their 20th anniversary with a farewell tour. The reason for their comeback in my eyes was a defiance of a kind. Marie was very stubborn and strong and she just wanted to take back what the disease robbed her of. She also wanted to show she won the fight and probably compensate the pause to Per, who was always the eager one in Roxette. Unfortunately the quality of their output during this second part of their career is questionable. Charm School is quite good, the other two are not. Even on the albums you can hear Marie was struggling a bit with the vocals, which was even more apparent live. It is completely understandable and she was so brave to do it, however I have a feeling that most of the fans (me included) supported them out of loyalty and pity and not because they thought the band was still great. Actually, their 2011 - 2016 concerts were more successful than the 2001 ones. I remember that when I went to see them during their Room Service tour, they played in quite a small venue and it was far from sold out. In 2011 they played to a full house in the biggest hall we have and the show was far from what we were used to during Roxette's hey-days. Of course this all just speculation but that's how I feel.. |
|
|
|
Post by gamleman on Jul 20, 2020 8:37:59 GMT
We're getting a bit off-topic but I feel along similar lines about their 2000s material - I have hardly played "Charm School" and "Travelling", although do occasionally visit "Good Karma", which I like to play on orange vinyl  I actually quite liked "Room Service", but it isn't a patch on their 80s/90s stuff. When I first got into Roxette in 1990 (it was "It Must Have Been Love" that did it), I thought some of their tracks had an ABBA-esque quality, particularly on the "Look Sharp" and "Pearls Of Passion" albums. It was sad to see Marie have to be helped onto the stage in 2015 and have to sit throughout the performance. |
|
|
|
Post by Michal on Jul 20, 2020 11:35:11 GMT
This thread seems to go off-topic all the time. But there is really not much to discuss about the "new" songs now… gary is probably right that it should be locked up. As for Marie, I remember a lady sitting next me at the 2015 concert was quite shocked to see Marie being led onto the stage. I was not as I already knew what state she was in. But the people who went there to see the "old" Roxette might have been disillusioned. |
|
|
|
Post by jj on Jul 20, 2020 12:17:34 GMT
No, I reckon this thread should stay open as this forum's omnibus thread.
If this thread gets closed, there will just be a multitude of new threads opening every week with only one or two replies per thread.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michal on Jul 20, 2020 12:24:57 GMT
If this thread gets closed, there will just be a multitude of new threads opening every week with only one or two replies per thread.
Well, such threads are much easier to follow and it doesn't happen that you have to search for a certain post buried under the new ones. |
|
|
|
Post by foreverfan on Jul 20, 2020 13:18:47 GMT
It’s a difficult one..
as so few of us are posting anything at the moment, this thread is my instant go to for anything, so it builds the excitement for a brief second when you see a new post, only to be dashed when it’s about Roxette..lol
Personally I don’t mind over lapping a little as that’s the way of conversation as well, and as said as there are but a handful of us at the moment who post, does it really matter that much, we nearly always do drift back to topic.....
|
|
|
|
Post by Michal on Jul 20, 2020 15:55:01 GMT
^^ There were times my heart skipped a beat every time I saw a new post appear in this thread. The feeling stopped long ago as about 50% of posts seem to be off-topic here and it's very long since we learned anything really new about the matter. However there still might be people who get excited each time they see the thread's been updated. And for them it would definitely be better to lock it and start a new one. Because what a tragedy it would be to suffer a heart attack for nothing?  |
|
|
|
Post by Michal on Jul 20, 2020 15:57:38 GMT
And now to be a good boy again... How many new tracks do you reckon we will get in the end?  |
|
|
|
Post by justabba on Jul 20, 2020 16:19:00 GMT
And now to be a good boy again... How many new tracks do you reckon we will get in the end? 4 for definite. Maybe 5 ! |
|
|
|
Post by supertrouper on Jul 20, 2020 16:31:02 GMT
I wish it was 4-5 but I'm guessing 2. |
|
|
|
Post by justabba on Jul 20, 2020 16:35:41 GMT
I wish it was 4-5 but I'm guessing 2. There are definitely more than 2... |
|
|
|
Post by Michal on Jul 20, 2020 16:50:17 GMT
I wish it was 4-5 but I'm guessing 2. There are definitely more than 2... But nobody promised we would get them |
|
|
|
Post by Michal on Jul 20, 2020 16:51:58 GMT
Wow, so many new posts and none of them off-topic!! Who would have thought that such a trivial question would stir up such a rush of activity!! |
|
|
|
Post by justabba on Jul 20, 2020 16:55:47 GMT
Wow, so many new posts and none of them off-topic!! Who would have thought that such a trivial question would stir up such a rush of activity!! Look what happens when you are a good boy lol |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2020 17:06:51 GMT
When the new ABBA songs are finally released I will be quite content just to hear the new songs. To be honest I am not too keen with " The ABBAtars " project. I feel the song setlist will be very similar to the ABBA live concert setlist and many of the best songs that were never performed live will be omitted. I have always peferred ABBA in the studio to ABBA live in concert. Apologies if I offend anyone.
|
|
|
|
Post by gamleman on Jul 20, 2020 17:17:07 GMT
When the new ABBA songs are finally released I will be quite content just to hear the new songs. To be honest I am not too keen with " The ABBAtars " project. I feel the song setlist will be very similar to the ABBA live concert setlist and many of the best songs that were never performed live will be omitted. I have always peferred ABBA in the studio to ABBA live in concert. Apologies if I offend anyone. I'm much the same. The ABBAtars project doesn't really excite me. I too much prefer the sound of ABBA in the studio than live - their sound was very studio-oriented and just wasn't the same live, even though the songs were still great. This is true of most artists but even more so for ABBA. My hope is that the ABBAtars sound will be a blend of their studio and live recordings. One vital feature IMO should be to replace the live backing vocals with the studio backing vocals, so the only vocals we hear are ABBA's own. |
|
|
|
Post by foreverfan on Jul 20, 2020 17:25:19 GMT
See, said we would drift back to on topic😀
Im hoping for as many as possible.. 8.. realistically☹️... 2 ...
As far as I know, nothing but a few hints, and nothing has been confirmed ? no titles...so all guess work and surmising...😞
|
|
|
|
Post by justabba on Jul 20, 2020 17:39:37 GMT
See, said we would drift back to on topic😀 Im hoping for as many as possible.. 8.. realistically☹️... 2 ... As far as I know, nothing but a few hints, and nothing has been confirmed ? no titles...so all guess work and surmising...😞 The only definite proof is that Danish journalist Mark Levengood said he had heard 3 of the new ABBA songs earlier in the year. |
|
|
|
Post by foreverfan on Jul 20, 2020 17:43:30 GMT
Even though Mark Levengood has said 3, have either of the boys hinted let alone said more than the two we know about..
we know what these pesky journalists can say...
|
|
|
|
Post by justabba on Jul 20, 2020 18:17:15 GMT
Even though Mark Levengood has said 3, have either of the boys hinted let alone said more than the two we know about.. we know what these pesky journalists can say... Yes Bjorn has hinted it many many times now. I understand the journalist is a personal friend of the members of ABBA so should be reliable. |
|
|
|
Post by foreverfan on Jul 20, 2020 18:33:54 GMT
If that’s the case.. and I sincerely hope there’s more than 2😳..why not hint at another title... it can’t be anymore of a mess than it already is, in delaying releases , a few more juicy tit-bits would stir the pot a bit more...lol
|
|
I actually quite liked "Room Service", but it isn't a patch on their 80s/90s stuff. When I first got into Roxette in 1990 (it was "It Must Have Been Love" that did it), I thought some of their tracks had an ABBA-esque quality, particularly on the "Look Sharp" and "Pearls Of Passion" albums.
