ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2020

Hello, I am new here. I joined because I have been reading and lurking for a long time as a non-member. I am 56 years old and an ABBA fan since I heard Mamma Mia on my tiny bedside radio in early 1976 when I was home from school sick with the flu or something. Maybe this is not the correct forum to start off posting in but since everyone says it is the only really active forum I decided 'why not?'.

Just to stay on topic, I am looking forward to hearing the new songs and hope they will sound more like 1975-80 sounds than earlier or later. Of course I would love to have a bouncy Take A Chance On Me-type melody or a fab Spanish flavoured Chiquitita romp would be great too. Anything to pick us up in these gloomy days.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to posting more sometimes.

Make of it what you will, but British journalist Geoff Lloyd has said he had an hour-long ZOOM chat with Björn last week regarding the legacy of the Beatles, where they got onto the topic of ABBA at the end of the discussion. Apparently Björn confirmed delays to the ABBAtar project due to technical reasons and the pandemic, advised that 5 new songs had been recorded, we should be able to hear them in 2021...

   
 
   I've just had a quick look through the Posts, (in this Thread), for the past few Days. I can't see the
   '5 New Songs' ABBA News - just speculation about how many we may get. (So I apologise about the
   'News' in this Post, if you've already heard it).

   Gazman -- I see that Gazman has now Posted about it. Yes - Bjorn has told UK DJ Geoff Lloyd, that there 
   are 5 New ABBA Songs, but we may have to wait until 2021, to hear any of them. So, the idea of us getting
   any of them in September is now gone. (It seems). The Members of ABBA won't be around forever. If the very 
   worst happens, then that may delay the New Songs forever. Time is not on Agnetha's, Frida's, Benny's, or Bjorn's
   side. I'm not being horrible. I'm just being realistic. I've seen other ABBA Fans saying the same thing...

   www.facebook.com/abbathenewsongs/

   It has already been picked up by Noise11. (No doubt other Media 'Outlets' will Report it too).

   www.noise11.com/news/new-abba-music-bumped-into-2021-20200721

    I don't think that this Thread should be 'Locked'. If it is, I can see a lot of Posters ceasing to come here. This is the
    liveliest ABBA Chat Thread. Close it, and it just makes this Site more downbeat and slow. As it is, only a % of ABBA
    Chat Members, actually Post on this Site. If the Thread were closed, a lot of Members would simply start to go to other
    Sites - and not all, would ever return here...

    Regarding my 'comparing' ABBA to Queen. At no time, have I ever suggested, that the Music, of either Group,
    is similar. Why would I? I'm not stupid! But, I deal in Chart Facts & ABBA and Queen have had very similar Careers. 
    Queen first, (UK), Charted on W/E 9th March 1974, ('Seven Seas Of Rhye'). ABBA first Charted just 6 Weeks later,
    on W/E 20th April 1974. ('Waterloo'). Both Acts were not as big in the USA as elsewhere. Also, both Groups had a 
    poor Year in 1982. Yes, 1 of Queen's 3 Singles reached the UK Top 20, (No.17), and none of ABBA's 3 Singles did, but
    'The Singles' Album, was a UK No.1 Album and 'Hot Space' stalled at No.4. Both Groups are not very good at selling
    old Studio Albums. However, both are great, at selling 'Greatest Hits' Albums. Both Groups have 2 Albums, in the UK's
    Top 10 All Time 'Hits' Albums List. Both Groups are in the UK's Top 2 Best Selling Albums - Queen at No.1 and ABBA at
    No. 2. Both Groups have had 9 UK No.1 Albums. There are loads of parallels between the 2 Groups. I never said that
    their Music was similar...

    As to the Myth, (it is), that the UK was just not interested, in ABBA, from about 1983 onwards...They sold over a Million
    UK Budget Compilations, from 1987 to 1990. 'The Collection', (Double LP - 1987), and 'The Hits 2', (1988), each sold 
    200,000+ UK copies, by 1990. Not bad for a Group, that the UK was 'not interested in'. (All of this this was News to
    Carl Magnus Palm, when I told him, as he thought that you could not give ABBA Records away, by that stage. It was also
    News to Bjorn. This is what happens, when you believe Myths, rather than Facts. (I hope that ABBA got Royalties, from all
    those late 1980's, UK Budget Albums Sales).

    Regarding the UK Album Chart. Several UK 'Chart Fans', don't like, the fact, that there are a lot of 'Hits' Albums in the
    Top 100. They want the UK Charts Company to 'Ban' them - and give them a Chart of their own. If that were to happen,
    it would pretty much be the end of ABBA in the Main UK Album Chart. For, it does not look like, we will be getting a New
    Studio Album. Likewise, it will mean no more Elvis Presley, Elton John, Queen, Bee Gees, ELO, etc. in the UK Album Chart.
    The Beatles can still Chart, with Re-Issued Studio Albums, but, they only do so for a few Weeks. Their on-going UK Album
    Chart presence, is with the '1' Compilation. The Rolling Stones are OK, as they still release Studio Albums. (Ironically, they
    are not very good at selling 'Hits' Albums). Bob Dylan would also be OK. His latest Studio Album, has just become his 9th
    UK No.1 - equal to ABBA & Queen. Fleetwood Mac would also be OK, as their biggest Studio Album, 'Rumours', is forever
    in the Main UK Album Chart. It is No.21 this Week - Top 100 Week 845. 'ABBA Gold' is right next to it - No.22 - Week 950.
    It is incredible, to realise, that way back on, W/E 4th February 1978, 'Rumours' was replaced at No.1, by ABBA's 'The Album'...




    

Thanks Gazman for this latest snippet of information. Let's hope there are five songs in the pipeline. Justabba, welcome to the forum. Gamleman, I agree with you ABBA in the studio is just sheer perfection and the songs can never be truly re-produced creatively live. For me, the live versions lose their impact.

Just a bit of fun really, does anyone have preferences as to how the new songs will sound, vocally in particular?

I'd like the first new song we hear to have Agnetha and Frida joint vocals all the way through, or maybe even better - the first half of each verse solo then the other lady joining in on the second half of the verse, then the full ABBA chorus kicking in! Quite like they did in Fernando and Chiquitita.  Their vocal sound is what I have really been waiting for all this time!! Harmonising, third voice, etc.  Let's face it, these two ladies were meant for each other vocally!!


And, for me, for it to have the same impact that maybe Knowing Me Knowing You or Move On had on me when I first heard them. I would be elated!  Is there an old song that had such an impact on you that you would like the new songs to emulate?

I may not be popular for this, but I would like to add some perspective to the discussion of how many new songs there will be. In 2018 when two new songs were announced, ABBA fans were thrilled - it was something that most of us never envisaged happening. Then the news got better when Benny spoke of a possible third song. Now we believe there may be up to five new songs, which is very welcome news, but there is a lot of speculation about a whole album, as if it's a small step from five songs to an album (which would need at least nine songs to equal the number on "The Album" and "The Visitors"). In their heyday, I imagine B&B had to work very hard to come up with an album of songs of the quality we associate with ABBA - they probably spent hours and hours, day after day throwing tunes around. I would pose the question whether they're prepared to or have the energy to do that now.

I would certainly prefer four or five good, well thought-out songs rather than a hastily assembled album for the sake of meeting fan expectations. I would prefer to remember their albums as they were, with a relatively clear progression from 1973 to 1981 than to have a bolted-on 202x album of perhaps questionable quality. In practice, I think B&B are too professional to put out an album that doesn't meet their extremely high standards and that wouldn't maintain their heritage. What I am saying is, I don't think they will release an album lightly.

“Promised me 2021”... not wanting to put a dampener on anyone’s enthusiasm.. that could be another 18 months.. Christmas 2021🤪
i really hope we get something before then...
Also it wasn’t Bjorn who said 5 new tracks in the link above, has anyone got the proof from the horses mouth as such.. Bjorn actually saying 5 new tracks?

Talking about ABBA still being alive, not sure I will be at this rate...lol😂

I think it's interesting that they're described as "danceable", "reflective" and "timeless", gets you so excited, Abba but a 2021 version, how has it changed and what is the same, what will it sound like in the radio?

I know, at this point they can't do it to us that it won't be something supreme!   Maybe the extra time gives them a chance to do something extra special. 

This is pretty much what I said elsewhere.

As much as I understand things like the pandemic are beyond anyone's control and couldn't be anticipated I have to be honest and say I'm sick of all the promises and teasing. The two songs were recorded over two years ago now. At this rate many ABBA fans (and God forbid a member of ABBA themselves) might not even be around to hear the songs. Of course when (if!) the songs are ever released I'll probably be as ecstatic as ever but this is getting ridiculous now. Björn spoke during lockdown and said September, didn't he? Or have I got that wrong? Now the goalposts have changed yet again. Oh, well.

I guess I'm juat a bit miffed and impatient. The future is so uncertain and life so precious and fragile. None of us know how long we have left on this mortal coil. I just wish they'd crack on and just release the bloody songs now. I don't give a flying erm.. fox for avatars or videos or any of that malarkey anymore- as a lifelong ABBA fan it's ALWAYS been mostly about the music for me. That ear to brain ratio.

I guess I'm just having a rant because I'm fed up and the thought of hearing the songs is kind of keeping me going- 'something to look forward to'- just not THAT far forward.

Honestly, I could give Björn a right telling off! 😆

Naturally, if there's an actual ALBUM in the pipeline then all would be forgiven.

The thing is, delays and pandemic notwithstanding, it HAS been handled badly,imo. Seemingly endless teasing and faffing around. Impossible to get a straight answer from...well, Björn as it's always mostly him doing the interviews. I'm all for Agnetha and Frida remaining rather enigmatic and mysterious but a word or two from even ONE of them would have been nice. They are part of ABBA, after all!

Ahhh..never mind, anyway. Plus ça change.

What this all suggests to me is that the release dates are simply not down to the decision of the group members. If they were, I think we would have heard at least one song by now.

There will probably be legal contracts we know nothing of, so it feels unfair to me to criticise ABBA for the current position. And news of 5 songs, whenever we might hear them, is pretty awesome, isn't it?

That's what baffles me too. There may well be people who have the financial wherewithal to buy flights, tickets and accommodation just to hear two new songs for the first time. The vast majority of fans do not fall into this category. The notion that the success of this tour is predicated on the two new songs being unheard at the time the curtain rises for the first time is ludicrous. As with the Mamma Mia! franchise, the majority of ticket buyers will be on a nostalgia trip. It's Dancing Queen that is more likely to get them out of their seats than Don't Shut Me Down. I would have thought that having the new songs embedded in the public's affections would make much more sense in terms of flogging tickets. 

And, yes, the pandemic is making the release of new material a bit messy. But not impossible. Hey, if I can do it without label support (new single out next Friday, *cough*), so can the well-supported ABBA . It's not as though ABBA were expected to do the TV chat show circuit, or perform on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. Digital releases can drop on command. It would take the Polar/Mono/Universal staff very little effort to coordinate the preparation of vinyl and CD and get them to retailers in time. New music has not dried up. Just ask Kylie Minogue and the Rolling Stones. 

OK, Tony, breathe out....

But what if the release of the new songs (once they had been discussed in theory, and then recorded to everyone's satisfaction) is legally linked to a co-ordinated approach to the ABBAtar experience's promotion and launch?  There may be legally contractual reasons why ABBA can't move earlier of their own accord - i.e. they have signed on the dotted line not to do so - with the 'projected' release dates for new music, as stated/suggested by them in interviews, always being their best estimate for when the process will allow the songs to come forward. 

It feels to me like some people (not necessarily on this fan site) are quite prepared to give ABBA a hard time on this, when they cannot possibly know the facts.