ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2020

I am looking forward to the new ABBA songs

  I've not been here for several days, as I had nothing of note to say.
  However, I've just been reading a March 8th Interview, that Bjorn has
  had with a Reporter, from 'The Financial Times'. It is to do with an App,
  that he has been involved with. (Investing in, I think). I'm not very good
  with Technology, but I think that I understand what the App is. It is called
  'Session' and it tells Musicians, in the Studio, exactly who played each part
  of the Recording. This is to help them get the right Fees, as these days, as
  many as 16 people can be involved in a Recording - even a Single! (As well
  as who sang what part and everyone who wrote and produced the Track).

  Anyhow, Bjorn also drops a 'hint' that ABBA may also use the App, for future
  New Songs. At least, that is what I, (and the Reporter), assume that Bjorn is 
  saying. The language used is a bit vague, and not as certain as it could be...

  Notice that even Bjorn can't recall when ABBA Recorded the 2 'New' Songs. He says 1.5 Years. It is a lot longer
  than that - June 2017 was 2 Years and 9 Months ago.

  Here is what Bjorn says:

“I always thought that our industry was quite opaque because of its complexity. I’d like it to be much more transparent,” Ulvaeus says.
He has been back in the studio himself, for Abba’s surprise reactivation in a mysterious new project under development involving digital
avatars of the foursome, aka “Abbatars”, singing old and new material. Two unreleased songs have been recorded; although not, it turns
out, using Session.

“No, because it wasn’t quite ready,” Ulvaeus says. “We recorded them quite some time ago, actually one and a half years ago.” So will other
new Abba songs, yet to be recorded — a final twist in the tale for this most celebrated of bands — be made using Session? “Yes, absolutely!”
Ulvaeus says brightly, disclosing a tantalising, albeit opaque, glimpse of Abba’s future

I wonder if Bjorn is so excited about the Session App, that he tries - very  hard - to get the rest of ABBA to Record with it?
He seems to want ABBA to do so...

   

  

Perhaps I've got it all wrong, but this sounds like a more sophisticated techy version of a studio sessions log, and not directly related to producing music at all. But it's all so vague nowadays when it comes to ABBA and any possibility of new music.

  I see that this Thread has gone very quiet again...

  Before anyone is negative - this Post is really not 'Off Topic'. It relates directly to when we may - or may
 not - get the 'New' ABBA Songs. (Plus, the affecting of any other ABBA Related 'Events').

  With the Coronaviris, (COVID19), now changing our 'Lifestyles, (it is!), we may have to wait even longer
  than 'September' for any 'New' ABBA Songs.

  This is because ABBA have been connecting their release to The ABBAtars 'Show' being ready. They want 
  The ABBAtars to: 'Have something new to sing'.

  As 'Public Gatherings', of more than a few 100 people, (500 in the UK), are gradually being 'Banned', I don't
  see how The ABBAtars 'Show' can be put on Stage, in the foreseeable future. For example, next Week, the UK
  is to 'Ban' all 'Public Gatherings', of more than 500 People. The UK Police will be allowed to Arrest anyone who
  'seems' to have the Virus, if they see them outside, and 'suspect', that they may have it! Does it mean that,
  if you so much as sneeze or cough, 'In Public', you will be Arrested? I've also read that the UK plans to enforce
  these 'Rules', for 2 Years! How long before the rest of the World does the same?

  We are now only a short step away, from seeing all 'Public Gatherings' being Banned.

  We'll see how this affects the various 'Mamma Mia!' Shows and 'Theme Restaurants', as well as the ABBA Museum.

  The 'Question' is - if it is impossible for The ABBAtars 'Show' to go ahead, (no Audience), will that mean that we have
  to wait even longer for the 'New' Songs? Due to the Coronavirus, things really have changed...

  

Thanks for the insight, Colin, with regard to the avatars/songs/coronavirus.
And I wonder if the songs don't now appear because of that if it doesn't prove, finally, that the avatars matter more to them than the music and getting it out there. That should not be the case, and I hope it isn't. Surely, Benny and Bjorn don't think the songs aren't good enough to stand on their own without the avatars? And as I said before, there's nothing to stop them adding the new songs later to the avatar show when it's ready.

While the whole world fights a global emergency - I am not so worried about new ABBA songs, frankly.

But if countries/groups of people are forced into lockdown etc., we should probably expect all releases etc. to have a significant delay - as per the postponement of the new James Bond film.

I saw that a 'Sunday Times' Bjorn Interview, was in today's Issue. But, they wanted people to Subscribe
to the 'Paper, to see it! I was not prepared to do that, just to read one Article. So, I went out and paid
£2.90, for a Physical copy, this morning. The Interview is not in the actual 'Paper'. It is in one of the 3
Magazines, that are inside it. At first I could not find the Interview. Then I found it - at the very back of
one of the Magazines. It is only 1 Page.

The only reference to the 'New' Songs, in it is this, (very small), part:

"One of the reasons bands fall out is because they don't split up in time. We split in 1982.
But we've actually recorded a couple of new songs, which will be out this year. There won't
be a tour, though. That life never appealed to me".

That's it! There are no references to The ABBAtars, (at all), and that is all he says about the 'New' Songs. 
He does mention 'Mamma Mia!', (as usual):

"I still work because I get excited by new ideas, but I'm extremely cautious when it comes to
anything about ABBA. I said from the start with 'Mamma Mia!', if it ever felt wrong for the four
of us or the songs, we'd put a stop to it. But that moment has never come and now we have a
musical, two films and a party experience. Will there be a third film? I didn't think there'd be a
second, so who knows?".

I'm really sorry to hear you're going through such a rough time of it. You're a vital face around here, you must know that. I know I've said a few things about your devotion to stats, but your grasp of and energy for that side of things is thoroughly impressive, and there should always be a place for that sort of interest and focus here, for those that enjoy it. This is the first I've learned about some of the problems you've been facing (and have been facing for a long time, it would seem). I wish you'd said something about them earlier (although I accept it's often a difficult thing to do), because it sounds as though you're having to contend with a lot on a daily basis, and this place ought to be more like the sanctuary you want it to be. I have to hold my hand up and say I haven't especially tried to make it that way (banging the drum quite a bit as I have done for lively-cum-heated discussion and debate, but for decent reasons, I think or hope). All I can do is try harder to make a contribution that will make it more like a place you feel welcome and valued in. Goes without saying really, but the release of the new material is bound to give this place a shot of vitality again, when it happens, and the dread will disappear as space for some positive back-and-forth opens up; the delays and some of the misinformation surrounding the new tracks has narked all of us to some degree, but I'm sure their release will mean a new lease of life for this place. I'm going to stick around here for a bit, if you feel like talking a few things over. Hoary old cliche coming up, but it's true: just keep plodding on, with defiance if nothing else. Give these problems enough time and they'll start to lose their power. Please never think or say your life is worthless.

Dear onlyabba4me, yes please keep posting! I am so sorry you have been going through such a trying time over such a long period. You are a very valued member of this site, please do not let anything said here, or on any type of social media, upset you. Social media has become a very easy way of a few idiot bullies in this world, to hide behind face book etc and spread their vile prejudice, spite and jealousies. These people are not worth your time and energy. And typed sentences can sometimes come across as 'harder' than maybe speaking directly face to face to somebody. The majority of people are decent and kind, but unfortunately the way society is 'hidden' these days behind keyboards, this doesn't always come across. YOU are a decent human being who deserves respect and kindness. We all have differing views, which makes for some good debates, but these should never descend into personal attacks, disagreement can always be handled decently with thought and consideration. Please take care onlyabba4me,look forward to these great new songs with all of us and keep your chin up! love ali x

I don't want to add to the already grim mood, but the question often crosses my mind these days, what would actually happen if one of the ABBA members passed away. At their age it's not ruled out even without the coronavirus spreading… Would the other three rush to the studio to finish the "new" tracks or would they withhold them forever? Of course it's not really what one should worry about, it's just that I can't shake the thought off recently.

Gosh, something about your post has really brought the reality home to me Alan, how strange. I mean, I know logically that we are all getting older and ABBA are even older than most of us fans but I guess I've always thought they were invincible/immortal. It's usually hard for me to envisage a world without them all in it and yet the truth is that it will indeed happen one day.

Anyway...not to get too morbid...as you say, let's hope they'll be around for a good while longer.

It's a horrible thought, I've lost too many family members so I don't think I could take much more if any of the Abba members left us.

I've just recently lost my Mum she had dementia and was in a nursing home so I'm feeling like everyone is leaving me, also my sister has cancer.
so I'm not in a good place at the moment.