Regarding how 'Dated' some of the 'New' ABBA Songs, may sound...
I've followed ABBA, since I saw them Win the ESC, in 1974. I truly had never heard of ABBA until then.
The Record Label, that Releases the 'Now' Compilations is showing a great love for ABBA. They put the
Album Track, 'My Love, My Life', on CD2, of their 'Now - Decades Of Love' Album, earlier in 2021. Soon
they will Release a 4 CD, 87 Track 'Disco' Compilation, called 'Now - Disco Classics - Boogie Nights'. The
1st Track, on CD1 is 'Dancing Queen'. The 87th Track, on CD 4, is the Extended Remix of 'Voulez-Vous'.
It is the 1st time, that the Extended Remix, has been included on a Multi-Artist UK Compilation.
Link
link The UK, (and Global), Charts have also been of great interest to me. It is nothing to do with me being 62(!),
but the bulk of 'Modern' Music is awful, to my ears. Much of it has no Melody, at all. It is just a terrible 'Noise',
with no Tune. This is a Fact, and not my opinion. I've seen a great many Teenagers, saying the same thing,
when they listen to ABBA - and other 'Old' Acts - on YouTube. They cannot understand why 'Modern' Music
cannot be as Melodic and Tuneful. I've seen a great many Young Music Fans say this. Many say that they wish
they had lived in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's, as regards what was in the Charts, in those Decades.
ABBA never really tried to 'Fit In', with their Singles and Albums. They just created Songs and Productions,
that were the best they could - at the time. Then they Released them. I've seen other Music Producers, who
say that ABBA 'Filled' every bit of their Records with Sound. A lot of the ABBA Productions are inspired by the
Girl Groups of the 1960's. As well as Phil Spector influences, and 'Bubble Gum' influences, from the late 1960's,
and early 1970's. No other Act, was creating such fantastic Records, as ABBA, during the 1970's, and the early
1980's. Their Records were a unique 'Wonder', and Millions of us were blessed with the good taste, to hear ABBA
Records, as ABBA themselves heard them.
One of the few Groups, that made '1960's', type Pop Singles, in the early 1970's, were Wizzard, with their eccentric,
and clever, Lead Singer, Roy Wood. In 1973 and 1974, they Released Singles that sounded like Phil Spector had made
them in 1963. Including 2 UK No.1's, with 'See My Baby Jive' and 'Angel Fingers'. Plus, 'Rock & Roll Winter', and Roy's
lovely Solo Top 10 Hit, in late 1973 - 'Forever'. At the end of 1973, they Released a Christmas Single, which is their
most famous Song. As usual, it was greatly influenced, by early 1960's Phil Spector Singles. It was not their biggest
Hit - at the time. 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday', also had a Children's Choir on it. It Peaked at No.4 and it
spent 9 Weeks on the UK Chart. However, ever since December 2007, it Re-Charts, every Christmas, in the UK. It
has had 58 more UK Top 75 Weeks, since 2007, Peaking, (so far), at No.10. Proving - yet again - that if ABBA were
to do a Christmas Single, they would Re-Chart, every Christmas. This already happens with Mariah Carey, Wham!,
Slade, Bing Crosby, Shakin' Stevens, Boney M, and many more Acts, who made a Christmas Themed Single.
Some say, that ABBA were influenced by Roy Wood, on some of their early Singles. Especially on 'Waterloo' and
'Ring Ring'. ABBA would have heard Wizzard's Singles. 'See My Baby Jive' was a big Hit in Sweden. Like ABBA,
Wizzard just made Singles that were not like anyone else's, in the 1970's Charts. Also, like ABBA, they didn't
care, if some other People, said their 'Sound' was 'Dated'. Likewise for The Rubettes, who 'appeared' onto the
Global Singles Charts, in 1974, with their huge Selling, (and Sounding), 'Sugar Baby Love'. That was so catchy,
that had it been the UK's ESC Entry, in 1974, then it may well have even beaten 'Waterloo', and Won. It was
Europe's 2nd Biggest Single of 1974. 'Waterloo' was the 5th. It was the World's 5th Best Selling Single of 1974.
'Waterloo' was the 3rd. They followed it, with a string of other 1960's sounding Hits. As did Showaddywaddy, to
follow-up 'Hey Rock and Roll', (1974), their very catchy 1960's sounding 1st Hit. ABBA, Wizzard, The Rubettes,
and Showaddywaddy, made Zero effort, to 'Fit In', with any sort of 'Modern Sound', when they appeared in the
UK Charts. They just made the best Singles/Songs that they could. Which is exactly what ABBA should be doing,
with their 'New' Songs. (Without some ABBA Fans saying that the Songs are 'Dated').
As long as a Song is good, it matters not, if it is 'Dated', to the ears of very vacuous 'Critics'. ABBA Fans really
must not seek, to call their 'New' Songs 'Dated'. All we need to do, is to enjoy the 'New' Songs, and to admire
ABBA's creativity. That is all that ABBA can expect of us. Is it really too much to ask? I think not.
So, it really does not matter if any of ABBA's 'New' Songs sound 'Dated'. ABBA never really fitted in anyhow. They just
gave us fantastic, brilliant Records. I've noticed that some ABBA Fans dislike several of their Singles, and other ABBA Fans
love those Songs. So, no ABBA Songs are really 'rubbish', as all of them are loved by a lot of their Fans, even if they are
disliked by other Fans.
It would be a huge, terrible, nauseating, Disaster, if ABBA added 'Rap' or R & B, to their 'New' Songs, to try to be more
'Modern'. ABBA, and their Melodies, must never, ever be influenced, by such 'Modern' Music. People yearn for Melodies
again. ABBA can provide that. The last thing we need, (or want), is ABBA doing Rap or R & B! I'd rather that they came
back sounding like Led Zeppelin, than Eminem! But - or course - ABBA must return with 'Pure Pop', as always. That is
what made ABBA so popular - Tunes & Melodies..
It will be the same with ABBA's 'New' Songs. Some will be loved by a great many Fans, and other Fans may not
be keen on them. But they will love other 'New' ABBA Songs instead. That is how it will always be. Over the Years,
I have seen: 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, 'Fernando', 'Summer Night City', 'Chiquitita', Does Your Mother Know',
'I Have A Dream', 'Super Trouper', 'Head Over Heels', 'The Day Before You Came', and 'Under Attack', get criticised,
by some ABBA Fans. Yet, all of them are loved by a great many other ABBA Fans. So, all ABBA Songs, are loved by
somebody. None of us are the, 'Infallible Experts', in our choices of our favourite ABBA Songs. I was amazed, when
I saw some ABBA Fans, saying that 'Fernando' was a 'Blight' and 'Curse', on the UK Charts of 1976! I recall listening
to it, on UK BBC Radio One, and I was suffering from Severe Depression, at the time. But, whenever 'Fernando' came
on the Radio, I felt a wonderful 'Buzz', all over, and I was enchanted by the beauty of it all. Especially that gorgeous
middle part. 'Fernando' is 2nd only to 'Dancing Queen', as regards ABBA's Best Selling Global Single. But, in Europe, it
outsold 'Dancing Queen'. It was No.1 for 18 Weeks, in the Pan-European Chart. To 10 No.1 Weeks for 'Dancing Queen'.
I recall when 'Super Trouper' became ABBA's 9th UK No.1 Single, in 1980. I was shocked when some of my fellow
ABBA Fans, did not like it. They said that it only 'deserved' to be No.1 for 1 Week. They were unhappy when it stayed
there for 3 Weeks. 'Super Trouper' is now ABBA's 2nd Best Selling Single, in the UK. Beaten only by 'Dancing Queen'.
So, it has a big place in 'ABBA History', in the UK. It is not 'Rubbish' at all. It is well structured, and beautifully Sung.
I have a very lucid imagination. I think in 'Pictures', (Images), a great deal. It worries me, when I see some ABBA Fans,
saying that the 'New' Songs will be 'Dated', or even 'Not very good'. This pessimism, is without them hearing a Note, of
the 'New' Songs. I have 'Visions', where many Fans, are at a huge Table. They each have very large Knives & Forks. They
are waiting for the 'New' ABBA Songs to be 'Served'. But, they have already decided, to tear them to bits, the moment
that ABBA 'Serve' them. ABBA do not deserve this. It is OK for some Fans to dislike some, (or all), of the 'New' Songs,
but, they must not mock them, verbally hate them, and totally disrespect the Songs, and ABBA. That must not happen.
We must all be civilised about the 'New' Songs, and it is OK to criticise them, (if some Fans feel that way), but it is not
OK to totally disrespect them - or ABBA. (We can leave that to the snobs, who look down on ABBA, and who have never
shown them anything but negativity and hatred).
After all, ABBA Music has been a 'Beacon Of Light' in all of our Lives. Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn and Anni-Frid, are 4 People
who were a Positive, and Wonderful, part of our Lives. They made our Lives better, when we listened to their Music. We
must never, ever forget that. ABBA Music was there for us, whenever we despaired of the many Horrors, in this World.
Lately, I have thought about this, a great deal. I smile, when I think of ABBA meaning so much in my Life. They made
me feel that all was not lost. It is the same for all ABBA Fans. ABBA sparkled, like a huge, beautiful Jewel, in our Lives.
We must not dishonour that, by totally disrespecting their 'New' Songs. We must be civilised and fair in our words.
