ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2021 Sept - Dec

I think Ed is talented but he does get a lot of exposure. Starting to find his songs a bit too similar. Amazed at his success in France given that he sings in English. And the UK never seem to get points from France at Eurovision. His songs are catchy. But streaming is a measure of how many times song is played ...not a measure of how many different people have listened to it. The singles charts have been devalued with streaming. Had Abba released new songs 10 years ago pre streaming , they would have no doubt hit number one. I have spoken to so many people who have yet to hear the songs and that's 4 weeks in! Think a TV promotion at the time might have improved things.

I saw a clip of this today.

Let's not stereotype ABBA fans.

People from a wide range of music tastes like them. (Personally I have a broad taste)

Joe Strummer of The Clash was a fan. So is Elvis Costello.

It is not all Kylie and Steps fans.

ABBA would not have the enormous popularity if just liked by Cheesy Pop fans.


I liked ABBA and punk bands like The Clash and The Stranglers. I liked Disco acts like Chic and Sister Sledge.

I like Ska groups like The Specials and Selector and New Romantics/Electronic like Depeche Mode and Human League.

I like Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac and Blondie.

What is a usual ABBA fan?
I never liked Brotherhood of Man, Bucks Fizz, the Nolans ir the Dooleys.

No biggie, but I do hope Björn doesn't do a solo on Voyage. I'm not particularly averse to him singing, just on this occasion I'd rather he didn't. However, I fluctuated about TFTPOO for a long time but now I enjoy it. It's incredibly catchy and those backing vocals are to die for.

As for fans of ABBA liking other music.. I am probably in the minority here in that I can't stand Steps or The Dooleys or anything else of that ilk, although I do have eclectic taste. I even surprise myself with the music I like! There's even some rap and Hip Hop I like. From punk, to hard trance, classical, folk...everything- except a lot of the truly dodgy "cheesy" pop. Still, taste is subjective. One man's meat is another man's poison and all that.

Here's Dave Grohl wearing an ABBA t shirt. He's a nice bloke too, by all accounts.

Oooooh! After all that's happened, it's hard to imagine what it could be. A new single/video? A TV special? A personal appearance by the women? The possibilities!! And given how right they were before the release news, I'm inclined to trust this.

It could be. I also saw the post from yesterday. The guy that posted it has been well informed in the past. He knew 10 tracks on the album, when the 2 songs would be released etc. Seems a reliable source...

Thanks for posting this article, Johnny and to Alan for pointing out some exciting news to come. I still have to regularly pinch myself as I still can't believe ABBA are back.

^^^ I guess a full interview with all 4 of them in the same room.. would be great....

   1). I know that a lot of ABBA Fans found it 'difficult' to get into 'I Still Have Faith in You',
   because ABBA don't sound quite the same, as they did in 1981/1982. Some Fans had
   a 'problem' to get into 'DSMD', as well. We have to be reasonable. ABBA are 40 Years
   older now. It would be totally unfair, (and rather silly), to expect ABBA to sound the
   same, after so many Decades! 

   2). Because some Fans, had a 'struggle', to like, or appreciate, the 2021 'Sound' of ABBA,
   we can expect them to also be ultra critical about the 'Voyage' Album. It will be wrong,
   and pointless criticism, because such Fans, wanted ABBA, to sound as they did, on their
   'The Visitors' Album! Some Fans - who live in an unreal Fantasy - will even be upset,
   that ABBA don't sound as they did on 'Voulez-Vous', or some earlier ABBA Album!

   3). All ABBA Fans, should realise, that we are hearing ABBA, as they sound many
   Decades on. It is impossible, for them to sound, like they did in the 1970's, or in the
   early 1980's. So, of course the 'Fantasy World' ABBA Fans, are going to have a hard 
   task, to get into all of the 'Voyage' Songs. Some Fans will even dislike every Song 
   on 'Voyage'! Those Fans, are not being at all fair to ABBA! They have - miraculously
   - given us an entire New Album, and we should be amazed, and thankful. Not being
   ultra critical of it, because it does not sound, like the 1976 ABBA, or 1979 ABBA, or
   1980 ABBA! Can we all - all of us - not just be 100% grateful to ABBA? It is quite
   wonderful. A great light, in the awful darkness, of this World. 

   4). At present, I still cannot believe that ABBA are giving us a 2021 Album. I wake
   up each morning, and - at first - I think that it is a Dream, that I've just had. Then
   I realise that it is really true. I lie there - astonished. That is how miraculous it is.


 

That's the thing for me, too. It's not just about my likes as a listener: one has to respect musicians to be true to themselves as well. Where the two meet - that's a great place.
But it's unrealistic to expect that always to occur, even with our favourites. A couple of songs spring to mind which, I think, have been highly regarded by Benny and Bjorn, but not so much by quite a number of ABBA fans: I Wonder and The King Has Lost His Crown. I happen to rate them both, too.

I love both songs. I love the nods to the past in both songs. The drums in ISHFIY remind me of the drums in Fernando and the piano in DSMD of Dancing Queen, the bells of Super Trouper and the song like a follow up to One of Us. Love the lyrics in both songs. Knowing they are perfectionists just fills me with confidence about the other tracks. The ending of ISHFIY reminds me of Close Encounters for some reason ..Abba written in the stars and the last few notes as if its a message to worlds beyond. As for the exciting announcement, could it be they have agreed to a film of their story along the lines of Queen and Elton John? Better to have a say in its content than to leave it to others. Difficult to imagine what could be more exciting than what they have given us to date. Roll on 5th November. I am thinking of applying for the day off work. Just like the old days , playing the new album on repeat.

Not sure about 30 being linked to Adele. I think it might be to do with climate change and the upcoming conference in Glasgow. 30 years would take us to 2051. The conference was originally to have taken place in 2020. Might explain the numbers appearing all over the world. Not sure if she would want to go up against Ed. He seems to be dominating the charts at present. Although I am hopeful that Abba could take at least one week off him. Abba aside, I would rather Ed was number one than Adele. She needs to move on to more uplifting songs. The minute I hear that voice it's change the chanel time. The Abba shows playing to 21000 people a week may help sales throughout the duration of its occupancy. Outwith the big release period, it doesn't take much to get to number one these days, so still in with a chance next year. Whether number one or otherwise the sales will be impressive for a band which split almost 40 years ago. Doubt if Ed or Adele will be able to sell as they do now in 40 years. Once the cds and vinyl hit the shelves including supermarkets, the sales should be impressive. More visible. Most of the people I have spoken to , to date are aware Abba are releasing material but have yet to hear the two lead singles. The Mamma Mia dvd release sold in huge numbers on it irst day and week helped by being visible in shops everywhere. Even Ed and Adele could not compete with the first day and week sales of the Abba related musical. I know I have gone for groceries and bought a cd or book when there either because it was conveniently available or I was unaware of its release. If Gold can sell nearly 6 million over 30 years who knows how many of those buyers might be tempted to indulge in the new album as they cruise the shopping aisles. As for the contents of the album . With every album, I buy Abha or not there is usually one or two which are growers with me. With Super Trouper it was Happy new year. I now love that song but I wish now that they have been back on the studio that they would change the 89 lyric. It dates the song. Change it to something like ....what lies waiting down the line, through the passage of time ...or the through the journey that is time. I'm sure Bjorn could come up with something. It would make the song timeless. Of the track titles, my concerns are over Keep a, n eye on Dan. Fears of another TFTPOO. However we did not ask them to leave in 1982, we are bewildered at their return and I am.keeping an open mind over all the tracks.See what I did there? Maybe Keep an eye on Dan will be my favourite. I keep humming it to the chorus of Rubber ball man...... Keep an eye on Dan, Rubber ball man.

Re: Abba vs Ed vs Adele

From what I have read it looks like Adele's album is coming out 19th Nov. Taylor Swift has moved hers from 19th to 12th.

If ABBA were to get to #1, it would probably be in first 2 weeks. It would be nice but not the end of the world if not.


Fans expectations
When all this was announced first in in 2018 and more recently the Media covered the story with clips of Waterloo and Mamma Mia. Well, ABBA aren't going to sound like that now, are they?


New Songs
It took me a few listens to get into the 2 singles. But now I love them. Don't forget Just a Notion we've heard was never the finished product. It seems their will be a variety of styles on the new album - which is good imo.

Unless ABBA release a follow-up 🤩