ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2021 Sept - Dec

Anyone know if Colin (onlyabba4meagain) is OK? He hasn’t been online for getting on for a week.

I can't say I've ever been mad about Just A Notion either. All those demos were just meh to me. A few promising touches/ideas but nothing earth-shattering. It remains to be seen. I mean, heard. It may turn out to be a favourite! But the demo? Nah. Same with Dreamworld, Under My Sun and so on. "Needs more work".

As for Adele..well, thats her shtick I suppose. Miserable introspection. She can sing and I really like her as a person but she don't half whinge! Change the record, girl! It's all become much of a muchness. I don't think she can sing about anything else, can she? I mean, I know love is the most important thing but there are other topics. Her fans love it all, however. It just feels like I'm gonna drown in misery listening to her, even if I can appreciate her talent. Thank God for ABBA and variety! I used to bemoan Two For The Price Of One for somehow 'spoiling' the so-called 'cohesion' of The Visitors whereas now I'm thinking perhaps I was wrong and it added some much needed relief, if you'll pardon the expression. In my mind, I love the idea of a fully angsty ABBA but they'd always had a penchant for the occasional light, throwaway ditty and those backing vocals are to die for anyway. And who am I to tell a musician about their craft when I can barely play the recorder?

As for onlyabbaforme, he'll probably be around when there's chart placings to post. I don't think he's ever been one to discuss the songs or anything to do with the vocals or a particular bassline or whatever. Talking of which, I don't recall who said it but someone wasn't keen on the instrumental break in GGG? That's one of the best parts! It's so cool. That bass! The sirenesque voices of Agnetha and Frida...bliss the way it builds and builds. I never want it to end. I wish ABBA had done more of this kind of jamming. I hate it when it's cut out, same with the guitar break in Eagle. It's sacrilege to cut it out.

Let's hope Eagle, Gimme Gimme Gimme (AMAM) and The Visitors are part of the Voyage concert song list. Throw in Angeleyes and Lay All Your Love On Me and I'll die a happy man.

Shut clings on at no.97! Gold climbs to 11

I thought it was probably linked to Agnetha's hand on the window in the video of "The Day Before You Came", where she touches her manfriend's hand through the glass - sort of symbolic of ABBA touching their fans for the first time in 39 years.

Can't flipping stand Adele Atkins! Why? Tedious cliched lyrics and she sings in a fake accent. Horrible stuff.

Her songs suck the life out of me. I think I would prefer her as a show host but give up on the music. Would hate to be trapped in a lift with Capaldi, Sam Smith and her if they decided to have an impromptu sing song. They could out wail each other. I can't imagine why anyone getting ready to go out or party would want to play her songs . And if I was feeling low, I certainly would not want to listen to her music to try and lift my spirits. On top of that bored with her linking the album titles to her age , her divorce ....what significant event next? Most people would seek the company of friends and family during a divorce, separation. She goes public and writes an album? Really? Think any potential partner would think twice before getting involved with her for fear of their life being the fodder for another album. Mind you she has a sizeable bank book. Be interesting to see how her sales compare to previous sales. Is she relevant to the younger streaming audiences? Think Ed has the edge. Just hope Abba give them all a run for their money. Wonder how Voyage's advance sales are racking up? Last I heard 80 000. Remember in 1980 , Super Trouper had record advance orders of 1 million in the UK. A record at the time.

Some very good comments about ABBA's music there, Eddie.

I'm fascinated by personal taste in music: how two people may have diametrically opposed opinions about this or that group yet share an enthusiasm, or dislike, for another group. There may be no discernable pattern to it. I think a lot of it relates to what appealed during one's teenage. Not always, but quite often. (I think Joseph may have mentioned something along those lines about 10 years ago on this thread. Feels that long ago, anyway.   )

I happen to like both The Beatles and ABBA, and over the years I've read negative comments from fans of both groups about the other group. And I'm sure the word 'boring' has been used here and there. But I bet there are a number of fans from both groups who find Beethoven boring!

It's a complex thing.

(By the way, I enjoyed watching and hearing on YouTube Annie Lennox's rendition of Beethoven's 'Moonlight' sonata, slow movement; and I wonder if Agnetha has kept up her piano playing in any capacity at all?)

Yes, Agree, also about success too. If they too successful people like to knock them down, in 20 years, Adele may still get to No’1, but her sales will be diminished.

Yes, Tony, tribalism and sacred cows sums up a lot of it.

And what I find particularly appalling is the sly disparaging or ignoring by some fans of the vital contribution of a member of that group: member vs member 'tribalism', if you will. ABBA and Fleetwood Mac are two examples of this with regard to the female members, especially. It still seems to go on.

Yes too much so and so Vs so and so, only thing it does is increase record sales, so it’s all contrived, I’m not a fan of Adele, or Ed, few songs I like of each though, though they obviously Uber talented. At least they got recognition when they are active, whereas ABBA had to wait till they stopped ten years!

Thanks for posting these lyrics. Must admit, they seem a bit bland/clichéd to me but hopefully the music will make up for them.

I’m hoping Keep An Eye On Dan isn’t a reworking of You Are My Man! Just because it was such a huge hit in Sweden.