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Post by paulman on Oct 22, 2021 12:42:13 GMT
Unfortunately, this new version seems to me to be worse than the original.
It's such a honky-tonk version.
Instead of a piano, I would like to put an electric guitar at the beginning.
It's all on a major scale, it would be better to intersperse the song with mole tons.
Unfortunately, Agnetha's singing is up to a ton below with less energy.
The end of the song is interesting with other vocals, but unfortunately ended prematurely without development.
Overall, the song sounds too commercial. I think that the melody has its potential, which was not sufficiently used.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2021 12:43:20 GMT
Michal, I can't see the point of paying extra for downloads in this streaming era. Physical copies for diehard fans yes, but not downloads.
Talking of physical copies just pre-ordered the CD - so add this to the pre-order totals 😃
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Post by HOMETIME on Oct 22, 2021 13:41:39 GMT
Onlyabbaformeagain wrote...Already, it looks like it will not be anything like the UK Hit, that the 2 previous Singles were. It has taken
several hours to reach No.17, in the UK Downloads Chart. Not very good, when it does not take big Sales,
to reach the Top 10, of that Chart. It does not look as if it will do much outside the UK, either.Its just moved to 5, so new momentum ? It's currently at No.7 on the Irish iTunes chart. Having gotten to No.4 there myself a few months ago, I can confirm that the position is utterly meaningless - it takes unbelievably little to make that kind of impact. What I'm wondering is whether this position is a result of people playing the track when it automatically came to their libraries from all the album perorders, or are there standalone downloads making it happen?  |
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Post by foreverfan on Oct 22, 2021 14:46:56 GMT
^^^ Im sure, your correct, as I doubt there are many official figures out there we can follow and as so many has said it does become meaningless, which is such a shame, I know " things " have to evolve, but everything now in the charts, means what ? So the charts become less relevant.
I care for ABBAs chart career (as if i can influence !0 so for the time being while they are around Id like them to be as successful as they can be, top 20 singles and number 1 albums....
Im sure it will all evolve again one day ..
BTW.. it's number 4 at present......
Anyone know if its a limited pressing of JAN ?
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Post by lamont on Oct 22, 2021 14:47:05 GMT
As usual there is a slight melancholy feeling in this joyful wee song, as, is the other person real? The protagonist has a Notion what’s happening, but it may just be a dream, a crush, like in When I Kissed The Teacher. It adds some gravitas to the song.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2021 14:56:35 GMT
Post has not arrived so had to listen on You Tube! It's such a fun, happy, foot stomping song! Made me smile and after these past 19 months, it's refreshing! Radio 2 Record of the Week next week is great news. Love the piano! Only disappointing thing, why couldn't a proper video have been released, similar to ISHFIY? Can't wait for the CD to arrive to hear it in it's full glory!
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Post by richard on Oct 22, 2021 15:10:07 GMT
After a few more listens to Just A Notion this afternoon - and that I want to keep listening indicates the song's appeal for me - I find it joyfully life-enhancing. Love the ending with the girls' vocal climax and then Benny's piano in the outro. Just great.
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Post by bennybjorn on Oct 22, 2021 15:15:44 GMT
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Post by chron on Oct 22, 2021 15:28:09 GMT
First couple of listens to Just A Notion says we're fairly squarely in I Do x 5/Why Did It Have To Be Me laidback glitter-boogie land, here - chunky barroom piano, horn players parping away (while possibly dressed up to resemble members of Wizzard). It's thoroughly slickly done, but it's always been far from my favourite style of theirs; all of their clap-along Blueberry Hill wannabe tracks have quickly worn out their welcome and ended up as album skippers. The words are decent (probably in no small part because they're relatively throwaway). Anyway, I'm playing catch-up here: after all the moaning about the world record-long wait, these things are out of the traps and have caught me on the hop! The two earlier released seem superior to this latest (and one of those earlier ones seems to stand out clearly, on top of that), and I need to give them a bit longer to soak in. Is there a thread for solely discussing the new tracks? A quick look suggests this thread is currently a mish-mash of reactions and chat about physical/non-physical release variants.
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Post by Alan on Oct 22, 2021 16:05:52 GMT
Interesting post on PopJustice:
“Some of the people who got the jewel case single of “Don’t Shut Me Down” in Sweden noted that the inlay contains the lyrics of both DSMD and “Just A Notion”, implying it was originally intended to be a bonus track/b-side to the single. As we know that they recorded more songs that didn’t make the album, I wonder (it scares me) what else is to come? If they’ve another trick up their sleeve? Perhaps another single, held back to coincide with the launch of the Voyage live show in May?”
This would tie-in with earlier rumours of a deluxe edition next year with additional tracks. It makes sense to have one top-quality song to release as a single. Could Just A Notion have been promoted to full album track and single to help facilitate this?
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Post by hejiranyc on Oct 22, 2021 16:19:29 GMT
You’re right, all four of them are on it according to YouTube. I always thought Björn was on it.  Just curious... is there a legit explanation for why Bjorn does not play any instruments on ABBA recordings? |
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Post by pixi on Oct 22, 2021 16:29:26 GMT
After a few more listens to Just A Notion this afternoon - and that I want to keep listening indicates the song's appeal for me - I find it joyfully life-enhancing. Love the ending with the girls' vocal climax and then Benny's piano in the outro. Just great. , I totally agree. Have just given JAN my first blast in the car. It is so joyful sounding, just wish it was a summer's day here in Ireland   |
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Post by chron on Oct 22, 2021 16:42:06 GMT
Just curious... is there a legit explanation for why Bjorn does not play any instruments on ABBA recordings? I have the feeling that even during ABBA's heyday, Bjorn would've only contributed a bit of supplementary rhythm playing, if that, in the studio. He would've contributed more in concert, but even there you get the feeling it was as important for him to be seen holding an instrument as it was for him to be helping to round out the sound, in order to mark him out as flanking the centre-stagers, Agnetha and Frida (Benny, seated at the keyboards, was already naturally positioned away from the central spotlight). In any case, if you've got friends like Janne Schaffer and Lasse Wellander to help you out, okayish but basic guitar playing is surplus to requirements. (Did Bjorn ever do any sort of guitar solo live?) |
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Post by Alan on Oct 22, 2021 16:50:19 GMT
^^ In terms of what was seen visually then, Björn was the Andrew Ridgeley unless he was singing? 😆
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2021 17:19:33 GMT
Wishing a warm welcome to all the new members of the forum. We will have a lot to discuss over the coming months. I have heard JAN a few times now and it is growing on me. The song is typically ABBA with an Elvis inspired honky tonk feel to it. It is an incredibly catchy earworm. Overall it is an uplifting and happy song. I can see myself bopping away each time I have a listen and a generous glug of cider or something stronger. I really don't care if I swing from the chandeliers as I am experiencing euphoria. Great to have ABBA back. I am excited with the forthcoming new album " Voyage ". A big thank you to Agnetha, Frida, Benny and Bjorn for lighting up our lives with their comeback.
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Post by joseph on Oct 22, 2021 17:24:23 GMT
Well..Just A Notion clearly divides us fans. On the one hand, many adore it... see it as the best thing since sliced bread while others are underwhelmed and some even claim to 'hate' it, which I find really over the top. It's not amongst my favourites (it wouldn't make my top 10 or even top 20- those remain pretty consistent even after all this time) but it isn't a bad song at all. I Still Have Faith In You has a special place. It's sung with such emotion by Frida and Don't Shut Me Down reminds us all of how ABBA have still got 'it'.
I suppose it's inevitable everyone's going to have their opinion and that's fine but I do hope everyone keeps in mind what a truly joyous thing this is. ABBA.. back together...I never felt it would ever happen again. It's a joyous thing. Whatever position the songs and album get in the charts worldwide really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Great if they reach number one far and wide, no big deal if they don't. It'll be successful anyway. It already is. Chart positions are mildly interesting. It's the music that counts. That, and the continued health and happiness of the four members.
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Post by chron on Oct 22, 2021 17:33:14 GMT
Wishing a warm welcome to all the new members of the forum. Hi, Edmund! Good to see you again. Nice of you to extend a hand to the new members. Just to let you know, I'm an old member: orf, as was. Got weary of that name and changed it (to one I'm growing tired of even more quickly than the one it replaced!). |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2021 17:35:06 GMT
Joseph, I too feel ISHFIY and DSMD are in a league of their own. One an emotional and heartfelt ballad and the other a brilliant and quirky pop song. JAN is yet another different song. Jolly and upbeat. The more I listen to it the more it grows on me. ABBA have an incredible gift in composing and performing very diverse songs.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2021 17:37:32 GMT
Hi Chronington, thank you for your kind wishes. It is great to see all of us back just like ABBA.
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Post by justabba on Oct 22, 2021 17:41:51 GMT
Well Just a notion is straight on radio 2 A list tomorrow as well as record of the week!
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Post by johnb on Oct 22, 2021 18:06:31 GMT
Just curious... is there a legit explanation for why Bjorn does not play any instruments on ABBA recordings? I have the feeling that even during ABBA's heyday, Bjorn would've only contributed a bit of supplementary rhythm playing, if that, in the studio. He would've contributed more in concert, but even there you get the feeling it was as important for him to be seen holding an instrument as it was for him to be helping to round out the sound, in order to mark him out as flanking the centre-stagers, Agnetha and Frida (Benny, seated at the keyboards, was already naturally positioned away from the central spotlight). In any case, if you've got friends like Janne Schaffer and Lasse Wellander to help you out, okayish but basic guitar playing is surplus to requirements. (Did Bjorn ever do any sort of guitar solo live?) He was usually credited with acoustic guitar. I think Arrival credits him with acoustic and some electric guitar. Without reading through the album credits I'm not sure but I think he is also credited with banjo on Chiquitita? and I believe that, with Lasse Wellander and Rutger Gunnarsson, he is one "The three Boys" who play mandolin on "One of Us". There doesn't seem to be any acoustic guitar on any of the new tracks we've heard so far. In the old days there was nice jangly folksy strumming all over the place in ABBA stuff. "Name of the Game", "Knowing Me Knowing You", "Fernando" etc. It was part of the "wall of sound". |
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Post by Michel on Oct 22, 2021 18:35:51 GMT
The single is getting a 4/5 star review in one of the Netherlands' biggest newspapers:
"Long-preserved ABBA single is cleverly put together and would not have been out of place in its heyday.
With the third single from the upcoming album, ABBA takes a look at the vault with old, previously unreleased songs. It is unknown why "Just a notion" was not released in the late 1970s, but it wouldn't have looked out of place in the extensive oeuvre of the Swedes.
With the boogie-woogie intro on the piano by Benny Andersson it is immediately clear: the third single of the new ABBA is not meant to sit around to. "Just a notion" was released today as a new prelude to the album "Voyage", which will be released in two weeks. Unlike the first two songs released, this one is one to dance to.
The song is not new. It was nominated for "Voulez-Vous", the album that ABBA launched in 1979. Although the quartet probably had a good reason at the time to ignore "Just a notion" for that album, it certainly wouldn't have gone amiss.
The uplifting song, driven by piano and the harmony vocals of Agnetha and Anni-Frid, is about two potential lovers who are still in the phase of orbiting each other. The mix of boogie-woogie, rock 'n' roll and pop, sounds cheerful and can be recognized as ABBA for everyone in a few seconds. It's cleverly put together; the bass line does its job, as do the subtly added horns.
It is clear that the band members in 2021 no longer know why they left the song behind at the time. In 1978 they recorded a demo version of it. "I have no idea why we didn't use it," says Björn Ulvaeus. "I think that will always remain a mystery. It's a ridiculously happy song that will hopefully cheer people up in these trying times."
"Just a notion" follows the ballad "I still have faith in you" and the typical ABBA earworm "Don't shut me down", two new songs that accompanied the announcement of the album and a concert series. Starting next year, advanced avatars of the band members will be featured in a live show in London."
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Post by chron on Oct 22, 2021 19:18:01 GMT
[Just A Notion] is not amongst my favourites (it wouldn't make my top 10 or even top 20- those remain pretty consistent even after all this time) but it isn't a bad song at all. I Still Have Faith In You has a special place. It's sung with such emotion by Frida and Don't Shut Me Down reminds us all of how ABBA have still got 'it'. The first two released taken individually I see as sort of spotlighting and celebrating what each member of the band's song-writing team is renowned for. I Still Have Faith showcases Benny's melodic talents, his way with strong hooks and love of affecting harmonies, whereas Don't Shut Me Down puts the spotlight on Bjorn's wordsmithery and interest in storytelling. Overall I think ISHFIY is the most successful track. It's the bigger production number of the two, but they're well-versed in doing those and on safer ground with it. It's ruthlessly structured to sweep and ascend upwards until it becomes lost to the stars, with Bjorn's misty, conciliatory lines slotting in to work well in support (with one glaring exception), and they achieve what they're after with bells on. DSMD is more quirky and more adventurously put together; it finally doesn't come off half as well as ISHFIY, but they deserve some credit for taking more of a chance with it. |
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Post by pixi on Oct 23, 2021 0:16:23 GMT
Whether you like JAN or not, it's still our ᗅᗺᗷᗅ and we are blessed to have them back. Surprisingly (or not) the lyric video is trending on Youtube so make sure to give it a few clicks.... entered at 16 earlier this evening but has climbed since   |
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Post by madonnabba on Oct 23, 2021 3:27:22 GMT
The more I listen to JAN the more I hear. It is a very happy song and hopeful song. Like the horns the piano and the choir. All three songs are so different. What an album this could turn out to be. And a Christmas song too. I know some fans would love JLT to have been included but parts of the song have already been used in Under Attack so I think it is unlikely to ever be released and the lyrics would need work. Back to JAN. I'm sure the vocals are from 1978 but not so sure about the bit at the end before the fade.
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Post by madonnabba on Oct 23, 2021 6:04:51 GMT
Well that's me added JAN to several of my playlists on Spotify including my Gym list. Quite like uptempo ones for the gym ...they get me motivated. Joined the gym recently and it has been great for me to use the time to visit Abba songs past and present. Feels good to be able to say present.
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Post by daronjulian on Oct 23, 2021 6:55:58 GMT
The box is the most desirable aspect of that, at first glance. I've given up trying to figure out how much it'd cost alone - say $14 for the CD and $30 for the shirt... So about $16 for a cardboard box? In all, it looks like something you might buy as a Christmas present for the ABBA fan in your life. I wonder what's the logic behind making it a US exclusive? |
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Post by daronjulian on Oct 23, 2021 6:57:16 GMT
Tony, they do this so that it makes crtain issues of the album very desirable. The only way to get them is through ebay at inflated prices.
They have just done a lmited edition one for the Australian market, how many more are they going to do?
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Post by jj on Oct 23, 2021 7:52:15 GMT
I'm still thinking that I won't be surprised at all if "Bumblebee" turns out to have the same chorus melody and the same harmonies as the chorus of "Just Like That" (in 1994's "Undeleted").
I'm even willing to bet (and lose) a small amount of money on this being the case! 
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Post by HOMETIME on Oct 23, 2021 7:58:31 GMT
Thanks, daronjulian! Even so, it seems an odd strategy. As soon as the limited number has sold out, that's it. ABBA/Polar/Universal won't get a red cent from the ebay sales. Like, I'm certain that my decades-long search for the 1979 UK picture disc of the Voulez-Vous album did nothing for the album's fortunes. Apart from me finally getting my lovely treat, the only other beneficiary of the transaction was the woman in Dorset who got twenty-eight of my hard-earned pounds! I'm glad that they did a limited run for the Australian fans. Their couple of years of mania and hysteria lent so much to the ABBA legend. |
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