ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2021 Sept - Dec

I feel the same way. Although of course never a certainty, the probability of this being the last chance to see all four of them together was the incentive for me to try to get a ticket for 27 May. My reasoning was: I will try to get a ticket for that date and if that works out, I will go there for sure and if not, I might go at a later date or maybe even not at all. After several tries I managed to get a ticket for the 27th, so that decision was made.

It was in the news everywhere that 27 May would be the opening night, with no mention whatsoever that there would be a pre-opening night for VIP's on the 26th. Now that this news has come out, my guess is that ABBA will attend the show on the 26th of May and not the 27th. They could and should have been clear about the fact that there are two opening nights, one for VIP's and one for the general public. Especially knowing that many fans are travelling from abroad, not to mention all the extra expenses involved.

Meanwhile Voyage is enjoying a second week at number one in the Dutch album top 100 as well as in the Vinyl 33.

I'm going to have a crack at ranking the songs but of course it's very early days so this could all change in a year, or even in a week or so.

I Still Have Faith in You
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I can't fault this, despite the fact there probably are some flaws. It's Frida's vocal for me.. so emotive. The melody is simple but affecting. True fact: A tear (or two) falls silently down my cheek every time I hear the song. A real highlight.


When You Danced With Me⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm still getting to grips with this. I liked it straight away but I haven't listened to it too much. I overplayed the first two singles, which I regret now, and I don't want to make that mistake again. I want the songs to slowly take root in my heart.



Little Things ⭐⭐⭐

As Christmas songs go, it does what it says on the tin. I generally detest this genre but they've cracked it. A bit cheeky in parts, which helps defuse the twee element. I'll try not to skip it but that will be hard come Summertime.


Don't Shut Me Down ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just perfect. I love the slight cracks in Agnetha's voice and her storytelling is as immaculate as ever (Frida is spot on with her praise for Agnetha's skills, although she's a master storyteller herself). I like that thing she does when she says "... appear now". Like a wry laugh. Someone, forget who, referred to Agnetha's voice as "shot" and rather patronisingly as "poor Agnetha". Outrageous. And completely untrue, not to mention mean. Still, whatever. One man's meat and all that. It's classic AꓭBA in that chorus where Frida's warm tones underpin Agnetha's voice. In fact, Frida shines on this album. It's not that Agnetha doesn't, but Frida really was a revelation.

Just A Notion ⭐⭐⭐

I'm on and off this. I've tried really hard to love it, and thought I did, but it simply hasn't gotten under my skin. Maybe it will in time but I doubt it.

I Can Be That Woman ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A lot going for it. Unusual topic. Agnetha sounds great and when Frida joins in with those harmonies.. well, just wonderful. Lyrically, some of the lines make me wince a little (as is also the case in one or two of the other songs, I'm not sure why).

Keep an Eye on Dan ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I do love this. The verses! I'm coming around to the chorus slowly but surely. The music is great, it really gave me goosebumps. The title, and even the lyrics, made me think of Kate Bush. So different! Love the imagery Agnetha's vocal evokes.

Bumblebee ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Liked it straight away. Harmonies are spot on. There's not a great deal to be said that hasn't already been said. I KNOW this little fella with his furry bum sticking in the air covered in pollen. I'm IN Frida's garden. Maybe I need to get in there earlier but even if I did I'm not sure I'd express my thoughts adequately.

No Doubt About It ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a belter. Or, to use the vernacular, 'banger'. This clears the cobwebs for sure. Immediately made me think of Frida during her Shine period. I like the way it swoops and soars (if that even makes sense).

Ode To Freedom ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'd like it to be a tad longer. Just a smidge. Very moving and I'm still grasping the meaning.

There ya go. Not exactly earth-shattering revelations from me (I have the words in my head; they just aren't forthcoming in text).

Now , get me to that concert so I can suspend my disbelief, return home euphoric and die a happy man knowing I got to 'see' AꓭBA in concert.

Pretty much agree with your ratings, Joseph, and what you say about them. For me, No Doubt About It isn't quite good enough for 5 stars, but Frida's wonderful vocal is!

I feel it also when she sings "...or let me enter?" That flirting with the audience is splendid.

I suppose you remember when they announced the avatar show + the 2 news songs, at the time, an ABBA worlwide TV special produced by NBC was supposed to be aired around Christmas 2017 (don't remember the year)...



Maybe the "VIP" show will be a tv special...

Colin, all that chart news is very good indeed. Let’s hope it encourages ABBA to make a tenth album!

I have a question: if those 626,000 sales of Queen’s Greatest Hits are excluded, as they should be, which has sold most, the Queen album or the ABBA album?

It's now available on German Amazon too, if anyone is interested. The shipping costs are much more reasonable and the handling of returns is much quicker too (I have already received a new copy of the defective orange vinyl).

Great news from the charts!

As for the opening night... There was a talk about a preview. The official fan club will have some tickets for it, I think. I suppopse the ABBA members are well aware that many fans have bought the tickets to the opening night with a hope of seeing them in person. So my bet is, if they choose to attend, they will attend both nights.

Thanks for your reassuring views about the opening night(s), Michal. I'd certainly like to think that ABBA themselves are in touch with their fans' feelings and plans. I guess it's possible that B&B will attend both nights - they may be interested in the reaction of the real fans to the show - but I have my doubts that A&F will hang around in London for two nights.

Your scores of the album tracks are not dissimilar to mine and I would also give "Bumblebee" three and a half stars, if we could use halves.

I have stopped ordering from UK completely for the very same reason. Until Brexit, Amazon UK was my first choice. The new EU import laws made things even more complicated, so I have limited my orders from the "outside world" to absolute minimum. Not only because it's more expensive but also because I can't be bothered with filling in a customs declaration for every single package from outside of the EU even if it's worth one cent.

The counting of Queen's sales is unfair. They get to be double counted. A third of The Platinum Collection goes to Greatest Hits but the Platinum Collection also gets its own sales.

Anyway, this is meant to be about Voyage. Sorry.

I think the ABBA marketing people have missed a trick. They could have offered boxes of Christmas cards with the LT design on. Provided they weren't vastly overpriced, I think they would have been popular. They could even have put the cover of "Voyage" on the back as an advert. And of course, they could have donated a percentage of the profits to charity.