ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2021 Sept - Dec

What I do not understand is the naivety of the little Things release, we’re they really expecting it to chart high rivalling the other contenders? Is it a Universal/Polar release? Then so far it’s badly thought out, especially when they saw results of Just A Notion. Either, Little Things should have been a single only release or a new B side added. I want to believe that they are not that naive, and ABBA have something else up their sleeve between now and Christmas. A surprise performance? Filmed in Stockholm? I’d like to think so.
I personally love Little Things, though I do like Christmas songs, and I have a Christmas playlist on my iPod, and Little Things slots nicely behind Judy Garland’s Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. I’m happy they finally have a wee Christmas song.

I agree with you, Michal. The internet is pure evil. Joseph, I really am very sorry if I offended you. I am going through a very rough time at the moment with this situation facing all of us. I was only trying to inject a little humour to the forum. Sorry !

I don't understand their naivety either - perhaps they thought they were going to do a repeat of "I Have A Dream", but the world has moved on. The singles of "Voulez-vous" and "Thank You For The Music" released in the 90s didn't chart in the UK either, but these were re-issues of songs that had already charted.

In their heyday, ABBA did have one album that didn't chart in the UK - "Gracias Por La Musica" - but it wasn't promoted.

It's possible/probable that LT is helping to keep "Voyage" in the Top 5, but would it have plummeted without LT? I doubt it - not at this time of year when ABBA albums are probably being bought as Christmas presents. I suspect that the record company were hoping for a return to No 1 or No 2. I supposed there is still time for this to happen.

I understand charts have moved on, and that singles are used for album sales, I see Little Things is quite high on an Apple Music Christmas playlist, but when the press are touting ABBA as a potential contender for the Christmas No’1, if Universal were serious, then why not go for broke. I remember in Kylie’s first year, the press were touting Kylie & Jason were contenders for Christmas No’1, despite PWL records saying no song was forthcoming, according to Pete Waterman (stay with me!) it was only when PWL received 200,000 advance orders that a single was written and recorded.

Names - I am not against people using an alias rather than real name. Just got confused when reading first names but nobody posting under that!

Little Things - I reckon ABBA/Universal were expecting it to be a bit I Have a Dream in terms of success. If Little Things does miss the charts then When You Danced With Me will be the last ABBA chart entry - even though not released as a single.

I think Voyage would have stayed Top 5 regardless of any single released now. People will buy it for their parents or dare I say grandparents!

Looks like Voyage will be #4 this week - but might return to Top 3 for Christmas. I expect sales will drop a bit in January.

I agree with this, though I grew up in the 1970s and 80s and completely understand that singles aren’t released for chart positions anymore, or even to chart. I actually find it harder to understand why more people don’t get that. The idea that Little Things, or any other post-album release single, was ever going to chart highly is laughable. It was never going to happen. What still does surprise me is that the first two singles did so well. I honestly never expected that, I thought they wouldn’t scrape the top 50.

Just A Notion definitely helped to remind people that the album was either soon arriving, or that it had been released. Being a big chart hit in its own right never came into it. It was a success because it promoted the album and got airplay on the radio. Little Things less so though, if it’s only made the Radio 2 b-list, but it doesn’t mean it’s a failure

There’s no evidence to the contrary either, but I’m inclined to agree with you though. However, it will inevitably be picking up some album sales, even if it’s not enough to alter its chart position. There are always positives. Plus, as a single, it means it can possibly appear on future Christmas compilations. As an album track with no video, it may have stayed hidden. Happy New Year was from a very different time so can’t really be compared.

That’s why I think there is maybe another plan, ABBA only need 1 week to grab the Christmas No’1, elevate it to A list on Radio 2, and a specially recorded performance. I am doubtful but hopeful!

Matt Pop has just released his remix of Little Things. I couldn't imagine where he's take the mix, given his style and the very "unpop" feel of the song, but I think he's done a terrific job. He even managed to bring in a little something from 40 years ago....

What do you think?

There's a limited time download available - the link is under the video on YouTube. I downloaded it and was thrilled to discover that he's even created a kind of B-side: a lovely merging of Agnetha's and Frida's respective versions of När Det Lider Mot Jul. He managed to make it sound like they recorded it together. Amazing!

As for the Little Things remix, I think it's really addictive. I think it may be his best ABBA remix since his superb mix of The King Has Lost His Crown. His mixes often add sugar. This time, he's taken it away. I really love this.

If I had any power in ABBAworld, I'd have officially released that mix of TKHLHC as a single in the "fallow years." The mix really elevates the song. The Little Things mix feel very unMatt Pop. Those bracing drum sounds from Soldiers and the added synth patterns make the song feel almost indie. I never thought this song could work like that because, as Benny says here, "it's not pop music."

Not sure if reported elsewhere but album sold another 125,000 worldwide last week and is now #6 in the global album chart.
Total sales just under 1.25 million.
www.mediatraffic.de/albums.htm

I bought the singles ISHFIY and DSMD from Amazon. Also, I purchased a copy of JAN from The Official ABBA Store. I won't be buying a copy of LT as it already appears on " Voyage ". All the others were available to buy before the release of ABBA's new album. Obviously the record company and promotors want to rake as much cash from gullible buyers as possible. Not from me they don't.