ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2022 May - Aug

I was astonished to read on the old forum, and later repeated on this one, that Benny said at one point that Karin Glenmark was a better singer than either Agnetha or Frida. Maybe he meant it technically, in terms of her vocal range, power and control, not in terms of musicality? Hope so!

Thanks. Michal, you've put it in context for me.

Oh and Benny has come out with some absolute clangers in the past. Huge respect for the man of course. Him and Björn really know how to put their foot in it.

I remember Benny saying Meryl Streep was (sang like?) a goddess and that Fernando was Cher's now (or words to that effect). Oh, come off it, give me a break.

Well, I think they are bound to do something further with the "Voyage" album before the year is out. A second disc of that nature would be interesting but they would be taking away some of the incentive for people to attend the show. If they go ahead, I hope they do them as clean tracks without audience noise.

Bollocks or not, it sounds like a very sensible idea to take a considered selection of songs from the show for a setting like this. WAISAD and LAYLOM seem like winning contenders from this distance. If the disc can be rounded out with the two unreleased songs and - bless me, father, for sinning - Just Like That, I think we have ourselves a winner. As long as there aren't eleventy bajillion formats. I know they have €140 million to recoup, but enough is enough! And I'm with gamleman in wishing for clean tracks.

I still have my ABBA Tshirt from 1976 It's very old and I haven't worn it for a long time but I couldn't part with it.

If I decided to go to the Voyage concert, it would probably be only the programme that I'd buy as a souvenir.

But I used to be a collector - of guitar string packets! I bought into the marketing balls that one should change strings monthly, so I had quite a few such empty packets. (For guitarists whose hands sweat and that sweat is quite acidic, it's another story.)

But of course this has nothing to do with collecting ABBA-related stuff! And I admit there's an aesthetic appeal in those lovely coloured vinyl ABBA album's, even if never played. But I think a deluxe Voyage album would have to include a lot of new material to attract more casual fans to buy it again. So come on, let's have a final Anniversary album! But highly unlikely to happen. 

Most amusingly (and rather sweetly) Benny has just done a cover of a Foo Fighters song whilst sporting a Foo Fighters t-short!
www.nme.com/news/music/abbas-benny-andersson-responds-to-dave-grohls-glastonbury-top-with-foo-fighters-learn-to-fly-cover-3258722

I’m a huge fan of Tony Bennett, and I saw him in concert about 8 years ago. Guess he was in his late ‘80’s at the time. Did he sound like he did at his early 1960’s peak? Of course not. But by working with a jazz quartet instead of a full orchestra, he was able to adapt his material to best suit his older voice, and he was brilliant. That can be done fairly easily when you’re singing standards.

The problem with Abba, McCartney and others is that they’re known for a very particular sound. McCartney tends to present his concert versions as near-replicas of the original recordings. Abba did the same (with the exceptions of a few extended or hard endings) when they played live in the 1970’s. So unless they presented a complete overhaul of their repertoire…lower keys, new arrangements, etc….to perform as the “senior” Abba, it just won’t work. And sadly, I doubt many people would be interested. We tend to prefer to keep our memories unblemished.

foreverfan,richard,@eddie,bennybjorn,@alib,cliff,

Diana Ross - I like her. But technically she's not a great singer but was blessed with great songs. I don't think her Glastonbury performance was that bad. A trip dowm memory lane


Deluxe Voyage - well, if there is going to be one it will have to be more than 2 songs that didn't make cut first time round.

Souvenirs and the like. I am not one for clutter and don't really go in for souvenirs - and that includes picture discs, coloured vinyl etc


Mature Concert Artists. I am not convinced with that Tony Bennett way. Fans do indeed want to hear songs as they were so probably a right move with the Abbatars show.

Very true, Richard. For myself, I really enjoy it when a performer does something unexpected with a song in concert. I look at it this way…if I want to hear a perfect copy of the record, why should I spend enormous amounts of money on concert tickets when I can just stay home and play the record? It’s why I’ve never had any great desire to see Eagles live. Love their music, but they’re known for performing their songs note-for-note, down to the solos, exactly as they were on the record. What’s the point?

With Abba, I think people got enough variety or interpretations through the cast recordings and soundtracks of the “Mamma Mia” play and movies. So when they want to hear the real thing, they want it to sound as they remember it. Even though I’ve known the “hits” for many years, I’m only recently discovering all the great album tracks through the new CD Album Box Set. Experiencing these songs for the first time is wonderful! Unlike the more devoted long-term fans who’ve lived with these tracks for decades, the songs are sort of fresh to me. I honestly would have no trouble hearing Abba in their 70’s rearrange or reinterpret songs like “Andante, Andante” or “Soldiers.” But, as you said, most of the Abba classics are “definitive in (peoples) minds.”

Interesting to see that Adkins' album has tumbled out of the top 70 completely, yet Sheeran's remains in the top 10.
How can it be?
Well, Sheeran still has songs in the airplay chart but Adkins has none.
It's ridiculous but it makes all the difference in the world.
Voyage's success was remarkable considering only one major station ever playlisted its songs...

Curious: why do you refer to her as “Adkins” when she’s known as Adele? She’s never professionally called herself Adele Adkins and most people would only know of her as Adele. It’s not even like you’re shortening her name as Adkins has more characters than Adele!

I think Adele’s peak has quietly passed, similar to Sam Smith’s did. They still have major hit albums on release but not the staying power. Her next album (probably called “35”) will be number one and sell well, but will likely spend even less time in the top 70.

Ed Sheeran hasn’t reached that point yet, but I’m sure will do in time.

I used to like Adele. However as time has passed by I think she has become predictably boring. Her songs sound all the same. There is no variety or diversity within her albums. I don't really care for her raspy voice either. Hugely overrated.