ABBA Voyage: General Discussion 2022 May - Aug

I expanded the page on BMI. universal is listed as record company/publisher. They didnt exist in the 1980s...

BMI stands for Broadcast Music Inc and is hosted in the US, so doesn't pertain to releases in the UK. I get the impression it's for worldwide use and it may be the done thing to register your new songs with them. Many of the non-English titles under B&B's names won't have seen a US or UK release. Also, many of the songs don't have a performer listed, even when we know the song was at least recorded by ABBA, so the data is incomplete. The ID number for JLT sort of hints that it was added recently but we just can't tell in what circumstances.

With the Abba Voyage residency extended to the end of May 2023, will this mean more from the album eg deluxe edition, single?

If the reentry is a result of the preview shows and the positive feedback, the impact of tomorrow night and the subsequent news, footage and word-of-mouth will probably give it a huge boost. I think that songs from the setlist might make occasional appearances on the singles chart too.

What do you have to do to be a 'well-known fan', I wonder

I saw in the Facebook group that local residents have been invited to 'dress rehearsals', so it isn't just 'special fans' that have been invited to previews.

Some fans bought tickets for 27th May thinking that they would be in the very first audience and possibly see all four real ABBA members on-stage together. Then it was announced (or slipped out) that there would be a VIP premier on 26th May. Now it turns out there have been preview shows for special fans and local residents.

  Gameleman --  The Monday Show was to reward 'Special Fans'. I'm aware that the 'Local Residents' 
  were invited the 'Show' on Friday & Sunday. The Monday 'Show' was not the same. It was Filmed
  for an ABBA Documentary. The 'Special Fans' were specifically invited to that one. It was to reward
  their loyalty. The rest of us - the 'Ordinary Fans' - were not to be told about it until after Monday.
  I was told on Friday - by a Fan who was invited. He told me to keep it to myself. He said that it 
  was 'Very hush hush'. 'Special Fans' are ones who pop up in ABBA TV Documentaries, and some
  have their own Fanzines, or ABBA Web Sites. I've known a lot of them over the Years. But, I do
  not see myself as a 'Special Fan'. I'm far too shy and modest for such nonsense. To me, all ABBA
  Fans are equal to each other. None of us are 'Special'. Unless all of us are 'Special'!

Onlyabba4meagain

I don't like this idea of Special Fans either. And if a lot of them are media types/celebs they can afford the prices. I assume it was a freebie.

Just received an email saying that photography and video recording during the concert tomorrow night is prohibited!

I was wondering about this. I guess that's the night the media/reviewers will be there.

Yes, that is my Philosophy. We are all equal, those celebs who think they are more Special are deluded, same with Royals they are the same, just because they were born into a privilege life, accounts for nothing in my opinion, l bow to no one:)

Bjorn doesn't want to 'potter about in the the garden' and wants to continue doing music - and that applies to Benny, I assume - as long as it's not the entity called ABBA. Why ABBA can't continue as a recording project for a bit longer, given the health and capability, puzzles me. Maybe Frida is not overly committed to her roses either, and nor Agnetha, perhaps? 
I find it a bit disappointing that the Voyage project 'is it' and hasn't provided the impetus to do a little more.
Still hope the show is a massive success, though.

I don't expect 'special fan' is an official term. I imagine the invitees were what would be described as 'influencers' in modern-speak - people who will go on to promote the cause.

Just because Benny said that's it doesn't mean there won't be any new tracks from ABBA. We don't know exactly what they've been up to since the release of "Voyage" in November, so there could already be new tracks 'in the can' and Benny may mean there will no more ABBA recording sessions from now on.

Quite what Bjorn meant by saying the ABBAtars may have new adventures, I don't know, as surely anything new from them would require 'input' from ABBA themselves - any additions to the repertoire (not already recorded) would need ABBA participation for the motion capture.

I’m guessing the new adventures for the Abbatars will entail a work visa to Las Vegas maybe next summer

Joyce -- Yes, it was my terminology 'Special Fans'. It was just my name for any Fans whom ABBA,
(and Universal), regard as being 'Well Known', and 'Ultra Loyal' towards ABBA. Of course, many Fans
are loyal towards ABBA, but - over the Years - many Fans have appeared in ABBA Documentaries
and on Talk Shows. In the 1990's, I saw several ABBA Fans on a UK Talk Show, chatting about ABBA.
I think that it was 'Trisha' on ITV.

For example, I know Carl Magnus Palm, the ABBA Writer, (and 'Expert'). We exchanged Emails this
morning, in fact. But, I'm not more loyal, than any other Fans, due to knowing him. Nor does CMP
see me in that way. We are just 2 People, who like ABBA. The truth is, that I'm cripplingly shy, and
even if ABBA 'Phoned me, and invited to the 'Show' I'd never, ever go. I'd rather go to Prison!

Years ago, I used to sometimes have my name in the UK Media - talking about ABBA. It went on 
for Years. Then someone told me that Frida had heard of me! I was astonished!!!

Anyhow, I'm sorry, if my using the term 'Special Fans' has angered, or upset anyone. I try - hard
- not to 'fall out' with any fellow ABBA Fans. I never said that ABBA - or Universal - or ABBA's Staff,
had used the Term. It was just myself. 

Gameleman -- Of course, there are not huge numbers of 'Well Known'/'Special' Fans. They may have
been invited, (for Monday's 'Show'), and been allowed to bring a Guest. (Or more than one). I don't
know.