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Post by richard on Aug 26, 2023 9:52:38 GMT
I remember, years ago, listening to a live concert on BBC Radio 2 given by Neil Sedaka, then in his 70s, and I thought he sounded fantastically good. But I don't think the same could be said about most singers that age, including Paul McCartney. And, likely, Agnetha, or Frida. Trouble is, without some sort of manipulation/enhancement, a studio album recording would only serve to focus attention still further on any vocal decline.
But maybe an artist is aware of their age-related vocals, but both they and their fans either accept it or ignore it - or, indeed, aren't aware of it.
I'm just about hanging on to the skimpy hope that ABBA recorded more songs than they're admitting to during the Voyage sessions, and that these will be released for their 2024 anniversary. So I hope Phil/ evilincarnate is wrong (as I'm sure he does) when he thinks that this new Agnetha album spells the death-knell regarding a final one from ABBA.
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Post by BAAB on Aug 26, 2023 11:24:48 GMT
In a German ABBA forum a guy who knows Agnetha in person reported that, if it would have depended all on her, we would have received a new ABBA Album in 2014. She was very fond of the release of "A" and liked the idea of doing something special for the 40th ABBA Anniversary.
But the other 3 said NO!
It would have been a completely different project, not having the ABBAtars in Focus. With Voyage it's a different thing because it completely subordinates to the ABBAtars.
It is not true that Agnethas activities block ABBA!
Therefore I think that the 2 ( plus X) ABBA Songs will appear in 2024. Another ABBA Album was or is not depended on this Agnetha project, however I think it was never planned anyway.
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Post by evilincarnate on Aug 26, 2023 11:44:15 GMT
Thanks for the update BAAB.
I should point out that I didn't wish to infer that Agnetha was "blocking" future ABBA activities, rather, I believe her solo project simply signals the end of the line for ABBA.
I believe Agnetha was/is keen for more ABBA recordings/releases, but I just assumed it was Benny who was the stumbling block. I'm very surprised that Frida would be resistant, but perhaps her age and health may be a factor in no further participation?
There's no denying that Agnetha is the youngest of the four and probably wants to make good use of her final 'vital' years.
I do believe that the two new ABBA songs scheduled for a 2024 release could easily be incorporated into the 'Voyage' setlist and that would also extend to another album (if pursued) so the associated promotion could actually be essentially handled by the ABBA-tars. I don't see any reason for there to be additional pressure upon the individual members as it could just continue to feed the relevance and longevity of the show.
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Post by Alan on Aug 26, 2023 12:37:22 GMT
evilincarnate, BAAB’s post suggested that Frida wasn’t interested in 2014. Voyage happened from 2017 to 2021, so clearly (if her 2014 refusal is true) she changed her mind. Also, in that radio interview with Zoe Ball, Frida indicated that she was disappointed that Björn and Benny had dismissed the idea of any further work from ABBA.
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Post by evilincarnate on Aug 26, 2023 12:54:04 GMT
Oh yes, you're quite right Alan. Apologies, in my haste, I misread BAAB's post and am very glad about that because perhaps the two girls can still twist Benny's arm! Thank you for clearing that up.
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Post by Michel on Aug 26, 2023 13:33:45 GMT
Maybe I'm not looking in the right places, but the reaction to all this news seems - surprisingly - far more muted than it was when A/WYRLS was teased. There's a lot of "yaasss!!!" and crying emojis on Insta, but not much of it seems to be coming from fans. Maybe that's because we already had "the holy grail": the release of a new ABBA album after 40 years, something nobody ever thought would be possible. Nothing could top that. The announcement of a solo album may seem a little less exciting since Voyage happened. |
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Post by voyage2 on Aug 26, 2023 13:55:50 GMT
The more I think about it, the more I think it will be a box set celebrating 40 years since Agnetha's first English language album, plus additional unreleased tracks and maybe a brand new bonus song, hence the '+'? Whatever it is, I sure hope we don't have to wait as long as we did between the first 2 songs from Voyage and the actual album being released! That two month wait felt like forever!!
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Post by scaramouche on Aug 26, 2023 14:17:50 GMT
If it is a retrospective, I don’t know why it wouldn’t be on Universal or another of her previous labels. Old tracks would have to be licensed and I can’t see any financial reason why BMG UK would get involved unless it’s a new album. Being that Agnetha is an important asset to Universal, I am sure they would have been more than happy to help curate a best of if that is what she wanted to do.
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Post by Tinneke on Aug 26, 2023 14:53:41 GMT
I think Agnetha isn't interested in old stuff. It's a new album. Something new that is a challenge for her.
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Post by Tinneke on Aug 26, 2023 15:21:59 GMT
Indeed Hometown you are not looking in the right paces... I read it all and there is a lot of goodwill and great reactions!!!
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Post by HOMETIME on Aug 26, 2023 18:27:55 GMT
Brilliant. That's great to know, Anneke. The album deserves a proper welcome.
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Post by BAAB on Aug 26, 2023 18:43:34 GMT
Oh my... that means a lot of different media versions to get any chart impact, I start to spare my money and make room for 10 more Vinyls, 3 CDs, Deluxe Box, etc. etc. 😀
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Post by Tinneke on Aug 26, 2023 20:48:49 GMT
I am not getting royalties so I am going to buy one copy :-) Not obsessed by chartpositions very much. Just want to hear what she sounds like.
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Post by BAAB on Aug 26, 2023 22:01:02 GMT
Like one critic noted for "A": "Beautifully boring as ever" ?
I'm not sure what people expect from Agnetha? If one hears her early solo works, her style is "romantic Schlager" which later changed to "romantic Pop" that's it. Her artistic peak solo wise was "Elva Kvinnor I Ett Hus"
But she is always herself.
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Post by Tinneke on Aug 26, 2023 22:07:50 GMT
Yes he is always herself and most of the time she stays true to herself, like it or not. I wish there is no connection to the Abba camp on this album. I don't long for a duet with Frida either. it's her on her own. let's not look back to her previous output but look ahead.
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Post by HOMETIME on Aug 27, 2023 10:49:01 GMT
The plot thickens.
My husband visits a Kylie forum and, last night, someone recalled a strange thing that happened during the release of her Disco album - guestlist edition in 2021. It seems that ASCAP released a tracklist that included either a writing credit or a 'featuring' credit for Agnetha Faltskog. The website post was quickly withdrawn but had fans scratching their heads. Does this ring any bells with any Kylie fans here? Could the track finally have found its home?
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Post by lamont on Aug 27, 2023 11:30:31 GMT
I remember the Kylie/Agnetha link too. Plus, Frida is friends with Kylie, Kylie is signed to BMG, Kylie attended Abba Voyage premiere….
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 12:46:38 GMT
So it seems we're in for a duets album? Fingers crossed for Frida being one of the partners.
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 12:56:36 GMT
I think Agnetha isn't interested in old stuff. You keep repeating that at various threads. Is your opinion based on something Agnetha said? I can't remember she ever expressed such a thought. Yes, the lack of attention to certain reissues (the Swedish solo albums were not available on CDs for a very long time and where is the Deluxe edition of I Stand Alone that was reported few years ago?) but I think that the record companies are more to blame. Actually I think it would be nice if we got a career retrospective box with an accompaning DVD but I agree that this "Where Do We Go From Here" line hardly points in that direction. They would not make such a fuss about a reissue, no matter how spectacular it may be. |
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 13:20:53 GMT
By the way, it's interesting how our perception of who actually blocked ABBA's reunion all these years suddenly changes. We were led to believe it was "the blonde recluse" but finally it seems that apart from Agnetha's difficult period in the nineties it wasn't so. And even than Benny and Björn were very busy with Kristina and then Mamma Mia! so there was really no chance for a comeback until the 1 billion dollar offer in 2000, which was of course too much to swallow.
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Post by scaramouche on Aug 27, 2023 14:38:22 GMT
The plot thickens. My husband visits a Kylie forum and, last night, someone recalled a strange thing that happened during the release of her Disco album - guestlist edition in 2021. It seems that ASCAP released a tracklist that included either a writing credit or a 'featuring' credit for Agnetha Faltskog. The website post was quickly withdrawn but had fans scratching their heads. Does this ring any bells with any Kylie fans here? Could the track finally have found its home? I guess it’s possible this project has been in the works for some years and was delayed by Voyage. |
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Post by Alan on Aug 27, 2023 16:38:52 GMT
Well, she duetted with Gary Barlow so it’s not too much of a stretch to believe the Kylie possibility. Anything’s an improvement on Barlow (well, apart from Elton John). And don’t forget that Gary Barlow described Agnetha as “the voice of ABBA” as though Frida didn’t exist…
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Post by Tinneke on Aug 27, 2023 17:29:53 GMT
Can't we just be happy about this new chapter? Why drag Frida into this? Some fans are hopeless.
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Post by HOMETIME on Aug 27, 2023 17:56:29 GMT
Can't we just be happy about this new chapter? Why drag Frida into this? Some fans are hopeless. We are happy?! How has Frida been "dragged into" this? What's "hopeless" about mentioning her? The discussion is hardly at Agnetha's expense. What's the problem, exactly? I guess it’s possible this project has been in the works for some years and was delayed by Voyage. I guess that's possible: the release would have been close enough to Voyage, now that you mention it. Given the danceability of the Kylie project, I wonder if that indicates the possible feel of the Agnetha project? A more uptempo set would be a nice progression on the last two more ballad-laden albums. I guess we'll find out soon enough. |
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Post by Michal on Aug 27, 2023 18:23:13 GMT
Can't we just be happy about this new chapter? Why drag Frida into this? Some fans are hopeless. I am happy. I don't demand anything. But the combination of the two voices is one of the best things that happened in music history. And the occasions on which we can hear it is so rare nowadays, that every opportunity is welcome. |
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Post by richard on Aug 27, 2023 18:51:53 GMT
Call me a hopeless fan - actually, I'm hopeful that it might happen! - who would love to hear a duet of Agnetha and Frida on Agnetha's new album. And I've no doubt that only a tiny minority of fans, anywhere, would not want to hear such a duet. And if Frida recorded a new album after all these years, I'm sure the vast majority of us would love there to be a duet of Frida and Agnetha there as well.
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Post by HOMETIME on Aug 27, 2023 19:12:32 GMT
I think the chances of that are higher now than at any other point in the past, richard. We can hope. I wonder if any of the connected types on Popjustice have any information to offer? We've come quite a distance in this discussion with precious little information. |
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Post by justabba on Aug 27, 2023 19:14:22 GMT
I think the chances of that are higher now than at any other point in the past, richard . We can hope. I wonder if any of the connected types on Popjustice have any information to offer? We've come quite a distance in this discussion with precious little information. Knowledge in the industry appears to be very thin! |
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Post by HOMETIME on Aug 27, 2023 19:19:33 GMT
They really have this secrecy lark nailed! That's two major projects kept under wraps when many a lesser act's details have been blabbed about and leaked. Agnetha must have a set of brass knuckle-dusters in her bag.
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Post by Tinneke on Aug 27, 2023 20:27:06 GMT
What I mean is in the previous posts the soloalbums of the girls are compared. Why? They are different singers with different qualities. And did we forget about 1865, Morning has broken, and the Dan version of I have a dream? And A is NOT heavily autotuned except for Back on your radio and that was intentional. I don't want a Frida duet either. This is Agnetha on her own giving us a new album at the age of 73 and not Abba. I have to jump into her defense here. The reactions on facebook, instagram are so positive! She always get criticized.
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