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Post by Michal on Aug 30, 2023 13:41:29 GMT
I’m starting to warm to the idea. I'm trying not to too much - yet. I don't want to end up building high expectations again, as the yesterday's news were really like a slap in the face after everything we imagined might come. Of course it was not Agnetha's fault. But the people handling the promotion have clearly overkilled. However I must admit that actually it's still good news. Not as good as we hoped for but still good. The artwork looks classy. The good thing is that they don't try to make Agnetha look 20 years younger like on the original cover of A. Will the single be a physical release? |
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Post by Michal on Aug 30, 2023 13:51:41 GMT
I ask myself how I'd feel if Benny and Björn announced they were reemagining The Visitors album Not sure about a whole album but a few tracks from across their repertoire would be welcome. You can call the Voyage version of When All Is Said And Done re-imagined - and it's very good! There would certainly be more suitable candidates, especially those, that they are not completely happy with (My Love, My Life for example - it would definetely benefit from stripping down the arrangement). As long as they don't add rap passages or ask Elton John to sing a few lines here and there, it could be interesting. |
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Post by HOMETIME on Aug 30, 2023 14:14:48 GMT
I could be wrong, but the photo on the single looks like it might have come from the same session as the colour pic used to advertise the radio interview. Both sleeves are much moodier than the original album's artwork - I wonder if this reflects the aural aesthetic of the new versions.
Maybe the single will give us some broad idea of how the other tracks might have been reimagined. Hopefully, it'll be available to stream/download as soon as it goes on air tomorrow.
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Post by HOMETIME on Aug 30, 2023 14:16:43 GMT
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Post by justabba on Aug 30, 2023 14:19:35 GMT
Snippet now on Instagram!
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Post by Alan on Aug 30, 2023 15:26:42 GMT
CD and white vinyl artwork. Looks like there are more photos.   |
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Post by foreverfan on Aug 30, 2023 15:57:20 GMT
For all of our initial excitement then disappointment, it's back to being interesting again... intrigued now...
Like the cover work...
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Post by Alan on Aug 30, 2023 17:49:23 GMT
It would seem that there are two vinyl editions: single LP on white vinyl, and deluxe double LP on crystal clear vinyl.
I’m assuming listings will go up on Amazon etc once the interview/premiere of the track has taken place tomorrow.
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Post by BAAB on Aug 30, 2023 19:46:44 GMT
It has nothing to do with the original Agnetha track, it's a different song!
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Post by Michal on Aug 31, 2023 8:01:32 GMT
So, have you heard the song? I still wonder what they did to Agnetha's voice or if it has changed so much much since 2021 but I must admit I often had hard time identifying her even during the verses. During the chorus she's completely unrecognizable under all those backing vocals. All in all, an average song, which could have been lifted by the magic of Agnetha's voice, but sadly isn't...
As for the album... just remixed. We'll see if for better or for worse.
The highlight of the interview for me - Agnetha neither confirmed not denied ABBA would do something for the 50th anniversary of Waterloo next year.
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Post by richard on Aug 31, 2023 8:42:57 GMT
Always nice to hear the ABBA members talk, and Agnetha is no exception: a lovely, classy person.
After only a couple of listens, I think the song is pretty average, and I don't feel I want to hear it again, but of course I will. But her voice sounds heavily manipulated to me. Hope I'm wrong about that
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Post by paulman on Aug 31, 2023 9:06:25 GMT
I don't agree that this is an average song. I would say that fans are overly critical of Agnetha's songs and on the other hand they don't scream for some Abba songs.
The reality is that Agnethe is 73 years old and cannot have the voice of her youth. This is physiologically impossible. In late age, the voice loses its pitch and dynamics. Furthermore, with advancing age, the elasticity of the ribcage is lost, and thus the volume of the lungs also decreases. On the voice, all this is signed as a decrease in vocal range
The voice is no longer so strong, but on the contrary, it is sharper, rougher, hoarse.
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Post by richard on Aug 31, 2023 9:09:28 GMT
Not like this (if I've got it right). That was for specific musical effect. This seems to me a more general thing - again, if I'm right.
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Post by iiwftn on Aug 31, 2023 9:25:41 GMT
I liked the song. Perfectly nice.
More than anything, on a forum that discusses songs from a band that is somewhere between 41-51 years old, and about people who are in their mid to late 70s: isn’t it just remarkable that here we are, on 31st August 2023 talking about a new piece of music?
Agnetha, the jewel in the crown of ABBA, is still with us, is still relevant and still looking magnificent!
Today, is a very good day.
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Post by paulman on Aug 31, 2023 9:27:52 GMT
I liked the song. Perfectly nice. More than anything, on a forum that discusses songs from a band that is somewhere between 41-51 years old, and about people who are in their mid to late 70s: isn’t it just remarkable that here we are, on 31st August 2023 talking about a new piece of music? Agnetha, the jewel in the crown of ABBA, is still with us, is still relevant and still looking magnificent! Today, is a very good day. Well written. I absolutely agree. |
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Post by Michel on Aug 31, 2023 9:46:05 GMT
To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed. I sneakily listened to the broadcast at work today and the song didn't grab me at first listen. Although it's wonderful that Agnetha has recorded again, the song itself is nothing earth-shattering.
I was also hoping the reimagining of "A" would be in a stripped down orchestral style (like "I Was A Flower") but it appears to be the opposite: a remixed version of the album with current radio-friendly disco-pop beats and processed vocals. I'm not sure how that could be an improvement but we have to wait and see until the remixed version appears.
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Post by Michal on Aug 31, 2023 9:48:49 GMT
I would say that fans are overly critical of Agnetha's songs... The reality is that Agnethe is 73 years old and cannot have the voice of her youth. I don't criticize Agnetha's voice. I know she's no longer 20. But the song is nothing special. Pretty bland in my opinion. But it goes down to a personal taste of course. Many songs on A seemed bland to me too but Agnetha's voice made them special. Here it doesn't happen unfortunately. And again it's not Agnetha's fault. If her voice is weaker (which is understandable), a subtler, toned-down arrangements and less poppy songs would suit her better. But she seems happy with the result, so good for her. The song is just not my cup of tea. |
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Post by johnny on Aug 31, 2023 9:51:33 GMT
Where Do We Go From Here? A retirement Aggie, a retirement home.
You'd describe this song as "pleasant" in the same way you'd say a genial person who bores the pants of you as "nice enough". Agnetha continues with her solo blandness.
I am sure Aggie had a better time in the recording studio than we do listening to this disposable pap.
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Post by Alan on Aug 31, 2023 9:52:27 GMT
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Post by Michal on Aug 31, 2023 9:54:19 GMT
By the way, have you noticed that I Should Have Followed You Home seems not to have been remixed? All other songs have A+ behind them but ISHFYH doesn't. Or is it just because there is a text "feat. Gary Barlow" in the brackets behing the title of the song and so they forgot to add A+ (also in brackets) behind it?
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Post by paulman on Aug 31, 2023 10:03:18 GMT
Because I have been listening to American and European music for decades. I have heard tens of thousands of songs, singers and groups. I spent all my time listening to music From swing to disco. I used to play the violin and I think I have an ear for music and I can evaluate Agnetha's new song quite objectively, like a grade 2 at school.
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Post by foreverfan on Aug 31, 2023 10:08:48 GMT
Nice little interview
Underwhelming song....alas
Potential ABBA at Eurovision....
Good bad good as they say......
Ps.. perhaps I need to hear track a few times, as " We" tend to be hyper critical at times... emmmmm
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Post by foreverfan on Aug 31, 2023 10:10:10 GMT
Don't mince your words Johnny ..lol.....
She has made the BBC website... marketing seems to be going well..... at least....
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Post by iiwftn on Aug 31, 2023 10:15:15 GMT
Also a big thanks to Zoe Ball, a huge ABBA fan who keeps on banging the drum on national radio.
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Post by voyage2 on Aug 31, 2023 10:18:08 GMT
I'm at work so haven't been able to hear it yet. Is it a recently recorded song, or recorded in 2012? A tad disappointed if the vocals are all heavily altered. Agnetha's voice unadulterated is so lovely, why play around with it?
Having said that, I think it's fantastic to even be here discussing ABBA/Agnetha projects in 2023! Who would have thought that?! So they can do whatever makes them happy as far as I'm concerned, they've earnt it!
And may I just say she looks fabulous! An advert for not destroying your face with surgery etc!
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Post by iiwftn on Aug 31, 2023 10:19:21 GMT
I was just being cheeky when I wrote that 😉
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Post by richard on Aug 31, 2023 10:29:33 GMT
Of course it's great that ABBA got back together, after decades of not doing so, for Voyage; and it's wonderful that throughout Agnetha has periodically wanted to record. And I feel disappointment that Frida, for various understandable reasons, hasn't done the same.
But more generally, there are a number of artists I like. Some of their tracks I think are poor or average or don't appeal to me, others good or very good, and a few I regard as superb/excellent/exceptional. For me, anything other than this approach amounts to sycophancy.
I imagine many engaged pop music lovers feel the same.
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Post by paulman on Aug 31, 2023 11:00:21 GMT
I personally like improvisation in the closing notes of songs. Just like African-Americans do.
However, as an example I would mention the song Last Christmas long version.
It's true that the vocal potential, but also the personal charm|George Michael is comparable to Elvis, but he just lacked enough melodic songs. Unfortunately.
This improvisation is missing in Agnetha's last song and the same escalating and continuing tones in the high passages, but the songs have their potential.
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Post by joseph on Aug 31, 2023 11:08:46 GMT
I have to hear the song a few more times but I liked it immediately. There's enough of Agnetha's voice in there to make me happy. I like the slight rasp and crack that's in there due to age- it adds a certain pathos. The song is a touch of fading summer sun, a warm caress as summer starts to end. The production is bright and breezy. It's just a pop song about love! Yet again there are idiots slagging it and Agnetha off. There's one thing being critical and not liking something and quite another being hateful. One person said it was 'horrible'. Really? What a muppet, anything for attention. I think the vast majority are quite positive.
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Post by paulman on Aug 31, 2023 11:13:39 GMT
I have to hear the song a few more times but I liked it immediately. There's enough of Agnetha's voice in there to make me happy. I like the slight rasp and crack that's in there due to age- it adds a certain pathos. The song is a touch of fading summer sun, a warm caress as summer starts to end. The production is bright and breezy. It's just a pop song about love! Yet again there are idiots slagging it and Agnetha off. There's one thing being critical and not liking something and quite another being hateful. One person said it was 'horrible'. Really? What a muppet, anything for attention. I think the vast majority are quite positive. Very well written indeed. I can only agree with this description. |
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I quite like it!
