A+ / Where Do We Go From Here?

Links for pre-orders:

agnetha.lnk.to/AlbumWE?fbclid=IwAR3j6D02KHOLRDpRYVT7EXxoyVi3UXyr9E019e8Yr8IeU6M3Gz17HCgwoX8_aem_AWE7d7peUWSn2en_7O_iLwxSu0rqC5w5SpcDv20fhSsGtHXihTGYmldCS7Rz1kMmaS8

Looks like there is a CD single, but only included if you buy a bundle. Not available separately.

Picture disc. Looks like the running order has been re-arranged:

Just spent £74 on the standard CD, the crystal clear double vinyl and the picture disc. As it’s a bundle, the CD single is also included.

I will resist the white vinyl though, as that was done for Voyage (and also Arrival in the coloured vinyl albums box).

I wasn’t going to but I read the other day that the original “A” vinyl now goes for hundreds. Not seen that for myself, that was a comment on another forum. It’s ridiculous really, it was readily available in shops at the time. I tend to limit it to things I’m really interested in though.

The picture disc design is a bit silly, but I don’t have a “crystal clear” vinyl as ABBA haven’t done one yet. The CD single only in bundles should be a rarity, but depends on how long these bundles are available for.

Not sure about the album… I picked up on this in the BBC online interview…

Referring to Back On Your Radio, the track used to test it:

"We started to listen and I just felt, oh, this is incredible. How can Jörgen do this with my voice?" said Agnetha. "It's the same singing, so I don't know how he's done it. It's like the song has new clothes."

This suggests it’s the original vocals but processed… not sure I’m going to like it.

There is some hope though… "Elofsson's production does the unthinkable - filtering her voice through vocoders and Auto-Tune and a myriad of contemporary digital effects. “We've been very careful with those kinds of things," he says. "We wanted to treat her vocals like they're holy, so when we use those things, it's more for effect.”

The single is OK. I’d have preferred natural vocals.

I listened to the interview on my way to work - Agnetha was charm personified.

I've listened to the song a few times now. It definitely has the same DNA as the album and could easily have been part of the original set. Agnetha's vocals in the verses sound very much like they do on Voyage. As joseph notes, the lovely little cracks and creaks add a lot of warmth. The vocals are heavily processed from the bridge onwards, but that is par for the course with most modern pop - and this production aims squarely for that feel. It also has that 90s retro vibe that's fashionable right now. It's bright, and sounds like a natural sibling for, say, Back On Your Radio or Perfume In The Breeze.

Don't shoot me, but I'm really not wild about the song. I think that had it been on the original album, it might never have seen active duty as a single. Not when WYRLS, ISHFYH and even (the over-rated) DYPA were more obvious candidates. I think the chorus takes a little too long to deliver the hook. But maybe it'll continue to grow on me. It's certainly better than some of the original songs. My personal view, of course. I totally understand that the release will have some people in raptures.

Given the sound of the new single and the rejigging of the running order, I have a feeling that the "reimagination" will probably add a little bounce to the original set. When I saw that there were 2-disc editions, I sort of imagined that the second disc would be dance remixes (like the slightly house-y remix sample of WDWGFH). But it looks like the second disc is actually the original album?

The good news is that there is plenty to tempt collectors, with white vinyl, crystal clear vinyl, picture disc, CDs and the CD-single. All in all, it makes up for the relative disappointment of this not being a brand new album after all. Given that Agnetha gave lots of her time to Zoe Ball this morning, I bet the single will be playlisted. A great result for Agnetha's very assertive PR team!

Nr. 1 iTunes UK and the Netherlands, nr. 4 Sweden, nr. 3 Germany

I love Cut Copy Me. There's another beauty on that album called Next To You. Petula is a great example of an older artist staying true to herself.

I have to agree that a brand new album in an organic style a la MCB would have been fantastic. Maybe this project will encourage Agnetha back to the studio.

Another new picture of Agnetha.

Another new photo:



Colour version of the album cover shot:

Right Alan, but she's #6 in the worlwide iTunes Charts now, also in Australia #6 and #1 in many EU countries, that somehow creates awareness and indicates that the PR worked so far...

I LOVE this song. I love her vocals and what they did with it. Cant get it out of my head

In his interview with Rick Beato, Björn spoke positively of AI models that he'd heard - astonishingly good, or something to that effect. So since a number of comments here indicate acceptance or approval of the treatment of Agnetha's vocals in this song, what about an AI vocal model, a deepfake emulation of her natural younger voice? Think of the implications of that, and if the same was done to Frida's voice.

Regarding the song itself, I agree with Johnny - I find it forgettable, too.

 What does it say about them, Tinneke? Spell it out.

I don't rate the song either. What does it say about me? Are we obliged to like something just because it's by your favourite group member?

Thanks Tony. I was about to say something very similar - on my own behalf -  but you've done it briefer and better!