Waterloo 50th / BBC Documentary / Other Anniversary Events

Apparently, you saw the ABBATars from the side, but at Voyage you see them face on. And Björn and Benny added some dialogue wishing the competitors well.

If anyone’s getting excited at that, they really do need to get out more.

Quite drab. The abbatars looked so computer generated too, not like the ISHFIY video.
Their narration was stilted too.

   I've now watched the 'ABBA Bit' of the 2024 Contest, as well as Switzerland's Winning Entry.

   A).. The Artificial ABBA 'Bit' was totally underwhelming. ABBA themselves, clearly have Zero interest in the ESC.

   B).. ABBA showed that they wanted to do as little as possible to 'Celebrate' their 1974 Win. Let's  face it - they 
   never even turned up, in 1975, to present the Winner's Trophy. The previous Year's Winning Act always turn up
   the following Year. But, even by 1975, ABBA had lost interest in the Contest. No wonder, they did not do much
   for the 2024 Contest! We have to get it into our heads - ABBA have Zero interest in the ESC.

   C).. For some reason, there are some ABBA  Fans who expected ABBA to appear as they are now. To make some
   kind of 'Thank You Fans' type of speech. It was never going to happen. Such Fans really must stop expecting very
   much 'Effort for the Fans' treats from ABBA. The Group do not put 'The Fans' first. Always it is 'ABBA First'. They
   do the bare minimum for the Fans. Unless they want to do more - like the 2021 'Voyage' Album. But, they did not
   really try with most of the Music on that. It was like: 'Half-Hearted ABBA'... (We never even got a Deluxe Edition, 
   with 3 or 4 Bonus Tracks. ABBA try not to give Fans much, really! Not when it comes to New Music!).

   D).. The Trio of Female Singers, who Sang 'Waterloo', were not that impressive. I found it very embarrassing.

   E).. I see that the UK Entry finished 18th - out of 25 Songs. 'Only' beaten by 17 Songs, then! Better than I expected.
   But, we got Zero in the Public Vote. Well deserved!!!

   G).. The Winner seems to have got there from the Voice and Staging. The Song is forgotten, even before it ends!
   As will the Singer be forgotten by 2026. Only Loreen seems to have gsined lasting 'Fame', in 'recent' ESC Years.

   THE ABBA 'MORAL' LESSON FOR TODAY:

   Never, ever expect very much from ABBA. Nearly always they give Fans as little as possible. 

   Encouraged to do so by the Fans who say: 'ABBA owe us nothing'.

   Those Fans really do encourage ABBA to give us all very little. Sadly - they never, ever get that. Not ever.
   Instead, many of them call other Fans: 'Moaners and Whingers'. Apparently, it is wrong to ask for much
   from ABBA. I guess we other ABBA Fans don't deserve much! We must be horrible People!!!

I went to bed shortly after the ABBAtars. That was very underwhelming. They didn't look or sound good at all...The word "creepy" is used a lot on social media to describe them.

Just found out Switzerland won. Some people on Twitter getting annoyed Graham Norton referred to the winner as "he"...The UK did terrible, again. I can't recall any of the songs. Not good for a song contest!

Colin, you spent years wanting more from ABBA. When they finally release a new album, you didn't like it.

In 1974, Eurovision was a way for acts to brealthrough. ABBA did it and went on to great things. They don't need Eurovision...


Well, that's it, no big celebration this year. I think some were even expecting new songs. Expectation levels were too high.

Swedish Television didn't want them there in 1975! That was the problem back then, not ABBA themselves...

I didn't expect much for this years 'anniversary' as I am realistic. After all the band members are approaching 80 years of age and live different lives compared to the heady days of the 1970s. For their own sentimental reasons to give both themselves and their fans closure they gave us the Voyage album. We should be very greatful for that.

Years ago Bjorn, when he rejected the calls for a reunion, said he wanted ABBA to be rembered as they were, young and vibrant. With the new technology he got his wish with the Voyage concerts which promote and preserve the band's legacy in the form as they once were.

I sort of get where the members of ABBA are in their headspace. There are things I am well known for in the past which I have nothing to do with now. People have called me a recluse. It is simply the case of wishing to enjoy the twilight years without the baggage of the past. Happy to have done what I did but don't want to go back.

Bjorn has said ABBA is no more. I believe the last time the 4 band members will be together in any public place will be when they receive the royal Order of Vasa medals shortly. That will be the final photo or footage we will see of them together.

As fans are there any things for us to look forward to? The answer is yes. Bjorn and Benny will keep doing their own projects and perhaps the girls might do some further recordings. With the release of the Dolby Atmos albums we will get to dissect the tracks in great depth. There will be some revival and melancholy times as one by on each of them passes away. Perhaps when Benny and Bjorn are gone more unfinished tracks, demos and masters might get released.

So sad as it is, get ready to say goodbye on May 31 when they receive their medals.

Best Wishes

Truedogz

Never quite understood the obsession some have with JLT? I prefer JAN actually, but neither would ever be in my top 20.

I'm not saying anyone here is like this, but I think there is an element in society that clamour for 'more' because they want to tear it down! I love Voyage personally, a mature closure as far as I am concerned. So lovely to hear actual instruments, real musicians, clear vocals, just as they started they finished it off beautifully.

For my own part, I certainly don't feel that ABBA owe us anything. As has been said already, the Voyage album and show are lightyears beyond what any of us might have expected or hoped for a decade ago. Their ages aside, what they choose to do is entirely up to them, no matter how much we might love something extra. 

As fans, we probably need to dial down our optimism a bit. I think we (I!) might be guilty of wishfully misreading titbits, rumours and speculation, and turning possibilities into probabilities. That said, it doesn't mean that anything that does emerge is beyond critique. Last night's "offering" was down to the producers of the show and, from my perspective, they oversold it. The clip from Voyage was distinctly underwhelming, IMO. On the plus side, the camera angles suggest that filming the show is possible. For whatever that might be worth at some point in the future.

So far, the Anniversary year has given us a set of reissues and a few documentaries - one of them pretty good. Has the fat lady sung? Who knows? There are seven months left but I won't be getting my hopes up. I'll gladly take, on face value, any official announcements of any new... whatevers, if and when they come. I can read the mood in this tiny corner of the greater fandom, but I wonder what's being said elsewhere. Does anyone know? 

It's largely 'wanting what you can't have' energy. I love Just Like That but likewise it wouldn't be anywhere near my top 20.

What I want desperately are the two songs from the Voyage sessions that weren't released. Ultimately it's Bjorn and Benny's decision but I just crave as much ABBA as I can get lol

I didn't see the voting last night. What was the process? In previous years, the juries have their votes - then after all that, the public votes were added which often changed things.

This time I have seen individual countries public vote (where Israel did well)

There's a case for a jury system. A case for public vote. I can't see the point of having both.

Too many countries in the final. Maximum of 20.

There also needs to be consistency about banning countries.

Here is that Abbatars/Eurovision clip

There’s another side to that. Whilst I agree that they owe us nothing, that works both ways. We owe them absolutely nothing either. Let’s not forget that.

I used to be a big advocate of the “they owe is us nothing” philosophy (applied to anything with a sufficient fandom, not just ABBA) but time and time again I’ve seen it used to justify/excuse anything an artist does. And used to shut conversation down, and (more likely) shut an individual down. How very dare you suggest we’re owed anything?!

I’ve been very guilty of that in the past and I hold my hand up to it… I’ve since realised that if an artist is going to take the piss, they deserve any criticism coming to them.

I think you’re being a bit naive there? No votes from the public? Seriously? I would agree it’s not a great song and he’s far from being a great singer but he didn’t deserve that.

I think it’s time the BBC withdrew from the EBU. Let ITV/STV do it. It’s far more on their level (they are both, along with the BBC and Channel 4, EBU members). Public, licence fee money should not be funding this dross (and OK, I know it funds football and many other sports that many of us have no interest in, but that can’t justify it).

# BREAKING NEWS #

I can reveal exclusively to ABBA Chat that a new ABBA album will be released in November.

Containing 38 songs, it features classic hits such as Dancing Queen and The Winner Takes it All. On top of that some deep cuts, He is Your Brother, Love Isn't Easy (But Sure is Hard Enough), Under Attack and fan favourite Little Things.

In celebratibg 50 years since Waterloo this album, The Ultimate Collection will be available in 50 vinyl editions.