ASenseOfExpectationn
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Post by ASenseOfExpectationn on Feb 9, 2024 22:17:23 GMT
Seeing many of you ABBA fans waiting with bated breath for the 50th anniversary has inspired me to write this one-off post.
Here are my thoughts of what is going to happen for the #Waterloo50th (ignoring the anticipated half-speed album and singles box of Waterloo):
SVT GALA: Although it is being held a concert hall owned by Bjorn and early press of the special suggests it has the blessing of ABBA’s people, The SVT gala will not be considered as an official ABBA event. The promotional artwork for the event doesn’t even use the ABBA logo.
NEW COMPILATION: I am expecting a new compilation later in the year with the songs leftover from the Voyage sessions, regarding the unconfirmed report that there would be “Some new songs, but not a new album.”
JUST LIKE THAT: Should that song ever be included in the above compilation, I am expecting it to be in the vein of Just A Notion on Voyage.
EUROVSION 2024: I am for certain that, if there is nothing big happening on April 6th, this year’s Eurovision would have something big and ABBA-related. Expect at best an interval act with former Eurovision stars covering ABBA tunes.
DOCUMENTARY: Don’t expect a documentary in the vein of The Winner Takes it All (1999) and Super Troupers (2004), expect it more in the vein of The Beatles: Eight Days A Week, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart and Queen: Days of Our Lives.
MISCELLANEOUS: I am also expecting a covers album in the vein of Elton John’s Revamp and Restoration albums, a possible Thank ABBA for the Music 25 performance at the 2024 Brit Awards and a My Colouring Book 20th anniversary deluxe release through Rhino Records.
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Post by justabba on Feb 10, 2024 9:56:31 GMT
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Post by Michal on Feb 10, 2024 10:28:21 GMT
⬆️ It's not directly from SVT actually. They even have the date wrong. The gala takes place on 6th April. And unless I missed something, the article doesn't reveal anything we already don't know.
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Post by Michal on Feb 10, 2024 10:33:00 GMT
By the way, as far as I know, the heads of the official ABBA fan club and of ABBA Intermezzo are going to the gala. It may mean nothing but it may indicate that something is about to happen there, rather than in London. But it's just my personal feeling, which may be completely wrong of course.
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Post by justabba on Feb 10, 2024 10:34:23 GMT
By the way, as far as I know, the heads of the official ABBA fan club and of ABBA Intermezzo are going to the gala. It may mean nothing but it may indicate that something is about to happen there, rather than in London. But it's just my personal feeling, which may be completely wrong of course. I didn't know this previously. Did you? There will be more! SVT promised there will be more going on when it comes down to ABBA this year, but this information will be made public in due time. So, stay tuned! |
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Post by Michal on Feb 10, 2024 11:55:02 GMT
justabba, I've learned about this just a couple of days ago from a friend. It seems Regina from Intermezzo doesn't know more than anybody else. I don't know about Anita and Helga but obviously all of them think that the right place to be on 6th April is Stockholm...
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Post by HOMETIME on Feb 10, 2024 12:11:03 GMT
Seeing many of you ABBA fans waiting with bated breath for the 50th anniversary has inspired me to write this one-off post. Here are my thoughts of what is going to happen for the #Waterloo50th (ignoring the anticipated half-speed album and singles box of Waterloo): SVT GALA: Although it is being held a concert hall owned by Bjorn and early press of the special suggests it has the blessing of ABBA’s people, The SVT gala will not be considered as an official ABBA event. The promotional artwork for the event doesn’t even use the ABBA logo. NEW COMPILATION: I am expecting a new compilation later in the year with the songs leftover from the Voyage sessions, regarding the unconfirmed report that there would be “Some new songs, but not a new album.” JUST LIKE THAT: Should that song ever be included in the above compilation, I am expecting it to be in the vein of Just A Notion on Voyage. EUROVSION 2024: I am for certain that, if there is nothing big happening on April 6th, this year’s Eurovision would have something big and ABBA-related. Expect at best an interval act with former Eurovision stars covering ABBA tunes. DOCUMENTARY: Don’t expect a documentary in the vein of The Winner Takes it All (1999) and Super Troupers (2004), expect it more in the vein of The Beatles: Eight Days A Week, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart and Queen: Days of Our Lives. MISCELLANEOUS: I am also expecting a covers album in the vein of Elton John’s Revamp and Restoration albums, a possible Thank ABBA for the Music 25 performance at the 2024 Brit Awards and a My Colouring Book 20th anniversary deluxe release through Rhino Records. First of all, if you're inspired to write like this, please sign up and post regularly. Hello! I love a good old bit of speculation, and this is right up my street. I think you're absolutely right about Eurovision events. It seems like a no-brainer. Maybe it could take the form of a sing-off like that extended scene in the Eurovision/Fire Saga movie. Getting ABBA to deliver the votes of the Swedish jury would be the icing on that cake. I dearly hope you're right about the documentary. This sorely overdue first would be extremely helpful in steadying the good ship ABBA Legacy. Focusing on the music, with people who were actually involved - in addition to ABBA themselves - is exactly what's needed. Sorry, Pete Waterman and Lulu, but you weren't there. Put your opinions on ice for this one. Channel 5 will probably be in touch with you soon enough. A small point is the title. I hope that its something more interesting than ABBA: Thank You For The Music. (Maybe ABBA: Let The Music Speak?) That compilation seems like another no-brainer, and the inclusion of the Voyage off-cuts would certainly be a selling point for a range of fans encompassing the completists, the diehards, people who attended Voyage, and possibly people who have forked out for (and liked) the Voyage album and the odd additional studio album. The exclusively Gold-owning great unwashed might be less moved. So my hope is that Universal and ABBA are wise in making interesting decisions regarding alternative/Voyage versions, remixes, and more documentary tracks in the vein of FATSTAPA. Oh, and Just Like That, natch. I share gazman's enthusiasm for a Voyage live album. But from my own experience in the Arena, I would hope that the audience noise would be very tightly controlled on such a release. I don't want a bunch of tuneless ticket buyers shrieking along over the band. A covers album could be interesting and, depending on who is performing at the Gala thingy, it could emanate from that (even in part)? While Agnetha has been canny in hitching her releases to anniversaries, the twentieth anniversary is worth marking in and of itself. If it includes the few outtakes that were mentioned over the years, and got its first vinyl release, it could be great. Likewise the fortieth anniversary of Frida's Shine (and there are finally leaks of the unreleased tracks out there). And the Chess album is 40 years old too. In celebrating ABBA's half century, it seems worthwhile to acknowledge what the individual members got up to. It has to be more than Mamma bloody Mia. Even if it's only to illustrate what went on in the decades between The Visitors and Voyage. |
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Post by Donna on Feb 10, 2024 13:00:52 GMT
I would be very happy to get the 2 unreleased Voyage songs complete, JLT sax version mastered, Voyage live audio and DVD. I think they can call it quits after that!
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Post by Michal on Feb 10, 2024 13:11:03 GMT
I completely forgot about the MCB anniversary. It's indeed a year full of anniversaries both ABBA and solo. The Chess one was celebrated 10 years ago with the expanded edition of the original album. The question is what more can be done with it. Are there any outtakes left? Except for Every Good Man, which I think will never be released. Maybe the original Chess in Concert could be released (that is, if the footage is available) - it would be great to have that moment, when Karin Glenmark saves the performance, on DVD.
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Post by Alan on Feb 10, 2024 20:23:30 GMT
It has to be more than Mamma bloody Mia. ”EXCLUSIVE: Plans for Mamma Mia! 3 have been stopped in their tracks by ABBA stars Bjorn and Benny because there "isn't enough songs" to work with, which producers don't agree with.” Oh, how sad. I’m absolutely devastated at this news. 😆 |
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Post by Tinneke on Feb 10, 2024 21:03:28 GMT
There is a god!
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ASenseOfExpectationn
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Post by ASenseOfExpectationn on Feb 11, 2024 5:19:46 GMT
Thanks everyone for your responses to my thoughts, I did not expect it.
Just wanted to make a few additional comments:
- I am expecting the documentary as a cinema or streaming release.
- Could the Voyage concert get a limited cinema release in IMAX with a few of the extra filmed songs?
- I am also envisioning all four ABBA members to do an Oprah-style interview.
- And lastly, should the SVT gala be unlikely to get an airing internationally, perhaps a revised version of the BBC/NBC special (Which was to launch what would eventually be Voyage had Simon Fuller been involved) could be on the cards later in the year with different broadcast partners?
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Post by lamont on Feb 11, 2024 15:47:23 GMT
Said it before, I’ve used my nephew’s Virtual Reality head set (played Star Wars!) it was amazing, an exclusive release on that would be outstanding and be another first for abba.
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Post by johnny on Feb 13, 2024 15:39:47 GMT
The most favoured response to the poll at the start is the 2 unreleased Voyage songs will get released. But on a deluxe edition or new compilation?There has not been a compilation since Streaming so I wonder how that would affect Gold's "sales". Universal could nominate Gold as its album for streaming while fans buy the compilation album.
The TV documentary is the next most popular response. Let's hope it's a serious one such as the type you get on BBC4 - and not as several have said the rent-a-quote type show with Pete Bloody Waterman.
So, it looks like there won't be an ABBA event at the Arena and its clashing with a less tham impressive gala evening.
Not long to go now until the anniversary but all pretty under-whelming so far...
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Post by BAAB on Feb 13, 2024 22:00:03 GMT
Said it before, I’ve used my nephew’s Virtual Reality head set (played Star Wars!) it was amazing, an exclusive release on that would be outstanding and be another first for abba. Well with the new iPhone Headset it would be a very exklusive experience for around 4000 Dollar! :-) |
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Post by lamont on Feb 14, 2024 11:52:10 GMT
Said it before, I’ve used my nephew’s Virtual Reality head set (played Star Wars!) it was amazing, an exclusive release on that would be outstanding and be another first for abba. Well with the new iPhone Headset it would be a very exklusive experience for around 4000 Dollar! :-) The Oculus Quest is £400, still expensive, but when you experience VR it’s totally worth it, and with abba you could experience the show from different places in the arena, seated, standing or even as one of the band! |
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Post by Justin24 on Feb 14, 2024 12:17:58 GMT
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Post by HOMETIME on Feb 14, 2024 12:45:34 GMT
Finally! Good to see a big piece of the puzzle confirmed. The description suggests that The Visitors is outside the scope of the documentary. I wonder if (i.e. hope that) another documentary is in the pipeline, covering the sharp left turn taken in 1981/82. Equally fascinating, from my POV.
Thanks for sharing the good news, Justin!
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Post by bjorenny on Feb 14, 2024 13:05:18 GMT
"Deleted and unreleased audio..." Now you're talking! Let's hope this leads to the anthology many of us are craving. If not, it'll still be good to hear.
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Post by jj on Feb 14, 2024 15:30:47 GMT
"... directed by multi-award winning director James Rogan". 
That means it could be top-shelf stuff. Rogan's directed some serious and well-respected documentaries. It's about time ABBA's career is given a more careful and respectful appraisal.
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Post by Alan on Feb 14, 2024 16:33:36 GMT
"Deleted and unreleased audio..." Now you're talking! Let's hope this leads to the anthology many of us are craving. If not, it'll still be good to hear. Indeed. The key paragraph is: “The documentary features unprecedented access to SVT (Swedish public television) archives including rare footage that capture the band’s rise to fame and the intense negativity they faced at home. With privileged insights from sources close to the band complete with exclusive photographic memories, rare footage, deleted and unreleased audio, unique band archive from behind the Iron Curtain and several exclusive access interviews that have either never aired or were thought lost since transmission; this is the untold story of ABBA.” You really would hope that the “unreleased audio” ties in with a release of what we’re after. Plus it’s the BBC (in partnership with other broadcasters), not crappy ITV or Channel 5. |
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Post by jj on Feb 14, 2024 18:58:30 GMT
I wonder if (i.e. hope that) another documentary is in the pipeline, covering the sharp left turn taken in 1981/82. Equally fascinating, from my POV. Documentaries will always have The Visitors period (and 1982) as the final chapter of ABBA's (main) career, citing reasons for the group's decline and the members' waning interest in continuing.
I agree with you that another documentary discussing the rapid decline of the group and all the reasons for it would make for interesting viewing. On the other hand, though, it might also be too obvious. Everything we've discussed on this forum before regarding 1980-82, e.g., their suddenly aging looks and dowdy appearance; the emerging new sounds and energetic and youthful artists and fashions of that time that made ABBA look old-hat and very "last decade" almost overnight; their age; their looks; the deterioration of internal group dynamics (a depressed and jilted Frida unable to comfortably work in physical proximity to her ex-husband), aren't these things basically the same reasons behind most groups' end? Would Benny and Bjorn wanting to break out from working in that format and to see "how far their wings might take them" (Benny said something like that in an interview around 1981-82) or Agnetha's eagerness to spend more time with her kids and less time on career-maintenance (the endless cycle of new recordings, promotion, interviews, tv appearances, press junkets and all the traveling away from home such things entail) actually prove very interesting to most people, casual fans and non-fans alike? "Frida and I were getting a bit tired of ABBA", as Agnetha said, is not the kind of featured comment that would have most people stop and gasp "Well I never! Can you believe they eventually got tired of it?!"
I think the story behind the end of ABBA is maybe too obvious, the reasons too self-explanatory or too similar to most other groups' career tail ends. A sudden drop in sales is very often because the artist or group has lost its mojo, its will to keep going for whatever reasons, be they interpersonal conflicts or plain boredom, all of which lead to a loss of creativity and maybe the fear of repetition and unconsciously rehashing the same stuff they'd done before. Or they no longer have their finger on the pulse of what's happening, they lose touch and no longer make product that appeals to a new generation of music buyers. Or else they change style completely and too abruptly for their original fans' tastes. ABBA's end pretty much comprised all of these elements except for the last one mentioned (because they threw the car gears into reverse without the clutch: "Under Attack"  , that panicked, "Quick! Man the lifeboats!" song they felt compelled to release after the too out-there, too lounge-y, suicidal, bleak, dead-cool monologue/despairing wail/monologue/despairing wail/no-chorus song, wrapped up in synths and electronic buzzing sounds and brooding hoots). I particularly enjoyed Paul Gambaccini's proposition near the end of the 1999 BBC documentary, that "The Day Before You Came" was like ABBA had made a sudden quantum leap in sophistication, had pushed the ship into hyper-drive and evolved too fast and too far for their two and a half minute pop-song-loving fans to catch up, and had lost their ear as a result. I think he was right, ABBA had confounded their audience. "That's not the kind of song ABBA do!!" (It's still the best documentary about ABBA to date, imho, and is only spoiled somewhat by Pete Waterman's silly, overly-excited presence and his over the top, fawning, hyperbolic statements that scream to me "If such a nincompoop thinks they're so amazing and marvelous, then they're probably not").
So I fear there'd not be enough surprising/interesting/novel material for Joe Public to chew on in such a documentary on ABBA's - as you say - sharp left turn after the Super Trouper album. I think they petered out for much the same, standard and obvious reasons most music groups stop.
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Post by johnny on Feb 14, 2024 19:20:49 GMT
Jj - very good post. The Fall of Abba in the early 80s had indeed bern much discussed here. I am not familiar with that 1999 BBC documentary you cite.
It could be that ABBA didn't care what fans thought...or too arrogant and think fans would support them come what may. Or most probably a bit of both.
I always felt the big change was not between 1981 and 1982, with commercial and personal differences (and advanced aging!) but between the standard pop of 1980's Super Trouper with 1981's more mature and musical The Visitors.
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Post by Tina on Feb 14, 2024 19:42:51 GMT
If the documentary covers only 1976 to 1980, the “unreleased audio” will not be JLT or the Voyage outtakes  |
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Post by Tinneke on Feb 14, 2024 20:44:05 GMT
Ofcourse the BBC are selling this tvspecial being a wonderful thing. A tv interview with all members is needed. We have seen so may tv specials in the past years. Deleted and unreleased audio? I doubt it. Maybe the scrapped verses of DQ and On and on.
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Post by Alan on Feb 14, 2024 20:52:27 GMT
I’m not familiar with that 1999 documentary either, jj. The more famous one from that year was “The Winner Takes It All” where it was billed as the first time all four of them had been interviewed for the same project since 1982 (though Agnetha merely read from the English translation of her autobiography, and wasn’t actually seen talking). Is that the one you mean? For some reason I thought that was on ITV (if not actually made by them). Tried to search on the BBC’s Genome website for it but nothing appears to come up. |
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Post by justabba on Feb 15, 2024 5:43:54 GMT
Ludvig interviewed by variety magazine yesterday...
It cost around £140 million ($176.2 million) to do it the first time and will cost as much to do it again,” says the producer. “It’s a huge investment, in time and money, as it involves a three-year process. But we are trying to make it happen in many other cities around the world,” Andersson declares.
Asked if ABBA members would consider reuniting for their 50th anniversary and the Eurovision contest to be held in Sweden this year, Andersson said: “They did the ABBA Voyage, a new album. They are not interested in doing any celebration, as far as I know, but you should ask them!”
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Post by johnny on Feb 15, 2024 5:49:56 GMT
1980 is "the Hollywood Ending" for ABBA with the release of the Super Trouper album and its singles. Commercially very successful. It was also something of a comeback in terms of sslea in the biggest markets - UK, Germany and the US.
That album was typical ABBA and very well received by public and critics.
1981 would have seen a decline. Alrhough many of us here love that album it was a bit dark for many casual fans ie the majority. Commercially, it did well though sales were down from Super Trouper's but the singles success, less so - at least with Head Over Heels.
Creatively it seemed to me the natural end. It was ABBA indeed letting the music speak. When All is Said and Done would have been the perfect finale
1982 which for almost 40 years was the end was a sad end. Yes, in terms of record sales but also the rather patchy nature of the 6 songs.
2021/22. The Voyage album unlike the 1982 songs was a big success. But like them a bit hit and miss. Some songs clearly better, and much better than others. Sublime to ridiculous.
The Voyage Concert, with 2 new songs is a rather fitting end. Immortalising ABBA with new tech and loved by fans and critics alike.But it was about nostalgia and not new material, the 2 Voyage songs get lukewarm reactions.
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Post by Tinneke on Feb 15, 2024 5:52:13 GMT
The sales of the visitors album were much less then the sales of Super Trouper.
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Post by johnny on Feb 15, 2024 5:55:34 GMT
Yes, they were but it was still a success in Europe anyway. The collspse in sales would be with the 1982 singles....
Ludvig is sounding a bit like his dad there. Whilst I imagine few of us are expecting anything "new" some sort of celebration has to happwn. Doesn't it?
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, that panicked, "Quick! Man the lifeboats!" song they felt compelled to release after the too out-there, too lounge-y, suicidal, bleak, dead-cool monologue/despairing wail/monologue/despairing wail/no-chorus song, wrapped up in synths and electronic buzzing sounds and brooding hoots). I particularly enjoyed Paul Gambaccini's proposition near the end of the 1999 BBC documentary, that "The Day Before You Came" was like ABBA had made a sudden quantum leap in sophistication, had pushed the ship into hyper-drive and evolved too fast and too far for their two and a half minute pop-song-loving fans to catch up, and had lost their ear as a result. I think he was right, ABBA had confounded their audience. "That's not the kind of song ABBA do!!" (It's still the best documentary about ABBA to date, imho, and is only spoiled somewhat by Pete Waterman's silly, overly-excited presence and his over the top, fawning, hyperbolic statements that scream to me "If such a nincompoop thinks they're so amazing and marvelous, then they're probably not").