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Post by welshboy on May 31, 2024 15:13:43 GMT
They all look wonderful it's nice to see them all together again. just hope this is not the last time.
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Post by Alan on May 31, 2024 15:44:05 GMT
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Post by northernlights on May 31, 2024 17:01:03 GMT
I’ll admit to having shed a few tears at the photos. These four people just affect me.
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Post by tagaytay on May 31, 2024 17:46:13 GMT
I’ll admit to having shed a few tears at the photos. These four people just affect me. same here. suddenly I am a teenager again a few thousand miles away with very little means of acquiring any information or pictures about them. what a road I have traveled together with all their other fans. All roads lead to Stockholm I guess, and now it should include London as well.
the conversation on this thread has made me realize that yes, the Voyage album was necessary to jump start or promote the Abbatar concerts in the Arena. At the same time, it was a proper goodbye the way they showed up all four of them in the premiere waving and crying and saying their thank yous, since there was no closure in 1982. The Voyage album is their thank you gift to the fans, and lets face it, all of us wanted that album even before we heard any song from it. And now this Vasa Medal is Sweden's thank you to them for bringing Sweden into the World. Those photos might very well be their last "public" appearance, even though the public wasn't even there.
to paraphrase an excerpt from Maureen Daly's short story "sixteen" (required school reading material when I was in high school):
My heart still prays but my mind just laughs. Outside the night is still—so still I think I'll go crazy. And so I'm sitting here and I'm not feeling anything. I'm not even sad because all of a sudden I know. I can sit here now and forever and laugh and laugh while the tears run salty in the corners of my mouth. For all of a sudden, I know, I know what the stars knew all the time—they will never , never get back together—never.
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Post by Alan on May 31, 2024 20:07:41 GMT
And one more.  |
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Post by voyage2 on May 31, 2024 20:25:28 GMT
Thank you Alan for the beautiful photos. There are some more photos and wonderful footage on Youtube. Loved that hug!!❤ I think these are some of the best photos I've seen of them in recent years, Agnetha and Frida look absolutely gorgeous! (as always)! Their photos get the same reaction as their songs, tears and joy!
Now wouldn't it be great to get a documentary about the making of the Voyage album etc, finishing with this event! We can dream!
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Post by ianunderattack on May 31, 2024 20:52:30 GMT
Just to return to the Q&A, I spotted the guy with the 'Justice for Just Like That' T-shirt in the foyer so he was definitely there if that helps back up the possibility of Ludvig's 'I'm working on it' comment.
For my money, I thought Benny was actually good fun. He was quite witty and twinkly at times. When Pete Paphides commented on the occasion when he (Pete) had walked through the Arena with Björn and nobody looked twice at them, Benny said with a rueful smile: 'Nobody notices old men.'
He engaged with all the questions, even protesting that he never said he disliked Just Like That. It didn't feel like a contractual obligation to me: they both seemed genuinely touched by the audience response.
As for the comment about where the ladies were, I just think Benny's got to the stage where - after a lifetime of fielding slightly inane questions - his tolerance threshold for when he thinks he's been asked something a bit silly is pretty low, so he takes no prisoners. Björn remains more likely to play the media game, but Benny no longer feels the need. He said they don't meet up that often - although he said they were meeting up "on Friday", so he answered quite honestly: How should we know where they are? (Which maybe comes across a little more brusquely in a second language.)
I didn't sense A&A were being overlooked or ignored, but naturally the questions were focused on B&B who were actually there.
Someone said If it wasn't for the nights would have been a good A-side, and Benny said he thought it was too long and basically goes on a bit! Björn again (!) expressed some affection for Under Attack. ("Was that an A-side?" he asked.)
The recording of the ABBA album was chosen as the album they enjoyed making the most.
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Post by truedogz on Jun 1, 2024 3:12:02 GMT
Thanks Alan for posting the pics.
My emotional reaction is that it conveys the fragility and ephemeral nature of life.
Here are 4 people I grew up with, young and vibrant back then, who are approaching the end of their lives.
Hopefully they now have the satisfaction of being recognised by their peers as outstanding artists whose body of work will be loved and admired by the masses for a long time to come.
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Post by gazman on Jun 1, 2024 7:27:45 GMT
Although the question was entirely avoided at the Q&A session in London last Monday, at least SVT News 24 were prepared to ask Benny after yesterday's Royal ceremony whether there was ever any further prospect of new ABBA music - to which he simply said 'No. Now we are done'. So, there we are, for what it's worth.
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Post by johnny on Jun 1, 2024 8:52:51 GMT
I can't understand why people can't accept ABBA are "done" There may be more releases but there will be nothing new.
Those nice pictures of them accepting their awards will probably be the last time we'll see all four - and just the four, in an official capacity.
It's a nice way to go out - certainly beats appearing on that Noel Edmunds show.
They gave us a new album two and a half years ago and groundbreaking Voyage show 2 years ago, which is still going strong.
There is nothing new to give.
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Post by gazman on Jun 1, 2024 9:05:14 GMT
I can't understand why people can't accept ABBA are "done" There may be more releases but there will be nothing new. Those nice pictures of them accepting their awards will probably be the last time we'll see all four - and just the four, in an official capacity. It's a nice way to go out - certainly beats appearing on that Noel Edmunds show. They gave us a new album two and a half years ago and groundbreaking Voyage show 2 years ago, which is still going strong. There is nothing new to give. I think indeed that most fans do accept it. |
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Post by Visitor1982 on Jun 1, 2024 9:50:15 GMT
For me, ABBA split up in 1982 and never came back. Voyage doesn't feel like a true group effort. It feels like Benny Andersson featuring Björn Ulveaus, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
Even when I see them together, like yesterday, it doesn't really feel like ABBA to me, just four individuals who have a shared history together.
None of the members socialise with each other. B&B work together, sometimes, but that's it. They don't go out for dinner of visit each other's birthdays. Björn once commented they only talk about work.
ABBA is long gone and will never come back.
I do keep hoping for some kind of archival release, with demos, alternate mixes and such, but I'm afraid someone will have to kick the bucket for that to happen...
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Post by richard on Jun 1, 2024 11:29:32 GMT
I think you're nearer to the truth than not, Visitor1982. It's a nice fantasy: Agnetha and Frida, say, meeting up often over their post-ABBA years with a deep affectionate friendship. But that kind of thing would be a rarity rather than the reality.
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Post by baab on Jun 1, 2024 12:58:16 GMT
As for the comment about where the ladies were, I just think Benny's got to the stage where - after a lifetime of fielding slightly inane questions - his tolerance threshold for when he thinks he's been asked something a bit silly is pretty low, so he takes no prisoners. Björn remains more likely to play the media game, but Benny no longer feels the need. He said they don't meet up that often - although he said they were meeting up "on Friday", so he answered quite honestly: How should we know where they are? (Which maybe comes across a little more brusquely in a second language.) I didn't sense A&A were being overlooked or ignored, but naturally the questions were focused on B&B who were actually there. Thank you for your comment. I don't think that Benny needs to be excused for anything and maybe it just shows that the older he gets, he shows more nerves in public. I was surprised with his performance when he received the "Echo Award in Classical Music" for "Piano" in Germany some years ago. He was so nervous that he couldn't finish the "Chess" Piano piece. Alan stated that he doesn't count the ABBA Reunion during the Mamma Mia Premiere in Stockholm, because they were not standing together on the Balcony. Should we really dive so much into interpretation that all Four were placed in distance to each other intentionally and because they should not be recognized as a group or was it perhaps more natural that they mingled just between the actors as the cast was the Centerpoint of that event? If Agnetha could not bear to stand next to Björn, would she have recorded a whole Album with him? Surely not. Concerning Just Like That, a German fan who knows Agnetha in person, put it this way: As Agnetha worked very much alone with Mike (Tretow) in the studio on the final version, it would be a sign of B+B giving her credit and showing respect to her by releasing this final version. |
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Post by eddie on Jun 1, 2024 13:13:10 GMT
It was wonderful to see them together again. I feel very emotional too as I feel it will be the last time. Thank you Alan, for posting these beautiful photos.
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Post by baab on Jun 1, 2024 13:14:50 GMT
It's a nice fantasy: Agnetha and Frida, say, meeting up often over their post-ABBA years with a deep affectionate friendship. But that kind of thing would be a rarity rather than the reality. Some 20 years ago, I met a group of gay Opera fans in Stockholm. They were no fans of ABBA but when we talked about the annual Summer Opera Festival at Drottningsholms Slottsteatern, one of them mentioned that Agnetha and Frida quite regularly sit together in the audience during severall performances. I was very surprised to hear that, but for them it was quite normal and they told me that both we're also friends to Birgit Nilsson. That is of course decades ago, but this showed me that both obviously met occasionaly whithout beeing recognized much and whithout ABBA Fans getting knowledge because it is so "normal" in Sweden. |
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Post by richard on Jun 1, 2024 13:57:15 GMT
Thanks for that information, baab,. Nice to know that Agnetha and Frida met up and watched opera performances together. |
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Post by Visitor1982 on Jun 1, 2024 14:38:00 GMT
As for the comment about where the ladies were, I just think Benny's got to the stage where - after a lifetime of fielding slightly inane questions - his tolerance threshold for when he thinks he's been asked something a bit silly is pretty low, so he takes no prisoners. Björn remains more likely to play the media game, but Benny no longer feels the need. He said they don't meet up that often - although he said they were meeting up "on Friday", so he answered quite honestly: How should we know where they are? (Which maybe comes across a little more brusquely in a second language.) I didn't sense A&A were being overlooked or ignored, but naturally the questions were focused on B&B who were actually there. Thank you for your comment. I don't think that Benny needs to be excused for anything and maybe it just shows that the older he gets, he shows more nerves in public. I was surprised with his performance when he received the "Echo Award in Classical Music" for "Piano" in Germany some years ago. He was so nervous that he couldn't finish the "Chess" Piano piece. Alan stated that he doesn't count the ABBA Reunion during the Mamma Mia Premiere in Stockholm, because they were not standing together on the Balcony. Should we really dive so much into interpretation that all Four were placed in distance to each other intentionally and because they should not be recognized as a group or was it perhaps more natural that they mingled just between the actors as the cast was the Centerpoint of that event? If Agnetha could not bear to stand next to Björn, would she have recorded a whole Album with him? Surely not. Concerning Just Like That, a German fan who knows Agnetha in person, put it this way: As Agnetha worked very much alone with Mike (Tretow) in the studio on the final version, it would be a sign of B+B giving her credit and showing respect to her by releasing this final version. Benny has some issues with his hands, shaking. Could be something serious like Parkinson disease. I saw it for the first time at BAO in concert in 2016 and it has gotten worse, especially with nerves... During the Q&A in London his hands were shaking as well. It's very tough for a piano player... Regarding Just Like That, B&B were absolutely 100% involved in the recording of that song. It's not a Tretow/Agnetha production. You honestly believe B&B would step out during a vocal recording session for an ABBA song? The one exception was the Gracias Por La Musica album. I've been hearing weird stories from fans, like claiming Frida isn't on the song, whilst you can clearly hear her on the recording. Marnix |
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Post by Alan on Jun 1, 2024 15:58:32 GMT
I do keep hoping for some kind of archival release, with demos, alternate mixes and such, but I'm afraid someone will have to kick the bucket for that to happen... I’m not sure that even that would make it more likely… it would mean Ludvig (or any of the other children) going against their parent’s wishes. However, IF Ludvig really did say “I’m working on it” to the fan on Monday (regarding Just Like That) we can only speculate what he meant. If he was serious, I’d say it’s unlikely that it would just be the one song. Perhaps he is indeed working on such an archival release? To date we have had four complete previously unreleased songs from 1993 onwards plus two medleys of others (I’m including Just A Notion in the four, though it was a partial re-recording). We also got a live album of a concert that had taken place 35 years before. It therefore can’t be impossible that we will ever see anything else released and I certainly wouldn’t say never. But I’m not going to hope for it either. If it happens at any point in the future then great, but if it doesn’t then fine. Benny saying no to new music (the definition of “new” is just that - recording together again when three of them are near 80 years old) is completely understandable. But complete or near-complete recordings from the archives are not “new”. |
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Post by gary on Jun 1, 2024 16:13:29 GMT
Just to be sure, by four songs you mean I Am The City, Put On Your White Sombrero, I’m Still Alive and Just A Notion?
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Post by Alan on Jun 1, 2024 16:20:08 GMT
Alan stated that he doesn't count the ABBA Reunion during the Mamma Mia Premiere in Stockholm, because they were not standing together on the Balcony. Should we really dive so much into interpretation that all Four were placed in distance to each other intentionally and because they should not be recognized as a group or was it perhaps more natural that they mingled just between the actors as the cast was the Centerpoint of that event? If Agnetha could not bear to stand next to Björn, would she have recorded a whole Album with him? Surely not. I think you’ve misinterpreted or read too much into what I was saying here. What I meant was that the two 2016 events where they were pictured together was the first time in 30 years that this had happened. The 2008 Mamma Mia! premiere had the guys separately from A&F so didn’t count as a photo of just the four former ABBA members. Regarding your other comment about Agnetha not being able to stand being next to Björn - I don’t know where that came from as I never said or implied it. I made an observation that photos of ABBA in the early 80s (post Benny-Frida split) tended to not have the former couples together. As we know there was tension between Benny and Frida at some points, it might have been deliberate. But I also picked up on the photos they did for Voyage which mostly/all seemed to have them placed back in their former couples for whatever reason. |
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Post by Alan on Jun 1, 2024 16:27:48 GMT
Just to be sure, by four songs you mean I Am The City, Put On Your White Sombrero, I’m Still Alive and Just A Notion? I was meaning Dream World not I’m Still Alive, but yes, if we count that one too then it’s five. (And we should count I’m Still Alive as Agnetha never released a studio-recorded version. The only version that exists is the live version so it’s effectively classed as an ABBA song now, albeit one without any contribution from Frida). |
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Post by gary on Jun 1, 2024 16:36:58 GMT
Thicko here forgot Dream World!
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Post by baab on Jun 1, 2024 21:44:34 GMT
Regarding Just Like That, B&B were absolutely 100% involved in the recording of that song. It's not a Tretow/Agnetha production. You honestly believe B&B would step out during a vocal recording session for an ABBA song? The one exception was the Gracias Por La Musica album. I've been hearing weird stories from fans, like claiming Frida isn't on the song, whilst you can clearly hear her on the recording. I do not doubt, that Frida is on the recording but I also do not doubt the story from the "ABBA Forum" member"Scotty"who knows Agnetha very well. He stated in a recent comment: "Benny may have written the basic melody and Björn the lyrics, but almost all ABBA fans now know that Agnetha put the most work into this song in particular and that she did so at a time when Benny and Björn were no longer interested in ABBA , once again put her heart and soul into this recording. She re-arranged it, alone in the studio with Micke Tretow, completely re-arranged it vocally, modified it, re-sung it, etc. etc. Björn, but especially Benny, always blocked this publication with any excuses, even though Agnetha communicated her desire for publication several times. Benny exploited the song, used parts for his own songs, had them sung by all sorts of artists, be it Gemini, Angelika Milster and a few others,... Yes, he wanted it (together with Björn) even use it as a "teaser" for the Mamma Mia musical....... But he has blocked the original version by his bandmate Agnetha Fältskog to this day. Everything Benny has said about this over the years are flimsy excuses for me. He contradicted himself several times in the reasons for this and some of his statements were factually incorrect (not completed). Benny doesn't owe his OK for a JLT release to a single ABBA fan (although they would of course be happy about it), but he would have owed it to his colleague Agnetha. The whole thing is a very sad matter for me, even though I almost don't care about it now." I know that some "ABBA Forum" members do question his personal connection to Agnetha, but I believe Scotty 100%, as he has too much personal insight like e.g.for her solo projects, etc.etc. |
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Post by tagaytay on Jun 1, 2024 22:14:16 GMT
If it were true, I'm still glad Benny allowed parts of JLT to be in Undeleted, among the other songs.
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Post by Visitor1982 on Jun 2, 2024 6:31:08 GMT
baabYou can believe Scotty, or whoever that is, I know it is nonsense.
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Post by Michal on Jun 2, 2024 7:03:32 GMT
baabYou can believe Scotty, or whoever that is, I know it is nonsense. Yes, the story sounds like a Greek tragedy 😂 |
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Post by Michal on Jun 2, 2024 7:11:36 GMT
Benny has some issues with his hands, shaking. Could be something serious like Parkinson disease. I saw it for the first time at BAO in concert in 2016 and it has gotten worse, especially with nerves... During the Q&A in London his hands were shaking as well. It's very tough for a piano player... I've noticed that Benny's hands were shaking during the Q&A too. It doesn't have to be Parkinson though, especially as he doesn't show any other symptoms. Elderly people sometimes suffer from shaking hands and it's usually nothing serious. However, it is unpleasant, especially for a pianist and it's very difficult (if not impossible) to cure completely. |
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Post by baab on Jun 2, 2024 13:07:44 GMT
baabYou can believe Scotty, or whoever that is, I know it is nonsense. I don't know the source you have to be able to state that the story which comes from "Scotty" is pure nonsense, but I know that "Scotty" told us in late 2018 already that "Just A Notion" is planned to be released together with the 2 new songs. I have therefore no reason to not believe him, when he reported that Agnetha and Mike worked together in the studio on Just Like That in the last week of August and first week of September 1982 in a break of filming "Raskenstam" and that Benny and Björn were only occasionaly available in the studio during that week, resulting in a final Version of the Song. He claims that this final version includes the Saxophone from R.Ravenscroft but is not the version we know from bootlegs or from the ABBA undeleted mix. Of course, until this version is released no proof can be given. |
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Post by Michal on Jun 2, 2024 16:58:11 GMT
baab, this sounds absolutely credible and we have no proof it was otherwise. The previous post, where you cited that Scotty, sounded like too much drama about nothing though. Firstly, I don't think Agnetha cares about this song more than about any other unreleased recording. They always gave their all and later abandoned the songs and left them unreleased so I don't see a reason why it should be different with JLT. All the more that she was recording it at the time when the interest in continuing as a group was at its all-time-low from all ABBA members. Secondly, the post almost suggests that B&B withold the release despite Agnetha pleading with them, probably because they are envious that while they were not able to make it work, Agnetha managed to turn it inti the gem it obviously is...
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