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Post by gary on Mar 13, 2017 12:42:48 GMT
This thread was prompted by a couple of recent polls on the forum.
Has any cover version of an ABBA song (or, indeed, any Benny & Bjorn song) ever improved on the original? Obviously it's a matter of opinion, but when I thought about it I couldn't think of a single cover version that I prefer. There are a few nice covers but I suspect the absence of Agnetha and Frida is the main problem.
What do you think?
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Post by wombat on Mar 13, 2017 14:37:23 GMT
not exactly a cover... but I prefer the VanHalen-Abba mash-up of Super Trouper called Super Jumper...
and I dislike Abba's Gimme Gimme Gimme, but the mash-up with ZZ Top's Gimme All Your Lovin is pretty good.
I've heard some heavy metal covers from the swedish bands that are entertaining. Better? I dont know, so different that its hard to compare.
I've not heard a straight cover that was "better". A few were quite good, and the singers were excellent, and so in that regard, the performance was probably as good as Abba's. "Better"? probably not
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Post by gary on Mar 13, 2017 14:54:47 GMT
^
Yes, I like some of the mash-ups, particularly the Blondie/ABBA Hanging On The Ring Ring.
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Post by josef on Mar 13, 2017 14:55:36 GMT
Not that I can think of but there are a few I like quite a lot. The Czars version of Angel Eyes (dodgy lyric change notwithstanding- what was he thinking of? He should have just sang 'young guy', not 'young boy') and Portishead's take on SOS.
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Post by josef on Mar 13, 2017 14:56:23 GMT
I also like some of the remixes, not many, but a few.
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Post by Fafner on Mar 13, 2017 15:50:18 GMT
Yes, I prefer Sissel's cover of "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room" over the original. The vocals are at least as good, and the acoustic instrumental accompaniment sounds so much better than Benny's synths (and no annoying ticking).
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Post by Michal on Mar 13, 2017 19:17:16 GMT
I love these two:
Though I'm not sure whether Helen's performance counts as cover version...
And I wouldn't say today that any of them is better than ABBA's original but there were times I listened to them more often than the originals.
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Post by Michal on Mar 13, 2017 19:36:44 GMT
And I forgot Laleh's cover of Chiquitita... a wonderful version, though I don't understand why she repeats the first verse twice instead of singing the second one. By the way, does anybody here know, what happened to that "Chiquitita-cover" project? Each year some famous singer should have covered it until 2019. But Laleh seems to be the first and last who actually did it.
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Post by Liebezeit on Mar 13, 2017 20:45:12 GMT
I made one of the polls. Thank me later.I once heard Madonna's 'Like An Angel Passing Through My Room' (it was leaked, but if it doesn't count, I don't mind, but a cover is still a cover) but she doesn't give me the chills like Frida does to the listener. Goes to say that, listening to Madonna's version; it feels rather too upbeat and overproduced for a mellow, vocal song. Frida, on the other hand, seems to take it in a motherly approach [despite the broody lyrics] and the synthesizer/arpeggio is just satisfactory to make her vocals with ambient fx (could have been reduced because it sounded like it was recorded on a bathroom – but accept flaws as is) go around. That's minimalism for you!  |
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Post by gary on Mar 13, 2017 22:37:09 GMT
Not that I can think of but there are a few I like quite a lot. The Czars version of Angel Eyes (dodgy lyric change notwithstanding- what was he thinking of? He should have just sang 'young guy', not 'young boy') and Portishead's take on SOS. Oh yes, those are two of the best. The Czars' Angeleyes is probably my favourite cover version. But I think the expression 'close but no cigar' is appropriate... |
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Post by shoshin on Mar 13, 2017 22:41:11 GMT
Ooh some people are including mashups and remixes, giving me yet another opportunity to sing the praises of the superb Is There A Soul Out There?, which improves on the already epic GGG by setting the vocals to Duffy's Stepping Stone.
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Post by josef on Mar 14, 2017 16:40:12 GMT
I'm not a fan of the Madonna version of LAAPTMR. It adds nothing to the original but it's a fair stab I suppose. The Duffy mash up works. I don't like the At Vance cover- I'm not a fan of men 'rocking out'- it's too Bon Jovi and Stadium-y. Helen Sjoholm is a great singer but I think Agnetha and Frida do the best job of ABBA songs in general. How I WISH they'd recorded Another You, Another Me instead of the awful Claire and H. The Gemini version isn't bad. I like Laleh's version of Chiquitita.
Oh, well. None of it matters.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2017 23:08:39 GMT
This might be heresy, but I kind of prefer Blancmange's version of TDBYC - if you're gonna make a synth pop anthem, might as well leave it to the experts. But then I belong to the half of the population who consider the original arrangement a failure.
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Post by gary on Mar 21, 2017 9:54:02 GMT
^
Your post prompted me to listen to the Blancmange version, which I hadn't heard for years. It really is very good, isn't it? I hate to agree with you but I think it might be that rare cover version of an ABBA song that improves on the original. Obviously I miss Agnetha but the vocals are excellent anyway, and the instrumentation/production is terrific. But I'm also one of those bad ABBA fans that doesn't think that The Day Before You Came is one of their masterpieces.
I has also forgotten that there were clips of the ABBA video in the Blancmange video! (I assume I was looking at the official video, and not a fan's mash-up.)
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Post by josef on Mar 21, 2017 16:39:41 GMT
^Nah, it hasn't got Frida's haunting aria for one. It's fun and I enjoy to hear it but it lacks PATHOS. Plus, it's like a comedy take on it- especially the 'Barbara Cartland' line.
It just hasn't got the ABBA touch. I quite like the trumpets near the end.
Give me Living On The Ceiling every time!
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Post by josef on Mar 21, 2017 16:59:24 GMT
I found this performance of it. I like the stripped down treatment. Pity about the crowd rattling on in the background.
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 21, 2017 17:22:31 GMT
^^^^^ they also had a bigger hit with it, making 22 in the U.K. Singles chart, 10 places higher than the original,
it does make you wonder why there hasn't been more covers to actually chart, considering the catalogue, very very few have made it, also why did B&B allow a relatively obscure English group cover and release, when they are so protective of their material, I never did get that, Madonna went through god knows what just to sample, but Blancmange, Doctor and the Medics etc have hits... emmm
remember buying the single at the time, great cover.
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 21, 2017 17:25:53 GMT
As cover versions go.... has anyone mentioned Matt Pop yet ? Personally think he's great, fantastic remixes, check them out.....  The King.... is a good example... |
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Post by wombat on Mar 22, 2017 16:11:45 GMT
the Matt Pop stuff mostly doesnt work for me. Some of it is ok, the Arrival version is interesting
but mostly he cranks up a fake kick drum to make it all sound like disco.
yuck.
just my opinion.
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 22, 2017 16:43:21 GMT
As with most cover versions, "chalk and cheese", one mans desire another's hate, and many more analogys. therefore everything is personal, I would expect that the vast majority of us prefer the originals and not much else comes close.
im not sure if the original question has actually been answered, comparable yes, better ?
So for me , personally, I feel Matt Pop , gives the originals a slight modern twist, which perhaps the purists dislike.
each to their own as they say....
i was trying to think of the cover cover versions that have actually charted in the U.K..
I Have Dream. Westlife, number 1
TACOM/VV/LAYLOM/SOS... Erasure... number 1
MammaMia..Ateens....number 12
Super Trouper... Ateens. Number 21
Honey Honey.. Sweet Dreams.. number 10
Waterloo.. Doctor and the Medics.. number 45
TDBYC.. Blancmange.. number 22
any others? Covers not samples....
not many really....
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Post by josef on Mar 22, 2017 16:43:24 GMT
^Is this the version you mean, Roddey?
I don't mind a few of his mixes but that kick drum can get on my nerves- it gets irritating after a time. One beat blends into another and I can have my fill of it after quite a short while. It's the difference between fast food and home cooking from fresh. However, there are some fun elements.. I like the use of, ''We want ABBA!'' and This is gonna be worldwide!'' from ABBA The Movie. And in The Day Before You Came the use of the Dallas jingle was clever and inventive. I'm assuming that's Matt Pop?
As for Arrival (the original song) I've always loved it- so evocative, I find it quite moving.
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Post by josef on Mar 22, 2017 16:47:38 GMT
Susan Boyle has covered The Winner Takes It All, Graham. Whether or not it charted, I have no clue.
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 22, 2017 17:46:45 GMT
^^^^Thankfully not...lol.. Bang A Bomerang, is pretty good by Matt Pop... quite clever... |
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Post by wombat on Mar 22, 2017 18:39:40 GMT
^Is this the version you mean, Roddey? I don't mind a few of his mixes but that kick drum can get on my nerves- it gets irritating after a time. One beat blends into another and I can have my fill of it after quite a short while. It's the difference between fast food and home cooking from fresh. However, there are some fun elements.. I like the use of, ''We want ABBA!'' and This is gonna be worldwide!'' from ABBA The Movie. And in The Day Before You Came the use of the Dallas jingle was clever and inventive. I'm assuming that's Matt Pop? As for Arrival (the original song) I've always loved it- so evocative, I find it quite moving. yeah thats it, that one was pretty good. I read somewhere that Benny didnt like drums and thats one reason why the drums are pushed back so far into the background on many Abba tunes. That may all be lies, but I know I read that somewhere.... doesnt mean its true of course hey, Bjorn and Benny may have heard all these cover versions and who knows what they thought... does anyone know of a specific cover either of them said they liked? |
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Post by The Rubber Ball Man on Mar 22, 2017 18:49:36 GMT
I think they said thumbs up to Bonnie and Jose?
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Post by Liebezeit on Mar 22, 2017 19:07:17 GMT
Ooh, now that Bonnie and Jose is brought up...
I think their version of Cassandra is rather average. The vocals taking turns isn't that bad of an idea, though. I wonder if the instrumentation was just being accurate with the ABBA original? Bonnie and Jose seems to be missing that spontaneity and that kind of Mediterranian adventure-ish (ironic how the upbeat theme is dominating the 'I'm sorry, I should have listened to you' lyrics, though) theme that Frida and Agnetha (and the backing band) has.
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Post by smugasacat on Mar 24, 2017 14:41:06 GMT
i was trying to think of the cover cover versions that have actually charted in the U.K.. I Have Dream. Westlife, number 1 TACOM/VV/LAYLOM/SOS... Erasure... number 1 MammaMia..Ateens....number 12 Super Trouper... Ateens. Number 21 Honey Honey.. Sweet Dreams.. number 10 Waterloo.. Doctor and the Medics.. number 45 TDBYC.. Blancmange.. number 22 any others? Covers not samples.... not many really.... There was also the 'Stars On 45 Volume 2' medley which reached number 2 in 1981 and then the 'Thank ABBA for the Music' medley that was performed at the Brit Awards in 1999 by Steps, Tina Cousins, Cleopatra, B*Witched and Billie. It peaked at number 4. Here's a video with a recap of the most successful ABBA covers and samples: |
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Post by foreverfan on Mar 24, 2017 15:57:29 GMT
^^^^ 2 obvious ones that I forgot, thanks so thats 2 number ones 3 more top 10s and total of 9 hits in a make believe world that would be ABBA, on 11 number ones, 22 top 10 hits and 35 chart hits in the U.K. Chart...sounds better |
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Post by wombat on Mar 24, 2017 18:55:55 GMT
^ Yes, I like some of the mash-ups, particularly the Blondie/ABBA Hanging On The Ring Ring. If anybody's interested, I just made a 800x1200 (cel phone or tablet) pic for your mp3 version of this mashup  |
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Post by Liebezeit on Mar 29, 2017 3:58:21 GMT
Has nobody mentioned how Mike Oldfield's Arrival is not bad in terms of instrumental arrangement? I used to loathe it because it was pretentious to the extreme, but I've come to appreciate it, out of the blue. His arrangement is great and accessible to the people who appreciate folk music, but, let me write this, as a purist; not quite my tempo. Benny Andersson's Polymoog [with that really superb bass!] makes any stage opener anticipating than Mike Oldfield's synthesizer gadget..
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The King.... is a good example...
