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Post by Alan on May 30, 2024 19:43:38 GMT
It’s hard to rate this album as I rarely listen to it. I can’t really compare it with other ABBA albums that I’ve known for most of my life. I’m still not sure I can even count it as a “proper” ABBA album. To me, ABBA remains 1972-1982. Voyage is an album created by the four individuals that were once (fairly briefly) ABBA. By the time Voyage was released, the four-year period where the four were sporadically working together was over, and Benny (in his usual grumpy style) wasted no time before telling us the reunion was over (save for the necessary/contractual obligation to appear together at the opening of the Voyage show).
I digress. Three years on:
1. Don’t Shut Me Down
2. I Still Have Faith In You
3. Keep An Eye On Dan (this one seems to be unpopular. Not sure why. I love it. I like backing vocals from the guys).
4. Ode To Freedon (could have been better though - I wonder what the earlier versions sound like?)
5. I Can Be That Woman (again, not as good as it could be but still…)
6. Just A Notion (I was never keen on this song but the 1978 vocals save it)
7. When You Danced With Me
8. Bumblebee (would have been OK had it not referred to climate change. We all know it’s happening, but pop songs are meant to be about escapism or relating to a personal situation)
9. No Doubt About It (not for me, can’t stand the cheer leader “Hey” vocals)
10. Little Things (might have been better stripped of the twee Christmas lyrics. A proper Christmas song should NEVER appear on a studio album)
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Post by Alan on May 28, 2024 20:17:21 GMT
In the Q&A at Voyage (from PopJustice):
Benny mentioned that the Voyage band are wanting to do “If It Wasn’t For The Nights”, but he thought it would need cutting down a bit because it’s too long.
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Post by Alan on May 28, 2024 8:10:30 GMT
Many thanks, Michal, for your reports on the Q&A. Did you see anyone there with a “Justice for Just Like That” T-shirt on by any chance? Apparently Ludvig was in the foyer at one point and saw the guy with the T-Shirt, and remarked to him, “I’m working on it.” He could mean he’s working on Benny to change his mind, or that he is actually working on the recording. Who knows?! |
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Post by Alan on May 28, 2024 8:01:57 GMT
No setlist change again. I'm starting to believe they're saving it for a different venue to make the Brits and Europeans come to Australia (or wherever it's happening) Yes, I’ve thought that for a while. I don’t think a setlist change is as likely as everyone seems to think it is. A sequence for one song probably takes a lot of time (and money) to prepare so it’s not worthwhile to make any changes - at least not until they’ve broken even. I’m not even sure a second venue would be a good enough reason. The costs of setting that up alone would mean they’d need to reduce costs elsewhere, so a setlist change in a country that never got the original version of the show wouldn’t be worthwhile. |
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Post by Alan on May 28, 2024 7:53:54 GMT
2. the avatars are not as realistic as they seemed to be when watched from the front of the dance floor - you can clearly tell it is a screen you're watching 4. the see-through screens are very obtrusive when watching from the side and they ruin the songs, which are performed behind them (Don't Shut Me Down and Thank You For The Music) 2. Whilst I wouldn’t say it’s obvious it’s a screen you’re watching, I did pick up on the fact that it’s not as realistic close-range. However, it does vary. At times one of the ‘Tars can look much more like the real thing than it does at others, and I’d apply this to all four of them. They’re not consistent. It’s OK though, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment. 4. Yes, I’d definitely agree with this. I was stood right at the front for the whole show last time I saw it. The curtains or see-through screens were indeed obtrusive. It was frustrating being able to see the ABBATars but not properly. |
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Post by Alan on May 26, 2024 13:32:28 GMT
A random and useless fact about If It Wasn’t For The Nights was that the intro of it was used as title music on the video tape “ABBA Music Show 2” (along with Intermezzo No. 1). All of seven promos for what were then high-priced video cassettes, but it seemed quite magical to have these promo videos to watch over and over again, especially after 1982 when ABBA were rarely on TV. A reminder of the track listings. There was apparently a version that combined both (which is what this Discogs listing refers to) but my brother’s were separate tapes. Music Show 1 is clearly based on the running order of Side 1 of Greatest Hits Vol 2, but Music Show 2 has a much more random running order (though still four tracks from Side 2 of GHV2). It was the first time I’d seen many of the videos.  There was later a Music Show 3 which we never had or even knew about at the time. It contained most of the post-Winner Takes It All promos with the exception of One of Us, along with the two big solo hits. |
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Post by Alan on May 25, 2024 19:39:50 GMT
I looked it up on ABBA on TV. The Show Express performance was filmed on 27 November 1980. Benny and Frida were joking with each other during On And On And On (pretending to bump heads and laughing). I can't imagine Frida doing that after being told that Benny would leave her for another woman. Thank you! So that would suggest all promotion was done by the end of November (kidnap threats prevented it continuing into December). Benny could have dealt the blow in December but perhaps January is still more likely. We know that Frida effectively (and understandably) fell apart and that this break-up was possibly a major factor in ABBA not continuing after 1982 (the commercial decline being the other major factor, as well as B & B being hell-bent on writing a musical). It would take Frida around two years to get over it. Not sure how accurate it is but the impression we get is that Björn and Agnetha’s split was a mutual decision, and perhaps slightly more Agnetha’s than Björn’s. Reality set in later but it certainly seemed that - initially at least - it did them both good. I picked up from the recent re-showing of ABBA In Switzerland how confident Agnetha looked. That seemed to have been lost by late 1980 and throughout 1981. |
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Post by Alan on May 25, 2024 13:13:03 GMT
I always assumed Benny told Frida their marriage was over in January 1981 after Stig's birthday celebrations and then announced it in February. That’s what I thought too, but recently there were these two posts… In the Frida song “She Got What She Wanted” from 1996, does Frida not sing about being told something in October or November?? I did put two and two together to think it was autobiographical, especially as many other songs on the album were personal. Somebody else here mentioned it a while back and seemed to give an oddly specific date. Something like 26 September or thereabouts. I imagine the announcement had to be processed and managed through Stig's office and that announcements would have been delayed until after the promo. But when you look at the TV promotion they did for the album, Frida is in ebullient form, and really affectionate with Benny on camera, so I imagine these performances must've been pre-bombshell. I agree with HOMETIME - all Super Trouper’s videos and TV performances must have been “pre-bombshell”. But we know the circus footage and photos were done in the October so that surely rules out the September date? lamont’s November speculation therefore seems like that was the earliest it could be but when did they do those German TV performances? Apologies for me taking this off-topic. Just that with that Mike Yarwood performance of IIWFTN being broadcast on the day that Björn and Agnetha’s marriage symbolically ended, it’s made me wonder what the equivalent time was for Benny and Frida. I’m really struggling with the Sept-Nov suggestions. |
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Post by Alan on May 24, 2024 23:24:56 GMT
OMOW is about a troubled relationship, but there's a sense of hope in it, that all they need to do is work on things. That was another thing that stood out in that Against The Odds documentary. I’m still not quite sure why they had Germaine Greer commenting on it - I think she was one of the few talking heads that had no connection with ABBA during the period? - but she highlighted the key lines “Sometimes when I just can’t cope, I cling to a desperate hope. And I cry and I feel like dying”. As this dates from before Christian was born, if it’s autobiographical then you do have to wonder why they thought a second child was a good idea… |
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Post by Alan on May 24, 2024 23:06:20 GMT
On the subject of the Japan stuff… it’s quite amazing that they can all still fit into those 1977 tour outfits more than 18 months later (I can only assume they’re originals and not re-creations - surely they wouldn’t have had the budget to run some more up?). In the meantime, Agnetha had been pregnant and given birth, and was going through a marriage break-up, but here they were looking like early 1977 ABBA again, so all was well (or appeared to be).
I’d go with the Mike Yarwood performance though. Those black outfits do look good, as do the four different coloured screens.
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Post by Alan on May 24, 2024 22:48:40 GMT
Two very similar threads have been merged.
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Post by Alan on May 24, 2024 15:20:49 GMT
Also knowing that they were booked to appear on the show again in 1980, it would have been just ahead of the announcement of Frida's and Benny's divorce. Talk about history repeating! I reckon it would have been performances of Super Trouper and Happy New Year. The former in those awful pink/purple taffeta suits, I'm guessing, and the latter around the piano in their white evening dresses/suits. I know I’m going off-topic here but someone said recently that Benny announced the end of their marriage to Frida in the October? I’m struggling to believe that, as all the videos and promotion for Super Trouper seem to show affection between the two (as I think you pointed out). I really can’t believe Frida - or anyone - would be able to hide it that well. Björn’s and Agnetha’s split was different as there was no one else involved. I did actually like the pink and purple Happy New Year suits! They certainly suited Agnetha’s (by now more fuller) figure much better than the white dress did. Anyway, back to topic. If It Wasn’t For The Nights is one of the first ABBA songs to reference a real marriage break-up isn’t it? We rightly know so little about what they were going through but there’s so much in the lyrics. If you’re calmly stating that you lose your temper ten times a day then things really can’t be good. |
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Post by Alan on May 24, 2024 6:58:03 GMT
The last performance before the first marriage break up and the ultimate warning that it was about to happen! Yes, I do love that story. It was mentioned again on the recent Against The Odds documentary. At the same time it was being broadcast in the UK on Christmas Day, Agnetha was formally leaving him with the children. In all likelihood though, the decision was probably made before the show was filmed on 10 December and they were likely still living in the same house but not as a couple. There’s absolutely nothing in the Mike Yarwood footage to indicate what was going on though. How did they do that? I always tend to think it’s the One Man, One Woman video from earlier in the year that gives more away, you can really see it in their faces. By December, the decision was made and some of the pressure was off. Even so, hats off to them. ABBA was about to have a busy year and this life-changing situation was happening that would have a huge effect on their personal lives and particularly their children. |
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Post by Alan on May 22, 2024 20:55:39 GMT
I’ve finally listened! He mentions The Day Before You Came as being their most recent single - I thought this might be his lack of knowledge but the interview dates back to 2 December 1982 - before Under Attack was released (release date was apparently 3 December).
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Post by Alan on May 22, 2024 19:39:46 GMT
The clip is at the top of the thread 👍 I know, I was partly being lazy in not watching it, but I also had dodgy WiFi at the time I made the post. In those instances, YouTube posts look blank! |
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Post by Alan on May 22, 2024 11:34:15 GMT
The ‘Dallas’ line is a bit crap to be fair 😀 but a brilliant song nonetheless. I haven’t seen it - what did he say about the Dallas line? There was that early 80s rumour that Agnetha would appear in Dallas, which, at the time, I half believed/hoped was true (being into both ABBA and the American soap). Did the rumour emerge because of the line in The Day Before You Came, I wonder? |
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Post by Alan on May 19, 2024 9:48:52 GMT
I have a "relationship" with every song they ever released and still don't feel I should neglect the most famous material just because it's on Gold. But it seems I'm in minority. I totally understand that everybody has his or her preferences and I respect that, it is the "of course" thing, that ingrigues me. I will leave it at that, it would maybe deserve a thread of its own. For me it’s over-familiarity with the well-known songs. Not really because of Gold as I never listen to that compilation, but I’ve nevertheless heard those songs at least 10 times more than most of the album tracks. Also, you can go to any ABBA show and hear the famous ones. I saw an “ABBA Songbook” one on a cruise ship this week and there was no surprises in terms of songs. So I’m afraid the lesser-known ones in Voyage will get my vote. Particularly ones with no visual performance otherwise (LAYLOM got my vote on that basis, even though it’s on Gold) but also both The Visitors and Hole in Your Soul did. |
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Post by Alan on May 18, 2024 14:49:51 GMT
Yep, moved.
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Post by Alan on May 18, 2024 14:47:34 GMT
Another Oops moment. Apparently you can choose 6 songs. Hey, Alan, edit again 😀 It let me amend the topic title but not the question in the poll. Will it let you amend it, johnny? Possibly not but just wondered, as you created the poll and not me. |
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Post by Alan on May 13, 2024 22:35:40 GMT
I admit, despite everything, that I've occasionally wondered (much less so now) if, during the Voyage sessions, ABBA might have recorded more songs than they've let on about. They certainly had the time to do so. Well, we know they did. There’s “Hit By A Train” (if that really is its final title) plus one other. And CMP has recently mentioned earlier versions of Ode To Freedom. Ignorance is bliss… I would have been fine believing that they recorded the ten songs on Voyage and nothing else. But Benny had to go and spill the beans. And it’s not like we hadn’t been there before. We knew about Just Like That and I Am The City in 1982. As I say, ABBA may owe us nothing but likewise, we owe them zero in return. It shouldn’t be used to justify anything they say or do or to shame anyone that appears to be ungrateful. |
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Post by Alan on May 13, 2024 19:09:28 GMT
Which bit?! Not the “Eurovision is crap” sentence. I’d agree 100% with that. |
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Post by Alan on May 13, 2024 11:12:43 GMT
Swedish Television didn't want them there in 1975! That was the problem back then, not ABBA themselves... Btw, it says ABBA not invited to Eurovision in 1975 Wasn’t it mentioned in the Against The Odds documentary that the stuffy Swedish music industry didn’t want Eurovision in Sweden in 1975, and as it was ABBA (this horrible commercial pop group) that brought it there, much of the vitriol would have been aimed at them had they attended. Therefore, they weren’t invited so as to keep the peace. |
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Post by Alan on May 13, 2024 9:01:59 GMT
And the long-awaited 10-minute full length version of Little Things at that. I can’t wait. This is so exciting. |
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Post by Alan on May 12, 2024 21:12:06 GMT
I’m still not convinced about that. The last two times we entered a good song (Love Shine A Light and Space Man) we either won or would have won but for the invasion of Ukraine. Our other entries have mostly been pathetic, and this year’s was a prime example. 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). |
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Post by Alan on May 12, 2024 19:06:57 GMT
I agree with those who state that ABBA owe us fans nothing and I always felt that Voyage was a big EXTRA and perfect end to the ABBA story. 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. |
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Post by Alan on May 12, 2024 18:51:30 GMT
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. That’s how it was this time, yes. The public vote was added in one go for each country, starting with the country with the lowest jury vote and finishing with the one with the highest. It didn’t change the winner, but a few other countries were affected. The UK did kind-of-OK from the jury vote but zero from the public, proving once again that for some unfathomable reason we remain the most hated country in Europe. |
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Post by Alan on May 11, 2024 22:38:22 GMT
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.
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Post by Alan on May 11, 2024 21:33:58 GMT
What a pile of crap that was. Shameful.
The ABBATars clip was taken directly from the Voyage show. Nothing to see here.
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Post by Alan on May 10, 2024 21:11:31 GMT
The Top of the Pops 1983 episode was shown on BBC Four tonight that included Agnetha’s appearance. You do have to wonder why the record company allowed her to appear on it without actually performing the song. Still, I suppose they’d accept what was offered in those dark days of ABBA - The Wilderness Years. Don’t mention them unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.
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Post by Alan on May 10, 2024 17:42:37 GMT
Gorel has denied this. The members won't participate in any form whatsoever. Someone mentioned on here once that Görel apparently denied just days before the Voyage album announcement that there was anything more than just the two songs. Therefore very difficult to believe anything she says. Or Björn and Benny, at times, for that matter. It’s possible that anything we hear from ABBA could be archive interviews though, and nothing done especially for this Eurovision. |
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