Thread: Abba

I have to admit as far as Pop bands go I didn't mind some of ABBA's stuff back in the late 70's. My only complaint would be so many of their songs were too similar in structure, and as most people know it was done according to a formula when they recorded. Agnetha may have missed a solo career in the US, but I don't think she needs the money or the celebrity and I still do like 3 of their songs,,,. Hmmm, maybe time for some Iron Maiden to balance my temporary weakness.

I like them.

Hello,

I am with my boyfriend, who likes very much Abba

I was talking to someone recently about ABBA, and got reminded how little they are known and remembered in the USA. They were huge internationally, but not so much in the US. Anybody who cared about electronic keyboard music in the 70s and early 80s was deeply into ABBA. American FM radio was dominated at that time by guitar-oriented, blues-inspired rock and pop.

I was and still am a keyboard player, and I taught myself how to pick up pop keyboard parts and play them by ear while wearing out a cassette tape copy of ABBA's Greatest Hits Volume I. Most of those tracks were big hits only in Europe and Australia; minor hits here. Many of the unreleased songs on their other albums had a more distinctly European flavor, some almost like pop versions of Scandinavian folk songs. Waterloo was the first pop song I ever learned to play along with on the piano. You only had to know a few chords to sound really professional, as long as you got the rhythm right and played really loud!

In my opinion, they were definitely the best disco band of all time (remember Dancing Queen?), and pioneers in keyboard and vocal multitrack recording tricks. If you look strictly at worldwide sales figures, the two male members (Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus) are still one of the most successful songwriting teams of all time, up in the 350 million + range, about half the total for Lennon & McCartney. Worldwide, ABBA ranks #4 in sales, behind the Beatles, Elvis, and Michael Jackson. I doubt that many Americans have any idea that they rank in the top ten.

ABBA paved the way for artists like Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga, whose overall sound has very little in common with early rock or classic rock. Don't get me wrong - I still love the blues and everything that has evolved from the blues. It just isn't the main influence in cutting edge pop today. Rhythmically and harmonically, it actually has more in common with classical music, mostly Baroque.

Last summer I watched the ABBA movie. Not the newer musical with Meryl Streep; the old original one. It was without a doubt the worst movie I have ever seen, but I enjoyed it very much. The plot was so pathetic that no plot at all would have been an improvement. Why didn't they just make it a band documentary? It centered around a journalist's pathetic attempts to get an in-depth, probing English interview with the group, for broadcast on radio. That interview could not happen on screen because, as every real ABBA fan knows, the girls' English was not very good.

The movie had great concert footage from the Australian tour promoting "The Album" (1977 release) as well as some vintage video productions. Great memories. It ended with them back in their private rehearsal studio on a little island in Sweden, with the viewers knowing that they still had two of their best albums ahead of them, "Voulez Vous" and "Super Trouper". If only the marriages could have lasted...

If you are not a hardcore ABBA fan, I would avoid this film like the plague! ...unless you want to watch it as an unintentional comedy.

But I do think it's time that they got more of the respect they have earned as the fourth best selling recording act of all time. That's music royalty.

Originally Posted by Karen_J

I was talking to someone recently about ABBA, and got reminded how little they are known and remembered in the USA. They were huge internationally, but not so much in the US.

I find that hard to believe....of course I'm in Canada, but we share lots with the US...

I don't think I've ever been to a dance, wedding, party etc that didn't play ABBA a few times a night....

The success of Mamma Mia, both as a stage play and movie was through-the-roof...then came DVD sales and the play soundtracks.

I don't think ABBA were ever forgotten....

And not sure if this is just rumor, but I once heard that ABBA were offered big bucks to do (1) 60 day reunion tour....(like in the $100 million range), and they refused by saying "we don't need the money".

Originally Posted by Muzoid

I don't think ABBA were ever forgotten....

And not sure if this is just rumor, but I once heard that ABBA were offered big bucks to do (1) 60 day reunion tour....(like in the $100 million range), and they refused by saying "we don't need the money".

During the 70s, American pop culture paid a lot more attention to John Denver, Olivia Newton-John, Sonny and Cher, and the Captain and Tennille. Television had a lot to do with this, as well as highly publicized concert tours. Their inability to do TV interviews in English (without a translator) made ABBA almost invisible on American TV. ABBA videos were the first to be widely broadcast in Europe, but there was no place at that time for music videos in the US. The Osmond Brothers got more press here than ABBA.

The Mamma Mia musical with Meryl Streep has helped ABBA's popularity greatly in recent years.

If there is any question in your mind about relative popularity, just do a search on this forum for posts on ABBA, and then count the posts about Michael Jackson or the Beatles. The difference is drastic. I can find you ten Led Zeppelin discology experts for every one who knows ABBA inside and out.

The tour offer is not a rumor. They honestly don't need the money, and the two divorced couples no longer enjoy each other's company. That would be one miserable concert tour. We just have to remember them as they used to be.

Ok...I understand you now...I thought you were talking about more recently, but you meant in the 70's etc.....so I totally agree.

I think it was the 80's when Stars On 45 released "Hooked On Abba", that, after becoming a huge hit, really took the cloaking device off of ABBA....and it seemed to just continue to rise...

I think disbanding at the top of their game was of huge benefit to them...I myself can only see them as a huge, mega, super band....whereas, had they continued, there was only one way from their success, and that was "down"....imagine if they had reduced themselves to Vegas, or repeated cheesy reunions....that would have had huge consequences.

I do love how they got their name though...

The structure of their first recording was: Verse/Chorus/Chorus/Verse...or in composition terms: A.....B.....B.....A

Also....(possibly just another rumor), but I have heard this from many sources.

When Frida recorded "Something Going On"....Phil Collins was hired for drums...clearly evident in the style/beat.

He arrived at the studio, and so did his kit...but no cymbals....he forgot them.

So there are no cymbals in this recording....Phil totally pulled it off....I've always liked this song:

Originally Posted by Muzoid

I think disbanding at the top of their game was of huge benefit to them...

That was almost as good for their legacy as dying in a plane crash...and better for their health!

Originally Posted by Muzoid

I do love how they got their name though...

You are right, but there is also a second meaning. The group was two guys and two girls, and the girls were usually photographed standing in the middle. One letter B was always turned backwards in the trademarked logo, as if the girls were standing back to back. I guess that was supposed to be a view from above.

Originally Posted by Muzoid

When Frida recorded "Something Going On"....Phil Collins was hired for drums...clearly evident in the style/beat.

The drummer sure sounds like Phil, and he is listed as the album's producer.

Originally Posted by Karen_J

I guess that was supposed to be a view from above.

Now THAT is funny!

I'm pretty sure that is Phil on S.G.O.....Sound and style almost scream "It's me...Phil" - hahahaha

Edit:...yup it's Phil (from Wiki): re: Something Going On

...and produced by Genesis drummer & singer Phil Collins, who also played drums on the song. The back-up vocals are sung by Lyngstad herself & Collins.

You can definitely hear Phil in the final harmonies "I know there's something...."

Originally Posted by Muzoid

Now THAT is funny!

I won't even describe the other possibility.

Originally Posted by Karen_J

I won't even describe the other possibility.

Is that the possibility that both women have one breast smaller than the other?

B <------hahahahahaha

or one butt cheek