ABBA — 40 years younger again [Archive] - The Project Avalon Community Forum

Bill Ryan

14th September 2021, 00:42

I do think Avalon needs an ABBA thread. But for those reading this who might quickly be dismissive, hang on just a moment and read on — because something very remarkable has happened.

Nearly 40 years after their breakup in 1982, and the release of their last song, they've regrouped not only to record a new album but to retro-digitize themselves visually back into their younger selves.

I'd heard about this new release (I'm an unashamed aficionado of their music, which was almost always ingenious and creative, and the girls' voices were absolutely always just something else) — but I was quite unprepared for the video. Here it is below, their first new release.

And here's what's to bear in mind: These four are all in their 70s now. Frida, who leads the vocals in their new number, is 75. (Seventy-five!) Go figure. This can only be admired.

One YouTube comment, with 25,000 likes:
And when the world needed them most, they returned.
Another:
I’m a 58 year old retired US Army Paratrooper, and I just listened to your song, ”I still have faith in you”. I’m crying like a small child.
I can understand why. It's a good song, vintage ABBA to its core. As is the case with so many of their songs, it gets better and better each time you hear it through.

And at 3:40, when the digital curtain rises on their time-traveled selves, I was quite taken aback. The retro-recreation isn't 100.00% perfect, but it was good enough to totally stop me in my tracks. It really did leave me staring at the screen while I was processing what I was seeing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAzEY1MfXrQ

Mike

14th September 2021, 01:02

Ha! That's remarkable!

And as a sidenote: Aside from 'Dancing Queen', I think that's the only other ABBA song I've ever listened to start to finsh. Not because I don't like them, but because I've never really been exposed to them. Not your average pop song here. It's very layered and dramatic, and the voices are great.

Brigantia

14th September 2021, 01:20

They were considered uncool by a lot of people back in the 70s, but to me they bring back memories of my teens, my great friends, and having fun and getting up to mischief during long, hot summers. Good times!

The Eurovision song contest seemed to be essential viewing back then - there were only 3 TV channels at that time in Britain, so not much viewing choice - and I remember watching them win with the song Waterloo.

Apulu

14th September 2021, 01:35

Ok wow. I'm not particularly into ABBA but it's always been impossible not to appreciate how good the songs are and the music and how much joy they bring to people.

So... I was NOT expecting to break out into goose bump euphoria watching this. Ha! Amazing! If it be cheese then let it be the most glorious and remarkable kind. A song of our times! We DO have it on is!!

🙂 Thanks Bill 🙂

***Edit** We have it in us but I am NOT taking about certain weird medical interventions by injection... they don't belong here 👍

Bluegreen

14th September 2021, 01:47

I love Abba. I suggested "Knowing Me, Knowing You" as a song for Lefty Dave. I don't think he was too keen on the idea.

Bill Ryan

14th September 2021, 02:00

They were considered uncool by a lot of people back in the 70sPete Townshend of The Who confessed a lovely story. He heard SOS (video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvChjHcABPA)) on the radio when it first came out, and absolutely dug it. "And then", he said, "I realized it was Abba. But it was too late. I was already transported by the song."
:happy dog:
For Mike, who may not be familiar with their best numbers: many of them are intricate, extremely clever, full of surprising rhythms and unexpected melodies, and musically they're of the very highest quality.

Listen to Chiquitita (video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4QqMKe3rwY)) and then figure out how the heck it was put together. And maybe listen to the words of Knowing Me, Knowing You (video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUrzicaiRLU)), which has been described as the most mature breakup song ever written.

They really were (and are!) highly gifted professionals. In a recent interview, Benny said that when they came back together in the studio after 39 years, after just a few minutes it was like they'd never been apart. "I didn't even know if the girls could still sing', he said. "But yes, they can." :)

Gemma13

14th September 2021, 02:14

Oh wow you little ripper. Giddy with excitement. YES! Thanks for this Bill.

Huge Abba fan. Funnily enough my kids actually got into them too. No doubt learning word for word over the years from mum belting out a dreadful rendition whenever they played in the car on our long road trips.

My parents took me to their 1977 Australian Tour concert in Perth, Western Australia. A 1000km drive from where we lived in Carnarvon. I was 13. And yes, I cried happy, happy, tears.

Dad always regretted not letting me run down the aisle just before they finished so I could be one of the first at the stage to shake their hands. He held me back coz he was worried about "breaking the rules" and then realised my intuition to get there before everyone else was bang on.

Wasn't worth going then as the crowd was too deep. But no regrets. It was Magical.

Couldn't wait for the ABC's "Countdown" top ten music show each week to watch them stay No. 1 for weeks at a time. No commercial tv where we lived, heck I remember it going from b&w to colour.

Almost too excited to press play and watch this, so gonna sit quietly now and give them all my attention.

RunningDeer

14th September 2021, 02:16

I do think Avalon needs an ABBA thread. But for those reading this who might quickly be dismissive, hang on just a moment and read on — because something very remarkable has happened.

pAzEY1MfXrQ
Almost 20 million views in 11 days. (source (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAzEY1MfXrQ))

https://i.imgur.com/Du9Bdo2.jpg

"I Still Have Faith In You"

I still have faith in you
I see it now
Through all these years that faith lives on, somehow

There was a union
Of heart and mind
The likes of which are rare and oh so hard to find

Do I have it in me?
I believe it is in there
For I know I hear a bittersweet song
In the memories we share

I still have faith in you
And I will say
I never really thought I'd feel this way

But I remind myself
Of who we are
How inconceivable it is to reach this far

Do I have it in me?
I believe it is in there
For I know I hear a bittersweet song
In the memories we share

We do have it in us
New spirit has arrived
The joy and the sorrow
We have a story
And it survived

And we need one another
Like fighters in a ring
We're in this together
Passion and courage
Is everything

I still have faith in you
It stands above the crazy things we did
It all comes down to love

Do I have it in me?
I believe it is in there
For I know I hear a bittersweet song
In the memories we share
Do I have it in me?

We do have it in us
New spirit has arrived
The joy and the sorrow
We have a story
And it survived

And we know that we need one another
Like fighters in a ring
We're in this together
Passion and courage
Is everything

(I still have faith in you)
And we still have it in us
We've only just arrived
(Do I have it in me?)
We stand on a summit
Humble and grateful
To have survived

I still have faith in you
It stands above the crazy things we did
It all comes down to love
Do I have it in me?

Bill Ryan

14th September 2021, 02:30

Almost too excited to press play and watch this, so gonna sit quietly now and give them all my attention.

It's remarkably good, isn't it? It stands right alongside their best from 40 years ago. Clearly, they can still deliver what they always did. :flower:

And like so much of their work, with this new song you appreciate it more each time you hear it. It 'sticks'. And OMG, here they are, all in their 70s. I know many performers from that era are still around, many with solo careers or multiply changed versions of the same band, but this is exactly the same four. There was never anyone else.

And I totally bet it makes you cry again. :heart:

RunningDeer

14th September 2021, 02:33

Why did Abba break up? The double divorce that kept them apart almost 40 years

September 8, 2021
source (https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/why-did-abba-break-up-split-divorce-reunion-b953582.html)

From teenage sweethearts, Eurovision winners, then global superstars to two divorces and and perhaps one of the rawest break up songs of all time - ‘The Winner Takes It All’ .

Abba famously turned down a lot of Money, Money, Money ($1billion to be precise) to reunite but refused to do so for almost four decades.

The Swedish icons have sold some 385 million records worldwide, making them one of Universal Music’s biggest artists.

They have now agreed to perform together again with a gig at London’s Olympic Park and new singles I Still Have Faith In You and Don’t Shut Me Down.

But with so much success why did Abba break up in the first place?

Abba was made up of two sets of couples. Agnetha Fältskog was married to Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson to Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

At the height of Abba’s fame both couples divorced, one in 1980 and the other a year later.

The band went their separate ways in 1982, with Agnetha admitting she found it hard being in the band after her break-up.

https://static.standard.co.uk/2021/09/02/18/AFP_9M244G.jpg?width=640&auto=webp&quality=75&crop=3688%3A2922%2Csmart

Agnetha fell in love with Bjorn at 19, after meeting him in a cafe. They were married in 1971 and Abba won Eurovision in 1974.

She told the Standard she was emotionally ‘mangled’ by the split with Bjorn, who was the father of her two children.

Within a week of their divorce, Bjorn had a new girlfriend and Agnetha had counselling.

Abba’s hit The Winner Takes It All was written during this period and Agnetha said she found it hard to find the emotional strength to sing: “Tell me does she kiss/Like I used to kiss you?”

Speaking about the song in 2013, Agnetha said: “Björn wrote it about us after the breakdown of our marriage. The fact he wrote it exactly when we divorced is touching really.

“I didn’t mind. It was fantastic to do that song because I could put in such feeling.

“I didn’t mind sharing it with the public. It didn’t feel wrong. There is so much in that song. It was a mixture of what I felt and what Björn felt but also what Benny and Frida went through.”

RunningDeer

14th September 2021, 02:45

Sneak peek into ABBA's new album and concert (7:24 min)

@2:51 (https://youtu.be/xYGz19dvH3U?t=171) - A snippet of the interview.

xYGz19dvH3U

Here’s the full show/documentary.

ABBA Voyage - LIVE
pJBGk9Hed8o

https://abbavoyage.com/

ABBA ARE BACK with Voyage!

A brand new album out November 5 and revolutionary concert coming to London Spring 2022. Listen to two brand new songs and pre-order the album from the official store for first access to tickets.

Pre-order album: https://abba.lnk.to/albumpreorder
Listen here: https://abba.lnk.to/newmusic

Follow ABBA Voyage on socials:

www.instagram.com/ABBAVoyage
www.facebook.com/ABBAVoyage
www.twitter.com//ABBAVoyage
www.tiktok.com/@abbavoyage

RunningDeer

14th September 2021, 03:14

They have now agreed to perform together again with a gig at London’s Olympic Park and new singles I Still Have Faith In You and Don’t Shut Me Down.

DON'T SHUT ME DOWN (3:57 min)
N5UjJRi9nHo

[Verse 1]

A while ago, I heard the sound of children's laughter
Now it's quiet, so I guess they left the park
This wooden bench is getting harder by the hour
The sun is going down, it's getting dark
I realise I'm cold, the rain begins to pour
As I watch the windows on the second floor
The lights are on, it's time to go
It's time at last to let him know

[Verse 2]

I believe it would be fair to say
You look bewildered
And you wonder why I'm here today
And so you should, I would
When I left, I felt I'd had еnough
But in the shape and form I appear now
I havе learned to cope
And love and hope is why I am here now

[Chorus]

And now you see another me, I've been reloaded, yeah
I'm fired up, don't shut me down
I'm like a dream within a dream that's been decoded
I'm fired up, I'm hot, don't shut me down
I'm not the one you knew
I'm now and then combined
And I'm asking you to have an open mind (And I won't be the same)
I'm not the same this time around (Ooh)
I'm fired up, don't shut me down

[Verse 3]

Will you leave me standing in the hall
Or let me enter?
The apartment hasn't changed at all
I got to say I'm glad
Once these rooms were witness to our love
My tantrums and increasing frustration
But I go from mad
To not so bad in my transformation (So now)

[Chorus]

And now you see another me, I've been reloaded, yeah
I'm fired up, don't shut me down (Don't shut me down)
I'm like a dream within a dream that's been decoded
I'm fired up, I'm hot, don't shut me down
I am not the one you knew (I'm not the one you knew)
I'm now and then combined
And I'm asking you to have an open mind (And I won't be the same)
I'm not the same this time around (Ooh)
I'm fired up, don't shut me down

[Outro]

You asked me not to leave
Well, here I am again
And I love you still and so I won't pretend
I have learned to cope
And love and hope is why I am here now

Bill Ryan

14th September 2021, 03:16

This was fun to watch. This is a music critic, with a new channel, recording himself in real time listening to new songs for the very first time.

He's clearly a sensitive guy, instantly likable, and after an intro of genuine appreciation and gratitude for his followers he starts in at 2:00, truly not knowing what to expect.

The poor guy is so blown away he nearly comes right apart. :heart: To his immense credit, he has the courage to publish the video.

ABBA - I still have faith in you | REACTION (First time hearing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCjU5QEW-fc

Gemma13

14th September 2021, 04:02

Pure joy and goosebumps from these vids. So beautiful to hear that celestial sound. Reminds me of the Andrews Sisters Perfection. Should we be thanking the Nordics for this team :o

Can't have an Abba thread without this flashback legend. Still can't listen and sing to Fernando without popping up them goosebumps. Almost as much as Last of the Mohicans.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dQsjAbZDx-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQsjAbZDx-4

kanishk

14th September 2021, 05:19

Reading the title of the thread, I thought someone's father or grandfather got 40 years younger as a miracle and this thread includes his story.

Rosemarie

14th September 2021, 05:33

The two songs are soooooo great. Cannot wait to hear all the album. I can say all their old songs are like a soundtrack of my life. Remember when in college in Boston going to their first USA concert in 1979. There was a storm and their plane was delayed and we waited for hours but they delivered. The voices sound a little different to my ears. When the women sing individually . More mature? Just my take.
PD : as Bill said, the more you hear, the better you like the songs. I had them on a loop last night.

Bill Ryan

14th September 2021, 06:11

Reading the title of the thread, I thought someone's father or grandfather got 40 years younger as a miracle and this thread includes his story.Well, one could say it's a time-travel miracle of a different kind. :)

Another confession, not from The Who's Pete Townshend (see this post (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?116282-ABBA----40-years-younger-again&p=1451801&viewfull=1#post1451801)), but from myself. After stumbling on the reaction video I shared above (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?116282-ABBA----40-years-younger-again&p=1451817&viewfull=1#post1451817), where the poor guy came right apart on camera in real time, I went in search of a couple more. And then I couldn't stop, because they were all just so very fascinating from every human aspect one can think of.

Most reviewers found themselves in on-camera tears that totally took them by surprise. Some just lost it completely and had to cut the video to pull themselves together. One of them spontaneously exclaimed, right at the start: "They sound the same !!!" (And they do. :sun: )

A couple never even realized the stage performance at the end was a digital recreation, and one, totally confused, thought it somehow had to have been an old video. The sheer astonishment, delight and wide-eyed wonder captured on the reviewers' faces was captivating to watch.

For those who may be unfamiliar, this is what Abba actually did to people.... there was some kind of magic in there. Many have spoken about it, and it's not easy to pinpoint. It was more than just catchy 'pop music'. The girls' harmonies, when they hit it just right, were often described as angelic.

And then I started reading the comments. There are thousands and thousands. Many of them confessed to tears every time they heard the song. Many also remembered friends and family, sometimes their parents, who loved Abba as much as they always had, but who have now passed on and never lived to see the comeback that no-one had ever expected.

And now, with all that, I've heard the song maybe 20 times or more. I can absolutely confirm that it grows and builds each time. In my first post, I wrote (rather sparingly!) "It's a good song, vintage ABBA to its core."

But many of the commenters describe it as a 'masterpiece', one of their very best even after all these years. I'm feeling that could well be true. I'm trying to stay grounded here (it's way way past my bedtime :) ), but I'm starting to agree this is something really rather unusual and special.

The most important thing may be what many of the commenters said, all independently (on different channels), and in slightly different ways:
This is an anthem for humanity. At exactly the right time.
I really think it might be. It's clearly had a huge effect all round the world, like some kind of rapidly growing morphic field. In just a few days, hundreds of thousands of people of all ages, maybe millions, have been knocked right off their feet by this.

I have to take myself to bed right now, or I risk losing balance completely. :) I'll take stock again in the morning, after two strong cups of :coffee: — and see if I still feel the same in the cold light of day.

:sun:

Sérénité

14th September 2021, 09:29

That’s quite amazing! And also scary how good CGI has become.

My first album was ABBA, many a memory as a child trying to make my mums flares and platform boots fit me to re enact their dance routines :bigsmile:

Some music is just unique...you actually feel it in your heart chakra, like it’s literally opening it up and clearing the blocks.
All ABBAs songs do that 💫

Feritciva

14th September 2021, 10:06

As a 80's child who was into heavy metal and especially NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) ABBA was always too cheesy for me & my friends. :bigsmile:

But I really liked this song and can totally understand the guy in the reaction video Bill posted above. By the way it seems 2021 is the year of great comebacks, as Iron Maiden and The Stranglers released new albums. I can't sayI totally liked Iron Maiden's new album but The Stranglers album Dark Matters is something else. Old schoolers should check it out too!

5fMiCcPO5tY

PS: The clip stars Stuart Pearce, England's legendary No.3!

ExomatrixTV

14th September 2021, 11:43

Is this the reason ABBA chose to reunite after 40 years apart? | 60 Minutes Australia

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Bill Ryan

14th September 2021, 12:11

Some music is just unique...you actually feel it in your heart chakra, like it’s literally opening it up and clearing the blocks.
All ABBAs songs do that 💫Yes, I really do think that may be happening. One of the reviewers I listened to last night said, rather clumsily but I think very perceptively, that even Abba's sad songs make you feel happy.

As a 80's child who was into heavy metal and especially NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) ABBA was always too cheesy for me & my friends. :bigsmile:Yes, 'cheesy'. Many have used that word. (But also, like Pete Townshend, secretly admire the music. :) )

I have to take myself to bed right now, or I risk losing balance completely. :) I'll take stock again in the morning, after two strong cups of :coffee: — and see if I still feel the same in the cold light of day.I didn't get that much sleep. In all honesty, I was just too emotionally scrambled, like something whipped up in a blender. Now I'm on my second :coffee:, I think I may have figured it all out.

The last few months or more, I've been paying close attention almost every day to world events. This is a difficult time. There have been tragedies — illnesses and deaths — that have affected people I know well. There's something very dark and evil happening on the planet. I barely need to say more about that here.

So every day, it's my job to listen carefully to folks like Clif High, Mike Adams, Alex Jones, Dr Lee Merritt, Dr Reiner Fuellmich. And many others. That all piles up sometimes, and it's quite a load. I mitigate that by heading to the mountains regularly with my dog. It's a simple remedy, but it works well to help me healthy and balanced.

That remedy is because when I go to the mountains, I kind of go through a portal into a simple world without evil. I see delightful natural things: birds, deer, rainbows, surprising views, stunning landscapes, tiny alpine flowers by the thousand.

It's a blessing when the sun shines, but I don't even care if it doesn't. And all that time, rain or shine, my dog Mara is as excited and happy as a small child. And so am I.

But this is also the world of Abba. Theirs is a universe without evil. Where humans definitely make mistakes and encounter setbacks, but often manage to get by anyway and frequently find solace in music or beauty.

I have to be careful in the mountains, too, and make all the right decisions. But there's no-one out there trying to get me.

Abba's songs have that same innocence, while the maturity of complex adult experience is surprisingly often right in there as well. But all that time, the radiance and perfection of their harmonies and compositions can be heard throughout, as if to say:
Look, bad things can happen in the world. But that doesn't mean it's a bad world.
If I'm feeling down, I don't want to listen to Zeppelin or Hendrix or AC/DC. Even the story of a difficult human failure like Knowing me, Knowing You, like the rain in the mountains, can lift the spirits. That's why sad songs can make one feel happy. It's a simple world we all secretly long for.

I think this is why so many thousands of people wept uncontrollably when they heard the new song. It took them right back to the innocence of their younger days — before they got sick, before their loved ones passed away, before they realized there was evil in the world.

Today, Clif High may be publishing a new video. Of course, I'll be sure to watch it. But I feel my pressured soul, strong though it is, would rather be listening to Abba.

:heart:

Tommy Roxx

14th September 2021, 12:34

I just want to say that I've always loved the music of ABBA. I'm a life long musician, not professionally anymore but semi pro when younger and I also got into Berklee on a scholarship,so music has been a big part of my life ever since I was a young tot. While I never played or composed what you could consider pop music, I recognize the genius in ABBA. Perfectly constructed songs, loaded with hooks, yet a completely unique sound especially when they first blew up back in '74 or so. I'm glad Bill started the thread and I think it's great that they are together again. I also think it's great that growing older doesn't mean stopping what you love to do. I haven't watched the clip yet but I will as soon as I'm done listening to the grateful dead live from Vancouver in 1973 ( hot stuff).

RunningDeer

14th September 2021, 13:12

Thank you for this, Bill. I enjoyed it. Heartfelt...http://paula.avalonlibrary.net/smilies/flirty-hearts.gif

I didn't get that much sleep.

Continued...

In all honesty, I was just too emotionally scrambled, like something whipped up in a blender. Now I'm on my second :coffee:, I think I may have figured it all out.

The last few months or more, I've been paying close attention almost every day to world events. This is a difficult time. There have been tragedies — illnesses and deaths — that have affected people I know well. There's something very dark and evil happening on the planet. I barely need to say more about that here.

So every day, it's my job to listen carefully to folks like Clif High, Mike Adams, Alex Jones, Dr Lee Merritt, Dr Reiner Fuellmich. And many others. That all piles up sometimes, and it's quite a load. I mitigate that by heading to the mountains regularly with my dog. It's a simple remedy, but it works well to help me healthy and balanced.

That remedy is because when I go to the mountains, I kind of go through a portal into a simple world without evil. I see delightful natural things: birds, deer, rainbows, surprising views, stunning landscapes, tiny alpine flowers by the thousand.

It's a blessing when the sun shines, but I don't even care if it doesn't. And all that time, rain or shine, my dog Mara is as excited and happy as a small child. And so am I.

But this is also the world of Abba. Theirs is a universe without evil. Where humans definitely make mistakes and encounter setbacks, but often manage to get by anyway and frequently find solace in music or beauty.

I have to be careful in the mountains, too, and make all the right decisions. But there's no-one out there trying to get me.

Abba's songs have that same innocence, while the maturity of complex adult experience is surprisingly often right in there as well. But all that time, the radiance and perfection of their harmonies and compositions can be heard throughout, as if to say:
Look, bad things can happen in the world. But that doesn't mean it's a bad world.
If I'm feeling down, I don't want to listen to Zeppelin or Hendrix or AC/DC. Even the story of a difficult human failure like Knowing me, Knowing You, like the rain in the mountains, can lift the spirits. That's why sad songs can make one feel happy. It's a simple world we all secretly long for.

I think this is why so many thousands of people wept uncontrollably when they heard the new song. It took them right back to the innocence of their younger days — before they got sick, before their loved ones passed away, before they realized there was evil in the world.

Today, Clif High may be publishing a new video. Of course, I'll be sure to watch it. But I feel my pressured soul, strong though it is, would rather be listening to Abba.

:heart:

ExomatrixTV

14th September 2021, 13:17

Rare ABBA interview: band members on songs, Mamma Mia and world tour:

OnOca2yLVXQ

Mike Gorman

14th September 2021, 13:33

There is something magical about witnessing great talent that has endured for decades, I felt like this when I attended a John Fogerty concert at a Vineyard venue here in Perth in the hills, CCR were my very first rock concert back in 1972, and I was literally thrilled by their music as a young teenager. I was inspired to learn guitar and perform music myself as a result. John Fogerty appeared and struck up the band for 'Born on The Bayou' and the hair on the back of this man's neck was bristling and the atmosphere was so powerful, all those Boomers in nostalgia mode! ABBA of course were considered light, pop disposable music by many rock people, but I always liked them, their arrangements are absolutely superb, and the talent is just ridiculous, anyone with a musical sensibility knows that ABBA are amazing! I do not care about snobs and their lofty disdain for popular music, ABBA are alright with me!

Mercedes

14th September 2021, 13:40

And I totally bet it makes you cry again. :heart:

Yes...it did...thank you ABBA ... and Bill for posting it. :Cry:

Mark (Star Mariner)

14th September 2021, 13:56

This is tremendous, thanks so much for posting it Bill. I grew up with Abba. I was so lucky to be born into an era of such diverse and awesome music. I can thank my older brother for that really, a true pop music maven, who as a matter of course played daily on his stereo the likes ELO, Queen, Genesis, Elton John, Billy Joel, Wings, Blondie, Hall & Oats, Pink Floyd, and many more, nearly always in the rock genre (the school into which I was initiated), but he would very often spin up the latest Abba songs too, and Boney M as I recall. So they've always had a place in my heart.

It only strengthened over the years as I listened more, listened deeper, reflecting on the intricacies of Benny and Bjorn's masterful compositions, and the purity, almost ethereal grandeur that is Agnetha and Frida on vocals. They were killing it decades before today's ghastly pretenders, who by comparison just cannot sing, and require auto-tune and god knows what else just to be saleable. Abba put out infinitely superior harmonies on their B-sides than any of today's bland computer generated dross.

So thrilled to see them back, and I agree, at a time when their beautiful energy is needed most. I only wish they hadn't left it sooo long. I remember when they split. 1982. Wow. Cannot wait to hear what else they've come up with. And wouldn't it be amazing if they reached Number One!

I will post my favourite Abba track. The exquisite excellence of this track cannot understated. It's pure tour de force from start to finish; beautifully performed by Agnetha (especially when you know the very personal backstory), bringing delicate harmonies, a rousing hook, astonishingly raw lyrics, and underlined throughout with heart-aching melancholy. Surely one of the best pop ballads in history.

92cwKCU8Z5c

Bassplayer1

14th September 2021, 14:14

I can’t recall the woman’s name, but I was watching a YouTube video the other day and she wondered if the Universe encouraged them to reform again in order to raise the frequency of the planet - to help peoples hearts and spirits heal from all the darkness. It’s a lovely idea.
Abba are wonderful - warm hearted and genuine.
Thanks for this post Bill xx

Brigantia

14th September 2021, 14:18

I think this is why so many thousands of people wept uncontrollably when they heard the new song. It took them right back to the innocence of their younger days — before they got sick, before their loved ones passed away, before they realized there was evil in the world.:heart:

Oh yes Bill, I heartily agree. It was our age of innocence, before most of us knew about evil Illuminati, Operation Gladio, etc. etc., and all the nefarious forces that were shaping our world. The world around us was far more black and white.

If you read a history book about 1970s Britain, you'd think that it was a depressing world - inflation, IRA bombings, terrorism in Europe, strikes and power cuts. Yes, those things happened but we were raised by the war time generation and those things weren't going to defeat us. Also my generation didn't yet have the wisdom that age brings, few of us would question what we were taught and we lived in the moment.

I loved the 1970s. This is my favourite ABBA song, I bought the 45rpm single (those were the days!) when it came out and it still lifts my spirits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s

Mark (Star Mariner)

14th September 2021, 14:31

They have now agreed to perform together again with a gig at London’s Olympic Park and new singles I Still Have Faith In You and Don’t Shut Me Down.
DON'T SHUT ME DOWN (3:57 min)
N5UjJRi9nHo

I think I need to hear the first song (I Still have Faith in You) again a few times, it's very good indeed, but WOW, this one - 'Don't Shut me Down' - which I've just listened to, and only once, has me sitting here kind of stunned. Literally stunned. It's like I've shifted into an alternate reality of Earth, one that is 99% identical to ours, but in this one Abba had a massive hit years ago that maybe sat in between 'Take a Chance' and 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!', which was never released in my reality, and I've just heard it for the first time. It's so perfectly Abba, right out of '78 or '80 or thereabouts. How the hell did they just 'create' this out of nothing as though no time had passed?!

I guarantee a thousand artists are listening to this right now thinking they would sever their right arms to have a pop song this good. And Abba get together again, snap their fingers and voila. Like it's nothing. Perfect melody, beautifully made, strong hook, harmonies, it''s all there just as it always was. This is very weird and I cannot quite believe it.

Bill Ryan

14th September 2021, 14:36

I sent this to a very close friend of mine this morning, who was unaware that this had happened. They thanked me immediately, saying that it was
A shaft of blazing light and love in what has been an extraordinarily dark and difficult few days.I replied:

I'm so very sorry... there are many, many people going through depths of stress and anxiety right now, with no end in sight, with almost everything they thought they could trust evaporating like mist.

The new song seems to have been an inspiration for millions of people who can't stop listening to this, feeling that a little miracle has occurred, like an orchid in the barren desert.

:flower:

Mark (Star Mariner)

14th September 2021, 16:03

I just looked at the UK Charts, probably for the first time in maybe 20 years. 'I Have Faith in You' is in at Number 14, and 'Don't Shut Me down' at Number 9. Incredible. Apart from a re-release of Dancing Queen in '92, it's their first chart since 'Under Attack' in late 1982 which got to No. 26, and their first top ten since 'One of Us' in late '81, which reached No.3. There was also 'Thank You For the Music', in '83, but that was also a re-release, and their swan song. Could they make it to No. 1? That would be astounding.

Their last No.1 single - and their 9th over all - in the UK was 'Super Trouper' in November 1980. I remember two girls who sat behind me in class getting reprimanded for singing it during a geography lesson (our teacher Miss Thorpe, a real curmudgeon, hated Abba), she told them to shut up and go stand in the corner! lol

Stephanie

14th September 2021, 16:44

Wonderful memories and a deep, gentle, warm smile from my heart.💖

Tommy Roxx

14th September 2021, 18:06

Well I listened to the song and thought it really good. As I expected, some super well constructed ABBA music. I was most impressed by the lead vocals (Freida?). Her voice still sounds great and they did a good job capturing the emotion in her track. The video was cool too but I'm of those old people that still listens with my ears,not my eyes like most of the kids today.lol. I also watched a thing about how they're going to be doing some kind of partial live repeating show in London using their digital selves to perform like in the video and I guess that's cool. Personally I think they should just take the stage with their real selves and be at peace with how they look now but that's just me. I get that they're going for a nostalgic vibe so more power to them.

Bill Ryan, you sent me on a unplanned ABBA whirlwind this morning, I ended up checking out old ABBA concerts on YouTube for about an hour! so many great songs. As much as I think the internet is destroying our society there are definitely some pluses still (in addition to Avalon, of course)!

ExomatrixTV

14th September 2021, 18:27

Instant Classic: Abba - "The Last Video":

8L6T6Yj5u4k
17,977,407+ views

thepainterdoug

14th September 2021, 18:28

Bill I thank you for this. I am doing my final editing on my Musical Hypnotta and came across your post. ABBA is a band I once viewed as being uncool because they were too good.
Their songs infectious, the most wonderful melodies and harmonies, the best voices anywhere. It cant be!!! I remember when much younger I pushed them out as silly as it sounds. Well humans sure are silly and I was one of them. It was all to beautiful.

Today In my car everyday , ABBA is on my lineup of the same songs played over and over again. Yep its good enough for me. Abba, the doors, moody blues, Elvis, Bobby Darin, the B GEES the Supremes, all Motown , to name a few.

Yeah I know whats out there but i dont care . This lineup makes me happy

ABBA just too unfashionable and just too good! Thanks for sharing some beauty again.

Open Minded Dude

14th September 2021, 19:33

Always loved Abba and was a bit (like many men of young age, or boys..) in love with Agnetha somewhat.

I rediscovered them for me already in the mid-00-years (still pre-YouTube area) and did a compilation of their best songs for me and burnt it on CD (yeah, as said it was the 00-years).

Today I go jogging with an mp3-player (I'm old fashioned and do NOT use a smartphone) and once in a while my favourite Abba song comes on. It gives me so much energy that I run better and faster when it's on. Sometimes I push the repeat button because it is so good and uplifting. Once I heard it even 10 times or so in a row, no joke.
:inlove:

Also no joke that I consider this song a kind of musical masterpiece.

Here it the tune I mean, I love it to bits:

-crgQGdpZR0

Imv, Abba is ALL that is good in pop music and it proves that 70ies and 80ies pop/charts music was so much better than almost all of what is consumed as 'hits' today.

Blacklight43

14th September 2021, 20:21

Thanks for all the ABBA this morning. I have a new mind worm to keep me off all the negative stuff going on today. Even while out gardening I was humming the tunes while working in the dirt! Great thread!

ExomatrixTV

14th September 2021, 21:55

Most Popular Song Each Month in the 1970s (Guess how many times ABBA is on this list?):
i0MzvQhl23U
01. May 1974
02. January 1976
03. May 1976
04. September 1976
05. December 1976
06. November 1977
07. March 1978

is it just me, that it feels like there is so much more Soul in the music back then?

Gemma13

15th September 2021, 02:16

I will post my favourite Abba track. The exquisite excellence of this track cannot understated. It's pure tour de force from start to finish; beautifully performed by Agnetha (especially when you know the very personal backstory), bringing delicate harmonies, a rousing hook, astonishingly raw lyrics, and underlined throughout with heart-aching melancholy. Surely one of the best pop ballads in history.

92cwKCU8Z5c

Oooh yeah. Couldn't count the times this was a go to, singing and sobbing, on endless repeat, but coming out feeling uplifted. Go figure . . . there's a loving friend with a hug in every song.

Bill Ryan

15th September 2021, 02:23

there's a loving friend with a hug in every song.So very true. It's like some kind of marvelous paradox.

One of the many reaction videos I watched featured a guy our age, bearded and bald-headed, who looked like he might better belong on the back of a Harley. But he was proudly wearing his ABBA T-shirt. Moved to tears like all the rest of them, he said simply: "Just go out and give everyone you know a hug."

:flower: :bearhug: :flower:

Gemma13

15th September 2021, 02:32

I didn't get that much sleep. In all honesty, I was just too emotionally scrambled, like something whipped up in a blender. Now I'm on my second :coffee:, I think I may have figured it all out.
:heart:

Finally got some sleep last night but only had 3 hours in the prior 48hrs. Couldn't work it out. But surprisingly felt amazing and just wanted to sing and dance all day. Still do. Don't even want to look at a news feed :mmph:

Perhaps Abba did activate a global joy from so many that we all got swept up in it together. I like to think so anyway. Maybe listening to them from now on will help activate those energetics again when needed. Who needs mindfullness apps created by Uni students when you can turn on Abba
:music: :blackwidow::rapture::dance3:

Bluegreen

15th September 2021, 03:17

:rockon:

7j6OI9TxqzI

ExomatrixTV

15th September 2021, 09:14

Bill Ryan

15th September 2021, 11:26

Perhaps Abba did activate a global joy from so many that we all got swept up in it together.Here's a very beautiful and moving reaction video, one of so very many. After her cheerful introduction, this lovely young girl finds herself immediately plunged into uncontrollable tears from start to finish.

"I can't explain what's happening", she says. "I wasn't even born in that era." When she gets to the stage performance, she simply can't believe what she's seeing. :heart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4EAX8Ls5Z0

Tigger

15th September 2021, 11:56

rgray222

15th September 2021, 13:18

I debated whether or not I should post this but I think it is interesting. I lived in Sweden from 1982-86. Benny and Frida were my next-door neighbours when I lived in Lidingö, a small island that is a suburb of Stockholm.

Oddly, I found this photo on the internet, it was labelled................"On the balcony of their house in Lidingö" they were as nice as they could be and while we did not socialize we would run into each other from time to time, especially at the neighborhood food market which was nothing more than an extremely small convenience store.

I have loved their music for a long time, just before the pandemic hit we saw a wonderful performance of Mama Mia. Their music leaves you feeling really great and very positive.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/f0/f1/f8f0f1c9c8454d6b809ca64aa83391f1.jpg

Adi

15th September 2021, 13:44

(I'm an unashamed aficionado of their music, which was almost always ingenious and creative, and the girls' voices were absolutely always just something else) — but I was quite unprepared for the video. Here it is below, their first new release.

Well, Bill, we learn something new each day :thumbsup:;)

Serious note, I too, enjoy ABBA :)

Gemma13

15th September 2021, 15:27

Valle

15th September 2021, 15:38

a tidbit :-)
Abba was very close neighbors to me here where I live Vallentuna ("Valle") - And I remeber them as VERY nice people, and all neighbors liked them.
When I was young we often walked by there houses, and looked in when they played music :-)
(they lived next to each other in Dragonvreten) https://i.pinimg.com/originals/87/24/61/872461ad434e5019e8e61d35dba17776.jpg
Google maps:
https://www.google.com/maps/@59.5425579,18.060828,93m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is a close weather mill to to there home
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/0f/8f/49/0f8f4990a7c33b45d10a812dc35eccb7--abba-photo-sessions.jpg
Google maps
https://www.google.com/maps/@59.5336364,18.0678812,3a,82.3y,186.9h,79.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjDUHLk5o-2vi6bhzwijWlA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

My favorite album and song are Voulez-Vous, If It Wasn't For The Nights
7100pNJk19U

Mark (Star Mariner)

15th September 2021, 15:57

Probably the only girl in my whole life I was ever truly, truly nuts for was half Swedish, and a gosh darn spitting image of Agnetha. Something in those Scandinavian genes I swear. I worked right alongside her for the best part of 5 years, and she was a joy, a ray of light, and unbelievably gorgeous. Shame she was out of my league, but 99% of guys were.

But when I get to the other side, I'm going to have a proper sit down with my higher self and ask it why the hell I wasn't allowed to be born in Sweden.

Valle

15th September 2021, 16:06

Something in those Scandinavian genes I swear.

Honestly! when I travel i can often recognize other Swedes / Norwegians - by the eyes!
as in this videoiJ90ZqH0PWI

RunningDeer

15th September 2021, 16:11

My favorite album and song are Voulez-Vous, If It Wasn't For The Nights

7100pNJk19U

If It Wasn’t for the Nights

I got appointments, work I have to do
Keeping me so busy all the day through

They're the things that keep me from thinking of you
(Oh) Baby, I miss you so, I know I'm never gonna make it

Oh, I'm so restless, I don't care what I say
And I lose my temper ten times a day

Still it's even worse when the night's on its way
It's bad, oh, so bad

Somehow I'd be doing alright if it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could make it)

I'd have courage left to fight if it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could take it)

How I fear the time when shadows start to fall
Sitting here alone and staring at the wall

Even I could see a light if it wasn't for the night
(Even I could see a light, I think that I could make it)

Somehow I'd be doing alright if it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could take it)

No one to turn to, you know how it is
I was not prepared for something like this

Now I see them clearly, the things that I miss
(Ohhh) Baby, I feel so bad, I know I'm never gonna make it

I got my business to help me through the day
People I must write to, bills I must pay

But everything's so different when night's on its way
It's bad, oh, so bad

Somehow I'd be doing alright if it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could make it)

I'd have courage left to fight if it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could take it)

How I fear the time when shadows start to fall
Sitting here alone and staring at the wall

Even I could see a light if it wasn't for the night
(Even I could see a light, I think that I could make it)

Guess my future would look bright if it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could make it)

If it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could take it)

If it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could make it)

Even I could see a light if it wasn't for the night
(Even I could see a light, I think that I could make it)

Guess my future would look bright if it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could take it)

If it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could make it)

If it wasn't for the night
(If it wasn't for the night, I think that I could take it)

Even I could see a light if it wasn't for the night
(Even I could see a light, I think that I could make it)

Guess my future would look bright if it wasn't for the night

RunningDeer

15th September 2021, 16:22

92cwKCU8Z5c

The Winner Takes It All

I don't wanna talk
About things we've gone through
Though it's hurting me
Now it's history

I've played all my cards
And that's what you've done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play

The winner takes it all
The loser's standing small
Beside the victory
That's her destiny

I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence

Building me a home
Thinking I'd be strong there
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules

The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear

The winner takes it all (takes it all)
The loser has to fall (has to fall)
It's simple and it's plain (it's so plain)
Why should I complain? (Why complain?)

But tell me, does she kiss
Like I used to kiss you?
Does it feel the same
When she calls your name?

Somewhere deep inside
You must know I miss you
But what can I say?
Rules must be obeyed

The judges will decide (will decide)
The likes of me abide (me abide)
Spectators of the show (of the show)
Always staying low (staying low)

The game is on again (on again)
A lover or a friend (or a friend)
A big thing or a small (big or small)
The winner takes it all (takes it all)

I don't wanna talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You've come to shake my hand

I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence

But you see
The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all
So the winner takes it all
And the loser has to fall

Throw the dice, cold as ice
Way down here, someone dear
Takes it all, has to fall
And it's plain, why complain?

RunningDeer

15th September 2021, 16:34

-crgQGdpZR0

Take A Chance On Me

If you change your mind
I'm the first in line
Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me

If you need me, let me know
Gonna be around
If you've got no place to go
When you're feeling down

If you're all alone
When the pretty birds have flown
Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me

Gonna do my very best
And it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test
If you let me try

Take a chance on me
That's all I ask of you, honey
Take a chance on me

We can go dancing (oh)
We can go walking (yeah)
As long as we're together (long as we're together)

Listen to some music (oh)
Maybe just talking (yeah)
Get to know you better (get to know you better)

'Cause you know I've got
So much that I wanna do
When I dream I'm alone with you, it's magic

You want me to leave it there
Afraid of a love affair, but I think you know
That I can't let go

If you change your mind
I'm the first in line
Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me

If you need me, let me know
Gonna be around
If you've got no place to go
When you're feeling down

If you're all alone
When the pretty birds have flown
Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me

Gonna do my very best
And it ain't no lie
If you put me to the test
If you let me try

Take a chance on me
Come on, give me a break, will you?
Take a chance on me

Oh, you can take your time, baby (oh)
I'm in no hurry (yeah)
Know I'm gonna get you (know I'm gonna get you)
You don't wanna hurt me (oh)
Baby, don't worry (yeah)
I ain't gonna let you (I ain't gonna let you)

Let me tell you now
My love is strong enough
To last when things are rough, it's magic
You say that I waste my time
But I can't get you off my mind, no, I can't let go
'Cause I love you so

If you change your mind
I'm the first in line
Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me

If you need me, let me know
Gonna be around
If you've got no place to go
If you're feeling down

If you're all alone
When the pretty birds have flown
Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me

Gonna do my very best
Baby, can't you see?
Gotta put me to the test
Take a chance on me

Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me
Ba-ba-ba, ba, ba
Ba-ba-ba, ba, ba

Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me

Gonna do my very best
Baby, can't you see
Gotta put me to the test
Take a chance on me

Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me
Ba-ba-ba, ba, ba
Ba-ba-ba, ba, ba, ba-ba

Honey, I'm still free
Take a chance on me
Gonna do my very best
Baby, can't you see
Gotta put me to the test
Take a chance on me

RunningDeer

15th September 2021, 16:43

RunningDeer

15th September 2021, 16:51

iUrzicaiRLU

Knowing Me, Knowing You

No more carefree laughter
Silence ever after
Walking through an empty house, tears in my eyes
Here is where the story ends, this is goodbye

[Chorus]

Knowing me, knowing you, aha
There is nothing we can do
Knowing me, knowing you, aha

We just have to face it, this time we're through
(This time we're through, this time we're really through)
(This time we're through, we're really through)

Breaking up is never easy, I know, but I have to go
(I have to go, this time I have to go, this time I know)
Knowing me, knowing you, it's the best I can do

Memories, good days, bad days (Memories, good days, bad days)
They'll be with me always (They'll be with me always)
In these old familiar rooms, children would play
Now there's only emptiness, nothing to say

[Chorus]
Knowing me, knowing you, aha
There is nothing we can do

Knowing me, knowing you, aha
We just have to face it, this time we're through
(This time we're through, this time we're really through)
(This time we're through, we're really through)

Breaking up is never easy, I know, but I have to go
(I have to go, this time I have to go, this time I know)

Knowing me, knowing you, it's the best I can do

Heart to heart

15th September 2021, 16:57

RunningDeer

15th September 2021, 16:57

cvChjHcABPA

S.O.S.

Where are those happy days, they seem so hard to find
I tried to reach for you, but you have closed your mind
Whatever happened to our love?
I wish I understood
It used to be so nice, it used to be so good

So when you're near me, darling can't you hear me
S. O. S.
The love you gave me, nothing else can save me
S. O. S.

When you're gone
How can I even try to go on?
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on?

You seem so far away though you are standing near
You made me feel alive, but something died I fear
I really tried to make it out
I wish I understood
What happened to our love, it used to be so good

So when you're near me, darling can't you hear me
S. O. S.
The love you gave me, nothing else can save me
S. O. S.

When you're gone
How can I even try to go on?
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on?

So when you're near me, darling can't you hear me
S. O. S.
And the love you gave me, nothing else can save me
S. O. S.

When you're gone
How can I even try to go on?
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on?

When you're gone
How can I even try to go on?
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on?

RunningDeer

15th September 2021, 17:05

RunningDeer

15th September 2021, 17:13

vfnOaLQHKh8

Lay All Your Love On Me

I wasn't jealous before we met
Now every woman I see is a potential threat
And I'm possessive, it isn't nice
You've heard me saying that smoking was my only vice

But now it isn't true
Now everything is new
And all I've learned has overturned
I beg of you

Don't go wasting your emotion
Lay all your love on me

It was like shooting a sitting duck
A little small talk, a smile and baby I was stuck
I still don't know what you've done with me
A grown-up woman should never fall so easily

I feel a kind of fear
When I don't have you near
Unsatisfied, I skip my pride
I beg you, dear

Don't go wasting your emotion
Lay all your love on me
Don't go sharing your devotion
Lay all your love on me

I've had a few little love affairs
They didn't last very long and they've been pretty scarce
I used to think I was sensible
It makes the truth even more incomprehensible

'Cause everything is new
And everything is you
And all I've learned has overturned
What can I do?

Don't go wasting your emotion
Lay all your love on me
Don't go sharing your devotion
Lay all your love on me

Don't go wasting your emotion
Lay all your love on me
Don't go sharing your devotion
Lay all your love on me

Don't go wasting your emotion
Lay all your love on me

RunningDeer

15th September 2021, 17:21

XEjLoHdbVeE

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

Half past twelve
And I'm watching the late show in my flat all alone
How I hate to spend the evening on my own

Autumn winds
Blowing outside my window as I look around the room
And it makes me so depressed to see the gloom
There's not a soul out there
No one to hear my prayer

Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase the shadows away
Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day

Movie stars
Find the end of the rainbow with a fortune to win
It's so different from the world I'm living in

Tired of TV
I open the window and I gaze into the night
But there's nothing there to see no one in sight
There's not a soul out there
No one to hear my prayer

Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase the shadows away

Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight
Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight

There's not a soul out there
No one to hear my prayer

Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase the shadows away

Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day

Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase the shadows away

Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day

Bill Ryan

15th September 2021, 17:36

The really, really interesting thing for me — and my main motivation for starting this thread — is the worldwide outpouring of sometimes near-uncontrolled emotion, grown men and women just collapsing in tears when they heard ABBA's two new songs. It happened everywhere. The comments on some of the YT videos are in almost every language.

I shed tears myself, and I've been trying to figure out why. Several days later, I still find myself affected.

Of course, the harmonies (once again, 40 years later) are magically near-impeccable. And the compositions are as ingenious, catchy and perfect as ever. But why so much emotion?

Some of it, as I tried to express in my post #21 here (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?116282-ABBA----40-years-younger-again&p=1451858&viewfull=1#post1451858), surely has to be about being catapulted back to an age of relative innocence and sunshine, when we were much younger, or in some cases even before we were born. But there may be more.

I can still relive my own stopped-in-my-tracks amazement when I saw the CGI stage performance for the first time. (I knew that was coming, as well, but was still unprepared.)

As I mentioned in several other posts, many of the reviewers in the reaction videos were impacted in similar ways. Some were so astonished they could not speak. Others were emotionally overwhelmed. Some even thought it had to be a real performance and just couldn't understand how come no-one seemed to have aged.

I've seen that quite a number of times now, and the effect wears off — of course. The CGI becomes so obvious that there's little further impact. But at the very first viewing, it's still a kind of shock. Why is this?

I think it's because of a very deep aspect of the human condition that escapes not a single one of us — that we're all failingly mortal, we age (slowly but irreversibly), and will some day no longer be here in our current bodies. Day by day, usually millimeter by millimeter but always to some tiny degree, we become more infirm. This knowledge, which we carry with us every day, but seldom talk about as openly as we could, is deeply hardwired.

We all know it's a one-way journey. We all know, those of us who may be 40, 50 or older, that we just can't do some of the things we used to when we were 20 or 30. We've lost some of the skills, the nuances, and talents, and (usually) our very appearance when we dare look in the mirror.

I noticed this when watching some of the new videos which feature ABBA as they are today. I don't actually want to see them in their 70s.

They're clearly lovely people still. (I think they always were, part of their eternal attraction.) But they're no longer glamorous. Agnetha still looks surprisingly attractive and sprightly (in her recording sessions, though, she's now wearing glasses.) But Frida has aged a lot, and looks like someone's dear grandmother. Bjorn, long having shed his chipmunk haircut, looks like someone's accountant. And Benny is overweight and looks like he's just not taken very good care of himself.

For many of us, it's just a little too close to home. :flower:

I want to see them eternally young. I want to see myself eternally young when I look in the mirror. But that's just impossible.

Yet here, that impossibility was reversed. It really was like we witnessed some kind of minor Biblical miracle. In the new songs, I know there was sophisticated post-production, but then there always was on everything they ever did, even 45 years ago. (Though in their live performances, the girls' voices were sublime every time.)

I think the tears that so often immediately started flowing were because the girls' voices just hadn't changed. Barely at all, after more than half a lifetime had passed.

Almost everyone was astounded, expressed in different ways, that OMG, they sound just the same. (And yes, they do. :heart:) And when the CGI stage performance kicked in, that was all reinforced even more. It was like some kind of sudden, unexpected, through-a-portal time travel experience.

Here's a thought experiment to help present the point. Imagine that you learned that a beloved old friend of yours, from decades back, who you'd not seen or heard from for years and years, was going to come to visit. You'd be delighted, excited — and also, very probably, rather afraid that somehow too much might have changed in all those years.

And then they arrive at your door, which you open, excited but a little fearful — and, as if by a miracle, there they were just as they were so many years ago, utterly unchanged, just not aged a day.

I think you might just collapse in a blubbering heap, having been braced for someone who might have been a shadow of their former self, but instead there they were still radiant in all their former glory and beauty.

I think that may possibly be quite a good way of describing the shock and sheer unbelieving delight that has overwhelmed millions. (And yes, me too. :flower: )

:heart:

amor

15th September 2021, 21:52

I listened to the first video which was absolutely beautiful and then read the lyrics. The arrangements were superb and the words heart wrenching. If you have lived, experienced life, the hoped for and the disappointing, you must cry. The music itself was expressive as the words and can leave you sobbing. I remember the sounds of their songs on the radio. They were beautiful as is love, for those that have experienced it and for those that wish they had.

7alon

16th September 2021, 08:40

There is an element to Gnosis that involves music. It wouldn't surprise me if a trigger was encoded into the music to create a benevolent response (positive, but powerful emotional release). I find triggers like this in a LOT of music. Maybe it does indeed contain a message relating to youth? We are globally at the precipice of massive change, and I have also seen encoded messages in music/movies/tv the last few years. Messages that hint at something coming, a shift more precisely. We can already see this shift around us, I am curious.

Sérénité

16th September 2021, 09:24

It has perplexed me the last couple of days.
Is it the fact ABBA have such a unique pitch, melody and voices that it can’t help but transport you back to the distant past maybe?
Music and smells, I find they are the biggest trigger for deep emotional memories.

Or is it something neurally induced?
Apparently, when you hear a song and you get the chills/goosebumps, it’s actually your parasympathetic nervous system, or “rest and digest” system being activated along with the reward-related brain regions of your brain and releases of Dopamine.

So maybe it’s both. The chords literally hit a key within us and the memories and feelings flood out.

I find, despite loving music, when I’m going through some stuff I need silence.
Music is too powerful a trigger when you are feeling low. Get the wrong music and it’s taking you lower.
Get the right music and your mood is lifted instantly.

ABBA have the frequency set just perfectly.
And we really need this right now.
Thankyou for the music 🎵

Valle

16th September 2021, 09:51

Ace of Base is an other a wake swedish group very similar to Abba.. very "gnosis songs".
(and the same eyes)

Ace of Base - Wheel of Fortune
qoybSNHMtMY

Ace of Base - The Sign
iqu132vTl5Y

Its the same with the Ark.. very gnostic

The Ark - It Takes A Fool To Remain Sane
aeb0MBdQaew

Avicii - Wake Me Up ;-)
IcrbM1l_BoI

Gemma13

16th September 2021, 09:56

OMG Bill, OMG, OMG, OMG :heart::heart::heart:

I've just watched this guy you provided a link for on Page 1. He nails it. Cried and sobbed with him all the way and couldn't stay sitting. Had to get up, move, sway, and wiggle and jiggle, as ABBA's celestial vibrations moved through every cell in my body lifting me to heights of euphoria.

Gotta watch this dude in the following order. ABBA fans will not be disappointed.

Anyone not familiar with ABBA you will, should, totally get it if you watch these two videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X36IH7MQPdY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCjU5QEW-fc[/url]

OMG this resurrection and second coming could not have come at a better time for our planet. AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER. 8 more songs to come in November, so we will know all of them backwards in time for the grand finale concert next year.

I can't help seeing the universe singing to us, saying, thank you, hang in there, you got this, and we've always got ya back. I personally have been triggered into incredible elevation, as 7alon pointed to.

And imagine how many people will come out in droves if protests start blasting these new ABBA songs in the streets. Jeezuz even the riot police would be hard pushed not to join in.

BUT . . . it won't stop there. This global vibration is going to rock our world for many years to come, repeatedly. They are going to die. And most likely one at a time.

I will not be surprised if this energy is just the beginning and if it is going to eventually be as great, if not higher, than those heights of spiritual ecstacy many are fortunate to have reached and experienced at least once in their lifetime so far.

Imagine too, the powerful vibrational healing, cleansing, and joy being experienced by billions . . . at the same time, repeatedly. It's pure f*cking genius. We've felt something big coming. Who woulda guessed.

P.S. As with everything ABBA, the more times you listen, the more you get. It's as if there are endless encoded doorways, layered on top of each other, that continue to open, again and again and again.

Harmony

16th September 2021, 10:52

ABBA really are unique, imbueing personal deep moments and then bringing a joyful unity where everyone is sharing in a celebration. They are brave to make a comeback, knowing they will be compared to their former glory. I hope the world will be kind and grateful for the sharing of their personal gifts.

I still listen to ABBA with a sense of fun, but more and more I just enjoy the sounds of nature and a inner heart song and it can be fulfilling and satisfying and not boring at all.

Age is a funny thing, on the inside you can feel like your original inner child with knowledge and wisdom as a lens to look through and navigate life situations and relationships. But the physical body kind of slowly drops away, not so shinny and new any more, so love must discover what is beyond the transient body and realise the important parts of ourselves that never leave us, our love and heart felt relationships, what we have shared, the beauty of living and lessons we have learned. When the times death of the body is near or was near, it becomes very apparent what is important.

What a wonderful gift ABBA has shared with the world, beyond the commercial part :heart:

Anchor

16th September 2021, 11:21

Late to this party.

I watched the "Still have faith in you video".

And I am now requiring tissues for my runny nose and dripping eyes.

Thanks for pointing this out. I was 10 when they burst on the scene and I have been a lifelong fan.

Bill Ryan

16th September 2021, 11:37

OMG Bill, OMG, OMG, OMG :heart::heart::heart:

:heart::heart::heart:

And this is for Star Mariner: :)

N5UjJRi9nHo
I think I need to hear the first song (I Still have Faith in You) again a few times, it's very good indeed, but WOW, this one - 'Don't Shut me Down' - which I've just listened to, and only once, has me sitting here kind of stunned. Literally stunned. You know, you're absolutely right. :highfive: At first, I thought this one (of the two) wasn't quite so special. But now I can't get it out of my head. Literally! :bigsmile:

Abba did their magic thing again, as they so often always have done. The song, which is far cleverer than I'd first thought, just grows and grows.

It's almost more perfect, in its own unique way, than the other one. I paid close attention to it the last couple of days, and it's an Abba-classic masterpiece, too. It really is. The lyrics are ingenious, with multiply layered meaning.

I'm pretty sure that the introductory "The sun is going down, it's getting dark" refers to the knowledge that they're all inevitably nearing the end of their long lives and so there's not much time left for their final act. I missed that for quite a while at first. Almost no-one has picked up on that yet.

That there'll be 8 more like this in a few weeks' time is a little mind-blowing. Benny, in an interview, said typically modestly: "Well, we just did the best we could". But the best they can do is several levels higher than most other popular musicians past or present.

:flower:

Anchor

16th September 2021, 11:43

I wonder what role that excellent CGI will have in helping people eventually fully understand that it is possible lot of people who are on "TV" (tell you a vision) are actually ai driven CGI now?

Gemma13

16th September 2021, 11:59

:faint::faint::faint:

p4QqMKe3rwY

Chiquitita

Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong
You're enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow

How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

Chiquitita, tell me the truth
I'm a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on

You were always sure of yourself
Now I see you've broken a feather
I hope we can patch it up together

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving

Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

So the walls came tumbling down
And your love's a blown out candle
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle

Chiquitita, tell me the truth
There is no way you can deny it
I see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving

Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

Mark (Star Mariner)

16th September 2021, 12:27

I must admit when I first heard a while back that Abba were going to make this return I felt the same as everyone else I'm sure. It was like hearing one of your favourite films is at long last going to get a sequel, that we're going to revisit a world we have very fond memories of and see those beloved characters again. But as with a sequel, I had misgivings. As you said Bill, they are old now, in fact aged. Not just the face, but everything, including vocal chords. Agnetha and Frida just won't have the range and control at 75 they had at 35, they simply can't, so it isn't going to be the same.

Secondly, what if the group 'updated' themselves? Although they always kept their signature sound and identity, they did adapt with the times. If you compare 'Dancing Queen' ('76) with say 'The Day Before you Came' (82) they are chalk and cheese. When disco came along they got onboard that train, briefly, and thankfully got off again. So what if they reimagined themselves for 2021? I didn't think I wanted to see what. Because what if this 'revival' ended up, in the eyes of the fans, being a blot on their legacy?

Why this has blown up to such extraordinary proportions is that all those fears - I think many naturally had them - were proven totally unfounded. They sound superb. If Benny and Bjorn used a little modern tech to smooth out any vocal blemishes, then so what! In assuming the exact brand and stylings of the Abba we all remember and love, they hit a hole in one around the world. I like to think they outright refused to even countenance the idea of 'updating' themselves for modern markets and morphing into some kind of R&B/Hip-hop Abba. That would've been just horrible. They stayed true to who and what they are, and thank goodness.

I've scrolled many youtube comments to see for myself what people are saying. It really is remarkable actually. This one really stood out to me and sums up much of what I'm seeing. This was in response to 'Don't Shut me Down'.

https://projectavalon.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=47462&d=1631794788

Another one of my Abba faves. Infectious!

_d5dPYHi17k

Bill Ryan

16th September 2021, 12:58

Why this has blown up to such extraordinary proportions is that all those fears - I think many naturally had them - were proven totally unfounded. They sound superb. If Benny and Bjorn used a little modern tech to smooth out any vocal blemishes, then so what! In assuming the exact brand and stylings of the Abba we all remember and love, they hit a hole in one around the world. I like to think they outright refused to even countenance the idea of 'updating' themselves for modern markets and morphing into some kind of R&B/Hip-hop Abba. That would've been just horrible. They stayed true to who and what they are, and thank goodness.

I've scrolled many youtube comments to see for myself what people are saying. It really is remarkable actually. This one really stood out to me and sums up much of what I'm seeing. This was in response to 'Don't Shut me Down'.

https://projectavalon.net/ABBA_(a_grumpy_middleaged_man).gif

Yes. :heart: There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of comments like that. Many said in different ways that they had just no explanation for the emotion that suddenly swept them away.

If Benny and Bjorn used a little modern tech...They always did, of course. Their old sound engineer, Michael Tretow (now also in his 70s but sadly rather infirm, and who ABBA generously set up for life with royalties) would often enhance the vocals with a double-track copy that was slightly sped up by about 0.5%. Back in the analog age, he did that by winding a bit of sticky tape round the tape spool so that the speed was ever so slightly different. (But of course, it was barely necessary: live on stage the girls always sounded just the same. :sun: )

In 'Don't Shut Me Down', there's the line "I'm now and then combined". And so they are. There's the sweeping synthesizer, and the catchy dance-floor synth base deliberately undisguised. And then on top of that, in comes the signature ABBA piano. Just like one that Beethoven had. :) Everything is there for a reason.

Mark (Star Mariner)

16th September 2021, 13:25

I'd call that a beefing up of the quality that is already there. That's a far cry from tech used in the music industry today, where a singer could literally bleat out anything, with neither pitch nor tone - a computer auto-corrects everything for you.

That is more or less what is like nowadays, at least in the mainstream. I've actually watched several reaction videos in the past, particularly involving one of my favourite vocalists, Freddie Mercury, singing live. Young people are in awe at his skill and range, and some cannot believe it was even possible for a singer to do what he could do - live - without auto-tune.

If you're enjoying 'Don't Shut me Down' give this a try. This is a fan-made extended play version (6mins). Very creative and it sounds great:

9LnoobyeKJo

thepainterdoug

16th September 2021, 13:43

another quick thought came to me this morning regarding the wonderful response to this post. we are all tired. tired of bad news, depressing end of the road news. the same dire stuff we need to keep up on, and yes we need to keep informed and determined, but as you can see with this post, so many want to be free again, to be happy , to sing, dance and celebrate life.

everyday i wake, i have a sick feeling, a low grade depression in my gut. everyday hearing more bad, frustrating things as I read it and hear it all in disbelief. Its all too much.

Bill Ryan

17th September 2021, 12:04

Oh Paula you are so beautiful, all the way. You are my Goddess :inlove:Sending a big blushing thank you, Gemma.http://paula.avalonlibrary.net/smilies/hug-two.gif

This introvert soul is uncomfortable putting them out there.Dear Friends, I've moved several personal photo posts to a new thread in a members-only section. I'd certainly love to encourage others to share their very interesting (and often very wonderful) then-and-now photos — and maybe also share something even more important, which is what you could do now that you couldn't do then, and vice versa. The very remarkable Abba comeback is really all about transcending the apparent boundaries of aging, whatever one happens to look like.

Then and now: how the years have aged (and matured) us (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?116309-Then-and-now-how-the-years-have-aged--and-matured--us)

:heart:

Gemma13

17th September 2021, 15:56

Thanks Paula for the songs and lyrics. Really appreciate it. A very handy go to.

RunningDeer

17th September 2021, 16:22

Thanks Paula for the songs and lyrics. Really appreciate it. A very handy go to.

You’re welcome, Gemma. Reading the lyrics help me hear the song.
It's usually the feelings and the rhythms that make the song meaningful.
http://paula.avalonlibrary.net/smilies/skateboard.gif

Tigger

17th September 2021, 16:23

p4QqMKe3rwY

Chiquitita

Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong
You're enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow

How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

Chiquitita, tell me the truth
I'm a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on

You were always sure of yourself
Now I see you've broken a feather
I hope we can patch it up together

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving

Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

So the walls came tumbling down
And your love's a blown out candle
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle

Chiquitita, tell me the truth
There is no way you can deny it
I see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving

Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

Do you know, I’ve followed this thread with great interest. The ultimate ABBA song has always been, for me, Chiquitita. The melody, the LYRICS, and the harmony! Every time I listen to this one, I get a lump in my throat and a staccato outburst of emotion. If there ever was a song to describe the human condition today, this song has to be the one I would select.

When Bill started this thread, I immediately scrambled into my DJ library and looked for ABBA songs. I hadn’t played them in years, and that’s a shameful thing, because I used to DJ in some of Sydney’s biggest clubs back in the 1980’s / 90’s. Shameful, because I never played ABBA records since I retired from the club circuit in 1999. Shame on me.

For most of this week, I’ve played this song over and over. LOUD (I have no neighbours within earshot so it doesn’t matter). But every time I’ve done so, it brings up feelings of sheer joy and hope. I can’t quite explain it, and I guess it’s not really explainable. But it IS my favourite ABBA song, and I stand by it :heart:

Bill Ryan

17th September 2021, 16:44

Chiquitita
https://youtube.com/watch?v=p4QqMKe3rwY

For most of this week, I’ve played this song over and over. LOUD (I have no neighbours within earshot so it doesn’t matter). But every time I’ve done so, it brings up feelings of sheer joy and hope. I can’t quite explain it, and I guess it’s not really explainable. But it IS my favourite ABBA song, and I stand by it :heart:Yes! The intricacy of the composition is inspired — as is the unlikely but perfect piano crescendo at the end, which few if any other songwriters would have ever thought to put in there. (Maybe McCartney, but I doubt it.) It's close to being a discord, and if one heard it on its own one might think it can't possibly fit. But it absolutely does.

For me, it's a most beautiful poem of unconditional kindness and support sung to someone who's going through a hard time and can't find a way out. The closing crescendo is the strongest message of hope and energy. The theme is simple, but the song is complex and multi-layered, as so many of them are... another piece of near-genius that may need to be heard several times before it all sinks in.
:happy dog:

Tigger

17th September 2021, 17:04

Yes! The intricacy of the composition is inspired — as is the unlikely but perfect piano crescendo at the end, which few if any other songwriters would have ever thought to put in there.
:happy dog:

The closing crescendo is THE most beautiful part of the song!

BoR

19th September 2021, 03:33

O man! After not visiting this forum for a few days I chose, just before going to bed, already far too late, to just ‘take a quick look’ and how delightful to find this topic. I have been reading with a smile on my face. And am now wide awake! I was so delighted by all this enthousiasm for Abba that I didn’t even think about Thanking every single post. I hereby declare a Thank You to every post!

I never pictured you to be a closet Abba fan, Bill! I fullheartedly (is that a real word?) agree Abba’s music is timeless, and geniously put together. The melodies, the arrangements, the lyrics and the voices reveal these people are very warmhearted and sensitive, and authentic.

I think the reason many of the younger people, like the girl in the reaction video, became so emotional, is because the pop music industry nowadays is so void of soul. For years, long before the covid situation hit, pop music was (and still is to this day) on a very low spiritual frequency, with young singers who somehow all collectively chose to articulate words in a distorted fashion, like ‘Ayyy Fouyyynd Maay lOyyve foyy you’, which suggests a state of dissociation. It is so noticeably odd and strange that all these new singers started to pronounce the words in the exact same manner, as if they don’t have unique identities anymore, and as if they are little infants who just learned to speak. Add to that the vocals and articulation which are more placed in the back of the mouth and in the throat instead of in front, especially with female singers and a cold electronic arrangement, and you have all the ingredients for music that is subliminally shouting the words ‘distance’, ‘cold’, ‘depression’, ‘dissociation’, ‘emotionlessness’.

And then suddenly there is Abba! With warm, sincere, soulful melodies and lyrics and the voice of an experienced wise woman (I say woman with an ‘a’, because Frida’s is the first voice you hear), articulating the words in front of her mouth, with careful enunciation mixed with an authentic Swedish accent revealing all of her natural voice, including all little imperfections in between, sounding vulnerable, sincere, friendly and powerful at the same time. All this joy and soulfulness in the music, I can imagine this girl had an overload, because this doesn’t exist anymore! And the question is why? I tried to ask that question in the second episode of the podcast I made, called The Mainstream Is Dead.

Yes, we do live in the darkest of times. But the light is still there. And it is shining powerfully!

There is a lot of music from the past that we have that can evoke a similar reaction as Abba’s songs can. Here I give an example of such a song that is vibrationally very comparable to Abba’s music.

This is a song by Natalie Cole called Starting Over Again. The music is composed and arranged by Michael Masser. He had a unique sound, his best songs are just brilliantly put together. I can hear he was musically very very talented. Just like Abba, this music has been called cheesy, but nothing is further from the truth, it’s just very good, I remember reading in the comments on Youtube this one comment by a young girl (parafrasing) “they don’t make songs like this anymore, why is it that music prior to when I was born, was so much more ‘real’ and touching?” This signature sound (from Masser) is instantly recognizable, and you’ll notice right away he was the man behind a few of Whitney Houston power ballads in the ‘80’s. He was also the composer of Do You Know Where You’re Going To.

If you listen to all the subtleties, you’ll find this is so much more than just a love song (notice a little bit after 3:00 .. typically Michael Masser! Goosebumps!

Now this, along with Abba, is music that truly heals:

Yu0h_21BYLU

And 2 of his best Whitney Houston ballads: (talking about enunciation and character in a voice by the way…Whitney…❤️)

c0TghfreFok

x3B9i7fgPmo

And my favourite Abba song? I think by the above examples you can now guess, right? 😉

92cwKCU8Z5c

Bill Ryan

19th September 2021, 15:39

O man! After not visiting this forum for a few days I chose, just before going to bed, already far too late, to just ‘take a quick look’ and how delightful to find this topic. I have been reading with a smile on my face. And am now wide awake! I was so delighted by all this enthousiasm for Abba that I didn’t even think about Thanking every single post. I hereby declare a Thank You to every post!

I never pictured you to be a closet Abba fan, Bill! I fullheartedly (is that a real word?) agree Abba’s music is timeless, and geniously put together. The melodies, the arrangements, the lyrics and the voices reveal these people are very warmhearted and sensitive, and authentic.

I think the reason many of the younger people, like the girl in the reaction video, became so emotional, is because the pop music industry nowadays is so void of soul. For years, long before the covid situation hit, pop music was (and still is to this day) on a very low spiritual frequency, with young singers who somehow all collectively chose to articulate words in a distorted fashion, like ‘Ayyy Fouyyynd Maay lOyyve foyy you’, which suggests a state of dissociation. It is so noticeably odd and strange that all these new singers started to pronounce the words in the exact same manner, as if they don’t have unique identities anymore, and as if they are little infants who just learned to speak. Add to that the vocals and articulation which are more placed in the back of the mouth and in the throat instead of in front, especially with female singers and a cold electronic arrangement, and you have all the ingredients for music that is subliminally shouting the words ‘distance’, ‘cold’, ‘depression’, ‘dissociation’, ‘emotionlessness’.

And then suddenly there is Abba! With warm, sincere, soulful melodies and lyrics and the voice of an experienced wise woman (I say woman with an ‘a’, because Frida’s is the first voice you hear), articulating the words in front of her mouth, with careful enunciation mixed with an authentic Swedish accent revealing all of her natural voice, including all little imperfections in between, sounding vulnerable, sincere, friendly and powerful at the same time. All this joy and soulfulness in the music, I can imagine this girl had an overload, because this doesn’t exist anymore! And the question is why? I tried to ask that question in the second episode of the podcast I made, called The Mainstream Is Dead.

Yes, we do live in the darkest of times. But the light is still there. And it is shining powerfully!Yes to everything you wrote in your long and interesting post. :sun: My own opening post (to my surprise!) has had 78 thanks. There are clearly MANY members here who appreciate their music. For me, that's delightful to see.

And it's way more than just 'pop' music. The compositions are often intricate, surprising, multi-layered and ingenious, many of them near-unique in the genre. I enjoy all kinds of other music, too — from Hendrix and Zeppelin to Enya! — but for anyone with a musical ear it's hard not to admire what they produced almost every time. And for them to do all that AGAIN, 40 years later, all now aged 71-76, is just astonishing.
:happy dog:

wondering

19th September 2021, 15:55

Ah!! Bill, you mentioned Enya, one of my all time favorites - very soothing to my soul. I haven't reacted to Abba as much as some have, and it might be because I listen to them while quilting - along with Crosby Stills and Nash, Secret Garden, Neil Diamond, and Willie Nelson, to mention a few. But I never get tired of any of them. It's been so fun to see people's response to Abba. Yay!

BoR

19th September 2021, 19:50

Enya is indeed magical too! I totally agree it is not just pop music, it’s Music. Period! They are compositions, not just melodies and lyrics. And indeed all the characteristics you mentioned Bill. I find that people who love ABBA often have broad tastes, which underlines what you said about a musical ear. (And I know that people who don’t like ABBA at all would strongly disagree on this one too 😁. We do have to admit we’re a little bit biased, right? Ehmm… no, we won’t 😆 😊 )

Neil Diamond is also one of my many favorites, Wondering. And he also happened to have recorded a song by Michael Masser, who I mentioned in my post, by the way! (First You Have To Say You Love Me)

My musical taste is also very diverse, if I open up the Spotify page of mixes called Made For You, I see a Pop mix, a Soul mix, a Classical Music mix, a Country mix, a Rock mix and a Jazz mix and they all contain loads of songs/musical pieces that I love. And there are genres missing too.

And I would argue ABBA has a piece of every genre (sometimes hidden) in their music. That is one reason why it speaks to so many people! So do I want more new ABBA songs? Yes, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do! ….and that’s another favorite of mine!

Heart to heart

20th September 2021, 19:19

Just my personal opinion but I think there is magic in the air. I have always loved ABBA and played their wonderful timeless music since first seeing them win the European Song Contest so many years ago I can’t remember. They are bringing to the world something truly magical that is missing today. Music with melody and joy, to make our hearts sing and rejoice with them! What an amazing contribution they are making to lift so many people out of the present doldrums and give us all reason to be Dancing Queens

Ravenlocke

20th September 2021, 21:43

dQsjAbZDx-4

Fernando

[Verse 1]
Can you hear the drums, Fernando?
I remember, long ago, another starry night like this
In the firelight, Fernando
You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar
I could hear the distant drums and sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar

[Verse 2]
They were closer now, Fernando
Every hour, every minute seemed to last eternally
I was so afraid, Fernando
We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die
And I'm not ashamed to say the roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry

[Chorus]
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando

Though we never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando

[Verse 3]
Now we're old and grey, Fernando
Since many years I haven't seen a rifle in your hand
Can you hear the drums, Fernando?
Do you still recall the fateful night we crossed the Rio Grande?
I can see it in your eyes, how proud you were to fight for freedom in this land

[Chorus]
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando

Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando

There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando

Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
Yes, if I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando

[Outro]
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando

What synchronicity! I just started reading this thread this afternoon. Thank you for posting this Abba song among all the other beautiful songs.
This morning I woke up with this song Fernando playing in my head and I started singing it and wondering why this song came to me today.
I haven’t heard it play since long ago neither did I know it was an ABBA song. To me it was a song of when I experienced happy times when my parents and most of my older family members were still alive and we celebrated holidays like Christmas together and you took things for granted and the future looked bright and rosy... I’ve been feeling homesick and a little hopeless because of the world situation nowadays.
Thank you All for this thread, for all the beautiful, uplifting Abba songs including this one. Thank you, Thank you, Great timing❤️💕💐

RunningDeer

20th September 2021, 22:00

Ravenlocke, you're a synchronicity for me. http://paula.avalonlibrary.net/smilies/comes-in-hug.gif

I played Fernando this morning and it's been running in my head all day.

:note::lalala::note:

What synchronicity! I just started reading this thread this afternoon. Thank you for posting this Abba song among all the other beautiful songs.
This morning I woke up with this song Fernando playing in my head and I started singing it and wondering why this song came to me today.
I haven’t heard it play since long ago neither did I know it was an ABBA song. To me it was a song of when I experienced happy times when my parents and most of my older family members were still alive and we celebrated holidays like Christmas together and you took things for granted and the future looked bright and rosy... I’ve been feeling homesick and a little hopeless because of the world situation nowadays.
Thank you All for this thread, for all the beautiful, uplifting Abba songs including this one. Thank you, Thank you, Great timing❤️💕💐

Ravenlocke

20th September 2021, 23:56

Denise/Dizi

21st September 2021, 00:49

I think that the song that sparked this thread, or at least first appeared on this thread, will most definitely become a soundtrack for a movie that needs inspiration for the audience.. Or it will be used to evoke feelings of what we all feel when we want positive reinforcement in our later years, and situations change...

It will perhaps be used to go "back in time" (just as it was in the video) to when things were more carefree, fun and simpler. It will definitely be an inspirational song evoking the positive and negative, and how things have changed throughout the years, and that is something we can all relate to. And I think that in itself is what everyone is reacting to when they hear it now... and because Avalon is a site where people are passionate for positive change and understanding stemming essentially from pure love, well it touched us all immensely...

Especially here when we are all seeking the positive in life, and what it throws at us... What we have been through, what we have conquered, what we still face....

And we are doing it all together... A BEAUTIFUL SONG IN EVERY WAY!!! And a beautiful theme song for humanity facing adversity... And a beautiful theme song for this site... Thank You for sharing Bill!

Tigger

24th September 2021, 13:25

And did you know, ABBA was the FIRST musical group to play on Mars?

Just joking, but i couldn’t resist:
pEvs5oNwwNM

Donald Ryan

24th September 2021, 20:22

Music is the universal language and tincture for the soul.

Rawhide68

25th September 2021, 20:24

I have a memory

When we had " roliga timmen" in school, the girls sang into "hopprepshandaget" good luck to translate that ;==)

To me Abba was and is connected to happiness ,I remember watching them win with Watherloo watching 1974

3FsVeMz1F5ca

on a square box TV ,/but in colour when I was 5 years old.

My grandma said she remembered Agneta as a child in the community Jönköping.

Thanks for puting this thread up Bill ! :sun::thumbsup::Music:

Le Chat

27th September 2021, 14:18

Oh, and for the record, the UK gave Sweden no points for Waterloo at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974

BoR

28th September 2021, 00:26

A lovely recent radio interview with Agnetha (with English subtitles). She also mentions the reaction videos, and what the worldwide response to the songs means to her:

SGok5U-YRBw

Bill Ryan

28th September 2021, 01:01

A lovely recent radio interview with Agnetha (with English subtitles). She also mentions the reaction videos, and what the worldwide response to the songs means to her:

SGok5U-YRBwOMG, that was just so very delightful. :heart:

Here's what astonishes me. I've never heard any of them do an interview in Swedish before. Yet the songs (in English!) aren't only perfectly sung every time, but the lyrics (in English!) are so often ingenious, rich and creative.

Can you imagine the Beatles, Oasis, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, or Michael Jackson, writing and singing in perfect Swedish?? It kind of boggles the mind. :)

BoR

28th September 2021, 09:11

OMG, that was just so very delightful. :heart:

Here's what astonishes me. I've never heard any of them do an interview in Swedish before. Yet the songs (in English!) aren't only perfectly sung every time, but the lyrics (in English!) are so often ingenious, rich and creative.

Can you imagine the Beatles, Oasis, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, or Michael Jackson, writing and singing in perfect Swedish?? It kind of boggles the mind. :)

You can make the argument that Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands are practically bilingual, with English as a second language. Sweden is at number 1 though when it comes to the amount of people who speak English very well. Although…that used to be the case, I guess, because everyone born in the ‘80s and later now speaks much better English and with less of an accent than their parents in The Netherlands and I am pretty sure that’s the case in Denmark too.

I imagine it is the same in Sweden, but here all movies and television series from the US, GB, Australia and Canada are shown in their original language with subtitles underneath, so from a very young age you are inundated with English everyday, not only by film and television, but also by the great amount of pop music in the English language.

That doesn’t make it any less impressive though. Their lyrics often easily beat the average English pop song written by native English speakers. (I am obviously not referring to the artists you mentioned Bill) You can also hear they put much effort in their pronunciation, to make the English sound as pure as possible. Accentless English you might say, although that’s how it sounds to my Dutch ears, a native English speaker might notice a slight Swedish accent now and then. (I am talking about young ABBA, clearly the years away from the spotlight made their accents more noticeable now, though I do prefer how they sound now as it reveals more of their personalities, it feels even more authentic to me now).

Back to the lyrics: when I hear the words from both new songs, there is a depth in them that is hard to describe. It is speaking directly to the soul. For example: “Do I have it in me? I believe it is in them.” I cannot describe with my intellect what these two sentences do to me on a deeper level. It says so much more than it seems to mean on the surface. And don’t get me started on “I'm like a dream within a dream that's been decoded.”…

And they get their full meaning because of the interpretation of Agnetha and Frida. I am really looking forward to hear the full album.

Gemma13

28th September 2021, 13:39

Back to the lyrics: when I hear the words from both new songs, there is a depth in them that is hard to describe. It is speaking directly to the soul. For example: “Do I have it in me? I believe it is in there.” I cannot describe with my intellect what these two sentences do to me on a deeper level. It says so much more than it seems to mean on the surface. And don’t get me started on “I'm like a dream within a dream that's been decoded.”…
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Open Minded Dude

28th September 2021, 14:37

That doesn’t make it any less impressive though. Their lyrics often easily beat the average English pop song written by native English speakers. (I am obviously not referring to the artists you mentioned Bill) You can also hear they put much effort in their pronunciation, to make the English sound as pure as possible. Accentless English you might say, although that’s how it sounds to my Dutch ears, a native English speaker might notice a slight Swedish accent now and then. (I am talking about young ABBA, clearly the years away from the spotlight made their accents more noticeable now, though I do prefer how they sound now as it reveals more of their personalities, it feels even more authentic to me now).I am not even a native English speaker but studied linguistics including phonology of the English language many years ago. What I always find quite charming then when listening to Abba is that they often use a voiceless s-sound where a native speaker puts a more voiced s. In phonetic alphabet sign (IPA) this would be the usage of /s/ while it actually should be /z/.

For example 'music' is pronounced like musssick or 'easy' as easssy. Sometimes I thought they left it there deliberately because it sounds so cute. For me it's almost like a trademark or signature of them.

:sun:

Bill Ryan

4th October 2021, 10:01

This fun review appeared in The New Statesman. Abba fans may enjoy reading it. :Party:

I had to listen again to “The Name Of The Game”. (It's true! It goes 'ABCDEF'.) And another recent reaction video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVS1bcvL_Xo) (they're still coming) pointed out that in “Don’t Shut Me Down”, the key actually changes twice. I must have heard that dozens of times now, but I never realized. :)

https://newstatesman.com/culture/music/2021/09/abba-are-back-with-the-old-magic-intact

~~~

Abba are back – with the old magic intact

Nostalgic, luxurious and mind-bogglingly complicated, Abba’s new music maintains its legacy of stadium hooks and pop song intelligence.

I once heard about a Cambridge student who had done a PhD in the music of Abba. It seemed novel at the time, but Abba songs are highly complex. Good pop hits stand out because they contain clever little tweaks to conventional structure, but Abba go further than most.

While an ordinary verse-chorus song repeats two or three melodies in an ABABCA structure, Abba’s “The Name Of The Game” goes – wait for it – ABCDEF! Really! Six distinct tunes uncurling in your ear, in a way you barely notice.

“I Still Have Faith In You” is a lush, stately ballad pre-tooled for a stadium to sing. Its prettiest bits stretch down into low registers – quite unusual in contemporary music.

The second new track, “Don’t Shut Me Down”, is another beast entirely. Its opening has a West End feel, like Evita’s tentative address to the masses, but then it whizzes with a “Dancing Queen” mirrorball glissando into squelchy 1980s disco, giving the impression it’s going to be straightforward.

But then it mutates, and mutates into something wonderful and strange, climbing from its funky base camp up through more levels than I can count (I have tried), delivering one melody, then lifting up to another, wearing its complicated structure so lightly that the only sign it’s completely bonkers is how difficult it is to sing afterwards. I challenge any musicologist to explain what is going on. It is worthy of a PhD. But the best thing, as ever, is that it works without even taking note of its complexity.

:sun:

Gemma13

4th October 2021, 23:03

Wow. Thanks for posting this article Bill. Not a day goes by now that I don't listen to "Don't Shut Me Down".

When trying to meditate over the years I could never comfortably sit and drift off to waterfall noises and dolphins playing. Always made me anxious. I wanted to get up and go sit under the waterfall and swim with the dolphins.

In an unexpected bizarre twist, when I listen to this Abba song I am instantly transported into a meditative state where clarity is super heightened. It's as if my heart has been retuned by their sound frequency.

Just writing this made me remember a story in Quantusum, (a great novel by James Mahu), where a Tibetan Lama finds Solomon and literally retunes his energetic heart frequencies after his heart transplant and this sends him on a completely different life path.

Here's a short excerpt that seems appropriate in helping describe what this Abba song does to me that is so powerful.

"I will strike the heart's keys, and this chord will harmonise your heart and mind, and they will unite. You must stop this foolish doubt that has seized you for an entire lifetime. With two minds you dither into sleep. You become like an awakened stone.
Your eyes will pivot to look within, and you will have no choice but to trust your new heart, as everything around you is re-created. But this, this trust, is what is being born and forged here."

Bill Ryan

6th October 2021, 15:16

Although I'd intended this thread as a tribute to the magic of a group of four highly talented musicians who are timelessly all now in their 70s (still hard to believe!), it too is morphing wonderfully and strangely, as per the terrific New Statesman article I posted above (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?116282-ABBA----40-years-younger-again&p=1455485&viewfull=1#post1455485).

I do promise I'm not descending into any kind of trivia here. :) (It's a balance thing. My head is full of legitimate global concerns most of the time. So this is just all rather a healing respite. :flower: )

I'm not one of those ABBA fans who have the entire box set of everything they've ever done, and know all the words to every one of their songs. I might be familiar with a third of their entire output. That means that though I absolutely know how complex and marvelous many of their compositions were, for me there are still undiscovered delights.

Here's one. It just blew my mind with its sheer fun, ingenuity, musical complexity, and the way it's all put together. Like the author of the New Statesman article, I defy anyone to actually try to sing this in the shower. :)

For anyone who enjoys ABBA but who (like me) doesn't know all their songs, I highly, highly recommend this. It's a lighthearted work of pure genius.

It might never have been a hit simply because (a) it's uncategorizable (though I think the dance beat is a tango), and (b) it's so frivolous that they clearly had a ball making it, and it can't be taken seriously... though the songwriting is yet another masterclass.

Here's the best sequence:

1) Listen to the audio only. Here it is:

https://projectavalon.net/Head_Over_Heels.mp3

2) THEN watch the video. It's very, very funny. :bigsmile: The reason why you have to hear the audio-only first is because the silliness (and self-deprecation!) in the video can detract from the musical appreciation. It's a marvel of clever complex composition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL2_PZwKDPg

And here are the lyrics, as creative, expansive and rich as ever. Watch Bjorn in the video when the narrative gets to
"Her man is one I admire
He's so courageous but he's constantly tired"
:bigsmile:
I have a very good friend
The kind of girl who likes to follow a trend
She has a personal style
Some people like it, others tend to go wild

You hear her voice everywhere
Taking the chair
She's a leading lady
And with no trace of hesitation she keeps going

Head over heels
Breaking her way
Pushing through unknown jungles every day
She's a girl with a taste for the world
(The world is like a playing ground where she goes rushing)
Head over heels
Setting the pace
Running the gauntlet in a whirl of lace
She's extreme, if you know what I mean

Her man is one I admire
He's so courageous but he's constantly tired
Each time when he speaks his mind
She pats his head and says, "That's all very fine"

"Exert that will of your own
When you're alone
Now we'd better hurry"
And with no trace of hesitation she keeps going

Head over heels
Breaking her way
Pushing through unknown jungles every day
She's a girl with a taste for the world
(The world is like a playing ground where she goes rushing)
Head over heels
Setting the pace
Running the gauntlet in a whirl of lace
She's extreme, if you know what I mean

You hear her voice everywhere
Taking the chair
She's a leading lady
And with no trace of hesitation she keeps going
Head over heels
Breaking her way
Pushing through unknown jungles every day
She's a girl with a taste for the world
(The world is like a playing ground where she goes rushing)
Head over heels
Setting the pace
Running the gauntlet in a whirl of lace
She's extreme, if you know what I mean

And she goes
Head over heels

Gemma13

6th October 2021, 22:48

That was awesome Bill. Like you I've been an Abba fan forever but never looked too far past all their hits. Love the lyrics too :)

Mark (Star Mariner)

7th October 2021, 14:11

I do vaguely remember that one. Looking it up, it came out in '81 and was one of their their last hits. You can clearly hear the shift in tempo and use of a synth, so it was perhaps a glimpse of what they would become in the 1980s.

Abba is one of many artists/bands who ended, I think, prematurely, and where I wonder how different the musical landscape of the future would have been had they stuck around. Freddie Mercury is another for very different reasons, and most certainly Lennon. There are many more.

I'd like to share another track and keep this thread going. This was not a hit in the UK - it was an album song and not even released as a single - yet it remains one of my favourites. I also think it's one of their most powerful songs. It's not a pop track though, but a soaring, mystical journey into some other space or time. That's as much down to the lyrics, or rather the poetry, as the haunting melody.

dDI7x1nwTUw

They came flying from far away
Now I'm under their spell
I love hearing the stories that they tell
They've seen places beyond my land
And they've found new horizons
They speak strangely but I understand

And I dream I'm an eagle
And I dream I can spread my wings
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze

High, high, what a feeling to fly
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please

As all good friends we talk all night
And we fly wing to wing
I have questions and they know everything
There's no limit to what I feel
We climb higher and higher
Am I dreaming or is it all real?

Is it true I'm an eagle?
Is it true I can spread my wings?
Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
(I'm an eagle)
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze

High, high, what a feeling to fly
(What a feeling)
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please

And I dream I'm an eagle
And I dream I can spread my wings

Flying high, high, I'm a bird in the sky
(I'm an eagle)
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze

High, high, what a feeling to fly
(What a feeling)
Over mountains and forests and seas

High, high, I'm a bird in the sky
(I'm an eagle)
I'm an eagle that rides on the breeze

High, high, what a feeling to fly
(What a feeling)
Over mountains and forests and seas
And to go anywhere that I please

Gemma13

7th October 2021, 21:28

Bill Ryan

7th October 2021, 21:51

BILL ~ you wouldn't happen to have a music only link for Don't Shut Me Down, like the one you posted for Head Over Heels, would ya?https://projectavalon.net/Don't_Shut_Me_Down.mp3

(And probably almost anything else you'd like me to post as an mp3, too :sun: )

RunningDeer

7th October 2021, 21:56

Thanks StarMariner, I'd forgotten about this one, especially the lyrics.

As all good friends we talk all night
And we fly wing to wing
I have questions and they know everything
There's no limit to what I feel
We climb higher and higher
Am I dreaming or is it all real?

BILL ~ you wouldn't happen to have a music only link for Don't Shut Me Down, like the one you posted for Head Over Heels, would ya?

I've pre-ordered their new album, (notice all the vinyl has sold out), but would love to be able to download this song now to play at will on my phone.

https://projectavalon.net/Don't_Shut_Me_Down.mp3

(And probably almost anything else you'd like me to post as an mp3, too :sun: )

UPDATE: Oops, my browser was open while I constructed the post, so I missed yours. Feel free to delete mine. http://paula.avalonlibrary.net/smilies/hat-baseball.gif

iTunes has “Don’t Shut Me Down (Instrumental)”, but it’s from a different artist.

While you wait for Bill to work his music audio magic...:note::ninja::note:

ABBA - "Don't Shut Me Down" [CLEAN INSTRUMENTAL]
MWgjCH_tnko

ABBA - Don't Shut Me Down (Instrumental)
8heT3ydxIFw

Gemma13

7th October 2021, 22:24

Thankyou Bill and Paula... sooo happy with this download link :heart:

Bill Ryan

15th October 2021, 13:48

Last night I was chilling out by watching some recent ABBA interviews (some in Swedish, with English subtitles). I won't link them here, but for me they were delightful and fascinating.

They all shared how genuinely astonished they were by their success in the 70s and 80s — and the decades that followed. Benny said that they all really did think their songs would all be forgotten within a year or two.

And they were blown away by the recent reaction to the two new songs. "Fans were actually crying!", said Agnetha, in disbelief. (And indeed they were — tens of thousands of them.)

Part of their multi-generational appeal has been how genuinely nice, decent, modest people they all are. Here's one wonderful anecdote shared by Frida:

Several years back, an ABBA fan had been driven to suicide by events in his life. He drove to a remote spot, with his rifle. On the way there, he played one last ABBA song in his car: The Way Old Friends Do (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDnb920Zsbw).

That changed his mind. It turned his life around. He returned to his wife, and told her everything. Then he wrote a letter to Frida.

Frida read it all, was immensely moved, and replied at length. They then corresponded regularly until the man later passed away of natural causes. I was left wondering how many other superstars take that much sincere personal care with some of their fans.

:heart:

Bill Ryan

15th October 2021, 15:20

And another fun story. (There are many. :) )

Soon after the two couples got together, they all went on vacation. That was the first time they all started to see if they could sing as a foursome.

"Oh, that must have been wonderful", said the interviewer.

"No, it was awful", said Benny. "But that's when Bjorn and I realized the girls could really sing."

:bigsmile:

Gemma13

22nd October 2021, 05:37

Just released today. An old song they never released back in the day. :sun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy4bLOYDmsQ

"Just A Notion"

Just a notion, that's all
Just a funny feeling deep inside (A-ha-ha)
That you're out there waiting
You're not sure I'm alone
And you wonder if I'm occupied (A-ha-ha)
So you're hesitating

Just a notion
That you'll be walking up to me
In a while and you'll smile and say hello
And we'll be dancing through the night
Knowing everything from thereon must be right

Just a notion
But somehow I know I'm not wrong
There's something happening that I just can't explain
If I try it's all in vain because it's

Just a notion, that's all
Just a feeling that you're watching me (A-ha-ha)
Every move I'm making
Am I reading your mind?
'Cause it's almost like you're touching me (A-ha-ha)
There is no mistaking

Just a notion
That you'll be walking up to me
In a while and you'll smile and say hello
And we'll be dancing through the night
Knowing everything from thereon must be right

Just a notion
But somehow I know I'm not wrong
It is our destiny, there's nothing we can do
And tonight is very special
It's a night for me and you

(A-ha-ha, a-ha-ha, a-ha-ha)
(A-ha-ha, a-ha-ha)
I, I think it's more than a notion (A-ha-ha)
Give me more than you're dreaming, step up to the truth
(A-ha-ha)
(A-ha-ha, a-ha-ha, a-ha-ha)
(A-ha-ha, a-ha-ha)

Mark (Star Mariner)

22nd October 2021, 13:24

Yes I like 'Just a Notion', very good indeed! Classic Abba all round. I can almost hear it coming out of the radio back in the day. Not surprising when the original track dates to 1978:

The track was originally recorded in September 1978 but didn't make the final cut of their 1979 album Voulez-Vous, with Bjorn admitting it's still a 'mystery' as to why the upbeat tune wasn't included in the final listing.

The songwriter explained: 'Wikipedia says this track was recorded in September 1978, which sounds about right. That puts it in between ABBA the Album and Voulez-Vous, and it would have been included in the latter had we not decided against it. Why did we decide against it? In hindsight, I don't have a clue...

'It's a good song with great vocals. I know that we played it to a publisher in France and a couple of other people we trusted and as far as I can remember they liked it very much. So it's a mystery and will remain a mystery.'

The remastered track features original vocals the four members laid down in 1978, with new drums and guitars.

The Waterloo hitmaker continued: 'Now Benny has recorded a new backing track to which we've added drums and guitars, but all vocals are from the original 1978 tracks.

'In a way, it demonstrates what we plan to do with ABBA Voyage in 2022. There, we will have a live band playing, but all vocals will be from the old recordings. He added: 'Just a Notion is a ridiculously happy song and hopefully it will cheer you up in these dark times!'

More: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10119879/ABBA-release-new-track-Just-Notion-upcoming-comeback-album-Voyage.html

Open Minded Dude

23rd October 2021, 20:36

Interesting comparison between the 1978 demo version and this new one.

3de1mMqUylo

Btw, I like the look of the new Avatars ... er ... ABBA-tars.

:dancing:

avid

23rd October 2021, 21:05

After checking out La Palma eruption, et al, this Abba -eration is totally doolally, check-out of reality, but back to the ghastly vibes tomorrow…

muxfolder

23rd October 2021, 21:29

I have to say as a musician that I've started to realize Abba is almost the most perfect pop band there is. It was 10 years ago when I really started to realize how complicated the song really are. It's almost like The Beatles but it's not at all like that. I wish I had realized this when I started to play guitar. Should have learned some Abba back then when I started rather than those simplier riffs. It was all Metallica for me. But I I've learned a lot of things musically afterwards because I found how perfect Abba is. And I started playing piano as well because I wanted to learn something new. That's how you'll learn some theory. Try to learn to play Abba songs.

Rosemarie

5th November 2021, 00:52

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy4bLOYDmsQ

There is a new ABBA song out. Tomorrow the album Voyage comes out. I have forgotten how to post. Hope the video is here. If not , please delete this post.

Gemma13

5th November 2021, 14:06

Here it is :) Hope this link works.

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nKzIJp-MJc6BvfZrr3uY54_UYCQp2OxQg&feature=share

Mark (Star Mariner)

5th November 2021, 18:45

Listened to a few more from the new album. One of the stronger ones, released today:

5zgHboLmonQ

RunningDeer

5th November 2021, 19:29

ABBA Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/c/OfficialABBA/videos)

https://i.imgur.com/IXodptZ.jpg

Did You See Them

5th November 2021, 19:58

Just bought Voyage for the wife ..
Will get to hear it all tomorrow.

Open Minded Dude

5th November 2021, 20:35

I think the album will be #1 in many many countries all over the world.

Open Minded Dude

5th November 2021, 20:40

That 'concert' looks amazing.

nlGC_1k1Bgs

Did You See Them

9th November 2021, 11:52

Just bought Voyage for the wife ..
Will get to hear it all tomorrow.

In a word - Disappointing.

Gemma13

11th November 2021, 01:36

Just bought Voyage for the wife ..
Will get to hear it all tomorrow.

In a word - Disappointing.

Agree. For now. I've only skimmed listening to the songs released after the incredible release of "Don't Shut Me Down" and "I Still Have Faith In You" and they don't come anywhere close to goosebumps.

The lyrics are interesting, coming from a mature age perspective, e.g. divorce and sole parenting, etc, but the music seemed somewhat repetitive and not rising to the glorious sounds of the other two songs.

Album should arrive soon though so I will reserve my disappointment until I've marinated a bit in the new ones to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Did You See Them

11th November 2021, 08:49

JackMcThorn

11th November 2021, 10:50

I was hoping for another home run like Voulez Vous. I did like the Bumblebee.

za05HBtGsgU

Open Minded Dude

17th November 2021, 21:54

Reviews are certainly mixed (professional ones and customer e.g. on Amazon), but the positive side seems to have won the upper hand but there might be the 'fan bonus' also at play.

So far I refrained from listening to the other 7 songs on the album because I wanted to save it for later when my vinyl will arrive, I got into vinyl again last year and bought even new ones or lots of reissues of albums I liked on vinyl now. I have already digged out of my cellar a truly 'vintage' record collection only going up to 1989, and having listened now to most of it for about a year this proved to me that music, at least pop music, was better decades ago although there is still good stuff out there.

I listened to the album Arrival lately when I bought it second hand online (soundwise in great shape!) and it is marvellous. The big hits Dancing Queen, Knowing You Knowing Me and Money Money Money on it, already so great ... but there is also lots of other great stuff. No weak song really.

My favs are actually "Tiger" (with a heavy metal vocal ending!) and "Arrival", but I also love the opening track "When I Kissed The Teacher" and the 'silly' "Dum Dum Diddle" or the grooving "Why Did It Have To Be Me".

The song "Arrival" though came as a total surprise as it is so different and proved to me there were more than just a pop group. I knew the album before but how could I have forgotten this tune? I love this song, it is such a beautiful melody folk song.

So here is the 'great B sides' selection from "Arrival" for your pleasure:

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U1DX7eyUfv0
SXpzPWwEFOI
6PLf7cP2bkM
aDXnkD3YbKw

SoulValor

30th December 2021, 17:32

That digital recreation of them is crazy, remarkable and also spooky. Reminds me of the very realistic CGI recreation of Grand Moff Tarkin in the new Star Wars movies - which was originaly played by Peter Cushing (one of my favorite britsh actors and of Hammer Horror fame) which of course has long been deceased. Have you seen that one, Bill? Really striking and thus spooky.

The real Cushing in the first 1977 movie:

lAAXorA4pg8

And here his "revival" in one of the new movies:

1uKtUlPmhqw

Direct Comparison:

KsuvXHGCVXE

When I first saw the movie I was totally shocked because I didn't know about this. :blink: And my reaction was like "WTF?? I thought Peter Cushining is dead??" LOL, I actually though of the Mandela Effect first. :crazy:

I have to admit, I see a dark side to this all - which seems to be the further acclimatisation of the masses to AI and transhumanism. They introduce us to it in a way that we think it is cool. (Yes, HERE it is...but what about later? Who else will get replaced with digital renditions of themselves? Alive as well as deceased people? Will grandpa be forever with us, just that he will be digital at some point? etc...)

In the same direction - I also read that ABBA was planning on touring again, but only with holograms of themselves? (their younger versions) That would again kind of amazing but also eerie. And I would assume that it would leave a bit of an empty feeling in the audience. (At least with some....Some of course may just go OOh and AAh and just be totally down with it seeing how superficial people are these days :facepalm:) (I'm kinda surprised some here in the forum would find this cool too?)

Admittingly, who would want to see a 75 year old wrinkly grey Agnetha when you could also watch a young live rendition of her again? Granted, she and the others may not even be able to perform on stage anymore due to age-related frailty/sickness. But wouldn't that in the end be a form of deception to themselves and the whole world? It just wouldn't reflect reality. But hey, why go with that reality when you can have a better one? I really am split on this....

p.s.: Even though I've never really been a fan of theirs (probably because they were before my time), I totally recognize the creativity/ingenuity/great songwriting & performing by ABBA. It was (is) quite unique - there has never been something like this again. And there were a lot of songs I do like - Gimme!Gimme!Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) is probably my favorite. That keyboard melody is a bit complex/difficult. :)

Bill Ryan

17th May 2022, 22:26

An interesting update published a couple weeks ago. The ABBA Voyage Virtual Reality show goes live on 27 May, just 10 days away now. The holographic, age-regressed 'Abbatars' are apparently far more sophisticated than the early versions we saw last October, and those reporters who have seen brief previews were extremely impressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwPqYlG1lX8
And some still images, published (https://www.nme.com/news/music/abba-share-new-images-of-their-voyage-digital-avatars-3218453) by the NME. (These aren't photos: they're the digital recreations)

https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ABBA_MembersCarousel_Agnetha__1x1.jpg

https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ABBA_MembersCarousel_Benny__1x1.jpg

https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ABBA_MembersCarousel_Bjorn__1x1.jpg

https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ABBA_MembersCarousel_Frida__1x1.jpg

Donald Ryan

18th May 2022, 00:37

This is amazing, outstanding. . .and a little bit scary. Great fun for techno geeks. Cheers!

Open Minded Dude

26th May 2022, 20:16

It is allowed to be filmed by the audience. So we will get impressions at least from the first smartphone vids on YT from tomorrow on. Hope they will build more ABBA arenas if it is a success. Maybe one in my country too so that I can go then (not much of a traveller anymore although I went to concerts a lot in the past with a good friend of mine and hope to be able to resume this activity soon, including Abba?).

https://abbavoyage.com/

TVZ3SPkWObo

*Excited* :dancing:YES!:rockon:

Le Chat

27th May 2022, 09:39

Abba Voyage review: jaw-dropping avatar act that’s destined to be copied

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/26/abba-voyage-review-jaw-dropping-avatar-act-thats-destined-to-be-copied

Open Minded Dude

28th May 2022, 11:06

Must be quite some experience you won't forget.

U7ucCCD5U1M

DdRkWJQV-tU

WhiteFeather

28th May 2022, 19:19

The name ABBA was first used by a food company established in 1838 and some of its most well known products include Kalles kaviar and Abba pickled herring.

In 1974, they decided to let Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid share their name, though ABBA is actually an acronym of the first letters of the band members’ first names.

Interesting, i thought there name was derrived from Major chords
A B B A.

SOS is a cool Tune

Open Minded Dude

29th May 2022, 18:14

Setlist of the first night:

The Visitors
Hole in Your Soul
SOS
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Chiquitita
Fernando
Mamma Mia
Does Your Mother Know
Eagle
Lay All Your Love on Me
Summer Night City
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
Voulez-Vous
When All Is Said and Done
Don’t Shut Me Down
I Still Have Faith in You
Waterloo
Dancing Queen
Thank You for the Music
The Winner Takes It All

I'm a little disappointed that 'Take A Chance On Me' and 'Super Trouper' did not make it. But maybe there will be changes since I heard they recorded a few more songs for the concert.

Bill Ryan

29th May 2022, 18:28

Look at this brief clip from their new show... it's literally a little hard to believe. :heart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdm7rwP2xVk

Bill Ryan

29th May 2022, 19:01

And more. This is an amateur hand-held recording from the audience. The video text said simply:

We went to see ABBA Voyage and it was nothing short of incredible.
And for sure, if this was re-recorded by the 70+ year old ABBA members specifically for this performance — which I believe it was — it really was something else. :sun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwnebHgdFPI

JackMcThorn

29th May 2022, 19:22

And for sure, if this was re-recorded by the 70+ year old ABBA members specifically for this performance — which I believe it was — it really was something else. :sun:

Bill, you are for sure correct:

The live band brings an energy that the show would have lacked if the whole thing had been pre-recorded, and Abba’s vocals (a blend of their young and aged voices) are rich and warm.

https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/abba-voyage-review-london-arena-reunion-concert-1654210?ico=related_stories

Mark (Star Mariner)

29th May 2022, 19:56

Bill Ryan

30th May 2022, 11:19

Look at this brief clip from their new show... it's literally a little hard to believe. :heart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdm7rwP2xVk

Wow, I don't quite understand what I'm seeing. What am I seeing? The large-screen projections I can understand - those are the avatars, the CGI recreations of the band de-aged to their younger selves - but who, or what am I seeing on stage, seemingly physical and solid performing in front of our eyes? Are these stand-ins or...holograms or something? If so, I've never seen anything like that out of science-fiction. Is that what this is? Because I'm not sure I can quite believe it.Mark, here's some more... do click to watch this. :heart:
:happy dog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuHjdiY6ADY

Update:
I'd downloaded the video before it was deleted, and it's now uploaded to the Avalon server. It's pretty impressive.
https://projectavalon.net/ABBA_Voyage_29_May_2022.mp4

https://projectavalon.net/ABBA_Voyage_29_May_2022.mp4

JackMcThorn

30th May 2022, 13:46

Wow, I don't quite understand what I'm seeing. What am I seeing? The large-screen projections I can understand - those are the avatars, the CGI recreations of the band de-aged to their younger selves - but who, or what am I seeing on stage, seemingly physical and solid performing in front of our eyes? Are these stand-ins or...holograms or something? If so, I've never seen anything like that out of science-fiction. Is that what this is? Because I'm not sure I can quite believe it.

Here are two descriptions of what is involved:

What the audience sees are "ABBA-tars" – not holograms but the result of weeks of motion capture and a team of animators and visual effects artists from Industrial Light and Magic, a division of Lucasfilm who have worked tirelessly to ensure every golden hair, sparkling sequin and keyboard-tapping-fingertip looks real. These are then displayed on enormous, 65-million-pixel screens aided by a peerless lighting design, moving mirrors, a live band and nearly 300 speakers throughout the auditorium.

https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/reviews/abba-voyage-musical-concert-hologram_56613.html

We weren't just inside the Abba Arena, we were beamed to planet Abba, a mindblowing futuristic reality powered by 500 lights and lasers, a giant 65 million pixel wraparound screen and one billion hours of computer programming.

https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1617674/Abba-Voyage-review-London-live-show

WhiteFeather

30th May 2022, 15:19

Wow, sounds like the album. Are they lipsyncing?

The Moss Trooper

30th May 2022, 17:01

I've just arrived back from a long weekend in London and went to two shows.

Very impressive to say the least.

You will never re-create the actual "live" experience of seeing a band in-the-flesh, but this is something different.......... It's hard to put your finger on it.

I've a feeling that we are going to be seeing a lot more of this emerging (publicly) tech in the "live" music industry.

Abba & ILM are not the first to employ this, Tupac was brought to life on stage many years ago, but this is definitely a very, very clever use of animation, lighting, smoke and mirrors.

I urge any music fan that gets the chance to see this show to do it.

You will not be disappointed.

Open Minded Dude

30th May 2022, 19:42

I'm sure it is amazing and I would love to see it but admit I still cannot get over the fact that three of their biggest hits 'Take A Chance On Me' (one of my favs!) 'Money Money Money' and 'Super Trouper' are missing from the setlist. After all they are the 'Beatles of Pop' and their farewell gig(s) should imv be a real 'Greatest Hits' concert then, moreover since it was actually promised that 'all the hits' would be featured, but this is not 'all the hits'. :(

Here is some more critical review (but still fair) from the Rolling Stone mag (Germany, translated by googletranslate) which makes some valid points in my view regarding setlist as well as dramaturgical and also some technical issues.

https://www-rollingstone-de.translate.goog/kritik-abba-voyage-in-london-was-die-abbatare-koennen-was-sie-nicht-koennen-2452455/?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Ok, enough of criticism. :silent:

JackMcThorn

30th May 2022, 19:50

I'm sure it is amazing and I would love to see it but admit I still cannot get over the fact that three of their biggest hits...

One of the articles I read said they recorded more songs than were on that initial set list so they could modify the later shows a bit.

There has also been plenty of talk on Twitter about different songs being used in different shows and in a different order, so no two shows are ever quite the same. Notable omissions on launch night included Take A Chance on Me One of Us and Money, Money, Money, while their were welcome places for Eagle, Summer Night City and The Visitors.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/abba-voyage-setlist-london-songs-24087539

Open Minded Dude

30th May 2022, 19:52

holcaul

31st May 2022, 21:29

I am a sucker for top-notch musicianship. And ABBA baselines are so deceptively simple. Check these out...

hzR_TAagC1w

Especially the Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! bass groove. It is pure bliss.

ExomatrixTV

25th June 2022, 13:04

How The Abba Voyage Concert Changes Live Music, Forever:

U5RRSQqT3pU

Bluegreen

31st August 2022, 02:29

AGT Audition

This is good.

a-71RcDcafM

rgray222

3rd April 2023, 23:28

I happened onto this story and thought the ABBA aficionados (which I include myself) might enjoy.

ABBA Members: Where Are They Now? 2023

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/339448649_555865749740850_478783299633576125_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5cd70e&_nc_ohc=eMl3wX3r-okAX9fJco4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AfDo4oXJYOjLdBuij_3DRlXpnIAKn_2USTfnqAi2bT4ssA&oe=643038B7

Swedish supergroup ABBA catapulted to international fame in the 1970s with their hits "Dancing Queen" and "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!"

ABBA's members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad enjoyed enormous success for a decade before the group's hiatus in 1982.

In 2016, ABBA announced plans to reunite as virtual avatars for a live "entertainment experience." Two years later, the group revealed that they had also recorded new music. In a joint statement, they explained, "The decision to go ahead with the exciting ABBA avatar tour project had an unexpected consequence. We all four felt that, after some 35 years, it could be fun to join forces again and go into the recording studio. So we did. And it was like time had stood still and that we only had been away on a short holiday."

The quartet released their ninth and final studio album, Voyage, in November 2021. And the following May, all four ABBA members attended the premiere of their virtual concert series in London.

"When we got back together in the studio I had no idea what to expect," Fältskog said in a statement. "But Benny's recording studio is such a friendly and safe environment, and before I knew it I was really enjoying myself! I can hardly believe that finally, the moment has come to share this with the world!"

Fellow bandmate Lyngstad added, "Those first sessions back in 2018 were such fun and when Benny called and asked if I'd consider singing some more I jumped at it! And what songs! My respect and love go out to these exceptionally talented, truly genius songwriters! Such joy it was to work with the group again. I am so happy with what we have made, and I dearly hope our fans feel the same."

ABBA's comeback album Voyage has since earned four Grammy nominations.

Here is a look into the lives of the members of ABBA, then and now.

Agnetha Fältskog, 72

https://people.com/thmb/fdBJI8eOMb6puBgPb26pFFABy2w=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/agnetha-faltskog-a7141e3806ca46e7a1f90ce5e4518e12.jpg

ABBA's lead vocalist Agnetha Fältskog was known for her interest in music as a child, and she wrote her first song at the age of 6, according to ABBA's official website. Her first single, which she wrote as part of the band Bernt Enghardts, was released in 1967.

Fältskog began dating fellow ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus in 1969 and the couple got engaged the following year. They wed on July 6, 1971, and welcomed two children together, daughter Linda Elin Ulvaeus and son Peter Christian Ulvaeus, before their divorce in 1980.

Following her divorce from Ulvaeus and ABBA's subsequent split, Fältskog went on to release three English-language albums: Wrap Your Arms Around Me in 1983, Eyes Of A Woman in 1985 and I Stand Alone in 1987.

She married her second husband, Thoms Sonnenfield, in 1990, though the pair quietly divorced in 1993. Over a decade later, Fältskog returned to the spotlight when she signed a solo record deal in 2004.

Björn Ulvaeus, 77

https://people.com/thmb/wwHyJJ2Wu3XDBprDgt-ch-LenuA=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/bjorn-ulvaeus-6b7a2800c5fd4a10a3274d741a6bece9.jpg

Björn Ulvaeus was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, and grew up in the small town of Västervik. Like the other members of ABBA, Ulvaeus was also interested in music from an early age. He began his career in the Swedish folk band Hootenanny Singers, which is how he was introduced to keyboardist Benny Andersson, a member of the band the Hep Stars. The two began collaborating, eventually working together and forming ABBA with their fiancées.

Ulvaeus wed fellow bandmate Agnetha Fältskog in 1971 and they had two children together. After the couple split, Ulvaeus married his second wife Lena Källersjö in 1981 and had two more kids.

He and Andersson continued to work together long after ABBA disbanded in the early 1980s. The duo wrote the musical Chess with lyricist Tim Rice, with the show opening on London's West End in 1986 and premiering on Broadway two years later.

According to ABBA's official website, Ulvaeus was also involved in the staging of Mamma Mia, the musical — and later film series — based on ABBA's songs.

In 2022, The Daily Mail reported that Ulvaeus and his wife of over 40 years, Källersjö, announced their plans to divorce.

That July, he arrived at the premiere of his new musical, Pippi at the Circus, hand-in-hand with Christina Sas, a music manager for Universal Music Group. In December 2022, the couple attended the Stockholm premiere of A Man Called Otto, a film starring Tom Hanks.

Benny Andersson, 76

https://people.com/thmb/s3cAhey54WAsnbThdFxHTh0IzFQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/benny-andersson-623394f593304513ac291a2cc5d49583.jpg

Born in Stockholm, ABBA vocalist Benny Andersson was introduced to music as a child, as both his father and grandfather played the accordion and taught him the instrument.

Andersson was a part of several musical groups before the formation of ABBA. He started his career in the band for singer Christina Grönvall. (The two eventually started dating and had two children together.) Then, he joined Elverkets Spelmanslag before becoming the keyboardist of the Hep Stars.

It was while he was with the Hep Stars that Andersson first met Ulvaeus and the pair wrote the song "Isn't It Easy To Say" for the band. They recorded their first album, Lycka, in 1970, on which their girlfriends, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad sang backup vocals. Andersson and Lyngstad were engaged for nearly nine years before tying the knot in 1979, however, they divorced two years later.

Andersson continued to work in music following ABBA's 1982 hiatus, producing work with Anders and Karin Glenmark and his first solo album was released in 1987. He currently performs with the band Benny Andersson's Orkester.

Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 77

https://people.com/thmb/LZ0eFf5X8LCbGBxZK1KrUYljguo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/anni-frid-lyngstad-1b746846364f4b4bb15d0741f37ef492.jpg

Anni-Frid Lyngstad was born in Norway in 1945 and moved to Sweden with her grandmother nearly two years later. According to ABBA's official website, Lyngstad's father was a German soldier and "thought to have vanished when his ship was sunk on the way back to Germany," though they were later reunited in the 1970s. Her mother died less than two years after she was born.

As a teenager, Lyngstad performed with various bands. She married her first husband Ragnar Fredriksson when she was 18 years old and had two children, though the pair divorced ahead of ABBA's rise to fame.

She met her second husband and fellow ABBA bandmate Benny Andersson in 1969 and the two quickly got engaged. Lyngstad also released a Swedish-language solo album in 1975 while a part of ABBA. She was already working on solo work before ABBA's 1982 hiatus, and she released her first English-language solo album, which was produced by Phil Collins the same year.

Lyngstad was married to her third husband, Prince Henrich Ruzzo Reuss, Count of Plauen, from 1992 until his death in 1999. Her daughter died the year prior after a car accident.

Today, Lyngstad is "devoting herself to charity work," per ABBA's official site.

Source: https://people.com/music/abba-members-where-are-they-now/