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Post by Michal on Jan 19, 2019 16:00:44 GMT
The Top 20 ABBA songs thread (abbachat.boards.net/thread/1089/top-20-abba-songs) made me think that maybe we could try to do the opposite as well - that is, name 20 of your least favourite ABBA songs. Let's not count the demos or the half-finished recordings (released on bootlegs or as a part of ABBA Undeleted) - just the officially released tracks. Personally I thought it would be easier than doing the Top 20 but in the end it wasn't… maybe the first 10 tracks were obvious but the other ten were a bit harder to choose. This is my list:
Åh Vilka Tider Another Town, Another Train Crazy World Happy Hawaii Happy New Year I Have A Dream I Saw It In The Mirror Love Isn't Easy Man In The Middle Me And Bobby And Bobby's Brother Merry-Go-Round My Love, My Life One Of Us People Need Love Put On Your White Sombrero Ring Ring Santa Rosa She's My Kind Of Girl Watch Out You Owe Me One
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Post by The Rubber Ball Man on Jan 19, 2019 20:14:40 GMT
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Post by Michal on Jan 20, 2019 6:22:20 GMT
Well, now it is a perfect match with the Top 20 thread indeed :-) Thank you! And what about filling in your candidates?
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Post by The Rubber Ball Man on Jan 20, 2019 9:20:47 GMT
what about filling in your candidates? I'm still thinking about the last 5 songs. |
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Post by The Rubber Ball Man on Jan 20, 2019 16:31:04 GMT
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Post by chron on Jan 20, 2019 19:29:31 GMT
I tend to cut their earlier work a bit of slack, given that they were still finding their feet writing in English and had yet to fully break free from the influence of the genre fields that they were respectively working in prior to becoming a pop quartet. I'm less tolerant of some of the tracks done towards the end of their career, which seem to me a bit overblown, highfalutin, and/or emotionally a little cold.
The Winner Takes It All
The Day Before You Came
You Owe Me One
Elaine
Intermezzo No. 1
Thank You For The Music
The Way Old Friends Do
I Saw It In The Mirror
What About Livingstone
Two For The Price Of One
I Let The Music Speak
When All Is Said And Done
Money, Money, Money
King Kong Song
Happy New Year
Voulez-Vous
Lovers Live A Little Longer
Rock Me
Ring Ring
I've Been Waiting For You
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Post by gary on Jan 20, 2019 19:32:22 GMT
One Of Us? If It Wasn’t For The Nights? And no mention of I Am Just A Girl and Two For The Price Of One? Oh dear. I shall have to do my own list!
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Post by chron on Jan 20, 2019 19:38:19 GMT
no mention of Two For The Price Of One? *Cough* |
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Post by gary on Jan 20, 2019 19:59:49 GMT
Sorry, Orf, I hadn’t seen your post when I wrote mine!
OK, here’s mine. I’ve excluded the ‘foreign’ language versions, and Medley, and She’s My Kind Of Girl and Santa Rosa (those last two aren’t really ABBA).
Merry-Go-Round
I Am Just A Girl (THE worst)
Me And Bobby And Bobby’s Brother
Nina Pretty Ballerina
I Saw It In The Mirror
Disillusion
Watch Out
My Mama Said
Hasta Manana
Sitting In The Palmtree
So Long
Intermezzo No 1
Rock Me
Man In the Middle
Tropical Loveland
Thank You For The Music
Voulez-Vous
The Way Old Friends Do
Two For The Price Of One
I’m Still Alive
There’s no really bad songs on the last five studio albums, expect the unforgivable TFTPOO.
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Post by Michal on Jan 21, 2019 14:57:25 GMT
One Of Us? If It Wasn’t For The Nights? And no mention of I Am Just A Girl and Two For The Price Of One? Oh dear. I shall have to do my own list! Remember that we're talking about personal preferences, not the actual quality of certain songs  That means... I can see why chron, included for example The Winner Takes It All in his list, which otherwise I would consider simply outrageous  If you compare the Top 20 and Bottom 20 threads, you will see that some of the songs that appear in some people's Top 20 appear in others' Bottom 20 (I find that quite interesting). As for I Am Just A Girl and Two For The Price Of One, I have a soft spot for both. Actually... I could live without the whole Ring Ring album, but there are songs that I still like and I Am Just A Girl is one of them. And I've never really understood the negative feelings toward TFTPOO. It doesn't really fit on The Visitors album but otherwise it's quite a good song. In fact there's not a single ABBA tune that I really don't like, with maybe the only exception being I Saw It In The Mirror - every time I listen to it I can't help but feel "Oh my God, what were they thinking when they recorded this one"...
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Post by gary on Jan 21, 2019 16:25:07 GMT
I was only joking, honest! 😉
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Post by gary on Jan 21, 2019 16:26:44 GMT
But yes, fascinating to see other people’s opinions!
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Post by chron on Jan 22, 2019 13:16:37 GMT
Remember that we're talking about personal preferences, not the actual quality of certain songs That means... I can see why chron , included for example The Winner Takes It All in his list, which otherwise I would consider simply outrageous Nice of you to be so reasonable and restrained about that one choice, Michal! know it's considered sacrilege by many to cite TWTIA as anything other than one of the prime jewels, but I've never been able to get along with it. For me, a rare Ulvaeus/Andersson misfire tune-wise, with lyrics that stray too far into self-pity, and exacerbated by Agnetha's over-emoting. It's undoubtedly made from a solid piece of timber, if you like, and has been worked on with ABBA's usual care and attention; it's just that I happen not to like the type of wood chosen, nor the way it's been carved. |
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Post by Michal on Jan 22, 2019 16:33:56 GMT
Remember that we're talking about personal preferences, not the actual quality of certain songs That means... I can see why chron , included for example The Winner Takes It All in his list, which otherwise I would consider simply outrageous Nice of you to be so reasonable and restrained about that one choice, Michal! know it's considered sacrilege by many to cite TWTIA as anything other than one of the prime jewels, but I've never been able to get along with it. For me, a rare Ulvaeus/Andersson misfire tune-wise, with lyrics that stray too far into self-pity, and exacerbated by Agnetha's over-emoting. It's undoubtedly made from a solid piece of timber, if you like, and has been worked on with ABBA's usual care and attention; it's just that I happen not to like the type of wood chosen, nor the way it's been carved. Well, I had to restrain myself a lot For me The Winner Takes It All really is a piece of art and I Agnetha's "over-emoting" is the best part of it all  But I can understand that we all have different tastes... |
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Post by Zeebee on Jan 22, 2019 17:46:55 GMT
OK, here’s mine. I’ve excluded the ‘foreign’ language versions, and Medley, and She’s My Kind Of Girl and Santa Rosa (those last two aren’t really ABBA). Rock 'N Roll Band could be excluded for the same reason as She's My Kind Of Girl and Santa Rosa, although no one has included it on their list. |
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Post by Michal on Jan 22, 2019 18:26:12 GMT
OK, here’s mine. I’ve excluded the ‘foreign’ language versions, and Medley, and She’s My Kind Of Girl and Santa Rosa (those last two aren’t really ABBA). Rock 'N Roll Band could be excluded for the same reason as She's My Kind Of Girl and Santa Rosa, although no one has included it on their list. It's not entirely true, because Rock 'N Roll Band features vocal contributions from Agnetha and Frida (although there is an earlier version released only by Björn and Benny as a duo without the female backing vocals). She's My Kind Of Girl and Santa Rosa don't and they "became" ABBA songs only by being released on ABBA records… Moreover, there is a version of Rock 'N Roll Band featuring Frida as a lead vocalist (they played it that way during the 1975 tour). |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2019 18:14:46 GMT
Hello. I have just joined the forum. How do I fill in the boxes re bottom 20 ABBA songs. Well, here goes my least 3 favourites are Super Trouper, Does Your Mother Know and Money Money Money. The first I cannot tolerate listening to it irritates me that much. Sorry ABBA.
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Post by The Rubber Ball Man on Mar 5, 2019 0:19:12 GMT
How do I fill in the boxes re bottom 20 ABBA songs. Hi, If you have an Apple device, you can save the photo, go to "edit" and "markup". You can insert the text then. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2019 0:49:12 GMT
Super Trouper ( has lost its appeal and rather gratingly irritating also, a bit dated )
You Owe Me One ( absolutely dire )
I'm A Marionette ( too sinister for my liking )
Does Your Mother Know ( a weak attempt )
Money Money Money ( never really excited me )
I Saw It In The Mirror ( very bland )
Man In The Middle ( terrible )
I Wonder (Departure) ( not one of my favourites )
Like An Angel Passing Through My Room ( too gloomy and depressing. Not technically an ABBA recording )
Tropical Loveland ( very boring )
Lovers (Live A Little Longer) ( too raunchy and shouty )
Rock Me ( fails to grab me )
So Long ( OK but the ending sounds like a James Bond movie gone wrong )
The Visitors ( too experimental and menacing )
Under Attack ( a very weak moment )
King Kong Song ( a very silly and boring song )
Why Did It Have To Be Me ( I much prefer " Happy Hawaii " to this track )
Sitting In The Palmtree ( extremely bland )
Dum Dum Diddle ( with different lyrics could have been a better song )
Me And Bobby And Bobby's Brother ( very poor )
These are the songs that I don't care for at all and never listen to them. There are much better ABBA songs than these twenty very weak moments. Sorry,ABBA,no offence,
these are ABBA Wood and definitely not ABBA Gold. I hope I haven't upset any fans with my list. It is just personal taste.
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Post by gamleman on Jun 1, 2020 8:37:05 GMT
I can only really arrive at a Bottom 10 (rather than 20) and in no particular order. These songs are in my opinion far from ABBA's best but still listenable:
I Am The City
You Owe Me One
Elaine
I Have A Dream
Lovers (Live A Little Longer)
Medley (Pick A Bale Of Cotton...)
Man In The Middle
Watch Out
Ah Vilka Tider
Santa Rosa
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2021 16:32:46 GMT
Super Trouper ( has lost its appeal and rather gratingly irritating also, a bit dated )
You Owe Me One ( absolutely dire )
I'm A Marionette ( too sinister for my liking )
Does Your Mother Know ( a weak attempt )
Money Money Money ( never really excited me )
I Saw It In The Mirror ( very bland )
Man In The Middle ( terrible )
I Wonder (Departure) ( not one of my favourites )
Like An Angel Passing Through My Room ( too gloomy and depressing. Not technically an ABBA recording )
Tropical Loveland ( very boring )
Lovers (Live A Little Longer) ( too raunchy and shouty )
Rock Me ( fails to grab me )
So Long ( OK but the ending sounds like a James Bond movie gone wrong )
The Visitors ( too experimental and menacing )
Under Attack ( a very weak moment )
King Kong Song ( a very silly and boring song )
Why Did It Have To Be Me ( I much prefer " Happy Hawaii " to this track )
Sitting In The Palmtree ( extremely bland )
Dum Dum Diddle ( with different lyrics could have been a better song )
Me And Bobby And Bobby's Brother ( very poor )
These are the songs that I don't care for at all and never listen to them. There are much better ABBA songs than these twenty very weak moments. Sorry,ABBA,no offence,
these are ABBA Wood and definitely not ABBA Gold. I hope I haven't upset any fans with my list. It is just personal taste.
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Post by Alan on Mar 28, 2021 17:53:03 GMT
It was a good idea of Edmund to bump this topic, as it relates to the weakest songs one. It’s a pity he’s deleted his account. Hope you’re OK, Edmund, and feel you can return soon.
Anyway, I’ll pick 20, in chronological rather than preference order:
People Need Love
Merry-Go-Round
Santa Rosa
Åh, Vilka Tider
She’s My Kind Of Girl (not an ABBA song but does appear on international versions of Ring Ring, so I will include it)
I Am Just A Girl
Rock ‘n’ Roll Band
Watch Out
I Do, I Do etc
Rock Me
Crazy World
Thank You For The Music
Does Your Mother Know
I Have A Dream
Super Trouper
The Way Old Friends Do
Head Over Heels
Cassandra
Under Attack
You Owe Me One
I would never include I Saw It In The Mirror or Two For The Price of One. The former includes those backing vocals which mostly just repeat his lines but steal the show from him. Likewise the latter has that sublime second part of the chorus where they do their own thing, singing a longer version of what he’s singing, and again steal it from him. Plus I like the production. It has a lot going for it apart from the subject matter.
Had it been released officially in full, I’m afraid I’d include Just Like That in my 20. Great chorus but terribly weak verses.
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Post by hejiranyc on Aug 31, 2021 19:55:52 GMT
I can't say I have much to add to this thread since I can't think of 20 ABBA songs that I dislike that intensely. That being said, I was listening to Super Trouper recently and I had a visceral reaction when "I Have a Dream" came on: Ugh! There, that is the one ABBA song that I just do not like. It is corny, repetitive and goes on and on without going anywhere. After reading through this thread, I am heartened that I am not alone in my dislike of this grating song.
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Post by madonnabba on Oct 9, 2021 5:48:38 GMT
Some are easy to pick out. Gone with ones I listen to least or skip.
I saw it in the Mirror
Man in the Middle
Intermezzo no.1
Rock n roll band
Santa Rosa
She's just my kinda girl
Sitting in the palmtree
Two for the price of on
I am just a girl
Me and Bobby and Bobby's
King Kong Song
Nina Pretty Ballerina
People Need Love
Lovers live a little longer
The King has lost his crown
You owe me one
Crazy world
Put on your white sombrero
Tropical love land
Medley
Some of the songs were let down by weak or cringey lyrics but that is understandable early
Lovers because too screechy.
POYWS because of those lyrics. Otherwise beautiful.
TKHLHC because of a weak chorus and not keen on the title. Verses nice though.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2021 17:03:41 GMT
Madonnabba, I totally agree with you about YOMO and a few others notably featured on " Ring Ring ". It is terrible. On the other hand NPB is growing on me.
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Post by madonnabba on Oct 10, 2021 19:07:32 GMT
Hi Eddie. I could understand if YOMO was from early in their career but not after 5 great albums. It just seemed like it needed work...as if it was what do we have to put on a b side that is not good enough to appear on the next album but OK for a b side ? I could see I am the city as being good enough for an album track but not YOMO. Thankfully we have new and fantastic songs to listen to and more on the way. I would have hated for the end of their career to be have been remembered for one of their last recordings being inferior.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2021 21:47:46 GMT
Madonnaabba, I agree " ABBA-solutely " ( sorry for the pun I couldn't resist it ). ISHFIY and DSMD are in a league of their own. We should lay YOMO to rest and forget about it. It was a very lame effort and when I first heard it I was very disappointed even though I don't rate the A-side UA as highly as I used to. I can't wait to hear the other new songs on " Voyage ". Not long now !
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Post by madonnabba on Oct 11, 2021 1:15:29 GMT
Eddie. Not a big fan of Under Attack either. Had they gone on to do a full album at the time I am not sure it would have been a single. Better album tracks have not been released as singles on previous albums. The lyrics are fine but I don't like the voice coder and it seemed a bit dated at the time and still does. Watched a you tuber review it and he made me appreciate repeating chords in the background of the verses sounding a bit sinister like a stalker which I suppose ties in with the lyrics and video I guess. I have listened more to the two new singles than I have ever listened to Under Attack. Hooked on them. A different league indeed. Back on track...sorry couldn't resist it either.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2021 11:37:50 GMT
Hi Madonnabba, I too, love listening to both the new singles. They are classic ABBA whereas UA pales into insignificance. DYMK is another example of a very lame song which annoys me everytime I hear it. KOF would have been a magical A-side. I love DW and find it a far superior version to DYMK.
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Post by livingstoneagle on Oct 29, 2021 22:09:59 GMT
I love DW and find it a far superior version to DYMK. You got to be joking. The only good thing about Dreamworld is the intro and outro, one that deffinately deserved scrapping. As fot Does Your Mother Know the only error was not keeping the original 'ABBA - In Switzerland' intro and arrangement. |
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That means... I can see why 
If you compare the Top 20 and Bottom 20 threads, you will see that some of the songs that appear in some people's Top 20 appear in others' Bottom 20 (I find that quite interesting). As for I Am Just A Girl and Two For The Price Of One, I have a soft spot for both. Actually... I could live without the whole Ring Ring album, but there are songs that I still like and I Am Just A Girl is one of them. And I've never really understood the negative feelings toward TFTPOO. It doesn't really fit on The Visitors album but otherwise it's quite a good song. In fact there's not a single ABBA tune that I really don't like, with maybe the only exception being I Saw It In The Mirror - every time I listen to it I can't help but feel "Oh my God, what were they thinking when they recorded this one"...
But I can understand that we all have different tastes...
