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Post by Alan on Jan 22, 2021 22:35:02 GMT
Anyone else secretly hoping we might get a Bjorn lead vocal on one of these songs? It’s a no from me, as they’d say on X Factor. If there are only five songs, I wouldn’t want one “wasted” on him. We hear enough from Björn as the main (indeed, mostly only) spokesperson of the group. On the other hand, if there is a full album of at least ten tracks then yes, he can have his one-song quota.
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Post by gamleman on Jan 23, 2021 10:10:03 GMT
Anyone else secretly hoping we might get a Bjorn lead vocal on one of these songs? It’s a no from me, as they’d say on X Factor. If there are only five songs, I wouldn’t want one “wasted” on him. We hear enough from Björn as the main (indeed, mostly only) spokesperson of the group. On the other hand, if there is a full album of at least ten tracks then yes, he can have his one-song quota. I'm with Alan on this one, so it's a No from me too. Bjorn has a pleasant but not exactly outstanding voice, and I wouldn't want him to take one of only five possible songs. I wouldn't, however, object to a line or two from him in one of the songs, as in "Honey Honey". But if there is a whole album, a song led by him would be a welcome touch
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Post by justabba on Jan 23, 2021 10:26:52 GMT
I've just spoken with the guy that interviewed Pling. He confirms that the songs are meant to be good, she heard some and one with a Frida lead made her cry. Unfortunately he didnt add any further details, as he conceded I was a bigger fan of ABBA than he is!
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Post by stepalm on Jan 23, 2021 16:14:50 GMT
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Post by gary on Jan 23, 2021 20:34:58 GMT
Thanks Stepalm. That’s the quote that I remembered. And I guessed that ISHFIY would be the Frida lead and DSMD would be the Agnetha lead, simply because Frida was more likely to be given slower songs back in the 1970s/1980s.
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Post by Alan on Jan 23, 2021 23:04:05 GMT
Although it apparently contradicts the post I quoted from (the original being on page 2 of this topic), a Frida lead on ISHFIY does promise a lot. I deserve to be shot at dawn for this, but many of my favourite ABBA moments are on Frida (or Björn) leads where Agnetha comes in during the chorus. I’m thinking I Let The Music Speak, Andante Andante, Lovers (Live A Little Longer), I Saw It In The Mirror, Two For For The Price of One etc.
On the Björn leads, I know it’s both of them coming in, but Agnetha’s higher voice makes hers the more noticeable. On Agnetha leads, that effect isn’t there quite as much as she’s present all the way through.
Their voices might be lower now, but I’m assuming they still have that contrast. The combination of their voices is far more of an important part of the ABBA sound than Björn and Benny have ever given them credit for.
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Post by stepalm on Jan 23, 2021 23:19:57 GMT
That is exactly what i think. Like in Put on your White sombrery the last verse is divine:) I also think it would be good for Frida since she had very few leads on the last singles though she had some really strong songs. Still i love both of their voices even
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Post by Alan on Jan 24, 2021 10:47:29 GMT
Oh yes, I should have included Put on Your White Sombrero. There are others though.
Yes, I like both voices (and their third, combined one). It’s exciting that we’ll get to hear them together again after all this time (whenever they’re eventually released).
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Post by bennybjorn on Mar 5, 2021 21:19:50 GMT
The good news - I had a chat with Bjorn a couple of nights ago and he told me they've recorded 9 new songs. The bad news - this all happened in a dream! If it turns out to be true, I will become a psychic! Odd, I've never had a dream about Abba before. Guess the prospect of some new songs must really be on my mind.
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Post by justabba on Mar 6, 2021 11:41:12 GMT
The good news - I had a chat with Bjorn a couple of nights ago and he told me they've recorded 9 new songs. The bad news - this all happened in a dream! If it turns out to be true, I will become a psychic! Odd, I've never had a dream about Abba before. Guess the prospect of some new songs must really be on my mind. Silly sausage lol
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Post by justabba on Mar 6, 2021 12:43:20 GMT
Have you guys see the recent answers Bjorn gave to the intermezzo magazine in October?
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Post by gamleman on Mar 6, 2021 21:01:32 GMT
Those answers from Bjorn were hardly generous, but more in the way of polite responses. Back in the day, Benny and Bjorn were much more open in the music press about recordings that were already in the bag for the next album. I remember knowing at least a couple of song-titles in advance for Arrival, Voulez-Vous and The Visitors (in addition to the precursor singles). I wonder whether the current secrecy is for legal/contract reasons.
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Post by justabba on Mar 7, 2021 7:21:07 GMT
Those answers from Bjorn were hardly generous, but more in the way of polite responses. Back in the day, Benny and Bjorn were much more open in the music press about recordings that were already in the bag for the next album. I remember knowing at least a couple of song-titles in advance for Arrival, Voulez-Vous and The Visitors (in addition to the precursor singles). I wonder whether the current secrecy is for legal/contract reasons. I think you're absolutely right. For whatever reason these songs seem to be legally tied into the avatar tour.
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Post by jj on Mar 8, 2021 9:42:08 GMT
It's a sad state of affairs that ABBA's music has become so blatantly NOT the natural, artistic expression of four talented musicians who love making music (as they used to vehemently claim in their own defense), but a cold, calculated marketing tool for the benefit of some commercial project (the avatars). Critics who hated ABBA back then for being so commercial must be thinking "Didn't we always know?". After fighting off so much criticism from journalists in the 1970s who ridiculed them and claimed they were just a money-making machine, that their music was simply a clever product by four people whose only goal was to get as rich as they possibly could, ABBA are now proving these same critics right. First there was the "Mamma Mia" franchise, and now there's this project.
I find it upsetting that ABBA made new songs not because they wanted to do so out of a love of making music, but because they needed to do so, to help make this avatar project as successful as possible. And now they can't even release their new songs as and when they would like to, because these songs are legally tied-in to a commercial, money-making project.
Those 1970s critics seem to have been right. ABBA - at least since "Mamma Mia!" - is just a soulless, money-making corporation.
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Post by justabba on Mar 8, 2021 13:03:50 GMT
Uncomfortable to read jj, but difficult to argue with....
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Post by gamleman on Mar 8, 2021 18:36:23 GMT
It's a sad state of affairs that ABBA's music has become so blatantly NOT the natural, artistic expression of four talented musicians who love making music (as they used to vehemently claim in their own defense), but a cold, calculated marketing tool for the benefit of some commercial project (the avatars). Critics who hated ABBA back then for being so commercial must be thinking "Didn't we always know?". After fighting off so much criticism from journalists in the 1970s who ridiculed them and claimed they were just a money-making machine, that their music was simply a clever product by four people whose only goal was to get as rich as they possibly could, ABBA are now proving these same critics right. First there was the "Mamma Mia" franchise, and now there's this project.
I find it upsetting that ABBA made new songs not because they wanted to do so out of a love of making music, but because they needed to do so, to help make this avatar project as successful as possible. And now they can't even release their new songs as and when they would like to, because these songs are legally tied-in to a commercial, money-making project.
Those 1970s critics seem to have been right. ABBA - at least since "Mamma Mia!" - is just a soulless, money-making corporation.
It does seem that the release of these new songs is being closely tied to the ABBAtar tour. It is to an extent understandable that there should be some co-ordination between the two, as the tour was the motivation for the songs, but it seems to go further than that - we can't even be told for definite how many songs there are and all their titles, which is frustrating. Bjorn has a business head on him but I'm not so convinced that Benny is entirely comfortable with this situation - I recall him indicating a year or so ago that if he had his way, they would be released in September (2020). I'm not a great fan of the "Mamma Mia" musical but we probably have this project (in its original stage-musical form) to thank for the second resurgence of interest in ABBA (the first resurgence being thanks to Erasure's "ABBA-esque" EP). So, I was OK with the "Mamma Mia" musical and I felt that the first movie was a natural progression of its worldwide success. I was even quite welcoming of the second movie, mainly out of curiosity as to which songs would be included and how they'd be arranged. However, "Mamma The Party" experience was for me a step too far as a blatant money-making exercise.
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Post by chron on Mar 9, 2021 17:02:06 GMT
Have you guys see the recent answers Bjorn gave to the intermezzo magazine in October? Fixed(!): Those answers from Bjorn were hardly generous Looks as though he had about five seconds to scribble down a couple of answers before urgently dashing off somewhere.
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Post by richard on Mar 9, 2021 22:21:43 GMT
I wonder if Benny and Bjorn might consider this (maybe they have already) - say to whoever: "Our fans have waited too long for these songs. We'll have to sort something out regarding this avatar project, but these songs must be released now!"
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Post by justabba on Mar 10, 2021 7:06:31 GMT
I wonder if Benny and Bjorn might consider this (maybe they have already) - say to whoever: "Our fans have waited too long for these songs. We'll have to sort something out regarding this avatar project, but these songs must be released now!" A friend of mine received an email from Gorel earlier this week, and that isnt the impression I got from reading the contents.
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Post by richard on Mar 10, 2021 11:01:12 GMT
Then, unfortunately,I have to agree with what others have said: that nowadays, for ABBA, the music comes second - if that.
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Post by jj on Mar 10, 2021 12:29:02 GMT
Then, unfortunately,I have to agree with what others have said: that nowadays, for ABBA, the music comes second - if that.
Sad, but seemingly true.
Yes, ABBA is no longer a musical entity. ABBA has mostly become a marketing strategy, a brand that's licensed to different off-shoots/projects for a huge royalty/fee.
I guess Bjorn, and maybe also Benny, think they worked hard enough from '73 to '82 producing, recording, touring, and promoting ABBA, and, since 1999, they've been using it (ABBA's legacy) to make undreamed-of extra riches for themselves. They feel they deserve to use ABBA to make a ginormous pile of extra cash.
So "ABBA" no longer has very much to do with this talented group whose career and music enchanted us, it's become a cash-cow to be milked for everything it's worth in any way B&B, and any entrepreneurs and impresarios with projects that can be attached to ABBA's music, can think up.
Bjorn and Benny's children and grandchildren must be very grateful for all the riches they'll soon inherit.
PS: There's a February 1977 Swedish TV interview where Bjorn seems quite annoyed that the media often describes him as "the business-minded member of the group".
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Post by justabba on Mar 10, 2021 12:34:39 GMT
Unfortunately, as the creators and owners of all they have recorded, they are entitled to use it all as they see fit. This may of course, not fit in with our cosy memory of them but having seen so many artists from 70s struggling with money nowadays I think I will let them be. They never owed us anything, but if they choose to give us new material well and good.
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Post by richard on Mar 10, 2021 14:14:17 GMT
I certainly don't mind their making lots of money from their music, old and new. It's just the seeming lack of empathy for fans in the process: setting up the blandishment of the new songs/avatar project, and then not making any concessions at all - they and their commercial partners - because of all the delay, even if unforseen and not their fault, that has occurred. By concessions, I mean releasing, say, a couple of songs by now.
Overall, it's a pretty hard-nosed attitude, in my opinion. It doesn't have to be this way, surely?
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Post by gamleman on Mar 10, 2021 14:39:11 GMT
Part of the frustration of them keeping us in the dark is that at the end of the day, they will be expecting people like us to buy the new songs and the ABBAtar tickets. Having said that, the hard-core fans are probably not important for this project, as we're not numerous enough - this project is targeted at the masses, the more numerous casual ABBA fans who will snap up the new songs and flock in droves to the ABBAtar shows. We are useful in generating a bit of money from the anniversary album re-issues though.
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Post by justabba on Mar 10, 2021 14:52:15 GMT
Part of the frustration of them keeping us in the dark is that at the end of the day, they will be expecting people like us to buy the new songs and the ABBAtar tickets. Having said that, the hard-core fans are probably not important for this project, as we're not numerous enough - this project is targeted at the masses, the more numerous casual ABBA fans who will snap up the new songs and flock in droves to the ABBAtar shows. We are useful in generating a bit of money from the anniversary album re-issues though. My friend has allowed me to share the email from Gorel...
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Post by justabba on Mar 10, 2021 14:54:50 GMT
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Post by gamleman on Mar 10, 2021 15:35:25 GMT
Forgive me for being skeptical but I interpret "when everyone is ready" to mean when the ABBAtar show and new songs can be launched in a co-ordinated way for maximum impact and profits. I get this and it is not totally unreasonable - I dare say they will want a big launch for the first new song from ABBA in 35+ years. But given the long delay since the new songs were first announced and the likelihood that there are now 5 (or more?) new songs, I do think they could be more open with information about the songs and the plans for their release.
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Post by chron on Mar 12, 2021 17:38:52 GMT
A sceptic might quietly wonder if the pandemic hasn't been somewhat 'handy' in terms of offering an open-ended reason for delays, since it's hard to take issue with it without coming across as cynical.
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Post by Michal on Mar 13, 2021 11:49:37 GMT
I wonder if they're actually waiting for 2022, as it is ABBA's 50th anniversary. It was probably not their intention originally but as we're getting closer to that magical date with all the delays, it's possible that they have already decided to make the new songs (or even album) a higlight of the anniversary celebrations, which will be grand anyway, I'm quite sure. Actually I think they will spread over two years period to culminate with the 50th anniversary of the Eurovision victory.
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Post by richard on Mar 13, 2021 15:09:30 GMT
Very good point. And from ABBA's perspective, I can see how that would be an attractive option after all the delays. But if that is their intention going forward, I hope they will be candid about it and tell us now. After all the false starts and difficulties, I think most people would accept this quite well and find it quite appealing: the new songs and the avatar show to coincide with their 50th anniversary.
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