Why are ABBA so popular?

[DennisN]

(by the way, I am deeply impressed by this cover; this guy is obviously a very good musician, great playing and a fantastically powerful, good voice)

Clarification: It was the musicianship that impressed me. The cover not that much, because it's FAR from my style of music .

 

[DennisN]

If you want to be brought entirely somewhere else - on the darker gothic side - with Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, this version from Beseech is amazing:

Holy cr-p, that is truly, truly dark. It's scary. And emotional.

 

[DennisN]

Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)
- I could write an essay on how much I adore this song

I read an interesting article on this song:

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) — from Abba to Madonna (FT)
The story behind the Swedish group’s most sexually liberated song
https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/gimme-gimme-gimme.html

Apparently there is a thread of sexual liberation (which Scandinavia is known for) also that runs through ABBA:s catalogue;

But Abba were not above feeding those fantasies too. The theme of sexual liberation runs through their music, from the 17-year-old “teaser” in “Dancing Queen”to the absurd schoolroom seduction played out in “When I Kissed the Teacher”.

...

“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”is the most liberated of their songs, a masterpiece of Scandinavian frankness.

I have actually never thought about this, that is ABBA and sexual liberation, but it is true.

But I'd say to me the most obvious ABBA song regarding sexual liberation is Voulez-Vous:
(even though they obscure it somewhat by expressing it in French)




And a fun little clip about ABBA and Madonna:

Which iconic pop star did ABBA make an exception for?​

 

[DennisN]

Voulez-Vous

Ah, I really liked this analysis/reaction!

A female musician analyses the song Voulez-Vous:
(and she obviously gets pulled into it )

 

[DennisN]

By the way, you guys...
...you know that ABBA:s breakthrough song was Waterloo, right?

But do you know that the original was composed and performed in Swedish?

Here is the original entry in the Swedish Melodifestival 1974, in Swedish:

ABBA Waterloo - Swedish version


But in Brighton during EuroVision 1974 they performed it in English, and the conductor was dressed as Napoleon Bonaparte :

ABBA - Waterloo (Eurovision Song Contest 1974 First Performance)


EDIT:

And here is the studio version of the original Waterloo in Swedish:

Waterloo (Swedish Version)


Sorry, guys, I won't translate it, but the lyrics are almost like the English version, but not quite.

 

[DennisN]

Sorry, guys, I won't translate it, but the lyrics are almost like the English version, but not quite.

Heck, I did a direct translation. Maybe this has never been done before .
You are lucky I am Swedish and interested in music and history.
So this is for the history books...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waterloo - English lyrics (performed in Brighton, EuroVision 1974):

My, my, at Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender
Oh, yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself
Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo, Promise to love you forevermore
Waterloo, Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo, Knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo
Finally facing my Waterloo

My, my, I tried to hold you back, but you were stronger
Oh, yeah, And now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo, Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo, Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo, Knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo, Finally facing my Waterloo

So how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose

Waterloo, Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo, Knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo, Finally facing my Waterloo
Ooh-ooh, Waterloo, Knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo, Finally facing my Waterloo
Ooh-ooh, Waterloo...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waterloo - Swedish lyrics:
The original Swedish lyrics, directly translated to English by me, so note that it won't rhyme

Well, well, at Waterloo Napoleon had to surrender
But, but, your destiny can be met in so many different ways
I feel since I met you, history is repeating itself

Waterloo – I am defeated, now I give up
Waterloo – promise me the pleasure of loving you
Waterloo – everything feels right, and it is my belief
Waterloo – you are my destiny, my Waterloo
Wa wa wa wa Waterloo – you are my destiny, my Waterloo

Well, well, you fight it off and keep fencing a long time
But, but, against feelings the gods fight in vain, it has been said

It is like I heard a song
I think there is love coming on

Waterloo – so I have found my superior
Waterloo – powerful, mighty and strong he is
Waterloo – everything feels right, and it is my belief
Waterloo – you are my destiny, my Waterloo
Wa wa wa wa Waterloo – you are my destiny, my Waterloo

It is like a heard a song
I think there is love going on

Waterloo – everything feels right, and it is my belief
Waterloo – you are my destiny, my Waterloo
Wa wa wa wa Waterloo – you are my destiny, my Waterloo

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And after listening to the Swedish version of Waterloo, I have to say that the lyrics are better in Swedish.
But if you don't know the Swedish language you will never be able to understand it, sorry.

 

[DennisN]

A fun, short history clip about that night in Brighton that started ABBA:s career...
...told by Englishmen who were there and met ABBA... including a cab driver :

50th Anniversary Of ABBA’s Eurovision Win With Waterloo On The One Show

 

[DennisN]

Wow, I just saw this clip...
...here ABBA:s original bass player Rutger Gunnarsson shows how to play the basslines in Dancing Queen... the basslines are really sophisticated and much more complex than I thought :

Legendary bassplayer Rutger Gunnarsson plays Dancing Queen by Abba


I would not be able to play that on my bass. This is bass mastery and I am a mere dabbler .

Just for the record. I hadn´t told Rutger in advance that I wanted him to play along with any song. So we were digging out a white Fender Jazz and a similar Precision from the deep of a cabin in his apartement. And this was the the bass he had played in the session as well. This was the first take. He hadn´t played Dancing queen for ages. Probably over 10 years since the last time.

 

[DennisN]

Pure magic...

Benny Andersson plays his favourite Abba song

 

[Hornbein]

Wow, I just saw this clip...
...here ABBA:s original bass player Rutger Gunnarsson shows how to play the basslines in Dancing Queen... the basslines are really sophisticated and much more complex than I thought :

Legendary bassplayer Rutger Gunnarsson plays Dancing Queen by Abba


I would not be able to play that on my bass. This is bass mastery and I am a mere dabbler .

That's Jamie Jamerson of Motown style, which I learned to do. Not that well though, he's really good at it.

 

[DennisN]

Darn, I'm having a good time finding history gems...

Here is a RARE interview where the ABBA members reveal who their favorite artists are; I've never heard them talk about this before. They also comment on Swedish language and that many in Sweden know English very well and listen very much to British and US music - I can testify this is true, I really did, and still do. And Agneta calls The Beatles legends.
And they say they started writing music because of The Beatles.

Their own personal favorite artists are:

• The Eagles
• Queen
• The Beatles
• 10cc
• Rufus
• Beach Boys

ABBA• Interview (Career/Sweden/Influences/Personal Tastes) • 1977 [Reelin' In The Years Archive]

 

[Hornbein]

Darn, I'm having a good time finding history gems...

Here is a RARE interview where the ABBA members reveal who their favorite artists are; I've never heard them talk about this before. They also comment on Swedish language and that many in Sweden know English very well and listen very much to British and US music - I can testify this is true, I really did, and still do. And Agneta calls The Beatles legends.
And they say they started writing music because of The Beatles.

Their own personal favorite artists are:

• The Eagles
• Queen
• The Beatles
• 10cc
• Rufus
• Beach Boys

ABBA• Interview (Career/Sweden/Influences/Personal Tastes) • 1977 [Reelin' In The Years Archive]

They all had really good harmony singing, with the exception of Rufus. (I dunno about 10cc). One wonders why this disappeared from music. Rufus had groove, as does ABBA.

My favorite harmony singing is by the Grateful Dead on American Beauty. They didn't know what they were doing, had no respect for any tradition, did it all by ear, but nevertheless came up with some really good and highly original stuff. They were at the time unable to reproduce it live. Many suspected ringers on the recording, but eyewitnesses all claim that it truly was them singing. But not Abba's sort of thing. Abba has some originality too, enough that they don't sound like a copy of anybody.

 

[DennisN]

with the exception of Rufus

I have never heard about that band. I'm heading to youtube now to listen to what kind of music it is.

Edit:

Ah, one of the members was Chaka Khan.
I really like her vocals, and I love this song: I Feel for You.
I loved it the first time I heard it, and I still do.

 

[Hornbein]

I have never heard about that band. I'm heading to youtube now to listen to what kind of music it is.

Tell Me Something Good was their hit record. Very clever rhythmic thing. Chaka Khan was the star, and soon went off on a solo career.

 

[DennisN]

Tell Me Something Good

I am listening to it. Really good. Extremely groovy and funky. I like.

 

[DennisN]

By the way, after ABBA quit making music, both Agneta and Frida recorded some good songs...
I don't know how well known they are out of Sweden...

I actually really like Agneta's album "Wrap Your Arms Around Me", here are three songs from that album:

The Heat Is On (with a sound that feels very tropical/Carribean)


Wrap Your Arms Around me (a very lush slow song, lovely and hypnotic)


Shame (though I don't like the verse that much, but the chorus is really, really good)


And here's one cool song with Frida:

Frida - I Know There's Something Going On

 

[DennisN]

Frida - I Know There's Something Going On

Hmm, I read an interesting comment on youtube:

Frida of ABBA! In case you weren't aware, the song is about her divorce with Benny Anderson and is a continuation of Phil Collin's - "In The Air Tonight" (which was about also about Phil's divorce)

This is why Frida asked Phil to produce the album. She connected with him in this way. It's also why the drums sound like a continuation of "In The Air Tonight."

Try playing "In The Air Tonight" and immediately after play "There's Something Going On." It'll all make sense musically and lyrically.

Just spreading some music history for everyone to enjoy

I wonder if that is correct. I know she knew Phil Collins.
I have to listen to "In The Air Tonight" and then "I Know There's Something Goin On"...

 

[Hornbein]

The Heat Is On (with a sound that feels very tropical/Carribean)

Dang. I thought she was going to cover Glenn Frey. I think a calypso version of that would work. Any takers out there? This could be your ticket to stardom!

 

[jack action]

ABBA Waterloo - Swedish version

Björn looks like a member of KISS :

 

[DennisN]

Björn looks like a member of KISS :

View attachment 353109View attachment 353110​

Haha, I've never thought about that.

 

[rcgldr]

Rufus ... one of the members was Chaka Khan.

Chaka Khan - I'm Every Woman

Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody

 

[rcgldr]

I dunno about 10cc

If you include Godley & Creme (after they left 10cc) two main hits:

10cc - I'm Not In Love

Godley & Creme - Cry (Miami Vice version, better quality audio on this re-mix)

 

[rcgldr]

good harmony

Crosby Stills & Nash - Helplessly Hoping

Fleetwood Mac - The Chain

Elle Cordova, Toni Lindgren, Josh Tuner - Cover of The Chain (album version)

Taylor Neita, Carson McKee, Josh Turner - cover of Black Velvet

Blac Rabbit & Josh Turner - cover of Paperback Writer

 

[Hornbein]

Crosby Stills & Nash - Helplessly Hoping

Fleetwood Mac - The Chain

Elle Cordova, Toni Lindgren, Josh Tuner - Cover of The Chain (album version)

Taylor Neita, Carson McKee, Josh Turner - cover of Black Velvet

Blac Rabbit & Josh Turner - cover of Paperback Writer

That's some mighty fine harmony. Here's my vote for best sounding vocal harmony ever recorded.



The utter solidity of the rhythm section doesn't hurt either. If I taught rock I'd tell my students to (try to) play like this.

 

[pinball1970]

One crash? Very minimalistic . Ringo Starr would have been impressed, I think.

 

[jack action]

View attachment 353231

And a lefty!

 

[pinball1970]

And a lefty!

Like the great man himself.

 

[DennisN]

Another fun video...
...a woman who is a great bass player shows how to play the bass on some ABBA songs that have been mentioned in this thread... (spoiler: the basslines are not easy )

• Waterloo
• Gimme Gimme Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
• Dancing Queen
• Knowing Me, Knowing You
• Voulez-Vous

Top 5 ABBA Bass Lines | Julia Hofer | Rutger Gunnarsson, Mike Watson | Thomann​

 

[pinball1970]

Another fun video...
...a woman who is a great bass player shows how to play the bass on some ABBA songs that have been mentioned in this thread... (spoiler: the basslines are not easy )

• Waterloo
• Gimme Gimme Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
• Dancing Queen
• Knowing Me, Knowing You
• Voulez-Vous

Top 5 ABBA Bass Lines | Julia Hofer | Rutger Gunnarsson, Mike Watson | Thomann​

Thanks Dennis I will check later.

 

[Astronuc]

Fleetwood Mac - The Chain

I was thinking about the popularity of pop music and Fleetwood Mac came to mind when I recently heard a Fleetwood Mac concert on TV that a friend was watching.

Then the Beatles, Eagles, Heart and many others were popular. It's the music, the melody/harmony, the lyrics, the beat, . . . .

Very little pop music appealed to me. I was more oriented to the classic rock of the late 60s, 70s and early 80s.

 

[pinball1970]

. (I dunno about 10cc).

Wow! In terms of song writers and diversity just fantastic.

 

[DennisN]

Another ridiculously good song by ABBA...
The music, the melodies and the production in the verses are on a magical, sublime level, what can I say... I tip my hat once again...

ABBA - Chiquitita (Official Music Video)

 

[pinball1970]

Another ridiculously good song by ABBA...
The music, the melodies and the production in the verses are on a magical, sublime level, what can I say... I tip my hat once again...

ABBA - Chiquitita (Official Music Video)

The Chorus is so ridiculously uplifting, it sounds like folk.I put this and Fernando together.

 

[DennisN]

I put this and Fernando together.

I agree... they have a similar feel and approach.

 

[pinball1970]

Pure magic...

Benny Andersson plays his favourite Abba song

I dont think we have discussed this one much. What a beautiful piece? It would fit as a classical piano piece.