The Winner's Gonna Take It All: The final...

He/Him
56.

'...Daydreams of a better life, but I have to wake up... The sound of the key in the door... You smile and I realise that we need a shake-up...'
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad in One Man, One Woman -

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"Fabulous."

Average: 7.0457
Highest score: 3 *
10.00 - @DJHazey @Mikey1701 @Remorque
Lowest score: 1 * 0.00 - @WhatKindOfKylie?
My score: 10.00

The Album loses its third track on the tracklisting at #56... Written and recorded in 1977 and released that same year, only Brazil was treated to it singles-wise, as it was the b-side to Take a Chance on Me over there...

It deals with a couple coming to terms with where they're at in their marriage and eventually realizing they'll make it if they put some work into it... It packs quite an emotional punch for me personnally, as I've found myself in the same kind of situation, be it with my parents when I was younger, my friends when I was growing up and my lovely boyfriend in recent times... So Frida's literally preaching to the choir in my case.

She delivers a fucking striking performance, Agnetha steps up in the harmony department and Björn's electric guitar is coupled nicely with Benny's piano playing. I literally can't with this going so early...

Which brings me to the following...
WhatKindOfKylie?.

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What in the world warrants giving this a fucking ZERO???
Let's find out, shall we?
"Ok, early on in their careers, you could forgive duds like this. But we are now talking ABBA at their late 70's superstardom here, and this is nowhere near up to scratch!"...
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Never has this gif been more appropriate...

Let's get over to people with some taste, y'all...

Mikey1701 knows what's up. "There is something so intense and forlorn about this. I don’t know if it’s Queen Frida’s heartbreaking vocal delivery, the pleading and desperate nature of the lyrics or the idea that this was probably written in the period where Agnetha and Bjorn’s marriage was likely crumbling. But for me, what makes the song is the incredible guitar riff."... You're quite right. Where The Winner Takes It All is their ultimate divorce-song, this is the one that's leading up to it.

Filippa likes this song "a lot. Frida’s voice is nearly sulky here. I don’t know why it did not work on their American tour...", though P'nutbutter bets "this was a "lighter in the air" moment on tour. Aww...".

Frida's vocals were the highlight for a lot of you...
Hudweiser chants "Frida! Frida! Frida! "You and me...till the eeeeeeeeend." YES!" and I can only support him. Get your life!
That last note must be some kind of favourite, because it wasn't just mentioned this once... tylerc904 says "The gay in me can’t relate but this is still gorgeous. Frida sounds exquisite, and I love “you and me, to the eEeeEeEend” in all it’s grammatical improperness.", but One Stop Candy Shop's favourite bit isn't the long note at the end... "Best moment in this song is the second chorus when they sing "One ma-ha-an, one woman". Genius!".

TrueBeliever thinks "Frida’s vocals are so rich and glorious here, and beautifully offset by Agnetha’s upper register. That said, I do think that the song is a bit boring and doesn’t really “go anywhere”. I think it comes down to the unremarkable instrumentation." and ufint believes "The harmonies are outstanding, but the lyrics are… banal? A little Fleetwood Mac-inspired, perhaps?". But that's a good thing, n'est-ce pas?
VivaForever actually loves "these lyrics aside from the obvious Heterosexual Bullshit.", which was also an issue for kalonite... "Check that heteronormativity dragging down my album average. More importantly, it's just a bit bland.".

Mina thinks this is "More than serviceable; surprised this one hasn't entered the common ABBA lexicon like songs such as its album-mate The Name of the Game.". Is the GP really that aware of The Name of the Game though? If you asked 40 people on the street to name an ABBA song, I bet not one of them would name it...

For idratherjack "The Album is one of their weaker albums, but I do love this one..." and constantino finds this "sweet and all...but it does cross the line into cheesy territory for me a bit...". Mumty admits "I have an issue with both Frida leads on the album. They are both a bit forced.". Oh well.

Some of you did find this rather unexciting though...
SecretsOfFatima admits "I’ve never had much time for this song. Would gladly swap it out for Get On The Carousel."... But you got it, albeit in a different form, seaux...
Sprockrooster finds this "Very boring. I heard this a million times before and all better." and CasperFan thinks it's "Not bad but a bit pedestrian- thankfully the vocals lift it as usual.".
Meanwhile bichard says "This has no redeeming features really, despite not being offensive in any way. It sort of epitomises The Album in that sense. There's nothing bad on it per se, but one or two songs aside, it's all very mediocre.".
But what do you all know, eh... *emotes Frida-ish*



They shot a nice little performance video for this song, with some rather 'expressive' emoting... As Mina puts it: "The video relies too much on closeup shots that more than border on awkward."... See for yourselves.


Country singers Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius covered this song for their 1980 album of the same name...
 
D

Deleted member 312

I've just rel-listened to One Man One Woman to check. Yes, it's still shit.

I can't believe it outlasted the glorious Hole In Your Soul (i.e. One of the only two truly great songs on The Album).
 
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I've just rel-listened to One Man One Woman to check. Yes, it's still shit.

I can't believe it outlasted the glorious Hole In Your Soul (i.e. One of the only two truly great songs on The Album).

I hate it too! And have no qualms about giving it a zero, it's each to their own.

I gave it a 3. I think I over scored it.

I do hope your doors are locked tonight, for your sake. @bichard, I get coming for amazing songs- bish wouldn't know a good song if it smacked ha around the face and announced itself as such. This is somebody who thinks My Secret Shart is one of Kylie's best tracks after all. But @WhatKindOfKylie? ?????? You've broken my black heart. Shame on you sis.

To both of you and to the other low scorers all I can say at this point is:

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One Man One Woman is fucking incredible. One of my Top 10 all time favourites. This is Top 20 material, not Top 60!
 
D

Deleted member 312

It's one of the most banal, boring, faceless songs in their discography. MOR bilge, like Knowing Me Knowing You gone wrong. It's one of their worst recordings, post 1974, as far as I'm concerned. I class it along with I Have A Dream as a peak-era dreck-track. Poor Frida.

(Move On is even worse though).
 
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It's one of the mist banal, boring, faceless songs in their discography. MOR bilge, like Knowing Me Knowing You gone wrong. It's one of their worst recordings, post 1974, as far as I'm concerned. I class it along with I Have A Dream as a peak-era dreck-track. Poor Frida.

(Move On is even worse though).

Who hurt you?
 
D

Deleted member 312

You have literally described My Secret Shart.

I think that at least My Secret Heart has a certain quirky charm. One Man One Woman is just...dull.

Sorry. This will have to be one of the many times where we agree to differ. You're still one of my faves!!!
 
I think that at least My Secret Heart has a certain quirky charm. One Man One Woman is just...dull.

Sorry. This will have to be one of the many times where we agree to differ. You're still one of my faves!!!

Oh you're still one of mine as well. I will never tire of relentlessly dragging you for filth over your complete lack of taste. I bet you gave You Owe Me Once a criminally low score as well, beast.

And My Secret Fart is neither quirky or charming. It is the sound of death.
 
No great loss- I've Been Waiting For You or I'm A Marionette out next please. Love the fact that The Visitors still hasn't lost a track (quite rightly)
 
D

Deleted member 312

I've Been Waiting For You has definitely outstayed its welcome. It's fine but far from their best. I'm shocked it's outlasted Boomerang to-be-honest. I assumed that'd be the last non-single standing from ABBA. Hey Hey Helen certainly deserved to survive it too.

I'm A Marionette can stick around a bit longer. We've nearly ousted all the trash now though. These are my sub-6s that remain, and hence can bugger off pronto:

Waterloo
I've Been Waiting For You
I Do X a million
Tiger (this hasn't gone yet, has it?)
Eagle*
Thank You For The Music*
Happy New Year

* these would be first out, given the choice.
 
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