Apparently the fighting in Bjorn and Agnetha's marriage was a huge problem for the group and drained everyone of their creativity. Then they split up and it opened up a wealth of material.
The Winner's Gonna Take It All: The final...
- Thread starter Remorque
- Start date
Apparently the fighting in Bjorn and Agnetha's marriage was a huge problem for the group and drained everyone of their creativity. Then they split up and it opened up a wealth of material.
I think the main problem with The Album is the tempo. The songs are all great individually, but as a collection it never really comes alive in the way the albums released either side of it do, which is kind of ironic as it coincided with their live tour - it sounds very studio-ey.
It certainly marked a big leap in their songwriting calibre though, but I'm glad they reverted to creating perfect pop for Voulez-Vous, rather than neo-6-minute guitar epics.
It certainly marked a big leap in their songwriting calibre though, but I'm glad they reverted to creating perfect pop for Voulez-Vous, rather than neo-6-minute guitar epics.
It's a decent B-Side, how it beat 'Elaine' though is beyond me.
Aww this was a good one!
Dream World always reminds me of a curious night in London.
Circa-1998 I went to London to join some protest over Section 28 and hung out and went to G-A-Y on my own (that midweek place it used to be in), danced all night and waited at the Compton Street Cafe for the trains to open.
There, I was randomly approached by some older guy and woman (who was off her tits) who thought I was homeless. They invited me back to a theatre down the road where there was some other old guy smoking on his own (this is like 4.30am).
The first guy starts saying he wants to know what really makes us tick. Drunk woman is talking about her grown-up daughter, and has been clubbing on her own all night.
Man asks what we can't live without and he answers his own question first and says: "ABBA"
I yay this and he asks my favourite song, stating his is Dream World - which has been out for only 3-4 years at this point. I nod in agreement and he glares me down and dares me to sing a line from it, naively assuming this 19-year-old is some bullshitter. So I belt out the chorus in this weird abandoned theatre and the battle is won.
After that he was really into me but I became freaked out and decided to escape, despite him and the other guy saying things like "there are no trains for hours yet! You can't leave!" I tried to get the woman to come with but she was just grinning maniacally at this point. So I bolted down several flights of stares and ran down the street.
Since then, every time I hear it I remember that weird morning.
Circa-1998 I went to London to join some protest over Section 28 and hung out and went to G-A-Y on my own (that midweek place it used to be in), danced all night and waited at the Compton Street Cafe for the trains to open.
There, I was randomly approached by some older guy and woman (who was off her tits) who thought I was homeless. They invited me back to a theatre down the road where there was some other old guy smoking on his own (this is like 4.30am).
The first guy starts saying he wants to know what really makes us tick. Drunk woman is talking about her grown-up daughter, and has been clubbing on her own all night.
Man asks what we can't live without and he answers his own question first and says: "ABBA"
I yay this and he asks my favourite song, stating his is Dream World - which has been out for only 3-4 years at this point. I nod in agreement and he glares me down and dares me to sing a line from it, naively assuming this 19-year-old is some bullshitter. So I belt out the chorus in this weird abandoned theatre and the battle is won.
After that he was really into me but I became freaked out and decided to escape, despite him and the other guy saying things like "there are no trains for hours yet! You can't leave!" I tried to get the woman to come with but she was just grinning maniacally at this point. So I bolted down several flights of stares and ran down the street.
Since then, every time I hear it I remember that weird morning.
I think you've managed to achieve "Stranger than the plot of Mamma Mia" and "More bizarre than the casting of Pierce Brosnan for a singing role" all at once.
I don't mind The Album but I never "use" it outside of One Man, One Woman.
D
Deleted member 312
Compared to most of the drivel on The Album, Dream World is a masterpiece. So yes, I'm with @idratherjack on this one. It seems very odd to for B&B pick on the likes of Dream World, Lovelight and Summer Night City in the wake of an album that they themselves admitted was rushed (and by my reckoning is a 5/10 at best).
Still, if they hadn't shelved so much from the VV era we wouldn't have the brilliant album we do, so I suppose we should really be grateful!
Still, if they hadn't shelved so much from the VV era we wouldn't have the brilliant album we do, so I suppose we should really be grateful!
Even though I do love Dream World, I (a) forgot it was still in and (b) forgot I had given it a 10. Oops.
Suppose it has done quite well considering, 5 places short of the top 50 after all.
He/Him
54.
'...Down in the street they're all singing and shouting... Staying alive though the city is dead... Hiding their shame behind hollow laughter, while you are crying alone in your bed...'
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad in Cassandra -
- Anni-Frid Lyngstad in Cassandra -
Those floating heads were kiinda their 'thing' that late era, weren't they...
Average: 7.1196
Highest score: 3 * 10.00 - @Uno @bichard @chris4862
Lowest score: 1 * 2.00 - @WhatKindOfKylie?
My score: 7.50
Seaux... Does The Visitors finally lose its first song at #54? Well, only sort of...
Cassandra was recorded in 1982, but the arrangement of the song had actually been written before in 1980... We've lost Put On Your White Sombrero a while ago, but listen to them back to back and you will know what I'm getting at. Cassandra was finally released in 1982 as the b-side to The Day Before You Came, which was a single used to promote their career-spanning best of The Singles: The First Ten Years. Later it saw the light again in 1993 on More Gold, due to popular demand and was eventually released as part of the 2001 remastered re-issue of The Visitors...
The song is apparently about the Trojan princess and prophetess, Cassandra. She was the sister of Prince Hector, and the daughter of Priam and Hecuba. Apollo fell in love with her once and gave her the gift of prophecy. But she spurned his love, and to punish her (since he could not take back his gift) Apollo decreed that no one would ever believe Cassandra's predictions.
The result was that Cassandra could always foretell the future, but she was doomed never to be believed. People thought she was insane, because whenever she had a vision of the future, she went into a "divine frenzy" or fit. She warned her people not to let the Trojan Horse inside the city but no one listened to her.
So, Frida's essentially acting out the role of a fellow Trojan woman, with subdued and restrained, but technically perfect and beautiful vocals.
For bichard it's "Easily my favourite of the originally released 1982 tracks, as I do enjoy a good waltz every once in a while. Frida's voice takes centre stage (always a good thing) against the gentle instrumentation and beautiful harmonies, and I love the fact that the narrative concerns a secondary character from Greek mythology. Who, other than ABBA, would write a song like this?". I agree that they did have a knack to write very theatrical, musical-like tunes.
The same goes for Hudweiser who says it's "Probably my favourite of the 1982 recordings, the choruses soar amazingly. Again, a heavy lean towards being on the theatre stage rather than a contemporary pop song, but brilliant regardless.".
Disagreeing with both of the above, however, is P'nutbutter... "Well executed track, just not up with the other material this era.". Mina thinks so too, as "The chorus and verses are both strong, but I feel like this song is lacking something." and so does CasperFan... "Not bad but not up to the standard of this era, almost a throwback to earlier times. Nice chorus though. Reminds me of Sombrero but not as hideous.".
Speaking of... chris4862 states Cassandra's a "monumental improvement over Sombrero. Such a gorgeous tune." and I definitely agree here. What I did not except is me disagreeing with tylerc904 though... "I prefer Sombero to this, without a doubt. I still like it!". Sis, from the production to the slower melody to Frida's performance... Literally, everything's better here.
constantino finger-snaps "This melodic, mariachi-lite BOP! What a perfect way to close the album than this dreamy, otherworldly and stunning track." and while Filippa loves the song and the lyrics, she wishes "they would redo the chorus, it’s Frida’s song and I can only hear Agnetha. The difference is too much for me.". You can definitely hear Frida in the lower part of the harmony, but she definitely does sound a bit drowned out during the "But on the darkest of nights..."-line. Yet, as said before, she takes centre stage on the verses and wonderfully so, so you'll deal.
TrueBeliever asks "Why does it seem like Frida is singing this in another language? The struggle is real. Aside from that, I think the song is a great, dramatic addition to their catalogue.". It's the accent, sis. Both of the girls were never able to shrug it off completely, which I've always felt charming...
Not all that impressed are the following...
SecretsOfFatima admits "Sometimes I really love it, sometimes I feel that it drags a bit. Overall I still like it, probably my least favourite of the completed tracks for the ninth album.". For Sprockrooster this "starts off so well, but even before I am halfway I am no longer interested." and WhatKindOfKylie?, who's our lowest scorer AGAIN, thinks "Tries too hard to replicate that classic ABBA sound that had previously come so effortlessy. Perhaps it was because they had moved on from this by that point, but either way, it is not what it could have been.".
ufint mentions a song I hadn't really thought of before while listening to this one... "Lyrically it's quite similar to Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) but ABBA's take on it. Cassandra died in Mycenae together with King Agamemnon by the way, by the jealous Queen."... I'll let you be the judge.
VivaForever wonders it "Sounds a bit like a follow-up to Fernando somehow?"... Well, this is a tragic tale of Greek mythology, whereas Fernando deals with two veterans reminiscing about the Mexican Revolution of 1910 in which they participated, but let's save that story for a little bit later, shall we?
It's one of Frida's last leads, so obviously Mikey1701 loves it.
"Queen Frida sounds reliably amazing as ever- proving that she is able to emote vocally just as much as Agnetha. I much prefer the production on this to the mess that was Put On Your Sombrero. It’s never really been a favourite of mine until recently, and now I can’t get enough of it as an a-side: I do love the only televised performance of the song for Queen Frida serving face and her criminal purple rinsee. What sort of fashion icon?!".
Here's said rather iconic performance of it from when they performed on German television to promote their singles compilation in 1982...
Dutch Singers Bonnie St. Claire en José Hoebee, who formed the duo Bonnie & José for a while, released a version in their native tongue in 1984...
Average: 7.1196
Highest score: 3 * 10.00 - @Uno @bichard @chris4862
Lowest score: 1 * 2.00 - @WhatKindOfKylie?
My score: 7.50
Seaux... Does The Visitors finally lose its first song at #54? Well, only sort of...
Cassandra was recorded in 1982, but the arrangement of the song had actually been written before in 1980... We've lost Put On Your White Sombrero a while ago, but listen to them back to back and you will know what I'm getting at. Cassandra was finally released in 1982 as the b-side to The Day Before You Came, which was a single used to promote their career-spanning best of The Singles: The First Ten Years. Later it saw the light again in 1993 on More Gold, due to popular demand and was eventually released as part of the 2001 remastered re-issue of The Visitors...
The song is apparently about the Trojan princess and prophetess, Cassandra. She was the sister of Prince Hector, and the daughter of Priam and Hecuba. Apollo fell in love with her once and gave her the gift of prophecy. But she spurned his love, and to punish her (since he could not take back his gift) Apollo decreed that no one would ever believe Cassandra's predictions.
The result was that Cassandra could always foretell the future, but she was doomed never to be believed. People thought she was insane, because whenever she had a vision of the future, she went into a "divine frenzy" or fit. She warned her people not to let the Trojan Horse inside the city but no one listened to her.
So, Frida's essentially acting out the role of a fellow Trojan woman, with subdued and restrained, but technically perfect and beautiful vocals.
For bichard it's "Easily my favourite of the originally released 1982 tracks, as I do enjoy a good waltz every once in a while. Frida's voice takes centre stage (always a good thing) against the gentle instrumentation and beautiful harmonies, and I love the fact that the narrative concerns a secondary character from Greek mythology. Who, other than ABBA, would write a song like this?". I agree that they did have a knack to write very theatrical, musical-like tunes.
The same goes for Hudweiser who says it's "Probably my favourite of the 1982 recordings, the choruses soar amazingly. Again, a heavy lean towards being on the theatre stage rather than a contemporary pop song, but brilliant regardless.".
Disagreeing with both of the above, however, is P'nutbutter... "Well executed track, just not up with the other material this era.". Mina thinks so too, as "The chorus and verses are both strong, but I feel like this song is lacking something." and so does CasperFan... "Not bad but not up to the standard of this era, almost a throwback to earlier times. Nice chorus though. Reminds me of Sombrero but not as hideous.".
Speaking of... chris4862 states Cassandra's a "monumental improvement over Sombrero. Such a gorgeous tune." and I definitely agree here. What I did not except is me disagreeing with tylerc904 though... "I prefer Sombero to this, without a doubt. I still like it!". Sis, from the production to the slower melody to Frida's performance... Literally, everything's better here.
constantino finger-snaps "This melodic, mariachi-lite BOP! What a perfect way to close the album than this dreamy, otherworldly and stunning track." and while Filippa loves the song and the lyrics, she wishes "they would redo the chorus, it’s Frida’s song and I can only hear Agnetha. The difference is too much for me.". You can definitely hear Frida in the lower part of the harmony, but she definitely does sound a bit drowned out during the "But on the darkest of nights..."-line. Yet, as said before, she takes centre stage on the verses and wonderfully so, so you'll deal.
TrueBeliever asks "Why does it seem like Frida is singing this in another language? The struggle is real. Aside from that, I think the song is a great, dramatic addition to their catalogue.". It's the accent, sis. Both of the girls were never able to shrug it off completely, which I've always felt charming...
Not all that impressed are the following...
SecretsOfFatima admits "Sometimes I really love it, sometimes I feel that it drags a bit. Overall I still like it, probably my least favourite of the completed tracks for the ninth album.". For Sprockrooster this "starts off so well, but even before I am halfway I am no longer interested." and WhatKindOfKylie?, who's our lowest scorer AGAIN, thinks "Tries too hard to replicate that classic ABBA sound that had previously come so effortlessy. Perhaps it was because they had moved on from this by that point, but either way, it is not what it could have been.".
ufint mentions a song I hadn't really thought of before while listening to this one... "Lyrically it's quite similar to Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) but ABBA's take on it. Cassandra died in Mycenae together with King Agamemnon by the way, by the jealous Queen."... I'll let you be the judge.
VivaForever wonders it "Sounds a bit like a follow-up to Fernando somehow?"... Well, this is a tragic tale of Greek mythology, whereas Fernando deals with two veterans reminiscing about the Mexican Revolution of 1910 in which they participated, but let's save that story for a little bit later, shall we?
It's one of Frida's last leads, so obviously Mikey1701 loves it.
"Queen Frida sounds reliably amazing as ever- proving that she is able to emote vocally just as much as Agnetha. I much prefer the production on this to the mess that was Put On Your Sombrero. It’s never really been a favourite of mine until recently, and now I can’t get enough of it as an a-side: I do love the only televised performance of the song for Queen Frida serving face and her criminal purple rinsee. What sort of fashion icon?!".
Here's said rather iconic performance of it from when they performed on German television to promote their singles compilation in 1982...
Dutch Singers Bonnie St. Claire en José Hoebee, who formed the duo Bonnie & José for a while, released a version in their native tongue in 1984...
This is way too cheesy for me. And that's saying something based on my personal tastes!