The Winner's Gonna Take It All: The final...
- Thread starter Remorque
- Start date
He/Him
90. - a tie
'I am just a girl... Not the kind of woman men would like to meet... Just another girl no-one ever looks at in the street...'
- Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad in I Am Just a Girl -
'I am just a girl... Not the kind of woman men would like to meet... Just another girl no-one ever looks at in the street...'
- Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad in I Am Just a Girl -
Biggest pic I could find of the Japanese single release...
Average: 4.5761
Highest score: 1 * 10.00 - @Sprockrooster
Lowest score: 1 * 0.00 - @Filippa @CasperFan
My score: 6.00
Tied at #90 with What About Livingstone? is this whisper-y ditty, the 1973 Japanese single release I Am Just A Girl that had its parent album's title track as its b-side. It was recorded that same year while the group was still called Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid and was originally released as the eleventh track on Ring Ring, but also as the b-side to Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough) in most regions and to Nina, Pretty Ballerina in Austria.
It had originally been written for Swedish actor Jarl Kulle, who recorded it for the movie Ture Sventon, entitled Jag är blott en man.
ABBA's version features some tight harmonies from Agnetha and Frida, with Björn adding some additional ones over most of the song. To me, this sounds like a long lost soundtrack song to some obscure Swedish movie (which it actually was in some way), but could actually still be used by someone like Quentin Tarantino, who's always had a knack for putting together a fantastic soundtrack.
Some of you had the same ideas as me, albeit in a different way.
WhatKindOfKylie? doesn't zero it, so it has to have some redeeming qualities to it at least. "Could almost send you to sleep, it's that gentle. I am not gonna lie, it won't be making any of my future ABBA playlists, but I was not wishing for it to end either. Feels very much like something from an 1950's MGM musical almost as well." he says. Well, I wouldn't really see this in a musical, but I definitely see what you're getting at.
Agreeing with him is constantino who sees it in a musical too, though that one at least stars Julie Andrews. "This sounds like it came straight out of a Mary Poppins-esque musical and I’m not mad about it. It’s very charming."... 't Is, sis.
P'nutbutter also sees the movie qualities to it, but has another group and movie director in mind, mentioning "Say Lou Lou / David Lynch vibes."... I can totally see it now. Btw: those two should definitely work together someday.
A lot of you either liked the innocent whisper-y vocals or hated them.
Avid Ring Ring-commentator Mikey1701 says "Those harmonies are beautiful but that’s about it. There are so many ways to say that the debut album is basic in the light of what was to come in the future." and he's definitely got it right there. SecretsOfFatima thinks 3:03 minutes is already a bit long to listen to this song, as he thinks it's "A bit “ploddy”. Agnetha’s nursery rhyme-esque bridge is certainly…something.". It's actually quite nice to these ears? Her accent's all over the place, but that's part of the charm to me...
This isn't the only time someone called this plodding though... "Nice, plodding, and very dated-sounding song. I can just envision this being performed on the Lawrence Welk Show." says TrueBeliever. I agree. This should be performed by a big band.
The message the song conveys isn't really what some of you were hoping to hear in an ABBA song from 1973... VivaForever was quite displeased at first, but eventually found something redeeming after listening, saying "I knew from the title that I was going to hate this, and guess what? I do! It has a nice little lilting melody in the chorus though." and Mumty just shakes her head whilst uttering "Vile message, vile song.".
Meanwhile, bichard mentions '00s PJ icons Girls Aloud's last non-single... "Beautiful Cos You Love Me circa 1973. And what the fuck is with that trombone? Tragic.", while Hudweiser got kind of uncomfortable after hearing I Am Just a Girl... "Something about this song makes me feel a bit... 'queasy' Cute melody, a bit Paddington Bear-y though.". I don't see it, but do you, sis.
It had some fans in the form of tylerc904 who calls it "A hazy, light bop." and kalonite who finally sees the light, saying "Finally, something enjoyable after a barren wasteland of an album since Ring Ring. This is just really cute. I love the unusual breathy vocals.".
Sprockrooster was sold on first listen. "Very instant on the first play and soothing. Their voices are so easy on the ears. This could be a great lullaby (and I mean that absolutely positively)."... You would, would you.
We'll end with some Debbie Downers.
First up is chris4862 who waves it "BYE", Mina who's in some kind of trance, singing "La La La La Blah", Filippa asking "Ups, what’s that?" and CasperFan answering him with "I am just a boring song!". Self-knowledge actually is the key to developing as a human being.
Average: 4.5761
Highest score: 1 * 10.00 - @Sprockrooster
Lowest score: 1 * 0.00 - @Filippa @CasperFan
My score: 6.00
Tied at #90 with What About Livingstone? is this whisper-y ditty, the 1973 Japanese single release I Am Just A Girl that had its parent album's title track as its b-side. It was recorded that same year while the group was still called Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid and was originally released as the eleventh track on Ring Ring, but also as the b-side to Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough) in most regions and to Nina, Pretty Ballerina in Austria.
It had originally been written for Swedish actor Jarl Kulle, who recorded it for the movie Ture Sventon, entitled Jag är blott en man.
ABBA's version features some tight harmonies from Agnetha and Frida, with Björn adding some additional ones over most of the song. To me, this sounds like a long lost soundtrack song to some obscure Swedish movie (which it actually was in some way), but could actually still be used by someone like Quentin Tarantino, who's always had a knack for putting together a fantastic soundtrack.
Some of you had the same ideas as me, albeit in a different way.
WhatKindOfKylie? doesn't zero it, so it has to have some redeeming qualities to it at least. "Could almost send you to sleep, it's that gentle. I am not gonna lie, it won't be making any of my future ABBA playlists, but I was not wishing for it to end either. Feels very much like something from an 1950's MGM musical almost as well." he says. Well, I wouldn't really see this in a musical, but I definitely see what you're getting at.
Agreeing with him is constantino who sees it in a musical too, though that one at least stars Julie Andrews. "This sounds like it came straight out of a Mary Poppins-esque musical and I’m not mad about it. It’s very charming."... 't Is, sis.
P'nutbutter also sees the movie qualities to it, but has another group and movie director in mind, mentioning "Say Lou Lou / David Lynch vibes."... I can totally see it now. Btw: those two should definitely work together someday.
A lot of you either liked the innocent whisper-y vocals or hated them.
Avid Ring Ring-commentator Mikey1701 says "Those harmonies are beautiful but that’s about it. There are so many ways to say that the debut album is basic in the light of what was to come in the future." and he's definitely got it right there. SecretsOfFatima thinks 3:03 minutes is already a bit long to listen to this song, as he thinks it's "A bit “ploddy”. Agnetha’s nursery rhyme-esque bridge is certainly…something.". It's actually quite nice to these ears? Her accent's all over the place, but that's part of the charm to me...
This isn't the only time someone called this plodding though... "Nice, plodding, and very dated-sounding song. I can just envision this being performed on the Lawrence Welk Show." says TrueBeliever. I agree. This should be performed by a big band.
The message the song conveys isn't really what some of you were hoping to hear in an ABBA song from 1973... VivaForever was quite displeased at first, but eventually found something redeeming after listening, saying "I knew from the title that I was going to hate this, and guess what? I do! It has a nice little lilting melody in the chorus though." and Mumty just shakes her head whilst uttering "Vile message, vile song.".
Meanwhile, bichard mentions '00s PJ icons Girls Aloud's last non-single... "Beautiful Cos You Love Me circa 1973. And what the fuck is with that trombone? Tragic.", while Hudweiser got kind of uncomfortable after hearing I Am Just a Girl... "Something about this song makes me feel a bit... 'queasy' Cute melody, a bit Paddington Bear-y though.". I don't see it, but do you, sis.
It had some fans in the form of tylerc904 who calls it "A hazy, light bop." and kalonite who finally sees the light, saying "Finally, something enjoyable after a barren wasteland of an album since Ring Ring. This is just really cute. I love the unusual breathy vocals.".
Sprockrooster was sold on first listen. "Very instant on the first play and soothing. Their voices are so easy on the ears. This could be a great lullaby (and I mean that absolutely positively)."... You would, would you.
We'll end with some Debbie Downers.
First up is chris4862 who waves it "BYE", Mina who's in some kind of trance, singing "La La La La Blah", Filippa asking "Ups, what’s that?" and CasperFan answering him with "I am just a boring song!". Self-knowledge actually is the key to developing as a human being.
2 10s in a row?
D
Deleted member 16293
There are worse songs left than I Am Just A Girl, but it's not a big loss.
I always remember it because it plays in a loop on the menu screen of the bonus dvd of the Ring Ring Deluxe Edition. It's very hypnotic.
I always remember it because it plays in a loop on the menu screen of the bonus dvd of the Ring Ring Deluxe Edition. It's very hypnotic.
I'm Just A Girl, is quite charming in it's own way. Just lacks that certain ABBA magic.
I couldn't hum you one song that has left yet.
Good work everyone.
Good work everyone.
Which is perhaps the problem. They are not the ABBA songs we know and rightfully love.
I am looking forward to getting to songs that I actually know!
Me too!
Can we all agree I Have A Dream will be the first (UK) single to fall?
NOOOOO!!!
'I Am Just A Girl' is so gorgeous!!!!!
('Livingstone' is just bollocks)
'I Am Just A Girl' is so gorgeous!!!!!
('Livingstone' is just bollocks)
I love Summer Night City! I hope it can cling on to Top 15 at least.
It was so very nearly my 11.
It was so very nearly my 11.