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Hi All Not sure if anyone posted this but in 15 mins ABBA are launching new music and hologram show I guess Here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJBGk9Hed8oHugh
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Wow that's busy cannot even get on it yet !
win 10 64 bit 16gb,i7 chip, ssd 500gb, m-audio air, ,Roland BK-7M, 1000,shure sm7b,sonar,acid,mixcraft, variety of plugins.Sample tank 3,Kontakt. TC Helicon Voicelive 3 2 . https://beatmaster1.bandcamp.com/releases
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Hi This is the first song "I still have faith in you" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAzEY1MfXrQIts a bit of a grower and although not probably in there top 20 songs its better than I thought it would be. The end of the song is real Abba complexity, Thats my thoughts Hugh
Last edited by Hugh2; 09/02/21 09:09 AM.
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Hi The second song "Dont shut me down" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWGWFa3jznIAbba have changed from break up songs to make up songs! Again probably not in there top but fair play after forty years they still can produce well, Hugh
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I'm on the edge of my seat with anticipation......
Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Hi
Another secret Abba fan !! lol
H
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I'm on the edge of my seat with anticipation......
Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha Me too Herb. LOL 
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Like them or not, overall ABBA made an enormous musical contribution to the world, probably more than any member here has been able to achieve, especially including me. I wouldn't feel I had the right to criticize anything they had delivered. YMMV.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Hi Videotrack,
The back catalogue of songs ABBA have is only second to The Beatles.
The vocals of ABBA are unequalled in my opinion especially when you put the two singers together.The production values are unmatched as well ,you can see this by the longevity of their appeal and that there have been no successful covers of their hits over the years.They were also ground breaking when it came to technology and still are.They really were the first group to use the music video as a way to get their music out,granted this was out on necessity as they didnt want to travel.
I particularly like the way that no part of the song is left to drift on ,there is a musical hook or an intricate harmony to keep the listener's attention.
Hugh
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Like them or not, they are highly skilled musicians who are on the four front of merging the physical and the digital world. This is a glimpse into the future of music.
You don't have to like the direction and state of today's music but it is unstoppable.
Abba has a huge worldwide following. They have been and continue to be a highly influential force in the music world.
Fascinating stuff!
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
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...you can see this by the longevity of their appeal and that there have been no successful covers of their hits over the years.... Yes, that statement by itself is complete testament to their capability.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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As an "ABBA-positive listener" I've gotten used to the eyeroll response when their name is mentioned. I suspect it's more than half based on their old stage costumes, and the suspicious nature of the boy girl boy girl layout. The lyrics to "Dancing Queen" certainly don't help.
But while I defend their music with all my heart, the sternness of some of the counter-responses here is surprising. I mean, does someone really need to pass a test of musicianship to have the right to LOL at musically brilliant but often silly 70's sunshine pop? Any more than someone needs to pass a test to like it?
I discovered ABBA late in time, around 1998, and their music had a strange effect on me. I couldn't stop listening to it. Part of this was the new thrill of MP3 hunting – I put together a large collection from FTP sites – but mostly it was just the stickiest ear candy I'd ever heard, and it sounded better and better the more and deeper I listened.
I remember one time I was listening at work, on headphones, and the guy from the next cube came over and said, please, stop, please don't play "Dancing Queen" a 17th time. I'm still fascinated by the fact that he kept an accurate count.
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Thanks for the links, Hugh2! After 1 listen, I liked the second track "Don't Shut Me Down"; after 1 listen the first did nothing for me. ABBA is a top 20 all-time artist for me. I took significant abuse from my friends for liking them in the 70's (in the US). I think history has proven that I was onto something. I like melodies, and ABBA recordings had actual tunes, with groundbreaking production. (Aside: I think Cole Porter would have been proud to have written "Head Over Heals"; "The Visitors" is a top-ten all-time album for me.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL2_PZwKDPg "Head Over Heals" ABBA 1981, from the album the "The Visitors" I can still remember my euphoria while listening on headphones, the music exploding in my ears, and the rush I got, the first time I heard "SOS", "Mamma Mia", and "When I Kissed The Teacher". It was clear to me they had gone to school on Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys (something I've since seen confirmed by the guys in a documentary). My favorite ABBA track is "Why Did It Have To Be Me", an obscure track featured in the film "Montenegro". I'm posting a live version I just found; to my astonishment, they were a great live band also. (IMO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNCDt51cwLs "Why Did It Have To Be Me" ABBA 1977 live in Australia I like that all four of them sing on the studio track (unusual), I like the sax, and I especially like the syncopation in this shuffle. I didn't care then what people thought of me for liking ABBA. I certainly don't care now. I like what I like. It has worked out well for me, since I am the one who pays for my records / CD's etc.
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Hi Le Miz, Benny Anderson was a big Beach boys fan and I think Bjorn liked The Carpenters. They had some awful stuff too before they had the great stuff even they admit that. The two girls were true pros as they sung any old rubbish the boys threw at them until the songs got up to scratch. Not sure I have a favorite ABBA song but I think Dancing Queen and The Winner Takes it All are recognized master pieces by almost everyone. The difference between the girls in Fleetwood Mac and ABBA is that in ABBA they were a real team and sang the same lyrics together all the time.I suppose thats partly to do with the Fleetwood Mac girls singing their own songs whereas the boys from Abba dis all the writing . Frida's pronounciation on the new song could have been better if I have a critism. If you look at her English on Fernando its flawless. I think you have to judge a song on the merits of the song rather than the bands costums,following size and political views etc .If you judge ABBA on their songs alone they come out at the very top with only the Beatles having more top songs than them.The songs may even have more longevity than the Fab Four and definitely the girls vocally were stronger. Benny and Byorn of course wrote "One Night In Bangkok" people forget outside of ABBA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgc_LRjlbTUHugh p.s that was a great performance in Australia "why did it have to be me."
Last edited by Hugh2; 09/03/21 11:25 PM.
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So far 'Dont Shut Me Down' has it for me. Gets moving in traditional Abba style and has a Cliffhanger ending.
'Still Have Faith' although great writing, is clearly internally meaningful to them and goes on a bit too long.
However I wonder if these are the 'best' tracks on the album, hence the push.
Bests
Ian
PS - I'm a firm Abba fan BTW who still thinks Visitors album their best album.
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Hi Ian,
Id be a bit worried for the Album if these songs although good are the best.
I think the ABBA from the 70s would have started I still have faith in you with the chorus rather than such a slow build .If it were up tempo all the way it would be very very good.
I think the push is probably due to the long 3 yr delay in releasing them and they had a covid window to get them out and they went for it.Added to this they wanted to maintain interest in the Avatar project.
Also I think the song "the visitors" itself is a very underestimated song and neither of these two songs are at the "One Of Us" level but not many songs are,
rgds Hugh
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"Don't shut me down" is a very good song! I'm really happy (and also amazed) that Abba is back. They are great songwriters and producers. Among the best in my opinion (and I say that even if their style of music is far from what I normally listen to).
Will
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Hi Ian,
Id be a bit worried for the Album if these songs although good are the best.
I think the ABBA from the 70s would have started I still have faith in you with the chorus rather than such a slow build .If it were up tempo all the way it would be very very good.
I think the push is probably due to the long 3 yr delay in releasing them and they had a covid window to get them out and they went for it.Added to this they wanted to maintain interest in the Avatar project.
Also I think the song "the visitors" itself is a very underestimated song and neither of these two songs are at the "One Of Us" level but not many songs are,
rgds Hugh
'Visitors' - maybe it was a time of their best lyrics too. If you've ever had a daughter growing up from a child to a young girl, ''Slipping Through -' will get you every time. 'Angel' too, about memories of a Loved One who has passed, is a stunning piece of writing. Bests Ian
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Hi Ian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRQxGgTk_QISlipping through my fingers Brilliant bit of songwriting and vocals and a lovely guitar solo too Hugh
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win 10 64 bit 16gb,i7 chip, ssd 500gb, m-audio air, ,Roland BK-7M, 1000,shure sm7b,sonar,acid,mixcraft, variety of plugins.Sample tank 3,Kontakt. TC Helicon Voicelive 3 2 . https://beatmaster1.bandcamp.com/releases
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