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Why are Abba so popular?
BBC ^ | 10/21/2014 | Andrew Harrison

Posted on 09/15/2020 2:51:46 PM PDT by Borges

When you’ve sold as many records as Abba have – and only The Beatles have sold more – specific figures become hazy. They disappear into a statistical stratosphere occupied by a tiny elite of global megastars. There are simply too many territories to report on, too many releases to keep track of, too many vast numbers to juggle.

All one can say with any certainty is that the Swedish quartet have sold in excess of 380m albums and singles since they first came to prominence 40 years ago this month, winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with a performance of Waterloo that still ranks as the high point of the much-maligned transcontinental cheese-fest. At their commercial zenith in the late ‘70s Abba were reputedly second only to Volvo in their contribution to Sweden’s exports. Such was the demand for their music that their management had to arrange for royalties from the Soviet Union to be paid in oil commodity rights rather than the embargoed rouble.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: abba; music; sweden
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To: KevinB

Listen to this. It’s not the sort of thing you probably think ABBA was. It’s compositional craft of a high order.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyfvl5L6JNU


121 posted on 09/15/2020 5:05:42 PM PDT by Borges
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To: bakkentom

Heart slowed down. Ann has a fragile personality. They did come out of to sing for Obama:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFxOaDeJmXk


122 posted on 09/15/2020 5:06:13 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: Borges

Okay, I’ll concede they aren’t throwaway. But they are definitely pop.


123 posted on 09/15/2020 5:07:13 PM PDT by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Posting from deep within enemy territory - San Jose, CA)
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To: Migraine

There is a decided sense of melancholy in their records! Even “Dancing Queen” is really about impermanence. It’s not about a 17 year old girl but about a middle aged woman thinking back to her peak. And their last albums were completely morose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyfvl5L6JNU


124 posted on 09/15/2020 5:07:20 PM PDT by Borges
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To: gr8eman

“I thought it was a play on their names with the poem structure”

ABBA = Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid.


125 posted on 09/15/2020 5:07:55 PM PDT by BeauBo
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To: WhattheDickens?

That’s funny because ABBA was as 4/4 as any pop music!


126 posted on 09/15/2020 5:08:56 PM PDT by Borges
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To: Seruzawa

There it is plain and simple. DUH!


127 posted on 09/15/2020 5:09:10 PM PDT by slouper (LWRC SPR 5.5 6)
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To: Dave Wright

Listen to this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyfvl5L6JNU


128 posted on 09/15/2020 5:09:16 PM PDT by Borges
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To: Borges
When I was a teenager, there were certain artists who, as a guy, I wasn't supposed to like. Abba was one. Karen Carpenter was another.

But I will say-I have a friend working for one of the best known acoustic companies in the country, if not the world, said that they have recordings of Karen Carpenter they use to do a "listen test" (or whatever test it was) on systems, and after listening to her as an adult, I think I can understand why.

Her tone as she sang was so...round. And it was pitch perfect. Beautiful to listen to on a nice system at a reasonable volume. Too bad I missed all those years.

It is funny to look at the awkward teenage mindset, and it minded of the road trip scene from the movie "Tommy Boy" with David Spade and Chris Farley...bounding back and forth when trying to listen to music:

Tommy Boy Car Singing Scene
TOMMY BOY: Good tune man.

RICHARD: I don't think so. Yeah, here we go.

TOMMY BOY: This song sucks. (abruptly changes channel)

RADIO SONG: ...Looooong agooooo...

RICHARD: Talk about lame.

RADIO SONG: ...and, oh, so far awayyyyy...

TOMMY BOY: Totally. You can change it if you want.

RICHARD: I don't care, it's up to you.

RADIO SONG: ...I fell in love with youuuuu...

TOMMY BOY: I can live with it if you can.

RICHARD: Suit yourself.

Hahahahah...classic!

I like ABBA now...particularly, "The Day Before You Came".

129 posted on 09/15/2020 5:12:56 PM PDT by rlmorel ("Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies"- George Orwell)
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To: Cold Heart

I have worked as a sound engineer for an ABBA tribute band based in NY and they are spot-on fantastic. They work and tour non-stop.


130 posted on 09/15/2020 5:14:11 PM PDT by sgt_lau (Being tolerant to the most intolerant people on the planet is a losing proposition. Reject islam.)
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To: Rummyfan

No, not Henrik.

I think her name is Elin or something like that and, IIRC, some low life guy who attended Stanford married her.

Truth be told, she hit her irons much better than the driver in that photo...but that’s just the word on the street.


131 posted on 09/15/2020 5:25:33 PM PDT by newfreep (The Communist/DNC VOTER FRAUD is Trump's ONLY opponent in 2020 election.)
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To: Borges

Kisses of Fire?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk37g0JWDyk


132 posted on 09/15/2020 5:42:48 PM PDT by JohnnyP (Thinking is hard work (I stole that from Rush).)
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To: Borges

Because its got a beat and you can dance to it.

The blonde helps too


133 posted on 09/15/2020 5:47:58 PM PDT by Regulator
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To: Borges
Listen to this. It’s not the sort of thing you probably think ABBA was. It’s compositional craft of a high order.

Thanks for the link. I agree that it's well-crafted, but for whatever reason it doesn't grab me. That's weird because I like well-crafted music. For example, I like the band Renaissance quite a bit. Their music is similar to ABBA's music but for some reason grabs me while ABBA's doesn't. Maybe it's the dynamics. Renaissance Carpet of the Sun et al.

134 posted on 09/15/2020 5:48:22 PM PDT by KevinB (Quite literally, whatever the Left touches it ruins.)
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To: newfreep
Truth be told, she hit her irons much better than the driver in that photo...but that’s just the word on the street.

LOL! Wonder if she parred the hole....

135 posted on 09/15/2020 6:15:42 PM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.d)
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To: Richard Axtell

It really comes down to enjoy the voice, the music and the feelings a particular artist invokes. ABBA was big during my Rock phase in life but loved the sound it was just fun. Loved Karen Carpenters voice, so I was a closet Carpenters fan. I love the sound of Vikki Carr’s voice even her Mexican songs, but I am a huge Scorpions fan and I like Disturbed and Fiver Finger Death Punch. Music like life is a smorgasbord of sounds for people to enjoy.


136 posted on 09/15/2020 6:42:39 PM PDT by OldGoatCPO (No Caitiff Choir of Angles will sing for me)
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To: Borges

Heaven help me I love ABBA as well.


137 posted on 09/15/2020 7:29:47 PM PDT by Captain Compassion (I'm just sayin')
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To: Borges
They were fun... Even, at 1-month short of 87 (middle age), I still love their music
138 posted on 09/15/2020 7:49:38 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is Sam Adams now that we desperately need him)
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To: BeauBo

Agnetha was definitely smoking hot back in her day.


139 posted on 09/15/2020 8:26:43 PM PDT by wjcsux (They are burning buildings and Bibles now, people are next!)
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To: wjcsux

Probably all of them had suitors throwing themselves at them, day and night. No wonder their marriages failed.


140 posted on 09/15/2020 8:35:12 PM PDT by BeauBo
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