Why are Abba so popular?

BBC ^ | 10/21/2014 | Andrew Harrison

[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.

[Borges]

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

[mad_as_he$$]

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

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

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

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

[Borges]

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

[BeauBo]

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

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

[Borges]

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

[slouper]

There it is plain and simple. DUH!

[Borges]

Listen to this!

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

[rlmorel]

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".

[sgt_lau]

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.

[newfreep]

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.

[JohnnyP]

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

[Regulator]

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

The blonde helps too

[KevinB]

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.

[Rummyfan]

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....

[OldGoatCPO]

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.

[Captain Compassion]

Heaven help me I love ABBA as well.

[SuperLuminal]

They were fun... Even, at 1-month short of 87 (middle age), I still love their music

[wjcsux]

Agnetha was definitely smoking hot back in her day.

[BeauBo]

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