A pleasant surprise 35 years later

[samhexum]

The saddest thing is that I doubt I'll be around in 40 years when they release their next album.  I'll be 99 by then.  Of course, they'll all be over 110 at that point.

Edited November 9, 2021 by samhexum
Just for the hell of it.

[samhexum]

my opinion:  LITTLE THINGS & ODE TO FREEDOM are duds, but the other 8 are wonderful.

Edited November 9, 2021 by samhexum
Just for the hell of it.

[samhexum]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by samhexum
consolidation

[samhexum]

• Guess whose album is outselling the rest of the UK’s top 40 combined since its release?

  I challenge anyone to listen to When You Danced With Me and NOT dance in your chair.

 

[+ Cash4Trash]

Great work, thanks for posting the videos. Sounds like the score for a musical and since there is real interest in a 3rd movie that may be what has inspired them. Troubled woman, breakup, child visitation rights, etc. Sounds written to a script However it is very good work and stands on its own. The Netflix series "This Is Pop" focuses their third segment on Swedish influence in pop music and is worth a watch, the rest is forgettable.  

 

[samhexum]

Abba Voyage review: jaw-dropping avatar act that’s destined to be copied

Any sense you’re not actually in the presence of the band dissolves during a setlist of crowd-pleasing hits

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/26/abba-voyage-review-jaw-dropping-avatar-act-thats-destined-to-be-copied

 

Abba Voyage: The band's virtual concert needs to be seen to be believed

The four members of Abba made their first public appearance in 14 years as they attended the premiere of their Abba Voyage show in London.

Agnetha, Frida, Benny and Bjorn reunited for the opening night of the concert, which features digital versions of the band.

Frida watched the show with a wide grin across her face, while Benny stood up and clapped along to Dancing Queen.

They took a curtain call at the end, to deafening applause from the audience.

"Abba has never left us, in my heart," singer Agnetha Faltskog told the BBC on the red carpet.

"It was not such a difficult decision [to reunite] because the music is part of us."

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61592104

The album has brought me such joy in the 6+ months it's been out.   I never thought I'd hear anything new from them.

Edited May 27, 2022 by samhexum
just for the hell of it

[samhexum]

She’s got two left feet — but she made it work.

A viral video captured the moment a couple’s Labrador stole the show during their nuptials after the groom performed an adorable “father-dogter” dance with their beloved pooch, Rosy.

Rosy stole the show at the April wedding in Philadelphia when the groom, Ben, picked up the pooch, cradling her as they danced to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” at the reception, drawing cheers and applause from those attending.

The bride, Julie Filreis, filmed the sweet, two-minute serenade, saying their loving pup is definitely a “daddy’s girl.”

They got the idea for a “father-dogter” dance during a holiday party when Ben picked up Rosy and danced with her in his arms.

Julie told Storyful that after seeing the adorable interaction, they decided to dedicate a dance to Rosy at their wedding.

[+ nycman]

21 minutes ago, samhexum said:

A viral video … Ben, picked up the pooch, cradling her as they danced to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” at the reception, drawing cheers and applause from those attending.

That video has 273 views…..I wouldn’t call that "viral".

Well, that plus it’s a boring as fuck video.

[Luv2play]

18 minutes ago, nycman said:

That video has 273 views…..I wouldn’t call that "viral".

Well, that plus it’s a boring as fuck video.

I thought the groom and dog made a sweet couple. Of course two of my favorite species- male and canine.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

On 5/26/2022 at 9:23 PM, samhexum said:

Abba Voyage review: jaw-dropping avatar act that’s destined to be copied

Any sense you’re not actually in the presence of the band dissolves during a setlist of crowd-pleasing hits

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/26/abba-voyage-review-jaw-dropping-avatar-act-thats-destined-to-be-copied

 

Abba Voyage: The band's virtual concert needs to be seen to be believed

The four members of Abba made their first public appearance in 14 years as they attended the premiere of their Abba Voyage show in London.

Agnetha, Frida, Benny and Bjorn reunited for the opening night of the concert, which features digital versions of the band.

Frida watched the show with a wide grin across her face, while Benny stood up and clapped along to Dancing Queen.

They took a curtain call at the end, to deafening applause from the audience.

"Abba has never left us, in my heart," singer Agnetha Faltskog told the BBC on the red carpet.

"It was not such a difficult decision [to reunite] because the music is part of us."

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61592104

The album has brought me such joy in the 6+ months it's been out.   I never thought I'd hear anything new from them.

 

Late to the reply game on this one, but I agree 100%.  The show is unreal (literally, but beautifully done).

I figured it would look fake, but seeing is believing:  The avatars were scarily lifelike.  The audience buys in totally.

I saw the show in December.  Would also recommend springing for the VIP experience pre-show.  

[samhexum]

1 hour ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

I figured it would look fake, but seeing is believing:  The avatars were scarily lifelike.  The audience buys in totally.

You mean the ABBAtars, of course...

[samhexum]

 

 

Agnetha Fältskog has relaunched her solo career with a new single. 

Speaking with BBC Radio 2 host Zoe Ball before the track was played on Thursday, Fältskog said the single was made with “a good feeling.”

The single is from a reimagined version of her 2013 album “A.”

Talking about how the idea to launch the new album “A+” came about, Fältskog said: “It came as an idea suddenly.”

Fältskog, 73, said she talked with songwriter and producer Jörgen Elofsson, who also appeared on the BBC Radio 2 show, adding they wanted to make the 2013 album sound “totally new.” The “Where Do We Go From Here?” single is a new addition to the album.

“I love music. Music is in my heart and in my brain all the time. I live and I sleep with music,” Fältskog said.

Asked how it felt to hear the single on the radio, Fältskog said: “It feels good. You never get tired of it, to hear yourself on the radio. That’s really something. It’s always a tense feeling, you can say, about what are people going to think about this. But as long as you have your heart in it and you have done the best you can, because I’m not so young anymore and I’m very grateful that I still have my voice and a good composer beside me (Elofsson).”

Next year will mark 50 years since ABBA won the Eurovision song contest, and the upcoming edition will be held in the band’s home country Sweden.

Ball asked Fältskog whether the group were planning to do anything to mark the occasion, to which she responded: “You never know anything about ABBA … I don’t say anything about that.”

[samhexum]

 

[CuriousByNature]

On 9/29/2021 at 8:17 PM, samhexum said:

The saddest thing is that I doubt I'll be around in 40 years when they release their next album.  I'll be 99 by then.  Of course, they'll all be over 110 at that point.

Don't be so negative.  Maybe you'll be able to see them in concert, singing their reworked hits:

 

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (A man After 4pm)

Gasping Queen

Coding Me, Coding You

Lay All Your CPR On Me

Slipping Through My Bladder

Super Pooper

The Reaper Takes it All

Watery-poo

If It Wasn't For the Depends

I Still Have Faith in Medicare

I Have a Cream (A Rash that Stings)

[samhexum]

On 9/1/2023 at 12:58 AM, samhexum said:

Talking about how the idea to launch the new album “A+” came about, Fältskog said: “It came as an idea suddenly.”

Fältskog, 73, said she talked with songwriter and producer Jörgen Elofsson, who also appeared on the BBC Radio 2 show, adding they wanted to make the 2013 album sound “totally new.” The “Where Do We Go From Here?” single is a new addition to the album.

 

On 10/10/2023 at 7:37 PM, samhexum said:

Sadly, I've listened to the first 2 tracks that were released from A+, and I much prefer the original versions.  Oh well, maybe the other 8 tracks will fare better.

MAJOR BUMMER!  I don't like ANY of the reimagined songs.

[samhexum]

My sister and brother-in-law went to London to see the Mets and Phillies play this weekend. They flew out last night. At 2:27 AM I got a text from my brother-in-law with a picture of my sister standing in front of an ad for the ABBA voyage show that was one of the first things they encountered after getting off the plane.

They did look into getting tickets for it, but it was like $400 to stand on the floor and they are much bigger baseball fans than ABBA fans so they had to draw the line on spending somewhere.

Edited June 6, 2024 by samhexum
just for the hell of it

[samhexum]

It turns out the ABBA arena is right by where the games are being played and they are staying nearby.  They had wanted to take in a show while there and ABBA would be much more convenient than heading to the theater district, so they are going to try to get tickets for tomorrow. 

[samhexum]

They got the tickets! But they explicitly say no recording, so they will not be able to FaceTime me during it. Bummer!

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

18 minutes ago, samhexum said:

They got the tickets! But they explicitly say no recording, so they will not be able to FaceTime me during it. Bummer!

$400 standing?  No way.

I've seen the show three times and dance floor (GA) is about 100 pounds per.

And no, they're quite clear and strict about no phones...  Which I love.  

Watch the show, be involved, put down your device.  I wish more shows did this.

[samhexum]

45 minutes ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

I've seen the show three times and dance floor (GA) is about 100 pounds per.

And no, they're quite clear and strict about no phones...  Which I love.  

Watch the show, be involved, put down your device.  I wish more shows did this.

I think that's what he meant for 2 tix.  

If they hadn't recorded, I couldn't share this gift with you from Tony Orlando's farewell performance:  (you're welcome)

 

Tony Orlando and Dawn.MOV

Edited June 6, 2024 by samhexum
because he's bored as hell

[samhexum]

SHOWTIME!!!

[samhexum]

 

Edited June 7, 2024 by samhexum
Because he's bored as hell

[samhexum]

TEXTS FROM ABROAD:

They had 1 song in the middle that was accompanied by a short animated film.   And at the end the ABBA-tars sing Winner Takes It All and they walk off the stage.  They then come back for a final bow and the ABBA-tars look like they do now. 

The only other song the ABBA-tars don't perform is Waterloo.  They to a shtick about how they got started and then they show a digitally restored version of them singing Waterloo on the Eurovision contest. 

Also Agnetha must have paid the digital team extra for a digital butt lift and boob job. 

[samhexum]

My brother-in-law filled me in on the latest concert news…
 

since they opened, their shows have been running at 99% capacity.  Because of that demand, they added 3pm matinees on Sat and Sun.  All 9 performances a week are still running at 97% capacity.   Ticketmaster UK reports that as a sell out.   So because of the demand, they just extended thru May 2025 and are talking with the City of Stratford to extend to 2026.  That's gonna be tough because the land that the arena is built on is designated to be developed for low income housing and they have delayed it twice already.

Edited June 18, 2024 by samhexum
Because a subject this important demands quality reporting!

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

2 hours ago, samhexum said:

My brother-in-law filled me in on the latest concert news…
 

since they opened, their shows have been running at 99% capacity.  Because of that demand, they added 3pm matinees on Sat and Sun.  All 9 performances a week are still running at 97% capacity.   Ticketmaster UK reports that as a sell out.   So because of the demand, they just extended thru May 2025 and are talking with the City of Stratford to extend to 2026.  That's gonna be tough because the land that the arena is built on is designated to be developed for low income housing and they have delayed it twice already.

The technology the show uses is absolutely the most impressive thing I've seen.

I went into the show thinking it was going to be kitschy and silly, but I was way wrong.  

I kept having to remind myself I wasn't watching real people put on a live concert.  Everything just clicked perfectly and as an audience member, you eventually suspend reality and act as if you're watching ABBA live (and in their prime).

Having seen it twice now, I'd go back a third time for sure, especially as they regularly add and subtract songs to keep things fresh.

Rumor has it that Vegas is the next spot to use this tech.