April 7, 201510 yr Author #12 - ABBA - When All Is Said And Done http://images.45cat.com/abba-when-all-is-said-and-done-rca-victor-2.jpg tUh4u-lYEhM Another one famously used for comedic impact in Mamma Mia, the one where old people talk about sex and they all laugh whilst their children sit uncomfortably, wishing the moment to be over. The second of ABBA's two 'divorce anthems', this is a much lower key affair than the one that everyone knows and loves. It's still amazing though and I like the quiet resignation of it all. Divorce is traumatic, draining, but they are trying to part amicably. There are no winners here, no one party is riding off into the sunset leaving the other desolate, both people are to blame and both will bear the pain and sorrow. But in the end, neither of them is really to blame and they did have some great times together.
April 7, 201510 yr Author John won BJSC?! Noooooooooo, I would have loved seeing a John-hosted contest :cry: TWICE, actually. The hosting was...well, I TRIED.
April 7, 201510 yr Author #11 - ABBA - If It Wasn't For The Nights http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fi/c/c3/ABBA_Voulez_Vous_cd.jpg Ev8COPj2teQ Just missing out on the top 10 is the highest album track in the list. Once again coming from the marvellous Voulez-Vous, If It Wasn't For The Nights is a disco GEM. Allegedly prime for LEAD SINGLE status, it actually ended up not being released as a single at all. Lyrically it's nothing like as complex as much of their output at this time, or later, but dammit it's catchy as they come and sometimes that's all you need.
April 7, 201510 yr Author I'm A Marionette so loww :( same with Eagle. Lovelight for the top 10? HA, that was all the way down at #75 (oops)
April 7, 201510 yr You know, I barely know anything by ABBA outside of the obvious. I may make the effort to listen to something from your top 13 if you advise which I will like the most...
April 7, 201510 yr Author #10 - ABBA - Knowing Me, Knowing You http://images.45cat.com/abba-knowing-me-knowing-you-polydor-2.jpg iUrzicaiRLU ANOTHER anthem about the break up of a relationship, this time many years before their relationships actually broke down. This one is perhaps a little more straightforward lyrically, but no less poignant, ''Knowing me, knowing you, there is nothing we can do''. And of course, as is the Scandi way, the whole thing is wrapped up in what has to be one of ABBA's very best compositions. The guitar solo at the end being a particular highlight for me, even if it buried in the mix.
April 7, 201510 yr Author You know, I barely know anything by ABBA outside of the obvious. I may make the effort to listen to something from your top 13 if you advise which I will like the most... So much pressure! I would definitely say given When All Is Said And Done a whirl (if you like The Winner Takes It All) and I'd suggest my #9 (Our Last Summer) and #1 too, but then that goes without saying I guess. And #5 and #4, if you don't know them).
April 7, 201510 yr TWICE, actually. The hosting was...well, I TRIED. I just looked at a few of your threads. Your graphics were if nothing else more comprehensible than Pavel's :D
April 7, 201510 yr Author #09 - ABBA - Our Last Summer http://images.45cat.com/abba-our-last-summer-epic.jpg Z6YqC3D0GMo For me, this is Frida's best vocal performance. That last minute is spine tingling, the range, the emotion. Our Last Summer was the b-side to Thank Your For The Music once upon a time and unlike that makwish pile of musical leftover, this is actually a sweet lament on the joys of youth and memories of a summer long, long past. It's also about the realisation that sometimes people don't turn out as you'd expect (Harry was the hero of her dreams, now he's a boring bank worker) but the memories will always be there and sometimes that's just as important.
April 7, 201510 yr Author I just looked at a few of your threads. Your graphics were if nothing else more comprehensible than Pavel's :D Beating Pavel is ALL I NEED to claim a moral victory. Thank you.
April 7, 201510 yr #09 - ABBA - Our Last Summer http://images.45cat.com/abba-our-last-summer-epic.jpg Z6YqC3D0GMo For me, this is Frida's best vocal performance. That last minute is spine tingling, the range, the emotion. Our Last Summer was the b-side to Thank Your For The Music once upon a time and unlike that makwish pile of musical leftover, this is actually a sweet lament on the joys of youth and memories of a summer long, long past. It's also about the realisation that sometimes people don't turn out as you'd expect (Harry was the hero of her dreams, now he's a boring bank worker) but the memories will always be there and sometimes that's just as important. This song has memories and OK it isn't about Harry the bank worker, but the song reminds me of Summer 2014, the last summer I spent with my partner before he died suddenly in October. My favourite song of theirs. Edited April 7, 201510 yr by MyKindOfLove
April 8, 201510 yr Author #08 - ABBA - One Of Us http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/08/ABBA_-_One_of_Us.jpg IIKAe8Wi0S0 A theme may be somewhat apparent at this point, late ABBA sure did love (or hate, or love to hate, whatever) to sing about HEARTBREAK. It is, of course, one of the pillars of great pop music. Rather than a straightforward 'ain't it said we broke up' ditty, One Of Us is about one parties regret at breaking free to find greener grass, only to find it's just as grey and flaccid (or something). B&B do an excellent job on production duties for this one, it's true to the ABBA spirit, but also quite haunting which suits the song perfectly. This was to be their last true HIT in the UK and is definitely one of their least well known hits, but I think it definitely deserves its place on Gold.
April 8, 201510 yr Author #07 - ABBA - Take A Chance On Me http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2a/Take_a_Chance_on_Me_(Abba_single)_coverart.jpg -crgQGdpZR0 Something a little LIGHTER, perhaps? From arguably one of their least know big hits, to what is undoubtedly one of the best known. Take A Chance On Me came along roughly at the end of ABBA's true golden era (75-77), at least commercially. It was even a BIG HIT in the US, a market they never really cracked like the rest of the world. Lyrically it's pretty simplistic, just a ''won't you give me a try'' to a potential partner type number. The chorus is an absolute pop TRIUMPH though.
April 8, 201510 yr Author #06 - ABBA - Chiquitita http://images.45cat.com/abba-chiquitita-1979-4.jpg p4QqMKe3rwY This song contains what has to be one of my very favourite moments in any ABBA song, the extended piano outro, which is just spine tingling. The rest of the song is absolutely 10/10 as well, of course. From the brief respite of levity with TACOM, we are once again firmly ensconced in the world of sorrow for this one. Albeit sorrow with a sunny future not too far off. I love the folky sensibility B&B bring the production on this one, yet it's still totally pop at the same time, musical masters that pair.
April 8, 201510 yr Author The clever among you may already know the top 5, but I shall be revealing what comes where this evening.
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