#95 - ABBA - Nina Pretty Ballerina

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a2/Abba_Ring_Ring_Cover.jpg

 

OH HAI Ring Ring once again. I think this is probably the first instance of just how well the girls voices sound together. They both have little lines here and there solo, but for the most part it is them together and they sound so perfect. Once again it's a simple song lyrically and melodically, but just effortlessly catchy and a very good sign of what was to come.

 

Oh yay, one I'm familiar with finally. I can see what you mean about Nina being rather basic, but it's early Abba, I wasn't expecting THAT much. Still, it promises great things to discover if I only have 31 Abba songs and the lowest I know beforehand is at #95.

Is it only 2 Greatest Hits you have then Eyes? Either way if you only know 31, you're definitely in for a treat or 20 *.*

Only their original Greatest Hits and standard Gold. And a couple from other sources, like songs used in Mamma Mia that weren't on either of those, but that's it.

 

(I probably know a couple more than I have on my iTunes, but that's all I know I know)

Ahh yes, I was wondering how you knew Nina, but then it's on the orginal GH. I would definitely advise you to get hold of More Gold though, it covers most of the rest of their singles, a lot of which are utterly fabulous.

#94 - ABBA - Andante, Andante

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1c/ABBA_-_Super_Trouper_(Polar).jpg

 

Now, everything up until this point has been pure fluff, which is absolutely not something one could accuse Andante, Andante of being. In the latter years of ABBA Frida's voice developed into something rather cold and clinical at times, but this shows just how warm she could still be. Lyrically it's a love song where Frida is asking her lover to take things slowly and really really SAVOUR HER. In the context of the song lines like 'make me sing, make me sound' are a little risque for ABBA (I always like to assume she's talking about orgasm, but maybe that's just my sick mind). The main reason this isn't higher is, aside from the high quality of much of their work, it's a little overlong and something I need to be in the right MOOD for. It works an absolute treat on a cold winters day though, as much of their later work does.

 

#93 - ABBA - I Have A Dream

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/84/I_Have_A_Dream.jpg

 

Time for the first BIG HITTER on the list and one I'm sure a lot of people absolutely love. It does obviously have a wonderful melody and the guitar riff is insanely catchy. My main issue though is the kids choir, surely the invention of satan himself. That and the lyrics are a little too saccharine for my tastes, something which also dogs another CLASSIC coming soon.

 

#92 - Frida - Here We'll Stay

 

http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/f/frida/album-somethings-going-on.jpg

 

Released as a single from Frida's debut English solo album, this track originally existed as a duet with Phil Collins, but it's this, the solo version, which I prefer. I mean Phil isn't bad, by any means, but I don't think his voice works quite as well with Frida as one would hope for a song of this nature. Lyrically the girls never again reached the level of latter day ABBA, but this comes pretty close in portraying the love message.

 

No real surprise to see that out first, it's widely disowned by the fans I think, the Westlife cover being the final nail in the coffin.

 

Actually, I'd rather listen to the Westlife version if forced, but then it's a 4/10 vs. a 5/10...the children's choir on the latter doesn't seem quite so gruesome somehow, they're welcome to invade boyband pap, how DARE they invade ABBA!

#91 - ABBA - Thank You For The Music

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/Thank-You-For-The-Music.jpg

 

In the grand pantheon of ABBA songs this seems to be ranked very highly by most people. That said, a lot of fans, myself included, don't rate it anywhere near their best. For me this is mainly down to the lyrics, the melody is undoubtedly gorgeous and Agnetha is, as always, on top form vocally. I just find the whole concept far too sickly sweet to be genuinely enjoyable. It's akin to an X Factor ballad adding in the orchestra and choir in the last minute for added OOMPH, when really the song doesn't need it.

 

RE-RE-REWIND:

 

100: ABBA - What About Livingstone

099: ABBA - Crazy World

098: Agnetha Faltskog - Click Track

097: ABBA - Hey, Hey Helen

096: ABBA - I Am Just A Girl

095: ABBA - Nina, Pretty Ballerina

094: ABBA - Andante, Andante

093: ABBA - I Have A Dream

092: Frida - Here We'll Stay

091: ABBA - Thank You For The Music

I like Thank You For The Music but I think that Alcazar actually pulled off a similar thing better with their pastiche and ABBA salute Thank You, blasphemous perhaps but it's a wonderful pop song, and a topic we can all relate to I'm sure.

 

 

But yeah, those two are amongst my least favourite singles too so no sad loss.

No real surprise to see that out first, it's widely disowned by the fans I think, the Westlife cover being the final nail in the coffin.

 

Actually, I'd rather listen to the Westlife version if forced, but then it's a 4/10 vs. a 5/10...the children's choir on the latter doesn't seem quite so gruesome somehow, they're welcome to invade boyband pap, how DARE they invade ABBA!

 

As would I and I , as I'm sure will come as no shock, DESPISE Westlife. It does just seem to work a lot better for them, maybe because the bar is set much lower and a 6/10 is great by their standards.

I'm sure THIS will come as a shock, but I hate Alcazar.

As would I and I , as I'm sure will come as no shock, DESPISE Westlife. It does just seem to work a lot better for them, maybe because the bar is set much lower and a 6/10 is great by their standards.

 

PLUS, it saved us from The Millennium Prayer being a xmas #1 :cheer: I'll take a 5/10 over a -1000/10 any day!

I'm sure THIS will come as a shock, but I hate Alcazar.

 

But Thank You is so joyous!

 

Do you even hate Stay The Night? :drama:

I can appreciate Stay The Night yeah, but it's very much a 7/10 kind of affair. I know it probably sounds awful, but had it been by some no mark Schlager diva I'd be ALL OVER IT.

I can appreciate Stay The Night yeah, but it's very much a 7/10 kind of affair. I know it probably sounds awful, but had it been by some no mark Schlager diva I'd be ALL OVER IT.

 

What is Lina Hedlund if not a no mark Schlager diva! :wub: Not to mention Tess!

 

Stay The Night would be in my top 15 of all time!

I can appreciate Stay The Night yeah, but it's very much a 7/10 kind of affair. I know it probably sounds awful, but had it been by some no mark Schlager diva I'd be ALL OVER IT.

 

And I thought you had taste :nocheer:

 

Anyway:

 

100: ABBA - What About Livingstone

099: ABBA - Crazy World

097: ABBA - Hey, Hey Helen (TUUUUNE. Would easily be in my top 40)

095: ABBA - Nina, Pretty Ballerina (Anyone think this REALLY sounds like this year's Israeli Eurovision entry? :o)

094: ABBA - Andante, Andante (prefer it in Spanish)

093: ABBA - I Have A Dream (likewise, except to the extent that I just can't with the English version)

092: Frida - Here We'll Stay (was always a sucker for Frida, especially solo :wub:)

091: ABBA - Thank You For The Music

Andante, Andante is FAR too low, such a gorgeous melody, especially for the chorus. I Have A Dream I do shamelessly love, in either incarnation :drama:

 

Thank You For The Music I've never liked much though, and pretty much for the reasons you specified. Here We'll Stay is a nice song, it actually sounds newer than early '80s to my ears, I could see some cool (i.e. not financially viable) pop lady releasing it today!