#70 - Agnetha Faltskog - The Queen Of Hearts

 

http://991.com/NewGallery/Agnetha-Faltskog-The-Queen-Of-Hear-133829.jpg

 

Originally released in 1979, in Swedish, under the title 'När Du Tar Mig i Din Famn' this was released as a single in 1998 to promote her Greatest Hits album and was the first 'new' Agnetha material in over a decade. Both versions are pretty much similar, aside from language obviously, but this went through a bit of 90's TWEAKING before it made its way onto the album which probably helps it along a little more. It sounds clearer and more crisp. Production aside, the song is gorgeous in and of itself. I really do think this might be Agnetha's very best solo vocal, it's near perfect.

 

#69 - Agnetha Faltskog - When You Walk In The Room

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/98/Whenyouwalk.jpg

 

Now moving forward in time once again, to the most recent inclusion on the list. 2004 saw Agnetha once more move out of the shadow's to release her first studio album in 17 years, the rather lovely covers album 'My Colouring Book'. This was the 2nd single and was a modest hit in Sweden and the UK, peaking just inside the top 40 in the latter (#34). As a cover it's pretty unremarkable, as with much of the album, the biggest selling point being her voice and the fact is was NEW AGNETHA. Again that doesn't sound very positive, but I do really like the song. It's not the last we'll be seeing of this album either. The video below uses the rather spiffing Soundfactory remix.

 

 

 

#68 - ABBA - Put On Your White Sombrero

 

http://991.com/NewGallery/Abba-Put-On-Your-White-98649.jpg

 

The last 'official' ABBA single ever released (excluding re-releases), from 1996 via 1980. Also, this track does have more than a passing similarity to Cassandra, especially the outro, but then that's because parts of it were indeed reused for that track as this was originally shelved. Behind the mask of sillyness, lets face it singing about a white sombrero it's pretty HARD to come off serious, is actually some quite clever lyrics about a woman breaking up with her man. The line 'think of this day as a showdown, goodbye my friend, this is the end for me and you' is really SAD despite the best efforts of the production and melody to detract from it.

 

#67 - Agnetha Faltskog - Var Det Met Dej?

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412-kjEHoFL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

 

Despite being part of Agnetha's 1975 album 'Elva Kvinnor I Ett Hus' this is for all intents and purposes an ABBA song. Written and produced by Bjorn and Benny and featuring all 4 of them on vocal duties. Given that its in Swedish I have no idea what it's about, all I know it is sounds bloody good.

 

#66 - Frida - Heart Of The Country

 

http://991.com/newGallery/Frida-Heart-Of-The-Coun-295127.jpg

 

It's 1984 and Frida's 2nd English language album has met with almost universally negative reactions and a rather lukewarm chart success at best. Undeterred however the singles kept on coming, this was the 3rd single from the album and easily the best thing on the album. I have no idea who Big Country ARE, but Stuart Adamson did a fantastic job on this song. The little semi-crazy laugh at the end is an interesting touch.

 

#65 - ABBA - Arrival

 

http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/ab/abba-arrival.jpg

 

I think it must have been quite a brave move for them to go with this as the titular track from an album, it's an absolutely gorgeous track, it's so easy to get lost in the strings and bagpipes and gorgeous ooh's and aah's from the girls, but it's still just an instrumental at the end of the day. Then again, I think it's an absolutely perfect album closer, something which has been lost on the expanded edition which I have as the bonus tracks just sound a bit out of place popping up after this.

 

I would just like to say that I haven't forgotten about this and shall be starting up again next week once Eurovision is all done and dusted.

THAT'S ME

I adore this track. Very fun lyrics, I always like to talk, that is my future wedding song. :D

VERY UNDERRATED. It's level of successful single, not only a level of nice album track. "That's Me" is a main reason for ranking "Arrival" on second place after "Ring Ring" for me.

Edited November 29, 201212 yr by AlexRange

Wait another parts and think, that all my top 5 will be huge flop here.

Don't heard solo songs, I will check it after Eurovision week, because it steals so many free time.

Edited May 22, 201213 yr by AlexRange

Like a roller in the ocean, this countdown goes on.

 

(in 5 minutes)

I was ABOUT to say (well I wasn't but w/e). I've been playing ABBA tracks very regularly recently and I was wondering when this would continue.

#64 - ABBA - Dream World

 

http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/Upload/abbadiscs/dreamworldcover.jpg

 

An early working version of Does Your Mother Know?, Dream World finally got a released from the VICE LIP CLUTCHES of B+B in 1994 on that Thank You For The Music compilation. It's relatively easy to see why they abandoned this, the lyrics aren't anything particularly special, but the melodic hook is as catchy as any of their big hits, even if only a few lines are actually similar to the finished song. The almost fairground ride music in the intro/outro is rather LOVELY.

 

 

 

I was ABOUT to say (well I wasn't but w/e). I've been playing ABBA tracks very regularly recently and I was wondering when this would continue.

 

I intend on getting it finished within the week. I need to keep SOME time keeping credibility.

#63 - Agnetha Faltskog - Framfor Svenska Sommaren

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RtMJ-VAHcnQ/TDPw_Jr7aNI/AAAAAAAAAzM/RjBiFV_43nM/s1600/vol2.jpg

 

The lead single from dear old Aggie's 2nd studio album is up next. The title means something like 'Before The Swedish Summer', I don't really KNOW beyond it's SOMETHING to do with SUMMER in SWEDEN. And it doesn't matter, it's just a joyous, bubbly pop song.

 

#62 - ABBA - Eagle

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/ABBA_-_Eagle.jpg

 

*.* at Agnetha on the single cover. As with most ABBA albums which singles got released where was often rather different, however this was released in either the US OR the UK. Instead much of the rest of the world got it backed with the noew infinitely more famous Thank You For The Music and it performed respectably. As with a lot of 'The Album', it's a different sound for ABBA and whilst not all of it works this most definitely does. It's main feature is the fantastic guitar riff that runs throughout the entire track, but the chorus soars perfectly and rather fittingly given the title. It's also their longest song, clocking in at a few seconds longer than The Day Before You Came, but it really is ALL about the full album version.

 

#61 - Agnetha Faltskog - Fly Like The Eagle (Duet With Ola Hakansson)

 

http://image.lyricspond.com/image/a/artist-agnetha-faltskog/album-agnetha-faltskog-thats-me-greatest-hits/cd-cover.jpg

 

Agnetha and Ola teamed up in 1986 for the single 'The Way You Are', which has already popped up on this list at #76. This was originally the b side, but also got included on her 2nd English solo album Eyes Of A Woman and later her 1998 English GH That's Me. It's another song about an EAGLE - YAY.

 

It's pretty basic as far as songs go, but as with much of her 80's output, the melody wins over everything else. The 2 voices combine perfectly on the harmonies and it always puts a smile on my face when it pops up.

 

 

 

#70 - Agnetha Faltskog - The Queen Of Hearts

#69 - Agnetha Faltskog - When You Walk In The Room

#68 - ABBA - Put On Your White Sombrero

#67 - Agnetha Faltskog - Var Det Met Dej?

#66 - Frida - Heart Of The Country

#65 - ABBA - Arrival

#64 - ABBA - Dream World

#63 - Agnetha Faltskog - Framfor Svenska Sommaren

#62 - ABBA - Eagle

#61 - Agnetha Faltskog - Fly Like The Eagle (Duet With Ola Hakansson)

 

pretty Agnetha heavy section there...

#60 - Agnetha Faltskog - What Now My Love

 

http://www.covershut.com/covers/Agnetha-Faltskog-My-Colouring-Book-2004-Front-Cover-35599.jpg

 

The closing track from Agnetha's 2004 My Colouring Book and indeed the last track from that album to make this list. It's a cover, as with almost all of the album, but I'm not very familiar with any other versions of it. I think that's a good thing because this really is a stellar reading no matter what way you look at it. Agnetha imbues it with such emotion and HURT, it's hard not to get swept up in it. The lush production and subtle backing vocals only add to the effect.

 

#59 - ABBA - The Visitors (Crackin' Up)

 

http://img12.nnm.ru/b/c/6/3/c/7f68ce119095a91d833c48a2b0c.jpg

 

And so we arrive back at The Visitors again, not for the first time and certainly not for the last either. The title track was a rather stark departure for ABBA, both in sound and content. It still has a catchy chorus, but the verses are sparse and Frida's voice is vocoded tp sound rather ominous. It creates a rather claustrophobic feeling, which would seem to FIT with the songs meaning. Written in 1980, still in the grip of the Cold War, the song is speaking out against how badly the Soviet Union treated those who dared speak out against them and the fear and oppression they lived under. It even managed to become a semi hit in the US, charting at #63, their last charting single there.

 

#58 - ABBA - Kisses Of Fire

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3234/2801617699_8b80fb1a42.jpg

 

Fire = passion

Passion = kisses

2+2=4

 

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