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Post by Mr. FOLLARD on Apr 17, 2020 12:59:51 GMT
I might change one of my choices to this (God bless Jimmy Quaco for bringing it to my attention all those years ago):
it's probably the ABBA song that moves me the most
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loveless
god
Bringing ballet to the masses. Sticking to the funk.
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Post by loveless on Apr 17, 2020 13:02:38 GMT
The songs I omitted from my five are bugging me, no doubt.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2020 13:04:10 GMT
I think it's one of the best of their later efforts. They were making a different brew after 1976 or so (you get all that stuff about 'Scandinavian angst', don't you?). And I love the way there's a pre-chorus, then the rousing ''cos I wanna know....what's the name of the game?' peak, and then there's a kind of post-chorus ('tell me please...'cos I have to know'). They really worked on this stuff but it still flows so beautifully. So much in there. Yeah, it IS a real cup runneth over scenario, all of these layers that keep unfolding - like "the IKEA Good Vibrations" or something. There's also a palpable restraint in the tempo and feel that really adds to the power of the thing. I do think of it as their Californian record, but in a Boz Scaggs rather than Beach Boys kind of way. It feels very late 70s West Coast, almost Yacht Rock ( particularly the dry throb of that bass drum and the snaking, bluesy guitar). It's like do a line of coke, go to the beach to check the talent, get rebuffed, then drive for mile after mile out into the desert in a mood of numbed alienation while listening endlessly to "The Name of the Game" on repeat.
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Post by osgood on Apr 17, 2020 13:05:45 GMT
Dancing Queen Waterloo The Winner Takes It All Fernando SOS
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Post by Reactionary Rage on Apr 17, 2020 13:41:59 GMT
SOS - I always think of this, Knowing Me and Winner as a break up trilogy or sorts (thematically they sorta hang together I reckon). That intro is weird huh? Almost sounds like summat you'd expect at the end of a record (and low and behold there it is). The chorus is so killer...the bed of chiming acoustics and the power pop surge that accompanies "when you're gone" is one of the Great Abba moments. Really masterful stuff. The instrumental break is odd but inspired too. The ending resolves the intro's tension...I guess those happy days are gone forever.
Dancing Queen - Are we over this now? Too much exposure? Too many hyperventilating hen do's? It is a masterpiece, it really is. Funny that they introduce a key change on the first line (and placing the chorus at the beginning too) but they always knew what the hell they were doing. Pop puppet masters. The records power is twofold for me: on on hand it's a celebration of The Moment, the joy of the dancefloor, the beauty and possibilities of innocent youth but it also works as an elegy for that moment too; it recognises it is ephemeral and one day, sooner than you realise, you might be looking back and recalling those care free nights on the dancefloor with a tear in your eye. Bastards. The apogee of the happy/sad formula, one of pops greatest magic tricks. They knew exactly what they were doing of course and the great's make shit look effortless. Did Benny and Bjorn just both wake up with this swimming around their head one day? (of course not but it feels like that). Dancing Queen still works for me, but like an increasingly wistful, slightly aching reverie.
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Post by Reactionary Rage on Apr 17, 2020 14:14:11 GMT
That's Me - a less obvious choice this time. Love that synth string line and the seductive allure of "are you sure you wanna hear more" at the beginning. The banjo sounding part that runs through out the song in an inspired touch (it bubbles up wonderfully around 30 secs and really adds a layer of excitement every time it does this). I love the backing vocals too and there is an icy, unmistakable Abba grandeur (ooo, Scandinavians!) during the last 30 seconds that makes me swoon. It's minor Abba and lyrically it could be a bit more filled out perhaps but, fuck, it always gives me a real kick!
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Post by HotRats on Apr 17, 2020 14:29:52 GMT
Ok, my first "proper" post on this board...
I was born in 1965 so Abba came along at a good time for me. I remember buying the early singles, but my favourite period is the Arrival/The Album era. I love Abba, in a completely unapologetic, non-ironic way!
It's hard to pick 5 but here's a rough approximation, today...
1) Name of the Game 2) Eagle 3) SOS 4) Dancing Queen 5) Mamma Mia
Ok, not exactly unexpected choices, with the possible exception of Eagle, which is a masterpiece in my opinion.
I'm glad to see NOTG getting so much attention. I'm also glad to see Winner Takes It All isn't getting as much.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2020 15:00:28 GMT
Nice shout on Eagle. I didn't recognise it initially but when I listened to the chorus just now it came flooding back
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loveless
god
Bringing ballet to the masses. Sticking to the funk.
Posts: 2,785
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Post by loveless on Apr 17, 2020 15:02:42 GMT
Dancing Queen - Are we over this now? Too much exposure? Too many hyperventilating hen do's? Nah. Not over it at all. Amazing groove, all the things you said (opening with the chorus is pretty high level, the celebration/wistful nostalgia/etc.). I RARELY fail to crank it up.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2020 7:26:14 GMT
Dancing Queen Knowing Me, Knowing You S.O.S. Waterloo The Winner Takes It All
How anyone could not vote for the euphoric Dancing Queen is frankly beyond me!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2020 7:57:57 GMT
Dancing Queen Knowing Me, Knowing You S.O.S. Waterloo The Winner Takes It All How anyone could not vote for the euphoric Dancing Queen is frankly beyond me! It's suffered through overexposure.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2020 8:07:34 GMT
Dancing Queen Knowing Me, Knowing You S.O.S. Waterloo The Winner Takes It All How anyone could not vote for the euphoric Dancing Queen is frankly beyond me! It's suffered through overexposure. I love that it starts with the chorus (there's a thread), and what a flawless one it is.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2020 8:17:04 GMT
It's suffered through overexposure. I love that it starts with the chorus (there's a thread), and what a flawless one it is. The old 'She Loves You' trick! But yeah it works brilliantly. You need a really strong chorus to pull that off.
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fange
god
Listening to long jazz tracks
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Post by fange on Apr 18, 2020 9:26:27 GMT
I love it but didn't vote for it just because there are 5 others i'm listening to and digging more at the moment. If i had 10 picks... but i stand by my choices now.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2020 12:49:32 GMT
Fernando Fernando Fernando Fernando Fernando
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