Abba

[mick]

Taking my life in my hands here by mentioning this group!!

For some reason, one of the TV channels last night was constant Abba and I watched for a while. Believe it or not, it was the first time I'd ever seen footage of them performing.

I had the distinct impression that I was watching four individuals singing together, rather than a group performing as a group. Little or no eye contact, backs, rather than fronts, facing each other and no coordination of movement (don't want to use the word dance!).

In particular, I had the impression that the two women didn't much like each other.

Any comment (other than how sad I am to watch them).

Mick

[peterob]

Apr 7, 2024 11:41:21 GMT mick said:

Taking my life in my hands here by mentioning this group!!

For some reason, one of the TV channels last night was constant Abba and I watched for a while. Believe it or not, it was the first time I'd ever seen footage of them performing.

I had the distinct impression that I was watching four individuals singing together, rather than a group performing as a group. Little or no eye contact, backs, rather than fronts, facing each other and no coordination of movement (don't want to use the word dance!).

In particular, I had the impression that the two women didn't much like each other.

Any comment (other than how sad I am to watch them).

Mick

No idea but they have been making an AI aided reconstruction of the group for use in films,  and concerts even,  so some "archive footage" is actually computer generated and new.  

[zou]

Apr 7, 2024 11:41:21 GMT mick said:

Taking my life in my hands here by mentioning this group!!

For some reason, one of the TV channels last night was constant Abba and I watched for a while. Believe it or not, it was the first time I'd ever seen footage of them performing.

I had the distinct impression that I was watching four individuals singing together, rather than a group performing as a group. Little or no eye contact, backs, rather than fronts, facing each other and no coordination of movement (don't want to use the word dance!).

In particular, I had the impression that the two women didn't much like each other.

Any comment (other than how sad I am to watch them).

Mick

Mamma Mia, there you go again.

[MJB]

Abba never have been about the visuals. It's all about some of the best songwriting ever combined with amazing vocal harmonies. Given their relationships as individuals (they were married and divorced), it's highly possible they have had strained band dynamics.

[MJB]

Oh, and if you want to hear how the emotions of marital break up can create some powerful songs listen to the Visitors album, their last studio album. Not bubblegum pop at all.

[davem399]

Apr 7, 2024 12:15:56 GMT MJB said:

Oh, and if you want to hear how the emotions of marital break up can create some powerful songs listen to the Visitors album, their last studio album. Not bubblegum pop at all.

Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours was also born out of the break up of relationships of band members.

[willien]

I am not a fan, not the sort of music that appeals to me, but ABBA were extremely good at what they did.

[mick]

Apr 7, 2024 12:06:04 GMT MJB said:

Abba never have been about the visuals. It's all about some of the best songwriting ever combined with amazing vocal harmonies. Given their relationships as individuals (they were married and divorced), it's highly possible they have had strained band dynamics.

I get that, but I think that some of the videos I was seeing were in their early days and so the marital stresses hadn't kicked in.

I'm no expert, but I did think that their overall performance (not the sound) left loads to be desired.

Mick

[MJB]

Apr 7, 2024 14:07:25 GMT mick said:

Apr 7, 2024 12:06:04 GMT MJB said:

Abba never have been about the visuals. It's all about some of the best songwriting ever combined with amazing vocal harmonies. Given their relationships as individuals (they were married and divorced), it's highly possible they have had strained band dynamics.

I get that, but I think that some of the videos I was seeing were in their early days and so the marital stresses hadn't kicked in.

I'm no expert, but I did think that their overall performance (not the sound) left loads to be desired.

Mick

It's all to do with director and film maker Lasse Hallstrom. It was his style that was applied to pretty much all of ABBA's promotional films.

[mick]

Sorry Martin, I misled you. Most of what I was watching were (supposedly) live performances on the BBC.

One made me smile. It was one of their more serious songs and the programme was a kids show - not teenagers, five year olds I guess.

Mick

[MJB]

Apr 7, 2024 14:32:31 GMT mick said:

One made me smile. It was one of their more serious songs and the programme was a kids show - not teenagers, five year olds I guess.

Mick

Not as funny as the Specials on Chegger's Plays Pop.

[aitch]

I once saw a clip of Motorhead playing to a bunch of toddlers on some TV show or other.

The toddlers seemed to enjoy it...

[dreampolice]

Apr 7, 2024 14:43:43 GMT MJB said:

Apr 7, 2024 14:32:31 GMT mick said:

One made me smile. It was one of their more serious songs and the programme was a kids show - not teenagers, five year olds I guess.

Mick

Not as funny as the Specials on Chegger's Plays Pop.

My sister was a contestant on Cheggers Plays Pop. I've just sent her a WhatsApp to find out what bands were on. Love to find it on Youtube, lol.

[MJB]

My mistake, it was Fun Boy Three, not the Specials. Full band listings Here. Some interesting names there. Undertones, The Beat, Bad Manners, Suzi Quattro...

[MJB]

A bit of digging turns up some gems. Josh Homme of Queens of the Stoneage did bedtime stories on C-Beebies, Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden had a drum off with Sooty and Sweep, Napalm Death did kids music show What's That Noise?, and then there was Slash's infamous interview with Cat Deely on CD:UK.