Bong-Man Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...0301/1424/ENT04 ABBA: How can I resist you? 7 things you didn't know about ABBA Susan Whitall / Detroit News Music Writer With the hit movie musical "Mamma Mia!" just out, based upon the light-as-air '70s pop tunes by ABBA, what do you really know about the Swedish group that existed for only a decade (1972-'82) but produced a slew of frothy pop songs? Sure, everybody knows that ABBA is an anagram of their first names (Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn and Anni-Frid), and that the four were originally married couples -- Agnetha and Bjorn, and Benny and Anni-Frid -- and that they hurtled to fame with the song "Waterloo" at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, but here are seven factoids we dug up on the Svenksa hitmakers: 1. Despite their reputation, ABBA's songs are dark odes to dysfunction, infidelity, gunplay and despair. Well, maybe not entirely, but there's more than a little Swedish melancholy in those frothy little pop tunes. You might be singing along to melody so light you're in danger of going airborne. But pay attention to those lyrics: You're singing about cheating ("Mamma Mia"), lust ("Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!") jealousy ("Lay All Your Love on Me"), doomed love affairs ("The Winner Takes it All"), gun-toting freedom fighters ("Fernando"), casual hook-ups ("Dancing Queen"), and masochistic romantic surrender ("Waterloo"). 2. Gold records, matching jumpsuits, hot pants, world tours: Bjorn can't remember any of it! Images of ABBA in their silver jump-suited '70s glory are all over the place these days, but Bjorn Ulvaeus, 58, who co-wrote ABBA's music with Benny Andersson, allegedly can't recall the details. Ulvaeus suffers from long-term memory loss and has tried hypnosis and even peering at old photographs of the group in all their platform-booted glory, trying to kick-start his memory. 3. Detroit loves ABBA! OK, maybe the group barely made a ripple in blues, R&B, hard rock and hip-hop-loving Detroit, but we do love Swedish meatballs and modern, inexpensive furniture. Because the center for all Swedish culture in Detroit is, of course, the Ikea store in Canton Township, we were relieved to hear that Ikea is proudly flying the blue and yellow Swedish flag, promoting ABBA's music in the wake of "Mamma Mia!" The Canton Township store held an ABBA karaoke contest a week ago Saturday, and customers who agreed to sing "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia" or "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" won tickets to a special screening of "Mamma Mia!" Store publicist Lisa Allen reports that contestants ranged from pre-teen girls up to couples in their 60s, and most didn't need help with the lyrics. Nothing else ABBA-related is planned by the store, although gazing at Swedish throw pillows and polishing off some creamed herring might put you in the right mood for some "Waterloo" or "Voulez-Vous." 4. ABBA fan John McCain, who endorses dancing and jiving, vows to "Lay a Little Love" on the group in the White House, if elected. That's right, you might hear a gruff male voice singing, "You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only 17," on the Straight Talk Express bus. The Arizona senator told Phoenix radio station KZZP-FM that for inspiration he listens to ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me" before delivering a major speech. Chatting on his campaign bus, McCain went even further, telling the Austin American Statesman that ABBA fans got no respect. "Nobody likes them, but they sold more records than anybody in the history of the world, including the Beatles. But everybody hates them. You're a no-class guy if you like ABBA. Why does everybody go see 'Mamma Mia!'? Hypocrisy! Rank hypocrisy! I'm not embarrassed to say I like ABBA, 'Dancing Queen.'" 5. Don't mess with Benny and Bjorn's music! The songs that Benny and Bjorn wrote sound airy and simple but are actually are bolstered by sturdy songcraft and attention to recording detail. The two are so painstaking about ABBA's music that they even decreed that musicians in the road companies of "Mamma Mia!" are not to use Ovation acoustic guitars (a list of approved guitars is offered). "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" author/producer Allan Slutsky didn't like ABBA's music in the '70s, but he came to respect Benny and Bjorn's work when he played guitar in the Philadelphia company of the show. "I came to appreciate what it is," says Slutsky. "Certain songs, like 'Super Trouper,' there's a lot more to it. I'm not saying it's my favorite music now," he says with a laugh. "But there was a lot of craft in some of those songs." Benny and Bjorn retained control of the music in the film "Mamma Mia!," and Bjorn quietly vetted Meryl Streep's singing voice (according to the actress). A rare instance of Benny and Bjorn allowing a song to be sampled was when ABBA fan Madonna sampled "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" in her song "Hung Up." 6. Singer Agnetha Faltskog, 58, lives a reclusive life on a remote outlying island near Stockholm. Fans were shocked when Agnetha emerged from her cottage in the woods to attend the Swedish premier of "Mamma Mia!" last week with her two children by Bjorn, her grandchildren and her latest beau, Bertil Nordstrom. In 1972, the year ABBA launched, Agnetha played Mary Magdalene in the Swedish stage version of "Jesus Christ Superstar." 7. Better go see that ABBA cover band, it's the closest you're going to get to the real thing. "We will never appear on stage again," Bjorn told London's Sunday Telegraph. "There is simply no motivation to re-group. Money is not a factor, and we would like people to remember us as we were. Young, exuberant, full of energy and ambition." Added Bjorn: "I remember Robert Plant saying, Led Zeppelin were a cover band now because they cover all their own stuff. I think that hit the nail on the head." You can reach Susan Whitall at (313) 222-2156 or swhitall@det news.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spalove Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 The musical was great. I saw it a month ago at the West End The movie was just okay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suz Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Interesting. I always like Abba, and thought they didn't get the musical respect they deserved. It would appear they are now, what with the musical, the movie and everything. I heard those two guys wrote all those songs in a little cabin in the woods. I'm not voting for McCain, but this made me like him more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmie ray Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 There's no way I'd go that musical - isn't it just like that Big Fat Greek Wedding movie? I do like Fernando, though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagefan55 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 (edited) I've always loved "The Winner Takes It All." Edited July 30, 2014 by Pagefan55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lipslikecherries Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 (edited) My dad always loved Abba and I couldn't stand them! They've grown on me, or should I say I've grown up? I like 'Fernando'. Edited July 30, 2014 by lipslikecherries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagefan55 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 (edited) They grew on me too -- 'Fernando' is a good song. Edited to add: It would be interesting to know exactly what prompted ABBA to invite Zep to record ITTOD at Polar Studios near Stockholm. Edited July 30, 2014 by Pagefan55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lipslikecherries Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 They grew on me too -- 'Fernando' is a good song. Edited to add: It would be interesting to know exactly what prompted ABBA to invite Zep to record ITTOD at Polar Studios near Stockholm. I heard that as well. Is there already a thread here on it? Do you know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagefan55 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 I don't know lipslikecherries, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi_Zep_Fan87 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 First off all, I have to say, that is a very interesting article about ABBA, Bong-Man! Many thanks! Also, thanks Pagefan55 for bringing this thread back up! "The Winner Takes It All" is a lovely song. Very emotional stuff! Been a fan of ABBA since age 7, all thanks to my mom's love for disco and pop music! I am astounded to know of the deep dark meaning of songs like "Mama Mia", "Gimme Gimme Gimme", "Dancing Queen"...I mean I know the lyrics were right there in front of me and all, and I have indeed sung along many times to these pop treasures and I guess that I should have realised, but it never occurred to me, really! While replying to that thread about "In Through The Out Door", I honestly did not know that Led Zeppelin was actually invited by ABBA to record the album at Polar Studios! Blimey! I seem to be learning something new every day, here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagefan55 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 (edited) . Edited July 30, 2014 by Pagefan55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Duck Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Count me as another poster who always liked ABBA. They had great pop songs that were expertly recorded and performed. What more can you ask for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles J. White Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Great band with a bunch of great songs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freeyyaa Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Meow-meow-meow, I learned about the facts some years ago with the little help from Russian ABBA-fiends Community, so I am not surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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