Abba - ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits
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Free Music Notes for ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits
Free Music Review: Really, it's ok...
Hit: 5 Stars
How many closet ABBA fans existed in the 1970s and 1980s? Likely uncountable masses roamed High Schools halls bellowing dirges by Alice Cooper or Black Sabbath to keep their reps intact (dead bat or puppy in mouth) and then barricaded themselves in their closets and guiltily rocked to "Dancing Queen." ABBA always seemed to possess the most fame at exactly the same moment that nobody admitted liking them. Maybe it was the outfits? Though some of those early videos provide some brow-furrowing visuals (YouTube bites back), the accompanying music has continued to billow in stature. The only band that "really" made it big after sweeping Eurovision has shown unshakable staying power. And it's all public now. Really, it's ok. Released from the shackles of teen angst, adults can finally admit thier once shameful passion to the world. Yes, Sweden has bequeathed more to the world than Ikea. "Dancing Queen," "Take A Chance on Me" and most of the songs that grace "ABBA Gold" still blare from car windows, health club sound systems, and movie and television soundtracks (viewers of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" will never experience "Mamma Mia" the same). Of course, Anni-Frid, Björn, Benny and Agnetha (yes, "ABBA" - taste the delicious acronym) remain indisputable Swedish folk heroes. The men have continued their musical explorations with grand musicals such as "Chess" and, of course, the nearly ubiquitous and unavoidable "Mamma Mia!" which sent sales of "ABBA Gold" screaming into the bajillions once again. Sure, it doesn't have a real story, but it has ABBA songs. It's a musical, already. Deal. Closeted ABBA fans unite! Even better, the gang always seemed far less self-absorbed than most rock/pop moguls. Again, maybe memories of their early outfits kept the modesty levels low? Cape wearers can spend a lifetime searching for redemption. What the outfits lacked the music made up for in droves: unmistakable pop mastery that still sounds clarion fresh decades later ("Dancing Queen" is no three chord hack). So if you're shamefully reading this hoping that no one will discover your seedy secret, prepare for good and bad news. First, it's too late, you're already caught. Privacy doesn't exist on the internet. Now the good news: it's okay to come out and listen to this stuff. You're caught anyway. Buy it or download it and revel in your freedom. Yee Hah!Free Music Review: Even This Metalhead Needs His ABBA Fix Sometimes :)
Hit: 5 Stars
Yep, I was one of those 10-11 year old kids who loved disco when it was popular, and then totally rejected it by the time I was 13 (okay, maybe 14). But during when this music was at its peak in 1977-78, there were very few bands that I liked more than this fab foursome from Sweden, who at the time just happened to be one of the most popular in the world.As some reviewers have mentioned, there was a certain naivete` about ABBA that was so appealing back then. Part of it was that their music was upbeat without being too silly. Another part of it was the gorgeous vocal harmonies between lead singers Agnetha and Frida. Now that I've come full-circle to appreciate the 70's disco I grew up on, as well as the 80's metal and 90's grunge and industrial that I've grown into, I can say that nothing quite brings back the way I felt in my early double-digit days more than putting on GOLD, the definitive ABBA greatest-hits CD.
The CD begins with their first U.S. #1 hit "Dancing Queen", the song that broke them into mega-stardom. Relentlessly upbeat, this song helped define the disco era. It all ends with their very first U.S. (and international) hit "Waterloo", which they recorded back in 1973, and showed that they were upbeat even before there was disco. In between are 70's classics like "Fernando", "Mamma Mia" (which was so well-utilized in the wonderful film THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT), "Money, Money, Money", "Take A Chance On Me" (during which is impossible to resist the urge to toe-tap), and "Knowing Me, Knowing You" (Ah-ha!). There are some 70's curios like "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)", "Does Your Mother Know", and "S.O.S." but even these are entertaining. There are even some early-'80's gems like "Super Trouper" and "The Winner Takes It All" (which is probably the greatest disco-love-ballad ever).
Listen, I don't listen to this CD often, and it is in fact the only ABBA CD I own. But, every once in a while, maybe every 3-4 months, I need to hear some of this music. And if that's what you need to do too, then I think you need to get this CD. 'Cause if it's an ABBA fix you need, then there isn't another CD you can get that can satisfy it as well as ABBA GOLD! :)
Free Music Review: ABBA is timeless!
Hit: 5 Stars
Well, my parents are fiendishly delighted to hear me admit this, but I love ABBA, and I think their music is much better than the junk my generation is listening to. (I'm 14 years old) This is a totally awesome CD- I'll do a run-through of all the songs-1)Dancing Queen- Awesome Song! Just makes you wanna get up and dance!
2)Knowing Me, Knowing You- More of a ballad than a dance song. It's about breaking up, so it's kinda depressing.
3)Take a Chance on Me- I love this song! The background vocals by Bjorn and Benny are awesome!
4)Mamma Mia- Whee! Quite possibly my favorite song on the CD- Mamma Mia, how could you resist this song?!?
5)Lay All Your Love On Me-Cool song about commitment
6)Super Trooper- This is an awesome song too. I love this one (but it kinda makes me think of some 70s disco club or something-:-P)
7)I Have a Dream-This a totally beautiful and moving ballad which supposedly reflects what the band members were going through.
8)Winner Takes It All-Another song reflecting the band's personal life. Sad and moving.
9)Money Money Money- I'm not sure whether this song is upbeat or not-kinda in between happy and sad.
10)S.O.S.- A song about trying to save a relationship-slightly sad and touching.
11)Chiquitita- Another "somewhere between happy and sad" song- I like this one because "Chiquitita" is fun to say.
12)Fernando-One more of my favorites- a slow yet invigorating ballad- very romantic.
13)Voulez Vous- Yay! Another dance song! How could anyone listen to this song and not have their spirits raised???
14)Gimme Gimme Gimme- Yet another fun dance song- this would be perfect for a bachelorette party or something :-)
15)Does Your Mother Know- This one is really different because the lead vocals are by Bjorn, not Agnetha and Frida like they usually are.
16)One of Us- This song doesn't stand out to me much-it's ok, but it's not my fave.
17)The Name of the Game- See above
18)Thank You for the Music- A nice ballad- quite touching.
19)Waterloo- Another great dance song!!! ABBA's first hit- this song totally rocks. I love it!
OK, I've made this reveiw rather long now, so I'm going to close now by saying ABBA rocks! Buy this CD now- whether you are 15 or 50 or 150- cuz you won't regret it!
Free Music Review: PURE GOLD!
Hit: 5 Stars
There are three words I can say after listening to this album all the way through: wow, WoW and WOW!!! I must admit, I originally thought ABBA was one or two hit wonder because all I've ever heard from them was the ever-popular "Dancing Queen." (However after listening to it I found myself asking "They sang that?! I had no idea!") I enjoyed "Dancing Queen" enough that my sister bought this wonderful album for me as a Christmas present. At first I was a little hesistant to listen to the other tracks but I decided to do so anyway. And boy, was I impressed!! This is one of the few, exclusive albums that I can listen to all the way through. It's just *that* good.Even in the 2000's ABBA's legacy lives on. Their music can be tolerated even in today's pop music world. Take the group A*teens for example. Isn't it great that you hear children singing songs such as "Take A Chance On Me" and "Mama Mia"? Yeah maybe they aren't the best singers but the fact remains: ABBA still get recognized even today, decades later. Currently, the Broadway musical "Mama, Mia!" is a hit. With a musical based on ABBA's greatest hits, why wouldn't it be? "Mama Mia!" was written by Benny and Bjork (The two male singers/songwriters of ABBA) as well as the often produced musical, "Chess."
My favorite songs on the album are as follows:
"Take A Chance On Me", "Super Trouper", "Chiquitita", "Voulez Vous", "Does Your Mother Know", "One Of Us", "The Name of the Game" and "Thank You For The Music."
Don't worry, there are more songs on the album then this, all of great merit. I had a hard time myself thinking up which ones were my absolute favorites, and in time they may change as well. All of the songs on this album are up-beat and make you just feel happy inside. The rhythm just makes ya wanna get up and dance (Especially "Dancing Queen"). Yeah, some maybe a little 70's like ("Lay All Your Love On Me") but the fact still remains: ABBA is here to stay!! Reccomended to *anyone*...even if only hearing their song "Dancing Queen."
Free Music Review: Perfect Pop That Will Last Forever
Hit: 5 Stars
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MEMBERS OF ABBA AND THEIR MANY FANS: I am telling you that this album represents an excellent jump-off point for some of the greatest popular music of all time. BOY, I'm not kidding. The sheer craftsmanship and joy with which this music was created and performed is plain to hear. The songs of ABBA are as fresh sounding and as darn good now as they were 20-plus years ago. This is perfect pop music that deserves even more acclaim now than then; for we live in an era that is a desert of creativity where pop music is concerned. It should be songs that matter and freshness of melody. My God, if you are new to the joys of ABBA, then enter their world with this fine compilation and you'll forever thank them for the music. Such is the power of their music and vocal performance that even an old metalhead like me can have his head turned by `SOS', `THE NAME OF THE GAME', `FERNANDO' or `DANCING QUEEN'. And that's just for starters. There are many like me who wait, hopefully not in vain, for a limited set of celebratory/farewell concerts someday soon. Will Agnetha, Bjorn, Frida and Benny take the stage at least one or two more times, to say adios to the people who love them so much? A concert broadcast to a world that so richly rewarded them, but took so much from them as well? My dear Agnetha, how you must have hurt so, consumed by the business you were in for so much of your life. Would I be insulting your intelligence if I asked, do you realize just how much so many people love you? Will you one day rejoin your former partners, if only briefly? You're all still young enough with all your considerable gifts still intact. I am not alone in believing this. If we want you wonderful people back it's not for selfish nostalgia. We want to celebrate with you. And would we ever!