It’s been an interesting month for 1970s band reunions – first we had Fleetwood Mac drop Lindsey Buckingham, effectively becoming Fleetwood House and a Heartbreaker. And now ABBA have announced their first new music for 35 years, along with a tour as holograms. ABBA seemed like The Smiths or Hüsker Dü, a group that would always resist a reunion. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus continued to work together after ABBA, most notably on the musical Chess, but the dynamics of a band with two divorced couples are obviously complicated.
It took me a long time to come around to ABBA – it may have been rockism, it may have been that the band were generally a little looked down on during my 1980s childhood after their cultural saturation of the 1970s. Or most likely, I realised that the band developed during their tenure – early hits like ‘Ring Ring’ and ‘I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do’ are underdeveloped compared to their later work. I don’t think the band hit their straps until 1976’s Arrival, and even that album has throwaways like ‘Dum Dum Diddle’ and ‘When I Kissed The Teacher’.
Even though the group were in commercial decline in the early 1980s, and their band relationships were difficult, their later work is among their most acclaimed – their final album, 1981’s The Visitors, was included in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, and the unsuccessful 1982 single ‘Under Attack’ is one of my favourite lesser known ABBA tracks.
The group are planning to tour as holograms (or “abbatars”), and they’ve also recorded two new songs as part of their reunion.
Do you like ABBA or find them too sugary? Would you see a tour of ABBA holograms?
Don’t know how to take it, don’t know where to go
My resistance’s running low
And everyday the hold is getting tighter and it troubles me so
You know that I’m nobody’s foolI’m nobody’s fool and yet it’s clear to me
I don’t have a strategy
It’s just like taking candy from a baby
And I think I must beUnder attack, I’m being taken
About to crack, defenses breaking
Won’t somebody see and save a heart?
Come and rescue me now ’cause I’m falling apartUnder attack, I’m taking cover
He saw my track, my chasing lover
Thinking nothing’s gonna stop him now
Should I want to, I’m not sure, I won’t know howNow this is getting crazy, I should tell him so
Really let my anger show
‘Cause waiting at the answer to his questions is a definite blow
I’m kind of certain that’s the truthGuess I’m kind of flattered but I’m scared as well
Something like a magic spell
I hardly dare to think of what could happen
Where I’d be if I fellUnder attack, I’m being taken
About to crack, defenses breaking
Won’t somebody see and save a heart?
Come and rescue me now ’cause I’m falling apartUnder attack, I’m taking cover
He saw my track, my chasing lover
Thinking nothing’s gonna stop him now
Should I want to, I’m not sure, I won’t know howUnder attack, I’m being taken
About to crack, defenses breaking
Won’t somebody see and save a heart?
Come and rescue me now ’cause I’m falling apartUnder attack, I’m taking cover
He saw my track, my chasing lover
Thinking nothing’s gonna stop him now
Should I want to, I’m not sure, I won’t know howUnder attack, I’m being taken
About to crack, defenses breaking
Won’t somebody see and save a heart?
Come and rescue me now ’cause I’m falling apart
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I heard they were back together but didn’t hear they were touring as holograms! I’m not sure how I feel about that. Is it true?
“The two songs will be part of the hologram tour. The members of Abba won’t appear physically, but their digital selves will be there performing these songs recorded by the real Abba.”
Hmmm
It might work if it’s done well – they’re a good band for that approach.
I like good pop music so yeah I like ABBA. Not everything they did, mind you, but generally speaking. (Cannot stand “Dancing Queen.” Rubbish.) But “Waterloo” is one of the great pop songs of all time. “SOS,” “I Do, I Do.” Love “Fernando.” The hologram thing seems dumb to me. But I think their more rabid fans will eat it up. I never really cared to see them or buy their stuff. Pure radio confection.
Do you think pure radio confection is a noble goal in its own right? I like Dancing Queen fine, I like them when they’re going for a sophisticated, sleek Euro-pop sound.
I don’t understand the ‘noble goal’ question. I’m sure that Abba’s intention was to sell records. My point is that there are bands – many bands and artists – that I have never bought anything by but still enjoy hearing them on the radio.
Hey no, hey no, I would not go.
Not me, and even if it was for free.
For I am not an ABBA fan,
I do not like the Swedish band.
Particulars: They’re much too poppy
Sometimes cute and sometimes soppy.
Looking like Grandma and Dad
Yet ABBAtars are just plain mad.
Would you see them at a show?
With Steely Dan and Nomeansno?
I’d go to see more Anapestic tetrameter like this performed live!
I’ve warmed up to Abba over the years, my daughter adores the Mamma Mia soundtrack (and slipping through my fingers is a spectacular tune in my books).
I’m surprised to read this, as I thought I remembered a Chuck Klosterman essay from the early 2000s where he said they’d been offered $1 Billion(!) to tour again.
That’s on The Visitors right? They had a lot of good album tracks on their later albums, I think.
I would rush for Steely Dan
And take me best friend Sam I Am
But No Means No for Abba, man
An Abbatar is just a sham.
Unfortunately, Becker is dead
Will you see just Fagen instead?
No Becker, Walt?
Whose fault? Whose fault?
Yet I would likely make a choice
To see our Don ‘cos he’s the voice.
Of course, the best way, Sam I Am
Would be a Becker hologram
Please stop, please stop
Avant ye ghost!
We’ve left behind
The Abba post.
So cease these hologramic spirits
The whole idea gives me the irrits.
*Train splashes into the water*
Sam! If you will let me be,
I will try them. You will see.
Say! I like rock holograms!
I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!
And I would watch them in a boat.
And I would watch them with a goat…
Ugh! that band featuring Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
I wouldn’t cross the road to see them play at my neighbours!
I’m impressed you rhymed Ulvaeus with something.
Thank you, it’s a heartfelt sentiment too.
Was mildly interested because of my childhood. Until reading about the holograms part. Forget it.
I didn’t include this late single in my list because I hear a stirring disconnect between the music/arrangement in the verses (terrific, spooky) and the chorus (too sugary and a callback to early singles). I doesn’t make me think of a woman trying to repel a stalker. It’s a schism in mood too much. Like 2 very different songs. It does not gel.
I guess I can agree it’s a bit incoherent. Makes it a fascinating non-hit though – still lots of hooks, just not as tightly constructed as their best-loved hits.