ABBA are back!!!!

[allezfred]

IIRC there have already been a couple of "concerts" with avatars of dead performers, and they didn't get good reviews. This may be different with the motion-capture technology being done on live performers. From the brief glimpses on YouTube IMO it looked relatively convincing, but I'm not sure how many people are going to pay $$$$ to watch it "live".

You have no idea then of the popularity of ABBA, particularly in the U.K. There is a reason they chose London to do this. This will sell out so fast.

 

[Parsley Sage]

The big difference for me is that it is the original members of the group that are doing this and not someone else trying to exploit them like most of the other hologram performances have been.

 

[Desperado]

I wasn’t a big fan of the avatar idea at first, particularly due to its “forever young” ABBA concept as if aging is a thing to hide and deny, but seeing more footage convinced me that it’s the perfect band for this, having been out of the limelight so long with their best songs from another era.

Happy to hear the new songs too. Their reunion is the best entertainment news I’ve had in decades.

 

[overedge]

You have no idea then of the popularity of ABBA, particularly in the U.K. There is a reason they chose London to do this. This will sell out so fast.

I'm well aware of how popular ABBA are especially in the UK. My point was whether people are willing to pay to watch avatars. The Elvis Presley estate licensed a live show with an Elvis avatar, with backing musicians that had played on some of Elvis' most popular albums. It wasn't a success.

 

[genevieve]

It doesn't surprise me that Elvis fans were not really into the avatar thing, but I have no doubt this will sell out in a hot second.

Who here expects a Madonna CGI tour next, with avatars from every era?

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

It doesn't surprise me that Elvis fans were not really into the avatar thing, but I have no doubt this will sell out in a hot second.

Who here expects a Madonna CGI tour next, with avatars from every era?

Oh lord don't give her any ideas.

I was thinking Cher. ♡

 

[genevieve]

Oh lord don't give her any ideas.

I was thinking Cher. ♡

I was gonna say Cher but she's practically CGI now herself

 

[allezfred]

I'm well aware of how popular ABBA are especially in the UK.

You don’t sound like you are.

 

[allezfred]

Funnily enough, I’ve just come across Adam Lambert and Queen and to be honest I’d prefer to watch an avatar of Freddie Mercury.

 

[PeterG]

I was wrong about Abba's new songs. I Still Have Faith In You is really growing on me. Frida's vocals are so beautiful.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

I was wrong about Abba's new songs. I Still Have Faith In You is really growing on me. Frida's vocals are so beautiful.

Absolutely.

 

[antmanb]

The avatar thing totally puts me off and i'm not willing to pay any money to see avatars of Abba. I would totally pay over the odds to see them actually perform live any time. I'll happily buy a stream or DVD of the concert to watch at home but i'm not paying concert prices to not see them in concert

The avatar concept was brilliant for something like Gorillaz but Abba, not so much

I'm totally here for the new music though, and another massive thumbs up for the Visitors - I bought a cook with the sheet music for that album and it was totally beyond my ability

 

[PeterG]

In the first week or release, here's the chart entries for Abba's two new songs, starting with I Still Have Faith In You:

Sweden #2
Germany #3
Norway #13
UK Singles #14
Ireland #18
Netherlands #21
Australia #39

And Don't Shut Me Down:

Sweden #1
Germany #5
Norway #7
UK Singles #9
Ireland #12
Japan Hot Overseas #16
Netherlands #18
Australia #27
New Zealand 331
Belgium #44

ETA: They would have performed better on the Australian charts if their songs had not been released the same week as Drake's new album. Twenty of Drake's song made the Australian Top 50 chart.

 

[PeterG]

ABBA's first album in forty years "Voyage" is out now. A third song has been released as a single: Just A Notion

 

[Simone411]

ABBA's first album in forty years "Voyage" is out now. A third song has been released as a single: Just A Notion

Thanks for sharing, @PeterG! I've been coming to this thread to catch up when I have the chance to do so. I totally love ABBA, and have appreciated everyone's input.

 

[Miezekatze]

Benny and Björn were on a German tv show yesterday to promote the new album. They performed a little improvised version of "SOS" as a little gambling debt, with a famous German singer taking up the singing (since she's both the most hated and the most loved German singer, depending on who you asked, I'm sure half of the viewers liked it and the other half considered it a sacriledge, but I thought it was a really fun surprise, since unexpected). Guess that's the closest anyone will get to half of ABBA performing something

I wouldn't pay for something like the avatars either, actually I think avatars are horrible (that Paul McCartney Music video is sort of creepy IMO), but of course it's understandable that Agnetha and Frida especially have no interest in an actual comeback. I'm sure the show will still sell really well though.

I want to visit the ABBA museum in Stockholm one day though.

 

[text_skate]

since she's both the most hated and the most loved German singer

Sorry to ask, but who is she?

 

[Miezekatze]

Sorry to ask, but who is she?

Helene Fischer, schlager superstar: the richest singer you’ve never heard of

The German-Russian star sits above Celine Dion and Britney Spears in Forbes’ list of the highest-paid women in music. But you may find her far from easy listening

www.theguardian.com

Her music is not as bad anymore as in 2018

 

[allezfred]

I want to visit the ABBA museum in Stockholm one day though.

It’s amazing.

 

[text_skate]

Helene Fischer, schlager superstar: the richest singer you’ve never heard of

The German-Russian star sits above Celine Dion and Britney Spears in Forbes’ list of the highest-paid women in music. But you may find her far from easy listening

www.theguardian.com

Her music is not as bad anymore as in 2018

Of course! I know her name.
Didn't know the part of being loved/hated. I don't know anyone who is talking about her, neither good or bad. Probably reading the wrong newspapers, too
Apperently this is a hell-no-I'm-living-in-a-bubble-moment (as I'm living in the capital of said nation).

 

[Judy]

Ohhhh I love ABBA!

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

It’s amazing.

A few years ago I was in Stockholm for one Thursday evening during a work trip and drove by the ABBA Museum with every intent of going in and reveling and worshiping but it was closed that evening for a private event. (so many screams and tears!)

 

[Seerek]

Little Things video

ABBA - Little Things

This is the very first Christmas song from ABBA, and no Christmas song would be complete without a festive video!Listen to the new album: https://abba.lnk.to...

youtu.be

 

[Stefanie]

I bought the new album from ITunes as a result of this thread. My favorite song on it is “When You Danced with Me.”

 

[Desperado]

With the Christmas song, I would’ve loved for them to remake their Happy New Year (a favourite of mine).

“What lies waiting down the line
In the end of eighty-nine...” “twenty-nine”? Or any rhyming lyric really.

 

[Rob]

I am going! I got tickets for September 2022, now if only the ******* permits travel.

 

[Sylvia]

“ABBA Voyage” premiered on Friday night in London:

Abba reunite to launch 'incredible' virtual concert - BBC News

All four members appear in public for the first time in 14 years, as they launch their Voyage show.

www.bbc.com

ABBA’s ‘Voyage’ CGI Extravaganza Is Everything It’s Cracked Up to Be, and More: ‘Concert’ Review

“To be or not to be, that is no longer the question,” declared ABBA co-founder and musical mastermind Benny Andersson at the start of “ABBA Voyage,” the Swedish quartet’s first “concert” in over 40…

variety.com

Stars and royalty watch ABBA's return in digital stage show

Four decades after ABBA last performed live, audiences can once again see them onstage, in the innovative digital concert "ABBA Voyage."

apnews.com

Abba Voyage review: jaw-dropping avatar act that’s destined to be copied | Abba | The Guardian

<strong>Abba Arena, London<br></strong>Any sense you’re not actually in the presence of the band dissolves during a setlist of crowd-pleasing hits

amp.theguardian.com