Bjorn always denied this was about their divorce, but later admitted it was written in an emotional, drunken hour or so. He showed Agnetha the lyrics and she broke down in tears. It is a part of what made Abba songs resonate around the world - two married couples, who both divorced and then wrote and sang about songs about adult relationships, the joy, the strains and the hurt. Abba was my guilty pleasure (not cool at all) as a teenager through the 70's and into the 80's. One of the greatest of supergroups.
That's not the same as admitting that. He was tipsy, yes, and it was *_inspired_* by his own life. But it was never ABOUT their divorce. His original plan was also to sing it himself. It wasn't until they tried it in the studio that he had the idea to try to let Agnetha sing it. The others that were there soon felt that was a really good idea, so they quickly changed the pronouns it the text :)
@@herrbonk3635 He may have given many versions of the story. But the one I heard, from Bjorn himself, was that he was not tipsy...he said he was completely drunk and may have drunk a bottle of some liquor (vodka?) that night. He and Benny were asked in that interview if they used to write while "high" or intoxicated, like other composers... and his answer was that only this time. He also said that, of course, it was about THEIR situation. That he denied it before bc he didn't want the song to be perceived as gimmicky and for personal reasons. That as soon as he completed it and he showed it to Benny, Benny told him "You know this HAS to be sung by Agnetha", and that his reply was "I know". That they showed it to Agnetha and she immediately loved it. Didn't say anything about Agnetha crying. But Agnetha said in an interview that one of her major regrets was not being able to sing The Winner Takes It All live in a concert, bc the emotions would have been off the charts and that would have probably been the best performance of her career (I agree!)...sort of implying that the song was a very personal one... But who knows? I think artists many times answer questions in interviews according to what they want to promote. Only Bjorn knows the truth. My PERSONAL opinion: Bjorn knew his limitations as a singer; he also knew he had two of the most beautiful voices ever created in his group. I highly doubt he would have even attempted/intended to sing this masterpiece. I'm not saying you are not telling the truth, I'm just saying that if he planned to sing it himself it was probably when he was drunk....
@@RoxanaToledo-pk8te You heard this in Swedish or English? A mix? Personally, I tend to trust what they say in Swedish. It feels closer to earth and like less is lost in translation and marketing or "image building". Their songs often changed character several times before the final version that got stuck on the LP. That's what they say and also according to tapes where you hear them experiment with wildly different styles and tempos on the same melody and chord progression. So this song could well have started off like a modern version of Crazy World or similar. Which was another beautiful pecoral, where Björn took the lead. (He had many such leads in his earlier singer songwriter style group as well.) I wrote tipsy because drunk sound so vulgar, and I also read that word in this context somewhere. I would guess it wasn't vodka. Not overly popular in the 1970/80s, at least not under that term, borrowed from Russia. (The old swedish word for the same thing is brännvin.) So it could also have been konjak, whiskey, gin, akvavit, grogg, port wine, sherry, or whatever that was common at the time :)
Bjorn wrote the song for his ex wife to sing while they were together in the studio. Also in the group was another married couple going through a break up. Sooo complicated.
@@fathertedcrilley3988 Amy needs to react to all the ABBA metal covers from Swedish Hitz Goes Metal. Former guitarist of the power metal band Sabaton, Tommy Johannson, sings them and his voice is awesome.
Same. But woman, 61. Not big and bold but skinny and hairy. I remember how I hated ABBA when I was a teenager, their poppy music and silly clothes. I was into hard rock and punk back then. Still am. But with age and and nostalgic feelings I found out what a great band ABBA truly was. Giants of pop! I also learned to love Pink Floyd and other pretentious art-rock bands.
That’s because as a group, ABBA shares the same traits and principles we demand from rock bands: craft, skill, ability, chord progressions, production quality, performance, arrangements, in a word: TALENT. Just change the acoustic guitar for a nice overdriven guitar with nice distortion and voilà: heavy rock.
Some of the best songwriting and arranging of the era. Easy for people to trash them for making such poppy and commercial music, but boy were they talented.
I would say the holy trinity of singer/songwriters of the era is Billy Joel, ABBA, and Bee Gees, with special mention to Jackson Browne, Elton John/Bernie Taupin, and Meatloaf/Steinman. Impossible to believe that all this music was being written at the same time even though I lived through it.
ABBA are the grand masters of not spelling out pain and sadness, but rather hiding it behind the evasions of maturity and then letting it ooze from the music to the point when it freezes your heart. Case in point: The Day Before You Came
Abba are just another pop group, right? Wrong. There are so much more than that. They are masters of the genre. Their song writing, performance and production has always been at such a high level and will endure.
Simply A masterpiece. Lyrics, melody, singer, arrangement. Simply magnificent performance. ABBA is one the greatest band ever. And last , their music is timeless.
The Swedish metal rock singer and musician has made really good Abbba covers, and metalized them. I love his cover of this song, The winner takes it all.
I discovered ABBA on the tail end of their careers. This is one of the first vinyl records of theirs that I actually purchased. It was so sad and beautiful at the same time. Oh my decades later did I learn of the true greatness of ABBA throughout the years. It still hurts my heart to listen to this with someone else learns to appreciate them as much as many millions of us do.
Can't wait to hear "Dancing Queen" analysis. It captures the layers of joy and angst of a teenager wanting to shine and shimmer on the dance floor, being loved and admired by everybody; but in its portrayal of a beautiful girl in her popularity glory (or the fantasy of these things), there is an extremely strong undercurrent of fragility and uncertainty, the high stakes of an arena that on the surface is about pleasure, fun and exhilaration, but is really a glorified Darwinian competition for mates and social position. But what's so incredibly powerful and poignant in this, is that the girl going through this fully accepts SOCIAL REALITY of this sort as a basic fact of life, which is inherently a mix of pleasure and pain, that might as well be enjoyed while you are young and alive, indeed, that you have NO CHOICE but to embrace, because being a girl means exactly this: seeking pleasure, fun, admiration, glamour, as much as one can claim for oneself, because the alternative is to reject life itself. It's not that the lyrics discourse on these ideas; it's that the song **as a whole** (the music AND the lyrics, working together so sublimely) make you feel all this so vividly and viscerally. It's a girl's shallow hedonism on the surface, but also an adolescent girl's existential angst (sex, love, even death, albeit *very* remotely; the age reference -17 - and phrase “time of your life”, while an idiom for “extreme enjoyment”, subtly alludes to any such moment possibly being the highest enjoyment the girl will ever attain, and from this one moment of glory, the peak of her feminine attractiveness, which can never be recaptured, it’s a steady slide toward mundane adulthood and what comes after) percolating under the surface.
Pure perfection from start to finish ❤ IMO this is their best ever song - and that's saying something, because they wrote some of the best songs of all time 😊 BTW, the "choir" you refer to is actually just Agnetha and Annifrid, cleverly arranged and sounding amazing!
What a song, what a voice Agnetha had/has....painfully beautiful here, a very plaintive voice, so appealing and a truly beautiful woman desired by men all over the world......and you heart breaks for her - Björn Ulvaeus wrote the lyrics to "The Winner Takes It All" in one hour while drunk. The song was inspired by the heartache of his and Agnetha's divorce, but Ulvaeus says the song is fictional and should not be taken literally. Agnetha and Frida sang their vocals for the song in the studio, and some in attendance were moved to tears. Agnetha has said that singing the song was like acting a part, and that she had to avoid letting her feelings take over.
One thing ABBA were fantastic at doing was making what was essentially sad songs sound so up-beat and cheerful. They've done this on numerous occasions. 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', 'S.O.S', 'Mama Mia', 'One Of Us', and, 'The Name Of The Game', being some examples. There's a whole mix of emotions within this song. A cool logical reasoning that slowing turns to resignation, then a slight coldness which quickly melts into a form of longing, then again, more resignation and then longing, before it goes back into the cool logical reasoning. It's a bit of a rollercoaster of a song, lyrically speaking.
ABBA has many intriguing songs with complex melodies, so it’s great to see Amy starting to have a look at them, even if not strictly rock. There are many ABBA fans out there, including metal heads. My top list of songs to analyse include, in order of preference: 1) “The Day Before You Came” - interesting storytelling and intriguing use of ascending/descending phrases with key changes. Monotonic, dull - and amazing. 2) “Slipping Through My Fingers” - beautiful song about Mother’s regret about her daughter growing up too quickly and the limited time that gives their relationship. Will strike a chord with any parent. 3) “The Visitors” - new use of synthesisers, producing an interesting new sound. Tells a story about Soviet dissidents. 4) “SOS” - catchy tune with surprisingly complex composition, by many (allegedly including John Lennon) called the greatest pop song of all time. 5) “Arrival” - instrumental song with no lyrics, popular bagpipe tune! 6) “Does Your Mother Know” - one of the more rocky ABBA tunes (in particular their live performance), notable for Björn being lead vocalist 7) “Dancing Queen” - ABBA’s arguably most successful hit song and only US Billboard #1. 8) “Money, Money, Money” - intriguing piano arrangements in the spirit of Rachmaninov 9) “Don’t Shut Me Down” - particularly notable for being released after a 40-year gap 10) “Chiquitita” - prominent harmonies, striking piano riff. 100% of royalties go to UNICEF, so far 5 M$ 11) Disco-bangers: “Voulez-Vous”, “Lay All Your Love on Me”, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”, “Take A Chance On Me”, “Mamma Mia!”, “Ring Ring”. Can’t go wrong with these on the dance floor. 12) Some other favourites: “Angeleyes”, “Super Trouper”, “Summer Night City”, “Eagle”, “When All Is Said And Done”
I have watched and enjoyed many of your analyses however this has to be my favourite so far. I recognised the skills of ABBA but you have focussed and enriched my perception significantly. You uncovered majesty that I may have been rather ambivalent about previously. A masterful work described by a masterful interpreter and I thank you for your authenticity, generosity, and love for music of all kinds.
I've always liked Abba's sad and melancholic songs the most. In fact Benny once said that too, with "The winner takes it all" being his favorite Abba song. Defenitely one of the best songs ever written. The "Chess" musical is also an absolute masterpiece.
Yay, finally some ABBA! I've been waiting 2 years since suggesting them. Was hoping for "S.O.S.", "Tiger" or "I'm A Marionette", but I'll take what I can get.
An interesting ABBA song in terms of musical structure is "The Name Of The Game" which instead of the usual verse/chorus, has several different sections one after another.
In my experience, this is the most analyzed ABBA song I have seen. It was wonderful to see you uncover the mystery of this song in a real time experience and shed new insights on a song I have known, listened to and studied a long time.
Wow!!! What an articulate, genuine, critique of one of ABBA's masterpieces. I think it is the best I have ever heard! What a pleasure to listen to you detail the intricasies, production, stunning vocals and music of one of pop music's finest and most enduring bands. Thank you for your heartfelt analysis! I think this is my all-time favorite ABBA song for alllll of the reasons you discussed..
When you think about the fact, it's the future ex-husband writing it to be sung by his former partner. Makes it so special and there were lots of emotions and tears during the work on it
I love your deep dive into this song! This song is very melodic. Great lyrics by Bjorn. Many of ABBA songs rhyme and this is one of them. "The winner takes it ALL, the loser has to fALL, beside the victorY, that's her destinY". You should do a deep dive to I Let The Music Speak, S.O.S., Slipping Through My Fingers and The Visitors.
The underlying beat drums is a 4/4 disco beat (four-on-the-floor) from Earl Young with bass, kick and hi-hats. BBC four had a documentary series "Can You Feel It? How Dance Music Conquered the World" three parts
Perfect melodies, great lyrics, plus fantastic singers, production and harmonies, created some of the best popular music ever made IMO. For me only matched by bands like Beatles & Queen. And it was increadibly brave to make a new album some 40 years after they broke up! One of the songs on that album is one of their finest: Ode to Freedom. Respect!
The combination of the music and Agneta's voice makes this a unforgetable song. Agneta tells a sad break up story while singing. She nailed singing this and always impersonated songs with het voice. A real great talent of her... Benny and Björn were great as a songwriters duo, and their songs performed by Frida and Agneta always had magic in their music.
I would love you to do “I Let the Music Speak” with Frida on lead vocals. I read that it was her favourite ABBA song. Her mezzo soprano voice truly shines on this one and it’s my favourite, too. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
I went through a breakup this year with a partner I've been with for a decade prior and this song... it perfectly encapsulates what we went through. We don't hate each other, in fact we're still friends, but the time of us living together as partners long came and passed... we were no longer lovers. And we both understood it. I moved into a new place and my ex still means the world to me... but... I have to accept that we are NOT partners anymore. It's incredibly depressing. But... it's also very freeing. As for who "took it all", I got so incredibly lucky to get a lot of material possessions from my ex-partner. She had no reason to be as generous and beautiful as she was, and yet... I couldn't have started over without her. Even in parting, our relationship is positive. I only wish other people I know could've had as easy and friendly and positive of a breakup as I did...
Bjorn and Agnetha had just divorced. He wrote this and said he would have liked to sing it but knew Agnetha would do it better. He gave it to her in the studio and she read it and teared up but wanted to be the singer. both have said it was a healing type thing for them.
What a marvellous reaction🍀 Intelligent, articulate, open-hearted, perceptive Such joyful, heartfelt sensitivity to the words & music Thank you, my friend🍀
A fantastic analysis you explain what I felt and couldn't articulate but you give us the masterful musical techniques used to effect that feeling and sound.
I was in Stockholm a few weeks ago, I HAD to make the pilgrimage to the Abba Museum. The combination of the guys' exceptional song-writing and the girls' fabulous and so well-matched voices (including their backing vocals) I'm not sure has been seen in any group, and that includes their musicians of course. In addition they were very impressive live too.
Wow, you chose a very pain-filled song for ABBA. It's one of my favorites, but it's a heartbreaker. I must have played this song 1,000 times during my divorce. To me, it speaks of that place that is not of anger, just having nothing left inside you. You don't even get angry anymore...you simply have nothing left. BTW, among my favorite bands are Kiss, Judas Priest, and ABBA. LOL
It was priceless to see the little moments of you almost reaching to pause but being unable to. What an amazing band. I bought a CD of their greatest hits earlier this year. They're absolutely timeless. What a damn powerful song. Thank you for the amazing reaction!
To add my agreement to so many other comments here, I'd say there are many influences to the 'ABBA sound' and each is executed so masterfully. The lead voices of course, the melodies, instrumentation, lyrics, the harmonies. A lot of ABBA songs contain 'Aha' or just angelic or aching 'Aaaaaaahs' in the background. It's kind of reminiscent of the 1960's girl groups where the backing singers sympathise with the broken hearted vocals of the lead vocalist eg, The Shangri-Las 'Leader Of The Pack'. You hear it here in those first Aaah-aaah=aah's that later transition into repeating the lines. They truly were the full package. Such a talented group.
VR should do some videos on '60s girl groups: the Ronettes (By My Baby), and other famele acts of that era (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, many others). They were crucial for the later davelopment of rock and pop. Plus Nancy Sinatra with Lee Hazelwood. More Frank Sinatra, more Elvis Presley.
Fabulous review lyrically and musically of a masterpiece. You rarely see this song in the top 50 of sad songs, but for me it's emotionally the best sad song ever written recorded and sung. Truly a masterpiece and Agnetha is truly unique. Thank you for a very considered review
@@ashocck8065 28 UK Top 40 singles, 9 of then No. 1s. 10 UK no. 1 albums. ABBA Gold is the second best selling album in UK chart history just behind Queen's Greatest Hits, with over 1,000 weeks on the album chart. That's before you even go to their deep cuts, like "Soldiers" and "Like an angel passing through my room", both of which are top quality. ABBA were massive all over the world, inspired a massive musical, and two blockbuster films. They also take on many musical styles including rock, pop, folk, reggae and more, and have huge variety in their output. If it can't be 50 then it has to be 40 at the very least!
I think this might just be my favourite video of yours yet! Your analysis manages to be incredibly detailed, without in any way detracting from your enthusiasm for the song's brilliance and poignancy. Brava!
Welcome to the rabitt hole of ABBA's extensive catalogue filled with hits and musical glory of over 50 years❤️😂🇸🇪 There's an instrumental on the record "Arrival" which is actually named "Arrival", no one ever reacts to it butit displays apart of their musical skills. A friend of mine had it in her wedding, also works for a funeral although I would choose "Move on" for that.
The pop surface might fool some people. But Benny Andersson who was the primary composer is quite a sophisticated musician, and Björn, who was the primary lyricist is quite the intellectual, who is conceptually and poetically quite sophisticated. After ABBA they wrote the musical 'Chess' and a famous Swedish musical called 'Kristina from Duvemala'. The ladies of course were very charismatic and expressive. When you dig deep in the ABBA catalogue, you find alot of great songs.
Björn and Benny were the Swedish 'Lennon & McCartney' or 'Jagger & Richards' 😀👍 I had to laugh when watching an ABBA interview from back in the day a while ago, when the reporter asked, "The boys compose the music and write the lyrics; What do you girls do?", and Agnetha replied with, "Nothing!" 😄
Thanks Amy. The reality was that this was written as both couples were splitting up. Hence it's authenticity. Abba creates melodies that cut straight to the heart and write lyrics that are both simple and childlike, yet deep and mature. It's a strange thing to say about their compositions, but they write songs without guile or pretence. I guess that is why they are so relatable on a heart level.
True.Abba didn't want ''to put feelings on vynil unless they were honest".As the guys had stated they wrote and recorded the kind of music they wanted to hear themselves sing.If that happened to impact to millions that was even more great.As the guys said , If it's not fun anymore they would quit and they did after 1982.When they got back in the studio in 2017 there was a reason.They did enjoy to (even partly) work and be together again.'As if no time had passed" yet that was 4 decades of drought for many Abba fans.
as Bjorn had said they tried hard to save it but finally it didn't work.'We just grew apart" Agnetha had kinda said that when they definately got divorced and Bjorn moved into a new life she i cried a lot."It hurt !It hurt badly" i remember those excact words as noted in the book "ABBA in their own words"" adding that u can't live with someone for 8 years and feel as if nothing had happened.But that's life.Both were brave.
You have articulated an exact interpretation of my own deep connection and emotional response to this beautiful song. thank you! i could not improve upon it, except to add that when sung along, I always inevitably choke up. I have never experienced her/their pain from divorce, but can’t escape the story and feel it as if it were mine!!
Agnetha had a soft based voice but at the same time could rock and sound punchy and convincing in story telling songs.Abba's songs were way more complicated than what seemed to be.People who tried to cover Abba songs or even many rockers (such as Richie Blackmoore) who fell for Abba's pop purity have acknowledged their superiority and confirmed the hard work and the complication hidden underneath.
Have a listen to Chess, the musical that Benny and Bjorn wrote, with Tim Rice (JC Superstar) writing the lyrics. Fabulous music. Very clever gentlemen.
Thank you for reacting to ABBA. Another brilliant group, Fleetwood Mac, did a whole album while they were all breaking up. The album Rumours. Check out all the songs on it, even if just for your own pleasure.
I became a massive ABBA fan at 9yo (late 70's) and I still love their music now (even though I'm mostly a rock fan). Both Agnetha and Anna-Frid have stunning voices but Agnetha does tragedy so well. I love Take a Chance on Me but my favourite weepy is Chiquatitta. Yes I know it's a term of endearment for a young woman and the song is about a young woman in emotional distress. At a campfire, I played guitar for a young female Cub Scout (mixed pack with boys and girls) - let's call her Sophie - who had taken the music to be about a little girl. Sophie had been beaten/physically abused by her father (wjo thank goodness was forced to leave) so she sang "I'll sing once more like I did before" and "I'll sing a new song as Chiquititta". There was silence whilst she sang and huge applause at the end. It was so beautiful, it makes me cry even now thinking about it. I hope Sophie found happiness when she grew up.
I wish her the same! 😌🙏 I've always found it heartbreaking to hear about some people's difficult childhood; It should be a _happy_ time, just like my own childhood had mostly been.
@@mightyV444 I agree completely- but life isn't always like that. I am transgender (well the proper term is transsexual but whatever 🙄 ) and was a trans-child myself (but in the UK in the 70's so no chance of transitioning). True trans people (not cross dressers or drag) are rare 1:2500 roughly. In the UK, 50% (yes really 😢 - 33% for adults) of trans kids/teens commit suicide due to lack of help. Nobody EVER forces children (or adults) to be trans - not ever. I am trying to raise money for trans children because without help many will die. I care, just as I cared about Sophie when she shuffled backwards on her tummy in a pack meeting revealing bruising around her middle and kidneys - so I took her to Alkela (Pack Mother). Sophie became my shadow after I helped her but I was glad to help. Like you, I wish all children could have good childhoods (LGBT+ or not) but it's our duty as caring human beings ❤️ to help whenever we can. My childhood was (in general) happy apart from mental illness caused by my gender dysphoria.
@@joannecunliffe8067 - Oh wow! 😯 Thank you for sharing all that with me, Joanne! I can imagine (actually no, not really) that it must've been very difficult for you as a child to feel like you have the 'wrong' body, with no help available, and you have my sincere compassion, too 😌🙏 But I'm just as happy for you that there eventually _had_ been good outcomes for you and that you even found your purpose of helping and supporting those in very similar situations! 😍👍 Everything _does_ happen for a reason! 😉 The younger one of my two Sons, now 16, had gone through a phase about 8 years ago when he too had felt he was in the wrong body and would've much rather been a girl. I have a photo of him in which he's wearing a Spiderman suit while holding a glittery fairy wand and having a tiara on his head, and he'd also loved the colour pink, asked for a baby doll for his birthday, etc. It seems this had been only a temporary phenomenon, though. All the best to you and for your mission! 😌🙌💚🌈☀️
Agneta Fältskog, the woman singing is the one this song is about. It was written by her ex-husband, her band mate. I can't even begin to comprehend the emotional trauma it must have been for her to sing this song.
Always liked ABBA. They are the apex of their genre. ABBA is also the sound track for a piece of my life. Me and my dancing queen in the discotheques. This song came out a couple years after that relationship was over. Thank you Amy for giving ABBA serious effort.
Thank you so much for your analysis of this beautiful, emotional song. They are masters of making sad, yet somehow uplifting songs that in the end make you happy, even though the song itself is about something sad that happened. I would like to see you break down other songs from this amazing group. They have well over a hundred songs in their catalog to choose from and they are very versatile. Songs like Knowing me knowing you or Andante Andante with Frida singing the lead vocals, or I`m a marionette, last song from a mini musical included in The Album 1976. These people were absolute masters of layering those two voices and making the most of them. Together, they made this "third voice" when they sung together. As an Abba fan since the 70`s, I want to thank you for braking it down and for given an old fan a new perspective to this amazing group. They have received awards never before given to pop/rock group, like in 1982 - they received a Golden Gramophone Award from the then German recording company Deutsche Gramophone "in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by ABBA to popular music worldwide". Until then, only classical musicians received the award. This year, all Abba members have received one of the most prestigious Swedish knighthoods after being awarded an order of chivalry last handed out almost 50 years ago.
This is just great, yesterday I watched your reaction to "Happy New Year" and loved your reaction/analysis and I was thinking it would be great if you would react to more Abba songs and here we are. Thank you! ❤
Bjorn always denied this was about their divorce, but later admitted it was written in an emotional, drunken hour or so. He showed Agnetha the lyrics and she broke down in tears. It is a part of what made Abba songs resonate around the world - two married couples, who both divorced and then wrote and sang about songs about adult relationships, the joy, the strains and the hurt. Abba was my guilty pleasure (not cool at all) as a teenager through the 70's and into the 80's. One of the greatest of supergroups.
That's not the same as admitting that. He was tipsy, yes, and it was *_inspired_* by his own life. But it was never ABOUT their divorce. His original plan was also to sing it himself. It wasn't until they tried it in the studio that he had the idea to try to let Agnetha sing it. The others that were there soon felt that was a really good idea, so they quickly changed the pronouns it the text :)
@@herrbonk3635 He may have given many versions of the story. But the one I heard, from Bjorn himself, was that he was not tipsy...he said he was completely drunk and may have drunk a bottle of some liquor (vodka?) that night. He and Benny were asked in that interview if they used to write while "high" or intoxicated, like other composers... and his answer was that only this time. He also said that, of course, it was about THEIR situation. That he denied it before bc he didn't want the song to be perceived as gimmicky and for personal reasons. That as soon as he completed it and he showed it to Benny, Benny told him "You know this HAS to be sung by Agnetha", and that his reply was "I know". That they showed it to Agnetha and she immediately loved it. Didn't say anything about Agnetha crying. But Agnetha said in an interview that one of her major regrets was not being able to sing The Winner Takes It All live in a concert, bc the emotions would have been off the charts and that would have probably been the best performance of her career (I agree!)...sort of implying that the song was a very personal one... But who knows? I think artists many times answer questions in interviews according to what they want to promote. Only Bjorn knows the truth. My PERSONAL opinion: Bjorn knew his limitations as a singer; he also knew he had two of the most beautiful voices ever created in his group. I highly doubt he would have even attempted/intended to sing this masterpiece. I'm not saying you are not telling the truth, I'm just saying that if he planned to sing it himself it was probably when he was drunk....
@@RoxanaToledo-pk8te You heard this in Swedish or English? A mix? Personally, I tend to trust what they say in Swedish. It feels closer to earth and like less is lost in translation and marketing or "image building".
Their songs often changed character several times before the final version that got stuck on the LP. That's what they say and also according to tapes where you hear them experiment with wildly different styles and tempos on the same melody and chord progression.
So this song could well have started off like a modern version of Crazy World or similar. Which was another beautiful pecoral, where Björn took the lead. (He had many such leads in his earlier singer songwriter style group as well.)
I wrote tipsy because drunk sound so vulgar, and I also read that word in this context somewhere.
I would guess it wasn't vodka. Not overly popular in the 1970/80s, at least not under that term, borrowed from Russia. (The old swedish word for the same thing is brännvin.) So it could also have been konjak, whiskey, gin, akvavit, grogg, port wine, sherry, or whatever that was common at the time :)
@@herrbonk3635 From what i've heard and read he has admitted lately that the song was indeed inspired by their break-up/divorce.
@@danielolson5378 Again, of course it was *_inspired_* by it, but that's not the same as being *ABOUT* it... It is pure fiction.
Quite simply one of the greatest pop songs ever written.
Don’t forget one of the all time best vocal performances.
Agnetha can emote like no one.
ABBA produced all their music! If mankind is still around the year 10000, they will play ABBA!! Do you the samme now!!
MORE ABBA PLEASE
I second this
Yes please!
“Slipping through my fingers” and “Chiquitita”
Agree. Dancing Queen, Thank you for the Music. Super Trouper
GIMME GIMME GIMME MORE ABBA-AAAAH!
Like An Angel Passing Through My Room and The Day Before You Came are my favourites.
The song was written by Björn Ulvaeus and sung by Agnetha Fältskog. Both got divorced soon before this release. This song was made from sheer pain.
"The judges will decide"
Bjorn wrote the song for his ex wife to sing while they were together in the studio. Also in the group was another married couple going through a break up.
Sooo complicated.
The piano is majestic. The song is by Bjorn and Benny. Sure Bjorn wrote the amazing lyrics but it was a combined effort.
@ Of course. Benny was very melodic on his approach. I’m sure he put some ideas as well.
Goddamn
I'm a 50 year old tattooed metalhead and I love ABBA
Same. 51, here.
55, big, bald. Same here
@@fathertedcrilley3988 Amy needs to react to all the ABBA metal covers from Swedish Hitz Goes Metal. Former guitarist of the power metal band Sabaton, Tommy Johannson, sings them and his voice is awesome.
Same. But woman, 61. Not big and bold but skinny and hairy.
I remember how I hated ABBA when I was a teenager, their poppy music and silly clothes. I was into hard rock and punk back then. Still am. But with age and and nostalgic feelings I found out what a great band ABBA truly was. Giants of pop! I also learned to love Pink Floyd and other pretentious art-rock bands.
That’s because as a group, ABBA shares the same traits and principles we demand from rock bands: craft, skill, ability, chord progressions, production quality, performance, arrangements, in a word: TALENT. Just change the acoustic guitar for a nice overdriven guitar with nice distortion and voilà: heavy rock.
This song still cuts so deep and true. It doesn't matter how many decades have passed. It still makes me cry. 😭
recorded almost 45 years ago!Unbelievable.Yet still relevant.
Some of the best songwriting and arranging of the era. Easy for people to trash them for making such poppy and commercial music, but boy were they talented.
Their Music is not what you Think their music according to other Musicians is very technical and not Easy
All those people trashing them should try to make such songs ;)
I would say the holy trinity of singer/songwriters of the era is Billy Joel, ABBA, and Bee Gees, with special mention to Jackson Browne, Elton John/Bernie Taupin, and Meatloaf/Steinman. Impossible to believe that all this music was being written at the same time even though I lived through it.
Yes indeed and also very impressive performers live.
@@hypatian9093 Especially if they must play it by ear and memory and write the musical /Chess', too!🤩
ABBA are the grand masters of not spelling out pain and sadness, but rather hiding it behind the evasions of maturity and then letting it ooze from the music to the point when it freezes your heart. Case in point: The Day Before You Came
Abba are just another pop group, right? Wrong. There are so much more than that. They are masters of the genre. Their song writing, performance and production has always been at such a high level and will endure.
Well said. There is none better in the game of Pop.
Simply A masterpiece. Lyrics, melody, singer, arrangement. Simply magnificent performance. ABBA is one the greatest band ever. And last , their music is timeless.
The Swedish metal rock singer and musician has made really good Abbba covers, and metalized them. I love his cover of this song, The winner takes it all.
I give you 2 thumbs up for not interrupting this song --- very well done.
As a mother, I am sure "slipping through your fingers" would resonate with you. Björn wrote it about their little daughter growing up.
A big shout out to Micheal B Tretow, ABBA's sound engineer.
The third "B"
She sings the last chorus as part of choir, almost as if she is now an outside observer. Brilliant,
I discovered ABBA on the tail end of their careers. This is one of the first vinyl records of theirs that I actually purchased. It was so sad and beautiful at the same time. Oh my decades later did I learn of the true greatness of ABBA throughout the years. It still hurts my heart to listen to this with someone else learns to appreciate them as much as many millions of us do.
Can't wait to hear "Dancing Queen" analysis. It captures the layers of joy and angst of a teenager wanting to shine and shimmer on the dance floor, being loved and admired by everybody; but in its portrayal of a beautiful girl in her popularity glory (or the fantasy of these things), there is an extremely strong undercurrent of fragility and uncertainty, the high stakes of an arena that on the surface is about pleasure, fun and exhilaration, but is really a glorified Darwinian competition for mates and social position. But what's so incredibly powerful and poignant in this, is that the girl going through this fully accepts SOCIAL REALITY of this sort as a basic fact of life, which is inherently a mix of pleasure and pain, that might as well be enjoyed while you are young and alive, indeed, that you have NO CHOICE but to embrace, because being a girl means exactly this: seeking pleasure, fun, admiration, glamour, as much as one can claim for oneself, because the alternative is to reject life itself. It's not that the lyrics discourse on these ideas; it's that the song **as a whole** (the music AND the lyrics, working together so sublimely) make you feel all this so vividly and viscerally. It's a girl's shallow hedonism on the surface, but also an adolescent girl's existential angst (sex, love, even death, albeit *very* remotely; the age reference -17 - and phrase “time of your life”, while an idiom for “extreme enjoyment”, subtly alludes to any such moment possibly being the highest enjoyment the girl will ever attain, and from this one moment of glory, the peak of her feminine attractiveness, which can never be recaptured, it’s a steady slide toward mundane adulthood and what comes after) percolating under the surface.
Pure perfection from start to finish ❤ IMO this is their best ever song - and that's saying something, because they wrote some of the best songs of all time 😊 BTW, the "choir" you refer to is actually just Agnetha and Annifrid, cleverly arranged and sounding amazing!
What a song, what a voice Agnetha had/has....painfully beautiful here, a very plaintive voice, so appealing and a truly beautiful woman desired by men all over the world......and you heart breaks for her - Björn Ulvaeus wrote the lyrics to "The Winner Takes It All" in one hour while drunk. The song was inspired by the heartache of his and Agnetha's divorce, but Ulvaeus says the song is fictional and should not be taken literally.
Agnetha and Frida sang their vocals for the song in the studio, and some in attendance were moved to tears. Agnetha has said that singing the song was like acting a part, and that she had to avoid letting her feelings take over.
One thing ABBA were fantastic at doing was making what was essentially sad songs sound so up-beat and cheerful. They've done this on numerous occasions. 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', 'S.O.S', 'Mama Mia', 'One Of Us', and, 'The Name Of The Game', being some examples.
There's a whole mix of emotions within this song. A cool logical reasoning that slowing turns to resignation, then a slight coldness which quickly melts into a form of longing, then again, more resignation and then longing, before it goes back into the cool logical reasoning. It's a bit of a rollercoaster of a song, lyrically speaking.
ABBA has many intriguing songs with complex melodies, so it’s great to see Amy starting to have a look at them, even if not strictly rock. There are many ABBA fans out there, including metal heads. My top list of songs to analyse include, in order of preference:
1) “The Day Before You Came” - interesting storytelling and intriguing use of ascending/descending phrases with key changes. Monotonic, dull - and amazing.
2) “Slipping Through My Fingers” - beautiful song about Mother’s regret about her daughter growing up too quickly and the limited time that gives their relationship. Will strike a chord with any parent.
3) “The Visitors” - new use of synthesisers, producing an interesting new sound. Tells a story about Soviet dissidents.
4) “SOS” - catchy tune with surprisingly complex composition, by many (allegedly including John Lennon) called the greatest pop song of all time.
5) “Arrival” - instrumental song with no lyrics, popular bagpipe tune!
6) “Does Your Mother Know” - one of the more rocky ABBA tunes (in particular their live performance), notable for Björn being lead vocalist
7) “Dancing Queen” - ABBA’s arguably most successful hit song and only US Billboard #1.
8) “Money, Money, Money” - intriguing piano arrangements in the spirit of Rachmaninov
9) “Don’t Shut Me Down” - particularly notable for being released after a 40-year gap
10) “Chiquitita” - prominent harmonies, striking piano riff. 100% of royalties go to UNICEF, so far 5 M$
11) Disco-bangers: “Voulez-Vous”, “Lay All Your Love on Me”, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”, “Take A Chance On Me”, “Mamma Mia!”, “Ring Ring”. Can’t go wrong with these on the dance floor.
12) Some other favourites: “Angeleyes”, “Super Trouper”, “Summer Night City”, “Eagle”, “When All Is Said And Done”
I would add What's the Name of the Game? It's one of ABBA's most complex compositions/arrangements.
ABBA belong to the greatest of popular music for eternity.
According to a list i saw as of August 28 this year ABBA is 8th best selling artists of all time
I have watched and enjoyed many of your analyses however this has to be my favourite so far. I recognised the skills of ABBA but you have focussed and enriched my perception significantly. You uncovered majesty that I may have been rather ambivalent about previously. A masterful work described by a masterful interpreter and I thank you for your authenticity, generosity, and love for music of all kinds.
I've always liked Abba's sad and melancholic songs the most. In fact Benny once said that too, with "The winner takes it all" being his favorite Abba song. Defenitely one of the best songs ever written. The "Chess" musical is also an absolute masterpiece.
Yay, finally some ABBA! I've been waiting 2 years since suggesting them. Was hoping for "S.O.S.", "Tiger" or "I'm A Marionette", but I'll take what I can get.
SOS my favourite
But there are so many greats. I am a tiger, another one. arrival was an amazing album.
An interesting ABBA song in terms of musical structure is "The Name Of The Game" which instead of the usual verse/chorus, has several different sections one after another.
That's one of my favourite ABBA songs, too! 😍
💯agree. Name Of The Game and Knowing Me, Knowing You. Probably my two favorite ABBA songs.
In my experience, this is the most analyzed ABBA song I have seen. It was wonderful to see you uncover the mystery of this song in a real time experience and shed new insights on a song I have known, listened to and studied a long time.
It's love to see your reaction to "The Day Before You Came" by ABBA.
Yes, another very emotional composition sang by Agnatha…
ABBA are amazing!
Wow!!! What an articulate, genuine, critique of one of ABBA's masterpieces. I think it is the best I have ever heard! What a pleasure to listen to you detail the intricasies, production, stunning vocals and music of one of pop music's finest and most enduring bands. Thank you for your heartfelt analysis! I think this is my all-time favorite ABBA song for alllll of the reasons you discussed..
When you think about the fact, it's the future ex-husband writing it to be sung by his former partner. Makes it so special and there were lots of emotions and tears during the work on it
One of the most inspiring and educative analysis of the ABBA eternal classic I've ever seen, thank you for this wonderful video.
What a great and unique UA-cam channel you have created. It’s so interesting and inspiring to watch and learn from you. 😊
I love your deep dive into this song! This song is very melodic. Great lyrics by Bjorn. Many of ABBA songs rhyme and this is one of them. "The winner takes it ALL, the loser has to fALL, beside the victorY, that's her destinY". You should do a deep dive to I Let The Music Speak, S.O.S., Slipping Through My Fingers and The Visitors.
The underlying beat drums is a 4/4 disco beat (four-on-the-floor) from Earl Young with bass, kick and hi-hats. BBC four had a documentary series "Can You Feel It? How Dance Music Conquered the World" three parts
Perfect melodies, great lyrics, plus fantastic singers, production and harmonies, created some of the best popular music ever made IMO. For me only matched by bands like Beatles & Queen. And it was increadibly brave to make a new album some 40 years after they broke up! One of the songs on that album is one of their finest: Ode to Freedom. Respect!
Ah!'Ode to Freedom" Gee! A real athem for me!
The combination of the music and Agneta's voice makes this a unforgetable song. Agneta tells a sad break up story while singing. She nailed singing this and always impersonated songs with het voice. A real great talent of her... Benny and Björn were great as a songwriters duo, and their songs performed by Frida and Agneta always had magic in their music.
Thank you for letting it play through. That allowed my tears to flow freely while I reflected on past relationships. (I was the loser on a few).✌
It made me cry, too! And also rather unexpectedly 😌
Listeners of every genre love ABBA. I wish modern pop was 1% as good as pop in the 1970s and 80s.
I would love you to do “I Let the Music Speak” with Frida on lead vocals. I read that it was her favourite ABBA song. Her mezzo soprano voice truly shines on this one and it’s my favourite, too. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Yes that song is so great. I love the way it changes time from 3/4 to 4/4 back and forth. So musically complex. And the vocals- so exquisite.
@ Exquisite is the word! ❤️
I went through a breakup this year with a partner I've been with for a decade prior and this song... it perfectly encapsulates what we went through. We don't hate each other, in fact we're still friends, but the time of us living together as partners long came and passed... we were no longer lovers. And we both understood it. I moved into a new place and my ex still means the world to me... but... I have to accept that we are NOT partners anymore. It's incredibly depressing. But... it's also very freeing. As for who "took it all", I got so incredibly lucky to get a lot of material possessions from my ex-partner. She had no reason to be as generous and beautiful as she was, and yet... I couldn't have started over without her. Even in parting, our relationship is positive. I only wish other people I know could've had as easy and friendly and positive of a breakup as I did...
Bjorn and Agnetha had just divorced. He wrote this and said he would have liked to sing it but knew Agnetha would do it better. He gave it to her in the studio and she read it and teared up but wanted to be the singer. both have said it was a healing type thing for them.
What a great song. Beatifully written and performed. A masterpiece in fact.
AND...................they did it all to a disco beat! Brilliant!
This is my favourite song of all time and your take on this was brilliant, thank you
What a marvellous reaction🍀
Intelligent, articulate, open-hearted, perceptive
Such joyful, heartfelt sensitivity to the words & music
Thank you, my friend🍀
A fantastic analysis you explain what I felt and couldn't articulate but you give us the masterful musical techniques used to effect that feeling and sound.
КАК РАДОСТНА ЗЕМЛЯ!!!
Who would ever think such a simple 16 note arpeggiated chord progression played over and ever could sound so delicious..... that's pure talent.
I was in Stockholm a few weeks ago, I HAD to make the pilgrimage to the Abba Museum. The combination of the guys' exceptional song-writing and the girls' fabulous and so well-matched voices (including their backing vocals) I'm not sure has been seen in any group, and that includes their musicians of course. In addition they were very impressive live too.
Wow, you chose a very pain-filled song for ABBA. It's one of my favorites, but it's a heartbreaker. I must have played this song 1,000 times during my divorce. To me, it speaks of that place that is not of anger, just having nothing left inside you. You don't even get angry anymore...you simply have nothing left. BTW, among my favorite bands are Kiss, Judas Priest, and ABBA. LOL
grief
The Day Before You Came or Lay All Your Love on Me ❤
She would love 'The day ...'
@@fernandodeleon7466 She'd love "Chiquitita" as well.
* AND ! 😉 😁
@@mightyV444Yeah. AND at least 20 other songs. VR and ABBA both deserve it 😅
@@Ysialets - Someone in the comments suggests an 'ABBA 50'!
I'd be keen on that, too! 😁👍
You can always tell when you've really enjoyed a reaction. Your face lights up!
I would love to see you take a look at a song where Frida sings the lead: "Knowing me, Knowing You" or "I Let the Music Speak"
I second that.
Especially "I Let the Music Speak". It is one of Frida's favorites, and shows Benny's move to more complex compositions.
Agree 100%.
It was priceless to see the little moments of you almost reaching to pause but being unable to.
What an amazing band. I bought a CD of their greatest hits earlier this year. They're absolutely timeless. What a damn powerful song. Thank you for the amazing reaction!
Apart from modern music Benny is also much influenced and adores classical music.
To add my agreement to so many other comments here, I'd say there are many influences to the 'ABBA sound' and each is executed so masterfully. The lead voices of course, the melodies, instrumentation, lyrics, the harmonies. A lot of ABBA songs contain 'Aha' or just angelic or aching 'Aaaaaaahs' in the background. It's kind of reminiscent of the 1960's girl groups where the backing singers sympathise with the broken hearted vocals of the lead vocalist eg, The Shangri-Las 'Leader Of The Pack'. You hear it here in those first Aaah-aaah=aah's that later transition into repeating the lines. They truly were the full package. Such a talented group.
VR should do some videos on '60s girl groups: the Ronettes (By My Baby), and other famele acts of that era (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, many others).
They were crucial for the later davelopment of rock and pop.
Plus Nancy Sinatra with Lee Hazelwood. More Frank Sinatra, more Elvis Presley.
So glad you let it play. That, for this song, is the way.
Fabulous review lyrically and musically of a masterpiece. You rarely see this song in the top 50 of sad songs, but for me it's emotionally the best sad song ever written recorded and sung. Truly a masterpiece and Agnetha is truly unique. Thank you for a very considered review
Best singer ever!
Impressive review
ABBA 50 please. You won't be disappointed.
Awesome idea! 😍👍
Yep, has to be done 👍
Nah, 50 for ABBA is too much. Maybe 20. ABBA is great, but not THAT great.
@@ashocck8065 28 UK Top 40 singles, 9 of then No. 1s. 10 UK no. 1 albums. ABBA Gold is the second best selling album in UK chart history just behind Queen's Greatest Hits, with over 1,000 weeks on the album chart. That's before you even go to their deep cuts, like "Soldiers" and "Like an angel passing through my room", both of which are top quality. ABBA were massive all over the world, inspired a massive musical, and two blockbuster films. They also take on many musical styles including rock, pop, folk, reggae and more, and have huge variety in their output. If it can't be 50 then it has to be 40 at the very least!
@ashocck8065 - Actually, you're right!
50 _is_ a bit much! 😅
Thank you for looking at ABBA. Can we please have more! ❤
I think this might just be my favourite video of yours yet! Your analysis manages to be incredibly detailed, without in any way detracting from your enthusiasm for the song's brilliance and poignancy. Brava!
Man. I had forgotten how gorgeous this song is.
Greetings from New Mexico. I so enjoy taking your classes. Even though I can't attend in person. These interpretation are thought provoking.
Frida, backing up Agnetha, adds another magical background layer through the song. Two brilliant singers in one group!
It was like salt and pepper,or even better vanilla and chocolate ice-cream in the same dish.Two for the price of one.
@@alexioverdo5225I see what you did there. 😜
@@Godbluffer ha!ha!U 'naughty' boy!
@@Godbluffer - I saw that, too! 😁
Welcome to the rabitt hole of ABBA's extensive catalogue filled with hits and musical glory of over 50 years❤️😂🇸🇪 There's an instrumental on the record "Arrival" which is actually named "Arrival", no one ever reacts to it butit displays apart of their musical skills. A friend of mine had it in her wedding, also works for a funeral although I would choose "Move on" for that.
The pop surface might fool some people. But Benny Andersson who was the primary composer is quite a sophisticated musician, and Björn, who was the primary lyricist is quite the intellectual, who is conceptually and poetically quite sophisticated. After ABBA they wrote the musical 'Chess' and a famous Swedish musical called 'Kristina from Duvemala'. The ladies of course were very charismatic and expressive. When you dig deep in the ABBA catalogue, you find alot of great songs.
Björn and Benny were the Swedish 'Lennon & McCartney' or 'Jagger & Richards' 😀👍
I had to laugh when watching an ABBA interview from back in the day a while ago, when the reporter asked, "The boys compose the music and write the lyrics; What do you girls do?", and Agnetha replied with, "Nothing!" 😄
@@mightyV444 😅
@@tuijakarttunen9164 - 😁
Thanks Amy. The reality was that this was written as both couples were splitting up. Hence it's authenticity. Abba creates melodies that cut straight to the heart and write lyrics that are both simple and childlike, yet deep and mature. It's a strange thing to say about their compositions, but they write songs without guile or pretence. I guess that is why they are so relatable on a heart level.
True.Abba didn't want ''to put feelings on vynil unless they were honest".As the guys had stated they wrote and recorded the kind of music they wanted to hear themselves sing.If that happened to impact to millions that was even more great.As the guys said , If it's not fun anymore they would quit and they did after 1982.When they got back in the studio in 2017 there was a reason.They did enjoy to (even partly) work and be together again.'As if no time had passed" yet that was 4 decades of drought for many Abba fans.
This is by far my favourite video of yours so far. What a beautiful and yet emotional and brutal song this is. Thank you.
as Bjorn had said they tried hard to save it but finally it didn't work.'We just grew apart"
Agnetha had kinda said that when they definately got divorced and Bjorn moved into a new life she i cried a lot."It hurt !It hurt badly" i remember those excact words as noted in the book "ABBA in their own words"" adding that u can't live with someone for 8 years and feel as if nothing had happened.But that's life.Both were brave.
Benny Anderson is a piano god.
Yes. His album Piano is simply amazing. The way he plays The day before you came alone with piano really highlights just how beautiful that melody is.
Agnetha is reserved, shy and very kind.
She was never really comfortable with the whole like abbamania world wide and she especially hated beeing away from her and Björn's daughter.
@danielolson5378 For sure, she wanted to be a singer since her childhood, but ABBA's success was too much
You have articulated an exact interpretation of my own deep connection and emotional response to this beautiful song. thank you! i could not improve upon it, except to add that when sung along, I always inevitably choke up. I have never experienced her/their pain from divorce, but can’t escape the story and feel it as if it were mine!!
Agnetha had a soft based voice but at the same time could rock and sound punchy and convincing in story telling songs.Abba's songs were way more complicated than what seemed to be.People who tried to cover Abba songs or even many rockers (such as Richie Blackmoore) who fell for Abba's pop purity have acknowledged their superiority and confirmed the hard work and the complication hidden underneath.
Have a listen to Chess, the musical that Benny and Bjorn wrote, with Tim Rice (JC Superstar) writing the lyrics. Fabulous music. Very clever gentlemen.
@@nzlemming I Know him so well/One Night in Bangok/Anthem/Merano are my faves from "Chess" but i think gotta revisit this..
'Deconstructing' an Abba song is like being unsuspicious while opening a box full of hidden marvelous surprises.
@@christianoazzuro6711 Anthem is so amazing.
Thank you for reacting to ABBA. Another brilliant group, Fleetwood Mac, did a whole album while they were all breaking up. The album Rumours. Check out all the songs on it, even if just for your own pleasure.
5 minute song, 55 minutes of life philosophy! Thank you! 😍
That Bass line. ❤
hidden underneath but still audible and very well thought and placed.
Biggest Pop-Band in History, no doubt about it
ABBA has always been one of my favorites. They are/were excellent. More ABBA please!
I know and love this song very long but just learned why :). Thank you for this awesome analyses. Love it!
LOVE ABBA , Greetings from Hamburg / Germany
Me encanta como desmenuzas la cancion y me hace emocionar la forma en que te expresas. No te hablo de ABBA, tienes carisma y me enseñas. GRacias.
Has to be one of the greatest pop songs every written, despite the Swedish grammar. This is art.
The voices of two beautiful angels . A teengers fantasy. Still singing 50 years later snd still wonderful
Thankyou . That was a glorious breakdown of a fantastic piece of music.
One of my all time favorite band and song. Thank you for analyzing this piece.
I became a massive ABBA fan at 9yo (late 70's) and I still love their music now (even though I'm mostly a rock fan). Both Agnetha and Anna-Frid have stunning voices but Agnetha does tragedy so well. I love Take a Chance on Me but my favourite weepy is Chiquatitta. Yes I know it's a term of endearment for a young woman and the song is about a young woman in emotional distress. At a campfire, I played guitar for a young female Cub Scout (mixed pack with boys and girls) - let's call her Sophie - who had taken the music to be about a little girl. Sophie had been beaten/physically abused by her father (wjo thank goodness was forced to leave) so she sang "I'll sing once more like I did before" and "I'll sing a new song as Chiquititta". There was silence whilst she sang and huge applause at the end. It was so beautiful, it makes me cry even now thinking about it. I hope Sophie found happiness when she grew up.
I wish her the same! 😌🙏 I've always found it heartbreaking to hear about some people's difficult childhood; It should be a _happy_ time, just like my own childhood had mostly been.
@@mightyV444 I agree completely- but life isn't always like that. I am transgender (well the proper term is transsexual but whatever 🙄 ) and was a trans-child myself (but in the UK in the 70's so no chance of transitioning). True trans people (not cross dressers or drag) are rare 1:2500 roughly. In the UK, 50% (yes really 😢 - 33% for adults) of trans kids/teens commit suicide due to lack of help. Nobody EVER forces children (or adults) to be trans - not ever. I am trying to raise money for trans children because without help many will die. I care, just as I cared about Sophie when she shuffled backwards on her tummy in a pack meeting revealing bruising around her middle and kidneys - so I took her to Alkela (Pack Mother). Sophie became my shadow after I helped her but I was glad to help. Like you, I wish all children could have good childhoods (LGBT+ or not) but it's our duty as caring human beings ❤️ to help whenever we can. My childhood was (in general) happy apart from mental illness caused by my gender dysphoria.
@@joannecunliffe8067 - Oh wow! 😯 Thank you for sharing all that with me, Joanne! I can imagine (actually no, not really) that it must've been very difficult for you as a child to feel like you have the 'wrong' body, with no help available, and you have my sincere compassion, too 😌🙏
But I'm just as happy for you that there eventually _had_ been good outcomes for you and that you even found your purpose of helping and supporting those in very similar situations! 😍👍
Everything _does_ happen for a reason! 😉
The younger one of my two Sons, now 16, had gone through a phase about 8 years ago when he too had felt he was in the wrong body and would've much rather been a girl. I have a photo of him in which he's wearing a Spiderman suit while holding a glittery fairy wand and having a tiara on his head, and he'd also loved the colour pink, asked for a baby doll for his birthday, etc. It seems this had been only a temporary phenomenon, though.
All the best to you and for your mission!
😌🙌💚🌈☀️
This is an all-time classic. Nice reaction.
Mexico love abba...and you too...❤❤🎉🎉
I would love these episodes, particularly longer ones, in podcast format. I often don't have time for a full video but i do have a long commute!
Agneta Fältskog, the woman singing is the one this song is about. It was written by her ex-husband, her band mate. I can't even begin to comprehend the emotional trauma it must have been for her to sing this song.
Always liked ABBA. They are the apex of their genre. ABBA is also the sound track for a piece of my life. Me and my dancing queen in the discotheques. This song came out a couple years after that relationship was over. Thank you Amy for giving ABBA serious effort.
This reaction brought tears to my eyes as much as the song does. Bravo, Amy!
The video really shows the deep sadness/pain. Many more great ABBA songs to uncover.
Thank you so much for your analysis of this beautiful, emotional song. They are masters of making sad, yet somehow uplifting songs that in the end make you happy, even though the song itself is about something sad that happened. I would like to see you break down other songs from this amazing group. They have well over a hundred songs in their catalog to choose from and they are very versatile. Songs like Knowing me knowing you or Andante Andante with Frida singing the lead vocals, or I`m a marionette, last song from a mini musical included in The Album 1976. These people were absolute masters of layering those two voices and making the most of them. Together, they made this "third voice" when they sung together. As an Abba fan since the 70`s, I want to thank you for braking it down and for given an old fan a new perspective to this amazing group.
They have received awards never before given to pop/rock group, like in 1982 - they received a Golden Gramophone Award from the then German recording company Deutsche Gramophone "in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by ABBA to popular music worldwide". Until then, only classical musicians received the award.
This year, all Abba members have received one of the most prestigious Swedish knighthoods after being awarded an order of chivalry last handed out almost 50 years ago.
You're right about the lyrics, which are direct and so very relevant. Even better when you think they are in the writer's second language.
This is just great, yesterday I watched your reaction to "Happy New Year" and loved your reaction/analysis
and I was thinking it would be great if you would react to more Abba songs
and here we are. Thank you! ❤