Abba: THE VISITORS Album DOCUMENTARY
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- Опубліковано 8 чер 2024
- This is PART 2 of my reac-umentary on The Visitors Album which is an Abba "The Visitors" album documentary. The Classic Album Documentary Series features the writing of the album by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and recording with Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.This Swedish Music Documentary features the creating of songs: ,(Abba) "When all is Said and Done", "I Let the music speak" (Abba), "Head over Heels" (Abba), Soldiers (Abba), "One of Us" (Abba),"Two For the Price of One" (Abba). PART 1 was The Visitors album reaction which was my first time reacting to Abba
ABBA's Greatest ALBUM? -ABBA REACTION Video “The Visitors”
• ABBA's Greatest ALBUM?...
ABBA party playlist-
00:00 Agnetha on Abba US Tour 1979
01:33 Benny & Bjorn writing The Album 1981
02:28 Polar Music Studios
03:39 The Visitors
04:16 UAD Cooper Time Cube
06:10 Head Over Heels
06:52 Agnetha Faltskog & and Ani-Frid Lyngstad
09:22 When All is Said & Done/ Benny & Frida Split
10:29 Soldiers- Abba Politics
12:41 One of Us
14:02 I Let the Music Speak/ Bjorn Ulveus Interview
17:36 Two For the Price of One-Lyrics Meaning
19:33 Slipping through My Fingers- Abba Song inspiration
21:53 Like an Angel Passing Through my Room Recording
24:11 The Visitors Album Cover
#music #reaction #abba #musicreaction #abbas #documentary #musicvideo #musicvideos
Wow, I just want to thank everyone I am so glad so many liked this video! I just did another mini documentary on the song Solitaire by CARPENTERS ua-cam.com/video/E3rE9KgQVDo/v-deo.html
I worked equally as hard on and I think you might like it
Thanks for this ode to one of ABBA's greatest albums, and definitely the most experimental and innovative. The title track and When All Is Said and Done are masterpieces. Frida, at the time devastated and heartbroken, shines on this album.
Thank you so much I greatly appreciate that! Sometimes tragedy makes great art! I always say if it makes a good song it might all be worth it;)
My favorite album ever
It is incredible!
Only two songs make me cry. Slipping through my fingers is one of them
I love that song!
Gosh i feel so proud that there's also a place for Abba in newer Gens music faves.I come from an era where my Gen sometimes got treated savagely for loving Abba especially by some part of the music press that had dismissed them for being a forgettable commercial crap.(UK/Swedish/USA).Abba were 'convicted' and had to apologize for being what they honestly were.A Pure pop music band.(What a crime?)I'm so glad they/we now have the last laugh.
Yeah, I’m really glad that pop music is so much more respected today. As long as it’s emotionally true i think all kinds of music are valid! Long live Abba!
You have to keep in mind that this grandiose, complex, dark album was released a mere 5 years after “Dancing Queen.” The amount of growth, maturity and evolution during that period is astonishing.
Yes, the growth kind of reminds me of the Beatles! Legendary! Btw there’s an Abba playlist if you haven’t seen it ua-cam.com/video/lmKLU3yNwS4/v-deo.htmlsi=SC4fn14WS3iD5L4_
Dancing Queen is incredibly catchy, but also has its darker side: the song is from the point of view of an older woman, regretting that her time has now passed.
So glad I got to see them on their 79 US tour! I brought Agnetha and Frida flowers and handed them to them on stage!
Iam impressed and surprised by some of Agnetha's confessions that you narrated in part of the intro section!I recall reading them in one of my favest books i had bought in early '80s 'Abba in their own words" that i then lost.I remembered for decades those words of hers! Wow girl!
Yeah, I did a lot of research lol! I went down the rabbit hole. Thank you so much! I appreciate you noticing!
Bjorn's lyrical genius will never be replaced by AI
what a good job you did,
my congratulations
After having listened to and reacted to the entire album, you now gave ABBA and each song context in your research.
I hope you continue with another album, it would be fabulous if you did it with the first one, "Ring Ring" (1973) precisely because it is the opposite of "The Visitors" in every sense.
I leave you a big greeting from the distance of
Buenos Aires Argentina
in South America
Thank you so much I was a little nervous because I know people are long time fans of ABBA. I wanted to do the music justice! Hadn’t thought about that. I was going to go backwards. I haven’t heard a lot about ring ring. I like that it’s the opposite tough. I’ll definitely keep it in mind!
Hey Eduardo don't think she's gotta meet 'Bobby's brother?The level of this video reminded me of him.
@@alexioverdo5225
Yes, dear friend, I agree.
for theirs youth, for the love they put into ABBA's music and for the fantastic production in their research videos.
let's make arrangements so that they know each other
Maybe a couple has formed, and we act as intercessors hahaha (as we said on a TV program in my country that was for meeting couples)
@@popcornphilosopher
Sorry for the delay in responding Last time I had to leave,
but I wanted to stay until the end of your video and I gave you a small refund, very grateful
Just as the album "The Visitors" approaches the breakup of ABBA,
the album "Ring Ring" is already opposed by the same formation process of ABBA,
even without the certainty of being a stable quartet and without the name yet defined.
and with a decade of difference, a different sound too
The freshness and excitement of "Ring Ring" contrasts
with the rawness and maturity of "The Visitors"
I hope you enter ABBA's Genesis,
there is a lot there so you can make your contribution while you discover it.
As my friend Alexio suggested, there is a "Bobby's Brother" channel,
from a young man who does excellent research on ABBA,
and that you can consult as encouragement and help.
But at the same time it gives you the freedom to make your own path.
I wish you an excellent weekend
best regards from
Buenos Aires, Argentina
South America
... Fantastic stuff, Io ! .. Great research as always, and it really puts this album and the songs into the context of what was happening in ABBA's lives at the time .. You are just wonderful at this. 🙏❤
Hey there good to hear from you! Thank you so much I was a little nervous. I know how many people love Abba I wanted to get it, right:)
Two for the price of one is actually a very interesting song because it is based on the novelty that we used to do as kids call rounds where you would sing one lyric and another person sing another and it would be an interesting blend. That’s I believe the first time ABBA attempted that. And I just love the fact they go up an octave during the chorus.
I like your attention to detail! I love noticing things like that. I don’t know if you saw it but I’ve done quite a few ABBA videos there’s a playlist:ABBA Album PARTY!
ua-cam.com/play/PLVaDWMlhe6SFje2D8LnNORUEyB2p0-VZ_.html
The Visitors lp(1981) is heavily connected by both couple's divorces far more than the 'Super Trouper' album that was preceded in 1980.Agnetha moved away from Bjorn in Dec.'78 and the divorce typically came later on.Then followed Frida's and Benny's seperation about 2 years later.'When all is said and done" had wrapped in a lot of Frida's painful situation while her recording it , as she has said..
When all is said and done, is probably my second favorite song on the album. You can tell it has all that emotion wrapped up in it I really looking forward to hearing the Super Troupers album! I’ll probably check out the bonus tracks first though.
@@popcornphilosopher Oh!Super Trouper is also a fantastic album!Non-dark but also mature and super mellow!
@@alexioverdo5225 I’m super excited for it! The production work on the later Work is especially incredible
@@alexioverdo5225
On Matt Snider's channel, which has already finished making reactions to all the songs from all the ABBA albums, the album Super Trouper is the one with the most accumulated views (followed by Voulez Vous and The Album) and the songs Lay all your love on me and The winner takes it all are the ones that have the most views on their channel
I remember buying the album in 1981. I was 14, and grew up with the band. I am a Frida fan. The frenetically paced opening track was a departure from Super Trouper. The darkness of the album, coupled with the music press of the time, convinced me this was their swan song. Still, it wasn’t disjointed. These guys were pros. They wanted The Visitors to be a different, yet current album. I Let The Music Speak is a tour de force performance from Frida. It hints at the magic of Chess. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room and Should I Laugh Or Cry were opportunities to let Frida’s lush mezzo soprano shine at last. It’s sad that they waited 40 years to reunite. It’s heartwarming that they got past the hurt to conjure up more magic. I do hope they put out one last album before hanging up their sequins.
After I do the bonus tracks, I’ll be doing super trooper. Very much. Look forward to it. Yes it would be nice if they did, one more album! Although I’ve just started on my Abba journey. I have a lot to listen to:)
Excellent video, thank you!
This is my favorite ABBA album. I like it so much precisely *because* it is so dark and has this eerie undertone.
If I had to choose so far, this is been my favorite too! I have an ABBA playlist if you haven’t seen it btw ABBA Album PARTY!
ua-cam.com/play/PLVaDWMlhe6SFje2D8LnNORUEyB2p0-VZ_.html
This is awesome. Thank you so much for doing this! I was just listening to this album 😊
Ha ha great minds think alike! Thank you for watching!
This is a really well done documentary. I’m a film editor and I’m impressed on how much work you did researching and compiling to create what is a deep yet very fun editorial on the visitors.
Thank you for a professionally done documentary.
Wow, thank you so much!
Brilliant - Thank you, yours is a spot-on commentary for me + your take on the bookended Visitors & Angel songs is just so obvious and true! ❤ Looking forward to more of your video commentaries.
I’m so glad you enjoyed both videos! These are my favorite kind of videos to make so that means a lot to me!
Fabulous effort.i would recomend you Bobby's brother channel.This dude developed into an Abba specialist doing self made small Abba docu videos under deep research.You'll love him.
I haven’t watched his videos yet, but I did use one of his clips he filmed the exterior of polar recording studio. I was looking for footage of it. They look very well-made …I look forward to checking them out!
@@popcornphilosopher He is an impressively passionate Abba fan and a 'demonic' investigator of Abba's past active years.A great source of selected, quite valid infos.
Terrific!
Aww Thank you!
Love your creative approach and the genuineness of it all.. being inspired means being alive 🙂
Thank you so much I apreciate thar....I think it's probably my favorite I've made. And I agree whole heartedly being inspired!
Fantastic, insightful review - thank you! 😊
This is really good work regarding my absolute favorite pop album.
You presented some details I have never heard before.
TAK ❤
I was hoping to find a few things that even longtime fans might not know. So that makes me very happy. Thank you.:)
Thanks for your docummentary, I bought this album back in 1981, I remember that I found the Atlantic version in my country, on my way home, I was so happy because I felt that I was the only one who owned that ABBA album in the whole country. For me The Visitors was a song about an alien invasion, I imagine some of them coming to get people who were hidden in a basement or something, it was one from my favorite tracks from the album as well as I let the music speak, that song sounds sort of a Phantom of the Opera track, it's misterious and profound in so many levels. I always enjoyed The Visitors album and still do. Later I had to buy my country's version because it had the spanish version of Slipping through my fongers and When all is said and done, another favorite by the way. Sorry for the long story but my final point is that The Visitors album is a gem.
Thank you! Yeah I know the official meeting for the visitors is sort of political but I totally think they meant the double meaning of aliens! And thanks for sharing the story I love hearing people’s connection at the time!
Very well documented! Thank you and Bravo!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you
Klasse!! Vielen Dank für die tolle Dokumentation. 🎉
Danke!
Impressive documentar.BEAUTIFUL video.
That’s so kind. Thank you.!
Tack! Thank you for this fun and interesting documentary.
Thank you I am so glad you enjoyed it! If you didn’t see it I recently posted The Visitors BONUS TRACKS Doc
ua-cam.com/video/i0rje39diCk/v-deo.html
Oh, and thank you for the super thanks! Your my first so I didn’t even realize what it was!
Please please pleeeeease do other abba albums in videos like this. I need in depth dives on them
I’m actually working on one right now it should come out in a week or so!
'One of us' has finally kinda found its happy ending sequel in their 2021 release 'Don't Shut me down'.
Really!?! I’m excited to hear it!
@@popcornphilosopher when this came out in Sept'21 via live streaming it was a sacred moment.We cried our eyes out that afternoon,worldwide.
I am excited to watch you hear it!
@@popcornphilosopher Yeah!Official video is a lyric one.But 'I still have faith in you' has an impactful proper one Both new songs are an unbelevable unexpected gift to Abba fans.
@@robertschatz7781 YEAH!
Kudos for your insite into the Visitors Album. It's about time the Visitors was given credit for. I really enjoyed Agnetha & Frida's comments🎉😢
I agree such a great album! I really enjoyed finding out about it. Thank you. I’m glad you liked it.:)
My favourite ABBA album !
Mine too! Although I’ve only heard one so far…
It is a miracle this album was ever made,but due to the pair resilence and dedication it was made
This video gives me fairy-tale vibes. I am a grown-up man taken in a dreamy world by you.
I love that! That’s maybe one of the best compliments ever!
Thumbnail is so pro!
Wow, thank you. I tried several different ones before I came up with that one:)
Oh my gosh, I’m soooooo glad l found your channel, I have loved Abba and Kate Bush since I was 11 and 12 years old! They’ve been my inspiration and solace for decades. This is bliss, the number of videos I now have ready to watch is just AWESOME! Thank you for being so fair and real, and talking about the girls equally, which too few people do. Recently Frida spoke of Agnetha as “her little sister”, and I think that’s right, sisters are just like this. PS loved the photo where they swapped the girls’ faces😝
I know that photo made me laugh! Yes, sisters might fight, but they also love each other. you do have a lots of Kate bush videos for sure! We’re in the middle of a Never for Ever deep dive. Thank you and welcome!
@@popcornphilosopher I’m sooo looking forward to catching up and continued watching. Your videos are awesome!🤗
@17:29 Yes, I would like to see a reaction to the album "Chess" (1984) - I have never seen anyone doing it.
It's an effing great album ("Anthem", "One Night in Bangkok", "Nobody's Side", "Pity the Child", and "Endgame" are awesome), and it's probably the next step in ABBA's music evolution, at least sonically, since Tim Rice wrote most of the lyrics.
There is also a documentary about the recording of "Chess" on UA-cam.✌
I was really hoping people would want that. I’m so curious about it. I heard there was another musical too called Pippi? But I don’t know the details about it. Thanks for the info about the documentary too!
I second that, but please make sure you listen to the original concept album from 1984, not the Broadway cast recording from 1988.
@@popcornphilosopherPippi is their most recent musical, though it was mainly made by Björn with some music by Benny and others. Their other big musical collaboration after Chess would be Kristina från Duvemåla.
I have videos made secretly from this 3,5 h musical ,fantastic show @@JF-sh2sm
Original cast please ,the double CD ,One night in Bankok 7/8 at the beginning @@popcornphilosopher
Great reaction - you have put a lot of effort to make it so interesting in many levels.
Thank you I am so glad you enjoyed it! If you didn’t see it I recently posted The Visitors BONUS TRACKS mini doc
ua-cam.com/video/i0rje39diCk/v-deo.html
@@popcornphilosopher oh yes I did. TDBYC is one of my favorites!
@@KatarinaMyrberg yes,, both songs have been on replay for the last week!
This is so well done
Thank you I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I appreciate the work and creativity you put into these videos! Please do more a couple more ABBA album reactions. I suggest "The Album" then "Voulez-vous"
Thank you! I am planning on doing them all! But I had plan to go backwards and circle back around to the latest!
(New Sub)
Great video... again!, Congratulations 👌
ABBA is wonderful 😍😍😍😍
Please more 🙏
Love ❤️ from Chile 🇨🇱😘👍
Thank you so much! There will be more! The bonus tracks are next. Wow Chile!
I think She's got to 'meet' Bobby's brother!
I like your video👍. I’ve been a fan since the 70s. I bought all the vinyl albums and still have them! I went to see Voyage recently, it was incredible!👍
Thank you. That’s so cool, I’m dying to see Voyage. Bet it was incredible!
Wow! Chanced upon this by accident! What a refreshing, informative insight by someone who is clearly an ABBA fan, and who has done her research. Well done, missy! (No sexism in tended!)
Thank you I’m glad you enjoyed it! I am a newer Abba fan but have greatly enjoyed the journey so far. I have an Abba playlist and made another on Voulez vous if you haven’t seen it ua-cam.com/video/g4mVGwGIGmw/v-deo.htmlsi=yPP6-wJwgEl77hSO
This album always sacred me when it came out especially the title track and those scary lyrics of terror. Recently now I’ve rediscovered the album and absolutely love many of the songs and now understand the lyrics of so many of the songs which express so perfectly the emotion of breakup, bitterness, forgiveness.
It is a great album! If you didn’t see it I recently posted The Visitors BONUS TRACKS Doc
ua-cam.com/video/i0rje39diCk/v-deo.html
Took time for me to love the album, especially after the super catchy, “Super Trooper”. Now, some forty plus years later, I adore it and it is my favourite Abba LP. Superb writing and production!
I really look forward to super trooper that will be coming after I do the bonus tracks! But I can’t imagine it being better than this album!
Its not Agnetha's Mother, but its Astrid Lindgren at 20:45!
I bought this album in 1981. I had a part time job and was able to afford albums instead of singles. I was always an ABBA and but this is the only ABBA album I owned. I loved all the songs and listened to it many times. It still remains a favorite and I have multiple copies. It says it's digital on the album. This was just before CDs. It was considered cool, I guess.
I have a couple artists owned their last album too. It’s always an interesting way of knowing an artist. Oh and yeah they made that distinction when I researched it. It was the first album to be recorded digitally, but it was not the first CD.
good work!
Thank you so much!
I so enjoyed this, great job ! .....you certainly did your homework, lots of gold nuggets here this lifelong Abba fan never knew. Speaking of CHESS the hit song One Night In Bangkok would have easily fit on The Visitors album . I like your artsy media effects !
Hey there good to hear from you ...thank you! I l usually do go down the rabbit hole. And I was hoping my curiosity would unearth a few things even big fans might not know ! So your comment really made my day:)
totally love this! VERY well researched and I say this as a life long Abba fan (life long as in, from the mid seventies thru now). YES to a video about Chess.
Thank you I was hoping the true fans would still like this! And I think I am going to do Chess. I’m trying to figure out how I’m gonna tackle ir but I look forward to it:)
Well done by you ... again! When I first bought this album it really sounded like it was the end of ABBA, especially with Like An Angel Passing Through My Room, but something was missing (Agnetha was right about that). There seemed to be no happiness in this album which is not to say it's not great - it most definitely is! I think that as ABBA's fans became more adult, their music grew up with us, becoming more introspective and sad, but so gloriously beautiful. I was amazed they were able to come back and give us The Day Before You Came and Under Attack (TDBYC is close to being my favourite song, but I love Don't Shut Me Down a tad more😁) Then they came back 40 years later and gave us another album! I am glad they did. While I accepted that The Visitors might be their last album, ABBA seemed to have unfinished business. I'm not ashamed to say I was so happy I cried when ABBA came back with Voyage. By the way, don't you think Don't Shut Me Down might be the more optimistic companion to One of Us? They sound a little bit reggae(ish) both of them, and Don't Shut Me Down seems to be One of Us's natural successor. I look forward to more reviews from you! I am so glad you love ABBA. Welcome!
What an excellent video! Every time I went to type a comment correcting something you’d said, your next sentence would be what I was going to correct. So well researched. And YES to reacting to CHESS. The original 1984 concept album is just amazing. It’s almost pure ABBA but without Agnetha and Frida.
Thank you I really wanted this to be a love letter to my new discovery of this album that I enjoyed so much! I was a little nervous I wasn’t going to get it, right. I’m super curious about Chess! It’s right up my alley. I love musicals.
@@popcornphilosopher the good thing about the original chess concept album is that it was recorded at Polar using all of the usual ABBA session musicians and was engineered by Michael Tretow. You’ll recognise the sound immediately. It’s never quite as good on subsequent stage versions and with cast/live albums
@@discogareth yeah, I saw that there was even a new one as well! I’ll definitely remember to listen to the original concept album although it might be kind of fun to listen to maybe the best track and compare all three.
Yes, please do Chess. Love your channel xx
On it! I’m definitely doing something for chess!
Thank you, I never understood why in the second verse of Slipping Through My Fingers Agnetha makes the harmonies to herself and I didn't like it. Now, forty years later, I know the reason and all has a different meaning. Thank you again!
Oh I love that! I wondered the same thing when I reacted to it. Im glad I could reveal the mystery! Thanks for watching:)
By far, their greatest album. It reflected a maturity not yet captured before by them. Mature, yet remaining refreshingly youthful.
Well said! That’s a great way of putting it:)
Not sure if anyone has mentioned that around the time this album was recorded there was a bit of tension between Sweden and The USSR. Russian submarines were spying on Swedish naval bases in the Baltic Sea with Sweden sending depth charges in the water to try and deter the Russian subs from getting too close. One Russian sub grounded itself on Swedish territory. Also, Poland was trying to free itself from the USSR. Maybe these were the inspiration behind Bjorn’s lyrics for title track
I think I might’ve mentioned it in this video but maybe it was a different video. There’s a ABBA playlist if you haven’t seen it.ABBA Album PARTY!
ua-cam.com/play/PLVaDWMlhe6SFje2D8LnNORUEyB2p0-VZ_.html
I completely agree with you regarding Björn’s vocals on TFTPOO.
Right! Totally works with the song. Actually, that song really grew on me too
Great work,I like your musical background,but this Foto with Agnetha and here mum is not here mum,it’s Astrid Lindgren .
Björn produced the Musical Pippi with some Benny Songs and Lyrics from Björn .
Oh no really/??? it must’ve been mislabeled. I hate that so much. I wanted to include a picture of her real mother;(
I’ll pin your comment. I want to check out that musical though. Is it Pippi Longstocking?
@@popcornphilosopher Never mind,you did a fantastic job!Even many of us lifelong Abba fans still learn.
Yes Pipip L@@popcornphilosopher
Pippi Longstocking
I highly recommend the interview with Agnetha and Astrid Lindgren the photo was taken for.
regarding 'Like an angel passing through my room' - listen to the additional versions of it that was released on the extended album and you will hear the many variations that were created before eventually deciding on the released version
Yeah, I think I put one of the versions and hit this video. I felt like the Madonna version was a cross between that version and the recorded version.
The visitors track was always played in gay clubs in London and was extended, as soon as it came on we were up and dancing
It totally would’ve got me up and dancing too! Sounds like fun times!
Thanks for the docu! But I discovered a mistake- it’s not Agnetha’s mother on the picture at 20:50- that’s actually Agnetha with Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren!
yeah, I I actually pinned the comment at one point. Unfortunately, the picture was mislabeled. I really wanted to post a picture of Agnetha’s mother!
Loved your video.. I must admit also after Super Trouper album full of commercial songs, The Visitors for me is still missing something, that commercial sound Abba were known for. Why Should I Laugh Or Cry was left off the album in place of Two For The Price Of One still baffles me..
Thanks for sharing! I haven’t heard why should I laugh or cry yet. But I’m starting the bonus tracks starting tomorrow 2 new videos !
@@popcornphilosopher The track fits in with the mature sounding ‘dark’ rest of the album.. Glad to be a subscriber now, enjoy your videos..
*should l laugh or cry* had been a much better choice for the album. *should l laugh or cry* is generally a much better song than the slighty stupid and rather boring *two for the price of one* and would have fitted much better to mood and of the album.
Hello Popcorn,
I’m really enjoying your reac-umentaries!
Around the time of the release of ABBA’s *The Visitors* I was extremely busy studying music theory. I remember one critic saying that ‘I Let The Music Speak’ is like ‘Thank You For The Music’ - with a degree (LOL). The first time I heard ‘When All Is Said And Done,’ I could tell it was a digital recording. I agree with you that the title track ‘The Visitors’ sounds warmer, as it was originally processed through a modified 32-input Harrison 3232-C analogue audio mixing console. It was considered future-proof 🔮🔮 according to producer Giorgio Moroder, who used that same desk to record Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ in 1976 at Musicland in Munich. In the late 1970s, Polar and Musicland were THE two most state-of-the-art recording studios in the world.
And one more thing, I am a Scorpio too... 🔦📙🔍🎧♏
Hey fellow Scorpio! Ihad no idea the same desk was used on I feel love one of my favorite dance songs of all time! I’m a big Giorgio Moroder fan. Someday I’d like to do something on him. Well, now that makes sense that Frida and Agnetha did their 80’s solo album there. Instead of going elsewhere. Not to mention why the visitors and the 80s tracks sounded so good!
In the United States "When All Is Said and Done" was the first single from this album.
Yeah that’s what I read! I think I might even included that but I’m not sure if I edited it out
What is the cartoon with the girl and animals shown during thr Slipping Through My Fingers segment?
Can you please do similar docus about the other ABBA albums ?
Yes, I definitely plan on it. After I do the bonus tracks from this album, I’ll do super trooper next:)
@@popcornphilosopher Great news regarding Super Trouper ( meaning Giant Spot Lights) , ABBA’s own favorite album.
One of us made the Billboard babbling under chart 101 to 110
Interesting!
@@popcornphilosopherFor some reason it was released in the USA in Feb, '83 when Abba had practically disbanded.However it was their 13th no1 in the Eurochart almost 2 years back.
I had no idea of there story.. thanks
My pleasure! Glad you liked it
Its actually Frida and Agnetha harmonizing on Slipping through my fingers, they sing it live on Dock Cavet presents
ABBA recorded digitally since " knowing me knowing you"
From when I was told and read this was the first album to ever be recorded digitally. Although they said it was not the first CD.
According to Wikipedia, digitally recorded albums were being released (very few, at first) all the way back in 1977.@@popcornphilosopher
Interesting. One thing: I had heard from multiple sources that although there was conflict between Agnetha and Frida towards the end of ABBA's original run, as there was between all of the members, Agnetha and Frida were actually good friends.
Someone said that Frida said that Agnetha is like a sister. Which I think it’s probably pretty true and I said sisters fight sometimes but they love each other.
@@popcornphilosopher It's during a recent BBC interview when Frida talked about how magical it was to be back in the studio with her "little sister." When the clip was played back to Agnetha, you could hear how moved she was by the comment and called Frida "her dear friend." Both have also mentioned seeing each other on vacation.
Very interesting remarks and ideas you share Popcorn Philosopher. The alien double entendre was almost obvious for a conscious ABBA listener at the time...
Perhaps it requires a bit extra to be had. It is something not so far out when one considers some of Bjorn Ulvaeus at the time variously shared influences; Richard Bach's "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull" inspiring "Eagle", his own words on "Move On" and his concordance with Alvin's Toffler prescient book "The Third Wave". All expanding and dimension exploratory readings/texts (very relevant in my own growing process, if I may share). And so the sometimes alluded connection of an "Angel passing" and "The visitors' not so unexpected" as external forces presenting themselves is so fitting with the actual music and the album's forming concept, once one considers elements like some of those this video shares with us listeners.
Furthermore, Bjorn's as the lyricist, threading his own thoughts, feelings and experiences, together with what he senses the other ABBA members were feeling and living, plus his catch of the times and society truly becomes center in this album.
I was utterly surprised, later on, seeing him speaking Spanish with a presenter on TV, around the same time of this album. His command of the language there is more proper of a native speaker than of a person miming a few words, while he kept his smile! His confident one. His talent with language, his sweet & slightly naughty grin, I haven't seen something like that before and he has done such conscious language tricks with us all along, one could discover later, even now decades past!
No wonder, since he has lay upon us bare direct messages and we audiences and media have not realized, less acknowledged or commented some rather obvious meanings in ABBA's lyrics. From that in your face mixture of mocking and! celebratory experience of the frat, macho spirit on "King Kong Song", the psychological commentary of "Dum Dum Diddle",(to name songs lyrics that were often derided by critics aannd fans) up to the - so close it bites - hidden meaning, nobody seems to catch yet, of... (I confess, it took me too long also to realize) of "Two for the price of One".
Now in retrospect, no wonder Bjorn threw that onto us; unsuspecting listeners and he has kept his smile to himself, until now. Yes, laying it bare; you get the girl AND her mother, most always in a relationship!
In our country we have a saying; "when you are a boy and meet a girl, look at her mother". She will be like her in many respects ...sometimes not so later in time. Plus, at many occasions her mother will certainly be present in your life. Some would not know if to laugh or cry when they assume this. That song end fanfare gets full sense with such second level interpretations, as all the work the group placed with its harmonies and it all that was placed in it, on top of a lyric a bit more nuanced that the bare little joke presented in the lyrics.
Like that, there are many passing angles to this album, as such and as a step in their inspiring path on the special changing times they take part.
Will be attentive. Cheers
Yeah, a lot of people corrected me about the alien interpretation. But I’m pretty sure that he meant the double meaning!
I heard a little bit of Eagle and really liked it so I’m really excited to hear that track when it comes up on my reactions. That’s interesting to hear about him speaking Spanish in and his command of a lot of different types of languages which maybe why their music is so beloved round the world. I hadn’t heard some of the other tracks you mentioned like king Kong in Dum Dum diddle. ! One great thing about Abba is that I have no shortage of material to react to! I’m so glad you enjoyed the video. And thank you for the interesting info. Cheers to you too!
@@popcornphilosopher Extra nice to communicate with you, more so since your videos are uniquely superb already.
And let's add a "Visitors" meaning as it appeared at many (UK at least, at that time) large scoreboards on weekends to name those outsider teams in sports games: Visitors 00 vs Home 00
ABBA had been visitors since their start (being not English native, coming from a remote and few populated country). So that word might hold a charge in that sense as well for them, as for certain also had certain flair to those attending stadiums and playfields either locals, or ... ☺Everytime the game is on again, which is life itself.
In this angle The Visitors became a subtle way to call an album by naming (or signaling, probably better said) themselves again.
who in their right mind could leave the prettiest women in the world Agnetha . She is so gorgeous I cant put it into words . If I was her husband for one day I would be happy lucky Bjorn Agnethas face look at it its perfection AND your awesome too ! Real content no fluff knowledgable and entertaining ! Great work popcorn ! ohhh Tell me something good chaka ! Great great song !
Agreed she really is an angel with a voice to match! Thank you. I’m so glad you liked it! Harley did a lot of research. I’m glad you noticed haha
Agnetha left Björn.
@@katharinaogrady oh ok dont blame her
Agnetha was the main one who wanted to split. Björn worked hard to make it work but as he put it, "it was the combo of 2 egocentrics". It just didn't work. "The Winner Takes It All" was written more from Björn's perspective.
Well done! It was nice watching this. But I should note that you overstate the importance of analog/digital tape recorders. There are far more factors that shape the sound. The equipment, like microphones, pre-amps, the mixing desk, the equalizers, and even the acoustics of the studio, are just as crucial. You can make "warm" sounding recordings even on a digital tape recorder.
Those early digital reel-to-reel recorders were, AFAIK, highly regarded for their sound (the same could not be said for ADAT, however, which came later).
I didn’t actually mean only that. I talk about it more when I reacted to the album. I discussed a lot of this. I just thought it was interesting that it was the first album recorded digitally and that it was “too clean” was already being discussed when making digital warmer is still discussed even today
Respectfully, I would like to correct your take on the harmony part of 'slipping through my fingers '. It was not Agnetha's and Agnetha's voice, it was Agnetha's and Frida's. You could verify this fact when you watch their great live performance of this song in TV's Dick Clavet Meets ABBA ❤👍😍
In the fab Cavet live version 1981 it's that 'fox' Frida that perfectly 'impersonates' her 'lil sisters' voice in the 'sleep in our eyes,her and me at the breakfast table".
Oh, maybe I wasn’t clear. I didn’t mean she was the only one doing the background vocals. . I found it in an Abba book that she put on the child voice to harmonize with herself
There’s so many clips I’m gonna need to see! Haha
Frida is mixed more in the background @@alexioverdo5225
Well, my comment was NOT directed to the whole song as I agree there's a lot of remixing and redoubling of voices (ABBA's exquisite trademark), which in this song, was clearly Agnetha's.
My actual comments was directed to the short clip of 'slipping through my fingers' which you showed in your clip above, which CLEARLY showcased the great harmonies between Agnetha and Frida (the mashing up of Agnetha's soprano and Frida's metzo was very very distinct here).
However, I later realised that you were also right because you were not referring to the hormonization, but rather the redoubling of Agnetha's voice, which was true 😊❤.
I'm enjoying your reaction though.
Another thing is, as Agnetha and Frida have consistently denied any rifts ever existed between them, preferring to refer the scenario as being competitive and supportive at the same time, plus the fact that they are now well into their 70's and have recently regroup to produce their latest album Voyage, I'm not that keen to listen to any scrutiny of their relationship. As Frida referring her reunion with Agnetha as 'having fun with my little sister ' in an interview late last year, and Agnetha referring Frida as 'ohh my dear friend ' in her recent interview when relaunching her solo single, I humbly feel that fans should leave the matter as it is❤
The Visitors song (and album) was released at a time when the US was in a cold war against Russia. That's how a bunch of us reacted at the time it was released. Because why? Chess the musical about a Russian chessmaster and the Cold War was made just after The Visitors was released.
I’m really excited to hear Chess that reaction is coming up! That’s very interesting!
I always, always thought of The Visitors as someone having a mental breakdown. I was very disappointed when they said it was a Soviet dissident. I still see it as someone losing their mind!
I think a lot of people feel that way & I was kinda disappointed that it wasn’t about aliens but I like Frida‘s idea that it could be about whatever you want it to be! Btw working on a Voulez vous doc right now! it should be up in the next week
@@popcornphilosopher Voulez-Vous and The Visitors are my fav studio albums. Visitors was newer, harder, but Voulez-Vous had this Wall of Sound feel that made every song a show-stopper. :D
@@CathyKitson oh nice I picked the right album then! I feel like it’s an underrated album.
@@popcornphilosopher Oh, no, it's a FANTASTIC album. I would rate it number one with Visitors. "Angeleyes" I will listen to for hours on a loop. One of their best tracks. I used to listen to it when I was about 9 and it made me cry when I thought of this heartless bastard breaking the poor girl's heart!! :D
I really still think that the genesis of it (particularly the opening verse) could have been inspired by Agnetta's struggles with social anxiety, something that Bjorn would have been extremely familiar with. As he wrote it, he could well have taken the story into a more political theme, leaving the original premise in the words. It doesn't have to be black and white. And frankly, the classy thing to do would be to double-down on the political read rather than say to the press "yes it's about my ex-wife's mental illness" which would be unnecessary and crass.
Are you gonna do a tribute to Robert Palmer ? . ITs his 20th Anniversary this month, on the 26th. A lot of channels are reacting to him lately Because of the Anniversary .
I don’t think I’ll be able to. I have too many things coming up already unfortunately
In the song Two For The Price Of One, The original lyrics differ from what was actually released. He called the number and a voice said, "Alice Whiting", The voice was husky and it sounded quite exciting - Originally it was He called the number and a voice said, "Alice Lexie", The voice was husky and it sounded quite sexy. But was changed as was thought to be too risque for their image
Interesting! Even the released version is a little daring!
Maybe being not too old for sex was sufficient.
Your empathic & varied ABBA documentary is flawless! Are you sure "Popcorn Philiosophy" is still the right name for your channel? I was late because -before having seen it, I thought it's just a TV-documentary.
As always absolutely nothing to complain about, except having listed YAMAHA GX1 twice on the visitors album. The 2nd instr. you ment is the mysterious GS1 from '81: Yamaha's very first entry into digital FM synthesis. (simplified said a synthesis when vibrato rate gets ultra-fast to create new harmonics. Oscillators are called operators and the way they are connected, tuned, levelled & modulated by Envelope Generators &/or LFOs shape the sound) Only about 100 GS1 were made that makes that then priceless instr. now financialy out of reach for almost everyone if its ever seen at all. The metallic bell-type tones on "When All Is Said & Done" are exactly the same as on TOTO's "A Million Miles Away" f. e.. I personally had the indeed utopian opportunity to at least get a GS2 in August what's the half of a GS1 but fortunately had not to sell a house for that. Its still rich and assertive though digitality and has a wonderful (string) ensemble FX - nothing later DX synths are known for. Because even that GS2 has nearly the same limited production number like GS1, the penultimate time being offered in the Gernan speaking area was 9(!) years ago & due to rarity that exenplary is exactly the same I have now what means - the previous owner got it in 2014 from Hamburg & sold it to me recently after his heart pacemaker did not allow to play electronic instr. anymore. I never heard of problems like those but I can imagine. Anyway if you're interested in GS1/2-music, I!ve found the following artists/tracks: Ulla Meineke "Die Tänzerin" (only the '83 version is the quintessential GS1-track manx Gernan keyboardists yearn for), Diana Ross:" Pieces Of Ice" ('83), almost any song on TOTO IV-album ('82), Michel W. Smith ('83) GS2-Brasses on almost any song & a very nice album cover of him lol, Lionel Ritchie - "All Night Long", NENA: "Noch Einmal"(Bell), "Ich Bleib Im Bett"(Intro & more). "Ganz Oben", (breathy sound), Japanese Fusion band Casiopea "Mint Jam"('82) & other albums. Some artists like Nena & Ulla Meineke rer-ecorded some of their stuff to be present but that (like mostly) killed magic.j
Oh my God did I say that twice that is exactly what I meant lol! You’re the first one to point it out. I actually have been thinking about changing my channel name. It kind of fits because I explore complex emotions through music on this channel but initially it was also movies and popular culture. But they never did well on my channel. So now I’m stuck with a name it doesn’t totally fit. Really interesting information about the synths and synth history!
Thanx. I were glad if you'd once find time to listen to some of the suggested songs, especially the original recording of "Die Tänzerin" because that's pure GS1, a mighty, swirly EP-sound, with pre-digital rattling in the bass, an old Roland rhythmer in shuffle mode,, Ulla's voice, much reverb & nothing else. I probably assume you were impressed. If it doesn't sounds like that, it's not the original.
@@popcornphilosopher Benny is a self taught instrumentalist after getting an accordion for present aged about 5.He developed playing every keyboard he could lay his hands on.There's an anecdote that he once instantly attacked a huge tiramisu tart cake cause he missunderstood it for the new Yamaha keyboard.
@@Gerald_DanielBTW Since you mentioned 'Noch Einmal' by Nena its from their debut.I adore their First 3 albums especially '?" and it's follower in the English language.
@@alexioverdo5225 ...You can not imagine how I too adore their first 3 albums because they indeed are their best but I forgot to mention one song: The wonderful glassy "Zaubertrick"solo is too a GS2-preset. The previous owner told me that mine most likely belonged to German music legend Herbert Grönemeyer but I merely wished it were NENA's then-producer Reinhold Heil's one. I certainly heard from the translated albums. Do you speak German?
Yes don't shut me down is a combination of summer night city and i am the city and dream world
huh?? No. There is zero melodic or structural semblance to any of those. There are intentional instrumental references to Dancing Queen and If It Wasn't For the Nights but DSMD is not a direct "combination" of any ABBA songs. It's entirely unique.
I am the city is on my list coming up, so I’ll have to check it out to see which one of you I agree with lol
@@joerichardwad1645 Agree.!Well sonically I also get a sense as if it's the 'blending spirit' of DQ and Super Trouper.For me a new total masterpiece.
You mentioned something going on. Did you know that Agnatha also had a song called I can’t break loose around the same time, written by the same songwriter?
Oh interesting I didn’t know that I am dying to hear it! That’s one of my favorite 80s songs. Were they both friendly with the songwriter or something?
You're very close .'Can't shake loose" 1983.
@@alexioverdo5225 ahh good to know. I’d like to cover this!
Agnetha was never mean spirited but she was pig headed and it was more her that was hell bent on the divorce. Despite all of this it showed incredible maturity in the way the divorce, business, and parenthood were handled. The image of Agnetha sobbing in her hotel room during the tour is a bit extreme. For a portion of the tour she had her hockey player boyfriend with her and while in California and Nevada she also had their 2 kids there too. Agnetha for sure is an Aries but I believe her moon is in Cancer and this has kept her grounded and to her occasional detriment quite the homebody. Frida has her moon in Libra which provides the ying and yang and allows her to view stories from many perspectives. Like the fabled scales both her moods and opinions can swing back and forth. At the end of the day it makes her a very forgiving person because it gives her such insight in what other people are feeling. Along with Agnetha’s common sense approach it means that any falling out the 2 girls experienced would be short lived and easily forgotten. As for The Visitors album……I always felt it was a bit off the mark. Im convinced that the girls recorded much of their parts alone….look at it. Not a single song is entirely in unison. They all involve solo verses, if not the song in its entirety. They felling of connectedness between the 2 girls is missing from this album. There’s no Dancing Queen, Angeleyes, On and On and On, Mamma Mia, Take a Chance on Me, Waterloo……none of those 3 rd voice masterpieces. To me this evokes even greater sadness than the song lyrics. I do agree that Frida shines in this album but when Agnetha sang about her divorce in the previous albums “Winner Takes it All” she wailed and moaned. She chewed up the scenery and held nothing back. Her anger and pain were like vomit on the studio floor. I understand it when she says it was cathartic. Frida’s When All is Said and Done is lovely, but she doesn’t cough up her bitter pill of anguish. It’s like she spit it out and put it in a little tin that she could keep with her for another time. She puts on her big girl panties and sings in a robotic voice and somehow distances herself from the situation. She rises above the dirty alleys of divorce-town but she doesn’t transcend and I always thought that this was a lost opportunity and instead of cheering for her bravery I rather pitied her sensibility. In the end she does get her swan song with Like and Angel……most people only see sadness in this song. Alone…..somber…..reflective……I don’t find this to be mournful at all. I find this offering great comfort. Frida witnesses and accepts the ghosts in the room. We will always have demons and we will always have angels. Sometimes the demon will piss in our parade. And sometimes when we need it the most we will feel the comforting hand of an Angel on our shoulder telling us there’s more than one dimension. Time and life exist in many layers. Like motes of dust than only appear in the beam of light that pierces the darkness we are both big and small. Our journeys are unique but the paths we walk are well worn. The baggage we carry may bend our shoulder but it also provides the blankets we wrap ourselves in to make it through the cold nights. And that brings hope. That’s what I walk away with as this albums ends. Hope. And 39 years later that hope was rewarded. Amen, ABBA.
I actually wasn’t saying it was only about the divorce. From the research, it was oft reported also about how grueling the tour was and how she didn’t feel as close to the rest of the band members anymore. But really, it’s probably subjective.
I dont know about the 2 girls personally i just adore Agnehta .All i need to know is Agnetha is gorgeous and her voice sweet . We all have faults her face had none LOL
@@popcornphilosopher my friend you report and present with class and its fun none of us know theses people personally . I just know Agnetha is gorgeous like a fine work of art nothing can change that . When I meet my maker im doomed for all my wrong doings but the way Agnethas eyes are formed shaped and her perfect shape well nice work by the Gods ! I appreciate her beauty and her vocal in SOS well when she says "I wish I understood" i am reduced to my component parts and cant function ! Your videos are great
Outstanding visions Otisblack3921. I am not surprised you have those, considering what ABBA's music can conjure, but is not common to find them. A great find, indeed.
Thank you for sharing. I might get more inspired to share some about this album, given how well our Popcorn Philosopher has summoned us here...
Oh honey, I was absolutely not trying to be critical of you or your observations….they actually inspired me to make my post. Well done, you! It was also rather astute of you to to navigate us to the headspace the member were occupying in the months preceding the onset of these recordings…..the pushing and pulling that must have been passively unsettling yet aggressively mundane. No wonder Bjorn leaned toward a more provocative subject matter in his storytelling @@popcornphilosopher
Very perceptive....
Thank you!
The visitors
😊❤❤❤
💕❣️💖💕
Everyone thinks that this song is political when it is actually about a nervous breakdown. Anni-Frid hinted about this back when it was released.
Are you referring to the visitors? That is one of the theories I read about. well I read about it possibly being about mental health. Well, it would make sense that they might not want to talk about it in Interviews for instance
Visitors is political, there is interview with Bjorn where he confirms that and it's also stated in a biographical book of ABBA by Carl Magnus Palm - it is about socialism and moment of petrified waiting of a person , in their apartment for a cops to show up an arrest them as political prisoners.
would like for you to react to "chess", the original cast recording :)
I really want to do this!
Agneta is pronounced with a “common” G, a common N [not ñ like in Spanish] and an E like in _hey_ but twice as long.
Listen how Mikael Tretow [their sound engineer] is pronouncing her name.
I know I have such a hard time with it. Although this video Agnetha did say the Spanish pronunciation is OK ua-cam.com/video/5HJmW8EY8m0/v-deo.htmlsi=uilgq0LrE53ocKBu
although it’s old, so maybe she doesn’t feel that way anymore lol
You are correct that gn in Agnetha shall not be pronounced in Swedish like in Italian (like a Spanish ñ), but it shall actually not be pronounced with a common g either although that is better than the ñ.
@@popcornphilosopher Why should a Swedish name be pronounced in Spanish? 🙂
@@Magnus--Johansson _gn_ skulle varit för komplicerat att förklara skrifligt.
@@zootallures6470 -- Med Internationella fonetiska alfabetet ser det ut så här: [ŋn]
The song "Visitors" tells about Soviet dissidents visited by KGB agents, which is probably why this album was not released in the USSR at the time. In the coming years the album was released on CD with four bonus tracks, one of them being "Cassandra", the prophetess of the Trojan War who warns the Trojans but no one listens.
Cassandra reaction is coming in the video after next. I already filmed, but I had no idea that’s what it was about!
Speaker knows about recording, music and people. For me ABBA just was very good music and Agnetha was very beautiful. But being constantly on the road for work ain't good for nothing and for nobody. Very good music and still today you can recognize ABBA compositions for example for European song contest. Bjorn and Benny can make music.
Thank you so much! That’s probably very true about being on the road!
@@popcornphilosopher ain't no good baby. Best place is home.
Wow!11,000 views within 10 days!
Thank you I know I can’t even believe it! It’s my first longform video to go that high:)
@@popcornphilosopher well deserved.Such a fine well researched job for a start!
Thank you... I'm just so very glad y'all liked it! I don't know if you like carpenters.... I have a new reaction coming out in an hour and another mini doc tomorrow.
@@popcornphilosopher I'll be here!
@@alexioverdo5225 Awesome!
82 was similar for ABBA as 1980, when in the middle of the summer, when everyone thought they’d have a break, they came up with their biggest hit, TWTIA. That hit in 82 should have been JLT, but B&B decided to go different way.
Interesting, I agoing to be reacting to all those tracks. They’re coming up pretty soon:)
Well done breakdown . As a lifelong ABBA Fan , I too was not clear on the how and why of certain songs on this album. Soldiers makes so much more sense now.
btw, Go see the ABBA : Voyage Concert experience , it is like Nothing experienced before. It Looks and feels as if the ABBA Foursome are on stage doing an Amazing concert. The massive Love in the room was Beautiful.
Thank you! I am dying to go! I if I’m not able to go there. I heard it is going to be traveling, which is so exciting! But I bet it was incredible
In what way does Soldiers make so much more sense now?
The Visitors was a great album but certainly not their best for me. I preferred Voulez Vous and Super Trouper.
Can’t wait to hear them!
6:57 😂😂
I think those quotes where Agnetha talks about Lena are dubious. Where did they come from? I don’t think Agnetha has ever been that indiscreet. She’s too classy for that. Nice summing up of The Visitors, btw. Also, the comments about her “falling out” with Frida. Don’t buy that she said that.
It was from an interview she did in Prive magazine in 1981. I guess I don’t look at it as not classy, though. I think it’s great if she was honest. Because relationships are complicated and breaking up a marriage is tough,for anybody. More than likely she doesn’t feel like that anymore because time changes how people see things. I was just trying to report on what was going on then that inspired the music.
@@popcornphilosopher It's disarmingly honest.Those words were also featured in my copy of 'Abba in their own words' book compiled by Rosemary Yorke published by Omnibus 1981.
Honest Words of a woman that felt shattered deep inside,no matter if their divorce was a conscious decision of both sides.'You can't live with someone for 8 years and feel as if nothing had happened' i kinda recall her also saying this.
@@alexioverdo5225 oh, that’s cool that it was also in a book! I agree I do think it’s disarmingly honest! Now I kind of wish I put the full quote in because I think it says a lot of where she was at that time.
@@popcornphilosopher btw Chapter about it in the book was titled 'Divorce" if i remember well.Other chapters were 'Abba and The Money" and 'Abba and The Fans".All words compiled are self told.No fakery,reporter's rumours or speculations.Just them in their own words..
Fun video. But . . . . "Two for the Price of One" isn't literally about a threesome lol. If you have a dated anyone who's mother is their best friend and 100% involved in their life every waking moment -- and sometimes in the middle of the night -- one gets a better picture of what's going on this song.
Hmm. Interesting I’m not sure what you mean
@@popcornphilosopher Two for the Price of One is tongue and cheek, not literal. It's talking of a situation where a mother is going to be coming in between the man and a woman - they will never have intimacy since the mother will always be in between them. It was common in pop culture at the time for one's mother in law to be portrayed as a character of conflict -- an obstacle to happiness. A salesman would lie and sell this situation as "Two for the Price of One", That "marching band" style music at the end of the song represents the laughter following f the joke. About as far away from a threesome as one could get lol.
Calm down. The lyric is about a guy who THINKS he is going to have a threesome and learns at the end that the girl is referring to being a package deal with her mother. So it is indeed about a threesome in a way.
Te olvidaste de Frida y Benny. Agnetha no sólo ella es ABBA.
You probably didn’t watch the whole video. I have interviews from Frida and Benny in the video