This is one of the most underrated songs of ABBA. This is such a masterpiece, like all the songs from this album. One of the best ABBA albums. The tunes weren't as happy or as catchy as the early ones, but they were their best efforts.
It is a masterpiece. I was on the dance floor at the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras circa '94-95 and the DJ worked this song in after a long period of beats and no lyrics. It absolutely went ballistic and the entire floor of 10,000 exploded. We were sober, of course.
Frida said she practiced for weeks and weeks to get her voice to sound like an indigenous sitar guitar. There are no sound effect's on her voice. :) Just her talent. :)
James I always though there was sound effects on Frida’s voice and hearing that she practised to sound like this makes me feel very happy. She’s got true talent. The sound is amazing.
The #AbbaVoyage concert begins with this masterpiece of 🅰️🅱️🅱️🅱️ and everything becomes magical until the end, I love it, Frida absolutely fantastic 🎶♥️🇨🇱
This is a Top 10 favorite ABBA of mine as well. It's so eerie and futuristic as a lot of early 80s new wave songs were at that time. Like you're traveling through time into another world, and love how the music builds up slowly, and particularly the increasing volume of the drums, in the verses before the chorus when the girls harmonize. The synths in this song are amazing! One of Frida's best vocal performances on any album. As far as with Frida's voice effect, it was probably done in post-production and with maybe some vocoder/filter on it.
The fact that Abba decided to have The Visitors open the Abba Voyage concert signifies the pure genius of the song. It was amazing in the show!!!! Total Goosebumps!!
Frida is the best vocalist I've heard since I was a kid if you want to hear a good song with both of them listen to Love light you love that one it's beautiful but the visitors and all of her songs are beautiful to me abba is my all time favorite group 😉👌💯💙!!!!!
I remember the first time hearing this one when I got the album as a B-day present from mum. I got petrified. I used to play it over and over and over and over.... By the way, this album is a true masterpiece. Frida has an unique talent. ABBA is what we can call a legend.
This is my favourite ABBA song ever. The theme, the vocals, and the explosion from the slow verses into the stadium rock of the choruses and then the synths. And the four voice harmonies, their best. Glad you loved it 👍
Derek, I loved watching your excitement and smiles listening this song. Frida is AMAZING here!! She, along with Agnetha, are the two more stellar female vocalists of the 70's and 80's.
This is my favorite ABBA track on my favorite ABBA album. I remember so vividly, even still in 1986 when I first hit the gay clubs, they played this song and the crowd became a writhing mass. People were hooting and cheering and the song was already 4 years old. It was my first time feeling an energy among a group that was like euphoria. And without drugs. This song is soooo underrated. One of my all time favorite songs. Love the slow burn start and the eargasm chorus. Chill inducing. Smiling not optional. Thanks for the memories Dereck. Lol. Music is a mile marker on my life. The right song can instantly transport me to a specific place and time.
Yes! And Even into the early 90s. A gay club I frequented in Dallas would play the Visitors (the one and only place I'd ever heard thr song) around 3am, accompanied with some crazy pulsing strobe lights! It was euphoric! And For years, I had absolutely no clue it was ABBA, even though I'd always loved them for the more obvious Dancing Queen and Take a Chance etc.
They would often play The Visitors in the bar upstairs at Heaven in London in the 80s. And Sydney's #1 alternative "yoof" radio station, 'Double J', played it constantly for weeks when it was first released. People were amazed that it was ABBA.
Same happened to me when entering a disco in Miami back in 1996; There was a robotic (3D dummies swirling around themselves) video at the danceteria and suddenly the dancefloor was packed with jumping crowd yelling "CRACKING'UP!" at the top of their lungs... And yes, Derek, again, "lots of synths!"...
This album always intrigued me. More than any other, by far. Mesmerized by the beautifully mysterious and dark album cover. Then there's the title track, which pulls you into a frightening story that you can so easily visualize yourself in. The music and Frida's voice is so haunting. A dramatic departure from their previous work. An underrated work of art.
The whole album has sort of a dark, cold feel to it, down to the picture on the cover. It's a very mature effort with a theme of loss, regret, sadness, and at times the ability to transcend it all and look back with appreciation. The one song that is truly out of place is "Two for the Price of One." I think they put it in there to keep the album from being too dark, but I think it took away from the whole effect. Still I think it's their best album. "The Album" was also a masterpiece, but "The Visitors" was something so unexpected. I think that is what made it stand out. The only other album that I can think of that breaks the mold so late in a band's career is "Savage" by Eurthmics.
Thanks for your ABBA reactions. They take my year long ABBA addiction to new heights. The Visitors is one of my favorite tracks. Frida's vocals, the production, the instrumentation etc. all pointed to a completely new direction for ABBA, but then it all ended. Sad, but epic.
This is the first time I have seen a reaction like mine, to this song. @Dareckreacts I immediately liked and subscribed. I remember when this album first came out. My Mom got this album and this song gave me goose bumps. I got hooked on Abba with the VOULEZ VOUS album. That blue album cover was entrancing. When Visitors came out I was about 8 years old. My Mom has great taste in music and she passed it on to me. I am almost 50 and it still is awesome. 😎
As i understood it the lyrics are about political dissidents meeting in the home of the protagonist. The home is then raided by the state goons. ("i have been waiting for these visitors") Think about the time fram in which this was written: cold war , communist societies in eastern Europe . This song could very well have been about the DDR and the StaSi, or Soviet Russia and the KGB. Yes, this song was VERY in tune with the political climate of those days. And that's why IMO it is a masterpiece, musically, lyrically AND culturally.
I think the did a great job trying to sound relevant for the early 80s through this song. a HUUUUGGGEEEE hit on the dance floors in 1981-82. a masterpiece
Back in the day, the dance floors would fill up when this song came on or if it was mixed into another song the crowd would roar in excitement and continue dancing! My favorite ABBA song and in my opinion one of their best.
Makes me want to go to a club and DANCE DANCE DANCE......Abba bring it!!!!! (PS i hope this is one of the tracks the Abba-tars play next year in concert in London)
Phil Collins from Genesis heard this track - in particular Fridas voice and asked if he could produce a solo album with her. The album was called 'Ther'es Something Going On' It's a brilliant album.
I always thought it to be exactly the other way round. Frida hearing In The Air Tonight and stating: no other producer than Phil Collins accepted and he did.
dreasbn you’re right. Frida’s daughter gave her Phil‘s Face Value album and she listened to it a lot when she was going through her divorce. She then wanted Phil to produce her record. She approached him and not the other way round.
Love your reaction to this. I must admit it wasn't my favorite Abba song when it first came out, yes I'm that old. A real departure from their other songs but it definitely has grown on me over the years.
Thanks Dereck, this is one of my all time favorite songs. As someone mentioned, it's a masterpiece. It brings up so many memories for me, I had just came out.
An underrated masterpiece. The lyrics are some of ABBA's most political, about the Soviet Union's crackdown on political dissidents. I love the way that a line from the verse comes in as a counterpoint overt the chorus at the end. One of my top two favourite ABBA songs (along with "The Name of the Game"), and sonically probably their most creative. Amazing. It doesn't normally stop that suddenly, but it fits in so well with the lyrics that perhaps they should have!
So glad you enjoyed it this much. This is without question my favorite ABBA song, possibly one of my favorites period. Your reaction was just wonderful!
I knew you would love this. The song does fade rather than suddenly stop. This was one of the first digitally recorded albums which give a unique sound. Thanks again for a superb analysis and reaction.
Wow,,,, someone who actually gets it. Your reactions to the small effects is priceless. Thats when I knew, you heard the same things, felt the same emotions, and reacted to the many times "Un-heard" effects that complete a composition like this. It's one of ABBAs best creations, their harmony is top notch, and the rely on talent, not explosions. Personally you just earned my respect for listening to a song from the inside of the songwriter and felt the impact. Yes, Frida is up there close to Freddy Mercury (Best of the best).
The Hot Tracks extended mix of this song was a dance-floor filler in the clubs back then and got quite high on the Billboard Dance Chart. I'm not sure if there were any effects on the vocals. I think I read that Frida contorted her voice to mimic a Sitar instrument. She had improvisation skills borne from her Jazz background. On 'The Day Before You Came', many fans were surprised that the haunting, operatic background sounds were real vocals and not synth produced.
VSITORS =KGB. To be truly human you have to be free of oppression. Strip that away you are left less human. Frida's voice echo's that soulless state, Bjorn, Benny and their recording/producer wizard, Michael B Tretow , experimented with many recording techniques to achieve new sounds right from the start. They often sped up the sound of the girls voices and also the layered instruments to achieve that hard to imitate ABBA wall of sound. From 'ABBA The Album' onwards they had their own purpose built recording studios, Polar Music, to do just that.
Dereck you sexy darling...SO HAPPY TO HEAR YOU FALLING IN LOVE WITH FRIDA'S VOICE!!! In the 70s Björn and Benny said that they regarded Agnetha as a great interpreter of songs, and Frida a singer who could use her voice like a musical instrument, able to do anything with it. I often wonder what the classic ABBA songs would sound like if the girls swapped lead vocals. The only one I think would work is Chiquitita, which is more or less a duet anyway. Otherwise, the girls made their solo songs their own!! Thanks, Dereck! 💝
The Visitors is my favorite ABBA song and album. Many dismiss it as a weak album that shows their end as a band is near and they’ve run out of steam, but I think it’s their pinnacle. I Let the Music Speak is another incredible track. Again, Frida’s voice is superb. By the way, I think the lyrics on this album are also superior to any other prior prior albums. I enjoyed your review. It’s great to see younger people like you appreciate the quality of their work.
I've been waiting for this reaction, because i love this song! Good video Dereck, please check other ABBA songs like As Good As New, Thank You For The Music, On and On and On, Lovelight Greetings
I just want to also add that I can't believe that this wasn't even considered a top 40 hit in the US. It did make it on the dance charts as did "Lay all your love on me" same thing. It just wasn't in the mainstream, mainly in the clubs. Totally AWESOME and timeless!
Their last studio album.The song and the album is a gem. Unfortunately the group popularity in 1981-1982 was on decline. The Visitors is an amazing song I think now almost 40 years later we can appreciate their talent. The Visitors, is dark, mysterious, sinister. I love the album cover, the title track, etc, etc. Thank you dereck.
The voice was all Frida's. Not a chance it was electronically edited, that sort of equipment wasn't available in the early 80s. (I always loved Frida's voice the best. The songs where she was performing the lead were always my favourite.) I remember I got this album from a bloke who fancied me. It wasn't mutual, but I accepted his gift. ;) In vinyl, just when it came out. Adore this whole album. I haven't listened to this track for ages but it all came back to me like it was just yesterday when I first heard it. Magical music. Personally, as I understood it then, the "visitors" seemed to me like aliens from beyond the stars... YMMV.
If you like this please preview the Hot Tracks remix. The dance floor at Heaven literally erupted - everyone made a mad scramble as soon as that unmistakeable intro started And they played the entire slowly building intro so that everyone could park drinks and get themselves onto that sprung dance floor which was HEAVING. Ahh, wonderful memories. This is their dark masterpiece, I think.
Benny and Bjorn must have pinched themselves that they had Frida and Agnetha to sing their compositions. Both as preternaturally talented as the other in their own unique way and then you put them together it’s absolute fireworks 🎆
And yet it took them ages to work out how to actually use them! When you listen to the early ABBA recordings there's very little ABBA magic as Bjorn insisted on singing on everything!
Yes, it still amazes me how much he sang on those early recordings, when they had such talented girls in the band! They said that they realised straight away how good the girls blended vocally yet he still insisted taking the lead!? There was a definite improvement once he took a back seat! 😄
Glad you enjoyed the song, Benny & Bjorn had a lot of up to date technology in their studio, Frida’s vocals were treated with a vocoder. This is a favourite of Frida & Bjorn’s. I’ve noted before that this song was a big club hit in USA in 1983 in gay clubs, as the gay community saw similarities with the paranoia of being ‘outed’ as you could be ostracised and even lose their job. There is a tremendous video on UA-cam (I will look for the link) where the song is played in a nightclub and it is filmed on a mobile phone, but the euphoria you hear from the crowd is spine tingling. You are right Dereck, the chorus is a rewrite of Summer Night City. In the U.K. the song was a ‘B side to Head Over Heels, and Frida even said that she would’ve preferred The Visitors as an ‘A side to show their new style.
The Visitors is ABBA’s finest album! I’ve been listening to this since I was 10 years old (now I’m 48!) I got a huge buzz out of watching your reaction to this song 😄
thanks Dereck. Best ABBA song. I was 12 when this came out and it blew my mind. it's a very cold war song that taps into the anxiety of the era and Frida's voice is haunting .
Congratulations: a great reaction for a great song, Dereck you really understand the ABBA-Songs, their magic and the perfection. ...nothing more to say, no more ace to play...when all is said and done... anothe synth-heaven song is "Me and I" from Super Trouper Album
This is my favorite reaction video. Dereck made me discover this song again. For 39 years I would always skip this song. Now I just think it's amazing.
Even if we had just bought our drinks, my best friend and I would guzzle them, slam our empty glasses on the bar, and run to the dance floor when this song came on. No discussion necessary-it was automatic! A favorite at Trash Disco night at Rich’s in Houston in the 90s.
Just the other day I was thinking you should listen to 'The Visitors' so I was excited when I saw this. It's in my Top 10 ABBA songs and I'm happy that you liked it. Trivia - It's the only ABBA song that doesn't rhyme.
@@DarkAngel459 Pleasure! No such thing as an ABBA fan who isn't nice! I was thrilled to discover a fact about ABBA I didn't know! I want another one! xxx
Visitors is unique. There is no other song like it. It sucks you in. But you really can't experience it unless you are mashed together on the dance floor, concussive bass pounding into your chest, heavy alcohol, heavy sweat, heavy poppers, everyone with his eyes closed, dancing in his own personal universe, choruses being mixed over and over and over with multiple climaxes, each coming on the heels of the previous one. Dude, you gotta find a good mix version.
Anyone who doesn't get goosebumps listening to this is dead inside. An ABBA masterpiece.
AGREE
Storming opener to the Voyage concerts. Must see if in the U.K.
This is one of the most underrated songs of ABBA. This is such a masterpiece, like all the songs from this album. One of the best ABBA albums. The tunes weren't as happy or as catchy as the early ones, but they were their best efforts.
Realmente sensacional una obra maestra
Frida nailed this perfect ❤
It is a masterpiece. I was on the dance floor at the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras circa '94-95 and the DJ worked this song in after a long period of beats and no lyrics. It absolutely went ballistic and the entire floor of 10,000 exploded. We were sober, of course.
All the ABBA's musical production is absolute gem , masterpiece and pop perfection forever in the world .
Frida said she practiced for weeks and weeks to get her voice to sound like an indigenous sitar guitar. There are no sound effect's on her voice. :) Just her talent. :)
James I always though there was sound effects on Frida’s voice and hearing that she practised to sound like this makes me feel very happy. She’s got true talent. The sound is amazing.
Just listen to how the word 'come' sounds... very clearly "an effect" there (an analog vocoder).
@@ianbower2967 I think there is a slight effect to make the sound sharper. But the voice and intonations is all her.
i never knew that ... wow makes it even better
@@jamesbachmann7376 Singing or playing with effects is not necessarily easier.
The #AbbaVoyage concert begins with this masterpiece of 🅰️🅱️🅱️🅱️ and everything becomes magical until the end, I love it, Frida absolutely fantastic 🎶♥️🇨🇱
Instant goosebumps when the synth background cuts out and the chorus kicks in - every time!
Exactly!!!!!
Totally agree
This song tore UP the clubs in Miami when I was at University!!!!!!! Fantastic dance classic........iconic
This is why Abba's music will always be around way after we have all gone..
Well said!!!
This is a Top 10 favorite ABBA of mine as well. It's so eerie and futuristic as a lot of early 80s new wave songs were at that time. Like you're traveling through time into another world, and love how the music builds up slowly, and particularly the increasing volume of the drums, in the verses before the chorus when the girls harmonize. The synths in this song are amazing! One of Frida's best vocal performances on any album. As far as with Frida's voice effect, it was probably done in post-production and with maybe some vocoder/filter on it.
One of my favourite songs of Abba 1) Eagle 2) The visitors 3) The day before you came 😍
esta es una cancion impresionante de abba, es atemporal, si la pusieran actualmente reventaria las listas de musica, simplemente es brutal
ABBA are a truly gift. They are not just mamma Mia or dancing queen. I love them with all my heart.
AGREE
"true gift!"
I still to this day get tingles when listening to the build up to the chorus on this track. It's an absolute masterpiece!
Yep, got the same, after so many years...
Abba songs are All masterpieces
ABBA ,one of the best dance bands EVER. this is just one example.
The Visitors is definitely a gift that just keeps on giving.
The uptempo sounds like the heartbeat of the person after his apartment is invaded. The beat is like a an accelerated heartbeat
The album that got me in to ABBA. Dad used to play it every day at 6PM the year it came out.
Oh n fancy seeing you here 😆
Damn genius of a song
Never gets old.
The Album is a masterpiece so far my Abba Favourite. Love
The fact that Abba decided to have The Visitors open the Abba Voyage concert signifies the pure genius of the song. It was amazing in the show!!!! Total Goosebumps!!
That's what I call THE reaction to visitors!!!!!!!
Abba came a long way from dancing queen to the visitors, always pioneering trailblazers!
i remember dancing to this in the disco when i was 18...now 58 lol. favorite Abba song
If this played in a disco in 2022 I would lose it!
Awesome reaction thank you! Frida beaming her lyrics in from space had me hooked in 1981and still do today. Glad you like it! X
Frida is the best vocalist I've heard since I was a kid if you want to hear a good song with both of them listen to Love light you love that one it's beautiful but the visitors and all of her songs are beautiful to me abba is my all time favorite group 😉👌💯💙!!!!!
Frida is good,good,....good!
The song is said to be a protest about the Mistreatment of political dissidents in the Soviet Union at the time. Only what I've read.
I read that in their compilation CD collection that I have
It’s about the Cold War
I remember the first time hearing this one when I got the album as a B-day present from mum. I got petrified. I used to play it over and over and over and over.... By the way, this album is a true masterpiece. Frida has an unique talent.
ABBA is what we can call a legend.
The best ABBA track. I’m so glad someone has finally reacted to it!
This is my favourite ABBA song ever. The theme, the vocals, and the explosion from the slow verses into the stadium rock of the choruses and then the synths. And the four voice harmonies, their best. Glad you loved it 👍
Derek, I loved watching your excitement and smiles listening this song. Frida is AMAZING here!! She, along with Agnetha, are the two more stellar female vocalists of the 70's and 80's.
This is my favorite ABBA track on my favorite ABBA album. I remember so vividly, even still in 1986 when I first hit the gay clubs, they played this song and the crowd became a writhing mass. People were hooting and cheering and the song was already 4 years old. It was my first time feeling an energy among a group that was like euphoria. And without drugs. This song is soooo underrated. One of my all time favorite songs. Love the slow burn start and the eargasm chorus. Chill inducing. Smiling not optional. Thanks for the memories Dereck. Lol. Music is a mile marker on my life. The right song can instantly transport me to a specific place and time.
Yes! And Even into the early 90s. A gay club I frequented in Dallas would play the Visitors (the one and only place I'd ever heard thr song) around 3am, accompanied with some crazy pulsing strobe lights! It was euphoric! And For years, I had absolutely no clue it was ABBA, even though I'd always loved them for the more obvious Dancing Queen and Take a Chance etc.
They would often play The Visitors in the bar upstairs at Heaven in London in the 80s. And Sydney's #1 alternative "yoof" radio station, 'Double J', played it constantly for weeks when it was first released. People were amazed that it was ABBA.
And it sounds so GREAT today.....
Same happened to me when entering a disco in Miami back in 1996; There was a robotic (3D dummies swirling around themselves) video at the danceteria and suddenly the dancefloor was packed with jumping crowd yelling "CRACKING'UP!" at the top of their lungs... And yes, Derek, again, "lots of synths!"...
This album always intrigued me. More than any other, by far. Mesmerized by the beautifully mysterious and dark album cover. Then there's the title track, which pulls you into a frightening story that you can so easily visualize yourself in. The music and Frida's voice is so haunting. A dramatic departure from their previous work. An underrated work of art.
The whole album has sort of a dark, cold feel to it, down to the picture on the cover. It's a very mature effort with a theme of loss, regret, sadness, and at times the ability to transcend it all and look back with appreciation. The one song that is truly out of place is "Two for the Price of One." I think they put it in there to keep the album from being too dark, but I think it took away from the whole effect. Still I think it's their best album. "The Album" was also a masterpiece, but "The Visitors" was something so unexpected. I think that is what made it stand out. The only other album that I can think of that breaks the mold so late in a band's career is "Savage" by Eurthmics.
I wholeheartedly agree!
@German Morawski Yes, that's right!!
Thanks for your ABBA reactions. They take my year long ABBA addiction to new heights. The Visitors is one of my favorite tracks. Frida's vocals, the production, the instrumentation etc. all pointed to a completely new direction for ABBA, but then it all ended. Sad, but epic.
The addiction doesn't go away by the way, 40 years and counting for me. It always comes back, a year or two break at most.
The lyrics deal with soviet dissidents. That knock on the door where you get taken away by the secret police. Björn has confirmed this.
Sorta like what just happened in Portland?
The KGB are "the visitors"
@@oceans80 - What happened in Portland?
woutch you’re stalking me!
@woutch normally those peddlers stay outside your house, they don't invite themselves in
This is the first time I have seen a reaction like mine, to this song. @Dareckreacts I immediately liked and subscribed.
I remember when this album first came out. My Mom got this album and this song gave me goose bumps. I got hooked on Abba with the VOULEZ VOUS album. That blue album cover was entrancing. When Visitors came out I was about 8 years old. My Mom has great taste in music and she passed it on to me. I am almost 50 and it still is awesome. 😎
Thanks✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽
@@DereckReacts you're welcome. 😎
Completely sick reverse guitars... An epic sound engineering... FANTASTIC, Dereck!!!!!!
I bought this album on vinyl when it was first released and I'm very glad to see young people discovering its greatness for the first time.
As i understood it the lyrics are about political dissidents meeting in the home of the protagonist. The home is then raided by the state goons. ("i have been waiting for these visitors")
Think about the time fram in which this was written: cold war , communist societies in eastern Europe .
This song could very well have been about the DDR and the StaSi, or Soviet Russia and the KGB.
Yes, this song was VERY in tune with the political climate of those days. And that's why IMO it is a masterpiece, musically, lyrically AND culturally.
Insane production and masterpiece !
Extraordinary !!! Outstanding !!!
Ever very good music , songs and singing voices .
I like this song .
I think the did a great job trying to sound relevant for the early 80s through this song. a HUUUUGGGEEEE hit on the dance floors in 1981-82. a masterpiece
Your reaction to listening to this masterpiece of a song is priceless!! Love it! 👍🏻
Back in the day, the dance floors would fill up when this song came on or if it was mixed into another song the crowd would roar in excitement and continue dancing! My favorite ABBA song and in my opinion one of their best.
Makes me want to go to a club and DANCE DANCE DANCE......Abba bring it!!!!! (PS i hope this is one of the tracks the Abba-tars play next year in concert in London)
Phil Collins from Genesis heard this track - in particular Fridas voice and asked if he could produce a solo album with her. The album was called 'Ther'es Something Going On' It's a brilliant album.
It is a twin album with Genesis "Abacab". She could totally have joined Genesis as a guest
@@resireg I've got the LP vinyl from 1982 'There's Something Going On' Would love to see the twin album with Genesis.
I always thought it to be exactly the other way round. Frida hearing In The Air Tonight and stating: no other producer than Phil Collins accepted and he did.
@Marvin Morawski oh what an answer, full of details and reasonble content. Thanks for helping.
dreasbn you’re right. Frida’s daughter gave her Phil‘s Face Value album and she listened to it a lot when she was going through her divorce. She then wanted Phil to produce her record. She approached him and not the other way round.
When they played this in the clubs back in the day, you could not get on the dance floor.
This is a tricky song, yes it's up-tempo, but loaded with minor keys, offering a foreboding atmosphere. Signature ABBA musical juxtaposition.
Love your reaction to this. I must admit it wasn't my favorite Abba song when it first came out, yes I'm that old. A real departure from their other songs but it definitely has grown on me over the years.
The entire album is a masterpiece. I love "Under Attack", "Soldiers", and "Heads over heels". Basically all of them!
I remember the first I heard this masterpiece!!! So ahead at their time. Absolutely marvellous and flowless !!!
The Visitors is Abba's best album it's superb
The Visitors album is definitely worthy of one of your full album reviews Derek! Loved your reaction to one of their best songs!
No, it actually fades out. ;-)
And I think you are absolutely right about the album being highly underrated.
ABBA wollten sich nach dem Album trennen (um Musical zu machen) ich denke sie wollten sich Stark verabschieden. Das ist gelungen.
I love this song, it doesn't get the attention it deserves.
Thanks Dereck, this is one of my all time favorite songs. As someone mentioned, it's a masterpiece. It brings up so many memories for me, I had just came out.
An underrated masterpiece. The lyrics are some of ABBA's most political, about the Soviet Union's crackdown on political dissidents. I love the way that a line from the verse comes in as a counterpoint overt the chorus at the end. One of my top two favourite ABBA songs (along with "The Name of the Game"), and sonically probably their most creative. Amazing. It doesn't normally stop that suddenly, but it fits in so well with the lyrics that perhaps they should have!
So glad you enjoyed it this much. This is without question my favorite ABBA song, possibly one of my favorites period. Your reaction was just wonderful!
I have just discovered your channel. Your enthusiasm for the greatest songwriters and vocalists in history, ABBA, is infectious! New subscriber!
I knew you would love this. The song does fade rather than suddenly stop. This was one of the first digitally recorded albums which give a unique sound. Thanks again for a superb analysis and reaction.
The whole album is a masterpiece. Like and Angel Passing Through My Room is beautiful.
So many memories on the time when I was somewhere between childhood and youth! ABBA's music was accompanying me.
Wow,,,, someone who actually gets it. Your reactions to the small effects is priceless. Thats when I knew, you heard the same things, felt the same emotions, and reacted to the many times "Un-heard" effects that complete a composition like this. It's one of ABBAs best creations, their harmony is top notch, and the rely on talent, not explosions. Personally you just earned my respect for listening to a song from the inside of the songwriter and felt the impact. Yes, Frida is up there close to Freddy Mercury (Best of the best).
The Hot Tracks extended mix of this song was a dance-floor filler in the clubs back then and got quite high on the Billboard Dance Chart. I'm not sure if there were any effects on the vocals. I think I read that Frida contorted her voice to mimic a Sitar instrument. She had improvisation skills borne from her Jazz background. On 'The Day Before You Came', many fans were surprised that the haunting, operatic background sounds were real vocals and not synth produced.
Love, "The Day Before You Came."
Can’t believe you have not reacted to “ If it wasn’t for the night “. It’s my favourite.
This song suprised me also at that time........I was blown away also
Listen to "soldiers" also please
Greetings from Holland
Very nice reaction
VSITORS =KGB. To be truly human you have to be free of oppression. Strip that away you are left less human. Frida's voice echo's that soulless state, Bjorn, Benny and their recording/producer wizard, Michael B Tretow , experimented with many recording techniques to achieve new sounds right from the start. They often sped up the sound of the girls voices and also the layered instruments to achieve that hard to imitate ABBA wall of sound. From 'ABBA The Album' onwards they had their own purpose built recording studios, Polar Music, to do just that.
Most underrated ABBA song
I believe this song did okay on dance floors in the States. It’s a great track. The whole album is a gem.
I believe it was especially popular in gay clubs - possibly because of the persecution theme in the lyrics.
Dereck you sexy darling...SO HAPPY TO HEAR YOU FALLING IN LOVE WITH FRIDA'S VOICE!!! In the 70s Björn and Benny said that they regarded Agnetha as a great interpreter of songs, and Frida a singer who could use her voice like a musical instrument, able to do anything with it. I often wonder what the classic ABBA songs would sound like if the girls swapped lead vocals. The only one I think would work is Chiquitita, which is more or less a duet anyway. Otherwise, the girls made their solo songs their own!! Thanks, Dereck! 💝
Hands down the best Abba song - cant believe its not as well known.
One of my favorites by ABBA
So many awesome songs!!!!! How can one band have so many awesome songs. Mind-boggling.
The Visitors is my favorite ABBA song and album. Many dismiss it as a weak album that shows their end as a band is near and they’ve run out of steam, but I think it’s their pinnacle. I Let the Music Speak is another incredible track. Again, Frida’s voice is superb. By the way, I think the lyrics on this album are also superior to any other prior prior albums. I enjoyed your review. It’s great to see younger people like you appreciate the quality of their work.
I've been waiting for this reaction, because i love this song! Good video Dereck, please check other ABBA songs like As Good As New, Thank You For The Music, On and On and On, Lovelight
Greetings
I just want to also add that I can't believe that this wasn't even considered a top 40 hit in the US. It did make it on the dance charts as did "Lay all your love on me" same thing. It just wasn't in the mainstream, mainly in the clubs. Totally AWESOME and timeless!
The Guardian wrote about this track: "it's ABBA doing Joy Division." :-)
Love both bands..
@@garethcumming667 me too!
Their last studio album.The song and the album is a gem. Unfortunately the group popularity in 1981-1982 was on decline. The Visitors is an amazing song I think now almost 40 years later we can appreciate their talent. The Visitors, is dark, mysterious, sinister. I love the album cover, the title track, etc, etc. Thank you dereck.
The voice was all Frida's. Not a chance it was electronically edited, that sort of equipment wasn't available in the early 80s. (I always loved Frida's voice the best. The songs where she was performing the lead were always my favourite.) I remember I got this album from a bloke who fancied me. It wasn't mutual, but I accepted his gift. ;) In vinyl, just when it came out. Adore this whole album. I haven't listened to this track for ages but it all came back to me like it was just yesterday when I first heard it. Magical music. Personally, as I understood it then, the "visitors" seemed to me like aliens from beyond the stars... YMMV.
This is their last original studio album from 1981. Happy 'mammamia-Abba' had become dark and mysterious at the end.
That chorus always gives me goosebumps
If you like this please preview the Hot Tracks remix. The dance floor at Heaven literally erupted - everyone made a mad scramble as soon as that unmistakeable intro started And they played the entire slowly building intro so that everyone could park drinks and get themselves onto that sprung dance floor which was HEAVING. Ahh, wonderful memories.
This is their dark masterpiece, I think.
Benny and Bjorn must have pinched themselves that they had Frida and Agnetha to sing their compositions. Both as preternaturally talented as the other in their own unique way and then you put them together it’s absolute fireworks 🎆
And yet it took them ages to work out how to actually use them! When you listen to the early ABBA recordings there's very little ABBA magic as Bjorn insisted on singing on everything!
My God...those two together!
Yes, it still amazes me how much he sang on those early recordings, when they had such talented girls in the band! They said that they realised straight away how good the girls blended vocally yet he still insisted taking the lead!? There was a definite improvement once he took a back seat! 😄
Glad you enjoyed the song, Benny & Bjorn had a lot of up to date technology in their studio, Frida’s vocals were treated with a vocoder. This is a favourite of Frida & Bjorn’s. I’ve noted before that this song was a big club hit in USA in 1983 in gay clubs, as the gay community saw similarities with the paranoia of being ‘outed’ as you could be ostracised and even lose their job. There is a tremendous video on UA-cam (I will look for the link) where the song is played in a nightclub and it is filmed on a mobile phone, but the euphoria you hear from the crowd is spine tingling. You are right Dereck, the chorus is a rewrite of Summer Night City. In the U.K. the song was a ‘B side to Head Over Heels, and Frida even said that she would’ve preferred The Visitors as an ‘A side to show their new style.
m.ua-cam.com/video/9czMC0U-L2k/v-deo.html
@@bobtrouper man, i enjoyed this video so much. first Carpenters "Calling occupants" and than THE VISITORS. Thanks for telling us.
@Marvin Morawski Agree ! It was released in the USA as the A-side and reached no.27. I always like it more than Head over heels.
The Visitors is ABBA’s finest album!
I’ve been listening to this since I was 10 years old (now I’m 48!) I got a huge buzz out of watching your reaction to this song 😄
thanks Dereck. Best ABBA song. I was 12 when this came out and it blew my mind. it's a very cold war song that taps into the anxiety of the era and Frida's voice is haunting .
Congratulations: a great reaction for a great song, Dereck you really understand the ABBA-Songs, their magic and the perfection.
...nothing more to say, no more ace to play...when all is said and done... anothe synth-heaven song is "Me and I" from Super Trouper Album
one of my favorite songs since 39 years now. So beautiful as he discovers it
At your 3:35 the uncontrollable dance rhythm .engulfs the dance floor...Magic
It's the opening number to the Voyage concert and the band really punches it hard.
This is my favorite reaction video. Dereck made me discover this song again. For 39 years I would always skip this song. Now I just think it's amazing.
One of my Favorites from ABBA. The powerful Drums played by Per Lindvall. From the Year 2000 - 2007 he played the Drums by a-ha
Even if we had just bought our drinks, my best friend and I would guzzle them, slam our empty glasses on the bar, and run to the dance floor when this song came on. No discussion necessary-it was automatic! A favorite at Trash Disco night at Rich’s in Houston in the 90s.
I love this song so much. My fav non-single Abba song. Great reaction.
Just the other day I was thinking you should listen to 'The Visitors' so I was excited when I saw this. It's in my Top 10 ABBA songs and I'm happy that you liked it. Trivia - It's the only ABBA song that doesn't rhyme.
OMG you're right 😱!!! How did I never notice that before?!?! Nice trivia! xxx
Wow! 39 years later, I also only *now* know that it doesn't rhyme. Thanks Rob 😃✨👍
Thank you for your lovely replies xxxx
@@DarkAngel459 Pleasure! No such thing as an ABBA fan who isn't nice! I was thrilled to discover a fact about ABBA I didn't know! I want another one! xxx
lol, I have never seen you so excited. Love this track
I also do not believe "the visitors" was ever released as a single in the US
One of my Abba's favourite songs. It's strange, dark, scary, it breaks Abba's musical style
Visitors is unique. There is no other song like it. It sucks you in. But you really can't experience it unless you are mashed together on the dance floor, concussive bass pounding into your chest, heavy alcohol, heavy sweat, heavy poppers, everyone with his eyes closed, dancing in his own personal universe, choruses being mixed over and over and over with multiple climaxes, each coming on the heels of the previous one. Dude, you gotta find a good mix version.