I sat up late into the night in Australia in 2021waiting for the release of this song and 'Don't Shut me Down'. This song came first and it was accompanied by a video which features some footage from their tremendous Australian tour of 1977. As soon as I heard Frida's voice sing the first line I started crying.
As a life long ABBA fan I was over the moon with news of a complete new album, Voyage, after 40 yrs. Upon first listen and watching the music video for this song ISHFIY I was on the edge of my seat with excitement and then unexpectedly half way through the song I burst out in tears and sobbed like a child. What a gift the Swedish Fab Four gave us !
Abba's 2nd coming after 4 decades of drought was like vital rain plus lifeline oxygene for many of us especially older fans that had grown up with their music in their fairytale perfumed garden.
Welcome to another ABBA master class & what an introduction🎉 Anni-Frids vocals🎉 Her accent & passion just adds something more special.. difficult to explain.. And of course the lyrics which in true ABBA fashion can be interpreted in various ways.. Is it a song between the ABBA members? Is it a song from ABBA to their fans? Is it a wider reaching song? Personally I think it is a song mixed between ABBA & their fans.
This song just means so much for me - and many other ABBA fans! The first new song in almost 40 years - who would have thought it would ever happen? I followed the live transmission on TH-cam when Benny and Björn was interviewed live on BBC - and when the first few seconds of this was played, I burst into tears! It was so moving to hear Fridas voice again. Mature and in a lower register than before - but still very clear and warm. And when Agnetha joined in the chorus - it was just unbelievable! ABBA WAS BACK! And in real good shape! Finally when the video showed glimpse of the ABBATARS - it was jawdropping! Such a great comeback - perhaps the biggest in music history was a reality! And it just got even better when they played Don´t Shut Me Down - a classic ABBA pop banger, and when it was announced that it was not only those two new songs they were releasing - it was a whole new album!!! WHAAAAAT??? AND that there was to be built a customized ABBA ARENA for the Voyage concerts in London! It was almost too much to grab - but it was real! I was so happy and couldn´t sleep that night! I spend several hours hearing the songs and seeing the video on TH-cam over and over again! Therefore - this is one of my all time favourites of ABBA songs. Not only because of the things I just mentioned above - but also because it is such a beautiful and wellcrafted song! ❤❤❤❤
The "come back party" on tv made me cry like a baby, making me feel like meeting a dear friend after a long long time. Hearing those beautiful voices singing in harmony again.. no words to describe really. And the whole concept with the Abbatars, the Abba arena and all. Just wow. Not to mention, in a time the world really needed some positivity and feeling of friendship. Bravo, Abba, bravo.
When the press conference for this album happened, I got on a zoom call with my dear old friend from high school who has always shared my ABBA mania. I loved ABBA with the whole of my heart, but she took it to another level. She had multiple European pen pals who shared with her bootleg VHS tapes of promotional videos and TV appearances, demo cassettes, posters, I mean the lot. She taught me how to say "Agnyeta" properly! We both took ABBA seriously but we also had fun with our crazy obsession. And then this.... here we are, both approaching 50, crying as we watch simulcasts of fireworks off a pier in Sweden, the BBC interviewing Björn and Benny, and finally the video for I Still Have Faith In You. It just felt like such a gift, the pandemic was still raging even though lockdowns had long since ended, people were just starting to talk about traveling again... this was such a moment of shared camaraderie, nostalgia, and ridiculous joy. Not just between us but in, like, a common segment of the whole planet.That's the context of Voyage.
Thank you for sharing this! I reckognized myself so much in what you wrote. And I just loved the image of you and your ABBA crazy friend 😁. I'm a 70+ Swedish woman who tear up every time I listen to this song. Over the years, after ABBA, Björn and Benny continued to work together. Creating such marvellous music, including two musicals, that I had lulled myself into believing that I didn't need more of ABBA specifically. But boy was I wrong!
VOYAGE is a grower album and ages fine like good old wine.I'm grateful.Thank you.Still waiting for the 2 unreleased tracks that are rumoured to be ready.Working titles that got sneaked were 'Hit by a train' and 'My story ends with you"....
Benny and Bjorn did a live broadcast to announce the ABBA Voyage project. I was walking home from work watching and listening on my phone. Before this broadcast we knew there were 2 new songs recorded for the Abbatar Voyage show but they announced that in fact there would be a whole album ! This song was the first they played and the video includes snippets at the end of their Abbatars used in the show. Which i have now seen 3 times in London. Anyway i digress, i was a sobbing mess walking home when i heard this. Never thought after the Visitors all those years ago would we get anything else. This album is incredible as is the ABBA Voyage show. I have been a fan since 1974 and feel so privileged to have been around for this new chapter ❤
Even after ABBA turned down a billion dollars to tour in the late nineties there were still plenty of rumours that they would come back. And I, as a #1 ABBA fan, fervently hoped they would not. I respected their decision to part and remain parted and any comeback would surely tarnish their reputation that had been building since. But, that day in September 2021, I was crumpled on the sofa bawling my eyes out hearing this song. And it wasn't just the song but the video montage they carefully curated to accompany it - my favourite bit is the outtake from Mamma Mia where Frida rests her head on Agnetha's shoulder and Agnetha rolls her eyes skyward as if to say "here she goes again!" I f***ing love these people! Matt, I know this is all new to you (as good as new?) but you are in for a treat with the rest of this album 😎#peace
I was 15 when The Visitors was released. I am not in the least bit ashamed to say I had tears streaming down my face when it was announced ABBA was releasing a new album. Voyage is a gift from heaven.
This is the perfect comeback song (for ABBA and the incredible of its history). The official video is very nostalgic and it's very easy for the viewer to end up in a sea of tears... Take care... See you soon... Matt & Lucca ❤🇨🇱👍
40 years.....40 years!!! How do they still sound so good! Can't wait for you to react to Don't Shut Me Down. As soon as I heard it I thought it was a message to the fans, despite Bjorn saying it wasn't
Wonderful. This album was such a gift, and one that, until the rumours started, we never though we would receive. A song about four people who have such a complicated history together, contemplating working together again and wondering, can we do this? Do we still have it in us? The conclusion - of curse we can! We're Abba! The spirit is still there. The story isn't over. And it's not only that they have faith in each other, but they also have faith in the fans, the people who have kept their music alive over all that time, who kept the faith in THEM. Beautifully sung by Frida, undoubtedly a maturer voice, how could it not be. The arrangement too is wonderful, lots of little flourishes that hark back to past Abba tracks (the flute, the marching drum) and that great triumphant chorus. And more amazing, it wasn't even the best track.
@marvinpoprockfan Art is subjective as they say and a matter of taste. I like I Still Have Faith in You way better than Don't shut me down. It's a biographical song and it made me shade some tears. Don't shut me down is not bad either
Still get goosebumps... And a tear or two. I'm 58 and been a massive fan since the start. When this was announced i was so excited. When i finally heard it, i cried. It was like seeing your best friends after 40 years. It was utterly indescribable.
This is a wonderful track reflecting their own story, changes, relationships, self-doubt when coming back after so many years, but also insisting that it's still there. Something which is highlighted by a very emotional official video saturated by love and nostalgia - you have to look at that too. It was such a big thing to receive after so many years. It's one of the highlights of the album, which is very lovely - I mean I really, really love it, but it's not The Visitors, but still I love it, and I love them for maiking it
This was a joy when finally released - glad you enjoyed it - 'faith' has such strength as a word - multi-layered in both meaning and sonic - gorgeous :)
After a 40 year hiatus ABBA gave us an album with 5 Grammy nominations - should have won 3 at least - no. 1 in 17 countries I believe, a virtual concert with motion capture abbatars inspired from the 4 ABBA members themselves, which has had over 1 million visitors in the first year alone to the ABBA arena constructed in London for that purpose. Fairly universal praise of this album also from critics. My own feelings is there are 5 songs that are as good as any ABBA songs ever written and performed. This was a gift from ABBA to their fans and I am humbled and appreciative. Long live ABBA! Thanks Matt for the deep dive 👍
What was it like for us who remember ABBA first time around? Tear-jerking. Especially the video. Hearing Frida sing so strongly in her 70s was amazing.
Hello again dear Matt I am very happy that you have finally reached this historic moment, after this memorable ABBA Journey that we are sharing on your channel. The great world news of this 21st century for the world of music is the return of the mythical Swedish quartet ABBA to the recording studios in 2017 after more than 35 years (the last song recorded was "The day before you came" in 1982 ) and the release of their new songs after 39 years (the last single released was "Under attack" in 1982) and a new full-length studio album after 40 years (the last one was "The Visitor" in 1981) Beyond the fact that these three data are for the Guinness Book of Records (I believe that no group, singer or artist can come close to these incredible and surprising brands), the most remarkable thing is How they came back, with what level of quality. . And I must say that ABBA exceeded all fears, doubts and expectations. Their return is impressive and his quality is still valid, incredible! We know the great spirit of perfection that Björn & Benny imprint on their creations, and their first two releases are up there with their greatest hits from the 80s. But the biggest unknown was knowing the state of the voices of Agnetha & Frida and how they could react to the inevitable passing of the decades and their possible comparisons with previous classics. And I must say that both look great. And in this there is an extraordinary mime work by Björn & Benny to "pamper" their historic singers, and ex-partners. They were entrusted with two wonderful songs, with beautiful melodies and deep lyrics, but were also surrounded by the iconic hooks and the call for emotional nostalgia. "I still have faith in you" is an unprecedented song in its conception in the history of ABBA because it is self-referential about them as a quartet; and it is also testimonial, because they tell us about their experiences in all this time Musically I see it as a mystical and epic ballad. A majestic piano and Frida's soft voice drive and recreate the ABBA story with moving beauty, with Agnetha joining in on a few verses to emphasize (and remind us of the famous 'third voice') The sound of the drums (a nod to the megahit "Fernando") is preparing the change of rhythm And with a powerful guitar comes that first unprecedented chorus, because this time all of ABBA sings from the depths of its history and with the strength of its testimony of life, healing and union. And in the second part the second chorus is even stronger, at times they even sing at three levels of voices, it is very clear that ABBA sings with the passion and courage that Björn's excellent lyrics highlight, it is like a triumphant song of thier survival and their bond And it ends with a solo by Frida, impeccable, with the sound of the flutes at the end The official video is also unprecedented in the history of ABBA For the first time, it shows them in the past and in retrospect. The entire first part (in black and white) is from their youth and beginnings, to the images of Eurovision 1974. Then comes (in color) the memorable tour to Australia 1977, with images of the incredible 'ABBAmania', taken in the movie "ABBA The Movie", and for the change of pace and the first chorus comes a succession of all the official videos. of ABBA up to and including 1979 Then comes the new melodic bridge and the initial image is resumed: ABBA prepared to go out to their last concerts in London in 1979, and that second chorus is interpreted by them as their 'ABBAtars' And here is a symbology: That scene is like the transition: ABBA are no longer the ones we remember, now we will see them in their ABBAtars recreating their image from the late 70s And this is how the Voyage Concerts that opened at the new ABBA Arena in London since May of 2022, and that they are a colossal success, with sales entries until May of next year, with projects to expand to other places like Australia or Singapur etc This official video was released globally in a Live Stream that showed ABBA fan meetings simultaneously in various cities around the world: Stockholm, London, Vienna, Berlin, Rejkiavik, New York, São Paulo, etc. BBC London interrupted its regular programming to join the launch of this video at exactly 5:00 p.m. on September 2 (2021) and for the second song "Don't shut me down" the lights came on with the new images of ABBA Voyage on the main bridge of Sydney at night in Australia while the pictures showed many mature ABBA fans crying with emotion upon hearing new ABBA songs again after almost 40 years (as I cried from a distance following the live broadcast on TH-cam). Thank you for your great reaction, with respect and admiration for all the music and history of ABBA, in these fantastic days since the first album. See you in the next new song My best regards from Buenos Aires, Argentina South America
No Auto Tune. Just people in their 70's singing raw in the studio. You will hear the maturity in their voices and the lyrics. Yet when the Ladies sing in tandem, they still make that unmistakable ABBA sound. BTW. They left TWO NEW songs OFF of this album. Interesting to see what becomes of them.
Just when I feel that I have gotten over my feelings for this song, it still makes me tear up from time to time, and I guess it's gonna be that way for at least quite a long time, if not forever. A wonderful come back from my favorite group🥺😍. Amazing production, and wonderful mature vocals!
This album came along when we had all been through dark days with covid, the rainbow at the end of the rain. Those of us who loved them from back in the day dreamt of new material but really never thought we'd hear it. But when we needed them most, there they were, back with us. The odd bit of rust round the edges did not diminish their sound, the fact the voices were left honest and untampered with just added maturity and warmth. So familiar and warm, but a wee bit new at the same time, an obviously older and deeper. This song emotionally destroyed so many of us watching that live broadcast. The first notes, Frida's voice coming in, the build of the music, the 'third voice' when the girls came together for that soaring chorus.....and THAT moment in the truly superb video when 1977 ABBA popped up, live and real, in 2021, guise. Jeez, that took me from trickling quiet tears to sobs. Mad that music can do that to a 50 something man, but when something you love so much and had lost comes back to you, there is nothing like it. The mixed reviews of the album shocked me.....really, no-one should have been expecting 'Dancing Queen' or 'Mamma Mia' from four in their mid 70s, 40 years on. Yet, they did give us some pure pop perfection in 'Don't shut me down' and 'No Doubt About It'. The album touched on heavy themes such as global warming, toxic/violent relationships and human freedom, just as its predecessor did. 'Voyage' is album was the gift none of us expected to get, and perhaps didn't realise just how badly we needed it. BTW, if the album/video/single shook you, nothing prepares you for the immersive 'Voyage' show....almost hospitalised me 🥲😪😫
This song and Don’t Shut Me down we’re recoded back in 2018 specifically for the ABBA Voyage Concert. B&B thought that if they were going to do a concert it would be good to have some new songs as well as the existing catalog to perform. It turned out that because of delays to the concert for technical reasons and of course COVID that we had to wait 3 years to hear them and at some stage I thought we might never hear them. However on 2nd September 2021 we got to hear them on a live stream round the world and not only that confirmation of the impossible that a new album would be coming on the 5th November that year to. As a fan since the seventies I can’t tell you how much this meant. I love this song but for me Don’t Shut Me Down (4th Track on Album) is my favourite and can’t wait for you to react to it. Voyage became their 10th number 1 album in the UK and set records for sales in the vinyl format. I love This album and their isn’t a day when I don’t listen to it still
This is indeed Abba expressing love for eachother. Despite the events and decades, loyalty, faith and friendship prevails. 'For I know I hear a bittersweet song in the memories we share'. My favourite Abba song because it is real and heartfelt. Are the harmonies, production and attention to detail those of old? No. It's more raw, it's beautifully flawed in places. Genuine. It still gets to me when I listen to it. They recorded the album blind to current trends, as people in their 70s probably should. It's folksy, with a mix of pop, shlagar and classical. They did it for fun on the understanding that if one of the four didn't like it, it would not be released.
This is a lovely ode to the spirit of the group. Although Frida's vocals are now in the lower register they are still reach deep and wide. This is not in my top five songs off the voyage album but, its still beautiful and on par with many of their anthems, like the way old friends do and I have a dream.
Enough with the tributes to Abba, just for a moment! Now I want to pay tribute to you Matt for THIS FANTASTIC reaction video series, the way you have presented the tunes, your honest curiosity, your humility, your impressing intellect and eloquency and the fact that you are sharing bits and pieces of your own personality in the series. As grand as ABBAs music is - is your tribute to them! A big shout out to you to Matt, really an emphatic ”thank you for the music”, I have the utmost faith in you! For you making the effort to take us viewers on this epic journey into Abbas' musical world! I have more or less binge listened to your channel, from Ring Ring to Ode of Freedom. I realise after researching your channel that you are an experienced and prolific streamer, but what a performance by you! Throughout the whole series you have maintained the top notch performance, a great celebration of our Swedish crown jewels, ABBAs musical legacy. For my own part it was almost a spiritual, religious experience to once again, probably first time in 40 years, relive the great Super Trouper album from start to finish. It took me all the way back to mum and dad’s living room floor, where I as a little boy curiously inspected the album cover, accompanied to the familiar tunes, in awe and wonder. A true time travel for me that actually made me even more appreciate the greatness of what this group created. I especially appreciate your speculations about the song titles and your interpretation of the lyrics. Concepts and sayings take on a deeper meaning for me now that you have explained them. English is not my native language so this opened a new world to me. Your way of explaining and describing, your empathy, your gestures and your small talk are really encouraging to us all and a guidance to us all. Ridiculously enough, it makes me feel proud to be Swedish (we could need some of that now in the hard times that we face in our society) and also proud that I was given the blessing to grow up during a fabulous era in our country's history from so many perspectives. I encourage everyone who comes to this channel to support Matt in his fantastic and prolific streaming.
Hear, hear! Matt is the best! So fantastic to follow his reactions of ABBA's music! I have loved every moment and it has made me want to listen to ABBA even more! And you can and must be proud of being swedish! As a dane - I have alwayys admired the great number of swedish pop artists through many years. Of course mainly ABBA! They made me love Sweden - so much that me and my husband spend at least one week holiday in your beatiful country! ❤🇸🇪 Love 🇸🇪 Love ABBA ❤ Love to Matt! 🎶❤️
Thank you both, for the comments and for being part of this journey. I've learned a lot of ABBA in the last 8 months or so, and most of it through the perspectives and info provided by so many different ABBA fans. Thank you again, really appreciate these messages!
This timeless masterpiece is about themselves....the journey they took 50 years ago and reforming after all these years....stunning ❤..love your vlogs....Ireland 🇮🇪
Glad to hear your take on this ABBA powerhouse of a song. And I appreciate your recognition of just how incredibly emotional it is for those of us who have been fully invested in these 4 Swedes for as long as we can remember. And I feel fully confident in speaking for all ABBA fans when I say it still hits hard every-time I listen to this beautiful piece of music in which it feels like such a personal statement of not only their love and respect for each other, but, also to those of us who love them and whose lives they have been a huge part of for so long. ABBA have been part of my life for as long as I can remember and to hear this song I can’t help but feel it personally because it’s almost as if they are speaking to each and every one of us and laying their doubts about whether or not they can actually do this again and live up to not only their incredibly high standards, but, also to our expectations as fans as well. There is not a better way to approach anything in life by being upfront and honest and they did that through this initial contact with their family of loving fans. I would have always loved ABBA even without this remarkable gift of their reunion, but, this without a doubt just took it to a whole other level. So looking forward to when you get to “Don’t Shut Me Down”.
what it was like for about 100 million older ABBA fans, was really indescribable. I watched many hundreds of reaction videos of people seeing new ABBA, completely bawling, losing their sh*t, mania. For me, as a lifelong fan, a man about to turn 40 in a few days - the ABBA reformation is a complete existential miracle, something I never thought was possible given their personal situations and history and with the passage of time and repeated refusals ($billion deals refused by ABBA to reform) . Then this single is released, at the same time as the news of a full album coming in December 2021, and the double-single release "Don't Shut Me Down". AMAZING, WHAT A DAY!
Already in the first 8 hours this video exceeded 500 views, and it will surely grow with the days, as well as the level of comments, because it involves many of us with emotions that we lived in that historic September 2, 2021 and that I enjoy reading its various riches, and I hope that more and more will join in, because they reflect our emotions and love for this extraordinary Swedish foursome. is that ABBA had carefully prepared us fans After his announcement in April 2018 of the two new songs, there was a lot of expectation that was frustrated in each interview, mainly with Björn (the biggest spokesman), until finally in May 2021 he said: "it is not something that could happen; there will definitely be new ABBA music this year" and the countdown began with a chronological tour of the 100 ABBA songs, many of them with comments from one of the four until at the end of August 2021 we were invited to join a new page, ABBA Voyage, and the announcement of the live streaming on TH-cam at 4:45 p.m. in London UK thank GOD, the page never fell, many fans around the world were able to follow the event, with tense expectation for those two songs (and the possibility of some more, there was talk of 5 songs) After an initial 15-minute block in Sweden, the first big moment of the day: the release of the official video for ABBA's first new song in 39 years: "I still have faith in you" As many of my colleagues here say, I have not come out of my astonishment and I have exploded with joy and tears simultaneously when I heard that first chorus. Suddenly, a thunderous waterfall of all the great ABBA videos with Agnetha and Frida as the main protagonists, they were the brilliant frame for that liberating initial chorus And in the second chorus he left us completely speechless with the appearance of the much-announced ABBAtars and the transmission went to London, with the announcement of the return of ABBA, and a few moments later Benny's word announcing a new album, and a new concert in a new micro stadium (I'm writing it now and I'm still crying like that day) and he continued with a beautiful half-hour report on Björn and Benny, happy as children with new toys on Christmas day. and at the end, the announcement of the second new song (and I can't keep writing, because I'm still crying, but I can't spoil what's going to follow here in three more songs) In numbers, both songs led streaming on all platforms the first two days, t hey also led vinyl record sales. On a more personal note, "I still have faith in you" entered my historical Top 10 of all ABBA songs, and on my Podium of those with Frida as lead vocals. P.D: several times ABBA fans notice a certain relationship between some songs I think I see a unit between this and "The way all friends do" like continuity, more than 40 years later, as the record that it was Frida and Agnetha who sang it for the private event of the 50th anniversary of the friendship between Benny and Björn and since they use the same keywords; Joy and Sorrow "times of joy, and times of sorrow" in that "the joy and the sorrow" here
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It was sweet of you to say, that you can't imagine what it feels for fans to hear that song after 40 years. I can tell you. I cried. It was presented in a live show and I felt like a child again. ABBA´s music helped me through my puberty. Puberty went, but the music stayed. And this song felt so good. Unexpectedly in many ways and beautiful. I mean they were all in their 70´s when they recorded that one.
Hi Matt 🙂 When ABBA decided to release the first two tracks from their "Voyage" album they did a live stream on TH-cam form London, it started with live reactions from Sweden, Germany, New York, Mexico and other major cities across Europe everyone awaiting for the live stream to start, then before going live to London they showed the video to "I still have faith in you" then showed reactions from people from across the world and you could tell who were the fans of ABBA from the 70's/80's as we were all in tears at hearing new material from ABBA then it went to London where Benny and Bjorn were interviewed for about an hour, but alas Frida and Agnetha were nowhere to be seen😭, if you have time to spare check it out they talk about how they got back into the recording studios, about the Abbatar concert that they worked on and how Frida and Agnetha decided that they were keen on the four of them releasing new material but that they didn't want to be involved in all the publicity leading up to the release of the new songs and forthcoming Album, but that they would attend the opening night of the Abbatar concert in London. I won't lie to you but the moment I heard Frida's voice on ishfiy I cried like a baby😱😭😭😭😂 I really hope that you enjoy reviewing this album be prepared for the unexpected 💥 🇬🇧🤪
Thanks Tomas and Christian 🥴 I still get emotional when hearing those first two tracks, by the end of listening to the Voyage Album I'm a complete wreck, even more than Two yrs on... Who would ever of thought ABBA singing Country and Western ("I Can Be That Women") I bet there are a lot of Country and Western singers doing cover versions of that track and wishing they had wrote it themselves, and then we have an Irish Jig "When You Danced With Me" Only ABBA have the talent and confidence to transcend into other musical spectrums. 🇬🇧🤪
I have loved Abba's music since around 1976 (aged 10). Still listened through the uncool days. Although not a fan to the point of obsession, hearing Voyage for the first time was amazing. I wasn't convinced by a couple of tracks (I won't mention which) until I remembered that this was always the situation when they released a new album. I do think Voyage is extraordinary, especially alongside some modern music. In fact all three of my kids, with their widely varying musical tastes, from folk punk to brass bands, love the new Abba offerings as much as the old. I can get emotional about the revival but funnily enough this tends to be when I see the pleasant surprise on someone's face when they realise how good it is. For this reason, your journey has been absolutely fascinating to me. I hope you enjoy the rest of it. Looking forward to your exploration of the solo material.
What a band. After forty years,.. still out playing...out singing anything that is and ever was...just Brilliant...I was a fan as soon as they sang .Waterloo...just hope they can make some more music for us..
What a way to come back and although the voices are clearly an octave or more lower Frida’s is so rich sounding and the classic ABBA blend of voices in the chorus reminds us it’s still them.
I was born in 1981 so I never heard new songs until the Voyage album. I grew up wit ABBA, there is a photograph somewhere of me, 3 years old, in front of a the band recorder with huge headphones on listening to the Super Trouper album. Later on I discovered more and more but for years there was nothing else to listen to than what was already existing. The moment I heard this song I knew I already loved Voyage. Crying in front of the live stream they did to promote the new album. Still get emotional when I hear this song. Beautiful!
’I’m no better placed to review a new ABBA album than I am to review, say, a letter from a once close friend with whom I’ve had no contact for four decades. I’m happy to receive the letter. Memories of our bond will come flooding back. I might get a bit emotional, remember our shared history. But really, the bottom line? I’m just glad to have a bit more of that person than I did before’’. Pete Paphides music journalist-radio producer ,BBC/The Guardian/Q magazine/M.Maker/Mojo…
А я очень боялась слушать эту песню, начинала несколько раз, но не могла прорваться сквозь постаревший голос Фриды. Потом собралась и посмотрела клип и ахнула от вида аббатаров и сразу купила диск, потому что пропустила настоящее время возвращения группы. Она стала нужна, когда война пришла через нашу страну к соседям, когда внутри растет террор, когда нет уверенности в завтрашнем дне. И АВВА, как во времена юности, вынесла из депрессии. Мне даже удалось каким-то невероятным чудом побывать в Лондоне на концерте (ведь для нас нужны визы, которые практически не дают, но мне дали). Самое интересное, что в АВВА Арене почему-то не чувствуется возраст голоса и 2 песни из нового диска звучат так же органично, как песни из 70-х. С АВВА всегда чудеса) За это мы их и любим
I was tenish when in the early 70s when they first began. Was a teen for the rest of the 70s until the earlier 80s. I didn't start my family until the 90s but raised kids, then they graduated and they have lived their twenties and yeah.... After such a long long time and so many decades they came back. It was a rather surreal comeback and the buzz that surrounded their return a couple of years ago now was pretty cool to see. You know they went thru a lot so an end of life closure for them is pretty danged inspiring.
Im a huge fan and stayed up until 3 in the morning to hear the two new songs revealed. You got the lyric works on a number of levels again, The band, humans, and also their relationship between the band and their fans. Mix is amazing. I don't know how many tracks are on this but I think the engineer and Benny and Bjorn had a good challenge..and of course smashed it. Amazing comeback. It was time I never thought we would see.
For fear of being disappointed, I tried to contain my emotions in september 2021 when the first 2 songs of the album were released (I still have faith in you and Don't shut me down). In what state would the voices of the "girls" be? Frida was 72 or 73 and Agnetha 67 or 68 when the first two songs were recorded. The voices are indeed more mature but the magic still works. I thought the music for "I still have faith in you" sounded like film music (which it is, as I found out later. Key parts of the melody was based on a 2015 Benny Andersson instrumental, "Kyssen" (The Kiss), from the soundtrack to the Swedish film The Circle. Benny said he was saving this track for a special occasion and it ended up being ABBA's reunion). I like it despite the fact that it's not really the ABBA sound and despite the flute being too present for my taste. Those first two songs started to get me out of a depression and the release of the album left me for months on a little cloud and I cried a lot. I like the whole album for various reasons and to different degrees. It arrived when we needed it the most.
A great synopsis Matt...and the tears flow again, just as they did on the first listening nearly two years ago, especially as I had no idea a new album was planned, then released in 2021. And now ABBA Voyage in London with plans for perhaps Australia or Singapore.
Another occasion where Benny would steal from himself. The verses are a melody that was released on a film soundtrack back in 2015. It was largely forgotten and Benny thought it was too good to not reuse.
I've never not cried listening to this album, and this track in particular always sets me off. Most of their (original) music videos are a bit naff but i encourage you to check out the one for I Still Have Faith In You. What gets me most about this album is not just that they still sound like ABBA, it sounds like the album that comes after The Visitors.
A reflective song and a great intro to a re-union album. You should watch the official music video of this. It's very emotional. ABBA had announced about the two songs they've recorded, this and Don't Shut Me Down. Their intention was to record these two songs only but ended up recording more songs enough to make an album. Don't Shut Me Down made me teary the first time I heard it because it brought back that familiar ABBA sound. All the songs in this album are available to watch in TH-cam as lyric videos. You should react to them instead so that you can easily follow the lyrics to each song.
As an a-ha fan who has gone through all the emotions of a comeback of your favourite band (twice!) I think I can imagine a bit how it felt for ABBA fans, though a comeback after 40 years can hardly be compared to a 5 or 7-year hiatus. 😱 But when I heard the news of ABBA's reunion I could only think of what Magne Furuholmen (of a-ha) had said in October 2009, when a-ha announced they were disbanding for good: “A reunion of ABBA is more likely than us getting back together”. 😅 As it turned out, a-ha reunited again in 2015, so we only needed ABBA's reunion to teach Mags (yet again) that you can never say never. 🤣 And he has learned the lesson. 😉 Loved your interpretation of the song, Matt. Not too fond of the song itself, though, it is too blatantly emotional for me. It even made me weep when I first heard it, and I am not even a fan of ABBA! 😜
What a nice comment! I did not know the history of the phrase about those ruptures or discontinuities of A-ha and its relationship with ABBA and it's very funny, because finally everything came true! As for "I still have faith in you", ABBA's first comeback song, it is very emotional for us fans and for Themselves, because there are many emotions shared and contained. Wait a few more songs, in the fourth of the album you will see the other ABBA comeback song... I'm not going to spoil it, I'll just make a comparison: if "I still have faith in you" entered my total ABBA Top10, the other song "Don't shut me down" entered my ABBA historical Top5... perhaps less emotional, and more musical masterpiece
Btw One of Abba's drummers Per Lindval that worked in the 'Super Trouper' and 'The Visitors' album had also toured with the Nords.Both bands are in my top 3.
@@alexioverdo5225 yes, I think we have "talked" about that before. 😉 I wasn't aware of that until you or somebody else commented about it on one of Matt's a-ha reactions months ago.
As a huge fan, this was of course the pop news of the decade! It is a good album, mature, as always unexpected unique and perfect songs. You hear they are much older. I guess I miss the input of Micheal Tretow (famous sound engineer) for the 'magic touch' on this album. it's a very deep album. Some songs are not for me but it is in its context an incredible achievement. Ive been to the Voyage show in London. There isnt anything like that in the world! A must see! I really like the videoclip for this song. The other ones are only lyric videos.
Of the first two songs released I prefer Don’t Shut Me Down though this song hit the spot at the Voyage concert. If you are doing any of Bjorn and Benny material please do the soundtrack of the musical Chess. It’s awesome.
This song is indeed about themselves as a group, and their “comeback”. Bjorn confirmed this in a couple of interviews around the time this album was released. ❤
Hello again Matt 🙂 A question I should have asked in my previous comment 🧐 Will you be reviewing the next single that was released at the same time as " I Still Have Faith In You" which is track number four on the album " Don't Shut Me Down" or will you be following the Album track by track, I myself would like it if you next review dsmd, this time it's Agnetha on lead vocals and it a perfect follow up to ishfiy...and again it speaks to ABBA fans about the ABBA of yesteryear and asking us to accept the New ABBA of today with the Abbatars, but it also has a secondary meaning involving rebuilding relationships that have been parted for many years. Well whatever you decide I look forward to your ABBA "Voyage" final journey 🇬🇧🤪
I actually would be interested to see Matt's reaction if he kept to form and reviewed each track in the order it appears on the album. The rest of us heard the first two singles months before the album was released, so it would be refreshing to get a reaction based on the song sequence as presented on the album.
Voyage album lacks the magic touch of M.Tretow cause the mixing is too 'compressed' and many fantastic 'spots' got burried and hidden underneath.But apart from my standard top Abba albums it's an exceptional top category for deeply sentimental reasons.
What happened to just like that a abba classic also 2 songs never released hamlet 2 and givin a little bit more you might have to go on youtube for those 2 hope you play them
Oh, did you link the video? Sometimes TH-cam zaps comments (without telling me) if they have a link in them, even if it's another link to TH-cam here (which really doesn't make sense). But sorry if that is indeed what happened. I wish TH-cam would just let me monitor the comments on my own.
@@mattsnider2667 No, I didn't put a link in it because I know that TH-cam deletes it then. I just mentioned that the video is a document of ABBA's history because it fitted to your comment that you are a historian. 😉 These random deletions happen to me very often in the last time and also to other viewers.
I have two major issues coming into Voyage of which i have only heard 3 tracks thus far. 1. In general, I lean to let sleeping dogs lie when it comes to artists releasing new music some decades after they retire. A case of let the public remember you when you were at your peak, when your music making muscles were at their freshest and don't risk that legacy being possibly tarnished by a product that at worst is not good and at best just OK. 2. The issue of age and I don't mean necessarily vocally. At a younger age you have a feeling you have all the time in the world. You can compose, record, rearrange, come up with various remixes and even reject material because another song is just around the corner to write. Abba did this with their records. Not many songs didn't go through many incarnations and remixes. At an older age, you philosophically see your time becoming limited, more precious and not let it be wasted. A mindset where you really don't want to spend endless time constantly changing, rearranging, remixing, rejecting and coming up with something else. The younger we have all time in world mindset is no longer really there. My concern with this album in that regard lies in the track Just A Notion that I have heard. They never bothered recording a new vocal and just kept an old one from 40 years ago. A kind of that'll do, let's move on. They were in the studio and there was no reason not to do a new vocal. As it is the mix is a bit muddy with the new digital backing mixed with an old analogue vocal track I read all the tracks are quite on the short side, mostly. Again, get it over, that'll do, move on to the next. I have no doubt they wouldn't release something bad, but I fear that creatively we are going to get polished completed tracks that are first and second drafts. Tracks that in their younger years would have likely gone through many more incarnations and possibly even rejections because they can always do another. For this album, I don't see them having the patience to do another. Let's see how it goes. For I Still have Faith You, beyond the sentimentality of a new recording after 40 years, I think it OK, but nothing particularly great when you remove the circumstance of it. The chorus parts get a bit swallowed in the backing track somewhat. I was there at the very beginning-1st generation if you will- and will be a hard marker. Rant over.
I don't think that is a good description of Just a Notion. Benny tried several times in years since it was first recorded to make a mix he was satisfied with. He ended up rerecording the part that did not work, and keeping he part that did.
@@klausolekristiansen2960 In context of it being a new album, I do think a new vocal should have been done. The vocal would have been much cleaner than using an old analogue mix. Parts of the vocal mix are a bit muddy and are buried in the mix likely to hide the recording deficiency of the old track.
I bought ABBA's new The Visitors on casssette while in Trieste, Italy in December 198I. I began to anticipate their new album in about 1983. I arrived in Huntingdon, UK in November 1982 and saw ABBA's two new songs, The Day Before You Came, and Under Attack on Top of the Pops. At this same time there was a contest on a London radio station to win one of 50 autographed ABBA The First Ten Years compilation albums. I sent in my answers to the questions and three weeks later my autographed album arrived. Soon after that it was announced that ABBA decided to unofficially call it quits. I was sick. Felt so raw inside. Words can't describe how I felt when ABBA was releasing two new songs, and then a whole new album. It was always a thrill back in the day, to anticipate ABBA's new albums. But a new album after 40 years. The only bad thing is when Benny and Bjorn say this is the final album for sure, it was like living 1982 all over again with the 'final album' thing. No more ABBA?
Beautiful. Annifrid's voice at the age of 73, a touch of Swedish accen, the compostion and all instruments - I love it❤
Thank you 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
I sat up late into the night in Australia in 2021waiting for the release of this song and 'Don't Shut me Down'. This song came first and it was accompanied by a video which features some footage from their tremendous Australian tour of 1977. As soon as I heard Frida's voice sing the first line I started crying.
The masterpiece we never thought we'd have!
At last! Frida still sounds amazing. I sobbed in happiness when I first heard it.
Still today I get wet eyes when I listen to this song.
As a life long ABBA fan I was over the moon with news of a complete new album, Voyage, after 40 yrs. Upon first listen and watching the music video for this song ISHFIY I was on the edge of my seat with excitement and then unexpectedly half way through the song I burst out in tears and sobbed like a child. What a gift the Swedish Fab Four gave us !
Abba's 2nd coming after 4 decades of drought was like vital rain plus lifeline oxygene for many of us especially older fans that had grown up with their music in their fairytale perfumed garden.
Welcome to another ABBA master class & what an introduction🎉 Anni-Frids vocals🎉 Her accent & passion just adds something more special.. difficult to explain.. And of course the lyrics which in true ABBA fashion can be interpreted in various ways.. Is it a song between the ABBA members? Is it a song from ABBA to their fans? Is it a wider reaching song? Personally I think it is a song mixed between ABBA & their fans.
This song just means so much for me - and many other ABBA fans! The first new song in almost 40 years - who would have thought it would ever happen?
I followed the live transmission on TH-cam when Benny and Björn was interviewed live on BBC - and when the first few seconds of this was played, I burst into tears! It was so moving to hear Fridas voice again. Mature and in a lower register than before - but still very clear and warm. And when Agnetha joined in the chorus - it was just unbelievable! ABBA WAS BACK! And in real good shape! Finally when the video showed glimpse of the ABBATARS - it was jawdropping! Such a great comeback - perhaps the biggest in music history was a reality! And it just got even better when they played Don´t Shut Me Down - a classic ABBA pop banger, and when it was announced that it was not only those two new songs they were releasing - it was a whole new album!!! WHAAAAAT??? AND that there was to be built a customized ABBA ARENA for the Voyage concerts in London! It was almost too much to grab - but it was real! I was so happy and couldn´t sleep that night! I spend several hours hearing the songs and seeing the video on TH-cam over and over again!
Therefore - this is one of my all time favourites of ABBA songs. Not only because of the things I just mentioned above - but also because it is such a beautiful and wellcrafted song! ❤❤❤❤
Gorgeous record, they still have the magic ❤
The "come back party" on tv made me cry like a baby, making me feel like meeting a dear friend after a long long time. Hearing those beautiful voices singing in harmony again.. no words to describe really. And the whole concept with the Abbatars, the Abba arena and all. Just wow.
Not to mention, in a time the world really needed some positivity and feeling of friendship. Bravo, Abba, bravo.
When the press conference for this album happened, I got on a zoom call with my dear old friend from high school who has always shared my ABBA mania. I loved ABBA with the whole of my heart, but she took it to another level. She had multiple European pen pals who shared with her bootleg VHS tapes of promotional videos and TV appearances, demo cassettes, posters, I mean the lot. She taught me how to say "Agnyeta" properly! We both took ABBA seriously but we also had fun with our crazy obsession. And then this.... here we are, both approaching 50, crying as we watch simulcasts of fireworks off a pier in Sweden, the BBC interviewing Björn and Benny, and finally the video for I Still Have Faith In You. It just felt like such a gift, the pandemic was still raging even though lockdowns had long since ended, people were just starting to talk about traveling again... this was such a moment of shared camaraderie, nostalgia, and ridiculous joy. Not just between us but in, like, a common segment of the whole planet.That's the context of Voyage.
Thank you for sharing this! I reckognized myself so much in what you wrote. And I just loved the image of you and your ABBA crazy friend 😁. I'm a 70+ Swedish woman who tear up every time I listen to this song. Over the years, after ABBA, Björn and Benny continued to work together. Creating such marvellous music, including two musicals, that I had lulled myself into believing that I didn't need more of ABBA specifically. But boy was I wrong!
VOYAGE is a grower album and ages fine like good old wine.I'm grateful.Thank you.Still waiting for the 2 unreleased tracks that are rumoured to be ready.Working titles that got sneaked were 'Hit by a train' and 'My story ends with you"....
Benny and Bjorn did a live broadcast to announce the ABBA Voyage project. I was walking home from work watching and listening on my phone. Before this broadcast we knew there were 2 new songs recorded for the Abbatar Voyage show but they announced that in fact there would be a whole album ! This song was the first they played and the video includes snippets at the end of their Abbatars used in the show. Which i have now seen 3 times in London. Anyway i digress, i was a sobbing mess walking home when i heard this. Never thought after the Visitors all those years ago would we get anything else. This album is incredible as is the ABBA Voyage show. I have been a fan since 1974 and feel so privileged to have been around for this new chapter ❤
'OK This is the follow up to "The Visitors',Bjorn Autumn '21....My Lord,i cried a river...
Even after ABBA turned down a billion dollars to tour in the late nineties there were still plenty of rumours that they would come back. And I, as a #1 ABBA fan, fervently hoped they would not. I respected their decision to part and remain parted and any comeback would surely tarnish their reputation that had been building since. But, that day in September 2021, I was crumpled on the sofa bawling my eyes out hearing this song. And it wasn't just the song but the video montage they carefully curated to accompany it - my favourite bit is the outtake from Mamma Mia where Frida rests her head on Agnetha's shoulder and Agnetha rolls her eyes skyward as if to say "here she goes again!" I f***ing love these people! Matt, I know this is all new to you (as good as new?) but you are in for a treat with the rest of this album 😎#peace
Abba's 2nd coming was like perfumed lifeline oxygene for many fans.For me it was vital.
@@christianoazzuro6711 coming on the tail end of the covid pandemic/lockdown era it was vital for so many of us. Hope you’re feeling better now 🙂
I was 15 when The Visitors was released. I am not in the least bit ashamed to say I had tears streaming down my face when it was announced ABBA was releasing a new album. Voyage is a gift from heaven.
Completely Agree with you, although I was born 10 years after The Visitors was released 🤭
This is the perfect comeback song (for ABBA and the incredible of its history).
The official video is very nostalgic and it's very easy for the viewer to end up in a sea of tears...
Take care...
See you soon... Matt & Lucca
❤🇨🇱👍
Honestly, I wept a bit when this album came out. They are so special we so needed them back
Yes, they still have it in them........amazing Group. It was a joy to hear this at the Voyage Concert last year in London UK ❤
40 years.....40 years!!! How do they still sound so good! Can't wait for you to react to Don't Shut Me Down. As soon as I heard it I thought it was a message to the fans, despite Bjorn saying it wasn't
Wonderful. This album was such a gift, and one that, until the rumours started, we never though we would receive. A song about four people who have such a complicated history together, contemplating working together again and wondering, can we do this? Do we still have it in us? The conclusion - of curse we can! We're Abba! The spirit is still there. The story isn't over. And it's not only that they have faith in each other, but they also have faith in the fans, the people who have kept their music alive over all that time, who kept the faith in THEM. Beautifully sung by Frida, undoubtedly a maturer voice, how could it not be. The arrangement too is wonderful, lots of little flourishes that hark back to past Abba tracks (the flute, the marching drum) and that great triumphant chorus. And more amazing, it wasn't even the best track.
🥰And thumbs up for this comment.
Agree with everything word, though there is no better track on album imo.
@@rdwulf6289 Thanks. And differences of opinion are always welcome.
@marvinpoprockfan Art is subjective as they say and a matter of taste. I like I Still Have Faith in You way better than Don't shut me down. It's a biographical song and it made me shade some tears. Don't shut me down is not bad either
Still get goosebumps... And a tear or two.
I'm 58 and been a massive fan since the start. When this was announced i was so excited. When i finally heard it, i cried. It was like seeing your best friends after 40 years.
It was utterly indescribable.
This is a wonderful track reflecting their own story, changes, relationships, self-doubt when coming back after so many years, but also insisting that it's still there. Something which is highlighted by a very emotional official video saturated by love and nostalgia - you have to look at that too. It was such a big thing to receive after so many years. It's one of the highlights of the album, which is very lovely - I mean I really, really love it, but it's not The Visitors, but still I love it, and I love them for maiking it
This was a joy when finally released - glad you enjoyed it - 'faith' has such strength as a word - multi-layered in both meaning and sonic - gorgeous :)
After a 40 year hiatus ABBA gave us an album with 5 Grammy nominations - should have won 3 at least - no. 1 in 17 countries I believe, a virtual concert with motion capture abbatars inspired from the 4 ABBA members themselves, which has had over 1 million visitors in the first year alone to the ABBA arena constructed in London for that purpose. Fairly universal praise of this album also from critics. My own feelings is there are 5 songs that are as good as any ABBA songs ever written and performed. This was a gift from ABBA to their fans and I am humbled and appreciative. Long live ABBA! Thanks Matt for the deep dive 👍
Hearing those two songs on the big reveal was just so amazing. Happiness, tears all at the same time. Abba do that. Unique and so special.
What was it like for us who remember ABBA first time around? Tear-jerking.
Especially the video. Hearing Frida sing so strongly in her 70s was amazing.
Hello again dear Matt
I am very happy that you have finally reached this historic moment,
after this memorable ABBA Journey that we are sharing on your channel.
The great world news of this 21st century for the world of music
is the return of the mythical Swedish quartet ABBA to the recording studios in 2017
after more than 35 years (the last song recorded was "The day before you came" in 1982 )
and the release of their new songs after 39 years (the last single released was "Under attack" in 1982)
and a new full-length studio album after 40 years (the last one was "The Visitor" in 1981)
Beyond the fact that these three data are for the Guinness Book of Records
(I believe that no group, singer or artist can come close to these incredible and surprising brands),
the most remarkable thing is How they came back, with what level of quality. .
And I must say that ABBA exceeded all fears, doubts and expectations.
Their return is impressive and his quality is still valid, incredible!
We know the great spirit of perfection that Björn & Benny imprint on their creations,
and their first two releases are up there with their greatest hits from the 80s.
But the biggest unknown was knowing the state of the voices of Agnetha & Frida
and how they could react to the inevitable passing of the decades
and their possible comparisons with previous classics. And I must say that both look great.
And in this there is an extraordinary mime work by Björn & Benny
to "pamper" their historic singers, and ex-partners.
They were entrusted with two wonderful songs, with beautiful melodies and deep lyrics,
but were also surrounded by the iconic hooks and the call for emotional nostalgia.
"I still have faith in you"
is an unprecedented song in its conception in the history of ABBA
because it is self-referential about them as a quartet;
and it is also testimonial, because they tell us about their experiences in all this time
Musically I see it as a mystical and epic ballad.
A majestic piano and Frida's soft voice drive
and recreate the ABBA story with moving beauty,
with Agnetha joining in on a few verses to emphasize
(and remind us of the famous 'third voice')
The sound of the drums (a nod to the megahit "Fernando")
is preparing the change of rhythm
And with a powerful guitar comes that first unprecedented chorus,
because this time all of ABBA sings from the depths of its history
and with the strength of its testimony of life, healing and union.
And in the second part the second chorus is even stronger,
at times they even sing at three levels of voices,
it is very clear that ABBA sings with the passion and courage
that Björn's excellent lyrics highlight,
it is like a triumphant song of thier survival and their bond
And it ends with a solo by Frida, impeccable,
with the sound of the flutes at the end
The official video is also unprecedented in the history of ABBA
For the first time, it shows them in the past and in retrospect.
The entire first part (in black and white) is from their youth and beginnings,
to the images of Eurovision 1974.
Then comes (in color) the memorable tour to Australia 1977,
with images of the incredible 'ABBAmania', taken in the movie "ABBA The Movie",
and for the change of pace and the first chorus comes a succession
of all the official videos. of ABBA up to and including 1979
Then comes the new melodic bridge and the initial image is resumed:
ABBA prepared to go out to their last concerts in London in 1979,
and that second chorus is interpreted by them as their 'ABBAtars'
And here is a symbology:
That scene is like the transition:
ABBA are no longer the ones we remember,
now we will see them in their ABBAtars recreating their image from the late 70s
And this is how the Voyage Concerts that opened
at the new ABBA Arena in London since May of 2022,
and that they are a colossal success, with sales entries until May of next year,
with projects to expand to other places like Australia or Singapur etc
This official video was released globally in a Live Stream
that showed ABBA fan meetings simultaneously in various cities around the world:
Stockholm, London, Vienna, Berlin, Rejkiavik, New York, São Paulo, etc.
BBC London interrupted its regular programming
to join the launch of this video at exactly 5:00 p.m. on September 2 (2021)
and for the second song
"Don't shut me down"
the lights came on with the new images of ABBA Voyage
on the main bridge of Sydney at night in Australia
while the pictures showed many mature ABBA fans crying with emotion
upon hearing new ABBA songs again after almost 40 years
(as I cried from a distance following the live broadcast on TH-cam).
Thank you for your great reaction,
with respect and admiration for all the music and history of ABBA,
in these fantastic days since the first album.
See you in the next new song
My best regards from
Buenos Aires, Argentina
South America
No Auto Tune. Just people in their 70's singing raw in the studio. You will hear the maturity in their voices and the lyrics. Yet when the Ladies sing in tandem, they still make that unmistakable ABBA sound. BTW. They left TWO NEW songs OFF of this album. Interesting to see what becomes of them.
Next song 'When you danced with me' is a beauuutiful romantic storytelling folky track with Irish flavours.
Just when I feel that I have gotten over my feelings for this song, it still makes me tear up from time to time, and I guess it's gonna be that way for at least quite a long time, if not forever. A wonderful come back from my favorite group🥺😍.
Amazing production, and wonderful mature vocals!
This album came along when we had all been through dark days with covid, the rainbow at the end of the rain. Those of us who loved them from back in the day dreamt of new material but really never thought we'd hear it. But when we needed them most, there they were, back with us. The odd bit of rust round the edges did not diminish their sound, the fact the voices were left honest and untampered with just added maturity and warmth. So familiar and warm, but a wee bit new at the same time, an obviously older and deeper. This song emotionally destroyed so many of us watching that live broadcast. The first notes, Frida's voice coming in, the build of the music, the 'third voice' when the girls came together for that soaring chorus.....and THAT moment in the truly superb video when 1977 ABBA popped up, live and real, in 2021, guise. Jeez, that took me from trickling quiet tears to sobs. Mad that music can do that to a 50 something man, but when something you love so much and had lost comes back to you, there is nothing like it. The mixed reviews of the album shocked me.....really, no-one should have been expecting 'Dancing Queen' or 'Mamma Mia' from four in their mid 70s, 40 years on. Yet, they did give us some pure pop perfection in 'Don't shut me down' and 'No Doubt About It'. The album touched on heavy themes such as global warming, toxic/violent relationships and human freedom, just as its predecessor did. 'Voyage' is album was the gift none of us expected to get, and perhaps didn't realise just how badly we needed it. BTW, if the album/video/single shook you, nothing prepares you for the immersive 'Voyage' show....almost hospitalised me 🥲😪😫
This song and Don’t Shut Me down we’re recoded back in 2018 specifically for the ABBA Voyage Concert. B&B thought that if they were going to do a concert it would be good to have some new songs as well as the existing catalog to perform. It turned out that because of delays to the concert for technical reasons and of course COVID that we had to wait 3 years to hear them and at some stage I thought we might never hear them. However on 2nd September 2021 we got to hear them on a live stream round the world and not only that confirmation of the impossible that a new album would be coming on the 5th November that year to. As a fan since the seventies I can’t tell you how much this meant. I love this song but for me Don’t Shut Me Down (4th Track on Album) is my favourite and can’t wait for you to react to it. Voyage became their 10th number 1 album in the UK and set records for sales in the vinyl format. I love This album and their isn’t a day when I don’t listen to it still
This is indeed Abba expressing love for eachother. Despite the events and decades, loyalty, faith and friendship prevails. 'For I know I hear a bittersweet song in the memories we share'. My favourite Abba song because it is real and heartfelt. Are the harmonies, production and attention to detail those of old? No. It's more raw, it's beautifully flawed in places. Genuine. It still gets to me when I listen to it. They recorded the album blind to current trends, as people in their 70s probably should. It's folksy, with a mix of pop, shlagar and classical. They did it for fun on the understanding that if one of the four didn't like it, it would not be released.
This is a lovely ode to the spirit of the group. Although Frida's vocals are now in the lower register they are still reach deep and wide.
This is not in my top five songs off the voyage album but, its still beautiful and on par with many of their anthems, like the way old friends do and I have a dream.
Great review and that you can truly appreciate how Abba fans felt on their return.
there wont be a lack of any coment's or views on this one. 😷💅👍 ❤ ABBA
Well done to them. Wonderful
Enough with the tributes to Abba, just for a moment!
Now I want to pay tribute to you Matt for THIS FANTASTIC reaction video series, the way you have presented the tunes, your honest curiosity, your humility, your impressing intellect and eloquency and the fact that you are sharing bits and pieces of your own personality in the series.
As grand as ABBAs music is - is your tribute to them!
A big shout out to you to Matt, really an emphatic ”thank you for the music”, I have the utmost faith in you! For you making the effort to take us viewers on this epic journey into Abbas' musical world!
I have more or less binge listened to your channel, from Ring Ring to Ode of Freedom. I realise after researching your channel that you are an experienced and prolific streamer, but what a performance by you!
Throughout the whole series you have maintained the top notch performance, a great celebration of our Swedish crown jewels, ABBAs musical legacy. For my own part it was almost a spiritual, religious experience to once again, probably first time in 40 years, relive the great Super Trouper album from start to finish. It took me all the way back to mum and dad’s living room floor, where I as a little boy curiously inspected the album cover, accompanied to the familiar tunes, in awe and wonder.
A true time travel for me that actually made me even more appreciate the greatness of what this group created.
I especially appreciate your speculations about the song titles and your interpretation of the lyrics. Concepts and sayings take on a deeper meaning for me now that you have explained them. English is not my native language so this opened a new world to me. Your way of explaining and describing, your empathy, your gestures and your small talk are really encouraging to us all and a guidance to us all.
Ridiculously enough, it makes me feel proud to be Swedish (we could need some of that now in the hard times that we face in our society) and also proud that I was given the blessing to grow up during a fabulous era in our country's history from so many perspectives. I encourage everyone who comes to this channel to support Matt in his fantastic and prolific streaming.
Hear, hear! Matt is the best! So fantastic to follow his reactions of ABBA's music! I have loved every moment and it has made me want to listen to ABBA even more!
And you can and must be proud of being swedish! As a dane - I have alwayys admired the great number of swedish pop artists through many years. Of course mainly ABBA! They made me love Sweden - so much that me and my husband spend at least one week holiday in your beatiful country! ❤🇸🇪 Love 🇸🇪 Love ABBA ❤ Love to Matt! 🎶❤️
Thank you both, for the comments and for being part of this journey. I've learned a lot of ABBA in the last 8 months or so, and most of it through the perspectives and info provided by so many different ABBA fans. Thank you again, really appreciate these messages!
This timeless masterpiece is about themselves....the journey they took 50 years ago and reforming after all these years....stunning ❤..love your vlogs....Ireland 🇮🇪
Glad to hear your take on this ABBA powerhouse of a song. And I appreciate your recognition of just how incredibly emotional it is for those of us who have been fully invested in these 4 Swedes for as long as we can remember. And I feel fully confident in speaking for all ABBA fans when I say it still hits hard every-time I listen to this beautiful piece of music in which it feels like such a personal statement of not only their love and respect for each other, but, also to those of us who love them and whose lives they have been a huge part of for so long. ABBA have been part of my life for as long as I can remember and to hear this song I can’t help but feel it personally because it’s almost as if they are speaking to each and every one of us and laying their doubts about whether or not they can actually do this again and live up to not only their incredibly high standards, but, also to our expectations as fans as well. There is not a better way to approach anything in life by being upfront and honest and they did that through this initial contact with their family of loving fans. I would have always loved ABBA even without this remarkable gift of their reunion, but, this without a doubt just took it to a whole other level. So looking forward to when you get to “Don’t Shut Me Down”.
And Keep an Eye on Dan! 😆
@@supastah68
...and
Ode to freedom ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Bumblebee
what it was like for about 100 million older ABBA fans, was really indescribable. I watched many hundreds of reaction videos of people seeing new ABBA, completely bawling, losing their sh*t, mania. For me, as a lifelong fan, a man about to turn 40 in a few days - the ABBA reformation is a complete existential miracle, something I never thought was possible given their personal situations and history and with the passage of time and repeated refusals ($billion deals refused by ABBA to reform) . Then this single is released, at the same time as the news of a full album coming in December 2021, and the double-single release "Don't Shut Me Down". AMAZING, WHAT A DAY!
Such a COOL song!
The girls voices keeping up with the pace of the song ... awesome!
Fantastic
Already in the first 8 hours this video exceeded 500 views,
and it will surely grow with the days, as well as the level of comments,
because it involves many of us with emotions that we lived in that historic September 2, 2021
and that I enjoy reading its various riches, and I hope that more and more will join in,
because they reflect our emotions and love for this extraordinary Swedish foursome.
is that ABBA had carefully prepared us fans
After his announcement in April 2018 of the two new songs,
there was a lot of expectation that was frustrated in each interview,
mainly with Björn (the biggest spokesman),
until finally in May 2021 he said:
"it is not something that could happen; there will definitely be new ABBA music this year"
and the countdown began with a chronological tour of the 100 ABBA songs,
many of them with comments from one of the four
until at the end of August 2021 we were invited to join a new page, ABBA Voyage,
and the announcement of the live streaming on TH-cam at 4:45 p.m. in London UK
thank GOD, the page never fell, many fans around the world were able to follow the event,
with tense expectation for those two songs (and the possibility of some more, there was talk of 5 songs)
After an initial 15-minute block in Sweden, the first big moment of the day:
the release of the official video for ABBA's first new song in 39 years: "I still have faith in you"
As many of my colleagues here say, I have not come out of my astonishment
and I have exploded with joy and tears simultaneously when I heard that first chorus.
Suddenly, a thunderous waterfall of all the great ABBA videos
with Agnetha and Frida as the main protagonists,
they were the brilliant frame for that liberating initial chorus
And in the second chorus he left us completely speechless
with the appearance of the much-announced ABBAtars
and the transmission went to London,
with the announcement of the return of ABBA,
and a few moments later Benny's word announcing a new album,
and a new concert in a new micro stadium
(I'm writing it now and I'm still crying like that day)
and he continued with a beautiful half-hour report on Björn and Benny,
happy as children with new toys on Christmas day.
and at the end, the announcement of the second new song
(and I can't keep writing, because I'm still crying,
but I can't spoil what's going to follow here in three more songs)
In numbers, both songs led streaming on all platforms the first two days, t
hey also led vinyl record sales.
On a more personal note,
"I still have faith in you" entered my historical Top 10 of all ABBA songs,
and on my Podium of those with Frida as lead vocals.
P.D: several times ABBA fans notice a certain relationship between some songs
I think I see a unit between this and "The way all friends do"
like continuity, more than 40 years later,
as the record that it was Frida and Agnetha who sang it for the private event
of the 50th anniversary of the friendship between Benny and Björn
and since they use the same keywords; Joy and Sorrow
"times of joy, and times of sorrow" in that
"the joy and the sorrow" here
It was sweet of you to say, that you can't imagine what it feels for fans to hear that song after 40 years. I can tell you. I cried. It was presented in a live show and I felt like a child again. ABBA´s music helped me through my puberty. Puberty went, but the music stayed. And this song felt so good. Unexpectedly in many ways and beautiful. I mean they were all in their 70´s when they recorded that one.
Hi Matt 🙂
When ABBA decided to release the first two tracks from their "Voyage" album they did a live stream on TH-cam form London, it started with live reactions from Sweden, Germany, New York, Mexico and other major cities across Europe everyone awaiting for the live stream to start, then before going live to London they showed the video to "I still have faith in you" then showed reactions from people from across the world and you could tell who were the fans of ABBA from the 70's/80's as we were all in tears at hearing new material from ABBA then it went to London where Benny and Bjorn were interviewed for about an hour, but alas Frida and Agnetha were nowhere to be seen😭, if you have time to spare check it out they talk about how they got back into the recording studios, about the Abbatar concert that they worked on and how Frida and Agnetha decided that they were keen on the four of them releasing new material but that they didn't want to be involved in all the publicity leading up to the release of the new songs and forthcoming Album, but that they would attend the opening night of the Abbatar concert in London.
I won't lie to you but the moment I heard Frida's voice on ishfiy I cried like a baby😱😭😭😭😂
I really hope that you enjoy reviewing this album be prepared for the unexpected 💥
🇬🇧🤪
Oh how I cried in front of the computer that evening! I stil get emotional when I hear the song!
@@tomaslindqvist2556 i cried a river that evening.Still get wet eyed.
Thanks Tomas and Christian 🥴
I still get emotional when hearing those first two tracks, by the end of listening to the Voyage Album I'm a complete wreck, even more than Two yrs on... Who would ever of thought ABBA singing Country and Western ("I Can Be That Women") I bet there are a lot of Country and Western singers doing cover versions of that track and wishing they had wrote it themselves, and then we have an Irish Jig "When You Danced With Me" Only ABBA have the talent and confidence to transcend into other musical spectrums.
🇬🇧🤪
@@tomaslindqvist2556So did I! I was at work but wasn't ashamed of my tears at all 🤗
Video is very impactful and a must seen!.Very significant,...emotions flooding around to the max.
I have loved Abba's music since around 1976 (aged 10). Still listened through the uncool days. Although not a fan to the point of obsession, hearing Voyage for the first time was amazing. I wasn't convinced by a couple of tracks (I won't mention which) until I remembered that this was always the situation when they released a new album. I do think Voyage is extraordinary, especially alongside some modern music. In fact all three of my kids, with their widely varying musical tastes, from folk punk to brass bands, love the new Abba offerings as much as the old. I can get emotional about the revival but funnily enough this tends to be when I see the pleasant surprise on someone's face when they realise how good it is. For this reason, your journey has been absolutely fascinating to me. I hope you enjoy the rest of it. Looking forward to your exploration of the solo material.
Dear Matt
Your comments are spot on, I mean the choice of terms to summarize it in such a mature and wise manner
Thank you
What a band. After forty years,.. still out playing...out singing anything that is and ever was...just Brilliant...I was a fan as soon as they sang .Waterloo...just hope they can make some more music for us..
What a way to come back and although the voices are clearly an octave or more lower Frida’s is so rich sounding and the classic ABBA blend of voices in the chorus reminds us it’s still them.
I was born in 1981 so I never heard new songs until the Voyage album. I grew up wit ABBA, there is a photograph somewhere of me, 3 years old, in front of a the band recorder with huge headphones on listening to the Super Trouper album. Later on I discovered more and more but for years there was nothing else to listen to than what was already existing.
The moment I heard this song I knew I already loved Voyage. Crying in front of the live stream they did to promote the new album. Still get emotional when I hear this song. Beautiful!
’I’m no better placed to review a new ABBA album than I am to review, say, a letter from a once close friend with whom I’ve had no contact for four decades. I’m happy to receive the letter. Memories of our bond will come flooding back. I might get a bit emotional, remember our shared history. But really, the bottom line? I’m just glad to have a bit more of that person than I did before’’. Pete Paphides music journalist-radio producer ,BBC/The Guardian/Q magazine/M.Maker/Mojo…
It always makes me cry my eyes out.
There will never be any other group like ABBA
Abba are amazing, can you do some Sparks reviews please?.
Lots of good music in this album! Listen to Agnetha when she sig : I can be that women now💞 ❤️
If you ever go to London, you should go see their Voyage show. It uses computer generated ABBAtars that look real on stage. The show was awesome!!!!!
А я очень боялась слушать эту песню, начинала несколько раз, но не могла прорваться сквозь постаревший голос Фриды. Потом собралась и посмотрела клип и ахнула от вида аббатаров и сразу купила диск, потому что пропустила настоящее время возвращения группы. Она стала нужна, когда война пришла через нашу страну к соседям, когда внутри растет террор, когда нет уверенности в завтрашнем дне. И АВВА, как во времена юности, вынесла из депрессии. Мне даже удалось каким-то невероятным чудом побывать в Лондоне на концерте (ведь для нас нужны визы, которые практически не дают, но мне дали). Самое интересное, что в АВВА Арене почему-то не чувствуется возраст голоса и 2 песни из нового диска звучат так же органично, как песни из 70-х. С АВВА всегда чудеса) За это мы их и любим
Amazing, thanks for sharing your personal connection to this one.
One of ABBA's greatest recordings ever, such a powerful song.
I was tenish when in the early 70s when they first began. Was a teen for the rest of the 70s until the earlier 80s. I didn't start my family until the 90s but raised kids, then they graduated and they have lived their twenties and yeah.... After such a long long time and so many decades they came back. It was a rather surreal comeback and the buzz that surrounded their return a couple of years ago now was pretty cool to see. You know they went thru a lot so an end of life closure for them is pretty danged inspiring.
Im a huge fan and stayed up until 3 in the morning to hear the two new songs revealed. You got the lyric works on a number of levels again, The band, humans, and also their relationship between the band and their fans. Mix is amazing. I don't know how many tracks are on this but I think the engineer and Benny and Bjorn had a good challenge..and of course smashed it. Amazing comeback. It was time I never thought we would see.
For fear of being disappointed, I tried to contain my emotions in september 2021 when the first 2 songs of the album were released (I still have faith in you and Don't shut me down). In what state would the voices of the "girls" be? Frida was 72 or 73 and Agnetha 67 or 68 when the first two songs were recorded. The voices are indeed more mature but the magic still works. I thought the music for "I still have faith in you" sounded like film music (which it is, as I found out later. Key parts of the melody was based on a 2015 Benny Andersson instrumental, "Kyssen" (The Kiss), from the soundtrack to the Swedish film The Circle. Benny said he was saving this track for a special occasion and it ended up being ABBA's reunion). I like it despite the fact that it's not really the ABBA sound and despite the flute being too present for my taste. Those first two songs started to get me out of a depression and the release of the album left me for months on a little cloud and I cried a lot. I like the whole album for various reasons and to different degrees. It arrived when we needed it the most.
Björn said, this is a song about us. ❤
This song is about Abba in their digital 'Abatar' form asking their fans to accept them in their new form.
A great synopsis Matt...and the tears flow again, just as they did on the first listening nearly two years ago, especially as I had no idea a new album was planned, then released in 2021. And now ABBA Voyage in London with plans for perhaps Australia or Singapore.
Another occasion where Benny would steal from himself. The verses are a melody that was released on a film soundtrack back in 2015. It was largely forgotten and Benny thought it was too good to not reuse.
He was right! But cheers, appreciate that insight, Gareth.
True!And here's the orchestral sample,so maaarvelous!!!
th-cam.com/video/MGJQWuc6tOM/w-d-xo.html
They certainly do still have it in them.
Yes, indeed they have! ❤
I've never not cried listening to this album, and this track in particular always sets me off.
Most of their (original) music videos are a bit naff but i encourage you to check out the one for I Still Have Faith In You.
What gets me most about this album is not just that they still sound like ABBA, it sounds like the album that comes after The Visitors.
A reflective song and a great intro to a re-union album. You should watch the official music video of this. It's very emotional. ABBA had announced about the two songs they've recorded, this and Don't Shut Me Down. Their intention was to record these two songs only but ended up recording more songs enough to make an album. Don't Shut Me Down made me teary the first time I heard it because it brought back that familiar ABBA sound. All the songs in this album are available to watch in TH-cam as lyric videos. You should react to them instead so that you can easily follow the lyrics to each song.
As an a-ha fan who has gone through all the emotions of a comeback of your favourite band (twice!) I think I can imagine a bit how it felt for ABBA fans, though a comeback after 40 years can hardly be compared to a 5 or 7-year hiatus. 😱 But when I heard the news of ABBA's reunion I could only think of what Magne Furuholmen (of a-ha) had said in October 2009, when a-ha announced they were disbanding for good: “A reunion of ABBA is more likely than us getting back together”. 😅
As it turned out, a-ha reunited again in 2015, so we only needed ABBA's reunion to teach Mags (yet again) that you can never say never. 🤣 And he has learned the lesson. 😉
Loved your interpretation of the song, Matt. Not too fond of the song itself, though, it is too blatantly emotional for me. It even made me weep when I first heard it, and I am not even a fan of ABBA! 😜
What a nice comment!
I did not know the history of the phrase about those ruptures or discontinuities of A-ha and its relationship with ABBA
and it's very funny, because finally everything came true!
As for "I still have faith in you", ABBA's first comeback song,
it is very emotional for us fans and for Themselves,
because there are many emotions shared and contained.
Wait a few more songs,
in the fourth of the album you will see the other ABBA comeback song...
I'm not going to spoil it, I'll just make a comparison:
if "I still have faith in you" entered my total ABBA Top10,
the other song "Don't shut me down" entered my ABBA historical Top5...
perhaps less emotional, and more musical masterpiece
Btw One of Abba's drummers Per Lindval that worked in the 'Super Trouper' and 'The Visitors' album had also toured with the Nords.Both bands are in my top 3.
ps Per had also played drums in 'Lifelines'/'Cast in Steel'/Minor Earth'(comeback album)...
@@alexioverdo5225 yes, I think we have "talked" about that before. 😉 I wasn't aware of that until you or somebody else commented about it on one of Matt's a-ha reactions months ago.
@@eduardooscar309 Thank you. 😊 Ok, I will check it when Matt reaches Don't Shut Me Down, I don't think i have heard that one.
An amazing comeback song. Well done reaction ❤.
As a huge fan, this was of course the pop news of the decade! It is a good album, mature, as always unexpected unique and perfect songs. You hear they are much older. I guess I miss the input of Micheal Tretow (famous sound engineer) for the 'magic touch' on this album. it's a very deep album. Some songs are not for me but it is in its context an incredible achievement. Ive been to the Voyage show in London. There isnt anything like that in the world! A must see!
I really like the videoclip for this song. The other ones are only lyric videos.
Of the first two songs released I prefer Don’t Shut Me Down though this song hit the spot at the Voyage concert. If you are doing any of Bjorn and Benny material please do the soundtrack of the musical Chess. It’s awesome.
This song is indeed about themselves as a group, and their “comeback”. Bjorn confirmed this in a couple of interviews around the time this album was released. ❤
Hello again Matt 🙂
A question I should have asked in my previous comment 🧐
Will you be reviewing the next single that was released at the same time as " I Still Have Faith In You" which is track number four on the album " Don't Shut Me Down" or will you be following the Album track by track, I myself would like it if you next review dsmd, this time it's Agnetha on lead vocals and it a perfect follow up to ishfiy...and again it speaks to ABBA fans about the ABBA of yesteryear and asking us to accept the New ABBA of today with the Abbatars, but it also has a secondary meaning involving rebuilding relationships that have been parted for many years.
Well whatever you decide I look forward to your ABBA "Voyage" final journey
🇬🇧🤪
I actually would be interested to see Matt's reaction if he kept to form and reviewed each track in the order it appears on the album. The rest of us heard the first two singles months before the album was released, so it would be refreshing to get a reaction based on the song sequence as presented on the album.
@@nickchristoforou7850
👍
They didn't just disband, they divorced each other!
Voyage album lacks the magic touch of M.Tretow cause the mixing is too 'compressed' and many fantastic 'spots' got burried and hidden underneath.But apart from my standard top Abba albums it's an exceptional top category for deeply sentimental reasons.
What happened to just like that a abba classic also 2 songs never released hamlet 2 and givin a little bit more you might have to go on youtube for those 2 hope you play them
Arrrggh, TH-cam sucks!! So it's not allowed to suggest watching the video of this song? 👿🤬
Oh, did you link the video? Sometimes TH-cam zaps comments (without telling me) if they have a link in them, even if it's another link to TH-cam here (which really doesn't make sense). But sorry if that is indeed what happened. I wish TH-cam would just let me monitor the comments on my own.
@@mattsnider2667 No, I didn't put a link in it because I know that TH-cam deletes it then. I just mentioned that the video is a document of ABBA's history because it fitted to your comment that you are a historian. 😉 These random deletions happen to me very often in the last time and also to other viewers.
@@Lisa-M Weird, sorry about that, not sure why TH-cam removes innocuous comments like that. But cheers, definitely need to see the video now.
I linked the clip too but got 'lost".
@@Lisa-M Hey i just posted the video 5 minutes ago and its still here!lol.Fingers crossed...
I have two major issues coming into Voyage of which i have only heard 3 tracks thus far.
1. In general, I lean to let sleeping dogs lie when it comes to artists releasing new music some decades after they retire.
A case of let the public remember you when you were at your peak, when your music making muscles were at their freshest and don't risk that legacy being possibly tarnished by a product that at worst is not good and at best just OK.
2. The issue of age and I don't mean necessarily vocally.
At a younger age you have a feeling you have all the time in the world. You can compose, record, rearrange, come up with various remixes and even reject material because another song is just around the corner to write. Abba did this with their records. Not many songs didn't go through many incarnations and remixes.
At an older age, you philosophically see your time becoming limited, more precious and not let it be wasted.
A mindset where you really don't want to spend endless time constantly changing, rearranging, remixing, rejecting and coming up with something else. The younger we have all time in world mindset is no longer really there.
My concern with this album in that regard lies in the track Just A Notion that I have heard. They never bothered recording a new vocal and just kept an old one from 40 years ago. A kind of that'll do, let's move on. They were in the studio and there was no reason not to do a new vocal. As it is the mix is a bit muddy with the new digital backing mixed with an old analogue vocal track
I read all the tracks are quite on the short side, mostly. Again, get it over, that'll do, move on to the next.
I have no doubt they wouldn't release something bad, but I fear that creatively we are going to get polished completed tracks that are first and second drafts. Tracks that in their younger years would have likely gone through many more incarnations and possibly even rejections because they can always do another. For this album, I don't see them having the patience to do another.
Let's see how it goes.
For I Still have Faith You, beyond the sentimentality of a new recording after 40 years, I think it OK, but nothing particularly great when you remove the circumstance of it. The chorus parts get a bit swallowed in the backing track somewhat.
I was there at the very beginning-1st generation if you will- and will be a hard marker.
Rant over.
Haha, rants welcome, even critical ones. Cheers for your take. :)
How can you not love Don’t Shut Me Down?
I don't think that is a good description of Just a Notion. Benny tried several times in years since it was first recorded to make a mix he was satisfied with. He ended up rerecording the part that did not work, and keeping he part that did.
@@klausolekristiansen2960 In context of it being a new album, I do think a new vocal should have been done. The vocal would have been much cleaner than using an old analogue mix. Parts of the vocal mix are a bit muddy and are buried in the mix likely to hide the recording deficiency of the old track.
Poppycock
Tbh I’m not looking forward to most of these tracks.
Though I do love don’t shut me down and just a notion
I bought ABBA's new The Visitors on casssette while in Trieste, Italy in December 198I. I began to anticipate their new album in about 1983. I arrived in Huntingdon, UK in November 1982 and saw ABBA's two new songs, The Day Before You Came, and Under Attack on Top of the Pops. At this same time there was a contest on a London radio station to win one of 50 autographed ABBA The First Ten Years compilation albums. I sent in my answers to the questions and three weeks later my autographed album arrived. Soon after that it was announced that ABBA decided to unofficially call it quits. I was sick. Felt so raw inside. Words can't describe how I felt when ABBA was releasing two new songs, and then a whole new album. It was always a thrill back in the day, to anticipate ABBA's new albums. But a new album after 40 years. The only bad thing is when Benny and Bjorn say this is the final album for sure, it was like living 1982 all over again with the 'final album' thing. No more ABBA?