Re: Well, you're a true charmer aren't you?
> Well of course I was referring to the lyrics. The songs are quite catchy
> and entertaining. But some of the songs (like "Dancing Queen")
> just makes me want to cringe.
99% of the bands out there don't have deep lyrics. 99% of the bands out there also would kill to have even one song as good as any of ABBA's huge number of great songs. That's how I know how hard it is to write great pop songs, and why I know Bjorn and Benny are geniuses. I look at a band trying to come off as genius songwriters and I think, "Yeah, sure, you have a good song there, but look how many ABBA had, get over yourself."
Some of my faves in the ABBA lyric area include "Chiquitita," "Take A Chance On Me," "Hey Hey Helen" (a feminist song), "Fernando"...... But, what? Are they supposed to be as deep as Bob Dylan?
>I do think it's true though that what may
> have been ridiculously uncool for smart people to like at the height of
> its mainstream popularity almost always becomes a sentimental favorite of
> the next generation of cool, smart people. *cue Valley Girl voice* It's,
> like, so ironic, you know? Not that I'm saying you're a poser or that
> people who like ABBA are posers. I just think that there is definitely a
> segment of the population who thinks that way.
ABBA caught on strong with the next generation in the 90s because the second they were exposed to the songs (via covers and in movie soundtracks) they just had to have a copy of ABBA "Gold." Resistance is futile.
Whoever found ABBA's music bad at the height of their mainstream popularity were wrong, plain and simple. And certainly not very smart. How stupid for someone to care if it's considered "cool" instead of just dancing like they know they want to. The only people who hate ABBA are the male "rock purist" set, and I bet a lot of them are liars. So when they finally give in they have to say they're being ironic. Outside of that, ABBA have been loved continuously in virtually every corner of the globe, have tons of tribute bands (even one called GABBA that did ABBA songs in the style of the Ramones), lots of covers done by quality artists (I'm particularly fond of Sinead O'Connor's cover of Chiqitita on her final album last year), and a smash hit musical that's returning to my city next year for an encore run. Their appeal is about as broad and continuous as a band can achieve, with the area of resistance being the most hung up straight young males and stupid rock purists. Now I don't necessarily think that just because something is really popular it is great. But for something to be so loved by so many for so long, it must have something going for it. And, in ABBA's case I think so many people love them because it's just impossible not to.
I'm pretty biased in all this because my mom is from Stockholm and once knew somebody who was an aquaintance of Frida's, and those two factors caused her to play ABBA non-stop when I was growing up, to the point where I knew their albums by heart before I even knew what was going on. So I guess it was part of my childhood indoctrination that ABBA are genius. I took my mom to see the Momma Mia musical and a sold out house was on their feet partying by the end. It was a great evening of music despite the corny-ass dialogue in the musical, and seeing the happiness in the crowd only confirmed to me that I am right about ABBA.