I never get bored of any of the ABBA performances. I am Indonesian, but used to live in the Netherlands during the mid 70's right in the middle of ABBA's popularity years. Their songs are unforgettable and bring back so many sweet memories of my childhood and my late parents back. I feel sorry that they had to split from each other....ABBA we LOVE YOU
The caddie commentary in this documentary is exactly what ABBA is NOT. Pretentious, jaded, envious. ABBA are talented, humble people who are light years more successful than the commentators will ever be.
BJ-orn has always been pretentious, jaded envious, shallow, and abusive. Just carefully read the lyrics to “Winner takes it all” it’s definitely about the divorce, read the lyrics- he wrote them. He basically bragged that the marriage was a game. He won it all, was left standing tall, and he left her standing small with nothing. SURPRISE! He was married to the most beautiful girl in the world with the most Beautiful voice. SHE IS ABBA AND WAS ABBA.. I hope his new wife takes him to the cleaners. He’s no Bezos or Gates, but he is meaner. What he did to Agnetha was viscous and mean, Butt more than that- it was STUPID.. millions of people all over the world love her and her magic voice. If she wishes she can form a band and it will make everyone forget about him and his henchmen. If he is connected in any harm to her, I want to have a video link so that I can watch him hide from all the people who love and admire her. Fun. Agnetha ….. you trusted him once (big mistake) SO you must never trust him again. All us guys out here adore you. Getting security people.will be easy. Never go anywhere without an advocate, for our peace of mind. And your voice is even more beautiful than before. New Swedish Nightingale? It wasn’t the divorce that mangled your peace of mind- it was BJ-orn. The proof is in the lyrics, and they are immortal- but ONLY because you sang them.
@@realsus6741 wow you sound like a stalker! I love Agnetha too but you can't base everything on the lyrics. You weren't there in their relationship behind the scenes so you don't know the full story. Besides if she disagreed with the lyrics she wouldn't have sung the song.
How about some of you stop comparing and pitting women against each other. They are both beautiful. Period. You are doing the same thing that woman was doing, comparing one to the other based on “beauty”. They are BOTH amazingly talented and gorgeous.
This woman knows NOTHING! Rock and roll started out fun but in the mid to late 60s turned dark, introspective and political. In the early 70s ABBA reminded the world that rock and roll was FUN again. The songs were extremely well engineered and the simple lyrics were impossible to forget. A few months ago my 5 year old niece and I danced in the living room to DANCING QUEEN. We both smiled and laughed the whole time. IT WAS FUN. That was ABBA!
I agree with Kent. Condescending, supercilious, BBC commentators....ugh! Let 's face it: ABBA had the laugh on their critics. World wide success and enduring popularity.
There are the comments of envy and jealousy from some of the commentators especially that 'designer' woman Louri, all the artists around that time wore what is now classed as kitch, but non of them ever looked or sounded as good as this quartet though . Also both Agnetha and Frida were beautiful and not just in looks they had a special spark that shone through, best pop group ever, the music is still fresh and beats modern stuff all day every day:-)
Some of the comments are full of Envy... Abba is one of the best... probably up there on first or second place. The woman that appears around minute 13 is full of, well... you figure it out.
That woman is a pathetic idiot. No one will ever know or care who she was, and ABBA will be played on space bases across the universe, and aliens will probably like it.
But, +Raymond J, they need to get the facts right and do the research, Dancing Queen, third british number one????!!!! - utterly unforgivable mistakes made by a disinterested production team.
Those comments on ABBA's clothes are a bit cheap, as they were only a reflection of what was common in the seventies. You should have seen what some of the English bands were wearing in 1973 and 1974. Slade, anyone?
They needed someone complaining about something. They weren't like Sex Pistols fashionwise but they still make a huge footprint in today's music and fashion.
they wore those outfits to bypass Swedish tax laws. they could deduct what they wore on stage as a business expense but ONLY if it was something that couldnt be worn in every day life. they werent trying to make, or follow a fashion trend...they just wanted to keep their money.
Hey, to me, all their clothing were super! I don't see anything wrong in it. It's really lovely and stylish. And most importantly, it's their cool, friendly personality! I LOVE ABBA!
It was sad for me to find out that the two girls had so many emotional problems and had suffered in their lives. Can't believe this documentary is 25 years old
I can't believe the lady commentator actually said all those horrendous comments which are not how actually things are. Their outfits were unique and catchy. Sorry to say but I find her even more horrendous-looking in her best get-up.
Yes some jealous comments there like being back in the playground. Two beautiful women with two great voices. Two great guys that did lyrics and music so well.. Xx. I love ABBA.
I thought Frida was the better looking of all of them!!That woman was terrible tearing them down like that??Why didn't she look in the mirror first before tearing down ABBA!!
@@williamsimmons152 Agnetha and Frida weren't fighting and are still friends. Only Agnetha and Björn were fighting often and also Frida and Benny. But Agnetha and Björn meet nowadays sometimes because of their kids but I don't know if Frida and Benny still meet sometimes because they hadn't kids together. And now they aren't fighting anymore I think because they spent much time in the studio to record those new songs and if they were still fighting I think the work would be very hard for them. I think Agnetha and Frida still go along very well and I guess Agnetha is still like Frida's little sis. You could see that connection between them on that Mamma mia premiere or when they did a interview together in 2009 and 2016.
Non seulement Frida & Agnétha chantent merveilleusement (des voix d'anges), mais les mélodies et orchestrations sont magnifiques chez ABBA, rien n'est laissé au hasard. I LOVE ABBA !
I love the comments from the public. I'm really glad it's 2018 now and not 1993. How stupid and narrow-minded the documentary is. It's hard to believe. Only 15 years ago. Whoever did that documentary should be ashamed by now and probably regrets having done it.
1993, the time of this documentary. 10 years after they stopped performing and they had sold 240 million records. Now, nearly 30 years later and they have sold 390 million. How many bands sell 150 million records this long after they broke up???
OMG who is that female in the white jacket? NO-ONE has ever HEARD of you ….. and yet you presume to pass judgement on a group loved for years all over the world - classy lady...…..
What she does not know is that those outfits were great at the time. The more outrageous the outfits the less taxes, according to Swedish law, they had to pay. Those outfits saved millions them millions. She needs to know what she is talking about as everyone loved those outfits not just their talent!
@@elsakekahuna8023 She was too young to know, and the bowl haircuts were fashionable then. It’s fashionsable nowntongonkn Telly and sneer at things you weren’t old enough to remember. ALL of those ‘remember the 70s’ type programs do it. Not one of the commentators know what they are talking about
@Sprint955ST a little research goes a long way if she is going to comment...young or older. Seeing a few youtubers very young like Bobby's Brother that have done his research and provides information that is accurate...research...that is all it takes..
@@elsakekahuna8023 research doesn’t come into it. Sitting talking about (sneeringly) something as if you were there, when in fact you were too young to have any first-hand experience, is just disingenuous.
A part of why this group is so loved is that nothing came easy for them. All the crap they had to endure from political bores in their own country to the so-called 'serious' music snobs everywhere else. Well guess who had the last laugh? Interesting that they actually got respect from greats like Ray Davies and Elvis Costello who recognised real talent. Lowri Turner, who seems to have had a mental blank on what loads of other pop/rock artists were wearing in the 70's then spouts- "When you make your international debut on Eurovision, you're heading for disaster'. Yeah, that happened. Watch 'The Joy Of ABBA' or the 'Bang A Boomerang' programmes (both on RU-vid) for more in-depth insights into the ABBA phenomenon.
NOTHING BEATS ABBA'S MUSIC. GO BUY ALL OF THEIR 8 STUDIO ALBUMS. SO MANY MASTERPIECES ON THEM, THAT U CAN'T FIND ON ABBA GOLD/MORE GOLD. U WON'T REGRET IT🤩🤩🤩🤩
was it necessary to add mean comments after everything? i thought the documentary was supposed to show what ABBA did with their music and what they were about, not other people's opinions on their clothing and hairstyles...
Anton Antonson Aton, I grew up in the 70s listening to pop radio, always heard ABBA and loved their hits. But, really? Even the BeeGees had more hits that I can recall today, 45 years later. Maybe it’s a USA thing. But to say ABBA was second to the Beatles is very generous. I’d even put Sweet near ABBA.
@@wayneriley7367 I wish I at least could say the same to you,but I find your answer rather unfunny. Sure,music is partly subjective,but if you cant see that ABBA is way more versatile then any of the other bands you mentioned,not to mention skilled song writers, then I really dont know what else to tell you..
Kris A Kris, way more versatile than the Beatles? And the BeeGees? Really? ABBA was pop! And half their appeal was the two girls. I’m not saying they weren’t talented, but to say second to the Beatles is just crazy. Many groups lasted twice as long as ABBA. I think you heart strings are tugging at you, but really their are way more groups that outshine ABBA. And just tell me how they are more versatile than the Beatles? Give me songs that have Sitars, and songs for kids like yellow submarine or octopus garden? Again, ABBA is talented but just behind the Beatles?
It is nice to see some new footage of ABBA. As for the commentators, well, they were wrong, obviously. ABBA was known and is still known all over the world and their worldly and financial success and even two movies made around their music beg the difference. ABBA is one group whose songs I simply love, more than any other singer's or group's songs. They were and are awesome!
They're all perfect just they way they are. Stop saying mean stuff. The fact that she said Frida looks like Agnetha's grandmother is just unbelievable.
I agree, Frida is and always has been beautiful. The ugly granny comment is ignorant and perhaps inspired by jealousy. Frida has beautiful bone structure in her face in particular and both girls are goddesses in the body department. I’m a heterosexual female by the way. Just appreciating the beauty God gave to other women.
Frida is super beautiful,cool,sweet,energetic,humoros and grateful-green angeleyes,high nose,thin lips and sweet cheekbones.I only wish Frida didn't change her eyebrows,I love her natural eyebrows! There's a difference of 5 years,better you see these 2 ladies at the same age!
Even though this programme was made in 1993, there is *still* that critical tone from some of the interviewees for the clothes, the style, the sound, the look, and even the lyrics. Yes, the 1970s was not well looked back on in the early nineties - although ironically nineties pop borrowed heavily, and seemingly without guilt, from the seventies style book -yet style bashing is rather pathetic when the band in question had so many hit records, many of which were number ones, in numerous countries around the world, including the UK, where this was made. Perhaps it's jealousy from people who can only wish they were half as successful in their own careers as ABBA have been. The seventies was a brilliant decade - especially for music - and is generally very underrated.
hello? Stage clothes tend to be outrageous. They're for show and entertainment. Look how Elton John and David Bowie dressed I give ABBA credit for being fearless in their stage costumes. Musically, I used to think they were too pop but after listening closer, there are some great songs there and they are wonderful vocalists. I hear an influence of European folk music. I miss them.
you can say what ever you want to digraded ABBA band, but the world knows tha the ABBA band was greatest band that ever exist in the history of pop music..
i'm a guy on my 20's and i'll choose Frida over Agnetha anyday or in any era. Frida has done a lot of hairstyles which might not be to everyone's cup of tea but atleast she tried to explore and never kept the same boring barbie-hairstyle just to be admired by people.. seriously its just the hair.. Agnetha is pretty but imagine them switch hairstyles, Frida has tried blond and she looked amazingly good.. Now try to picture Agnetha with those crazy hairstyles and i doubt she could pull it off the way Frida did.. that BLOND woman at 14:12 wanted to feel good about herself so she criticized Frida while praising another BLOND :(
These two ladies had such wonderful voices when they sang together it was magic and the guys were good songwriters there songs were basically simple but yet appealing there was just something about them. They broke up in the early eighties, they had their personal problems like everyone does in life. Will always love their music
Agnetha is not a classic beauty. She has a prettiness that some blondes have. Frida has beautiful bone structure. She is stunning. Blondes are overrated. But men in general do prefer them. I told a boyfriend I dumped after 4 months who at least admitted he was obsessed with blondes that I could put a blond wig on a greyhound and he would probably rate it as attractive.
I never cared to listen to the BeeGees or the Beetles, never liked their music, but did I love ABBA. And still do to this day after being a fan for 38 years and counting. Their music always lifts my spirits and puts me in a melancholic good mood. ABBA has stood the test of time and their music will live forever in the souls of their lifetime fans. I wish them all the best wherever they are.😘😘
We who were young then saw them as very nice, cool outfits. Abba was glam. And it was how they were. People now don't understand that, same as we don't understand most of the music now.
ABBA is brilliant. Their heyday was before my time, but in the last month, I’ve come to love ABBA, thanks to RU-vid. I love Pink Floyd, Nirvana and ABBA- their songwriting is superb.
ABBA lyrics are acceptable to general public and they are all wonderful people , wish they will perform back again , they refused billions to have a reunion performance ..,wow , May God always bless them ..
ABBA’s music seemed to have a core of Swedish folk music, expanded by Euro modern (pop) & a bit of glam/disco which was a potent and unique cocktail that’s timeless....just great music & melodies! What’s not to love?!!
I know right the BBC is usually quite good but they really dropped the stink bomb on this one having this snotty woman as a so called spokesperson. This has become regrettably far too common in today’s media the BBC should be ashamed of this !
It is so obvious that they caught hold of only those that were jealous of ABBA's success and sought their 'views'. It's a very negative attitude; perhaps largely driven by the fact that finally there was a Swedish (non-British) group that stole the limelight in Europe and around the world from what perhaps many considered belonged to British groups.
The commentary is absolutely ridiculous. It's ironic that the dowdy blonde commentator thinks Frida was unattractive. In the USA, Frida was the one everyone thought was most gorgeous. Plus - she is a REDHEAD! (Well, she was back then.) She was known as "the redhead" in ABBA. Her hair was not brown. ABBA never tried to be "hip" as this woman suggested. They were the epitome of "hip" at the time. Who wouldn't have wanted to be ABBA? Despite the glamour of the disco era, ABBA were always very natural, with delightful senses of humor. The two women singers were idolized by every woman in the world for their unadulterated beauty, and all of us girls thought the ABBA guys were adorable. Personally, I STILL love their haircuts! It's frustrating to watch that insulting narrator, who probably couldn't play a C Major scale, critique a band that is so very out of her league.
I agree with you, Scarlett. Many people thought Frida was more classically beautiful. If your read through the comments, you find many of the Agnetha supporters came from societies where blonds are very rare, creating a prejudice for blonds.
Lowri Turner is a bitter dog. She is wrong, Anni-frid is a beautiful woman. Pictures of Agnetha without makeup show that she is cute at best, but Anni-frid without makeup is still drop-dead gorgeous.
I agree somewhat she was pretty cruel. Agnetha...I thought was the most beautiful and her voice was Absoultey gorgeous...BUT they both were beautiful although different. I only thought Benny was cute. Bjorn reminded me of a little elf dancing around. Sorry! They were a great band...couples that loved each other and kept trying and made it. Lol it was the 70s a different time..styles. That blonde woman really was cruel. I think she really didn't care for the band or the members.
There have been very few groups that transcend to that of Supergroup.Beatles. Rolling Stones, ABBA is in that special category. They deserve the title of Supergroup.
The derogatory comments from supposedly fashion and music experts , are unnecessarily negative at that time . I know all my contemporary age group in the seventies loved ABBA music and to this day in the 2021 , ABBA music is still played at celebration parties world wide .
It seems to me they didn't quote the complete opinons about Abba. Yes Abba was kitschy and corny, but at the same time the songs are very well written and the melodies are superb. I am pretty sure Elvis Costello and Ray Davies acknowledge that, but they left that out for some weird reason. That blond fashion designer however talks out of her arse. True the outfits were horrible, but it was the 70s for crying out loud! How did David Bowie look in that decade or Slade? What about the Sex Pistols? And no, Anni Frid is not ugly!
I agree with the other posters, the commenters in this doco are ridiculous! Frida was absolutely gorgeous, although obviously the 70s styles were not the best, but Abba were of their time and back then, they certainly were not out of place. The women were both stunning and had the sexiest outfits which only helped to get them noticed. But the incredible talent of all the group members are what really made them superstars.
Stevo 1971 This was done over 25 years ago so this was before the Mamma Mia musical which gave them at least 200 million more sales due to the success of the musical and the success of the greatest hits album
Kinda shocked this documentary is so incomplete especially coming from the BBC. More like a companion piece. Watch "Abba the complete special" here on youtube if you want to know the real story of Abba.
The BBC documentary couldn't understand why ABBA got so famous. These people were simply tone deaf and had cataracts, no need to be a genius to acknowledge how great ABBA were 😁❤️
Whatever people say....negative or positive..ABBA is the best band in the world..you can't please everybody anyway. ...Thank you ABBA for your music..you made the world brighter and happier....
The joke is on the commentator. ABBA is legendary, both ladies are gorgeous and two of the best singers in history, and the guys may be the most successful song writers in the pop music business. Her snippy comments showed mostly ignorance and envy. ABBA created a look and a style that was universally appealing. They were nice people and humble. They still are. And still world famous.
ABBA went through a transition phase early and then they made some fortuitous decisions about how to format their group. And they made some EXCELLENT decisions. I suspect Stig Anderson had a lot to do with that. At first I loved their music, then I got tired of it. I had never paid attention to their acting. WOW ! They made some more excellent decisions. (Recently I started noticing their videos. Fantastic, four guys and girls having fun and looking good.) Showcase the two beautiful girls with two visibly different personalities, put them together with the talented Bjorn and Bennie. They always look like they're having fun and uninhibited. Freda had the bouncy, dynamic moves and Anna was more laid back and smooth moving. Put the package together and you sell 250,000 albums. Thank you guys.
One of the best things about this documentary (apart from luminaries like John Peel, McCulloch and Elvis Costello publicly confessing their admiration for ABBA) is that (almost) everybody knows the names of the group, and no-one has ever heard of that daft dyed-blonde bint @14:13.
Part 1 of a BBC documentary/ hatchet job of one of the top groups of all time...hopefully, part 2, it gets better and perhaps BBC can partially redeem themselves.
WOW. I came here just to enjoy their music and to get some of their back story, when this took such a nasty turn at the end. Disgraceful. Frida was and is beautiful. And if she [commentator at the end] thinks just because she herself is blonde, that she is even remotely an Agnetha she is seriously delusional.
Frida is super beautiful,cool,sweet,energetic,humoros and grateful-green angeleyes,high nose,thin lips and sweet cheekbones.I only wish Frida didn't change her eyebrows,I love her natural eyebrows! There's a difference of 5 years,better you see these 2 ladies at the same age!