I agree. Just discovered it. Sounds VERY ahead of it's time, especially with chorus and how hard it hits along with the spooky but pop friendly vibe. A personal favorite! Now, to find a version that is of the original mastering. Very hard to come by. Wish me luck.
So right, been listening to this since I was a child. Now I'm 42, learned the piano and guitar, I dream one day of getting drums lessons to make a cover 🎵🎵🎸🎸
If this truly is the original video, then it is a Masterpiece. I was born in Stockholm 1970 and grew up with both their english and swedish songs, but I have ALWAYS favoured this one. Just never seen the video. This song was released 1981 and Anni-Frids hair just didn’t look like that then. That hairdo was not in fashion then, so I doubt this is a real video. Lips also don’t synk. But if it is - the videographer and director made a true masterpiece.
The Visitors is and always will be my favourite ABBA album. It is so mature and adult-like compared to their previous works, simply because it was written and recorded at such a difficult and turbulent time for the group with the divorces and the cracks beginning to form between them as a unit. All four members have said the sessions of 1981 were very tense at times and you can definitely hear and feel this in The Visitors. I wish they had made another one in 1982/1983...
The Visitors was the most musically complex too. Much more chords used from different scales, which adds to the otherworldy vibe that this song has for example. Also, it somewhat strange vibe of 'the day before you came' comes from this use of chords out of scale
I must confess: this song is a masterpiece and surely their best work over all. It combines so much elements, from prog rock (newer Genesis), Beatles experiments (Strawberry Fields, Tomorrow never knows) and a really deep moving and creepy lyric.
I had this on vinyl as a little girl in the early 80s. I was OBSESSED with abba, my parents loved them too and bought all their albums! The albums always had fold outs with photos of the band and I wanted to be exactly like the blonde one, she was my total idol! I love them just as much today as i did back then, and this song is one of my favorites 😍 ❤
Love the arabic vocal melody, some great( what i describe as) purple ultra violet notes...heard this for the first time last week after watching an abba doco..my hair stood up when i heard the vocal melody...like the first time i heard dusty springfields 'goin back'
I never heard this song until a couple of years ago, when I bought an Abba compilation which included this track. What a revelation! This is a solid gold, meticulously crafted masterpiece (as were all their releases), and one of the best things they ever did. It quickly became one of my favourite pieces of rock ever, full of portent and brooding drama. I love the dry, anechoic phasing on Agnetha's voice in the verses. Not what I would ever have expected to hear from Abba - but they always had a few surprises up their sleeves. Or even in their sleeves... This track demonstrates a hugely advanced maturity in the songwriting, and seemed to signal even greater things in the offing. Yet so often, when that kind of stage is reached, writers come to a brick wall, and feel that they've done their very best work, and pull back or quit for fear that nothing they do from there on in could ever eclipse what they've already achieved. Abba went as far as, and perhaps a little bit further than their strained relationships could have allowed. They were unique, and they will be remembered for the rest of eternity.
Uniquely and brilliantly ABBA. Has anyone else ever even tried to capture this awful moment of political terror? Without preaching or pontificating about it? Unmatched in so many ways.
Her dad wasn't in the SS. He was conscripted into the regular army. The Russian bit is close though seen through the eyes of a political dissident awaiting a visit of the secret police.
Love this ABBA song....it packed the dance floors back in the day. Wish they had done an official video of it. This is best Fan-made video so far I've seen !
I hear the doorbell ring and suddenly the panic takes me The sound so ominously tearing through the silence I cannot move, I'm standing Numb and frozen Among the things I love so dearly The books, the paintings and the furniture Help me The signal's sounding once again and someone tries the door-knob None of my friends would be so stupidly impatient And they don't dare to come here Anymore now But how I loved our secret meetings We talked and talked in quiet voices Smiling Now I hear them moving Muffled noises coming through the door I feel I'm Crackin' up Voices growing louder, irritation building And I'm close to fainting Crackin' up They must know by now I'm in here trembling In a terror evergrowing Crackin' up My whole world is falling, going crazy There is no escaping now, I'm Crackin' up These walls have witnessed all the anguish of humiliation And seen the hope of freedom glow in shining faces And now they've come to take me Come to break me And yet it isn't unexpected I have been waiting for these visitors Help me Now I hear them moving Muffled noises coming through the door I feel I'm Crackin' up Voices growing louder, irritation building And I'm close to fainting Crackin' up They must know by now I'm in here trembling In a terror evergrowing Crackin' up My whole world is falling, going crazy There is no escaping now, I'm Crackin' up Now I hear them moving Muffled noises coming through the door I feel I'm Crackin' up Voices growing louder, irritation building And I'm close to fainting Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) They must know by now I'm in here trembling In a terror evergrowing Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) My whole world is falling, going crazy There is no escaping now, I'm Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) Now I hear them moving Muffled noises coming through the door I feel I'm Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) Voices growing louder, irritation building And I'm close to fainting Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) They must know by now I'm in here trembling In a terror ever growing Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) My whole world is falling, going crazy There is no escaping now, I'm Crackin' up
I love “The Max” such a great dance floor and all those different levels in the back patio and the other dance floor....... that place is amazing!!!! I go to Omaha for business and every time I’m there I make sure to visit “The Max” and also “Flixx”😀
... as they say, "the best things come last" - and "The Visitors" was definitely a great album to (almost) close this incomparable chapter of pop-music!
MUSIC, outstanding, singing, outstanding. Haunting song. Love to hear it every so often. very DARK album. The beginning of the END. Shows the talent they had, all had POST ABBA careers.
@rampguy1 Yes, this was their last hit from their last album. ABBA, while a big hit in the 70's was struggling with the new sound of the 80's, but in 1981 they changed up their style and went heavy into synthesizers. The Vistors was a result. While it wasn't a big hit for them, I tought the song is brilliant. It has a very surreal and somewhat 'spooky' feeling to it. This is a song I typically play around Halloween. Those not familiar with it think it is new. I just say, "Nope, it is an old song by ABBA". The look of disbelief in their faces when they find out it is ABBA is priceless. I was looking forward to more of this from ABBA, but sadly, they broke up just after the album was released.
Too bad, they broke up, imagine what other inspiring songs they would have composed down the road...yet, Frida and Agnetha ought to be in the singing game again.
***** Agnetha had a solo record come out last year. It has a decent single on it, a duet with Gary Barlow (from Take That) called "I Should Have Followed You Home." There's a remix of it called "7th Heaven" that's better than the album mix, I think.
***** I know Agnetha had to mobilize all her professionality to record the song, but in the dark??? I cannot believe that. Why? The had been couples. They knew crying also of each other. However, this was not their last song. That was "under attack".
This is my favourite disco group from my childhood . It is the music of my memories to where I came from and began . In 1970 . Now I am 43 . I can play it untill the end of all times . FOREVER !!! I also adore the song Eagle a lot .
The Visitors ABBA: What More can I say? XXX This Musical Pop/Rock Band of the 70s 80s Pure Genius, This Album was One of my Favorite around 1980+ When The ABBA TREND Had Hit Britain like A Tornado, Abba- Mania Gone Crazy,!!! ABBA Fans All over, Yes I Admit I Was One of them, Back in the early 70s, I Became Hooked on their Music And the TWO GUYS BJORN & BENNY Wow, How COOL Both Handsome and Genius, With the Help from their lead Singers Anna & Frida Beautifully Trained Voices X X X X Thankyou for YOUR music. X Ice-Maiden X Dec 18th 2019. Still Love their MUSIK!!!
Seconds into this song and the dance floor was packed at “The Bar” in Champaign Illinois back in 1982. I absolutely loved it! That place is still open but it’s called Chester Street. If you’re ever in Champaign, check it out!
stands the test of time better than most trax from the period shows the true depth of a mature abba. this could never be covered or re released by anyone else better than the original which marks it as a best track......
Apparently it's about political dissidents and oppression. Funny how it's relevant again now, for different nations: I hear the doorbell ring and suddenly the panic takes me The sound so ominously tearing through the silence I cannot move, I'm standing Numb and frozen Among the things I love so dearly The books, the paintings and the furniture Help me The signal's sounding once again and someone tries the door-knob None of my friends would be so stupidly impatient And they don't dare to come here Anymore now But how I loved our secret meetings We talked and talked in quiet voices Smiling Now I hear them moving Muffled noises coming through the door I feel I'm Crackin' up Voices growing louder, irritation building And I'm close to fainting Crackin' up They must know by now I'm in here trembling In a terror evergrowing Crackin' up My whole world is falling, going crazy There is no escaping now, I'm Crackin' up These walls have witnessed all the anguish of humiliation And seen the hope of freedom glow in shining faces And now they've come to take me Come to break me And yet it isn't unexpected I have been waiting for these visitors Help me Now I hear them moving Muffled noises coming through the door I feel I'm Crackin' up Voices growing louder, irritation building And I'm close to fainting Crackin' up They must know by now I'm in here trembling In a terror evergrowing Crackin' up My whole world is falling, going crazy There is no escaping now, I'm Crackin' up Now I hear them moving Muffled noises coming through the door I feel I'm Crackin' up Voices growing louder, irritation building And I'm close to fainting Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) They must know by now I'm in here trembling In a terror evergrowing Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) My whole world is falling, going crazy There is no escaping now, I'm Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) Now I hear them moving Muffled noises coming through the door I feel I'm Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) Voices growing louder, irritation building And I'm close to fainting Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) They must know by now I'm in here trembling In a terror evergrowing Crackin' up (I have been waiting for these visitors) My whole world is falling, going crazy There is no escaping now, I'm Crackin' up
