Robert Hoffman Both couples were breaking or had broke up so yes just like Fleetwood Mac. The relationship dynamics within the bands make for very creative music
This got to be the most mature song about a breakup ever written. No hate, no regrets, no intentions to hold the person with you, just moving on with your life. It is a lesson for all
Mr. JBLethal: "These artist have a gift from God and the industry tries to keep those gifts wrapped." My dear gifted friend, you are a poet and you speak truth to power, thank you!
Not being native speakers of English, the lyrics at times were a little simplistic, but 4 attractive people with well-written music, great voices and spot-on harmonies would probably have sold me, but, you're right, the production values, mixing and musical arrangements were impeccable.
Abba is one of the top selling music groups of time. This about when the lead singer broke up with her husband. The band was married to each other. The singers were married to the composers, but both couples got divorced. Eventually it broke up the band.
Best breakup song ever written. Bjorn wrote it for Agneta after their divorce. She often stated it's her favourite song. Very simple in structure, but that's the genius of it. You actually inspired me to go through ABBA's entire catalogue again, and rank every song of theirs (97 in total). I'll post it on one of your future ABBA reactions when I'm done. Stay in that rabbit hole! :)
Think I recall reading a few months ago a hint that they both regretted having parted, but thankfully there doesn't seem to have been any speculation of them getting back together since Bjorn split from his current long term wife a few months back.
Agnetha was actually married to Bjorn and going through a divorce at the time, Frida was married to Benny Anderson, their separations ultimately brought the band's separation, this is one of their hits where they showed their more personal side, and it just became another classic.
That did *not* brought the band's separation, i.e. according to themselves :) They even toured after both divorces. Basically, they just took a break for doing other stuff, like musicals and solo carriers, but never reunited as group (although they sometimes see each other private).
Your face while listening to these profound lyrics is just so wonderful to a 58 year old lifelong ABBA fan, once you love ABBA there is NO going back, love your reactions from Australia.
ABBA and BoneyM was the "modern" group, very in fashion, during my childhood (when I was 6). Even if we had been in the comunist "era" then (the 80's) în Romania, we knew ABBA and we danced in the clubs on their music. Now I am 47 and I still remember the "vibe", the rithm, the "taste" of those times!
Which tells you something about how freaking talented Agnetha is. She sings this brilliantly. She never got many chances to solo and show off those pipes. She's incredible.
@@secondstring She was one of Sweden's top popstars before ABBA and a cracking songwriter to boot. RU-vid some of her Swedish recordings. Jag Va Sa Kar is a classic. She was only 17 and she wrote it herself too.
@@Destinyslotus - Yes, thanks for the suggestion, I did check it out. She was amazing. ABBA had a lot of talent, but I always felt that they would not have been half the success without her.
I listened to this song so many times when my marriage was breaking apart. My experience closely mirrored the song. For some reason, its sadness made me feel better. You can just hear the ache in her voice.
@@willrichardson519 Just checked it out; it's powerful. I haven't listened to Muse before. It reminds me a little of Depeche Mode's post-Violator work. During my breakup I also listened a lot to "Daffodils Lament" by the Cranberries (no one sings like Dolores O'Riordan) and Sinead O'Connor's cover of Elton John's song "Sacrifice" -- ooh, that one's amazing. I hope you're doing well. Losing a love sucks.
@@neatdesign Thanks @neatdesign pretty much. Remarried after 4 years, coming up for our 10th anniversary December 19th. Great singers. I bought Sinéaid O Connors first album, incredibly raw, guitars like barbed wire...an interesting artist I cane across via Tee Narcisse's Fish out of water channel is Loreena McKennit, hard to do justice to how goid she is in that Celtic vein. Muse Black Holes and Revelations is also their Peak, then The Resistance, a bit of a nod to Queen and glam rock
ABBA had the best music producer and mixer in the industry, thats why theior productions sound so amazing. Plus, Agnetha and Frida have amazing voices, long before auto-tune
This song just perfectly voices that feeling we've all had before: standing at the bottom rung of the ladder of love, devastated from the loss. The movie Mama Mia does a nice job with it visually, though I feel like I can empathize with Agnetha knowing their story. It's such a powerful piece.
I miss ABBA and all of the 70's with so many genres of music with so much heart and enthusiasm..I wanna go back, have fun, enjoy my youth with all of my family and all of my friends that I have lost over the years..It's a sad world that we live in today!!
No one wrote sad songs with a disco beat better than ABBA! I really enjoy your reactions and love for music James, so glad I found you. One lesser known ABBA song you should check out is called The Visitors, it’s a different sound for them that came out just before they split and it’s about hiding from the East Berlin police (Cold War era), it has a fantastic chorus that I think you’ll love!
Pure (sad) awesomeness!!! What a beautiful song, beautiful vocals, beautiful music! Connects with you if you have an ounce of empathy, and you just ache for the singer! ❤️✌🏻❤️
Here's my current ABBA top 50. This is just my personal taste, and it's still a work in progress: 1. Dancing Queen (1976) 3:50 2. The Winner Takes It All (1980) 4:55 3. The Day Before You Came (1982) 5:50 4. Chiquitita (1979) 5:26 5. Eagle (Album Version) (1977) 5:51 6. I'm a Marionette (1977) 3:54 7. The Way Old Friends Do (live) (1980) 2:53 8. Summer Night City (Full-length Version) (1978) 4:18 9. Take a Chance on Me (1977) 4:05 10. I Have a Dream (1979) 4:44 11. Lay All Your Love on Me (1980) 4:33 12. One of Us (1981) 3:55 13. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (Full-length Version) (1979) 4:49 14. Fernando (1975) 4:15 15. I Let the Music Speak (1981) 5:20 16. Voulez-Vous (Album Version) (1979) 5:11 17. Mamma Mia (1975) 3:32 18. Waterloo (1974) 2:46 19. Knowing Me, Knowing You (1976) 4:02 20. Super Trouper (1980) 4:13 21. I Wonder (Departure) (1977) 4:33 22. Arrival (1976) 3:00 23. On and on and On (1980) 3:41 24. SOS (1975) 3:22 25. Tiger (1976) 2:55 26. The Visitors (Album Version) (1981) 5:49 27. Happy New Year (1980) 4:24 28. The Name of the Game (Album Version) (1977) 4:54 29. When All Is Said and Done (1981) 3:20 30. My Love, My Life (1976) 3:52 31. Cassandra (1981) 4:50 32. Our Last Summer (1980) 4:18 33. One Man, One Woman (1977) 4:33 34. Elaine (1980) 3:44 35. Thank You for the Music (1977) 3:48 36. Does Your Mother Know (1979) 3:13 37. Me and I (1980) 4:53 38. I've Been Waiting for You (1975) 3:39 39. Head over Heels (1981) 3:45 40. The Piper (1980) 3:25 41. Hole in Your Soul (1977) 3:41 42. Money, Money, Money (1976) 3:05 43. Ring Ring (1973) 3:03 44. Honey, Honey (1974) 2:56 45. Lovelight (Original Version) (1979) 3:46 46. Angeleyes (1979) 4:20 47. Disillusion (1973) 3:04 48. Hey, Hey Helen (1975) 3:16 49. Soldiers (1981) 4:38 50. Slipping Through My Fingers (1981) 3:51
@@Isleofskye Haha, I knew I would get comments like "Hey you forgot my favourite song!" :) "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" is currently 53th on my list, but things can still change. What can I say, they have too many great songs. I plan to post my complete list on a future video. Cheers!
Hi Pulsar 77. Of course, you are right. but it's actually in my flexible list of 30 favourite songs by any Artists, of all time. :) I am torn for Number 1 between "Theme From A Summer Place" by The Percy Faith Orchestra as it reminds me of my idyllic 7 week School Holidays at our Caravan in Kent that we went to from our busy South East London home as a weekend retreat,as well from the Late 1950;s to 1971....l.I'm 65.It is my Late Mums Birthday today and she was born 102 years ago in 1917.The other joint Numero Uno is to be played in the darkness with no other sound and it's "Albatross" by Fleetwood Mac.......Cheers :)
10 outta 10 for sure... musical experts asked about Abbas music said they couldn't have added to or improved it it's virtually perfect production wise that is why with a lot of other great artists we're still listening all these years later ...wow
The one thing about 70's songs is that they could peel away layers of sadness and serve it up. This is a pendulum swing from all the 50's feel good rock and roll songs. It was the decade in songs and tv.
one of the best popsongs ever. and agnetha is the best female voice in the history of pop music. they sold over 500 million records, way more then the stones for example.
I’ve now sat here for an hour watching your videos. ABBA is my childhood. Thank you for helping me rediscover how perfect they are. You are such a beautiful soul ❤️
Magic pop group and music always . ABBA is extraordinary to World level . I love the ABBA group and all their very beautiful songs , voices and music .
....both Agnetha and Frida had those diamond voices...the unique quality that blended so well together....and the range the two of them together had with Frida on the lower end and Agnetha on the higher end...but they both had that buzz that was so spectacular...I recommend you look for Agnetha alone more than 20 years later, on RU-vid singing “Sometimes When I’m Dreamin’ “ ...it’s just Agnetha and a piano...that voice and piano...could listen to her all day....
One ABBA song that's beautifully sad is "slipping through my fingers". I have a 3 year old daughter and the thought that I will watch her grow to only witness her distance herself from me scares me but is the truth that I will have to deal with.
@@nikhilreddy8550 yes... I am 54, and single, and that song brings a tear to my eyes, so I can only imagine how parents must feel. however, I would like to share a thought with you... I think that the biggest gift you can give a child is roots AND wings... a strong foundation on which to develop as well as confidence and self-belief ... that way you can enjoy watching your child fly, knowing they know where their safe place is.
What adds a chill to this song is it was about the marriages of the band members dissolving. You can tell that Agneitha means every word she says in this song. You should try another ABBA song, "One of Us".
ABBA are back together, Bjorn has been writing new material. He's actually the musical genius behind everything. Agnetha did a duet with Gary Barlow a few years ago, she still sounds the same.
I am an avid ABBA fan and have most of their music. For those who appreciate their music they will also realize they put a lot into the production value and come up with very talented ideas and sounds. I would heartily recommend a few of their lesser know songs - On and On, Some of Us (haunting and sad, but beautiful music). and The Way Old Friends do. Keep up the great work!
They went from I do I do I do I do I do to the winner takes it all. Once Agnetha and Bjorn broke up, it was the start of the end for Abba. It broke all our hearts. I played everything for almost every genre as I am a very musical person. So is my dad. My son is a musician and has probably heard more than I have, but yeah, I'm proud to say my kids were exposed to all of it. We all love music. Music feeds the soul.
This song & "Fernando" are my 2 favorite songs of ABBA! As usual, your reaction is right on target! I feel very sad for the younger generation.because they don't know the soulful music that we grew up with, starting with Elvis Presley & Michael Jackson to amazing groups like Queen & ABBA & other unique artists like Billy Joel & Neil Diamond! Folks like these were & still are unparalleled! I am so glad that you are open minded enough to want to hear this music !Also it is great that you have the wisdom to appreciate what our music was & is still all about!
The best break-up song ever made...sang in the best way ever done! In addition, it is considered the top most difficult song to cover. The original is absolute perfect, any cover is simply a shadow...
Every generation has its own music. My youth passed by the ABBA show. My older daughter was a Madonna fan, my son listened to Eminem and 50 Cent, my younger child to Shakira. And I like them all. But since there are no young people around, I've stuck to Sitng, David Bowie, etc. Until my grandson grows up and starts listening to music. Thank you!
Just have to thank you LBL, you do this song justice, thank you!!! I've watched other reactions, just so nooo!! This song, so autobiographical for Agnetha and Bjorn, just tests at the heart!!! Can hear her voice almost break, it's told it was a difficult song for her to record!!! Live, live SBBA always!!! This song washot when I went through one of the most difficult losses I ever experienced too...rings so close to home!!!! Very, very special song, always had been, always will be!!! 💜💜💜
Watching this band was so poignant because we knew the story of their lives as they were living it through their music. Knowing what they were going through while still holding their band together and continuing to produce such incredible music made for a powerful, sad, beautiful experience. They had just started working on a new album and all the fans were looking forward to it, when they finally decided they just couldn't do it anymore. It was an incredible heartbreak for all of us.
The song is about the divorce between Agnetha, the blonde singer, and her husband Bjorn, who wrote this song. The pain in her eyes is for real. Agnetha was (is!) a sensitive, introverted woman who was terrified of flying and didn't want to commit to more world tours and instead stay home with her children in Sweden and these things put massive strain on the marriage and in the end, the band. Agnetha ended up living alone on a small island in Sweden for a number of years, very rich, but very lonely and isolated. She had a very strange relkationship with a weird stalker guy who somehow located her at her home and other strange happenings. She went through a very sad and lonely period in her life pos-ABBA. I think things eventually got better for her and she made some solo albums and appeared in public more though, but I think she is still very shy and a very sensitive person.
Thank you for reacting to this song. This is my favorite song of theirs (of the ones I've heard), and now that I know you'll be going through their catalog, I'll hold off on listening to the ones I haven't heard, so I can experience them with you (metaphorically). Hope that you are doing well, my friend!
That song tell the story of their marriage. The singer and one of the guy got divorced but they didn't brake the band, they keep going working together. I recommend the song call "Andante Andante" because IT has a beautiful arrangement. Please react to this one.
I think Benny and Bjorn's perfect pop song was "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys. I think I remember them being interviewed at some point? Good taste. And the Beach Boys inspired the Beatles' "Here, There and Everywhere". Whilst Abba's Dancing Queen piano was replicated in "Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello. I love musical inspirations.
Meryl Streep apparently sang this for the movie in one take for the movie Mamma Mia. Walked in the studio in Stockholm, sang, and left. ABBA is what we music fans called a Supergroup, and for good reason.
This song came out in America when my girlfriend decided to leave me. This song was cathartic as ABBA expressed my sentiments better than i could ever do. I was the proverbial "nice guy" who played by the rules, yet the fate of the gods decided differently. So for anyone out there now going through a painful breakup in a loving relationship, realize life moves on and there is someone out there who is looking for you who will be your true long lasting love.
Hello William, i love you for that you have published this Song.Big feelings,of heartache,and everything that hangs together with the emotion.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Abba were my first band ever, from when I was a tiny thing, and her voice still gives me chills. Your chat about music these days - you're not looking in the right place dude. Don't expect commercial radio to give a voice to non chart acts, it doesn't happen. Tune into BBC Radio 6 Music, it is available globally online. TONS of new music from every genre - and I mean every genre. From punk to metal to hip hop to rap to jazz to r'n'b to pop to modern classical, to dance and electro beat- flavours of everything, from all around the world. A lot of UK stuff obv, but also a lot of acts from the US and Canada, Europe, Australia, loads of phenomenal African music, old and new. And NO ADVERTS!!! Just exceeding knowledgeable DJs and a shit ton of excellent music, loads of it new but plenty old classics in there too. Highly recommend!
THANK YOU for your comments on the detriments of today's music, and how this older music has so much more value and enjoyment. This has been a contention of mine for a long time. Yes, in my day, music was a much bigger part of our lives, and was a source of enjoyment, feeling upbeat, happy, motivated, and just a general positive experience. Today's music is the complete opposite. I am so glad you recognize this and talk about it. I enjoy your videos very much.
Really good insights on a really sad situation, JB. All four members of ABBA are really talented, and this might be their best song. The blonde singer, Agnethea, was married to the guitarist, Bjorn. I believe Bjorn wrote all the lyrics for all their songs. He really outdid himself on this one. Really tugs at the heart.
I bumped into this song about a week ago and was instantly obsessed by it . . . have watched maybe 40 reaction videos and yours may be at the top for me! Your facial expressions really show that you are feeling this song and your comments are very insightful. (I was surprised though at your questioning Agnetha's looking "sad" at the end of the video!) I do agree completely about so much talent nowadays being bottled up and wasted!!! I rate this song as a masterpiece and one of the best ever! I've subscribed to your channel.
"The only thing they haven't done is hip-hop" - if they'd carried on a few years longer, I wonder if they would have; both Bjorn & Frida have said they're fans of it.
This from someone who. was around at the time-so interesting and confirming to hear someone from a generation 40+years on, different cultural background ,having a similar appreciation. You're so right about the link between the music we listen to and it's effect on us-individually and collectively-and it plays out in society and on the street.This song and "One of us""are my favourite ABBA Great music is great music, regardless.
Love this review. Glad to see people discover them. When I was little, being Swedish, I danced to live local folkmusic at midsummer.. to a folk band where some of Abba actually is in the band.
I love the face you pull whenever an artist hits the high notes. It's like you've never heard high notes before or rather can't believe what you are hearing. I have some reaction requests for you. The Beatles Rooftop gig 1969 - Especially Get Back And Don't Let Me Down but I've Got A Feeling, Dig A Pony and One After Nine Oh Nine are great too and you get to see British people from 1969 reacting to the Beatles on the roof. John Lennon - Mind Games the video where he is walking around new York. John Lennon - Woman where again he is walking through Central Park and Just Like Starting over too. John Lennon - Beautiful Boy and watching the wheels - Has to be the home video ones.
This song reflects the pain everyone suffers in a divorce, ESPECIALLY the children. In the case of Björn and Agneta, they apparently just matured in radically different directions, he wanted fame and recognition, she just wanted to be a mother that did not crave the limelight and did not want to be away from her children too much. A very common story of different goals and, really, there are no villains in a story like this, only victims...
This is Agnetha's fav song they did as a band ! She was divorcing Bjorn,,Frida and Benny were doing the same and this song said it all ! I am a MASSIVE ABBA fan :)
I love the fact that you talk about the impact music has to the generation hearing it. I am nearly 60 yrs old and not the one who claims in former days everything was better. But I have to say music definitely was. I lived in a world where music were more or less handmade, with notes on paper and acoustic instruments! there was a lot of crap in these times too but find today such genius making music touching generations. They are there too, but you really have too look for it.
