Kings and Queens of pop

For post number three, I thought I'd write an album review. The album in question is ABBA Gold, a Christmas gift from Panacea, who got sick of listening to my personal rendition of Dancing Queen over and over again.
So here goes.

Overall, this is a great album. Being a greatest hits compilation, it's devoid of below par filler that usually accompanies all albums. Consequently, you'll find you won't have to skip anything, or cringe at a particularly unoriginal tune. The only song that I can think of that's missing is Honey Honey, but that's a small loss compared to what you can find here.

'Dancing Queen', first song on the album, is amazing. For some reason, it makes me want to cry every time I listen to it (although in the interests of personal dignity, I usually refrain from doing so). Oh, and it starts with the chorus, which is unusual and quite nice. In any case, the vocals sound unbelievably good, almost sad (which I guess is why they make me want to cry).
Really, the perfect-pop-song-that-everybody-knows status for 'Dancing Queen' is not accidental.

Then we have 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', which has a lovely 'a-haaa' every minute or so. The lyrics are (surprisingly) interesting, and I could probably relate if I'd ever been in a serious relationship (or any at all, for that matter. Alas, I am a lonely heart).

'Take a Chance on Me' is one of those cool ABBA songs where the two men in the group (Bjorn and Benny, that is) make a huge contribution to the singing with a relentless 'take a chance, take a chance' that accompanies the first thirty or so seconds of the song. Their voices almost sound like maracas, which is a strange comparison to make, I guess.

'Mamma Mia' - uber-famous. The title is an Italian exclamation, and even I, single-extraordinaire, can relate. How many times have we thought 'my, my, how can I resist you?' My obsession with Mike is a perfect example. But that's for another day.

This track is followed by my personal favourite, 'Lay All Your Love on Me' - you can dance to this, you can brood to it, you can sing to it, you can do just about anything to it. The tune is so catchy it's almost painful, the drums (even though I'm not sure they're real drums) provide a great background to the beautiful, almost churchlike vocals. The lyrics are great - obsessing over a new relationship is universal, and what is more, they seem to have managed to make everything rhyme, so that it sounds even better. In conclusion, this is one good song.

'Super Trouper' is also good. I especially like the 'supah-pah, troupah-pah' bits sung by the men. The music is pleasant enough, soothing I think best describes it. This is followed by 'I Have a Dream', which seems to be the odd one out, really, as it lacks the exceedingly catchy tunes of the other songs. However, once you listen to it enough times (and believe me, I have), the rousing lyrics, and Frida's beautiful voice, become addictive.

'The Winner Takes It All' is just depressing. Unfortunately, it's also true. The winner really does take it all. I guess the only way to go is to be the winner. The saddest verses?

'But tell me does she kiss

Like I used to kiss you?

Does it feel the same

When she calls your name?'

Waaaahhh!

'Money, Money, Money' is another of my favourites. The tune at the beginning is almost playful, as is the rest of the song, which, predictably, is about money. I think they've used cymbals somewhere in there, but I can't quite tell. Really, I'm just pretending here.

The opening of 'SOS' sets the tone for the rest of the track. This is one depressing song. But, as ABBA always do, there is a chorus that, music-wise, is slightly more light-hearted. Which is definitely of the good. And then comes another of my favourites: 'Chiquitita'. The first time you listen to this, you're like 'o-kaay'. It really doesn't stick in your head, and neither does it seem to have a recognisable tune. The chorus starts more than a minute and a half into it. It's a slow song, and it's also a long song. But, just like 'I Have a Dream', it improves with successive listenings.

There are no words to describe 'Fernando'. It's just, wow. One thing though - the first Heidi-like minute or so could have been a little shorter. But i guess that sets the atmosphere. 'Voulez-Vous' is quite good, although not as remarkable as some other tracks. It is really the ultimate pop song, and very eighties, I think (it was released in 1979). The strange beat of the chorus is unusual, and Agnetha and Frida singing together is very nice.

'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' has a cheesy title, but it's a great pop song. Unless you live in a ditch, you must've heard Madonna's new song, 'Hung Up'. Well, she took that painfully catchy tune from this song. ABBA are immortal!

'Does Your Mother Know' is Panacea's favourite, and I quite like it too. It's sung by Bjorn, which is unusual, but it fits the lyrics. The rhyming is a little cheesy on occasion (eg. I can dance with you honey, if you think it's funny...), but overall it's a great song. The guitar (I think it's a guitar) fits really well, considering how 'pop' this song is.

I don't particularly like 'One of Us'. I only like the chorus, but really, I've heard better. The following song also doesn't shine. 'The Name of the Game' is too...I don't know, 'slow' might be the word I'm looking for, but that doesn't necessarily mean bad.

Luckily, the slight boredom of these two tracks is more than made up for by yet another of my favourites: 'Thank You For the Music'. This is probably, after 'Dancing Queen', one of ABBA's best known songs. I simply adore it. I can often be heard singing it, which rather annoys Panacea, but that's just because she's tone deaf, and envies my beautiful voice.

And, last but not least, 'Waterloo'. It's one of the really famous ABBA songs, and rightly so, as it's really hard to forget once you listen to it. It's a loud song, a short song, and the piano sounds great. Oh, and the beautiful line: 'The history book on the shelf is always repeating itself.' For a history nerd like me, finding this in a pop song is just too cool.

And the album thus ends. Unless you're a hardcore ABBA fan, ABBA Gold is really quite enough for your ABBA cravings. Their best songs are all in there, and even the liner notes are cool (I must be the only person in the world who reads those).