The Friday Canon: ABBA

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Everybody likes ABBA*, but which ABBA does everybody like? As with last week's Sugababes poll, here's an untaxing ramble through pop history which will give us an opportunity to talk about ABBA (or about whatever you end up talking about.)

The poll below the cut is a list of ABBA's UK Top 40 singles. There are 25 of them, and I want you to tick your favourite EIGHT. No more than eight, though you can tick less. Simple as that.




[Poll #674920]


*I do actually know this isn't true.

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

One of the reasons I chose ABBA is that I'm interested to see how things break down between the earlier upbeat pop stuff and the later, bleaker singles (tho both these generalisations are just that)

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

I was about to vote for all the most miserablist ones and noticed that I was only doing that because I am in a foul mood. So I'm going out to have a walk in the sunshine, for fear of messing up your poll.

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

I do also really like Lay All Your Love On Me too!

No clue how One Of Us or Head Over Heels go.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

One of us has a skanking reggae beat!

Head Over Heels is a bit rub.

PS it's a great photo, very tastefully shot.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

It goes "Wwwwwun of us is DYEing, one of us is LYEing, staring at the ceeeeeiling, wishing they were somewhere else in STEEAAAAAAD, life is demanding without understanding" o wait that's Ace Of Base innit.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Cor yes all the later albums are about how SH!TE beign a pop star is. LAME! Clearly they're not doing it right. Perhaps Charlie Busted will retreat to a fjord somewhere and not talk to anyone ever due to STALKERZ?

I wanted to tick WAY more than I did. I heart Abba. Esp their discoy stuff. LAYLOM is grebt as is Voulez Vouz and GGGAMAM. But Dancing Queen is the only one me and Kirsty actually made up a dance routine to.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I seem to be the biggest GOTH when it comes to ABBA so far, I ticked all the later ones, though the early ones are great too of course, just not as great as Teh Winner Takes It All.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised you didn't pick 'Dancing Queen' Tom. Tactical?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Nope, I love it but not as much as I love the ones I did tick. I would have ticked it if it was pick 10 though.

oh all right, just this once I'll do yr poll

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

I ticked 7 immediately, but then had to agonise over the 8th. I plumped for "Thank You For The Music" in the end, because I believe in the sentiment of it. And because it probably won't get enough love.

Re: oh all right, just this once I'll do yr poll

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I love "Thankyou For The Music" too - the "whoever it was, I'm a fan" verse is especially lovely.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure why I ticked 'Fernando'.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Because it pwns "I haf a dream"? Said ballad subject to unfair 0%age thanx to The Loife, methinks.

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

Fernando is the ACE! Sometimes it is my favourite Abba song.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

you know this is SUCH a good series - way better that stoopid ilx POX threads (POX!)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I'm finding the results very interesting - I'd never have guessed "Take A Chance" had such clout, it's one of my least favourites (though I still like it obv)

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

Blimey I know I didn't tick it either but COME ON poor old I Have A Dream!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Underestimating the dissing power of the Loife.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I was going to tick 'Ring Ring' but didn't. I thought if there's a group where you might get at least one tick for every single it might be Abba.

Maybe Madonna and the Pet Shop Boys too (if you had to pick as many as 8).

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

PSB will be 11 or 12 picks. I dread to think what Madonna will be.

I don't think the picks allowed will ever fall below 5 tho.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I wonder if "Under Attack" will get any ticks.

People wot have covered I HAVE 1x DREAM

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

(according to werk datab)

Pan Pipe Love Album Orchestra
SCHOOL OF ST MARY AND ST ANNE, ABBOTS BROMLEY
UNKNOWN ENSEMBLE
STUDIO 99
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHES
ORANGE SOUND MACHINE
DEUX BLONDES
The COUNTDOWN SINGERS
The BOSTON DANCE ORCHESTR
ABBA DREAM
FABBALOUS
ABBA GALORE
SYMPHONIC ROCK PROJECT
ABBARATION
Dinu BOMHA (Panflute melodies)
The TESCA COMPANY OF SING
The COVERTONES
The REAL ABBA GOLD
LONDON TWILIGHT ORCHESTRA
SMACKEE
ABBARESQUE
DANCING KING
ABBAHOLICS
Anthony VENTURA
The ALEXANDER BROTHERS
The HAMMOND POPS
MARSKE FISHERMAN'S CHOIR
Nana MOUSKOURI
ANGEL VOICES
POP DU MONDE ORCHESTRA (more panpine melodies)
Bryn YEMM
CALL THAT SINGING
BJÖRN AGAIN
Gary TROTMAN (steel drums!)
Harry van HOOF
WESTLIFE
Johnnie SPARROW
MECHANICAL ORGAN
Daniel O'DONNELL
Renée MUNTON
Paul HONEY
Hannah MORRIS
Tito RODRIGUEZ (The "Haunting Pan Flute")
WEST COAST (a Westlife Tribute Band!)

Re: People wot have covered I HAVE 1x DREAM

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

HARRY VAN HOOF???

I hope he is a singing horse!

The gentle melody of I haf a dream seems uniquely suited to humanity's friend the pan pipe.

[spittake.livejournal.com]

I don't like Super Trouper because my college's women's acappella group performed a medley which had a bit of ST in it. Bleh.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

my relationship to abba is an odd one - whenever i hear anything by them i love it, but a) this isn't often and b) sometimes i don't know whether it's them or not, as i've never felt the desire to own or even download any of their music. i know a lot of their choruses, but couldn't tell you about the details of any specific song. i think i like them as this sort of ever-present background to my poplife. but it does mean i can't vote!