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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Sure ABBA is bubblegum, but near-perfect insanely catchy beautifcully crafted bubblegum. (Kind of like some j-pop.) It's like eating a chocolate souffle ... wouldn't want it for every meal, but it sure is tasty.
A step in my own musical growth was realizing that I could like Sonic Youth and the Supremes, Ornette Coleman and ABBA.
Here's another reason to love ABBA--John McCain wanted to use "Take a Chance on Me" for his campaign, but ABBA members raised holy hell and said no way! I guess he could have anyway, but ABBA would go on the attack--and more people love them than love McSenile. John Mellencamp didn't want him using his song, either; and neither did Chuck Berry! I'm sure McInsane is wishing Sinatra was still around---Frank would support him. Hey! Maybe he can get Frank Sinatra Jr.? Or Toby Keith, who sings about putting boots in people's asses? Any other ideas out there?
McCain has already expressed his love for the Beach Boys, and Mike Love at least is a Republican. Maybe McCain can have a Beach Boys song (he'd probably choose one that Charlie Manson wrote).
Now, I'm gonna have to listen to ABBA on the car cd player for the next week until I'm sick of it.
And Eric Free, you hit the nail on the head with the "white princess" thing. It occurred to me that ABBA as an Jungian archetype channels the "17-year old white princess" (dancing queen), in everyone from 8 to 80-years old, male or female (nothing to do with race particularly as much as "white" culture, so we could say also say black or white or asian, etc.). Not that there is traditionally a "17-year old white princess" in Jungian psychology...except I do believe there is now! And ABBA is the heroin for mainlining it.
"You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing Queen, feel the beat, from the tambourine oh yeah
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
Ooo.. see that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the Dancing Queen."
Here's another reason to love ABBA--John McCain wanted to use "Take a Chance on Me" for his campaign, but ABBA members raised holy hell and said no way!-- Sally the Werewolf
Further proof that McCain suffers from terminal old dorky white guy disease. Now I am going to have that image replaying in my head the rest of the day, of McCain ambling on stage in front of a lime-green background as Abba chants.
Take a Chance!
Take a Chance!
Take a Chance on Me!
[Staffers cringe as they realize the audience is mostly too old to have been Abba fans. McCain tries to assume a hopeful expression but ends up just looking confused as he finds it too difficult to read the teleprompter]
So much that I wanna do
when I dream I'm alone with you!
[McCain visably blushes as he comprehends for the first time the lyrics are actually inapropriate for the occassion...and worse yet, he still can't read the goddamn teleprompter]
-----------------------------
The humanity. Oh the humanity.
Sorry, but Toby Keith is a Democrat, and he won't be endorsing McCain. He never said he supported the war in Iraq, but he does support our troops. He did, however, support going after Bin Laden, and putting a boot up his bootie.
. . . Mike Love has always been a dick.
McCain has already expressed his love for the Beach Boys, and Mike Love at least is a Republican. Maybe McCain can have a Beach Boys song (he'd probably choose one that Charlie Manson wrote).
-- Sally the Werewolf
ABBA's music never pretended to be anything but pop, but as civilizedsatyr noted in an earlier comment, their songs actually had MELODY and HOOKS, unlike 99% of the drivel that passes for pop "hits" these days. No, they weren't the Cocteau Twins and didn't get a lot of play on college radio; so sue them! There's a reason that their songs remain popular and they keep selling 2 million records a year (at least according to the article)--it's superbly crafted, memorable, and accessible pop music. Does it sound like it comes from a different era, as far as production values are concerned? OF COURSE it does. So what? Dusty Springfield's seminal "Dusty in Memphis," as rightly lauded as it is, doesn't sound like it was produced recently either, but it's still killer music. Funny how these haters don't give us any clues to who they think is "worthy".
This problem goes beyond music. There seems to be a certain attitude people have towards everything (music,movies,sports) which is: I personally don't like it therefore it sucks, and anyone who likes it sucks and is shallow, brainwashed, immature, etc etc etc.
I don't specifically care much for ABBA, but I know my day is brightened if I happen to hear the Cars "Just What I Needed" on the radio. But normally I listen to . -- HughAnderson
Hugh, ABBA's was hardly the same kind of music as the the Cars. Was that just a trial balloon to see if it's still okay to like the Cars? Any other skeletons lurking - Culture Club? Duran Duran?
The answer is yes. Listen to Eliot Easton's great appropriation of the guitar lead in the Beatle's "I Will" for "Best Friend's Girlfriend" or his quasi-Frippotronics on "Since She's Gone."
For next time, please read chapter 6 of Jonny Green's Passion is a Fashion, and be prepared to discuss how Topper Headon's drug addition affected Sandinista, if at all.
Class dismissed.
Could Salon be any more transparent with their paid placements? Jesus, if this movie makes back 20% of its cost it will be miraculous.
I don't think I have ever felt as African American listening to your reaction to ABBA:) More power to you. Music really is in the ear of the listener. For me they will always be the one time biggest group in the world excluding the US. (Kinda like Soccer).
I get the Beatles, and the Sex Pistols. I get NASCAR and Garth. I even get hockey (Basketball on ice). ABBA was just a bridge too far for me. Oh well.
Mary, you are still the Dancin Queen and I love reading your stuff. If we ever meet, stay away from my CD player er eight track please.
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