Abba POLL'd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f19GKcZU1vg

"Dancing Queen." But these were definitely not their greatest hits. And I can do without "I Have a Dream," "Chiquitita," maybe even "One of Us" (Fleetwood Mac did Fleetwood Mac better).

Gawd they were so pop that not even their greatest hits packages signify.

I love their uncommitment in that "S.O.S." clip, particularly in the chorus. And the kitty cats were their greatest outfits.

s.o.s. - greatest pop song ever written

Chiquitita just edging out The Name of the Game, Super Trouper and KMKY.

I feel like SOS will dominate here -- but as for quality, I think "The Name of the Game" is a sleeper.

"Knowing Me, Knowing You" then, now and for as long as I live.

Oh P.S. the only horse I ever bet on (and ever will) was named Abba Gold. It lost.

The one in this movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD7Wv1q-S18

"Lay All Your Love On Me"

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

dancing queen, sorry...

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

"Super Trouper" (1980) 0

WAHT??

I would've voted "Voulez-Vous"...because, honestly, first of all, that riff is completely sick, it sounds like some kind of awesome alternate history where Richie Blackmore wrote dance music, and second of all: "ah-ha!"

Super Trouper getting zero votes is a fucking travesty!

I am surprised Voulez-Vous didn't get any either. i love the horn during the chorus.

15. "Does Your Mother Know" (1979) 3

ugh.. really?

by "really?" i mean, i hate this song

During the "dundundun dundun dundun" bass synth bit it sound like someone's chanting "wanker... wanker..." in the background.

The Winner Takes it All, The Name of the Game or Take a Chance on Me

Gotta love Benny

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ90ZqH0PWI

oh my god that is the best video ever. it's like the perfect answer to robert plant's "does anybody remember laughter?" agnetha is a bundle of joy in it. hell they all are.

would have voted "take a chance" (with "gimme gimme" a close second).

take a chance is amazing, the video is great too

WATERLOO DID NOT GET A SINGLE GODDAMN VOTE?!?!?!?!

yeah, I noticed that. found it rather weird.

'Take A Chance' is going to be next up in my series of cheesy synth-reggae covers.

with vocals or instrumental?

vocals!

This is a Tom Waits one I did after the recent poll. I wanted it to sound like Culture or Aswad or something, but cheaper and more early-80s kids TV-ish. Excuse the daft OTT singing if you do listen to it, I intend to tone that down in a re-recording at some point as it was only intended as a guide vocal.

Are you doing a track for the ILX Christmas album? We need all the contributions we can get!

didn't know about it... link?

maybe i could submit cold cold ground? it's relatively christmassy? or does it have to be something made within a certain timeframe. I only recorded it the other day and i wanted to change it a bit anyway.

ILX Christmas Compilation

Ok so I didnt vite in this bcz Waterloo = 0

How it's supposed to work! imo

Love Chiquitita.

Same. Feel like there's another poll of ABBA Gold that had way more discussion & posts?

I also love “Chiquitita”, and “The Name Of The Game” is Great to Magnificent.

ARB, there are these old ones, buth both have very few posts: The Abba Gold poll and More Abba Gold

This is the big Abba thread, I think (it also has more of Alfred’s rankings): You can POLL, you can jive, having the time of your life -- ILM Artist Poll #20 -- ABBA (RESULTS THREAD)

And there’s also this one: ABBA: Classic Or Dud?

“does your mother know” is so terrible, talk about a song I wish did not exist

even without the lyrics it's ghastly as a sung performance

It's not Bjorn's finest moment, though I'm not sure he has any as a singer.

those results are very weird

My top 3 would probably be 1) Dancing Queen 2) Super Trouper 3) Take a Chance on Me. "I Have a Dream" deserves better than "Meh". Last time I listened to Gold it was the song that got stuck in my head.

“But the sun is still in sky and shining above you” is at the pinnacle of ABBA lyrical greatness.

"I Have a Dream" is lower than Meh.

I have a dream rules. Sitar!

"The Winner Takes It All" should've won/taken it all.

I have a dream does indeed rule

Jesus, what is wrong with these Americans? (Apologies if you're a fan of "I Have A Dream" who is not American).

From Alfred’s “Chiquitita” thrashing:

Over Benny’s piano arpeggios, Agnetha addresses a woman who has grown depressed because, it’s suggested, she’s slept with the singer’s man.

Not sure where/in what way this would be suggested?

Well, tbf you could interpret the lyrics that way if you really wanted to.

interpretation is largely in the ear of the beholder, suggestion presupposes intent on the artist’s part.

No intent -- just the lyrics. Never given a damn about intent; if the entry comes off that way, it's my fault.

so what in the lyrics made you go for this very specific scenario - instead of that of a woman wanting to help her best friend get over (just another) broken heart?

guessing it’s the “there is no way you can deny it” bit combined with the “I hope we can patch it up together” line?


ITT close reading ABBA lyrics in what’s not quite yet Summer Night City

Apologies if you're a fan of "I Have A Dream" who is not American

I guess UK ILXors may have had the song ruined for them by Westlife.