CAMELOT FANTASIES

this song is pure magic:

Here are a few ABBA tidbits:

- ABBA parted away in 1982. They never announced that they broke up so there was always this anticipation that they might get back together at some point or reunite. But there were no signs of that from the band members. So in 2000, in an attempt to reunite them, they were offered $1 billion ($250 million for each member) along with 10% box office receipts to do concerts around the world for a year. But they turned down the offer saying that they had no intention of reuniting and also, they had enough money and didn't need anymore.

- At one point, they used to hold 1% or 2% of the Swedish economy - I believe from the mid 70s to early 80s. They were richer than Volvo.

- In 1977, over 3.5 MILLION Brits applied for a few thousand tickets to see ABBA in the Albert Hall in London.

- ABBA was HUGE in Australia. In 1977 Australia went into total hysteria by the time ABBA showed up to tour the country because the excitement had been building for months as ABBA songs were played on Australian radio; and ABBA taped several shows to be shown on Australian TV.  People left work early to watch the TV specials.  A special one hour ABBA concert filmed in Stockholm, Sweden and shown on TV stations all around Australia still holds the record to this day in Australia as the most watched TV program of ALL time.  It was watched by more people, and a larger percentage of the Australian population than watched the 1st man land on the moon.

- There's a big ABBA museum in Stockholm, Sweden and another one in Melbourne, Australia. Both were opened because of the Cities' constant requests based on tourists constant demands.

- There are more than 50 ABBA tribute bands in UK alone. There's actually quite a few in the US and Canada as well.  And around the World.

Speaking of old stuff and how much I love it, I am also digging Connie Francis' Where The Boys Are and Mama.





And Skeeter Davis' End Of The World. Agnetha has done a cover version of this song so I'll post that one as well. Agnetha was a big fan of Connie Francis btw but I don't know if she's done any cover version of her songs.

connie francis. now that is going way back but she was an amazing singer by all accounts.

Big Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons fans. Have been since I was a kid. I want to go and see Jersey Boys, but no one will go with me.

The Four Seasons - December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)




Can't Take My Eyes off You - Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons


 

Hope you find someone to go with you in the end. Life is short after all. Fabulous group and fabulous songs. Thanks for posting those.

Here's my No. 2 Beatles song. It takes my breath away every time I listen to it.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

That's a pretty song. I never heard it before. I guess over the years I've heard some of the Beatles music, but not much.

How beautiful were they? How strong and powerful and yet delicate were they vocally, herc? Did you know they had a Spanish teacher who taught them all about the Spanish accent so that they could sing it properly? The harmony is unmatched and will remain that way forever.

Chiquitia in Spanish

I think it's pretty interesting that ABBA went on to call themselves 'ABBA' taking the first letter of each member's first name (Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny, Anni-Frid) given how Angelic they were (never did drugs or anything of that sort) and how uplifting their songs were. Both in the old and new testaments, Abba means The Father (or in other word, God), and in Islam it's pretty much the same. In fact, us Muslims call our own father (dad) Abba.

I've read countless comments where people have admitted that when the listen to Abba music, their depression goes away. And some doctors now use the beat of SOS song, which has 120 beat per minute, that's ideal for new born babies who need CPR. Here's the bit:

"Research by the Royal Women’s Hospital has revealed that the tune provides the perfect pace for doctors and nurses to deliver CPR to newborn babies. Dr Dawson said babies needed much faster chest compressions than adults, because their heart beat faster naturally at their age."

I read one particular Near Death Experience where this lady went into deep coma eventually died and had this NDE. After she came back and woke up from her coma, she would only listen to ABBA's Dancing Queen all the time, because that's only how she was able to relate to her wonderful experiences that she had while she was 'dead'. And she said it had a positive affect on all the patients in the ER even when it was not allowed to listen to music in the ER. I now know that doctors understand the great influence of music on ill/depressed people (or everyone) and things are changing more and more to comfort patients to the point, where now even in the operation rooms, light uplifting musics are played to keep things calm and positive.  Music relaxes people, keeps things on the lighter side, and keeps the spirits high, positive and alive.

Music producers say Dancing Queen is the perfect blueprint of ideal pop music and should be used that way, it's so amazingly done.



Kylie Minogue singing Dancing Queen Live in Sydney 2000 Olympics Closing Ceremony. You could hear how uplifting the song was. ABBA was HUGE in Australia and Kylie was a very big fan of ABBA.