www.abba4ever.com

johnny59 - 26.10.2006, 22:08

I don't have anything against it. I love it when she sings "no taste for humble pie".

kitty-cat - 26.10.2006, 22:25

I'm afraid i disagree, I love it and its in my top 10 favourite songs. I love her vocals on it, and she sings it from the heart. It must have been difficult for her.


gill xx

abbelionah - 26.10.2006, 22:26

Hello Ron,
I understand what you are telling about WAISD , because at its époque I disliked the song, I used to prefer head over heels, One Of Us, and even the Visitors, but actually the lyrics sound with something really special the others songs can't produce....this song it's really marvelous...
Amitiés,
Lionel

Fire&Ice - 26.10.2006, 22:53

[quote="Carribean"]

If I tell you that I love odd songs like My Mama Said, That's Me and Crazy World you might realise that I am poco loco as we say here... a little crazy! Crazy but fun! Lol!
[/quote]

So do I, so do I... especially My Mama Said. Funky ABBA. 8)

Back to the topic. I am not too crazy about WAISAD (I prefer the Spanish version, though) but that's not because of Frida's vocals, but because I think the melody should have been more refined and the tempo a bit slower.

However, I love Frida's belting - that is when she holds a note for a long long timeeeeeeeee. :shock:

Carribean - 27.10.2006, 01:02

Nice Marnix and can you tell me why because that is what I would like to know!

; -)

PeopleNeedLove - 27.10.2006, 01:32

The key to WAISAD, as said by many, is that it's Frida's divorce song, and she sings it that way. She sounds truly emotional, in a way that's not forced or "put on."

Any Joe Cocker fans out there?? He can't sing to save his life- but his "You're So Beautiful To Me" is so heartfelt, tender, and from his heart that you have to love it.

That's what I mean- and that's why I happen to LOVE WAISAD........

Matt

Carribean - 27.10.2006, 02:24

Thanks for the replies!

I agree that Frida's vocals are emotional. That doesn't mean that I have to like them.
The belting of Agnetha in The Winner Takes It All (The judges will deciiiiiide) can get on my nerves at times as well!

Just being honest here which does not make me a lesser fan!

Gines - 27.10.2006, 05:16

"Standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run"

I have to tell you Ron, this about my favourite line of any Abba song. It makes a lot of sense to me personally as well.
I can respect if you do not like it, there are a few (very few) Abba songs that I do not care for too much, but I will listen to all. By the way, That's me is in my top five favourite songs.

I have to tell you this is my second favourite song on The Visitors album. One of Us is my no 1. I love Frida's voice on it, she sounds very vulnerable. I love the melody and I love when Agnetha comes in as well.

Hope this will make some sense to you. I am falling asleep as I write this. I think maybe I might be getting a tad addicted to the site. I really need to get to sleep.

Gina

jerry@theoffice - 27.10.2006, 08:39

I think that some of ABBA's 80's recordings do not quite stand the test of time. In a lot of their songs from that period the drums are far too present, too heavy, for my taste. E.g. The Winner Takes It All, Super Trouper, Me & I, Head Over Heels, Soldiers and above all When All Is Said And Done suffer from those overproduced drum beats. I like those songs, but they are definitely not among my favourites. The lyrics and Frida's singing is great on When All Is Said And Done, though. :wink:

Chris

ullabba - 27.10.2006, 13:15

As pointed out here earlier, it is Frida's "divorce song". If I am asked, I tell it is my favourite ABBA song of all time. It is a bit over-powering at times, but as a whole, the lyrics & emotions Frida sings & reveals, make it even better. It is also a little more "grown up" than other ABBA songs, and therefore many people might not rate it high. I am just guessing, though. WAISAD was probably not my favourite when I became an ABBA fan, as I think I have grown to love it most as I have grown up myself.

I must say, though, Caribbean, that although I do love The Winner Takes It All, I have other songs in my Top 10 as well.

Besides, My Mama Said is groovy!!!! :D :D

Toni - 27.10.2006, 19:37

I love this song, and I am not sorry about that! :wink:

In my ears FridaŽs voice sounds fantastic on it. I like the up-tempo beat, the great lyrics and the whole arrangement.

But itŽs always a question of taste, Ron. I have recognized that my taste is in many cases different from other ABBA fans.

ItŽs very interesting how different the tastes of the fans are.

Toni

Charles - 27.10.2006, 21:55

I think it's a good Abba song, but I agree about the production: those hard drums, that strange effect on Frida's voice.

I've also pointed this out in the Anne Sofie von Otter's new album topic, but there does exist a version of "When all is said and done" that I find emotionally superior to Abba's version.

I'm talking about the version that can be found on Nils Landgren's "Funky Abba" album, with vocals by Victoria Tolstoj. I know it's stupid to wish that Abba had recorded it this way, but I really do. It's such an emotional version, with Benny on the piano, by the way.

See also that Anne Sofie von Otter topic.

Charles

Carribean - 28.10.2006, 02:54

Thank you so much for all your replies! Interesting to read how my fellow ABBA fans feel about this song!

And how wonderful that this is done with the upmost respect to other's opinions! Thank you!

Feel free to jump in and tell me how you feel about this song and don't forget to read all the comments here!

; -)

aggie-fan - 30.10.2006, 02:28

the only reason i like this song is the video, when agnetha turns around and her hair does like 5000 flips lol.
i dont like frida's vocals in this either. thats about it.


aggie-fan

aggie-fan - 30.10.2006, 04:08

i wasn't trying to be respectful, i find some agnetha songs where she sings weird, also. Frida sounds great on songs like "money money money" "fernando" etc. but she sounds different on this one which i dont really like, thats all that i was trying to say. i didn't mean to sound disrespectful.


aggie-fan

Carribean - 30.10.2006, 04:28

Thank you aggie-fan.

I was in the middle of sending you a pm about this since your choice of words was not very good!

Thanks for realising it yourself; well appreciated!

Ron (moderating team)

Nantes - 30.10.2006, 10:30

I like When All Is Said And Done alot, lyrics are great and Frida does them justice but I don't think its Frida's best vocal from The Visitors. I think her voice is much stronger on I Let The Music Speak.

and Ron I'm not keen on The Winner Takes It All either :lol: , and do I think your a bit poco loco for liking some of the songs you list , no we're all different.

michiganrafter - 02.03.2007, 02:05

WAISAD was never a favorite of mine on The Visitors at the time, but now I love it. I also have a new appreciation for Head Over Heels, making Side 1 of The Visitors pretty close to Side 1 of The Album in my book: The Visitors, Head Over Heels, WAISAD, and Soldiers. (I said pretty close, nothing will ever touch Side 1 of The Album.)

However, at the time I was 18. I'm 42 now. And that's the difference. The song sounds fresh compared to anything being played on the radio. Frida's vocal is amazing and the lyrics are among ABBA's best. They are very adult. I agree that the production of WAISAD probably is not the best. A different arrangement probably would have netted ABBA a bigger hit in the US than the #27 chart placement it achieved.

I agree, I think Funky ABBA's version is incredible, but the tone is so different. I'd love to hear an alternate version recorded by ABBA like Funky ABBA, however, that tone is defeatist. ABBA's recording is matter of fact or triumphant. In many ways, identical to Knowing Me, Knowing You. The echoes there are loud and clear. In both KMKY and WAISAD, Frida does not give in. Frida portrays a strong woman, an independent woman, taking action for herself and not sitting at home alone and crying.

In TWTIA and One of Us, Agnetha is pretty forlorn and crying. Frida is not as fragile as Agnetha, so it makes sense Agnetha recorded her divorce song and Frida recorded hers. Had ABBA and Frida interpreted WAISAD as Funky ABBA did, it would make her forlorn and retreated and Cry Me A River..blah,blah,blah.... That's just not Frida's character. So for ABBA, I think WAISAD is just right. An upbeat tone, a blameless ending on good terms: one more toast and then we'll pay the bill. A more forlorn tone would not be consistent with the meaning of the lyric.

The song is brilliant Ron, and unlike all great literary masterpieces, such as Shakespeare and Milton's Paradise Lost and Beowulf, sometimes you have to dig down deep to find meaning and illumination, but when you do, it's breathtaking. As an 18 year old kid, I felt the same as you do about WAISAD. But the song has grown with me over time, and I continue to find new meaning and depth in ABBA's music and lyric as I age and change over time as well.

Cheers!

Matt Urdan

drimnagh - 02.03.2007, 16:08

There was that strange effect on Frida's voice but I quite liked it! It had the effect of making Frida's voice sound 'bristling' and let's face it, no one bristled like Frida! :wink: :lol:

Joe

abbafreak - 04.03.2007, 02:45
I "Like" the "Overproduced" sound
I for one, like the "over-produced" sound of WAISAD.......the sound and "all-over-the-place" musical imaging is music to my ears, and is what I associated with classic ABBA sound.

Lots of synths, up-tempo beat....strong vocals...danceable and memorable.

It is a classic to me, I liked it when I was 18 and I love it when I am 42. :P

petrine - 05.03.2007, 14:46

I really like the song it's among my fav. especially this one:

It's so strange
when you'er down
and lying on the floor
how you rise
shake your head
get up and ask for more.

I can see myself in this part, mayb that's why I like it so much. :?

And no, it's not because I've been drunk :lol:

Knuzz Karin :wink:

Maxi-saxi - 07.06.2007, 00:50

Villemo wrote: I like this song :) I read the article about this song on abbasite some time ago and I found it very interesting. The lyrics are interesting, the melody is very nice and I like the video as well. In my opinion Frida put a lot of emotions to sing this song. And she did it in a perfect way.

I agree there I know Bjorn asked her if she could sing this. Frida has mentioned this in a few interviews, concerning ABBA's later releases.
Frida really put her heart and soul into this song.

Maxi-saxi

DancingQueen - 07.06.2007, 15:13

Lammer wrote: I wonder if sentimentality may have something to do with it, too, making it a "fan favorite," as this was Frida/Benny's "divorce song," as Winner was Agnetha/Bjorn's. Just a thought.

You`re so right there! I think it`s a Benny song, and it had not much to do with Agnetha or Björn at all. I feel like it`s about the other two who are in a play now. I always notice the '... and you're name is Harry'. I mean, in the same sound it is Benny. That might be a bit too far, but I can`t help myself thinking about it when I hear it.

Its a very good song: I love it and especially the vocals.

DancingQueen - 07.06.2007, 19:57

What a stupid mistake. Excuse me, just ignore my post, that`s the easiest way. They`re very much the same, and I love both songs. I guess I will have to make a new thread for Our Last Summer though, that would be a less confusing for me..

Maxi-saxi - 08.06.2007, 07:26

As I said earlier the way Frida its some of those notes...
sends shivers up and down my spine. What a vocal, Mind you I feel Fridas vocals on the Visitors Album were incredible

Maxi-saxi