Why I'm not mad at ABBA's Eurovision "Appearance"

So yesterday was the Grand Finals of 2024's Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Malmo, Sweden coincidentally the same year that ABBA celebrates their 50th anniversary since they won the Eurovision Song Contest.  So of course it seemed very plausible that ABBA would do something to celebrate.  There were so many rumors that the ABBA members themselves would appear on stage, that they would sing Waterloo, you know, all four 70+ year old members of ABBA, and people were setting their expectations a little too high.

Instead, the ABBA-tars materialized on stage, and for those who have already been to ABBA Voyage, the segment was no surprise as it was literally taken straight from the ABBA Voyage Dialogue as the ABBA digital ABBA members reminisce over their Eurovision win, with the exception of two new lines recorded by Bjorn and Benny, which are, "Yes we can!  Hello Malmo, hello Eurovision!"  The already pre-recorded lines from ABBA Voyage are:

Frida: "Thank you for still having faith in us!  Really it's an amazing privilege to be together again."

Agnetha: "But do you remember where it all started?"

Benny: "I remember picking up my winnings after a very special bet I made on a very special competition."

Agnetha: "I remember Bjorn standing on the coach because his costume was so tight that he couldn't sit down."

Bjorn: "Thank you for sharing that.  And then I remember the UK Jury and what they thought about us.  They gave us zero points!

Benny: "But let's take a look at some old footage, just to jog our memory."

Bjorn: "Aw do we have to?  I don't like watching myself.  Bad self-confidence I suppose."

Frida: "Bjorn, it's not about self-confidence.  It's about having a sense of humor."

Agnetha; "So here we are!"

All four: "The Eurovision Song Contest, 1974!"

And this is where the ABBA Voyage show would have a projection on the screens that come down from the ceiling of various ABBA performances of Waterloo, a bit in the style of my All Performances videos dare I say hahahaha.  However, after a compilation of various ABBA videos and the first verse and chorus of Waterloo, past Eurovision Song Contest Winners, Charlotte Pirelli, Carola, and Conchita Wurst, who all looked absolutely stunning btw, came out and performed the rest of the song.  A very lovely tribute to our beloved ABBA.  (I won't be watching it again because I personally cannot stand listening to other people sing ABBA, but of course they did a fabulous job, I just can't listen to it.  Hehe.)

Anyways, the whole concept of ABBA Voyage, getting the opportunity to perform for forever and ever as their younger selves, is exactly how ABBA want to be remembered.  Even though I disagree with them, ABBA feel like it would be wrong to ruin their image and come out as old people and try to sing like they used to, especially when the music that they already recorded is exactly what they wanted to release.  If you want to listen to or watch ABBA perform, you can already do that will all the studio tracks that they crafted as perfect as they could, and all the TV performances and concert footage that exists.  So it makes perfect sense that if they would reunite specifically for a show that doesn't "tarnish" their existing image.  

I think because they chose to reunite for the ABBA Voyage show, and consequently two new songs, and then a whole new album, people were getting to used to the idea of ABBA reuniting, like it's something they'll do again and again, and expected them to do it again for Eurovision. But if you think about it, there have been so many anniversaries and events where you'd think ABBA would have done something to celebrate.  25 years since winning the ESC, 40 years, 50 years... but ABBA are the same and always have been the same.  So why would they change? 

However this year, the ABBA members actually had something to give.  It may not be new, at least to the people who have already been to Voyage (you lucky ducks you), but here we have ABBA having already reminisced about winning the Eurovision Song Contest.  If they were only going to say the same thing that they already said, in typical ABBA fashion, why record a new thing when they can just reuse what they already did?

I personally am quite happy with the really high quality footage of the ABBA-tars talking on the stage.  As I haven't been blessed to see ABBA Voyage the show live yet, it was such a treat to see them like this, and I really really enjoyed seeing the ABBA members joke and talk and laugh on stage with each other.  The Avatars themselves also look stunning. 

So all in all, it made me happy and I'm satisfied with what they gave us. 

Also, shoutout to the ESC official YouTube channel for not making the clip available in my country.  I know America is not involved with the Eurovision Song Contest, but that doesn't mean that devoted and dedicated ABBA fans shouldn't be able to see the footage from the show.  It totally doesn't feel alienating at all. :) :) :) >:(

Also to the people who were so disappointed that ABBA didn't show up and don't understand what the ABBA Voyage show is, THESE ARE NOT AI!  STOP CALLING EVERYTHING AI!!!!!!  Ugh.

50 years of ABBA - celebrating ABBA's Eurovision Win

 It was exactly 50 years ago today, that ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest.  They had done something so unique for the time, performing a more rocky song than had ever been performed before, crafting an intricate image that helped them to stand out.  They pushed the boundaries and ultimately created a new standard for all future Eurovision Song Contests. 

Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny, and Frida did an absolutely outstanding performance, with an amazing song, and an incredible appearance, and they couldn't have done it if not for their close bond and determination to win.

Their win was well deserved, and today we celebrate with them on this absolutely iconic and incredible day.  Happy 50th anniversary, ABBA.  Hip hip hurrah!

It was 50 years ago today...

 ... that ABBA arrived in Brighton, England, in preparation for their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Brighton Dome!  In just three days the event would begin and ABBA were gearing up to perform their entry, Waterloo, in front of thousands of people in the audience and watching from home as well!  Little did they know that in just three days time, they would be changing history, and proving that a band like them, coming from the relatively small country of Sweden, could win, and change history books forever!

Honestly, this is such an exciting time.  There has been so much ABBA hype everywhere (Well not everywhere as where I live in the US, I have not seen or heard anything in regards to ABBA, but that's what I get for being an American).  There are a lot of exciting documentaries releasing in the coming days to celebrate, large events in celebration of ABBA in Sweden and ABBA's voyage show in London, Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny, and Frida each being awarded a special award by the King of Sweden, and who knows what else our beloved ABBA have planned up their sleeves....

It was just announced last night by a bunch of news outlets that ABBA are rumored or "in talks" to have an ABBA Voyage show in Las Vegas, and that news absolutely made my night, assuming it's true.  If it is, let me just say, getting to Las Vegas, as in a flight within the US, is something that my anxious and introverted self could probably do, whereas getting myself to London sounds more complicated.  So if ABBA are actually making an ABBA Voyage show in Las Vegas, it seems that this dedicated and obsessive ABBA fan might finally be able to go to an actual ABBA concert, and what a dream come true that would be!  So please please please please PLEASE let this be true.  Please and thank you. :)

50 years ago today...

This year is a big year for ABBA, so there's going to be a lot of posts like this haha.

It was 50 years ago today that ABBA performed Waterloo as their entry to the Melodifestivalen, Sweden's selections for the Eurovision Song Contest.  It was that day that history was made, and our favorite band won first place.  

ABBA won for a multitude of different reasons - their unique song choice, their exquisite presentation, and their amazing songwriting.  Out of all the entries, ABBA stood out.  They didn't let their loss from the year before let them down, and instead they came back stronger.  ABBA faced their Waterloo, but they didn't let themselves get defeated.  Instead they won.

Of course, as we all know, for ABBA, their story was just getting started. But today, let's celebrate ABBA's historic win, just two months before their next big win - Eurovision, 1974!