ABBA ROCKS!

[The Magic Pudding]

Stones were always and always will be bastard children of Europe,

Is that a bad thing? sounds like a good album title to me, very rock'n roll.

[CleanShavenJesus]

I don't see anything special about ABBA, but how did they influence any music? Just because people make covers of their songs doesn't mean they influenced music.

[NoraBrimstone]

ABBA and The Rolling Stones are both shit compared to Franz Lizst!1

[Brian37]

I don't see anything special about ABBA, but how did they influence any music? Just because people make covers of their songs doesn't mean they influenced music.

WTF?

That is like saying Coke makes a Cherry flavor soda, and if Pepsi looks at it and makes one, that isn't influence?

Obviously any band doing a cover of any other prior band wanted something the original band had to do something notable for the future band to say "I want in on that".

Lots of people don't like ABBA, I get that, but you don't span a 40 year career and still have albums being sold today, and covers by others, if you suck.

ABBA has had influence on music much more than you are willing to comprehend or understand.

---

ABBA and The Rolling Stones are both shit compared to Franz Lizst!1

BLASPHEMY!

[Brian37]

I have a few ABBA songs on my ipod shuffle.

Ehh, for a casual listen: it's pop. Dry and standard and typical and formulaic.

I'm alright hearing them occasionally... but it's been a damn long time since I intentionally put them on my playlists. The Winner Takes it All is my favorite from them, but it's hard to endure the music to get to the passable lyrics

You keep saying that. Pop yes, but name me any type of music, or business that does not want a successful formula?

They did something right or you would not be telling me they did not 40 years after they started.

Just say you don't like them, leave it at that.

[CleanShavenJesus]

I don't see anything special about ABBA, but how did they influence any music? Just because people make covers of their songs doesn't mean they influenced music.

WTF?

That is like saying Coke makes a Cherry flavor soda, and if Pepsi looks at it and makes one, that isn't influence?

No, because then Pepsi is making their new product revolve around Coke's. A band making a cover of ABBA's song doesn't mean that band's musicality is revolved around them or inspired by them, they just feel like doing their own rendition. An example would be the heavy metal cover of the ABBA song. That musician was not influenced by ABBA's music at all. He just liked one of their songs, so he played it. In fact, not any of ABBA's musicality was reflected in the heavy metal cover other than the basic changes.

When bands influence music, it's music styles. Their musicality. Something they did, an act, a practice, a particular music style they made different. They didn't do that, they were another boring pop band.

Also, them surviving for 40 years doesn't prove they were good. If anything, it proves that they were an average, boring pop band. Because they followed a standard, boring pop music formula. That's how most bands succeed. It's how Justin Bieber and One Direction are succeeding right now. Popularity does not equal talent or quality.

I don't have it out for ABBA, they're just not any more unique than any other pop band. But of course, "they've influenced music more than I'll ever comprehend." I guess. Can you name a few things ABBA has done that has transcended time? Some things ABBA did that are done by musicians today?

[Brian37]

WTF?

That is like saying Coke makes a Cherry flavor soda, and if Pepsi looks at it and makes one, that isn't influence?

No, because then Pepsi is making their new product revolve around Coke's. A band making a cover of ABBA's song doesn't mean that band's musicality is revolved around them or inspired by them, they just feel like doing their own rendition. An example would be the heavy metal cover of the ABBA song. That musician was not influenced by ABBA's music at all. He just liked one of their songs, so he played it. In fact, not any of ABBA's musicality was reflected in the heavy metal cover other than the basic changes.

When bands influence music, it's music styles. Their musicality. Something they did, an act, a practice, a particular music style they made different. They didn't do that, they were another boring pop band.

Also, them surviving for 40 years doesn't prove they were good. If anything, it proves that they were an average, boring pop band. Because they followed a standard, boring pop music formula. That's how most bands succeed. It's how Justin Bieber and One Direction are succeeding right now. Popularity does not equal talent or quality.

I don't have it out for ABBA, they're just not any more unique than any other pop band. But of course, "they've influenced music more than I'll ever comprehend." I guess. Can you name a few things ABBA has done that has transcended time? Some things ABBA did that are done by musicians today?

they just feel like doing their own rendition.

Where do you think inspiration comes from? Look, no one is suggesting everything centers around the influence of one band.

ABBA, had all sorts of influences prior to forming and while writing music as a band, and those after that did their own renditions had to be influenced by it, otherwise why would you want to do it?

It is impossible either with original material or "renditions" that something prior not strike you a certain way as to incorporate it or remake it.

All music artists do this, no matter the type of music they play.

[CleanShavenJesus]

A few musicians deciding they liked an ABBA song and doing covers....equates to ABBA having influence on music much more than I am willing to comprehend or understand? Again, where is their influence in modern music (of any genre)?

[Brian37]

A few musicians deciding they liked an ABBA song and doing covers....equates to ABBA having influence on music much more than I am willing to comprehend or understand? Again, where is their influence in modern music (of any genre)?

I would not have liked Billy Joel if it were not for the sax in "I do I do", or David Sanborn or Candy Dulfer or Manhatten Transfer. I would not have liked heaver bands like Pat Benatar or Metallica, if it were not for the riff in "Mama Mia" or "On And On".

Then why are we still talking about them? If they sucked so bad, no one NO one would remember them, much less do covers or remakes or sample them.

[Brian37]

Here is a link to metal versions of ABBA songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5HyD0KqJ...3D15326E94