ABBA were not crappy musicians, you used Beiber to equate the two. Beiber is much better on stage than ABBA was.

Beiber, like Elvis, the focus was performance, they did not write their own music.

THAT IS THE FUCKING PART YOU ARE NOT GETTING.

Even Agnetha, the blond of ABBA admits that they were not great performers on stage. But the BAND as a whole were great musicians.

Again, you are doing the same shit comparing a dramatic stage play, vs a musical on stage. FOCUS. ABBA's strength was the music. Beiber's strength is his performing, which may not require him writing or playing music on stage, but like Elvis, put on a good show.

UGGGGGGG! Just say you don't like ABBA. I get it, I don't like Beiber either.

(July 12, 2013 at 5:36 pm)Brian37 Wrote: ABBA's strength was the music.

Well, that's a damn shame.

(July 6, 2013 at 6:35 pm)Brian37 Wrote: 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.

Grunge.

Done.

Again: they did one thing right, they followed their formula. Did they have talent? Heavens no... but boy can they follow a recipe. Just so happens the recipe hinges upon annoying you with various clash for 3/4ths of the song to make a memorable chorus.

(July 12, 2013 at 8:34 pm)Violet Lilly Blossom Wrote:

(July 6, 2013 at 6:35 pm)Brian37 Wrote: 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.

Grunge.

Done.

Again: they did one thing right, they followed their formula. Did they have talent? Heavens no... but boy can they follow a recipe. Just so happens the recipe hinges upon annoying you with various clash for 3/4ths of the song to make a memorable chorus.

And how many albums have you sold? And you'll be remembered 40 years from now by millions I am sure. Thank you for your lecture on success.

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(July 12, 2013 at 8:34 pm)Violet Lilly Blossom Wrote:

(July 6, 2013 at 6:35 pm)Brian37 Wrote: 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.

Grunge.

Done.

Again: they did one thing right, they followed their formula. Did they have talent? Heavens no... but boy can they follow a recipe. Just so happens the recipe hinges upon annoying you with various clash for 3/4ths of the song to make a memorable chorus.

BTW Grunge FUCKING SUCKS! Kurt Cobain sang like a strangled cat.

Ok, to my fellow ABBA fans here. A bit of useless trivia, and even to anyone who has access to a google or wikipedia search.

What was the second song on the B Side of the original "Waterloo" album?

(July 12, 2013 at 8:54 pm)Brian37 Wrote: And how many albums have you sold? And you'll be remembered 40 years from now by millions I am sure. Thank you for your lecture on success.

I haven't produced an album to sell, should I? The gang here at the fish site likes to sing our improv songs We could be legendary.

But we're fishermen, not musicians. If Obama is remembered for the albums he sells, and not for his presidency, I'll laugh really really hard. And so far as fishermen go? We've got a *very* successful operation. Broke 150K, and the kenai run is just starting... if we're allowed to fish: we'll rake in another year like 2011.

Furthermore, monetary success and talent are *completely* different subjects. Take Tesla: talented, yes, brilliant, yes, rich? He died destitute DESPITE *inventing our modern world*.

Quote:BTW Grunge FUCKING SUCKS! Kurt Cobain sang like a strangled cat.

I don't think you understand the point of grunge

But really, I'd quit moving the goal-posts: you asked for one, I gave you one. I can give you more than one, but absence of particular formula is fairly characteristic of grunge, *regardless* of whether it as a musical category is something you enjoy or don't enjoy

Folk.

ABBA? Is that one of those secret video game commands?

(July 13, 2013 at 3:52 am)teaearlgreyhot Wrote: ABBA? Is that one of those secret video game commands?

Yuck it up guys, don't care.

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(July 13, 2013 at 3:50 am)Violet Lilly Blossom Wrote:

(July 12, 2013 at 8:54 pm)Brian37 Wrote: And how many albums have you sold? And you'll be remembered 40 years from now by millions I am sure. Thank you for your lecture on success.

I haven't produced an album to sell, should I? The gang here at the fish site likes to sing our improv songs We could be legendary.

But we're fishermen, not musicians. If Obama is remembered for the albums he sells, and not for his presidency, I'll laugh really really hard. And so far as fishermen go? We've got a *very* successful operation. Broke 150K, and the kenai run is just starting... if we're allowed to fish: we'll rake in another year like 2011.

Furthermore, monetary success and talent are *completely* different subjects. Take Tesla: talented, yes, brilliant, yes, rich? He died destitute DESPITE *inventing our modern world*.

Quote:BTW Grunge FUCKING SUCKS! Kurt Cobain sang like a strangled cat.

I don't think you understand the point of grunge

But really, I'd quit moving the goal-posts: you asked for one, I gave you one. I can give you more than one, but absence of particular formula is fairly characteristic of grunge, *regardless* of whether it as a musical category is something you enjoy or don't enjoy

Folk.

No, any new movement is seen as anti formula, then when it takes off becomes a formula. Look at how many bands competed with Nirvana and had the same "grunge" sound.

Now, you and others here keep calling ABBAs music "formulaic" and predictable. Which says to me you are focused solely on their hits and not all their history. Otherwise you would not be saying that.

It is like trying to define Pat Benatar by "Hit Me With Your Best Shot". Not knowing about "My Clone Sleeps Alone" or "Rated X", or "Tough Life". Which sound NOTHING like "Hit Me With Your Best Shot".

Most albums OF any artist, ave 10 to 12 songs on them, and any artist with a long career is going to have one because they have a range.

(July 13, 2013 at 6:49 am)Brian37 Wrote: No, any new movement is seen as anti formula, then when it takes off becomes a formula. Look at how many bands competed with Nirvana and had the same "grunge" sound.

Following others and being inspired by them, but still largely making your music your own? Not necessarily formulaic, though it may be guilty of various other 'crimes' (Black Eyed Peas). Following either your own songs or another's songs in such a way as to make a 'templet' for your music, on the other hand, is necessarily formulaic. It is the latter of these which I would fault ABBA for, and listening to the music I just can't get over either how similar they are, or how much 90% of the music (any non-chorus bit) just sucks and is annoying on the ears for the clash.

Quote:Now, you and others here keep calling ABBAs music "formulaic" and predictable. Which says to me you are focused solely on their hits and not all their history. Otherwise you would not be saying that.

19 ABBA songs on my itunes, I've listened to all of them, and I consider all of them shit (but some more so than others, my gods). If I can't know whether a band is GOOD by their *greatest hits* (and a good number of them): why on earth should I waste my time listening to their *flops*?

On the subject of ABBA, I've heard a few more than the ones I own already... and I'm not impressed. Also: Live ABBA? Terrible.

The beatles played a shit ton of music, and were fairly ah 'experimental'... and yet: you know how the beatles sound when they make a record. THAT'S the face they're presenting to you. A lot of it is utter shit, but there are a few redeemable things about them (just like ABBA). The key is in knowing what those qualities are and not claiming them to be the gods of talent (they're not).

Quote:It is like trying to define Pat Benatar by "Hit Me With Your Best Shot". Not knowing about "My Clone Sleeps Alone" or "Rated X", or "Tough Life". Which sound NOTHING like "Hit Me With Your Best Shot".

I'm not impressed by Hit Me With Your Best Shot... are her other songs *worth* knowing about? I hope to the gods the rest of her music doesn't sound like her big hit

Quote:Most albums OF any artist, ave 10 to 12 songs on them, and any artist with a long career is going to have one because they have a range.

Usually a definable range, mind. Look: I wouldn't be knocking ABBA if it weren't *only* for a casual listen that doesn't pay attention to the lyrics or to nonchorus portions. But if I'm listening to music, and I'm not around someone who grew up with ABBA, I'm not playing it

Punk.

(July 12, 2013 at 8:54 pm)Brian37 Wrote: And how many albums have you sold? And you'll be remembered 40 years from now by millions I am sure. Thank you for your lecture on success.

Oh no. You actually made that argument?

Let me ask you a question: since I'm not a politician and I'm not a President, does that mean I can't criticize Obama?