good things come from sweden

Is there anyone who doesn't like ABBA? Is that even possible? A couple of weeks ago Kent and I caught a few minutes of an A&E ABBA biography and it made me realize how much I don't know about the band, but it also made me realize how much I love, and always will love, their music. Someone referred to their style as "timeless pop" and I couldn't agree more-upbeat (even when they're singing about sad themes), harmonic, fresh, catchy, unique-you just don't find that type of pop these days. I really think I could have been happy during the Disco era.

I also love that the band was composed of married couples: Bjorn and Agnetha (blonde) and Benny and Anni-Frid "Frida" (brunette). It doesn't get more idyllic, although unfortunately, they both divorced later in life. Such a shame.

What's interesting about them as well is when they were done, they were done. They never said the band "broke up" or anything, they just let themselves disappear and went their separate ways. I'm curious if they're even friends still. There's definitely an air of mystery surrounding the Swedish band.

Here's one of my favorite ABBA songs, "One of Us", which is probably one of the best pop break up songs ever written. The video is a rare combination of late 70s / early 80s styling (hair, clothes, use of mirrors, profile shots, etc.) and Northern European simplicity.



And here's one of Kent's favorites, "Super Trouper". Keep an eye out for the classic Disco pointer finger pose. I can't go into analyzing the video because there is too much to say and I might make fun of ABBA, but I would never want to do that because I love them too much. I might mock a Britney Spears video, but ABBA is special.



Someday in the future, our kids are going to get the ABBA Gold albums in their Christmas stockings and wonder who on earth ABBA is, but they need to learn what good, happy pop is all about. Kent will probably throw in Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bad albums as well which I'll be 100% on board with, but ABBA is a must too.

Anyway, here's to ABBA. May you live forever loved in the pop world.