Print

Mail

wiki links

ABBA 'Thank you for the music'

By Jules Quartly
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Mar 09, 2007, Page 13

Taipei returns to the 1970s this weekend with Abba Fever. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BAROQUE ART

Knowing me knowing you, aha, you'll have Fernando on your iPod in preparation for the arrival of the ultimate glam tribute band Abba Fever at the Taipei International Convention Center this weekend. It is time once more to unpack the platform shoes, put an iron over those flared jeans and tighten that perm.

When the name of the game was disco, ABBA ruled the dance charts in Europe, Australia and America. The foursome from Sweden won the Eurovision song contest in 1974 with the raucous but flawless pop song Waterloo and went on to sell another 360 million records.

They were responsible for such addictively humable and imaginatively titled hits as I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do and Gimme, Gimme, Gimme. After being panned for being robotic and naff they were eventually loved for their lavish live sets, best seen on the classic Abba: The Movie.

Lead singers Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (the blonde and the brunette) became fantasy objects for millions of young men, even though they were married to fellow band members and songwriters Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, respectively.

Since the band "took a break" at the end of 1982 and never got back together again, it is somewhat surprising so many people were said to be upset that Abba Fever are a cover band and not the real thing.

With the caveat that adverts on roadside flags are not that clear if your English skills are poor, complaints from fans of the original super trouper group on local TV segments and newspapers that they were being duped appear to be sensational.

Asked to comment on the confusion, agents Baroque Art (靖音藝術) said the mistake was "regrettable" but due to a "misunderstanding" on the part of fans. Even so, the company has given refunds and corrected ambiguities on its Web site and advertising materials.

Mamma mia, what a palavar over nothing.

Abba Fever hail from Germany and are just one of the many tribute bands for hire around the world, including AbbaUK, Abba Magic, Bjorn Again and Babba. Yahoo even has a list of copycat bands.

The UK-based musical agents Hireaband describe Abba Fever as “one of the best Abba tributes” in the “crowded market,” then list rivals Abba-Cadabra as the “greatest” and Abbamania as a “legend in their own right.”

It is amazing that people can get so fired up over a tribute to a band that played its last note 25 years ago, but it is also a testament to the quality of Abba's songwriting and the influence it had on the dance music scene.

Equally the “wall of sound” productions that framed the songs became a standard in the industry and no gay party would be complete without the anthem Dancing Queen.

Never cool but now iconic, ABBA will always have its place in pop history. There will be more ABBA gold tomorrow, Sunday and for the foreseeable future.

So, “thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing, thanks for all the joy they're bringing, who can live without it? I ask in all honesty, what would life be?”

Who: Abba Fever (ABBA tribute band)
Where: Taipei International Convention Center (台北國際會議中心)
Address: 1 Xinyi Rd Sec 5, Taipei (台北市信義路五段1號)
When: Tomorrow and Sunday, March 11
Tickets: From Era ticketing, www.ticket.com.tw or (02) 2365-6287. Tickets for Money, Money, Money are from NT$800 to NT$4,500
This story has been viewed 1849 times.