ABBA vs Queen

Apparently I'm in the minority here (which I find rather shocking!) but I absolutely detest ABBA. I consider them the textbook example of bland, formulaic, lowest-common-denominator music. With one cliché after the other, I can see how they appeal to the 'whatever-is-hot-this-week'-crowd, but I am constantly astonished how people like Sebastian and, particularly, Bob, can applaud them as a great band. I just don't hear it.

What have you heard?

[QUOTE] [b]happystar wrote:[/b]

VH: From what i gather Queen have sold over 300 million albums worldwide and that does not sound like a band who's records never sold as much as other groups does it ?[/QUOTE]

That to me looks very much like a reply directed at me.

You of course have done your usual, deny and be abusive. It's like a default setting isn't it.

Vocal Harmony : i will let everyone know on here that you sent me a private message threatening me.
you are nothing but a bully and and a thug.
If you do not like my opinions you have to play god on here and belittle me, well your reign of playing bully on here is over.
Everyone on here is tired of you picking faults with folks opinions and you asking for proof of this or where is the evidence to that
well i am not scared of you and if you want to get nasty well bring it on and you will get barred on here.

Just ignore him or her happystar

Mike: I cannot ignore anyone who wants to threaten me down the high street, and that is what Vocal Harmony has done.
i have the message and i may report it to the boss of this site.
Vocal Harmony seems to be one unhappy person constantly quizzing everyone about there posts on here and i get it more frequently than most because Vocal Harmony likes to belittle every single thing i post on here.
Well its gonna end soon and either Vocal Harmony will get banned from this site or Vocal Harmony needs to grow some and man up and be a lot more mature or get off this site and use facebook.

Pic or it didn't happen

[QUOTE] [b]dysan wrote:[/b]

What have you heard?[/QUOTE]

Most of the hits and some album cuts. I don't really know the titles. Well over 25 songs, though.

Was there no 'in' at all?

[QUOTE] [b]dysan wrote:[/b]

Was there no 'in' at all?[/QUOTE]

Beg your pardon?

I thought this was going to be a stupid subject. But, good subject and good posts!

Was there no 'in' at all? = There was nothing that took your fancy and signposted the slightest whiff of investigate further?

No, not at all. Don't ask me why, but when I was about 12 (I'm 29 now) ABBA was temporarily very popular with my age-group, so I got to hear quite a lot of it with classmates for a few months, and I can't honestly say that I found it appealing in any way. I've learned a lot more about music since that time, and my opinion has actually declined markedly. Like I mentioned earlier: I find it utterly formulaic (going for the most cliché lines known to music theory), the production style makes my skin crawl (yes, in a bad way) and I can't find any real substance to either the lyrics or the music. Sorry, I just utterly hate ABBA and, while there are other groups I seriously dislike that have undeniable musical merits (I really don't like The Rolling Stones, for instance, and I can't listen to Amy Winehouse although I recognize that she was a fine vocalist), I can't say I've ever noticed anything in ABBA's music that made me think "hmm, that's not my kind of music, but it certainly has quality".

Fair dos

I gave in when I heard Super Trouper. My defences fell and I had to admit ABBA did catchy, disposable pop very well. I can see why they have a big following. Not everything needs to be Bob Dylan or Yes. Fred realised that in the 1980s. Sometimes catchy MOR hits the spot and doesn't need any depth. It is what it is. ABBA realised that and it made them world famous and rich. It gave them a devoted fanbase of ordinary, unpretentious people. Good for them.