The Magic of ABBA

Late on the night of 16 August, I saw an ad for a concert ‘A tribute to ABBA’ scheduled for the next day by some group called Name of the Game. Who doesn’t know ABBA and it is a favourite group of our family who has been enjoying their music since the mid-70s. But with the short notice and non-familiarity with the performing group, I was inclined to ignore the event. Starting with ABBA the Movie which we saw in 1981 in Chanakya, Delhi, on my birthday, Mamma Mia the musical which we saw on Broadway, the movie with the same name and its sequel Mamma Mia Here We Go Again which we saw just last year, a visit to the ABBA Museum in Stockholm in June 2016, we had done it all. But Ruchir persuaded us to go for the show and so we went.

It was a fascinating concert. The group about which we knew nothing did extremely well to replicate ABBA. They even looked like ABBA and, of course, were dressed like them. They sang all the well-known hits with the joie de vivre associated with ABBA. There was Waterloo, Fernando, Mamma Mia, SOS, Money Money Money, Take A Chance On Me, The Winner Takes All and much more. The audience was mesmerized and by the time the performance came towards the end with Dancing Queen, every one was on the floor singing and dancing.  Young and old, the magic of ABBA had cast its spell on everyone. And that is the beauty of ABBA- their music is for all ages and their popularity eternal.

The beat, the rhythm, the style, the emotion, the smooth flow with which they sang, everything contributes to their winning appeal. And the lyrics which are full of hope, joy and optimism, tug at one’s heartstrings. I shall quote 3 of my favourites which were also part of the evening’s fare.

Chiquitita

 “…..How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they are leaving,

You’ll be dancing once again and the pain will end

You will have no time for grieving.”

I Have A Dream

“….If you see the wonder of a fairy tale,

You can take the future even if you fail,

……

And my destination makes it worth the while,

Pushing through the darkness still another mile,

I believe in angels, something good in everything I see,

I believe in angels, when I know the time is right for me,

I’ll cross the stream, I have a dream.”

Thank You For The Music (which was rightly sung as an encore to end the concert)

“….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,

Without a song or dance what are we,

So I thank you for the music

For giving it to me.”

Thank you ABBA.

Footnote- ABBA is not yet done. After 35 years of breaking up, they are working on 3 songs which are likely to be out this year!