Rocky Raccoon 2008-07-29
7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Lasting impressions of ABBA's 35 videos stem from a flawed, but favorable collection. A cursory glance at every video reveals careful attention to detail and above par visuals, especially given the primitive stages of video production during their era. Realizing their career span was from 1973-1981, they were ahead of the game in more than their syntho-techno sound. Noting that their last album was released the same year that MTV started and before Flock of Seagulls and Human League became popular, you begin to appreciate how ground-breaking they truly were. Don't expect Peter Gabriel-type experimentation, yet experiment is what they did.
ABBA's videos go through the whole gamut: Soft focus and sharp focus, stiff production with matching moves and fluid photography with flowing motion. Special effects alternate with still life scenes. Going out on a limb, I'd say their costumes were vibrant and alluring, way ahead of the stereotypically seventies' cheese curve. Sometimes the videos are effective; at others they're not.
Here are some of the highlights: (SPOILER ALERT: Without a plot, some may, nevertheless, want to stop here and make their own discoveries.)
1. "Waterloo," their groundbreaking first Euro hit is flashy fun. A white backdrop frames their bold costumes. The lip-synching is out of step, but they're only destined to improve. (Bjorn wears heavy make-up, and he looks like Liberace.) 8/10
2.) "Ring, Ring" is a "Waterloo" carry over. Glittery, sexy costumes. Lip-synching is corrected. 8/10
3.) "Mamma Mia" has great pop appeal, and the band makes an emotional commitment. More vibrant, the close ups of faces and musicianship are hallmark. 9/10
4.) "S.O.S." is artful and thoughtful. Sometimes stiff, sometimes flowing, but Agnetha is always engaging. 7/10
5.) "Boom-a-rang" is spirited and playful. Less stiff, more fun, and more natural. Significantly, Bjorn looks better without make-up. 9/10
6.) "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" is soft and sensual. Frida is especially spirited. 7/10
7.) "Fernando" is heartwarming. A camp-fire sing-a-long. Good simple ensemble. 9/10
8.) "Dancing Queen" features ABBA onstage. The dancers in the audience aren't the Swedish equivalent of `American Bandstand,' but Frida and Agnetha sure can bump and grind. 6/10
9.) "Money, Money, Money" employs solid imagery, a correct dramatic tone, excellent lighting, and it's all in synch with the beat. Perhaps their most professional video. 10/10
10.) "Knowing Me, Knowing You" is not as fluid, but it's structurally solid. Facial focus is done like they were competing with The Beatles' album covers. 6/10
11.) "That's Me" Great non-hit song. Siren looks to match voices. Leftovers from "Money, Money, Money" show rare formula, however. 7/10
12.) "The Name of the Game" Impromptu black and white scenes outshine the stagey color ones. Benny always looks like he's having fun. 8/10
13.) "Take a Chance on Me" Sometimes sexy, sometimes silly. `The Brady Bunch' photo ensemble? What were the producers thinking? 6/10
14.) "The Eagle" is visually inventive. Colorfully done in discothèque neon, not psychedelic. 7/10
15.) "One Man, One Woman" I love this maudlin song. Two faces form as one. I get it, but it gets garish in places. 5/10
16.) "Thank You for the Music" Stage performance like on daytime variety shows. Nice seeing kids singing in the audience though. A precursor of MTV 6/10
17.) "Summer Night City" needs to be more fluid, but the women are pros here. Alluringly sexy. At times blurry, but when it`s playful, it works. 6/10
18.) "Chiquitita" is friendly and festive, sweet and simple--a sharp focus reaction to the last video. 8/10
19.) "Does Your Mother Know?" Natural and exuberant. Bjorn takes the lead, and the supporting cast could be on `Swedish Bandstand' if there was such a show. 10/10
20.) "Volez Vous" an extension of "Does Your Mother Know?". More nightclubbing with the two leading ladies. 8/10
21.) "Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie," shows us the studio process. Insightful, fun, and never a stiff moment! 10/10
22.) "On and On and On" is a theatrical slide show. Not fluid, not a good experiment. Good subject matter, though. 4/10
23.) "The Winner Takes It All" Pensive yet spirited. Scenic, too. They've got the cameras and acting skills on their side. 7/10
24.) "Super Trooper" looks like a `Dynasty' episode at times. The carnival scenes are shot perfectly. 7/10
25.) "Happy New Year" Great color ensemble. Pensive, sage, and celebratory. Video camera work in the MTV era. 9/10
26.) "All Is Said and Done" soft and clear shots. Unremarkable, lazy video. 5/10
27.) "One of Us" Clearest video. Thoughtful, but not inventive enough. 6/10
28.) "Head over Heels" tells a tale. Bjorn gets best actor. Funny, Playful, and Effective. 10/10
29.) "The Day Before You Came" is artsy, well-framed, and foreshadows Agnetha's solo career. 8/10
30.) "Under Attack" is filmed nicely like a detective noir, but is partly unrealized. 6/10
31.) "When I Kissed the Teacher" backs up to `The Arrival' era (1976). Solid concept, but a little stiff. 6/10
32.) "I Have a Dream" is done in Swedish. Never take their English speaking hits for granted. Beautiful native rendition. 8/10
33.) "Happy New Year" alternative Swedish version. 9/10
34.) "All Is Said and Done" alternative Spanish version! 6/10
35.) "Dancing Queen" the royal version. Is that Queen Elizabeth in the audience or the Swedish royalty? The powder wigs make the affair stiff, but the group is properly relaxed. They did need to redo the original, but they could have done something better than this. 6/10
Overall, do check this collection out. You'll enjoy listening to and watching these vintage videos.
