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Rating: Money, money, money: there's nothing wrong with wanting to get rich, but if enrichment is based on the debasement and degradation of what should be art, my patience starts to spin like a propeller. Let's take, for example, the latest "cool" music phenom of the moment that I had the displeasure of encountering—an expressionless witch-like figure with an outrageous bleached hairstyle à la R. Carrà, known as Lady Gaga (and for this alone, she should be cleaning toilets at the Central Station instead of topping the charts...). This isn't pop, this isn't light music: this stuff is as heavy as pig slop and as fake and artificial as Lilli Gruber's lower lip, and this criminal assault on my sense of beauty and style makes me turn off the TV in disgust and refresh my ears with something diametrically opposed. Thus, while that absurd Bulgarian trucker voice continues to echo in my brain, I begin to think of a melodious song, the nightingale voice of a blonde Swedish girl: without a second thought, I insert "Arrival" by ABBA into my CD player.
Listening, savoring every single note of this record has the same rejuvenating effect as a cool shower after a hot, sticky day: an album splendidly conceived without greedy authors and producers, focusing solely on the talent and intention to make Pop music, to entertain and amuse with style and grace, without unnecessary and ridiculous provocations. This was the mission of Anni-Frid, Benny, Bjorn, and the divine Agnetha (my favorite pop singer), even from an aesthetic perspective: a great example of how to be sexy without altering one's features, appearing nude and wet in tawdry music videos, or kissing men, women, dogs, and pigs. A mission much more difficult than one might think, but "Our People" accomplished it in the best possible way, especially in this album, led by singles like "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", and of course, "Money, Money, Money." But the magic of ABBA doesn't stop at these songs, which are rightly known in every corner of the globe, from Miami Beach to old Bombay: the magic of ABBA is the irresistibly mischievous crescendo of "When I Kissed The Teacher," the angelic innocence of "My Love, My Life," the hilarious intro and the overwhelming chorus of "Dum Dum Diddle," the rhythmic pop rock of "Tiger," the carefree beach vibe of "Happy Hawaii" and its derivative "Why Does It Have To Be Me?", and also the sonic experimentation of the title track "Arrival" that perhaps does not reach the perfection of the pop mini-symphony "Intermezzo No. 1" but remains a brilliant divertissement, with an atmosphere both majestic and relaxing, which delivers the final blow to my disgust and reconciles me with the world and all its creatures, including bleached witches.
You're very special, you're not a bit of a bore, you have the talent for a wonderful thing, ‘cos I will always listen when you start to sing, My dearest ABBA, thank you for the music, the songs you're singin', thanks for all the joy and the fun you bring me.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 When I Kissed the Teacher (03:03)
Everybody screamed
When I kissed the teacher
And they must have thought they dreamed
When I kissed the teacher
All my friends at school
They had never seen the teacher blush, he looked like a fool
Nearly petrified 'cos he was taken by surprise
When I kissed the teacher
Couldn't quite believe his eyes
When I kissed the teacher
My whole class went wild
As I held my breath, the world stood still, but then he just smiled
I was in the seventh heaven
When I kissed the teacher
One of these days
Gonna tell him I dream of him every night
One of these days
Gonna show him I care, gonna teach him a lesson alright
I was in a trance when I kissed the teacher
Suddenly I took the chance when I kissed the teacher
Leaning over me, he was trying to explain the laws of geometry
And I couldn't help it
I just had to kiss the teacher
One of these days
Gonna tell him I dream of him every night
One of these days
Gonna show him I care
Gonna teach him a lesson alright
What a crazy day
When I kissed the teacher
All my sense had flown away
When I kissed the teacher
My whole class went wild
As I held my breath, the world stood still, but then he just smiled
I was in the seventh heaven
When I kissed the teacher
When I kissed the teacher
(I wanna hug, hug, hug him)
When I kissed the teacher
(I wanna hug, hug him)
When I kissed the teacher
(I wanna hug, hug, hug him)
When I kissed the teacher
(I wanna hug, hug him)
When I kissed the teacher
(I wanna hug, hug, hug him)
02 Dancing Queen (03:52)
You can dance, you can jive
Having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene
Diggin' the dancing queen
Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for a place to go
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing
You come to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music's high
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine
You’re in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance
You are the dancing queen
Young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah
You can dance, you can jive
Having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene
Diggin' the dancing queen
You're a teaser, you turn 'em on
Leave 'em burning and then you're gone
Looking out for another, anyone will do
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance
You are the dancing queen
Young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah
You can dance, you can jive
Having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene
Diggin' the dancing queen
Diggin' the dancing queen
04 Dum Dum Diddle (02:54)
I can hear how you work, practising hard
Playing night and day, woah-oh
And it sounds better now
Yes, you improve every time you play, woah-oh
But it's bad
You're so sad
And you're only smiling
When you play your violin
Dum-dum-diddle, to be your fiddle
To be so near you and not just hear you
Dum-dum-diddle, to be your fiddle
I think then maybe you'd see me, baby
You'd be mine
And we'd be together all the time
Wish I was, dum-dum-diddle, your darling fiddle
But I think you don't know that I exist
I'm the quiet kind, woah-oh
From the day when I first listened to you
You've been on my mind, woah-oh
You don't care
It's not fair
And you're only smiling
When you play your violin
Dum-dum-diddle, to be your fiddle
To be so near you and not just hear you
Dum-dum-diddle, to be your fiddle
I think then maybe you'd see me, baby
You'd be mine
And we'd be together all the time
Dum-dum-diddle, to be your fiddle
To be so near you and not just hear you
Dum-dum-diddle, to be your fiddle
I think then maybe you'd see me, baby
You'd be mine
And we'd be together all the time
Wish I was, dum-dum-diddle, your darling fiddle
05 Knowing Me, Knowing You (04:02)
No more carefree laughter
Silence ever after
Walking through an empty house, tears in my eyes
Here is where the story ends, this is goodbye
Knowing me, knowing you
There is nothing we can do
Knowing me, knowing you
We just have to face it, this time we're through
Breaking up is never easy, I know but I have to go
Knowing me, knowing you
It's the best I can do
Memories, good days, bad days
They'll be with me always
In these old familiar rooms children would play
Now there's only emptiness, nothing to say
Knowing me, knowing you
There is nothing we can do
Knowing me, knowing you
We just have to face it, this time we're through
Breaking up is never easy, I know but I have to go
Knowing me, knowing you
It's the best I can do
Knowing me, knowing you
There is nothing we can do
Knowing me, knowing you
We just have to face it, this time we're through
Breaking up is never easy, I know but I have to go
Knowing me, knowing you
It's the best I can do
06 Money, Money, Money (03:07)
I work all night I work all day to pay the bills I have to pay
ain't it sad
and still there never seems to be a single penny left for me
that's too bad
in my dreams
I have a plan
if I got me a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work at all I'd fool around and have a ball
(chorus)
money money money
must be funny
in the rich man's world
money money money
always sunny
in the rich man's world
ahaaa
all the things I could do
if I had a little money
it's a rich man's world
it's a rich man's world
a man like that is hard to find but I can't get him off my mind
ain't it sad
and if he happens to be free I bet he wouldn't fancy me
that's too bad
so I must leave
I'll have to go
to Las Vegas or Monaco
and win a fortune in a game my life would never be the same
(chorus x2)
it's a rich man's world
07 That's Me (03:17)
Are you sure you wanna hear more
What if I ain't worth the while
Not the style you'd be looking for
If I'm sweet tonight
Things look different in the morning light
I'm jealous and I'm proud
If you hurt my feelings I'll cry out loud
I'm Carrie not-the-kind-of-girl-you'd-marry
That's me
Are you sure you wanna hear more
Would I be the one you seek
Mild and meek like the girl next door
Don't you realise
I may be an angel in disguise
It's lonely to be free
But I'm not a man's toy, I'll never be
I'm Carrie not-the-kind-of-girl-you'd-marry
That's me
I don't believe in fairy-tales
Sweet nothings in my ear
But I do believe in sympathy
That's me, you see
Are you sure you wanna hear more
Won't you have a drink with me
Just to see you're not really sore
I can't help my ways
I'm just not the girl to hide my face
I'm Carrie not-the-kind-of-girl-you'd-marry
That's me
There's a special love
Like an eagle flying with a dove
I'll find it in the end
If I keep on searching, but until then
I'm Carrie not-the-kind-of-girl-you'd-marry
That's me
There's a special love
Like an eagle flying with a dove
I'll find it in the end
If I keep on searching, but until then
I'm Carrie not-the-kind-of-girl-you'd-marry
That's me
08 Why Did It Have to Be Me (03:22)
When you were lonely, you needed a man
Someone to lean on, well I understand
It's only natural
But why did it have to be me?
Nights can be empty, nights can be cold
So you were looking for someone to hold
That's only natural
But why did it have to be me?
I was so lonesome, I was blue
I couldn't help it, it had to be you and I
Always thought you knew the reason why
I only wanted a little love affair
Now I can see you are beginning to care
But baby, believe me
It's better to forget me
Men are toys in the game that you play
When you get tired, you throw them away
That's only natural
But why did it have to be me?
Falling in love with a woman like you
Happens so quickly, there's nothing to do
It's only natural
But why did it have to be me?
I was so lonesome, I was blue
I couldn't help it, it had to be you and I
Always thought you knew the reason why
I only wanted a little love affair
Now I can see you are beginning to care
But baby, believe me
It's better to forget me
09 Tiger (02:56)
The city is a jungle, you better take care
Never walk alone after midnight
If you don't believe it you better beware
Of me
I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger
People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger
The city is a nightmare, a horrible dream
Some of us will dream it forever
Look around the corner and try not to scream
It's me
I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger
People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger
Yellow eyes are glowing like the neon lights
Yellow eyes, the spotlights of the city nights
I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger
People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger
The city is a prison, you never escape
You're forever trapped in the alleys
Look into the shadows and you'll see the shape
Of me
I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger
People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger
Yellow eyes are glowing like the neon lights
Yellow eyes, the spotlights of the city nights
I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger
People who fear me never go near me, I am the tiger
And if I meet you, what if I eat you, I am the tiger
I am behind you, I'll always find you, I am the tiger
Tiger, tiger, tiger!
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By Longliverock
Pop music wouldn’t be what we know without ABBA.
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