A Second Opinion: ABBA vs. Lykke Li

Below is an impromptu conversation started as a result of something Tim Duffy didn't agree being said publicly by someone(in this case his brother/blogger Patrick Duffy) that Tim can reach by instant message.

3:35 PM
me: i just realized you called lykke li "perhaps the catchiest music to ever come from sweden", um abba?!?!?!?!
Patrick: hence the perhaps
me: no perhaps ABBAAAAAAAA
Patrick: yes, it was meant to be a comparative statement to elicit just this response
it captures just how catchy she is that she could be considered on that same plain
me: ABBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Patrick: listen, we all know and love ABBA but it's time for someone else from Sweden to shine through and not just for their quirkiness
me: fuck you, i can't believe you're doing this
Patrick: I'm not doing anything
I'm trying to help sweden
they need to stop relying on the reputation of abba
me: you reallymight have alienated me forever i hope you're happy
Patrick: Tim, I love ABBA just as much as you do
me: no
Patrick: but this is absurd
me: you
do
not
Patrick: Lykke Li is a perfectly acceptable swedish pop star
maybe it's time to come down off your high horse
and accept other swedish bands and artists
you were able to move past Klee weren't you
me: i do, but aaaaaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Patrick: no one even remembers ABBA anymore
they think they were covering the village people
me: i'll fucking end you
Patrick: the last time you said that I had a bruise under my chine for a week
but yeah, ABBA are relics
it's time to move to the future
me: you're a fucking relic!
you're a fucking ghost!
you hear me!?
a fucking ghost!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patrick: having the time of your life...dance, dance, dance...they go so well together
Abba could totally open for Lykke Li


6 minutes

3:54 PM
Patrick: that was fun
we should do it again sometime
me: fuck you

Disclaimer: It might be easy to write Tim Duffy's opinions off, as the parallels between his love of Abba and Tom Scharpling's of the Best Show on WFMU are similar and he also co-opted Tom Scharpling's "You're a ghost!" refrain. To some extent I suppose you'd be right, but co-opting the truth is always a good idea isn't it?

The Abba Movie

So during the 70's nearly every person in the world not only listened to Abba but wore a large amount of their merchandise. I know this because I have seen the "documentary" known as The Abba Movie.

The Abba Movie might be one of the strangest rock movies ever. It is in many ways just a series of concert clips, a collection of insider Meeting People is Easy bits about the tedium of touring, and then in a strange turn of events a subplot about a radio host/music journalist trying to get in contact with the band in the most inept and unprofessional fashion imaginable. He has no press pass, he charges into venues and expects V.I.P. treatment because he has a recording device, he doesn't even go into the thing with the most basic knowledge of his subject.

The worst part about this subplot (as if the plot wasn't enough) was that it had the most illogical conclusion imaginable. The journalist misses his opportunity to meet the band and finds himself fantasizing about a glossy in depth interview over a picnic. Of course the interview is simply the ladies in the group flirting with the journalist while lip sinking "Name of the Game".

To make the whole experience of watching the film more strange I DVRed it off of NYCTV which means somewhere in our city's history we acquired the rights to a fake documentary made in Australia about a Swedish pop group.

Anyway, Abba is awesome and I suppose that the movie bares that out with about 9 very awesome performances of some of their best songs. As for the movie's cinematic value? It lands somewhere between Tougher than Leather and Spice-World which I suppose is pretty appropriate.