Abba

Rock’n'Roll Hall of Fame: Do Abba, LL Cool J Belong Here, Really?

Published September 23rd, 2009 by Karen

photo credit: Andrew 94

Kiss, LL Cool J and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are considered frontrunners for induction at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year, according to an Associated Press report.

According to the AP, they are part of a diverse group of 12 acts in contention for the 2010 class. Other first-time nominees include Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, The Hollies and songwriter Laura Nyro. There are also names on the ballot that have been there before, including Donna Summer, Darlene Love, ABBA, the Chantels, and the Stooges.

The nominees are selected by a committee composed of music historians and are then voted on by roughly a thousand experts, including academics, journalists, producers, and others with music industry experience.

Only five acts make it in to the Hall each year. The 25th annual induction ceremony is slated for March 15 in New York City. The inductees will be announced in December.

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"I don't like ABBA... I hate it when I go to a club to find out they decided to play oldies all night... These songs make me sick."

Barry

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ABBA Duo Collaborating Again

Published May 10th, 2009 by Wendy

photo credit: yumiang

ABBA stars Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus are set to premiere their first newly written pop song in 15 years, according to a report on Nme.com

According to NME, the song, called ‘Story Of A Heart’, will be released on July 6. It is available as part of a 14-track album by Andersson’s 16-member group The Benny Andersson Band.

Vocals on the track have been translated into English, and are sung by Swedish star Helen Sjöholm. The song will also incorporate Swedish folk music, polka, waltzes and Celtic folk.

The Benny Andersson Band will be performing a free concert in London as part of a Sweden On Stage Festival on July 4. A year ago on July 4, all four ABBA members were reunited at the Swedish premiere of the film Mamma Mia!

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5 Things You Didn’t Know About ABBA Plus Free ABBA Music

Published July 23rd, 2008 by Karen

This group should’ve faded away in the ‘70s, but for some reason ABBA has endured. Last week Mamma Mia hit theatres. Starring Meryl Streep, the movie musical is based on the successful Broadway play inspired by the music of ABBA.

ABBA fans are wild about it and can’t seem to get enough of this Swedish pop sensation, so today we’re offering something special for all the ABBA fans:

Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About ABBA

1. In addition to being a palindrome, ABBA is an acronym for the band members’ names (Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn, Anni-Frid)

2. Former ABBA drummer Ola Brunkert died in his garden in 2008. While it was tragic, we can’t help but be reminded of Spinal Tap (one of the band’s drummer’s died in, “a bizarre gardening accident.”).

3. After ABBA, Bjorn and Benny teamed up with Tim Rice for a musical called Chess. The group released a concept album/play soundtrack featured the unlikely hit song, “One Night in Bangkok.” (See the weird video, here.)

4. ABBA is Swedish, but the band scored a hit with 1980’s Gracia Por La Musica, a compilation of ABBA songs performed in Spanish.

5. Mamma Mia! isn’t the only ABBA-themed musical. In 1983 the musical Abbacadabra debuted on French television.

Free ABBA mp3 music downloads

Abba—Mamma Mia mp3
Abba—Dancing Queen mp3
Abba—Fernando mp3

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Quick News: Stipe Still Gay. Spitzer Hooker Sings? ABBA is Really Spinal Tap.

Published March 21st, 2008 by Karen

It’s been a long strange week in the music world. Today we’re taking a look back at some of the week’s highlights, or lowlights, depending on your point of view.

Music News Week in Review:

Ashley Alexandra Dupre Won’t Go Away

Is anybody else sick of this girl yet? Well, other than Mrs. Spitzer?

In addition to releasing a dance-pop song (“What We Want” video) that’s so skanky and awful that it makes the Pussycat Dolls look like upstanding citizens with vocal talent, AAD turned up in a library’s worth of “Girls Gone Wild” videos filmed several years back. Which means she doesn’t just dabble in being a skank, she’s a pro.

Don’t worry, now that everyone in the world has seen her, um, talents, this girl will be forgotten faster than Janet Jackson’s last album.

We expect her to “write” a book, apologize for being a home-wrecker and release a family friendly pop album in the not-so-distant future. Ah, the American Dream.

American Idol
This week on American Idol the contestants spent a second week butchering songs of the Beatles. As if Paul McCartney hasn’t had a rough enough week after being forced to fork over $50 million to ex-wife Heather Mills. Many performances were bad, and several were awful, but this week’s loser was Amy Overmyer—the girl with the black/white Cruella DeVil hairdo. Compare: Cruella’s hair VS. Amy’s hair.

R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe is ~~Gay~~ Boring

This week Stipe made headlines by confirming the obvious to Spin and Us Weekly.
Um…a few things come immediately to mind:
1. Duh
2. Who cares?
3. He’s pointedly avoided commenting on this during the successful years of his band’s career, so we can’t help but wonder if the sudden publicity stunt, er, revelation, has anything to do with the impending release of another yawn-worthy album. Surprise! The band’s new album, Accelerate, hits stores in April.
4. Who cares?
5. Isn’t it about time for the REM boys to try to cash in with an acoustic album or something? I’m sure we’d all like to hear a nice acoustic version of “Losing My Religion” or “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” Ok, maybe not.

ABBA Drummer Dies a Spinal Tap Death
Ok, it’s not funny that this guy died. We don’t love ABBA, but even WE wouldn’t wish for the band’s drummer to crash through a glass door at his home in Spain and then try to seek help, only to die in the garden. That’s sad and we’re sorry for his family.
But, we can’t help thinking of the movie Spinal Tap and the way the band’s drummers kept dying under mysterious circumstances—including a “bizarre gardening accident.”
Watch the clip, here.

And Some Other Stuff…
Sure, some other stuff happened this week, but, well, it didn’t make us laugh. So that’s it for Music Week Review. Check back soon for more articles, news, free music and other stuff.

Questions, comments, suggestions or ~~complaints~~ compliments? Leave a comment!

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Top 10 Broadway Shows for Christmas

Published November 29th, 2007 by Karen

For 19 days the lights on Broadway have been off due to a stagehand strike, but today the strike ended. Crews are rushing to re-open dozens of Broadway shows that have been closed - and we bet lots of folks planning their Christmas vacations are thrilled!

So, in honor of the return of Broadway, here are my top 10 Broadway shows you should see for Christmas. Some of them feature great Christmas songs, but some of them are just cool shows that are worth checking out.

Check - em out, then let me know who’s on your list of faves!

Top 10 Broadway Shows for Christmas

10. Hairspray - The most unlikely musical ever, this surprisingly sweet story is based on a cult classic flick by love-him-or-hate-him super-freak film director, John Waters.

9. Legally Blonde - Based on the popular films starring Reese Witherspoon, the Broadway hit features all your favorite characters - including the spunky little
Chihuahua, Bruiser.

8. Lion King - Disney sure knows how to make a mega-hit. This beautiful stage adaptation of the animated classic features elaborate costumes and musical favorites such as, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?”

7. Little Mermaid - The latest in a long line of Disney cartoons to make the leap to Broadway. Kids will love it, and parents will enjoy the flashback to a childhood favorite.

6. Avenue Q - Fun musical featuring an entertaining mix of actors and puppets.

5. Mamma Mia - This upbeat show appeals to fans of all ages with it’s heartwarming story and fun sing-along soundtrack featuring popular songs by Abba, including “Mamma Mia - and “Dancing Queen”.

4. Rock’n'Roll - New work by Tom Stoppard, renowned author of the witty Shakespearean spin-off, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Takes a look at the connection between music and revolution beginning in the 1960s, with music from the Rolling Stones and others.

3. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Personally, I prefer the animated version with Boris Karloff and Thurl Ravenscroft, but this is a good bet for folks with kids.

2. Radio City Christmas Spectacular - A New York holiday tradition! This is the 75^th year for this Christmas classic featuring the world famous Rockettes.

1. A Christmas Carol - No matter how many times you’ve read Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale, you’ll never get tired of seeing Ebenezer Scrooge’s heartwarming transformation.