ABBA Resurrection

By Katie Daly Originally Published in Issue 17.1 on 20 September 2021

Image Courtesy of Baillie Walsh

After a 40-year hiatus, ABBA is back with a bang. One of the biggest pop bands modern music has ever seen, ABBA’s latest release has soared to the top of the charts. Released ahead of their full album Voyage, the singles Don’t Shut Me Down and I Still Have Faith in You bring warm memories through the dulcet tones of Agnetha Fältskog, the supporting vocals of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, as well as the work of composer Benny Andersson and lyricist Björn Ulvaeus. Surpassing 16 million streams collectively on Spotify since the tracks' release on 2 September, the double-sided single paves the way for the album's meteoric success.

ABBA’s most notable ballad, The Winner Takes it All, piles on the pressure for the release of a new ballad after such a long time apart. However, many would agree that I Still Have Faith in You is a marked success. The orchestral opening builds towards an exhilarating climax of thrilling harmonies and the sonorous backing of the electric guitar, that you hope to hear in any of your favourite power ballads, urges you to grab the air as you blare this track in your car!

The catchier of the two releases, Don’t Shut Me Down is unmistakably ABBA in style. It opens tenderly with the gentle caresses of Agnetha Fältskog’s lower register, which has maintained its clarity and storytelling ability over the years. Benny Andersson’s iconic glissando transitions the song into an up-tempo melody with an almost metallic-sounding 80s quality. The contrast of dynamics - a lively and vibrant bridge and chorus, bookended with sweeter, slower verses - is sure to make it a hit.

ABBA boast an unrivalled musical legacy and an illustrious career spanning over three decades. From unparalleled chart success to the pop-culture phenomenon that is Mamma Mia attracting enormous international audiences across stage and screen, the gravity of ABBA’s highly anticipated return for their global fanbase cannot be underestimated. Although the legendary flare and platform boot ensemble has been ditched in the promotion of this upcoming album, both singles will flood a mature listener’s mind with fond memories and offer an exciting digression from the contemporary sound of modern music for younger audience members.

ABBA are due to tour with the album in a new and original way. In the so-called ‘ABBA Arena’ specially crafted in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, avatars of the pop sensation, as they appeared in 1977, will perform tracks from their latest album. The band will use innovative motion capture technology to create a realistic live performance feel. The audience can look forward to a setlist of over 20 ABBA favourites backed by a 10-piece live band. We look forward to the release of the full album on 5 November and in the meantime, we may have just found two new go-to karaoke tunes!