Abbamania

Abbamania seems to flourish, as I am sure everyone is aware of, from the welter of television programmes about the fabulous Swedish supergroup to hit shows featuring all of their songs. Not only are we bombarded by the music but also by the lurid facts about the ancestry of certain members.

Annafried was lebensborn, a terrible misfortune by any account, but whatever the facts it does not seem to have done her much harm. Her political predicament fading into a sea of dreams, the group remains triumphant. And then there are the songs and whatever we may think of them personally they have been around rather a long time.

An awful lot of them seem to be rather sad in their emotional dimension. The disillusionment of 'Hasta Manana', 'where is the dream we were dreaming', regret over lost love, 'SOS', resignation in 'Another Town Another Train', 'nothing lost nothing gained' and also in 'Knowing Me Knowing You' speak of mixed experiences in the past and coming to terms with the reality of what we are.

In 'Chiquitita' there seems to be no hope in this broken love affair but as the song progresses if we look to the future 'we can sing a new song, Chiquitita'. And it is the end of romance in 'Dance while the music still goes on' when the lovers say goodbye and we are reminded of the poignant transience of all things.

Still sombre but in contrast because it is an anthem of no regret and quiet resolve is 'Fernando'. It glories in a brighter than the present past - a song of nostalgia I think. In contrast to all of this 'we are trying to comfort you in your loss' if I can put it like that, is the bright sound of success and happiness in 'Waterloo' and a less well-known song 'Rock Me'. The upbeat vigour of 'Waterloo' has a determined rhythm surging onward with a pounding, tight backbeat. 'Rock Me' is a real swinger and a wonderful mood-lifter in the great rock 'n roll tradition.

'Dancing Queen' is simply the best modern dance anthem ever, despite, or maybe because of, its gay allusion. For a change Abba can moralize, 'He is your Brother', 'so treat him well' or they can tell a Cinderella-like tale of transmogrification in 'Nina, pretty ballerina'. And then there are the songs of exhortation and invitation, 'Gimme, Gimme, Gimme a man after midnight' and 'Take a chance on me'.

Towards the end of their career they became quite innovative in 'The Visitors' with quite strange sounding musical effects but really it's the earlier songs we remember best and maybe it is the sound of their own success in 'Money, Money, Money' and 'Supertrouper' when we can enjoy their dream with them that we really get groovin' and enthusiastic, hoping some of that stardust will rub off on us. After all it's always sunny in a rich man's world.