The ABBA Generation

You really can't go wrong with material like ABBA's, can you? This was the last A*Teens album I acquired, probably partly thanks to Maria's adamant opposition.

#1 Mamma Mia 10

The first single was well chosen as its clearly the best track on the first album. And also one of those where the new version beats the original, which is saying quite a lot.

#2 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! 10

This used to be in my ABBA top 5 but has since fallen. I think this is also better than the original, although not as much as MM.

#3 Super Trouper 9½

This was what enraged Maria so thoroughly. And after all, she was right that they totally ignored the sad aspect of the lyrics and just danced on happily ever after. Makes one wonder, how many ABBA fans around the world reacted similarly - and how many album sales they missed because of that. In any case, I wouldn't have chosen this as my second single, even though it's hard to deny that the new version did turn out quite good indeed.

#4 One of Us 10

Clearly there's no room to complain as my #1 favourite ABBA song has got such a frontal place on this album. However, with their lacklustre singing they lose the height of emotion of the original, even though it would take a lot more to completely ruin the perfect composition. This is just about the only song in the world, of which I'd rather have a ballad version. When oh when will I get to hear one? Would Da Buzz's evasive version be one? Improbably, but it'd certainly be wonderful anyway. I think I must declare it as my most sought-after piece of the current times.

#5 Voulez-vous 8½

I've never understood this. The song itself is really simple and stands solely by the arrangement. If you don't agree, just try to make a monophonic ringtone out of it... No, I haven't tried myself but I can guess the result.

#6 S.O.S. 9

Some magazine chose this as the most perfect pop song of all times. It undeniably has many things speaking for itself but still has never quite stricken me as a big hit.

#7 Dancing Queen 9

I still haven't found out why they made two videos for this. The first one had them inside a side-scrolling platformer, which was, well, rather corny but interesting, and the second, the one you've more probably seen, a classroom disco. Neither have I understood, why exactly was this ABBA's biggest hit. Anyway, the point in my life when it found its place in my heart was when it played in that wonderful NY club, inviting me onto the podium to do a solo. For some reason that moment has been filed in my special memories folder.

#8 Take a Chance on Me 8½

The string of less-than favourites goes on. At the end of this review, I have to remember to do my own list of ABBA songs I would've covered.

#9 Lay All Your Love on Me 8

I'm thoroughly bored of this, having had to listen to too many different versions without actually liking any of them.

#10 The Name of the Game 7

This belongs in the same category with Thank You for the Music: songs that pass through my ears without leaving much other impression than mild irritation.

#11 Our Last Summer 9½

An interesting choice, even though not at all a bad one. When done like ABBA did them, I'll always have an ear for wistful ballads. Somehow the teens seem to have managed to make this less void of emotion than OoU.

Okay then, here's my list of 11, in order of prerence rather than track order:

#1 One of Us

#2 The Winner Takes It All

#3 Angeleyes

#4 Head Over Heels

#5 Summer Night City

#6 Mamma Mia

#7 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

#8 Waterloo

#9 Ring Ring

#10 Fernando

#11 Knowing Me, Knowing You