Music for Grown-Ups® - independent . eclectic . curious - Celebrating the great musicians - from Sinatra to the Stones, Miles to Mozart, Dylan to David Bowie, Beck to Bjork, and Coltrane to Cole Porter


 

Daily Update

 

Archives

 

Manifesto

 

Books

 

Shop

 

Feedback


 

Music for Grown-Ups Newsletter
Subscribe to our FREE monthly newsletter now!

Your Email:


Find out more...

 

 

28/12/2006

ABBA: giants among pygmies

 

Is pop music for grown-ups?

It depends. Most pop – 95%? - isn’t: too trite, too shallow, too dumb. Disposable. Entertainment, not art: shake yer ass; sing along. But forget in five minutes.

Some pop IS music for grown-ups. None more so than the great ABBA songbook – a couple of dozen beautifully crafted songs, perfectly executed - unique harmonies, especially the two girls, one mezzo, one soprano; suitably outstanding production.

OK, at their peak, ABBA looked cheesy. Serious music buffs scoffed. Not any more – a quarter of a century on, their music sounds better than ever. It appeals to anyone with the ability to smile.

Last night’s ITV profile, in which supreme ABBA videos and interviews with the quartet were foolishly inter-cut with lesser show biz figures I wouldn’t listen to if they were offering me money, was a perfect example of great music transcending its milieu.

ABBA were giants among pygmies: most pop music is lightweight trash; ABBA rose above it all to produce great music.

Gerry Smith


 

 

[Previous entry: "Best of 2006 (3)"]

[Next entry: "Blues, jazz and country - according to Robert Crumb"]

[Latest Daily Update]

Search entries:

Powered By Greymatter

 


Copyright © Music for Grown-Ups Ltd. 2005
The words Music for Grown-Ups® and the logo design constitute a registered trademark of Music for Grown-Ups Ltd.

www.musicforgrownups.co.uk
Email: info@musicforgrownups.co.uk

 

 

 

Have you seen
our new sister site?

The Dylan Daily

The Dylan Daily - Celebrating the art of Bob Dylan

Gigs for Grown-Ups

Recommended Recent Releases

 

[Latest Update]

[Archives]

 

[Previous entry: "Best of 2006 (3)"]

[Next entry: "Blues, jazz and country - according to Robert Crumb"]

 

Search Archives

Top | Back

 

 

Daily Update

 

Archives

 

Manifesto

 

Books

 

Shop

 

Feedback

 

Terms & Conditions

About us

Site design by watson press website design & authoring